Crocodile in the Sandbank

One of my favorite things is when you find a new book and it looks interesting so you pick up and start reading. There is always that hesitation, at first, as you are getting to know the authors writing style, storyline, characters, etc. But when you get into the book and you can't put it down, you feel like you have found a new treasure for your library. That was my experience with Elizabeth Peters Crocodile on the Sandbank! 

This is the first of twenty books in the Amelia Peabody mystery series and I'm so in love with it that I can't wait to read the next 19 books! Amelia Peabody is a woman of independent means in the 1880's. She is unmarried and has just lost her father. She is spunky, determined and incredibly intelligent. As a woman of independent means, she decided to head to Egypt to experience the culture and the local artifacts that can be found on a Nile Cruise. When she first arrives she rescues a half starved woman, Evelyn, who is running away from her low-life boyfriend. Amelia and Evelyn travel down the Nile and run into some very interesting people, most alive and some … dead... or at least Amelia and Evelyn hope the mummy is dead.

This was a FABULOUS start to this series. If you like the movies Indiana Jones or The Mummy, this will be right up your ally. I loved it so so very much and I hope you will, too.

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your copy here: Crocodile on the Sandbank  

The Bridge Battle

The final book in The Lemonade War series by Jacqueline Davies is The Bridge Battle (my personal favorite). 

It's summer time and both Evan and Jessie Treski are in summer school programs. Evan needs a bit more help with math (who doesn't?) and Jessie wants to be in the "Building" summer club. Both are flabbergasted when Evan is put in with older, bigger kids and Jessie is put into the... wait for it... Princess Fairy club! This isn't what either expected, but when their mom encourages them to make the best of the situation, they begrudgingly obey. 

Evan has to deal with nasty bullies that pick on just about everyone and Jessie has to deal with... sparkles!!! Both work the problem and find ways to overcome these obstacles. Jessie starts teaching her Princess Fairy group how to build bridges and the importance of having to correct weight distribution. This comes in handy when Evan sees the bullies start picking on an innocent mama goose. Evan and Jessie must work together, with a group of new friends, to solve the problems that are throughout the book. 

This book is full of building and animal vocabulary and building tips for any future engineer! Once again, I love how kid friendly all these terms and application are to the young reader. 

Please read this series! It is just a joy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Complete the series here: The Bridge Battle  

The Magic Trap

The next book in The Lemonade War series by Jacqueline Davies is The Magic Trap and I have to say this was one of my favorites!  

In this installment, Evan and Jessie decide to put on a magic show in their backyard. To prepare for the show they must practice their tricks, clean up the backyard and fix the broken deck. Someone unexpected comes around to help: Jessie and Evans father, who left years previous and has scarcely been around since. Will dear ol' dad stick around for the performance or will he disappear in a puff of smoke? 

This book includes magic and building vocabulary which was so fun. I even learned a thing or two! I really liked this book because Evan and Jessie really ban together to get through some tough situations. I love how Evan steps up and protects his baby sister. As the oldest myself, I could really relate to that! 

Another completely adorable addition to the series that I hope you will enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your copy here: The Magic Trap    

The Candy Smash

Candy Smash is the fourth installment of The Lemonade War series by Jacqueline Davies. It's Valentines Day in Jessie and Evan Treski's class. These two siblings have differing opinions of this particular holiday. Jessie thinks it's gross and Evan...well... Evan can see some merit to giving a pretty girl a Valentine! 

To understand this holiday better, Jessie does what she does best and starts investigating why people like it so much. She even starts a classroom paper that has in depth interviews with each student and a survey of who everyone likes. Jessie is shocked when this anonymous survey reveals that a boy likes HER! She's not sure what to do with this information, but like any good journalist, she publishes her results. What follows is a hilarious rush to see if the students can figure out who likes who before it's time to pass out the Valentines candy. 

This book focuses on journalist terms/vocabulary and how a paper is put together. It also includes poetry examples, vocabulary and explains how the beauty of poetry can be intoxicating. It also focuses on the humor that is young love and first crushes! 

Another great book which I hope you will enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your copy here: The Candy Smash  

The Bell Bandit

 

It's time to go to Grandma's house in this third installment of the Lemonade War series by Jacqueline Davies. 

Evan, Jessie and their mom have a yearly tradition to visit Grandma around New years Eve and ring the bell that is by her house. They look forward to this experience each year! However, Grandma is acting funny. She doesn't seem to remember that Jessie and Evan are her grandkids. After a fire breaks out at Grandma's home, the Treski family is scared that their New Years Eve tradition is going to be ruined. Jessie won't stand for that, so she heads up the trail to find the bell and make sure everything is ready. When she gets there THE BELL IS GONE. Who would steal a bell? Jessie and Evan enlist some local help to find the bell bandit and return the bell to it's rightful place all before the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve. 

This book focuses on maps and how to set up different diagrams to see an area. Throughout the book, there are adorable pictures to show readers what they are reading about. I love this visual addition.  

I also liked this third book because it shows Evan softer side. While Jessie is focusing on the bell bandit, Evan is focusing on Grandma. He knows he can help her remember her life, their family but mostly he wants to be remembered by his Grandma!

This is just a fabulous series. I hope you enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your own copy here: The Bell Bandit  

The Lemonade Crime

The money is gone! 

In book two of the Lemonade War series, we are back with Evan and Jessie after the lemonade war has ended. They made a pretty good chunk of change, but they can't find it in the house anywhere. They search and search, blame each other, then search some more. It's official, someone stole their money! But who could it be? 

This dynamic duo takes matters into their own hands to find the culprit, and they think it is Scott Spencer (no relation to me 😆) but how to prove it? Jessie decides to hold a trial one day after school which include judge, jury and consequences for this money thief! The other kids in the school think this is a great game, but Evan and Jessie couldn't be more serious. They want their hard earned lemonade money back. They will stop at nothing to solve the lemonade crime!

This book focuses on legal terms and how the courts are run. I love that Jacqueline Davies includes such practical, yet kid friendly,  vocabulary! Such a cleaver way to help kids learn new words, and most importantly, remember them and what they mean. 

Another great installment that I hope you will enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your copy here: The Lemonade Crime  

The Lemonade War

The Lemonade War series by Jacqueline Davies is so adorable and perfect for younger readers, even those who may struggle a bit with reading. With each book in this six book set, I decided to write a post on each one. Over the next few days you will come to learn more and enjoy this series like I have (fingers crossed!). 

In book one, we are introduced to brother and sister, Evan and Jessie Treski. Everything is going great during their Summer vacation, until their mom gets a call from the school saying that because of Jessie's high scores, she will be moving up a grade and be in the same class as Evan. This would have been fine if Evan wasn't known as the "dumb kid". Now his baby sister is jumping grades because she is so smart? GREAT! 

Evan wants to prove himself so when he sees Jessie's lemonade stand going so well, he decided to make a better one and sell more than dumb ol' Jessie. The Lemonade War has begun! What ensues is hilarious brother-sister banter, good financial tips and tricks and learning how to encourage that entrepreneurial spirit... through some healthy competition (and minor sabotage).  

I love this book because it incorporates math and vocabulary into the hilarious perfect-for-kids dialogue. All the adventures, ups and downs, friendships and brother-sister bonds are so realistic and so fun for readers to dive into. This is a great, short read which helps young readers feel accomplished after finishing, and it's funny so the reading experience isn't a torturous thing 😂. 

Side Note: One of my private tutoring clients just finished this first book and she LOVED it! She is just finishing up 4th grade and she thought it was hilarious and was so excited to continue on in the series. She even had some friends come over, they saw she was reading it, said they had read it before too, and they all loved it... from the mouths of babes! 

I hope you enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your own copy here: The Lemonade War   

 

Mona Lisa Vanishes

I know sometimes it's hard for younger readers to get into non-fiction. I thought very similarly until just a couple of years ago. So, in my hunt to find interesting non-fiction reads for my students and tutoring clients, I found The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day. This was only published a few years ago and has received awards for it's contents. Rightfully so, in my humble opinion. 

The Mona Lisa Vanishes is about when the Mona Lisa was stolen right off the walls of the Louvre in Paris, France in 1911. It talks about the theft, subsequent investigation, after effect of when the painting was found and Leonardo di Vinci as a man and painter. It sheds light on how so many of our modern day investigation techniques were started and how the Mona Lisa first came to be. Truly fascinating stuff. 

Not only was all the information completely riveting, but the artwork throughout was just the perfect addition. As an educator, I was thinking about different ways to incorporate this book into lessons and the lessons that could stem from other obscure things mentioned in the book. The possibilities are endless. 

I want Nicholas Day and Brett Helquist (the illustrator) to do more non-fiction like this because I learned so much from the easy way they explained things and was able to visualize what was happening. They could do so many different historical events! Anyway... I ramble... 

This is a really fantastic read for absolutely any age and I hope you enjoy. 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your copy here: The Mona Lisa Vanishes

 

Track Series

 

Now, I am not a runner, generally speaking. I am, however always on the hunt for a good, short read that I can crank out either in an afternoon, or on a long drive. The Track series by Jason Reynolds fit the bill perfectly. 

The Track series has four books: Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu. All of these kids are part of the running program in their local town. In each book, you learn the back ground of each kid and why they run. Each runner has a reason and the way they are explained was really beautiful. I loved the coach and his willingness to put up with crazy kids and all their shenanigans. Each book has a great cast of side characters and by the end they feel like family. The four main kids (Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu) also form a tight bond and they rely upon each other to get themselves out of some sticky situations. This is a great quartet of books that are perfect for any aged reader! 

I hope you enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab the series here: 

Ghost

Patina

Sunny

Lu 

Mrs. Pollifax Novels

When I grow up, I want to be Mrs. Pollifax! This 14 books series by Dorothy Gilman is pretty much the best thing since sliced bread! I loved each and every book and have them placed quite proudly on my book shelves as they are some of my favorites! 

Mrs. Pollifax is an older woman who is a little stuck in life. Oh sure, she has her local garden club, but her husband has been gone for years and her children and grandchild have their own lives and live far away. Mrs. Pollifax is depressed. When her doctor casually asks "if you could do anything what would you do" she instantly says "be a CIA agent, of course". (I'm not quoting directly from the book, just giving you an idea of the conversation). 

Mrs. Pollifax decides then and there in the doctors office that she is going to make that dream a reality. She heads off to Langley, VA to CIA headquarters and demands to see someone in charge. What happens from that brazen action, creates one of the best series I have ever read. We travel all over the world with Mrs. Pollifax and meet some of the best side characters with which you will instantly fall in love. When they reappear in later novels, you cheer because you know the gang is all back together. SO STININ' GOOD!!! 

These are meant for adult readers but completely appropriate for 16 year old's and up.. if they don't mind reading about a more mature lady and her ever present hats! 

If you like a little bit of mystery and intrigue this is the series for you. Enjoy! 

Now, go an READ!  

Grab the first book here: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax  

Dangerous Beauty

 

On the back cover of this book, under the synopsis is a quote which basically says don't start this book until you can finish it in one sitting. I could not agree more!!! Clear you calendars my friends! 

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin is one of the most interesting, fast-paced, nail-biting stories I have ever read. And I read a lot. 

It is about a woman, Liliana, who was brought into America via Human Trafficking. She escapes her captors at a gas station where she finds herself in the very capable hands of Meric, who protects her from being spotted. Unfortunately, he knows this world all too well and will help Liliana even to the extent of marrying her to keep her safe. 

I don't want to go into any more detail because its just so good you will have to read it to understand! 

Now, this isn't my normal read. There is enough heavy stuff in the world that I don't want to use my precious reading time to have more heavy, so going into the book, I was HIGHLY apprehensive. I had heard excellent review from other people and it was published by a Christian Publishing House, so I thought that they couldn't go to graphic or intense. Much to my great relief, they didn't. I will say that because of the content topic, I would recommend this to over 18 year old readers. 

There were definitely intense moments and situations in which Liliana and Meric find themselves, but nothing that was mentioned or described made me want to stop reading or made me feel yucky inside. The way Melissa Koslin wrapped up the ending was BRILLIANT! I was reading and then all of a sudden, BAM, it was over. I had come to the last page of the book without even realizing. This was one of those books that when you are done you just have to sit in a quiet room and reflect on what you just accomplished. 

As the kids say these days: This book will live rent free in my brain from now on! 

Please enjoy. 

Now, go and READ! 

Seriously, grab your copy here!!!!!: Dangerous Beauty

    

Frindle

 I love Andrew Clements as an author. He writes stories that make kids instantly connect with what they are reading! 

I have read a few of Andrew Clements books and find myself laughing out loud as I'm reading because he writes how kids act and think. I can see why he is such a popular author for middle grade. 

Frindle is about words and how specific words come to represent specific things. Nick, our main character, doesn't understand why a pen has to be called a pen. Why is it called that? Who said it had to be pen? Why can't it be called frindle? Nick starts calling all his pens, I mean frindles, frindles. The teachers aren't amused, but they let it go as a phase. When all the other students start using frindles, things get out of control. Parents are called in, threats are made, teachers are upset. It even starts getting national attention. Nick just thought it would be an interesting experiment. He didn't mean for all this to happen. 

Completely laugh-out-loud funny and an absolute must read for all ages. This would even be perfect for a read-a-loud for all my teacher and homeschooling friends!  

I hope you enjoy. 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your own copy here: Frindle  

Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Seaside Corpse

The Seaside Corpse was my personal favorite out of the four book series! I loved the setting, the cast of characters and the mystery itself! It was the prefect ending to a great series. 

Aggie and Hector are ecstatic to be a part of a dig with real paleontologists. They head off to the seaside camp by Lyme Regis to embark on this newest adventure. The goal of this dig is to uncover the fossil of an ichthyosaur which has gained a lot of attention by people wanting this skeleton for their personal use. When a human body is found on the beach, Aggie and Hector must dig through alibis, motives and suspects to uncover the truth of who killed this person. 

Like I said before, this is a great ending to the series. This book had great adventure and action which kept me interested in the mystery until the very end. Even though this series is targeted towards younger readers, any age will fall in love with young Aggie and Hector. 

This series is a must for any home library! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your copy here: The Seaside Corpse
 

Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Dead Man in the Garden

This third book of Aggie Morton Mystery Queen takes our heroine, along with her mother, Grannie Jane and her best friend Hector to Wellsprings Hotel where her mother is needs recuperate in the rejuvenating spa waters. 

There is a rumor going around that there has been a recent murder at the hotel, so Aggie, Hector, and the very spunky Grannie Jane try to uncover if this really happened. When they stumble upon a body in the garden they have to wonder, is this the first murder or has multiple murders happened at this, seemingly, peaceful country spa before.   

I really enjoyed the side cast of characters in this installment. By this time in the series we love Aggie and her family, so having a good side cast was the perfect addition. 

I love how each of these books hones in on an aspect of Agatha Christies real life. The more you learn of her, the more these characters and even the settings make sense. Especially in this book. Not to say that you won't enjoy The Dead Man in the Garden without knowing the background, because you totally will! 😉

Now, go and READ! 

Grab you copy here: The Dead Man in the Garden 
 

Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: Peril at Owl Park

In the second book in the series Aggie Morton Mystery Queen by Marthe Jocelyn, Aggie, her friend Hector and her Grannie Jane travel to Owl Park where Aggie's older sister is the new lady of the house! 

On Christmas morning, most people find presents under their tree. That is to mundane for Aggie and Hector. They find the body of one of the Christmas guests. With a house full of people (some faces we know from the first book and some new faces) it's up to Aggie and Hector to help the local constabulary solve the case! 

Something that I love about these books is how they are set up. Each book has a cast of characters in the front with really cute drawings for each one. I love this because with mysteries there normally has to be a lot of characters and sometimes it it hard to keep track of who is who.

This is a great addition to this series! I hope you will enjoy as much as I did. 

Now, go and READ!

 

Grab your own copy here: Peril at Owl Park

Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Body Under the Piano

 

Over the next four days I will be telling you all about a charming series called Aggie Morton Mystery Queen by Marthe Jocelyn. 

Aggie Morton is inspired by Agatha Christie the real-life Mystery Queen. Aggie Morton is a young girl living with her mother in Torquay, England in 1902. She is a very inquisitive young thing so when a body is found in her dance studio, Aggie takes it upon herself to solve the murder. With the help of her new friend, Hector Perot, they hunt down clues that they know will lead to the killer. 

Having read Agatha Christie I was very curious to see if this series would be a good introduction for younger readers. It totally is! This series is so cute and fast-paced that any age reader will just fall in love with Aggie and Hector. 

Side note: the covers to these books are some of the most adorable I've ever seen! I love them in my library! 

This is a four book series that just gets better and better. You start falling in love with all the side characters and see Aggie and Hectors friendship continue to grow. 

I hope you enjoy!

Now, go and READ! 

Start the series here: The Body Under the Piano   

On Devonshire Shore Series

 

If you have been reading my past posts, you may have noticed a theme to what I like to read! I love reading Regency era romances which are generally set in England somewhere. The On Devonshire Shores series by Julie Klassen definitely fits into that category. 

This series follows a group of sisters who have found themselves in dire straights. When their father dies, he has left 5 sisters and their mother with very little income and a house that now belongs to the next male heir. They decided to move to the Devonshire seaside and start fresh by turning their home into a bed and breakfast. Throughout the 3 book series, the sisters find peace, happiness and love. They learn to forgive each other and how to be a prospering family again. 

As I said, this is a 3 book series with a novella coming out soon. I enjoyed all three books immensely, but found that I liked the third book the best. This series should be read in order as each book builds on the previous.  

I had to wait for each new book to be published so it was hard to remember characters and each sisters story, but I was able to remember after a while of reading. I found that the first book was a little long, but books 2 and 3 were perfect. 

Julie Klassen is a great Christian author and I have read many books by her, so if you haven't tried any by her before, I would put her on your to-be-read- author list! As all of her books are clean (no smut or language) I would say 16 (ish) years old and over could read her!     

I hope you enjoy everyone! 

Now, go and READ! 

Start the series here: The Sisters of Sea View

Gone with the Wind

 

I grew up watching the 1939 movie of Gone with the Wind, not even realizing that it was a book written by Margaret Mitchell. I also loved the Carol Burnett spoof she did on her variety show in 1976 (truly hilarious... it's on YouTube called "Went with the Wind"), again not realizing it was based, originally, on a book. When I found out, I got myself a copy and read it. Couldn't put it down actually. 

Scarlett O'Hara is our female protagonist and she is one of the best in my opinion. She is like no other character I've ever read about. She is sassy, start, very devious and kind of (ok, maybe a lot) selfish. Her main goal throughout the book is to get ahead and be someone. When the Civil War is raging on around her, she has to fight her way through trial after trial, marriage after marriage. If only Ashley (her true love) hadn't married Melanie, she would have been truly happy, or so she thinks. When scoundrel Rhett Butler comes to Atlanta, he and Scarlett form an unlikely love. But can it really last when Scarlett's heart belongs to another?  

One of my favorite things to do is compare books and their movie counterparts. Normally, the book is way better than the movie. In this case both book and movie are fantastic. The book has many differences and more details than the movie, but they stayed very close to the original text. 

I haven't read many Civil War era books, and this was very interesting. Coming from the Southerners point of view on political and social topics during that time, this book opened my eyes to both sides of the conversation. 

I hope you enjoy as much as I did. 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your own copy here: Gone with the Wind 

The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare was first published in 1961 and won the Newberry Medal in 1962. This is the second time I have read The Bronze Bow. The first time was in my Children's Lit class during college and I really enjoyed reading it! 

The second time was to help one of my tutoring clients. I wanted to make sure I remembered all the ins and outs so I read it over a weekend. I loved it just as much the second time through. 

The Bronze Bow is about a young man, Daniel bar Jamin, during the time of the Roman invasion of Jerusalem during the time of Christ's mortal ministry. Daniel hates the Romans, everything they stand for and everything they are doing to his people. He is a part of a Zealot group that is planning a massive overthrow of the local Roman power. One of Daniel's friend is another Zealot named Simon. Simon has decided to follow a new leader that has promised to save the Jews from the grasps of the Romans. This mans name is Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus talks of love and forgiveness, not revenge and annihilation. Daniel isn't sure about Jesus, but he is sure the Romans must go, one way or another. 

This is a great story to help young readers understand a little bit more about the era and the history behind the Romans and Jewish relationship. I also love it because you can include more religious discussions. This is a great go to for any aged reader! 

I hope you enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your own copy here: The Bronze Bow

The British Booksellers

Kristy Cambron, over the past few years, has become one of my favorite authors. She is a historical fiction adult writer that intertwines two different, yet connecting, storylines. 

The British Booksellers is her newest release and it was just stunning. It combines all that I love in a story: anything British, book stores, WWII and a sweet, clean, romance. 

The British Booksellers is about two competing British bookstores where the owners have a sorted past. They haven't talked in years and now find it difficult to work right across the street from each other. When a possible lawsuit and a devastating Luftwaffe blitz threaten their town, these two former lovers will have to work together to rebuild their community. Will helping each other soften and mend broken hearts? 

I love that there are clean romances out there that aren't sappy or shallow. This story had depth, heart and really great action scenes. The characters were real and I felt had great growth throughout the story. Just a masterpiece in my eyes! 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Let me know below in the comments! 

Grab your own copy here: The British Booksellers

  

Serafina and the Black Cloak

 

As an educator, I am always trying to find books that are different that my students would enjoy, even if they aren't my personal favorites. 

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty is a mystical, gothic style middle grade book set on the grounds of Biltmore estate in North Carolina. Serafina and her Pa are workers of the estate and help keep the place running. Serafina has unique abilities that help keep Biltmore free of vermin. She meets and becomes best friends with Braeden Vanderbilt, who has a gift with animals. Throughout the series, Serafina and Braeden have to save Biltmore and the surrounding land from the evils they encounter: both magical and human alike. 

Each book builds on top of the last so reading them in order is very important so you don't miss any of the details. 

I recently finished the four book series and was telling a teenage tutor client that I had just read a good series. She had read the series previously and for the next five minutes she just gushed and gushed about how much she loved every aspect of each book. She went into extreme details about the characters, the plot and "how could he do that" and "can you believe that happened", etc. It was really cute seeing how much the target audience of this series really loved it! 

I can see many kids really enjoying this series! 

Now, go and READ! 

Start the series here: Serafina and the Black Cloak  

Arlo Finch and the Valley of Fire

 

One day, while perusing the shelves of the library, I ran across Arlo Finch and the Valley of Fire by John August. I had never heard of this series or this author. I read the synopsis and it caught my interest, so I decided, what the heck, I'll try it. AND IT WAS SO STINKING GOOD!!!!!!!!! 

If I could write this post in all caps without it becoming obnoxious, I would because it was that amazing! Seriously. So good. Hit the link below and read it for yourself. 😁

Arlo Finch, along with his sister and mother, have just moved to Pine Mountain, Colorado to live with his uncle. At school, he meets two new friends, Indra and Wu. They are members of the local Ranger group and they invite Arlo to join. This isn't just a normal Ranger group. Soon, Arlo realizes that he can see things seeping in from the magical world that surround Pine Mountain and not everything is friendly. He must learn to hone his Ranger skills and trust in his new squad to fight these magical creatures. And maybe, they can help Arlo save the girl that keeps visiting him from the other realm before she disappears completely. 

Have I mentioned before that I LOVED THIS BOOK?? Cause I did. Like a lot. I grew up with my father and brother who were huge scouters so reading this brought back a lot of memories about their experiences. I loved the characters. I loved the magical elements. I loved the teamwork. I loved the slight mystery elements. I just loved it all. 

This is the first in a series (a trilogy I think) and I can't wait to continue with the next books ASAP! 

When you read this I hope you will like it as much as I did! Let me know what you think and share with your friends. 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab the first book here: Arlo Finch and the Valley of Fire

Half upon a Time

 I love a good fairy tale. I also love fairy tale remakes. I think it's fun and creative to see how authors change the storylines of the classics we know and makes them into something new for the next generation. 

Half Upon a Time by James Riley was hilarious. It took a handful of well known fairy tales and turned them on their head. Good guys weren't always good and bad guys weren't always bad. I love it when there are twists and turns in stories. 

Half Upon a Time follows Jack and May. Now, Jack isn't your typical "hero" and May isn't your typical "princess". They have to work together to find May's grandmother who was kidnapped by one of the Wicked Queen's huntsman. There are witches, wolves, dragons, giants and crazy devil horses that these two unlikely friends have to conquer in order to find May's grandmother. Will they make it in time? 

I laughed out loud multiple times while reading. I thought each character was hilarious and sarcastic and spunky in their own way which made the reading experience very fun! I will say I felt this book was too long by quite a bit. I think this would be perfect for 10 (ish) years old and up as there is a ton of adventure and fun throughout. 

This series is actually a trilogy which is very exciting as this first book ends in a cliff hanger. If you like action, adventure and funny dialogue, then this is the series for you! 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Start the series here: Half Upon a Time    

Resistance

 

I have read a handful of Jennifer A. Nielsen books over the past few years. She is definitely one of my top authors. When I found out that she was doing historical fiction middle grade books, I decided to purchase some and start reading. One of those was Resistance.  

Resistance is about a teenage girl, Chaya, who is separated from her family in Nazi- occupied Poland. She joins a resistance group of other young people who have also been taken from their homes and families. Chaya starts out as a courier and is given some of the worst, most dangerous, assignments. Throughout these assignments, she is teamed up with different people, including a small girl named Ester, who continues making critical mistakes that Chaya has to fix. Will Chaya and Ester be able to work together to help the Allies and the Jews of Poland survive the war? 

This particular storyline was really hard for me. It might have been just a 'me' thing, but I really struggled reading some of the scenes due to the details given about the Polish Jews and what they were experiencing. It was heart-wrenchingly devastating. It was excellently written and you could tell that Jennifer A. Nielsen did copious amounts of research for that time period and the resistance groups in Poland.

Again, I think it was just my frame of mind at the time I was reading which lead to me having a tough time with some of the content. I would say this book is more for older teens. I would think a 16 and up person would really enjoy it and be able to handle the content. There was nothing graphic or descriptive, just hard things happened during that time period and this book doesn't pull any punches. 

I think it is important to understand what happened during World War II from all angles and this storyline was a new angle for me. I had never read about the Polish Jews and the many atrocities they experiences in the Ghettos. I think these kind of books help make us more understanding and compassionate towards our fellow man. 

Read it and tell me what you think! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your own copy here: https://amzn.to/4k87Sfq 

What I Read In April 2025

 I love reading and keep very specific notes on what I read, mostly because I have a horrible memory😂 but I also like to see everything I have read for each month of the year. April was a very good month. I finished 10 books. This post will be a short synopsis of what I read and what I like about each one. I will keep it short, especially because I have talked about some of these books previously. So, if you want more info on one of them, you can peruse my past blog post! 

1. The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay. I have talked about this previously, but I really enjoyed this story. I love Jane Austen, however some remakes or "inspired by" aren't my favorite. This was well worth my time! I gave it 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

2. Serafina and the Seven Stars by Robert Beatty. This is the fourth and final book in the Serafina series. I have really enjoyed all four and this was a good conclusion to the series. I was telling a tutor client of mine that I had just finished and she went crazy saying how much she loved this series. It was one of her favorites! This is a gothic, fantasy type story where Serafina is connected to the cats and other animals that surround her Biltmore home in the early 1900's. Serafina and her best friend, Braeden Vanderbilt, have to learn how to fight the evils that haunt the walls of their historic home. I have this series finale 3.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

3. Court of Swans by Melanie Dickerson. I already talked about this book so all I'm going to say is READ IT because it was fantastic! I just got the second one in the mail, and have been dying to start reading! I gave it 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

4. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley is the third in the Flavia de Luce mystery series. I have introduced this series in a previous post. In this installment, Flavia befriends a Gypsy woman and ends up saving her life. As this new friend is recovering in the hospital, Flavia must uncover why the Gypsy was almost killed, who did it and was she really involved with the death of a baby years before? I love this series and gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.  

5. All Thirteen : The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat. I have talked about this in a previous post. This was such a good non-fiction! I think anyone who reads this will enjoy it! I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

6. Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock by Emily Brighwell. I have introduced this series in a previous post. This series is just adorable. Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the staff of Detective Inspector Witherspoon are on the case, again, when a man is killed for allegedly stealing the rest of the stockholders money. Did he really steal that money or was he framed and killed by mistake? Read it and find out! I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

7. The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly. I talked about this previously. This is a great mystery if you love baking, English cooking shows and a little mystery! I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. 

8. The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket. This is the third book in the Series of Unfortunate Events. I have enjoyed starting this series again in my adult years. I started it when I was in junior high and wanted to actually finish the series! In this third installment, the Baudelaire orphans are off to a new home with a new relative. They have thwarted the evil Count Olaf's plans before and it looks like they will have to do it again. Really cute story and a fast read! 4 out of 5 stars. 
 

9. Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie. When mysterious thefts, vandalization and murder plague an English student hostel, Hercule Poirot is on the case to help his secretaries sister! Really good "who-dun-it" style story. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

10. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie. I talked about this in my 'Top Five Agatha Christie" post. I LOVED this Agatha Christie. Hercule Poirot is solving the murder of the wife of a man in charge of a dig in the Middle East. Nobody came into the house and all the windows were closed, so how did she die? So, so good! 5 out of 5 stars. 

I hope you enjoyed your April reading as much as I did. 

Now, go and READ!

The Ickabog

 

One of my all time favorite authors is J.K. Rowling. I think her writing is some of the best out there. When I found out that she had written a fairy tale during the pandemic, I knew I had to read it! 

The Ickabog is hilarious, sweet, thought provoking, sad (in some parts), heartwarming and just a true delight to read! It is about a kingdom and how the inhabitants are scared of the Ickabog, a secretive monster, who lives in the forest. In true J.K. Rowling fashion, you love the good guys for saving the day and are glad when the stupid bad guys get their come-up-pence! She just writes so masterfully! 

What I loved most about this story was it's background. The introduction to the book tells the readers that this used to be a story J.K. Rowling would tell her children as a bedtime story. During the pandemic of 2020, she decided to publish it online so children all over the world who were stuck inside could have something new to read. She even had an illustration contest where children could submit their pictures about The Ickabog. Then when the book was published, the winners were featured in the book as colored pictures! The artwork was breathtakingly beautiful. There are some very talent kiddos out there!

I really, really, really, enjoyed my time with The Ickabog and I hope you do too! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your own copy here: The Ickabog 

James Herriot Novels

 

The books of James Herriot are memoirs of this mans life as a vet in the English countryside during the early 20th century. They are completely FANTASTIC. The way he describes the farmers, their animals and his life in the Yorkshire Dales are just beautiful. I love learning about veterinarian work and how it was done in the early 30's and 40's. His personal stories are great, too.  

He has a variety of books for all ages. His five main works are called: 

• All Creatures Great and Small
• All Things Bright and Beautiful
• All Things Wise and Wonderful
• The Lord God Made Them All
• Every Living Thing

He has books for children and more memoir books (from my research another set of 8 books... not sure if they are the same as the books previously mentioned, but I thought I will tell you what I found in my research 😁I think the five mentioned above are combinations of the 8 books).

I have read some of the children's books and they are just as funny and interesting as the stories he mentions in his main memoirs. I will tell you guys that in the main memoirs he uses the anatomically correct verbiage for the animals when talking about birth, castration, vaccinations, etc. He also use farmer language which sometimes includes swear words. Nothing explicit, just more colorful! So if you have a younger reader, I would start with the children's story books and then as the reader gets older, or you want something good to read before bed, the main memoirs are available. James Herriot's Treasury for Children is a great place to start and this version (hit the link) has some of the most gorgeous illustrations I've seen in a while! 

If you're not in the mood to read, but these books sound interesting start by watching the PBS show called "All Creatures Great and Small". I love watching it with my mom. It has stunning scenery, hilarious characters and great animals!  

I hope you enjoy learning more about James Herriot's life by clicking the links throughout the post! 

Now, go and READ!

Top Five Agatha Christie (according to me)

 In the past few years I have started dipping my toes into the vast world of the Queen of Mysteries Ms. Agatha Christie! 

Not all Agatha Christie's are made equal. Anyone you ask will say that. Even Ms. Christie herself said she liked writing some books more than others. Side note: if you are interested in a GREAT documentary there is one on PBS called "Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen". 

This list isn't in any particular order. These are just 5 of the 21 Agatha Christie novels I have read that I really enjoyed. I love mystery novels and for me they need to have good characters, a good mystery plot and most importantly, the ending has to be satisfactory and wrap everything up in a way I can understand. I will try to be brief in my explanations and links for more information will be provided. 

First, Cat Among the Pigeons . This is a Hercule Poirot mystery about a murder at an exclusive girls school. When a not so loved teacher is murdered on the grounds, some of the girls, with the help of Hercule Poirot, try to solve the murder. There is intrigue, disguises and shady characters all throughout this book. No one is as they seem!   

Next, The Man in the Brown Suit . This is a Colonel Race mystery set aboard an expensive cruise ship. Anne, our heroine, wants adventure and she find more than she expects when she sees a man pushed in front of an oncoming train. In the chaos, a man in a brown suit takes something from the dead mans pocket. What Anne can't understand is why the man in the brown suit has followed her onto the ship? 

Third on the list was a shock! Endless Night is like no other mystery I've ever read. The ending was so incredible I had to pull my car over and just listen because I was afraid I was going to cause a wreck! Don't go into this Agatha Christie thinking it's going to be a typical "who-dun-it" because you will be sorely disappointed. Its from the perspective of a young man who is telling the story of how is wife was murdered. That's all you get! Just trust me that it is so unique and completely fascinating. 

Just recently I finished Murder in Mesopotamia and found it very enjoyable! This is a proper "who-dun-it" and only Hercule Poirot can solve the case of the wife who was murdered in her room at a dig site in the Middle East. When all the witnesses say that no strangers came into the grounds, and the windows were all closed, how did this woman die? You'll have to read to find out. 

Finally on the list is one of Agatha Christie most famous: Murder on the Orient Express. I had seen the movie so I knew the story line going in, but the ending, how it was explained and wrapped up, was so so so good! I enjoyed the book much more than the movie. While on a train, Hercule Poirot must solve the murder of a male passenger. When all the other passengers are strangers it seems odd that the crime feels so personal. Why was he stabbed so many times? Are all the passengers really who they say they are?

These are just a starting point when it comes to Agatha Christie. I hope you enjoy reading her mysteries as much as I have. 

Now, go and READ!