I finished this book in basically one sitting, but while I finished it quickly, I'm left with a vague sense of disappointment. The mystery behind who I finished this book in basically one sitting, but while I finished it quickly, I'm left with a vague sense of disappointment. The mystery behind who killed April was certain engaging, and I was left guessing for a lot later than I expected. However, I sort of grew to hate the flashback chapters as April and a few others were such shitty kids. One thing that made me incredibly uncomfortable is that (view spoiler)[her husband Will's temper was such a red flag in a relationship. Sure, he may not have been the killer, but also, that's incredibly scary in a relationship and I would tell anyone to run (hide spoiler)]. I also didn't like the apparent whitewashing of two characters' flaws by the end. It never felt like Hannah fully grasped that (view spoiler)[April was never a good friend, and that while John may not have been the murderer, he was still a stalker creep who should still have gotten in trouble (hide spoiler)] which Hannah ignored in the final chapter.
Anyway, this was the first time I've read any Ruth Ware, and I think I'd need some serious convincing to read any more....more
My son got this at school today and was very excited about it, and he wanted me to read it first! So here I am. Anyway, it turns out reading book 10 oMy son got this at school today and was very excited about it, and he wanted me to read it first! So here I am. Anyway, it turns out reading book 10 of a franchise I've never seen before is perhaps not the best introduction to it. But the main thing to know is that Nindroids have taken over this village, and there's a mysterious other ninja who's also fighting against the Nindroids, but they're a bit more ruthless. Friend or foe?! I thought it was pretty fun, though some of the gender relations stuff was very silly (one of your Ninja buddies is a girl, Cole, why do you care if someone else was a girl?). Anyway, it was fun enough, and I'm sure I'll be tracking down the ones before and after this book in the series for my son....more
Why I didn't finish this: My son really wanted me to read this series, not because he's read it, but because it has dragons and he thinks I'd like it Why I didn't finish this: My son really wanted me to read this series, not because he's read it, but because it has dragons and he thinks I'd like it (he won't read it himself because there are no pictures inside). I read the first book which was okay, but the issue here was that I just didn't care about the main character all that much (especially with how reluctant he was to accept any kind of fantastical element). It's also a bit annoying because the author is British and the story is so clearly British, but has also clearly had an American-localization attempt, so despite his college working like a British one and hedgehogs in the yard (there are no wild hedgehogs in the US), he also uses American money. Anyway, it's also written like an MG/YA book, but the character is a 20-year-old college student, and the new focus on his dating life here is annoying and I just couldn't be bothered anymore with this....more
Sadly, this is probably the last book I'll read in the series for now, as my son is no longer interested in the book. He had so much fun with the firsSadly, this is probably the last book I'll read in the series for now, as my son is no longer interested in the book. He had so much fun with the first book, but he just kept ignoring this book around the house until he finally said that I could read it if I wanted.
Anyway, Tag, Skyla, and Blaze make it to the Crystal Caverns to look for the next piece of the Ember Stone, while making a new friend along the way. I think the absolutely funniest element in this book was having seals who live high up in the mountains....more
My son picked this up at his school library and couldn't stop reading it, and he immediately wanted me to read it, too!
It's a very fun fantasy quest nMy son picked this up at his school library and couldn't stop reading it, and he immediately wanted me to read it, too!
It's a very fun fantasy quest narrative, with a small barn owl Tag and his squirrel buddy Skyla happening across what appears to be--the last firehawk! Wise owl leader Grey immediately tasks them with finding the Ember Stone and they're on their way! I can see why my son was loving this--it's a simple story for me, yes, but what an exciting intro for young readers. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series with my kid.
But also, confusingly, the birds can pick things up with their wings, and the owls do a lot more walking than I expected? (Not something I'm going to bring up with my kid, I don't even think he knows what "suspension of disbelief" is yet.)...more
My young son picked this up for me at the library and told me to read it. Not that he was interested in reading it with me or anything, but it didn't My young son picked this up for me at the library and told me to read it. Not that he was interested in reading it with me or anything, but it didn't have any pictures so it must be a book for Dad. :)
Anyway! This book is fine! Twelve-year-old orphan Jack is downtrodden and is rescued from the orphanage/school he's in to go to the magical land of Imagine Nation, where superheroes and magic and high-tech science are real. It turns out he's connected somehow to the alien Rustov invaders, though, so he's under constant danger of being executed. It's a fun beginning and I can see how middle-grade readers would have a lot of fun with this. Jack has a cool power, and one of the antagonists is very creepy especially in today's political climate. I'm glad the author didn't go as dark as he could've. I probably won't read the sequels (unless my son makes me)....more
My young son saw this book at the library ages ago and has been begging me to pick it up and read it. I kept saying no because I had other books I wanMy young son saw this book at the library ages ago and has been begging me to pick it up and read it. I kept saying no because I had other books I wanted to read, haha. But he finally got this book checked out and put into my hands, so I read it! He didn't want to read it himself since he thinks it's for older kids which I agree (and no pictures, which is currently his primary criterion for kid vs. adult).
To be honest, this is a somewhat confusing book. I'm not used to the idea of an Middle Grade book with a 20-year-old main character who's apparently a college student. The premise is that David rents a room from this woman and her daughter who appear to have something special about them. Most of the book involves a plot about rescuing an injured squirrel, which was very sweet (but again, no physical dragons except little clay statues of them). The way David's story for Lucy and reality meshed together was also fun (was he describing reality, or making it?).
I'm unsure if I will continue the series. My son says he knows where all the sequels are at the library, though, so I have that going for me....more
My son is in kindergarten, and at his school book fair he bought me this book! Apparently it has chapters and hardly any pictures, so he thought it'd My son is in kindergarten, and at his school book fair he bought me this book! Apparently it has chapters and hardly any pictures, so he thought it'd be appropriate for me. I think this might be the first book present he's ever gotten for me, so I'm going to treasure this forever.
I had never heard of the "I Survived" series, but the premise is great--each book follows a kid during whatever event/crisis the particular book is about, and this one is D-Day. Following Paul on the day before the D-Day landings, we have things like "Jewish best friend taken away by Nazis" and "American paratrooper stuck in a tree" and "the French resistance needs your help, Paul!" Exciting yet grim stuff! The carrier pigeon especially was a great touch.
I was surprised at how emotional I ended up getting with this book (the epilogue in particular!), but that's more because I'm a dad now. If I were a kid of the right age to read this, it would probably just be cool and neat, especially since the author includes an appendix of additional information about the landings (pictures of vehicles, a timeline, etc.) as well as a bibliography for kids to read more information on.
My son doesn't quite have the reading skills for this book yet, but I think this series might be meant more for 3rd graders or so....more
Well, this at least explains who Molly is in Volume 11. it's a fun Dog Man volume, tackling some issues about "what is fair?" and having Barky McTreefWell, this at least explains who Molly is in Volume 11. it's a fun Dog Man volume, tackling some issues about "what is fair?" and having Barky McTreeface show up with an A+ song. Unfortunately I think my son has too many distractions and won't be finishing this book himself in time for its return....more
Another fun Dog Man book! Not sure about the context of the Fleas here since they were still free at the end of Volume 6 and I haven't read Volumes 7 Another fun Dog Man book! Not sure about the context of the Fleas here since they were still free at the end of Volume 6 and I haven't read Volumes 7 -10 for reasons. But it was fun as heck and it was great seeing Petey evolve some more here too. ...more
Following directly on the heels of Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas, Dog Man is framed for a crime and goes to jail! Oh no! (My wife had serious issues withFollowing directly on the heels of Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas, Dog Man is framed for a crime and goes to jail! Oh no! (My wife had serious issues with the legal system as shown in this book.) Definitely very cute, and my son loves the poop jokes, haha. I loved the Petey & Li'l Petey interplay as always....more
We are now a Dog Man household. And he's picking them up indiscriminately like I used to with books--we've read volumes 4 and 5 and just picked up 11?We are now a Dog Man household. And he's picking them up indiscriminately like I used to with books--we've read volumes 4 and 5 and just picked up 11? Why aren't we going in order starting from 1? Haha. Anyway, this was a book with silly references to Lord of the Flies, and Dog Man is ridiculous. I'm loving the drama about Peter and Li'l Petey, lovely character building between all the poop jokes....more
This is a very silly book, but it's also the first book my son's picked up with this level of excitement to read and he begged me to read it, too. ThiThis is a very silly book, but it's also the first book my son's picked up with this level of excitement to read and he begged me to read it, too. This is my first Dog Man book, and I thought it was very fun and I loved some of the jokes that were just for adults. I also really liked the message Lil Petey (Cat Kid) got about being good instead of perfect. The subplot with the robot 80-HD was also adorable....more
I picked this up because my 3-year-old son picked it for me randomly at our local public library, and I thought, "Sure, why not?" (and made more amusiI picked this up because my 3-year-old son picked it for me randomly at our local public library, and I thought, "Sure, why not?" (and made more amusing by the fact that he picked a large print edition).
This is definitely not a book I would have picked up for myself, as I find it hard to immerse myself in a lot of popular thrillers. Here, part of my dislike was the situation--our apparent heroine was having an affair with a married man (never a way to endear me as a reader). At some point, her own husband finds out, and as he's a psychopath, he begins to plot a "perfect crime" to get rid of her. I suppose the writing was mostly fine, but I just wasn't intrigued by the characters or the so-called perfect crime, even if it did backfire in horrendous ways....more
