Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
Reading progress update: I've read 322 out of 416 pages.
I am loving this book so far. It had a slow start, but I knew it was going to have the "forbidden romance" style relationship later on, and it got kind of suspenseful, so I stuck around. Plus it's fascinating watching what party-loving teenage girls do in their free summers.
) - Estelle Maskame)
Highly recommended!
This is a story about choices. Will is a real guy, who makes bad choices, good choices, and deals with the consequences. This is a story about realistic, coming-of-age decision making and the mistakes teens make. This is a book I wish I had had, as a teenager. I know it's going to be so important to the teens who discover it, and find themselves within the pages.
The protagonist, Will, is not the greatest friend. He ends up dating his best friend, Angus, and a girl from school, Brandy. Angus and Brandy go to different schools and live in different towns - Will travels between them as he spends time with his divorced parents. Will knows he's doing something wrong. He very much knows that he's messing up by being with both of them. But he also knows that he doesn't want to choose, and while his feelings for Angus are incredibly confusing, he doesn't want to hold back. And so he doesn't - Will is full of so much feeling for both Angus and Brandy, not to mention his relationships with his parents, that the book was practically dripping with emotion.
CUT BOTH WAYS has the most honest, realistic, and sad ending to a YA book I've ever read. Mesrobian's writing is so powerful that when it was over, when I turned the last page and then closed the book, I physically hurt with feeling. My chest ached with compassion for Will, and with a tainted hope for his open-ended future.
I highly recommend CUT BOTH WAYS to adult and teen readers. Every library should have a copy - you need to have this book for teens who are questioning their own sexuality and decisions in life.
Welcome Home, Bear: A Book of Animal Habitats
Bear isn't feeling quite so happy in his forest home anymore, so he decides to wander off to visit some friends around the world. Will Bear feel just as home out there? Read WELCOME HOME, BEAR, to find out what happens on his adventures!Young readers will learn all about where a variety of Bear's friends live, including Mole, Goat, Polar Bear, and Camel. It's obvious just how different the environment is where each animal lives, and readers will take away an appreciation for these differences and how every animal, both bears and humans, needs certain things to feel at home. There are plenty of opportunities for discussion and questions, and even activities and crafts based on the book. Teachers and librarians will find this book an especially great storytime choice
The illustrations are vibrant and rich in color and detail. Digital painting techniques create a natural look with fun colors that really pop off the page. With a consistent font tying down the narrative, the author takes the liberty of moving the text around the page as it suits the bear's activities, which is a fun addition to the illustrations.
Highly recommended for young animal lovers as well as teachers and librarians, WELCOME HOME, BEAR is another fantastic book from the author of A BOOK OF SLEEP and A BOOK OF BABIES.
Shark Detective!
Shark loves watching detective shows and eating potato chips. One day Shark sees a flier for a missing cat and he decides to become Shark Detective! He spends all day searching for the missing cat, but no one he talks to will help. What is a Shark Detective to do? Find out by reading the heartwarming and hilarious ""Shark Detective"" by Jessica Olien!The illustrations are bold and bright, taking up entire 2 page spreads that readers won't be able to look away from. The dialogue is short and to the point, and the text is bold and in-your-face, perfect for the illustration style. Everything about this book, from the pictures to the colors and the font, scream ""fun!""
This book is fantastic! It will leave readers of all ages laughing and begging for more adventures with Shark and his detective hat. Highly recommended for shark fans, kids who want to be detectives, and teachers/librarians looking for the best read-aloud picture book of the season.
Scaredy-Cat, Splat!
Splat is just a little scaredy-cat, but he wants to be the SCARIEST cat in this Halloween Splat the Cat book. Splat's getting ready for his class's Halloween Party. He needs a Jack-o-Lantern and a costume. Splat decides to dress up as a scaaaary spider. How can Splat become the scariest when he's scared of just about everything? Read the book to find out!With just the kind of misadventures and fun that any kid can relate to, ""Scaredy-Cat Splat"" is a perfect book for young readers in the Halloween season. Share it with the Halloween lover in your life, or read it aloud to a class or library storytime. The illustrations are vibrant and full of Halloween-themed colors and exclamations. Kids will want to dress up like Splat the Cat characters once they're finished with this fun Halloween book.
Otter Loves Halloween
The latest book in the adventures of the adorable Otter is perfectly scary and cute! Otter's fans will love her latest book, while many new readers will surely fall in love with Otter after reading this. Otter has a lot to do to prepare for Halloween: put up decorations, pick out a pumpkin, and make costumes for her and her friends Teddy and Giraffe! But once everything is ready, Otter discovers that there are scary things outside the house. What will Otter do when she is too afraid to hand out candy? Find out in ""Otter Loves Halloween.""
With bright, vibrant colors, the illustrations are perfect for the imaginative young minds of kids getting excited for Halloween. The pictures are cute, relatable, and eye-catching, with a lot of detail and nuance for kids to discover over multiple readings. The text is easy to follow, with an eye-pleasing font and short sentences that are perfect for young readers.
Whether they're enjoying Halloween for the first time or it's their favorite holiday, kids will love this themed story with the lovable Otter. It makes a great read-aloud for bedtime or storytime, and would make a fantastic gift for Halloween-lovers.
Counting by 7s
WOW. Amazing. And how is this book not a movie yet?! I would cry all the way through.
A Madness So Discreet
The latest groundbreaking novel from Mindy McGinnis explores the depths of madness within all of us. Grace Mae has been imprisoned in a mental institution for crimes committed against her. There Grace will be molded into an obedient lady, one without an inconveniently pregnancy. However, Grace gets taken under the wing of a doctor who takes her along to crime scenes that they attempt to solve together with the fledgling practice of criminal psychology. A MADNESS SO DISCREET has a unique style of writing and page-turning suspense; you won't be able to put it down. Discover the hidden secrets of Grace's past and present, and follow the plot's dark and twisted turns alongside a strangely appealing criminal psychologist. Not for the faint of heart, MADNESS takes readers into the darkest depths of asylum life, violent crime, and domestic abuse. Highly recommended for those looking for thrilling historical fiction.
Who Stole Feminism? (Audio)
The equity feminists are still not the majority, not in 1994 and not now, and this is very depressing.
 - Christina Hoff Sommers)
Aspertools: The Practical Guide for Understanding and Embracing Asperger's, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Neurodiversity
Very frustrating book. Helps people w/o AS understand how it works. Does NOT help people with AS learn tools or tips or actions to better ""deal"" with their ""condition"". basically a book full of stories that aren't practical or helpful at all which is what people with AS actually need. Maybe I'll have my mom read it to better understand me, but I was misled by the innacurate title!
