Category: Favorites by Genre
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Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways
Castle in the Air (Howl’s Moving Castle, #2)House of Many Ways (Howl’s Moving Castle, #3)By: Diana Wynne JonesMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up A magical gem of a story! Howl’s Moving Castle was published in 1986, and Castle in the Clouds was published in 1990. House of Many Ways was…
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Roadkill: I Need a Spaceship
RoadkillBy: Dennis E. TaylorMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest for: 18 and up We all need our own spaceship Dennis Tayler keeps winning with his goofy brand of Science Fiction. If you haven’t read the Bobiverse, I insist you stop what you’re doing and read it NOW. If you have and you’re looking for…
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Almost Super: Super in every way!
Almost SuperBy: Marion JensenMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: All Ages Super in every way! It’s this reading dad’s favorite time of the school year, when our school district picks a book and gifts a copy to each family with students in grades K-4. They provide a reading schedule, and our entire community…
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Howl’s Moving Castle: A Bit Odd, A Bit Fun
Howl’s Moving CastleBy: Diana Wynne JonesMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up A little bit odd, a lot bit fun I’ve been hearing about Howl’s Moving Castle for years, so I figured it was time to give it a try. I’m glad I did! Howls Moving Castle is an enchanting story…
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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: It’s a time machine
A Tree Grows in BrooklynBy: Betty SmithMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 16 and up Time travel is real! What defines a Classic Novel? At what point does a story transcend others and become eternal? It’s not age. It’s not genre. It’s not language, length, or style. Check the internet–I’m not the only…
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The Legend of Black Jack
The Legend of Black JackBy: A.R. WithamMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up All brawn, no brain There are some really, REALLY gushing reviews out there for The Legend of Black Jack. Apparently there are a whole lot of readers who found The Legend of Black Jack to be a transformational…
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Tress of the Emerald Sea: A joy to read
Tress of the Emerald SeaBy: THE Brandon SandersonMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS (If only there were more stars to give! ALL THE STARS!)Best for: 12 and up What’s better than The Princess Bride? BrandoSando is. Ah, Brandon Sanderson. Thank you for sharing your stories. This was one of your best. If you’re not…
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Green Angel, Green Witch: Pain and Whimsy
Green Angel (Green Angel, Book 1)Green Witch (Green Angel, Book 2)By: Alice HoffmanMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 14 and up Pain and whimsy Clearly, Alice Hoffman knows pain. She writes sadness like it’s an old, unwelcome friend. But like any sad story, it’s not the pain that makes it great. It’s how…
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Shadow and Bone Trilogy: A Love…Quadrilateral?
Shadow and Bone (Shadow and Bone, Book 1)Siege and Storm (Shadow and Bone, Book 2)Ruin and Rising (Shadow and Bone, Book 3)By: Leigh BardugoMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 14 and up Everyone loves a good love quadrilateral, right? I figured it was time to give Shadow and Bone a go–I’ve had all…
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The Lost Metal: EXPLOSIVE!
The Lost Metal (Mistborn, book 7)By: THE Brandon SandersonMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 16 and up That was…explosive. BEST BRANDO SANDO YET? It just might be. Rusts. It’s been 12 hours since I turned the last page of this EXPLOSIVE finale to Wax and Wayne’s contribution to The Mistborn Saga and I’m…
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The Parasite: Michael Vey is Back! Wait…why is Michael Vey back?
The Parasite (Michael Vey, book 8)By: Richard Paul EvansMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up Michael Vey is Back! Wait…why is Michael Vey back? I have some great Michael Vey memories! The series ended in 2017 in a mostly happy place, and while book 7 fell a bit flat with a…
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Blitz (The Checquy Files, Book 3): X-Men meets X-Files meets 007
The Rook (The Checquy Files, Book 1)Stiletto (The Checquy Files, Book 2)Blitz (The Checquy Files, Book 3)By: Daniel O’MalleyMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 18 and up X-Men meets X-Files meets 007 If you hate having fun while you read, let me just stop you now. The Checquy Files aren’t for you. For…
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The Golden Enclaves: Harry Potter would have been eaten alive. Literally.
The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance, Book 3)By: Naomi NovikMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 18 and up The Scholomance would have eaten Harry Potter alive. Literally. Welcome to the end of The Scholomance! Book three has been published, read, digested–and now, reviewed. Already a fan and you just want to know what to…
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The Monuments Men: Amazing Story. Boring Delivery.
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in HistoryBy: Robert M. EdselMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest For: 16 and up Such an amazing story. Such a boring delivery. Oh man. I REALLY wanted this story to be awesome. An actual World War II treasure hunt? Tens of thousands…
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Bastille vs the Evil Librarians: We’ve only been waiting 15 years. Nbd.
Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz, Book #1)The Scrivener’s Bones (Alcatraz, Book #2)The Knights of Crystallia (Alcatraz, Book #3)The Shattered Lens (Alcatraz, Book #4)The Dark Talent (Alcatraz, Book #5)Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz, Book #6)By: Brandon SandersonMy Rating: FIVE out of FIVE starsBest for: 12 and up We’ve only been waiting 15 years. Nbd.…
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The Inheritance Games: Knives Out x The Westing Game x every YA book, ever!
The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1)The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, #2)The Final Gambit (The Inheritance Games, #3)By: Jennifer Lynn BarnesMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest for: 14 and up Knives Out x The Westing Game x every YA novel ever written It’s been a while since I read an actual factual YA…
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The Secret Keeper: Kate Morton is a story weaver
The Secret KeeperBy: Kate MortonMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: Advanced 14 and up Kate Morton is a story weaver! My favorite stories surprise me. Sometimes it’s the engaging mystery, other times it’s the characters themselves. Many times it’s a great twist ending. Kate Morton is good at all the above, and her…
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Empty Smiles: Who loves creepy clowns? (ME!)
Small Spaces (Small Spaces, book 1)Dead Voiced (Small Spaces, book 2)Dark Waters (Small Spaces, book 3)Empty Smiles (Small Spaces, book 4)By: Katherine ArdenMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest for: 12 and up Those clowns are the creepiest of all! I know Katherine Arden best from The Winternight Trilogy, her fantastic historical fantasy series set…
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This is How You Lose the Time War: The longest, short book ever
This is How You Lose the Time WarBy: Amal El-Mohtar and Max GladstoneMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 16 and up This might be the longest, short book I’ve ever read My kids joke that some art is like writing in cursive. You could just simply write, or you could write in cursive.…
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The Comfort of Distance: CSI IRL
The Comfort of DistanceThe Boxwood TorsoWhere the Blood is MadeBy: Ryburn DobbsMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 16 and up CSI IRL… Sebastien Grey doesn’t like CSI. According to him, it’s “improbable.” In the real world, you can’t put a skull in a machine and then have the person’s 3-D face float above…
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How to Train Your Dragon: Excessive Fun Warning!!!
How to Train Your DragonBy: Cressida CowellMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 10 and under Warning: You will have excessive fun and be forced to laugh out loud. Read at your own risk. I read (and ADORED) The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell, so I shouldn’t be surprised that How to Train…
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Indexing: Extra Twisty Fairy Tales
IndexingBy: Seanan McGuireMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 18 and up These twisted fair tales are…twisted! I’ve been trying to rekindle my love affair with Seanan McGuire’s stories since I read and LOVED Middlegame. Unfortunately I keep striking out–time to quit while the happy Middlegame memories are still fresh. I enjoy fairytale retellings…
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Congo: I’ll be skipping the Jungle Tour…
CongoBy: Michael CrichtonMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 16 and up Ya…no. I’ll skip the African Jungle Tour. Thanks though. Oh gosh. Please don’t read Michael Crichton if you aren’t interested in science info dumps. It’s what he does. It’s in every book, and if you’re nerdy enough it’s awesome. Don’t read it…
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Foundryside: But the cover is so pretty!
Foundryside (The Founders Trilogy, #1)By: Robert Jackson BennettMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 18 and up But the cover was so pretty! Brandon Sanderson gave Foundryside a rare and coveted 5-star review when it was published back in 2018. When I saw that, I immediately bought both ebook and audiobook (obviously) because Brandon…
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The Wheel of Time 12-14: I’M DONE! [happy dance]
![The Wheel of Time 12-14: I’M DONE! [happy dance]](https://onemanbookclubdotblog.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/91ot9wk-dsl_1024x1024402x.jpg?w=1024)
The Wheel of Time 12-14The Gathering StormTowers of MidnightA Memory of LightBy: Robert Jordan and Brandon SandersonMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 14 and up A journey of 12,000 pages starts at page 1 Quick! Ask me if I’ve read The Wheel of Time! Why yes! Yes I have! I’m done! I’m done!…
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The Help: The movie doesn’t count.
The HelpBy: Kathryn StockettMy Rating: Five out of five stars.Best for: 16 and up Dedicated to those who think everything magically got better after Martin Luther King Here’s my recommendation. Next time you’re in Atlanta, don’t just go to The World of Coke and the Aquarium. Take time to go to the other building in…
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The Last Dragonslayer: Magnificent Nonsense!
The Last Dragonslayer (The Last Dragonslayer, #1)The Song of the Quarkbeast (The Last Dragonslayer, #2)The Eye of Zoltar (The Last Dragonslayer, #3)The Great Troll War (The Last Dragonslayer, #4)By: Jasper FfordeMy Rating: Four out of five stars.Best for: 14 and up Magic, dragons, and a whole lot of magnificent nonsense! I’ve decided to officially join…
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The Wheel of Time, Books 6-11: I can see the light…
The Wheel of Time 6-11Lord of ChaosA Crown of SwordsThe Path of DaggersWinter’s HeartCrossroads of TwilightKnife of DreamsBy: Robert JordanMy Rating: Four out of five stars.Best for: 14 and up A journey of 12,000 pages starts at page 1 If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll know I’ve been putting off reading The…
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Archangel One: War! In! Space!
Archangel One (Archangel One, #1)Archangel Rising (Archangel One, #2)By: Evan CurrieMy Rating: Four out of five stars.Best for: 14 and up Finally, a true military-in-space story! I’ve read plenty of spaceship books, but I’ve never read one that I’d consider convincingly militaristic. This story is–military strategy, complexity, military roles, war ship configuration and function, stuff…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Looice
LooiceBy: Ben Goldstein and Phillip NamanworthReviewer Rating: 5Best for: 10 and under Easy, Fast ReadGuest book review by Christal M. Q: What’s the book about? The book is about a man who uses his imagination to create different things. From Goodreads… Looice (pronounced Lewis): A surprising, magical, fun filled day at the beach with the…
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The Constant Rabbit: Ah, satire…
The Constant RabbitBy: Jasper FfordeMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 16 and up Ah, satire… Satire is an art form. Done well as a novel, it’s like getting two books in one: there’s the story you read, and then there’s the story you’re meant to understand. One entertains, and the other teaches. Or…
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A Book Club Guest Review of The Girl in Cabin 13
The Girl in Cabin 13By: AJ RiversReviewer Rating: 3Best for: 18 and up Not for the Faint of Heart(which was almost me)!Guest book review by Julie H Q: What’s the book about? Emma Griffin is an FBI agent Undercover in a small town where people keep disappearing. It’s a definite page turner! I even started…
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A Book Club Guest Review of The Secret Power Within
The Secret Power WithinBy: Chuck NorrisReviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 18 and up Zen Power and BalanceGuest book review by Julie H Q: What’s the book about? Partly an autobiography but mostly how Zen works in everyday life. Lessons like how to win by losing can totally change your perspective on what’s…
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A Book Club Guest Review of The Camel Club
The Camel ClubBy: David BaldacciReviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 14 and up Conspiracies and more conspiraciesGuest book review by Julie H Q: What’s the book about? Oliver Stone–not his real name–has three real friends. They are all rather eccentric in their own special fields. They call themselves The Camel Club and meet…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Patriot Games
Patriot GamesBy: Tom ClancyReviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 14 and up Don’t make the IRA angry . . .Guest book review by Julie H Q: What’s the book about? Jack Ryan, before he became a famous analyst! On vacation he impulsively jumps into the chain of a bombing and saves the Prince…
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The Wheel of Time, Books 1-5: This. Is. Long.
The Wheel of Time 1-5The Eye of the WorldThe Great HuntThe Dragon RebornThe Shadow RisingThe Fires of HeavenBy: Robert JordanMy Rating: Four out of five stars.Best for: 12 and up A journey of 12,000 pages starts at page 1 If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll know I’ve been putting off reading The…
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The Kaiju Preservation Society: Godzilla vs COVID
The Kaiju Preservation SocietyBy: John ScalziMy Rating: Four out of five stars.Best for: 18 and up Godzilla vs COVID Seriously, Scalzi? Not sure how, but Scalzi always seems to be just what I need. I just wish he would be a little less comfortable with the f-bombs. This story is just for the fun of…
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Every Heart a Doorway: That was…unexpected
Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)By: Seanan McGuireMy Rating: Three out of five stars.Best for: 18 and up That was…unexpected. I enjoyed Middlegame my Seanan McGuire so much, I looked to see what her next most popular books were. Turns out it’s the Wayward Children series. Book one is Every Heart a Doorway–which makes…
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The Lost Shtetl: Mel Brooks x Fiddler on the Roof x Schindler’s List
The Lost ShtetlBy: Max GrossMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 16 and up Now THIS how to teach history… I picked up The Lost Shtetl because the blurb sold me on a fascinating idea: What if an entire town had been lost to history? What would happen when it was rediscovered? I checked…
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Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: Sounds cool. But it’s not.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and EvilBy: John BerendtMy Rating: Two out of Five StarsBest for: 18 and up Midnight in the Garden of… …Zzzz …Zzzz …Zzzz …[Awakes with a start] Oh, sorry. Fell asleep. I’ve been hearing about Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil for years, so I picked it up…
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Dark One: So that’s a graphic novel? Huh.
Dark OneBy: Brandon SandersonMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up So that’s a graphic novel? Huh. My graphic novel experience has been limited to the middle grade stuff my kids like to read, so I don’t much experience to compare with Dark One. I’m happy to share my thoughts as a…
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A Book Club Guest Review of American Assassin: A Thriller
American Assassin: A ThrillerBy: Vince FlynnGuest Reviewer Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 14 and up Revenge and retaliationGuest review by Julie H Q: What’s this book about? Mitch Rapp is a college student whose girlfriend was on a hijacked plane. When she died, he wanted revenge on the terrorists and anything to do…
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A Book Club Guest Review A Disciple’s Life: biography of Neal A Maxwell
A Disciples Life: biography of Neal A MaxwellBy: Bruce C HafenGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 14 and up The life and beliefs of an amazing manGuest Review by Julie H Q: What’s this book about? A: It’s about the life and beliefs of Neal Maxwell. There are detailed accounts of stories…
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A Tale of Two Cities: Come join the club!
A Tale of Two CitiesBy: Charles DickensMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 16 and up Come join the club! Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities might have been the hardest book I’ve ever read–and I’ve read a lot of hard books. I don’t mean the content was hard. I mean the words…
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Charlotte’s Web: All We Need is Love
Charlotte’s WebBy: E.B. WhiteMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: All Ages All we need is love. E.B. White was awarded a Newbery Honor for Charlotte’s Web in 1953. It lost the Newbery Medal to a boring little book called Secret of the Andes, which I’m sure is lovely. But it’s no Charlotte’s Web.…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Summer of the Monkeys
Summer of the MonkeysBy: Wilson RawlsGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS10 and up Just as good as when I was 10!Guest Review by Julie Hilton A boy grows up fast one summer with a bunch of monkeys, some hard choices, and great lessons. A classic coming of age story I loved as a…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Beneath a Scarlet SkyBy: Mark T. SullivanGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest For: 16 and up This WWII Hero Will Change YouGuest review by Catina Haverlock How did we not know of this TRUE WWII story? How did it remain untold for SO long? Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the inspiring true tale…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Just Mercy
Just MercyBryan StevensonGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 18 and up Just Inspiring. But Just Heartbreaking. Just NOT Surprising.Guest Review by Catina Haverlock When Bryan Stevenson, the author of this true story was asked by Rosa Parks just exactly what it was that he did, he couldn’t contain his passion for his…
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A Book Club Guest Review of The Boys in the Boat
The Boys in the BoatBy: Daniel James BrownGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 14 and up This story’s going to stay with me a long, long timeGuest review buy Catina Haverlock Spoiler: The University of Washington’s 9-man varsity rowing team comprised of poor and blue collar boys, shocks the world by winning…
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Where the Lost Wander: Love and Tragedy on the American Frontier
Where the Lost WanderBy: Amy HarmonMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest For: 16 and up Love and Tragedy on the American Frontier I’m not Amy Harmon’s target demographic, but I sure enjoy a good story. Amy Harmon tells really great stories. My first experience with Amy Harmon was The First Girl Child and The…
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The Dragon Reborn: I’m finally starting to get it!
The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time, Book 3)By: Robert JordanMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest For: 14 and up FINE! I’ll read The Wheel of Time! I’ve been desperately avoiding The Wheel of Time series for years now. Even I, book nerd extraordinaire, am put off by the 14 book, 12,000 page commitment.…
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Jed and the Junkyard War: So much potential…
Jed and the Junkyard War (Jed and the Junkyard War, book 1)Jed and the Junkyard Rebellion (Jed and the Junkyard War, Book 2)By: Steven BohlsMy Rating: Three and a half out of five starsBest for: 10 and up So much potential… Jed and the Junkyard War and Jed and the Junk Yard Rebellion are super…
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#Foundation: Ambitious!
FoundationBy: Isaac AsimovMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest for: Ambitious 14-year-olds and up One word? Ambitious. You don’t really review the classics. You just share your experience. I finished Foundation by Isaac Asimov a couple of days ago, and it’s been rolling around in my head ever since. The word my thoughts keep coalescing…
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#Lux: More Reckoners? Yes, please!
Lux (Texas Reckoners, Book 1)By: Brandon Sanderson and Steven BohlsMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 14 and up More Reckoners? Yes, please! I’ve been apprehensive about embracing Sanderson, Inc. In 2021, Brandon Sanderson released five books–Four 4 of them written (co-written?) by former students of his writing class at BYU. I’m nervous for…
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#Nightwalker: Paranormal mystery, anyone?
NightwalkerBy: Elissa C. NysetvoldMy Rating: Three out of five starsBest for: 14 and up Who’s up for a paranormal mystery? I’m always on the look out for new authors who do great work and deserve to get their books out there, so I was happy to take a look at Nightwalker by Elissa Nysetvold. Innocent…
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Evershore: Brandon, Inc is getting better
Evershore (Skyward Flight: Novella 3)By: Janci Patterson and Brandon SandersonMy Rating: Five out of five starsBest for: 12 and up Excellent, but still waiting for more! Evershore is the 3rd Skyward Flight Novella that tells the story of what’s happening to Spensa’s friends while she is stuck in the Nowhere during the events of Cytonic,…
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#TheGreatHunt: Fine! I’ll Read The Wheel of Time!
The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2)By: Robert JordanMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest For: 14 and up FINE! I’ll read The Wheel of Time! I’ve been desperately avoiding The Wheel of Time series for years now. Even I, book nerd extraordinaire, am put off by the 14 book, 12,000 page commitment.…
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#TheEyeoftheWorld: FINE! I’ll Read The Wheel of Time!
The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)By: Robert JordanMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest For: 14 and up FINE! I’ll read The Wheel of Time! I’ve been desperately avoiding The Wheel of Time series for years now. Even I, book nerd extraordinaire, am put off by the 14 book, 12,000…
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#Cytonic: I NEED MORE–NOW!!
Cytonic (Skyward, Book 3)By: THE Brandon SandersonMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest For: 12 and up Sanderson Strikes Again…I just wish I didn’t have to wait so long for book 4! The Skyward series is fantasy-standard-bearer Brandon Sanderson’s first foray into Science Fiction, and it’s pretty great. Turns out, it’s less Science Fiction and…
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#TheFallofBabel: The Greatest Series You’ve Never Read!
Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, Book 1)The Arm of the Sphinx (The Books of Babel, Book 2)The Hod King (The Books of Babel, Book 3)The Fall of Babel (The Books of Babel, Book 4)By: Josiah BancroftMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest For: Advanced 14 and up Thus ends the most brilliant fantasy adventure…
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#Unknown: More Augmented Reality, Please!
Unknown (Unreal, Book 2)By: Cindy GundersonMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up AR?! Yes please! You know what’s cool? Augmented Reality. The possibilities are endless! At least, I thought it was cool–until crafty authors started telling stories about all the ways governments and corporations might use AR to passively exploit us…
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#TheAndromedaStrain: Impressive Science, Disappointing Fiction
The Andromeda StrainBy: Michael CrichtonMy Rating: Three out of five starsBest for: 14 and up Classic Crichton, Pointless Crichton I’ve read nearly everything Michael Crichton wrote. I read Jurassic Park in high school (before it was a movie) and many times since. I’ve read Airframe, Eaters of the dead, The Great Train Robbery, The Terminal…
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#TheMidnightLibrary: It’s A Wonderful Life. Again.
The Midnight LibraryBy: Matt HaigMy Rating: Three out of five starsBest for: 18 and up It’s A Wonderful Life. Again. This is the second Matt Haig book I’ve read. The first was The Humans. While that and The Midnight Library are seemingly miles apart, I’m feeling a whole lot of connection between them in tone,…
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#BookScavenger: Where was this when I was 11?
Book Scavenger (Book Scavenger, #1)The Unbreakable Code (Book Scavenger, #2)The Alcatraz Escape (Book Scavenger, #3)By: Jennifer Chambliss BertmanMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest for: 10 and up Where was Book Scavenger when I was 11? Books about books are IT! This charming and well-written trio of middle grade stories are a book nerd’s dream…
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#Holes: A story worthy of its accolades
HolesBy: Louis SacharMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 10 and up A story worthy of its accolades I feel like I’ve known Louis Sachar my whole life. Sideways Stories from Wayside School was one of the first stories I remember really enjoying for the fun of reading. Sideways stories and it’s sequels were…
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#DarkWaters: More creepy fun!
Dark Waters (Small Spaces, book 3)By: Katherine ArdenMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest for: 12 and up What!? An unexpected cliffhanger!!! I know Katherine Arden best from The Winternight Trilogy, her fantastic historical fantasy series set in long ago Russia. It’s a wonderful story, full of with amazing characters, connections to myths and traditions,…
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#DeadVoices: Go SCARE yourself!
Dead Voices (Small Spaces, book 2)By: Katherine ArdenMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best for: 12 and up If this is middle grade, why was I so freaked out?! I know Katherine Arden best from The Winternight Trilogy, her fantastic historical fantasy series set in long ago Russia. It’s a wonderful story, full of amazing…
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Sunreach: A NOT Sanderson, Sanderson book
Sunreach (Skyward Flight: Novella 1)By: Janci Patterson and Brandon SandersonMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest for: 12 and up A novella? Ya right… Seriously, every time Brandon Sanderson writes a book that’s under 250 pages and calls it a “novella” I laugh out loud. It’s like he just wants to remind the other authors…
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#TheLastGraduate: HP would be so happy! (Lovecraft, not Potter…)
The Last Graduate (The Scholomance, Book 2)By: Naomi NovikMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best for: 18 and up I need a hyperventilate emoji… Gah! Guys, I’m torn between raving and ranting. I loved, LOVED this book–but that cliffhanger! In book 1, A Deadly Education, we were introduced to this wonderfully imagined world from the…
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#ADeadlyEducation: Trust me, you’ve never read anything like this before…
A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, Book 1)By: Naomi NovikMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best for: 16 and up A magic school somewhere in England? A teen wizard tainted by a dark prophesy? No, you have NOT read this book yet, I promise. This magic school might have a familiar location, and there may be…
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#Dragonwatch: Dragons are the bacon of books
Dragonwatch (Dragonwatch #1)Wrath of the Dragon King (Dragonwatch #2)Master of the Phantom Isle (Dragonwatch #3)Champion of the Titan Games (Dragonwatch #4)Return of the Dragon Slayer (Dragonwatch #5) (*Haven’t read this one yet! Releases in 3 more weeks!)My Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best for: All ages! Independent readers 10 and up And you though Fablehaven…
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#ChildrenofRuin: We’re going on an adventure…
Children of Ruin (Children of Time, Book 2)By: Adrian TchaikovskyMy Rating: Four out of five starsBest For: 16 and up Alien parasites, space-fighter octopods, and astronaut spiders–oh my! I guarantee you’ll never hear the phrase “we’re going on an adventure” the same way again… Children of Time won the Arthur C. Clark Award for Best…
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#ChildrenofTime: How do you feel about spiders?
Children of TimeBy: Adrian TchaikovskyMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best For: Adults Well, that was a mind bender. I hope you’re not scared of spiders… Children of Time won the Arthur C. Clark Award for Best Science Fiction Novel of 2015, which puts it in pretty great company. If you’re a fan of ScyFy,…
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#InsteadofThreeWishes: Marvelously Magical Short Stories
Instead of Three Wishes: Magical Short StoriesBy: Megan Whalen TurnerMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 14 and up How does an author show off? They write short stories. There’s just something about a short story that warms my book-loving heart. Novels are an amazing feat, to be sure. But when an author fits…
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#Spellslinger: Oh, how I wanted to love this!
Spellslinger (Spellslinger, #1)Shadowblack (Spellslinger, #2)Charmcaster (Spellslinger, #3Soulbinder (Spellslinger, #4)Queenslayer (Spellslinger, #5)Crownbreaker (Spellslinger, #6)By: Sebastien de CastellMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest For: 14 and up Oh, how I wanted this to be amazing! I’ve had this series on my TBR for a while. I pre-purchased the first four books and was just waiting for…
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#TheRampartTrilogy: Fantastic & Frustrating!
The Book of Koli (Rampart Trilogy, #1)The Trials of Koli (Rampart Trilogy, #2)The Fall of Koli (Rampart Trilogy, #3)By: M.R. CareyMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest For: Adults Trilogy Review I had sky-high expectations for The Rampart Trilogy, and it delivered…mostly. I loved the world, I loved the characters, I loved the story, and…
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#Unreal: Why am I such a nerd?
Unreal (The Unreal Series, Book #1)By: Cindy GundersonMy Review: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up Sigh. Why am I such a nerd? I’m such a nerd when it comes to AR. (That’s Augmented Reality for everyone less nerdy than me.) It’s when you use a computer to change what your eyes see.…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Her Last Breath
Her Last BreathBy: Hilary DavidsonGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for:14 and up Was it her heart? Really?Guest review by Julie Hilton Diedre’s sister died suddenly. It was ruled unknown heart problem but after her death, Diedre received an email from her sister saying if anything happened to her to know it was…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Murder at Tophouse
Murder at TophouseBy: Clair M PoulsonGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 12 and up LA to NZ murder and mayhemGuest review by Julie Hilton A detective in Los Angeles suspects his partner of all sorts of bad behavior but he’s in for a huge surprise when he’s the one who gets suspended.…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Swords of Joseph
Swords of JosephBy: M R DurbinGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 10 and up Moses Mystery Historic FictionGuest Review by Julie Hilton Joshua and Caleb are troublemakers when they can’t handle the Egyptians anymore!! Their troubles come to the attention of Moses who has recently returned to free the slaves from Pharaoh.…
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The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O: Can we make Science Fantasy a thing?
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O By: Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland My Rating: Four out of Five Stars Best For: Adults only How about a Science Fiction story with some Fantasy mixed in? Or is it a Fantasy story with ScyFy elements? Both? Neither? I’m creating a new genre for The Rise and Fall…
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A Book Club Guest Review of West with Giraffes
West with GiraffesBy: Lynda RutledgeGuest Reviewer Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up Historic Fiction embellishedGuest Review by Julie Hilton An aged veteran (105!) tells a story looking back at his youth of when he talked his way into helping drive a couple Giraffes from the East Coast to San Diego, California.…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Double Eagle Double Cross
Double Eagle Double CrossBy: M. R. DurbinGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 16 and up Indiana Jones meets Jim CheeGuest Review by Julie Hilton Ancient Indian ceremony combined with Confederate gold. Knights of the Golden Circle clash with modern day students who get unknowingly mixed up in a search for lost treasure…
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A Book Club Guest Review of The Book of Lost Names
The Book of Lost NamesBy: Kristin HarmelGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 12 and up Lost people of the Holocaust foundGuest Review by Julie Hilton An old woman with a boring history suddenly decides to take a trip to Germany after reading about Berlin librarian’s attempts to return books to rightful owner…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Deadly Secret
Deadly SecretsBy: Frank RichardsonGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 14 and up From Homeless to Hunted to HelperGuest Review by Julie Hilton Rick, a guy who’s bounced around the foster care system, is now a homeless man. He’s a good guy and helps a woman one night but it gets him mistaken…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree: Reflections on What God sees in Us
Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree: Reflections on what God sees in usBy: Edward DubeGuest Reviewer Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 10 and up Autobiography of an amazing African manGuest Review by Julie Hilton Edward Dube shares about his growing up years, his finding God, his subsequent service as a missionary and…
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A Book Club Guest Review of My Name is River and Hope Girl
My name is River (River, Book 1)Hope Girl (River, Book 2)By: Wendy DunhamGuest Review Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest For: 12 and up Tough subjects done wellA Guest Book Review by Julie Hilton River is a girl with a mysterious parent situation, a friend who dies in suspicious circumstance, an ill grandmother, and feelings…
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#Spoonbenders: Once, we were Amazing…
SpoonbendersBy: Daryl GregoryMy Review: Three out of Five StarsBest for: Adults only Once, we were Amazing. And…sold. Meet The Telemachus family: Teddy’s a slick talking charmer of a card shark who can con anyone for anything. He’s so good, in fact, he tricks a university professor looking for psychics into thinking he actually IS one,…
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#TheWitnessfortheDead: Amazing, but don’t step on the Legos…
The Witness for the Dead (The Goblin Emperor, Book 2)By: Katherine AddisonMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: Advanced 14 and up I’m a huge fan of The Goblin Emperor. You might be too, if you appreciate intricate drama, courtly intrigue, and micro-detailed world building. Check it out. But also watch out, because when…
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#BeforetheBrokenStar: Meh for me, but maybe not for you!
Before the Broken Star (The Evermore Chronicles #1)By: Emily R. KingMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up So…meh. I think there are probably some teenage girls who’ll really enjoy Before the Broken Star. This dad of teenage girls, unfortunately, did not. At some point, the book must have been on sale…
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#ProjectHailMary: This book is FUN! (So Lighten Up!)
Project Hail MaryBy: Andy WeirMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best for: 16 and up Come on, lighten up people! Project Hail Mary was fun! Actually, most reviews don’t need to lighten up–this book is getting some great, and well deserved praise. But there are a few reviewers who want to focus on a few…
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#TheSecondBlindSon: Whoa, wow, holy cow! What a story!
The Second Blind Son (The Chronicles of Saylok, Book 2)By: Amy HarmonMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARSBest for: 18 and up Whoa. Wow. Holy cow. What a story! The Second Blind Son was….powerful? Passionate? Gripping? Romantic? Really, really cool? Yes. Yes it was. I was impressed with The First Girl Child, and I don’t…
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#Dragonlance: 80s Fantasy Doesn’t Translate…
Dragons of Autumn Twilight (Dragonlance Chronicles, Book 1)Dragons of Winter Night (Dragonlance Chronicles, Book 2)Dragons of Spring Dawning (Dragonlance Chronicles, Book 3)By: Margaret Weis and Tracy HickmanMy Rating: Three out of Five StarsBest for: 12 and up Ah, junior high! I remember the Dragonlance books with early-teenage fondness, and I’ve been wanting to reconnect with…
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#TheEnchantedForestChronicles: The Series That Was Written in Reverse!
Dealing with Dragons (The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book 1)Searching for Dragons (The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book 2)Calling on Dragons (The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book 3)Talking to Dragons (The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book 4)By: Patricia C. WredeMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: All ages. Independent Readers 10 and up. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles was…
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#ADeadDjinninCairo: Steampunk Fantasy
A Dead Djinn in Cairo (Dead Djinn, #0.5)By: P. Djèlí ClarkMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest For: 18 and up Based on all the articles, ads, and give-aways, Tor really wants me to read P. Djeli Clark, so I figured I’d start with this 45-page short story as in introduction. Good short stories always…
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#TheFirstGirlChild: So, am I one of Amy’s Harmonies now?
The First Girl ChildBy: Amy HarmonMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 16 and up Oh my goodness, there are some passionate Amy Harmon fan’s out there! I tried to join the Amy’s Harmonies private Facebook Group to see what the fuss was all about, but have yet to be approved. Maybe One Man…
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#FugitiveTelemetry: Yay! Another Murderbot Book!
Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries, Book 6)By: Martha WellsMy Rating: FIVE out of FIVE STARSBest for: 18 and up Yay! Another Murderbot book! I’m a huge fan of the conflicted AI with a past so tragic it calls itself Murderbot. This is the 6th story in the collection now, and I’ll be first in line…
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#TheBoysintheBoat: Amazing History Comes Alive!
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin OlympicsBy: Daniel James BrownMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best for: 14 and up I grew up in Seattle. While I haven’t called the Pacific Northwest home for many years, I still carry with me an affection–or maybe…
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#TheDevilandtheDarkWater: Agatha Christie+Sherlock Holmes+1600’s Hygiene
The Devil and the Dark WaterBy: Stuart TurtonMy Rating: Four out of Five StarsBest for: 18 and up The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a happy surprise. It’s Groundhog Day + Quantum Leap + Agatha Christie, and if you haven’t read it, you need to. It was so good, in fact, that when…
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A Book Club Guest Review of Just Mercy (YA Adaptation)
Just Mercy (adapted for young adults)By: Bryan StephensonMy Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!Best for: 12 and up Just Mercy or Miraculous Mercy?Guest Review by Julie Hilton A new lawyer wants to help people who were wrongly convicted and on death row. The major story about Walter McMillian, accused of murder and his road to…
One Man Book Club 