For those of you who enjoy fictions about time travel and alternate realities, this one is sure to impress. Don’t let the front cover fool you, this is a great read for middle school.

What I really liked about this book was that the person who travelled in time didn’t have control of it. It was something that happened to him unexpectedly…..and he didn’t travel back 100 years or into the future, just a few years back. The author does a good job making sense of the experience, to whatever extent is plausible. I was truly invested in the events that led up to the “trigger experience” and hoping the main character would have the chance to recreate specific events that brought him to this crossroad.

A beautiful fantasy read of light vs darkness. I give this a 10/10. Dickens could not have done better. Pretty sure.

I chose this GIF because Despereaux is a small underdog kind of creature with a large amount of valor and chivalry. Let’s face it, he’s perfect.

What I loved most about this book was just how intertwined the lives of these characters was. The reader has the luxury of being omniscient while discovering contrasting viewpoints that help us see each character in an empathetic light, even the ones who seem like they don’t deserve. it.

Every now and then a special book comes around. One that leaves an impression. One that makes you refuse to put it down until it runs out of pages. That was this. The illustrations, the storyline. I give it a 10/10. I hope you do, too!

The author hit a home run on this one.

I think I could kind of see a young Madison Pettis playing the part of Sophia.

Isaac and Marco have good reason for remaining loyal in their friendship. Where, on one hand, they have similar family struggles, on the other hand they have opposite strengths that draw them to lean on one another for personalized instruction. But things get pretty funny in the meantime.

If I could pick main characters to play the parts of Isaac and Marco, I would choose:

one of my favorite quotes from the book is:

“Suddenly, it’s like the philharmonic of farts! Loud, explosive farts that seem to roll their r’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if each of the kids was physically being lifted off their seats and into the air.”

And………..a really feel-good ending..

Enjoy!

This book went by so fast, I couldn’t keep control of it. I was clever, comical, and fast-paced. Once you understand that the animals talk and behave like humans, you’re ready to let this book take you to new heights.

It’s impossible to avoid seeing this in your head as you’re reading along.

Favorite quote: “Mayonnaise.” Am I right?

Who could I see playing a part if it went to film?

Check it out. Highly recommend.

This book made me want to go home to my comfortable house and sip on a hot cocoa. Leif, our main character is WAY more adventurous than I am. He’s outside for like the whole story. Nope. I just can’t. However, I did admire his free spirit and tenacity. Maybe I could manage a nice walk outside, as long as it brings me back home when I’m tired and hungry.

The Wolf Song, a Nordic Lullaby might be just the right “soundtrack” for this book.

Young Nathan O’Toole from Vikings would definitely be my choice as an actor to portray Leif, our main character.

One of my favorite excerpts is: “He thought briefly of turning around and fleeing south, back down into the country of small islands and many inlets, but it was only a thought and his body kept paddling the canoe along the bank, north, toward the blue ship, pushed by some reflexive and instinctive curiosity that kept him moving, kept him wanting to know more. To learn? Did that have to enter into everything that happened to him? So there it was: to learn.

This book was interesting and sweet, an easy read. I have to admit that the main character, Penelope, was a bit on the angelic side. Faced with many adversities, she had the grace and patience of a saint, which I found to be a tad unrealistic. But still, the big Christmas party scene at the end was pretty hilarious!

There is a mystery element to this book, which can be enjoyed if you continue the series.

I chose this song because they are unusual individuals who accept one another unconditionally. Their friendship reminds me a bit of the characters in the book, who are quirky but loveable.

I think if I were to cast the role of Penelope, it would probably be a young Jenna Coleman.

One of my favorite quotes from the book was:

“One can board one’s train only after it arrives at the station. Until then, enjoy your newspaper.”

This quote reminds us that sometimes when we are tense and frantic with impatience, we should take a deep breath and hope for the best and remind ourselves to be patient.

This book was pretty deep. Kind of like an iceberg, where much of it is floating beneath the surface.

Perhaps if it becomes a movie, Hollywood could get Lana Condor to play the leading roll.

This book became more interesting than I expected, especially compared to the cover, which looked so fun and carefree. The main character becomes aware of injustice and begins to defend those who are not able to defend themselves.

One of my favorite excerpts from this is:

“I don’t even like math!” I screamed back at her. “I like English!”

My mother’s eyes widened.

“English?” she exclaimed.

I nodded. My heart thudded in my chest. One second passed. And then another. And then, softly, my mother breathed out a tornado.

“You know what you are in English? You’re a bicycle, and the other kids are cars. “

This is a non-fiction account of the Cold War, which I knew only the basics about. Turned out it was kind of a nail-biter!

Was it kismet that I chose this book at this time in history? What is the saying? The more things change; the more they stay the same. This non-fiction about the Cold War reminds us that tension between America and Russia is old news…..but should never be treated that way.

Here is an excerpt that caught my attention:

“We are very, very close to war,” John Kennedy said. Then, trying to cut the tension with a little dark humor, he added, “And there’s not room in the White House bomb shelter for all of us.”

Yikes. Kidding/not kidding.

This book gave me the feels. Smiling through tears for me.

In this book, 11 year-old Kitty is facing the devastating loss of her mother. If you have known grief in your own life, or want to better understand those who are going through this kind of suffering, this book may help. I’d love to buy the author a hot cocoa and chat with her about where her inspiration came from. I laughed, I cried, I smiled.