Haidee Cardoso

This was a unique picture book. I didn't particularly enjoy it but I do believe it is picture book that should be read. I appreciate that the book critiques zoos for how they are realistically. I did enjoy the illustrations I found them to be distinctive and stark.

There are dark undertones as well, the main family of the story seems dysfunctional (the father appears to be possessive and the mother looks very depressed). I think my conflict with this book is I'm not sure if young children would catch the purpose of this story. But, I think older children may be able learn from it.

I ended up reading this for my Library Management class. While it does make interesting points and observations, it is certainly outdated to today's times. For example, this book was published in 2007, before Facebook became huge and before the internet was filled with internet trolls. I think his compare and contrast with a “temporary ahole” and “certified ahole” was intriguing.

I liked reading about the data of certain companies Sutton talks about, particularly Costco and how they keep aholes to a minimum. But based on personal observations, this creates a new set of challenges for outsiders like how it's impossible to get a job with the company because no one seems to ever quit. I would recommend this book to anyone who works with aholes. It doesn't really provide much solutions, but it does provide a closer look into this workplace phenomenon.

Do I integrate, or do I defy?

I listened to the audiobook, which the narrator did an excellent job of bringing this novel to life. In addition to a fabulous performance, I really enjoyed the sprinkles of sound effects such as the bees buzzing and twinkling sound effects. Definitely check the audiobook out.

That being said, I liked this YA horror. I enjoyed the atmospheric scenery, it almost felt like Aspen Academy was also a character. As someone who listed gothic fiction as an area of interest, it was so fun being able to see the different elements of horror throughout the journey. From vengeful bees to psychological trances, it was very delightful.

However, there are flaws. I thought the pacing was awkward at times. The title also suffered from introducing too many characters that get mentioned once and we never hear about them again. I was also not a super huge fan of the ending, it felt rushed and a bit messy.

I'm going to go find someone to hold pinkies with and skip away into the fields.

TW: Police brutality, amputation, death , famine, murder, poisoning, torture, violence.

I went into this book with zero knowledge on the Romanian Revolution. The author did extensive research on this dark chapter in history. As a result, we are given a harrowing and often times bleak portrayal of these events. We are told these events through the eyes of Cristian Florescu, a seventeen-year-old who is aspiring to be a writer and becomes part of the revolution.

We encounter love, paranoia, sadness, but there is also a lot of hope in this title. Not only was this a historical fiction, but also a thriller since it had me at the edge of my seat. I would be cautious of its trigger warnings, which is expected for a book taking place during a revolution.

I will say it was docked a star because I think it could of had better character development. There were characters who I didn't really connect with or their scenes were not as impactful since I didn't know them well enough.

I'm happy this book exists, especially since this was the first time I've read about this historical event. The pictures are very thought-provoking and reminds us that 1989 was not all that long ago.

This picture book was excellent! It turned out to be a much deeper book than I had expected. It also has amazing illustrations courtesy of Christian Robinson (who illustrated another favorite picture book of mine, Carmela Full of Wishes). But this book's environment felt authentic and almost like you were with Milo and his big sister the entire time. It also had a thought-provoking ending (which can be a hit or miss with picture books meant for children) that left me thinking afterwards.

Already we have a picture book who is a contender to be my favorite picture book of 2021. Go read it!

I'm not sure if I would of picked up this book on my own if it wasn't for book club. I enjoyed how imaginative this universe is, taking place after the events of Chip ‘n' Dale Rescue Rangers. It was really tough getting into it and nearly gave up. But, about 3/4 into the book is when it really picked up bumping up the score to 3 stars. The book takes a turn and you're suddenly hit with high stakes and all the feels. Even though Bernie has flaws and was honestly unlikeable at first, I like that she grew up and saw past her prejudice against rats.

Overall, I think the 8-12 age group would have a blast with this title especially if they enjoy spy books, Disney, and mice. I'm aware I'm not the intended age group and admittedly I did cringe at some of the jokes and cheese puns.

It took me a little while to reflect on this book since I'm a big fan of The Hunger Games trilogy. I believe it was a welcomed addition to the series. I enjoyed all its thought-provoking questions about the true nature of being human and why there is war. It provides great insight on Coriolanus Snow and the foundation of how we know him today as the tyrannical President of Panem. The biggest strength would have to be that Coriolanus Snow himself is a very dimensional and interesting character in the way that he is very fluid. One moment, you're cheering him on but then the next you realize he's a manipulative prick. I do admit the book has boring moments and slight pacing issues towards the beginning. But all in all, an enjoyable read and a fantastic introduction to Coriolanus Snow.

I'm not big on romances, but this was a lot of fun to read and enjoyed all the drama and fantasy elements incorporated to it in this beautiful yet dangerous world of the Fae. Amazing worldbuilding and high stakes. Feyre is likeable enough to continue to root for her. I had minor issues with the pacing and the beginning portion of the book (mostly Feyre's family being kind of useless). But overall, an enjoyable read and will definitely continue with the rest of the series.

It's worth noting I listened to the Recorded Books audio book version of this book. The narrator did an amazing job especially portraying such a wide cast.

This book is seriously adorable! Not only does it have great illustrations, it touches on an important topic of what the future holds. The story sets itself up to discuss this topic in an approachable way for children to understand. Very imaginative and unexpected.

This was a title I was looking so forward to reading especially since poetry is an area of interest. I especially love its beautiful cover. However, once I started reading it, I found myself a little bored? It just didn't feel realistic when Sani and Moth spoke to each other. No teens talk with this level of sophistication. As a poetry piece, it was beautiful and very lyrical. I just didn't think it meshed with the story that well. I did enjoy the twist in the end of Moth being a ghost, it made a lot of sense why she seemed sort of "there" a lot of times or how when she created the party invite, classmates thought it was a sick joke.

In conclusion, this book was a beautiful nothingness.

This was my first book I have ever read by Jason Reynolds, and I need more! Told in ten short stories, each one with its own style and flair. My rating for this book is more of a 4.5, with the minor issue of some characters were more fleshed out then others. My personal favorite was Burman St. (Call of Duty). This particular chapter felt very close to me personally due to my love of video games and being uncertain about my sexuality, which also took place around middle school. It was very sweet and honestly, I would read an entire book dedicated to the characters of Bryson and Ty.

This was a quick read and finished in about 15 minutes. It's definitely unique and has a different style compare to other novels. But the story was enjoyable, I just tend to prefer more details personally.

My preschool outreach had a lot of fun with this book, especially with the parts using the bunny's scarf to solve puzzles.

I picked this book out because I found the art style to be adorable! It was a super cute and a quick read, I'll definitely be checking out more of this series. There wasn't anything I disliked about this graphic novel. The story was simple, sweet, and I enjoyed its happy conclusion. But by far, my most favorite element is the art and coloring.

P.S. Seeing May (the baby)'s thoughts was funny!

This is such a cute and fun book! I wasn't sure what to expect from a picture book claiming it was so quiet. It had great repetition, introducing different sounds you hear at nighttime. But most of all, I love how this book is heavily associated with summer (like moths brushing up against a light, crickets chirping, etc.)

This has been a book I've been interested in reading for a very long time after seeing its amazing cover artwork. I was hesitant at first since it's been recently been picking up momentum because there's going to be a Netflix series based off of it. But I figured, what the heck. I was immediately immersed into a lusciously wonderful yet dangerous world Bardugo has created. I admit, the first two chapters were a little tough to get through, mostly because there's lost of different names being dropped. But, it's all because Bardugo is setting the stage and elements to the story. The characters were fascinating and have interesting backstories, the action was nonstop, and there's amazing twists. If you're looking for action, a hint of romance, and magic, this is the book for you. You'll feel like you're in the heist alongside this ragtag team of lovable misfits.