Open on my shelf today:
Boy Underwater by Adam Baron
Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North
The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks
Total read in March: 36
Friday, March 25, 2022
March 25 check-in
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Listen with me
A mystery featuring a kid detective is a hard thing to pull off effectively. You don't want to have them investigating a "real" crime as that would put them in unreasonable danger. With only kid level mysteries, though, the stakes are often lacking. That's something this book does well. The missing mascot is upsetting to many of the children at the school and has consequences in their day. The investigation is solid as well. The clues are clear enough for a kid to understand but provide enough misdirection as to not be completely obvious. The motivation is a little weak but that's forgivable. The characters are amusing and believable.
From a purely audio standpoint, this one is well narrated. Moxie's voice is dynamic and excitable without going too far and becoming obnoxious. This was a fun listen that can be enjoyed by kids and their parents.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
March 24 check-in
Open on my shelf today:
Boy Underwater by Adam Baron
Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North
The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks
Total read in March: 36
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Non-fiction book review - Flowers are Pretty...Weird!
This is one of those books that straddles the line between picture book and non-fiction. It's more conversational than we typically see in straight non-fiction. The bee narrator starts with the standard idea of a flower and then gives us examples of flowers that don't fit into that standard. Flowers that grow or appear in ways and places that we wouldn't expect. We start with small variations and are introduced to gradually more extreme versions of weirdness. There isn't a lot of information about each flower though there is a basic exploration of how each variation works to the flower's advantage. Interesting and accessible for even young readers.
More information: Flowers are Pretty Weird releases March 29
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
March 23 check-in
Open on my shelf today:
Thursday's Child by Noel Streatfeild
Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North
The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks
Total read in March: 35
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Book review - Daughter
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: In the Blood by Sara Hantz
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
Rating:
.JPG)
not what I was expecting
Summary (provided by publisher): Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does.
When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby.
Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter.
My opinion: When you hear that a book is about a character finding out she's the child of a serial killer, you expect a thrilling plot. We're expecting physical danger or deep psychological exploration. But that's not hat McLaughlin gives us here. While Scarlet has some "am I like my father" moments, she comes to conclusions about her own identity pretty quickly. In fact, there's far more exploration of how the public perceives killers and their families than there is introspection. The plot is fairly simple and doesn't actually dig very deep.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
March 22 check-in
Open on my shelf today:
Wrecked by Heather Henson
Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North
The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks
Total read in March: 34
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