Another home run with I Survived! I really should read more of these books. Once again, the character development was better executed and the plot wasAnother home run with I Survived! I really should read more of these books. Once again, the character development was better executed and the plot was more intriguing than many books 3x the length I’ve read. Barry was such a sweetheart and a great protagonist, and I loved watching him gain courage through his experiences, especially as he remembered how his dad had been brave for him. The graphic novel also conveyed the pure fear and desperation survivors of Hurricane Katrina experienced, and it makes me want to read more about these survivors and true stories. ...more
This was a really cute, fun read that made me nostalgic for my theater days :) Callie was a solid protagonist, and I appreciated that there wasn’t mucThis was a really cute, fun read that made me nostalgic for my theater days :) Callie was a solid protagonist, and I appreciated that there wasn’t much fighting between her and her bff, as is typical in many of these books. I probably won’t read it again, but it was a good quick read to finish up my 2023 challenge! ...more
I read this without knowing it was a prequel to a series, but I could understand it fine without having read the series. It was cute, fun, and simple,I read this without knowing it was a prequel to a series, but I could understand it fine without having read the series. It was cute, fun, and simple, with relatively one-dimensional characters and a straightforward plot. It was enjoyable and fun, but not terribly memorable. Maybe I'd feel differently if I read the main series, but it was a fairly forgettable listen....more
This was a really cute graphic novel about the power of sisterhood and how to remember and respect the dead! I don’t have too much to say about it, juThis was a really cute graphic novel about the power of sisterhood and how to remember and respect the dead! I don’t have too much to say about it, just the fact that it was a short, sweet story that I read in an afternoon :)
(And the “I want to know what it’s like to die� line hit HARD)...more
This is one of the rare occasions where the screen adaptPlot: 3/5 Pacing: 3/5 Writing: 2.5/5 Characters: 2.5/5 General Enjoyment: 3.5/5 Average: 2.9 stars
This is one of the rare occasions where the screen adaptation is light years better than the original book. The book wasn’t bad, per se, but compared to the masterfully plotted, meaningful, and emotionally satisfying TV show, this was a bit of a letdown. Let’s start off with the good: I can definitely say it was a cute, fun story for kids that I would have read in a single afternoon when I was 8 and never picked up again. I liked the explanation of where the magic came from, which the show didn’t really have. But the book lacked the depth of intricate properties attached to the spices that the show had, the depth of relationships between the three girls, and complex characters for all three, which I would have seen as a problem even if I hadn’t watched the show.
If I was just rating this book without having watched the show, it would probably be 3.5-4 stars. That may seem slightly unfair, but the show points out (and changes!) a lot of the problems with the book. The romantic elements were strained, and the show removed them entirely (zero romance in the entire show!). The plot was pretty basic; the show turns it into some of the best, cleanest storytelling I’ve ever watched. The lore behind the spices was interesting and explanatory, but not totally satisfying; the show makes it intricate while not overwhelming.
I’ve never said this before, and I’ll probably never say it again: Definitely watch the show, but the book isn’t really worth it. ...more
Yet another kid's book I read to finish my 2023 challenge! This was a lot of fun! I absolutely ADORED A to Z Mysteries as a kid, and revisiting them sYet another kid's book I read to finish my 2023 challenge! This was a lot of fun! I absolutely ADORED A to Z Mysteries as a kid, and revisiting them so many years later was such a fun experience. Besides the nostalgia, this was a fun, quick read-- a well-structured, fast-paced mystery, even if the final revelation of the culprit was slightly anticlimactic. This was super cute and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it :)...more
Loved these books as a kid and am trying to finish my reading goal for the year, so this seemed like a good choice! This was cute, and I remember loviLoved these books as a kid and am trying to finish my reading goal for the year, so this seemed like a good choice! This was cute, and I remember loving this story when I was younger. Middle schoolers are so dramatic ...more
This was cute! I can see why people love this series so Plot: 4/5 Pacing: 4/5 Writing: 3/5 Characters: 4.5/5 General Enjoyment: 4.25/5 Average: 3.95 stars
This was cute! I can see why people love this series so much, though I suspect the rest of the books will confirm why it’s as popular as it is. This is the type of book that's interesting to read after so many books have gotten their inspiration from it, because I'm inclined to say that it's stereotypical or cliched before I remember that a lot of those cliches are derived from this series. The plot was interesting and kept me reading the whole time, and the worldbuilding was just as intriguing as I'd hoped. The plot, as well, felt somewhat wrapped up after this first book, but with a promise for more. I can't wait to see how this series develops and grows as I keep reading, and excited to meet all of the characters I haven't met yet!...more
A cute adaptation for kids of one of my favorite books of all time! I loved the illustrations, and I can see myself reading this over and over again aA cute adaptation for kids of one of my favorite books of all time! I loved the illustrations, and I can see myself reading this over and over again as a kid. But because I know this book so well, I noticed every little inaccuracy, which didn’t take too much away but probably could have been noticed by someone. Overall though, it was a fun, short Christmas Eve read! ...more
Plot: 4/5 Pacing: 3/5 Writing: 3.5/5 Characters: 3.5/5 General Enjoyment: 3.5/5 Average: 3.5 stars, rounded down
This was... weird, but in a good way. That'Plot: 4/5 Pacing: 3/5 Writing: 3.5/5 Characters: 3.5/5 General Enjoyment: 3.5/5 Average: 3.5 stars, rounded down
This was... weird, but in a good way. That's the only way to describe it. It was a wild ride, with a lot more crazy science fiction elements than I'd expected. The plot was well done, with every loose end being tied up, and the characters were alright, though the protagonist wasn't terribly strong. I would hesitantly recommend this to thriller fans, but just know that it is a crazy journey and you will never know what's coming next....more
This was pretty much exactly what I expected! I needed a sweet, fun holiday listen as I cleaned up and packed, and this more than did the job. I guessThis was pretty much exactly what I expected! I needed a sweet, fun holiday listen as I cleaned up and packed, and this more than did the job. I guessed the big plot twist about halfway in, but it was still interesting when it happened. This felt like listening to a Hallmark movie, which was exactly what I needed at the moment, though it's not my typical read. ...more
I'm trying to get more into nonfiction, and after learning about Alexander the Great, I was so intrigued to learn more about him that I picked up thisI'm trying to get more into nonfiction, and after learning about Alexander the Great, I was so intrigued to learn more about him that I picked up this book from the library. I loved reading about all his exploits, but specifically the parts of his character that made him such an effective leader. This was a great read and I can't wait to read more nonfiction that intrigues me just as much as this one did....more
I don't know what to rate this book. It was a simply written book about a very deep topic. In some parts, the writing style almost got in the way of tI don't know what to rate this book. It was a simply written book about a very deep topic. In some parts, the writing style almost got in the way of the message, but in others, it enhanced it, portraying this experience through the eyes of the narrator. I was worried that this book was going to romanticize an abusive relationship, but it certainly didn't. The portrayal of Stockholm Syndrome was, to my limited knowledge, very believable, and certainly didn't romanticize the captor. This is the type of book that could be dangerous if read by someone who didn't get it. For that reason, I'm glad I read it now, when I know more about this topic, as opposed to when I was younger.
(And that psycho needs to be locked up for sure...)...more
There's so much going on in this series, which I Plot: 4.5/5 Pacing: 5/5 Writing: 4/5 Characters: 4.5/5 General Enjoyment: 4.5/5 Average: 4.5 stars
OKAY WOW
There's so much going on in this series, which I was worried was going to be too much, but somehow, it worked. It honestly has everything: Twisted memories, betrayal, sisterhood, found family, evil twins, elemental powers, goddesses, monsters. It has a lot going on, but somehow didn't seem like too much. I LOVED figuring out how all of Maia's visions and memories worked together, and the lore was so interesting. I would definitely recommend this series- I hadn't seen it anywhere before I found it at the library, which is a shame! If you want to read a hidden gem trilogy that will keep you on your toes, definitely check out the Effigies trilogy.
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