Book Review: The Not So Uniform Life of Holly Mei

 

The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei

by Christina Matula

Pub Date 05 Apr 2022 

 Inkyard Press 

 Children's Fiction  |  Middle Grade

I am reviewing a copy of The Not So Uniform Life of Holly-Mei through Inkyard Press and Netgalley:

Holly Mei-Jones is excited that they will be moving to Hong Kong for her Mother’s job.  She will be attending a school right on the beach and her families new apartment is beautiful.  Everything should be perfect right?

But not everything is perfect, it feels like everywhere she goes there are new rules to follow and expectations to meet. On top of that, the most popular girl in her grade is quickly becoming a frenemy. And without the guidance of her loving Ah-ma, who stayed behind in Toronto, Holly-Mei just can’t seem to get it right.

It’s going to take all of Holly Mei’s determination as well as her sparkle and probably even a tiny bit of stubbornness) to get through seventh grade and turn her life in Hong Kong into the ultimate adventure!

I give The Not So Uniform Life and Holly Mei, five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Morning Sun in Wuhan

 

Morning Sun in Wuhan

by Ying Compestine

Pub Date 10 May 2022 |

 Clarion Books (formerly HMH Children's Books),  Clarion Books

 Children's Fiction 

I am reviewing a copy of Morning Sun in Wuhan through Clarion Books and Netgalley:

Morning Sun in Wuhan tells the story of what the Pandemic of the century was like at the very beginning.

Written by an award winning author originally from Wuhan, Morning Sun In Wuhan weaves in the tastes and sounds of the historic city, Wuhan’s comforting and distinctive cuisine comes to life as the reader follows 13-year-old Mei who, through her love for cooking, makes a difference in her community.

Thirteen year old Mei was grieving the death of her Mother and was an outcast at school.  She finds solace in her computer games as well as cooking.   

When her friend’s grandmother falls ill, Mei seeks out her father, a doctor, for help, and discovers the hospital is overcrowded. As the virus spreads, Mei finds herself alone in a locked-down city trying to find a way to help.

The author Ying Chang Compestine draws on her experiences growing up in Wuhan to illustrate that the darkest times can bring out the best in people, friendship can give one courage in frightening times, and most importantly, young people can make an impact on the world.

I give Growing Up in Wuhan five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review:Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm

 

Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm (#1)

And the Eye of the Storm

by Lori Adams

Pub Date 29 Nov 2021 

 Spyhop Publishing,  Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

 Children's Fiction  |  Middle Grade  |  Sci Fi & Fantasy 

I am reviewing a copy of Avalina Jonesboro: And the Eye of the Storm through Spyhop Publishing, Independent Book Publishers Association and Netgalley:

After a young girl learns she is the Last Heir of the infamous pirate Davy Jones, she is whisked away to begin life aboard an enchanted schoolship for Pirate Heirs where danger and excitement awaits.

Contemporary kids who happen to be Heirs of the most villainous and celebrated pirates in history. Superstitions, mysteries, curses, secrets, strange ocean creatures, undead pirates, and seafaring legends will thrill middle-grade readers in this rollicking, globe-trotting adventure.

Avalina Jones never heard of sea magic flying dinghies, Pirate Heir schoolships, phantom islands, undead pirates, or creatures called Half Ones. But when a beautiful woman arrives in a swirling waterspout,  Avalina’s life soon has more adventures than she could have ever imagined.  She takes her rightful place aboard a giant Pirate Heir schoolship teeming with Heirs of the world's most nefarious pirates.

Avalina who was raised as a Landlubber, quickly realizes bizarre and danger are normal aboard Pirate Heir schoolships—food fights back, school supplies giggle or explode in your face. And not everyone can be trusted.

After Avalina was accused of a terrible crime, she must prove her innocence or risk being banished from the schoolship forever—and this in the middle of a crucial Treasure Hunt!

Avalina finds herself in a race to unlock secrets of the ship and makes a dangerous discovery that threatens everyone aboard. With the help of her deckmates, Avalina draws closer to the truth, unaware that a deeper, darker fate awaits.

I give Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Sunflower

 

Sunflower

by Ingrid Laguna

Pub Date 08 Mar 2022 

 Text Publishing,  Text Publishing Company

 Children's Fiction  |  Middle Grade 

Jamila has found happiness in her new home in Australia, despite missing her old life in Iraq.  She and her new best friend Eva sing side-by-side in the choir at school and have picnics together on the weekends.  When Jamila learns her oldest friend from Iraq is coming to Australia, she can’t wait to introduce Mina to Eva.

Unfortunately when Mina arrives things do not go as planned. Jamila feels torn between her two friends, and sad that Mina isn’t the same person she remembers.   Will Jamila be able to be a true friend to Mina and help her feel safe and happy in her new home?

I give Sunflower five out of five stars!

Book Review: Drew Leclair Gets A Clue

 

Drew Leclair Gets a Clue

by Katryn Bury

Pub Date 01 Mar 2022 

 Clarion Books (formerly HMH Children's Books),  Clarion Books

 Children's Fiction 

I am reviewing a copy of Drew Leclair Gets a Clue through Clarion Books and Netgalley:

Drew Leclair understands what you need to be a good detective.  She’s pored over the cases solved by her hero, criminal profiler Lita Miyamoto. She tracked down the graffiti artist at school, and even solved the mystery of her neighbor’s missing rabbit. But when her mother runs off to Hawaii with the school guidance counselor, Drew is shocked. How did she miss all of the clues? 

Drew does her best to keep her family life a secret, even from her best friend.  But when a cyber bully attacks others at the school its only a short time before Drew’s secret is out.  

With notebooks full of observations about her classmates, Drew knows what she has to do: profile all of the bullies in her grade to find the culprit.  But being a detective is more complicated when the suspects can be your friends. Will Drew crack the case if it means losing the people she cares about most?

Drew Leclair gets a clue is a modern day take on Harriet the Spy and I give Drew Leclair gets a clue four out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Crimes and Covers

 

Crimes and Covers

A Magical Bookshop Mystery

by Amanda Flower

Pub Date 11 Jan 2022 

 Crooked Lane Books 

 Mystery & Thrillers 

I am reviewing a copy of Crimes and Covers through Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley:

 In the Western New York village of Cascade Springs, as is the long-awaited wedding of Charming Books proprietor Violet Waverly and police chief David Rainwater. Grandma Daisy and Violet's best friend, Sadie, go all out to make the nuptials the event of the season whether Violet likes it or not. But the reception becomes memorable for all the wrong reasons when a woman's dead body floats by on the frigid Niagara River.

It takes Violet by surprise when she recognizes the deceased as a mysterious woman who visited Charming Books two days before the wedding, toting a rare first edition of Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Well aware that a mint condition copy could be worth more than $14,000, Violet told the woman she would have to have the book appraised before she could consider buying it. Most displeased, the woman tucked the precious tome under her arm and stormed out of the shop. Now she's dead, and an enigmatic message scrawled in pen upon her palm reads, "They stole my book."

The case is a confusing one But fortunately, Violet can draw on the resources of her bookshop's magical consciousness, which communicates clues to Violet via quotes from Walden. With Emerson the tuxedo cat and Faulkner the crow at her side, Violet sets out to recover the priceless book by solving a murder most transcendental.

I give Crimes and Covers five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Healing of Natalie Curtis

 

 

The Healing of Natalie Curtis

by Jane Kirkpatrick

Pub Date 07 Sep 2021

 Revell 

 Christian 

I am reviewing a copy of The Healing of Natalie Curtis through Revell and Netgalley:

 Natalie Curtis a classically trained pianist and singer isolated herself for five years after a breakdown just before she was to debut with the New York Philharmonic. Guilt-ridden and songless, Natalie can't seem to recapture the joy music once brought her. In 1902, her brother invites her to join him in the West to search for healing. What she finds are songs she'd never before encountered the haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans.

Unfortunately their music is under attack. The US government's Code of Offenses prohibits American's indigenous people from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages as the powers that be insist on assimilation. Natalie makes it her mission not only to document these songs before they disappear but to appeal to President Teddy Roosevelt himself, who is the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law. Will she succeed and step into a new song   and a new future?

I give the Healing of Natalie Curtis five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Facing the Dawn

 

 Facing the Dawn

by Cynthia Ruchti

Pub Date 02 Mar 2021

 Revell

  Christian  |  General Fiction (Adult)  |  Women's Fiction

I am reviewing a copy of Facing the Dawn through Revell and Netgalley:

Mara Jacobs has been struggling while her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa.  She knows she's supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans.   But the truth is she exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun.

But Liam's three-year absence turns into something more, changing everything and plunging her into a sunless grief. As Mara struggles to find her footing, she discovers that even when hope is tenuous, faith is fragile, and the future is unknown, we can be sure we are not forgotten or unloved.

With emotionally evocative prose that tackles tough topics with tenderness and hope, award-winning author

Cynthia Ruchti invites you on a journey of the heart you won't soon forget.

I give Facing the Dawn five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Her Daily Bread

 

 Her Daily Bread

Inspired Words and Recipes to Feast on All Year Long

by Kate Wood

Pub Date 14 Dec 2021 | 

 HarperOne 

 Christian  |  Cooking, Food & Wine  |  Nonfiction (Adult) 

I am reviewing a copy of Her Daily Bread: Inspired Words and Recipes to Feast On All Year Long through Harper One and Netgalley:

Kate Wood, award-winning blogger behind Wood and Spoon and mother of three, realized that she was surviving, but not thriving, and that what she needed more than another cup of coffee was real connection with herself, with others, and with God, In the midst of her busy schedule.  Included in this devotional are treasured family recipes which include Mom’s Mom’s .

Homemade Bread

•  Two-Bite Crab Cakes with Lemon Dill Aioli

•  Cheddar Cornmeal Chicken Pot Pie

•  Simple Pesto Risotto

•  Weekday Red Velvet Cake

•  Birthday Sprinkle Pancakes

•  Fluffernutter Pretzel Pie

Find a comfy chair, grab a cup of coffee, and settle into these words that offer encouragement, connection, and hope.

I give Het Daily Bread five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Who Are You Following

 

Who Are You Following?

Pursuing Jesus in a Social-Media Obsessed World

by Sadie Robertson Huff

Pub Date 01 Feb 2022 | 

 Thomas Nelson--W Publishing,  Thomas Nelson

 Christian

I am reviewing a copy of Who Are You Following?: Pursuing Jesus in a Social-Media Obsessed World:

It’s important to consider what we are really looking for in an online world obsessed with follows and likes, it’s important to consider what you’re really searching for. When you follow someone, it’s typically because you want to be like them or live like they do­–but who have you placed as your role models?

In Who Are You Following? bestselling author and social media personality Sadie Robertson Huff dives deep into exploring who we are allowing to influence our daily thoughts and actions.  Sadie Robertson Huff has an excellent grasp of spiritual truths using current research, surveys, and personal and biblical stories, Sadie draws on her own experience as a social media influencer and addresses topics such as how to go from being liked to being truly lovedour true motives for famebeing seen from the outside versus being knowncomparing ourselves to othersquestioning why did I post that?!how to respond to cancel culture wondering does God still love me?

Who Are You Following is perfect for young Christians wondering how they can live a vibrant, bold, and uncompromising life of faith in God by following the Messiah the ultimate influencer. Discover the love, purpose, and fulfillment that is found only in Jesus.

I give Who Are You Following five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review:The Finder of Forgotten Things

 

The Finder of Forgotten Things

by Sarah Loudin Thomas

 Pub Date 07 Dec 2021 | Archive Date 25 Jan 2022

 Bethany House,  Bethany House Publishers

Christian  |  Historical Fiction 

I am reviewing a copy of The Finder of Forgotten Things through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

This book will take us back to 1932 and Sullivan Harris is on the run.  He is an occasionally successful dowser who promised to help the people of Kline, West Virgina, he told them that he would find them water.  But when the wells turned dry he disappeared with their cash just a step or two ahead of Jeremiah Weber, who was elected to run him down.

Gainey Floyd is the post mistress and she is suspicious of Sulley's abilities when he appears in her town but reconsiders after new wells fill with sweet water. Rather, it's Sulley who grows uneasy when his success makes folks wonder if he can find more than water like forgotten items or missing people. He lights out to escape such expectations and runs smack into something worse.

Hundreds of men were able to find jobs digging the Hawks Nest Tunnel--but what they thought was a blessing is killing them.  But no one seems to care that these men are dying.  Here, Sulley finds something new--a desire to help. With it, he becomes an unexpected catalyst, bringing Jeremiah and Gainey together to find what even he has forgotten: hope.

I give The Finder of Forgotten Things five out of five stars…

Happy Reading…