Mount TBR 2022 discussion

In 2020, I successfully climbed Mt. Ararat. This year, I attempted Everest but will barely make it to the summit of El Toro. Next year, I have some lengthy Stephen King books on my TBR pile, along with some other lengthy books, so I don’t expect to climb as high. I am also attempting Rum Doodle via Virtual TBR. I think it will be a fun year of reading as usual! 😊

Welcome back, Bethea! Happy climbing!

JANUARY

1. 3/5
Book 6 in the Disney Villains series. This book was interesting as I finally learned about the characters The Odd Sisters who were mentioned in all of the books.

2. 4/5
Book 7 in the Disney Villains series introduces you to Cruella DeVille. Her story was actually quite good and very creative.

3. 3/5
Book 8 is the final book in the Disney Villains series. In this book we learn about Cinderella's step-mother and her step-sisters and what drove them to be wicked.

4. (ARC) 4/5
This is the first time I have read any of the comics that are in this book. The first half of the book was told in a story that I had difficulty following. However, I did appreciate the illustrations and the humor associated with cat antics. The second half of the book was a series of comic strips. I thoroughly enjoyed them and laughed out loud quite a few times. As a cat owner, I could appreciate the humor and references to cat antics such as chasing a June bug, getting into the laundry, hiding from the vacuum, and playing in boxes. The cats each had distinct personalities which were portrayed in both the dialogue and illustrations. The illustrations lent a lot to the book and it was fun to look at the details put into each one. I think if I would have read the comics in the back first, I would have understood the characters better and would have appreciated the first half more. The upper elementary and middle school students I work with love graphic novels and I think this is one they would enjoy. It is the perfect kind of humor for children of that age and for adults who are cat lovers (or at least cat owners). I will be recommending this book to my students as one I think they would enjoy.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #BehindtheSceneswithBurt by #GeorgiaDunn in exchange for an honest review.

5. (ARC) 4/5
I listened to this as an audiobook.
The story begins with Avery, a therapist with with her own unique methods of helping people. Then enter Marissa and Mathew Bishop. Marissa has had an affair and enlists Avery’s help to save her marriage. They have 10 sessions in which to do so. As the sessions progress, more players enter the story and make you wonder if any of the characters are telling the truth.

This novel is told in two voices with alternating chapters for Avery and Marissa. Each woman has her own story, yet their stories become woven together in unique ways.

As expected, there are red herrings and some unexpected twists. I thought the writing was fantastic! I was hooked from the beginning and didn’t want to stop listening.

The narrator for the book was easy to listen to. She used distinct voices for each character which made the story easier to follow. I highly recommend this audio book!

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC audiobook of #TheGoldenCouple by #GreerHendricks and #SarahPekkanen in exchange for an honest review.

6. (ARC) 4/5
Frida is the mother of an 18-month old daughter, Harriet. On what she describes as her "very bad day", Frida loses custody of Harriet and ends up being sent to a school for women that teaches them how to be good mothers. The court decides that Frida, and the other mothers sent to the school, will spend a year there, following a specially designed program that will teach them to be good mothers. At the end of the year, they will each be evaluated and a judge will determine which mothers get their children back and which are stripped of their rights permanently.

This novel tears at your heartstrings as you follow Frida through her journey of losing her daughter and trying to earn her back. While what Frida did to have her daughter removed from her home was punishable, the extent to which she is punished is reproachful. After Harriet is first removed from the home, Frida is no longer allowed any privacy as cameras in her home watch her every move. This is how the courts gather data to determine if she will get Harriet back or be sent to the school. Every single facial expression and movement is scrutinized to determine what kind of parent Frida is.

Once at the school, the mothers are taught the basic tenants of child development. The topics of the lessons they learn are appropriate, but the method in which the school administers its instruction is horrific. As someone with a degree in Child Development, I cringed at how wrongly the school ran their program.

The School for Good Mothers makes you reflect on what actually makes a good parent and is raises many questions. How much freedom should we have and what would happen if it is taken away? Who should be the judge of parenting? What is the line that should be drawn? While some cases of children being removed from homes in the novel make sense, other reasons seem absolutely ridiculous. Would any of us get to keep our children if we were being judged on each decision we make every day of our lives? How do racism and classism effect which children are removed from their homes based on supposed bad parenting?

I didn't love this novel because I had difficulty getting vested with the main character. Her emotions were exhausting to me in a way that was a bit over the top. I understand what the author was trying to do though. The story itself was very creative and well executed! I enjoyed reading this book and it will stay with me for a long time. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars!

If someone is triggered reading about child abuse or neglect, and the foster care system in general, this book may not be fore you.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #TheSchoolforGoodMothers by #JessamineChan in exchange for an honest review.

***Mt. Wychproof*** summit achieved

7. (ARC) 3/5
Charlotte and Maddi are teenage sisters who are grieving the death of their mother. Their father is moving on with his life and is in a relationship with their mom’s personal assistant. The girls begin to suspect something was amiss with their mom’s death. They don’t like the way their story is going and want to be the ones who determine how it ends.

This story is told in the alternating voices of Charlotte and Maddi. You learn about each sister and how they were before their mother’s death and how they changed after. The emotions the girls express are intense and you can feel them spiraling out of control. Seeing things only through the eyes of Charlotte and Maddi makes it difficult to connect with the other characters in the book. I feel like more could have been done with plot twists had the other characters been more developed.

This book was part thriller, part horror, and part a story about a dysfunctional family. I found it to be fairly predictable, although I can see how teen readers could get caught up in some of the twists. Overall, I thought it was a solid read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #ItWillEndLikeThis by #KyraLeigh in exchange for an honest review.

FEBRUARY

8. (ARC) 4.5/5
The premise is clever: an organization exists that can take way an unpleasant memory... for a cost. Is it ethical? Moral? Are the scientists involved saving lives or harming them? Are people better off because the memory of their trauma no longer exists, or would they have been better off facing the past and learning to move forward? This novel tells a story that feels eerily realistic in it's possibilities and will leave me contemplating the questions that arose for a long time. I can't wait for my book club discussion!

This novel was a fast read as I didn't want to put it down. I was drawn into the lives of the characters as they were introduced and was curious to find out more as their stories developed. It was almost frustrating at times to only get a piece of the story from a character, and then have the narration move onto the next one, as I wasn't ready to be done with the character I was reading about. Even though each character wasn't fully developed in the way I would have preferred, I feel that each character's story had its purpose within the novel, raising a variety of moral questions. The alternating narrators of the story, although difficult to follow at first, ultimately added to the book by keeping me on my toes and making me want more.

If you enjoy dystopian, medical thrillers, or medical based science-fiction, you will be enraptured by the intriguing subject of this novel. I give it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Simon&SchusterAmbassador #BookClubFavorites for a free ARC of #TellMeAnEnding by #JoHarkin in exchange for an honest review.

9. (ARC) 5/5
This is a beautiful story about how one boys misguided actions impact his entire community. Gabe, a seventh grade boy, feels alone. His family life is chaotic and his former best friends have made new friends through a soccer league. When trying to gain back his friends by impressing them with stolen fireworks, Gabe accidentally starts a forest fire. His friends flee and Gabe is left alone to face the fallout of his actions. While completing community service, Gabe's path crosses with that of a young coyote, named Rill, who was injured from the fire and is also alone. The game warden ends up taking Rill away and Gabe, feeling responsible for Rill's predicament, works to get her freed. In a touching story about restorative justice (making things right), Gabe learns that he is not alone and that he has the power to make a change for the better.

I recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school students to help teach about anger management, restorative justice, and the connection between self and others. The story of Rill, built into the novel with alternating chapters between Rill and Gabe, helps to draw attention to the fact that human choices impact the lives of animals. It shows that all animals have an important place in nature that humans need to respect.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #ClarionBooks for an ARC of #WaywardCreatures by #DaynaLorentz in exchange for an honest review.

10. (ARC) 5/5
This was a 5-star read for hooking me from the beginning and keeping me drawn in until the end.

The Violence is an incredible novel that combines the story of a woman's struggle with domestic violence with the story of a new pandemic sweeping the world. When someone becomes infected with the virus, they suddenly snap, brutally attacking, before coming out of a trance-like state and back to reality, having no memory of what happened. Hence, the name of the virus, The Violence. While this is definitely gruesome, the author writes about it in a way that is matter of fact, and weaves it into the storyline of Chelsea and her family in a way that works.

Chelsea is the mother of two girls, a seventeen year old named Ella, and a five year old named Brooklyn. David, Chelsea's husband, is a violent and controlling spouse. Her mother, Patricia, is cold and emotionally distant, so Chelsea feels trapped and alone. Then, the new pandemic hits and she wonders if she has found a solution after all.

While a novel centering on domestic abuse is a trigger for many, it is an important story to be written. The author writes with heart, from a place of intimate knowledge on the subject, and draws the reader in to the story so they can truly understand how easy it is to become trapped in an abusive situation. This is a beautifully written novel, about women's empowerment and facing trauma head on.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is from a character named Arlene "...trauma doesn't mean you're broken... it becomes a part of you, and if you can face it and shake hands with it and find a way to move on together, you'll always be better off than people who shove theirs down..." This resonates strongly with me as we all have had trauma in our lives and this quote is an encouragement to face that trauma head on.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DelRay for an ARC of #TheViolence by #DelilahS.Dawson in exchange for an honest review.

11. (ARC) 4/5
Each of Us a Universe is a heartwarming tale of family, friendship, and the power of finding peace within yourself.

Calliope (Cal) has a lot of pent-up anger that she’s not dealing with very well. Her mother has cancer, her father is in prison, and she doesn’t have any friends at school. The only time she feels peace is when she’s spending time on Mount Meteorite.

One day, a new girl named Rosine moves in a couple of houses away from Cal. Rosine is also drawn to the magic of the mountain and the two girls become friends. They make plans to summit the spire, to look for the meteorite that is rumored to have landed at the top years ago. They each have their own reasons for needing the magic from the mountain and are determined to find it.

This novel is perfect for upper elementary and middle school students. The message for children is to work through anger and hardships by not facing their fears alone. It also touches on the topics of cancer, alcoholism, having a parent in jail, death, and immigration.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of #EachofUsaUniverse by #JeanneZulickFerruolo in exchange for an honest review.

12. (ARC) 2.5/5
Todd, a senior at an all boys high school, is found dead at a local park. While detectives are attempting to solve the crime, they start leaning one of the teachers at the school. The teacher is gay, and Todd is gay, so the assumption is that they must have had an inappropriate relationship that the teacher tried to cover up.

Georgia is a sophomore at an all girls high school. Her older brother Mark attends the same school that Todd did. He and the rest of the boys at the school don’t seem to know anything about what happened to Todd, but Georgia thinks someone has to be lying. She enjoys watching crime shows so starts trying to piece the case together herself.

The story is told by both Georgia and Todd, with alternating chapters for each character. The premise of the book was good, but I felt the execution was lacking. The writing was choppy, as if it was a novel for younger readers, even though the topics covered were geared toward young adults. The writer had good ideas about the personality for each character, but the overall character development was weak, making it difficult to connect with any of them.

I liked that the author brought into focus the prejudice that is experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals. I feel though that this too could have been better developed had Todd and the teacher been the only gay characters focused on in the book. It didn’t flow with the story to have added in other gay characters.

Overall, the book was just okay for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #Cold by #MarikoTamaki in exchange for an honest review. 2.5 stars, rounded to 3.

***Pike's Peak*** summit achieved

13. (ARC) 4/5
This is the first novel I have read by Kate Hewitt. I was drawn to this title because the premise was intriguing - a teenager showing up at her birth mothers doorstep needing her help.

I was easily drawn to the characters and became vested in the book early on. I enjoyed the way that Suzanne’s (adoptive mother) and Mia’s (birth mother) stories were woven together over time. However, I felt that the flashbacks became repetitive and took away from the story that was happening in real time. Some of them could have been omitted with more focus on later events. I also would have loved to have read more chapters that focused on Mia’s life with Sophie, Avery, and Ella.

I thought the twists were well done and added to the plot and character development. I enjoyed this novel and will be reading more by this author.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #TheChildINeverHad by #KateHewitt in exchange for an honest review.

14. (ARC) 5/5
As a teacher, I’ve seen many children struggle with their sexuality. They feel that they don’t fit into the mold that society requires of them and have a difficult time putting their feelings into words. Knowing that suicide rates are higher among LGBTQ+ individuals has made me want to become more aware of things that can be done to help promote acceptance. Being able to read books that have characters you can identify with is important for all. So, I was drawn toward this young adult novel based on the summary of the story and topics it covers.

I felt that the author did a phenomenal job of telling Ophelia’s story while keeping it realistic. The story had a lot of layers, touching on biases people have with skin color, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. The feelings of the characters were deep, yet the explanation of various terminology was presented very matter-of-factly to the reader. This is a novel I will recommend to colleagues to have on the shelves in their classrooms. I hope that many children who are struggling with their identity are able to find comfort in a novel like this and to know that they are not alone.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #OpheliaAfterAll by #RaquelMarie in exchange for an honest review.

MARCH

15. (ARC) 4/5
I enjoy reading psychological thrillers and, after I kept hearing about this novel, I decided I needed to read it and see for myself if it lived up to the hype. It was definitely worth reading and very well done for a first novel by this author. The characters were well developed and the plot was pieced together nicely so that the novel flowed smoothly. I am unfamiliar with England, but the description of the various settings were detailed enough that I was able to visualize what was happening.

Each chapter was narrated by different characters, allowing the reader to be presented with multiple perspectives of what was happening. This helped to hook me into the story more and make connections with multiple characters.

There were twists within this novel, as there usually are with psychological thrillers. However, I was able to anticipate most of what happened, so it didn't have that shock value that I look forward to when reading a thriller. I do appreciate the way the author chose to end the book though.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and give it 4 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #GreenwichPark by #KatherineFaulkner in exchange for an honest review.

16. (ARC) 5/5As soon as I saw that Ashley Schumacher had written another novel I wanted to read it. I am SO glad that I did! This was a beautiful story about love, friendship, family, and being true to yourself. Anna and Weston are two unique individuals who are assigned to play a duet together in marching band. Anna enlists Weston's help in order to learn the piece of music and in turn, she tutors Weston to help keep him on track with his grades. They form a unique friendship and the connection between them continues to grow the more time they spend together.

I was drawn into both Anna's and Weston's stories as they were told in alternating first person narratives throughout the novel. The writing is simple, yet allows the reader to see deep into the souls of the characters. I found myself drawn into the story, feeling the emotions as if I were back in high school. I loved that the school focus was on marching band! Having experienced my own children being a part of such an amazing group, I could very much relate to all that was happening with the rehearsals and competition.

Ashley Schumacher's writing once again filled my heart and tore it wide open. She effortlessly weaves together beauty and tragedy. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St.Martin'sPress for an ARC of #FullFlight by #AshleySchumacher in exchange for an honest review.

17. (ARC) 5/5
Wow! This book was amazingly written and a much needed addition to the fiction that is finally becoming more prevalent focusing on LGBTQ+ issues and identities. As the parent of two teenagers, and a teacher of upper elementary age and early middle school age students, I have learned how imperative it is for others to learn about pronouns, types of sexuality and identities, and acceptance. I have known students as young as fourth grade who have questioned their gender and/or their sexuality. A lot of them become depressed because they don't feel that there is anyone to talk to about it. The lack of literature with LGBTQ+ representation has also further impacted their feelings that they don't fit into society.

This novel is told in alternating viewpoints by two teenagers. The first is a teenage girl named Teagan, a beauty pageant contestant who has to hide the fact that she is queer from the pageant world. The second is an individual named Kaylee (Kay for short). Kay is into writing fan fiction and is beginning to use they/them pronouns. They think they like girls, but aren't sure yet. Teagan and Kay meet when they are staying at the same hotel and form a connection. Of course, things are complicated. You'll have to read the book to find out more.

Even though this novel focuses on a character who writes fan fiction, and another who participates in beauty pageants, I was able to follow the storylines with limited prior knowledge of either of those things. If you read the book as an adult and have any questions, just ask a middle or high school age child. I will be recommending this read to many students and especially teachers and parents of middle school and high school age students!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #WednesdayBooks for an ARC of #TheOneTrueMeandYou by #RemiK.England in exchange for an honest review.

18. (ARC) 4/5
Maximillian, aka Max, and Josie become best friends on the first day of Kindergarten and remain best friends throughout their elementary school years. On the last day of fifth grade, at the class party, Josie lets slip that she may never see Max again. Thus begins a mystery adventure novel. Max becomes determined to figure out what a "whatnot" is and to find his best friend Josie.

I was excited to read this book because I have read other books by this author, including The Shadow Children series, and I love the way she writes. I was not disappointed. The School for Whatnots is a touching story about what true friendship really is. The story is told from multiple perspectives with chapters voiced by a narrator, Max, and Josie. This allows the reader to slowly put the pieces of the puzzle together, and see the bigger picture, while reading the book.

Josie is by far my favorite character. She has a confident, curious personality that makes her easy to like. The settings of the characters' dwellings and the school were well written and easy to visualize. I liked the level of science fiction infused into the novel - just enough to make it seem almost realistic. This would be a fun read-aloud to use with fifth and sixth grade students.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsPublishers for an ARC of #TheSchoolforWhatnots by #MargaretPetersonHaddix in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

19. (ARC) 3.5/5
A few years prior, Ellen Saint was reeling from a tragedy so she exacted her revenge. At least, she thought she did. Then one day at work, she sees someone who she thought was dead - who should be dead. Now she is attempting to put the pieces together and may be losing her mind in the process.

This novel was very dark as it follows a mother's obsession of hatred toward the individual who has upended her life. Told in alternating points of view, with narrators who are at times unreliable, this novel sucks you in. There are some twists that are easy to see coming and, some that aren't. I personally didn't care for how the book ended, but I enjoyed the ride. The novel was difficult to follow at times, but that is most likely because I didn't understand some of the British references.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Atriabooks for an ARC of #TheHeights by #LouiseCandlish in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

20. (ARC) 4/5
The cover illustration and title drew me to this book. Most young children enjoy stories about animals and I had to read this to see if it was one I thought my students would like.

This was a simple story, about a young elephant named Star and his family. Due to deforestation, Star has to flee his home with his aunt and mother. The book follows Star through his journey to find a new home. At the end of the book are facts about deforestation and ways that humans can help to prevent it. The steps are simple so that children understand how they can help the earth. Children are also sure to be drawn into the story by the colorful and appealing illustrations.

While I do not see this as a read-aloud book to use with a whole class, it is a perfect book to read one-on-one with a child or for a child who is a stronger reader to use as an independent reading book. This book would appeal to children in Kindergarten through second or third grade.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #SurvivingtheWild:StartheElephant by #RemyLai in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are completely my own.

21. (ARC) 4/5
The characters in this novel were well written, each with a very distinct personality. Harper, the main character, was easy to like and I was rooting for her the entire book. Other characters shocked me with their level of meanness, but it kept things realistic. High school is a time of self-discovery and it can feel isolating at times. It can be hard to understand what your friends are going through when you are having enough difficulty figuring out your own life. This was realistically portrayed with the changing relationship between Harper and Nadia as the story unfolds.

One of my favorite characters was the music teacher, Mrs. Devereaux. I wish there had been more interactions between Harper and her. I also wish there had been maybe one more chapter at the end of the book to help wrap up a few questions that I feel were left unanswered. I guess it's a good sign that I wished for the story to continue once it had ended.

I appreciated the range of gender and sexual orientations presented in the book. They were explained in a way that felt natural to the story, without being too explicit. I also loved the marching band aspect of the story. As a proud high school band parent, I can related to the excitement of the season.

This book would be good for students in high school. Some more mature middle school students may be able to handle it as well although, older students would be better able to appreciate the depiction of the stresses of high school.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #PageStreetPublishing for an ARC of #ForwardMarch by #SkyeQuinlan in exchange for an honest review. The views expressed above are completely my own.

22. (ARC) 3/5
Mike and Susan, married for 40 years, die in a tragic car crash. That same day, Zach survives a horrific accident and becomes the recipient of a new heart. Somewhere in the same hospital, Chloe receives a heart transplant that she has been desperately waiting for. Neither Zach nor Chloe know that their hearts are linked, and that they must find one another in order to once again be whole.

The description of this novel was intriguing. It sounded like the type of story that would draw the reader in and allow them to feel the loss, heartache, and love right along with the characters. I was hoping that it would feel almost magical - the draw of two young people toward each other because their hearts belonged as a couple. While I did enjoy the story, I sadly did not love it the way I expected to. The depth of the characters was lacking, making it difficult to truly connect with them. I liked Susan, Mike, Zach, and Chloe and I was rooting for them all. However, it would have been nice if Zach and Chloe had more to their personalities.

I almost stopped reading this novel partway in. I was so disturbed by how Zach was injured, and the detail in which it was described, that I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading. It felt as if part of a horror story had made its way into a love story by error. I believe that aspect of the book was part of what kept me from ever fully connecting to the characters.

I'm glad that I continued reading and completed this novel as it was a sweet story overall. The writing style was easy to read and the chapters were the perfect length to keep wanting to read "just one more". I also enjoyed the fact that the novel was told from the viewpoints of the four main characters and not just one person. I will most likely read another novel by this author as she has others out that also sound enjoyable.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookoutre for an ARC of #TheCrash by #CatherineMiller in exchange for an honest review. The view expressed are entirely my own. 3 stars

23. (ARC) 4/5
The title of this book and the cover art made me immediately want to read it. American society puts too much focus on women's bodies along with an unrealistic idea of "perfection". Women's bodies are over-sexualized which can lead to guilt, confusion, and anger. A book addressing these issues is a breath of fresh air - especially one that is geared toward teenage girls.

Malena is fifteen years old and has moved to Florida to live near her cousins after a hurricane destroyed her home in Puerto Rico. Adapting to a new place is difficult enough but then Malena, who happens to be busty, gets a dress code violation at school for not wearing a bra one day. Ruby, a flat-chested skinny white girl, befriends Malena and decides to take on the cause of fighting for an end to discrimination of women's bodies via the school dress code. As Ruby and Malena work on changing dress code policy, they begin to understand that they are fighting for more than they realized.

I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were well written and made me want to cheer for them. There were a lot of life lessons presented throughout the book about appropriately dealing with issues of gender, sexuality, race, and class. This book would be a perfect read for a high school course that focuses on discrimination culture. It would also be a good read for a teen or adult book club as there are many possible discussion points.

The mention of so many Puerto Rican foods that I've never heard of made me want to try some. The authors described them in mouth-watering detail. I don't know how to speak Spanish so I was thankful for the English interpretations to be included.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #RandomHouseChildren's for an ARC of #DoesMyBodyOffendYou? by #MayraCuevas and #MarieMarquardt in exchange for an honest review. The ideas expressed above are completely my own.

APRIL

24. (ARC) 4/5

This thriller was a quick read, told from multiple perspectives. The story begins at a wedding where a suspected act of violence occurs. The narration then jumps back to a year prior with sisters Tully and Rachel voicing chapters, interspersed with chapters by Heather (the girlfriend of the sisters’ dad). There is also an unknown narrator who tells the story of the wedding day in bits and pieces throughout the novel.

It was difficult when reading to know who, if any, of the narrators to trust as the characters themselves doubted their own perceptions of things. This added to the palpable tension throughout the book making it easy to keep reading just “one more chapter” to find out what would happen next.

I enjoyed the simple complexity of the novel. There was a lot going on in the story yet it was written in a way that was easy to follow. There were I suppose a few “twists”’in the novel, yet none were earth shattering in their impact on the story itself.

This was my first novel by this author and it will not be my last. Her writing was easy to read and the story held my interest.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St.Martin’sPress for an ARC of #TheYoungerWife by #SallyHepworth in exchange for an honest review. The views expressed above are completely my own.

***Mount Blanc*** summit achieved

***GOAL MET***

25. (ARC) 4/5
As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew that I had to read it. My first grade nephew's favorite animal is koalas and he loves rainbows. So, a koala named Rainbow - what could be better?!

The book teaches about the life of a koala in a simple comic book style format. Rainbow is a young koala who grows up and must fend for himself, using the skills his mother taught him. At one point in the story, he has to find water due to lack of rainfall and dehydration. Then, a forest fire comes and he is rescused by humans. This book explores the dangers of climate change and how it negatively impacts the lives of koalas. At the end of the book there are simple suggestions for children on ways that they can help slow climate change, such as turning off electrical items not being used and riding bikes instead of driving in cars.

I would recommend this book for children ages 4-9 to help teach about how the things humans do have an impact on animals. The illustrations are beautiful and the writing is simple. I will be keeping my eyes out for more books in this series.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #SurvivingtheWild:RainbowtheKoala by #RemyLai

26. (ARC) 4.5/5
As a special educator, and the parent of a child with special needs, books that focus on acceptance of those who are different hold a special place in my heart. So, of course I had to read this story!

Aurora, who is wiggly and talkative and Frenchie, who is autisic and mute, become best friends the summer before third grade. Aurora is able to understand Frenchie by watching his mannerisms. She advocates for him both in school and in the community by explaining his abilities to communicate in his own special way. Aurora and Frenchie are lucky enough to be in the same class together every year - until 6th grade. It is difficult for them to be apart, but Aurora is beginning to make some new friends. One day, Frenchie doesn't make it into his classroom at the beginning of the school day. A search begins for the missing boy and only then does Aurora realize just how much her heart is bound to her best friend.

The chapters are told from the perspectives of many of the characters however, the majority of them focus on things from Aurora's perspective. Aurora experiences life at a fast pace so it makes the book a quick read. I loved getting to know both Aurora and Frenchie and I also really enjoyed the way the other characters in the book interacted with them. This book shows that everyone has something good to offer the world if you just stop to notice. 4.5 stars rounded to 5

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #AnybodyHereSeenFrenchie? by #LeslieConnor

27. (ARC) 2.5/5

Doe is a high school senior at Weston, a private all girls school. Weston has had a long stranding rivalry with Winfield, the all boys school across the way. Doe and her friends are determined to win the prank war this year and they start off strong. Then, it's announced that Weston and Winfield will be merging the following year and Doe's focus becomes solely on stopping the merger from happening.

This book sounded really interesting, but I felt it had too much going on. There were school pranks, a fake romance, some real romances, friendship troubles, discussions about equality for LGBTQ+ individuals, fighting among friends, and a sexual predator. It was a lot for one book, which made it a bit overwhelming.

While I felt that the personalities of each character were well developed, I was not a fan of the character of Doe being written as immature. She had solid friendships, some good leadership qualities, and was looked up to by many, so being immature didn't fit with that. There are other ways she could have been described that wouldn't have been so demeaning. I almost stopped reading this book about 15% of the way in because there was such a clash between the writing, the events, and Doe's personality. I was intrigued by the fake relationship between Doe and Wells though so continued reading and was able to become more absorbed by the story and finish the book.

The description of the various settings in the novel were very good. I was able to envision each location well and it added to the story. Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the story. I would consider reading more by this author in the future. I just feel like she tried to fit too much into one book this time. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #ThisMayEndBadly by #SamanthaMarkum

28. (ARC) 4/5
This book was well written and kept me engrossed from the beginning. Although it was intense in parts, it was never really scary. There were clues scattered throughout the story, including some red herrings which made for some fun twists.

The characters were well developed and the setting descriptions made it easy to visualize everything that was happening. The story was told from the points of of view of Cassie and Hayden, the two main characters who have visions. Their chapters were interspersed with their visions, which added to the story.

This would be a great read for those who enjoy mysteries, ages pre-teen and up.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #YouShouldHaveSeenThisComing by #ShaniMichelle

MAY

29. 3.5/5

I enjoyed this novel but didn’t love it. It felt at times as if the author was trying too hard to make the writing more poetic or formal. The story itself was good but it took some time to get used to the back and forth format with snippets of family history and then the present time. 3.5 stars

JUNE

30. 4/5

This one was so good!! The tension was palpable throughout and something happened late in the novel that I did not see coming. I didn’t care for the final chapter as I didn’t feel that it was necessary. It was a quick read and held my attention.

31. (ARC) 4.5/5

Rainey is a sweet, shy seventeen year old girl who loves her family more than anything - especially her little sister Maverick, who was born with a heart defect. Liam is a troubled seventeen year old boy who is trying desperately to escape the hand he was dealt in life. Rainey and Liam meet when they sit next to each other in math class. Coming from two completely different backgrounds, is it possible for them to develop a friendship, or even more?

This was a beautifully told story about friendship, family, and young love. It was also a heartbreaking story about bullying, classism, abuse, and being medically fragile. Throughout this story I laughed, frowned, smiled, and cried. The characters touched my heart and I felt their emotions with them.

Grab a box of tissues, get comfortable, and enjoy this heartfelt novel.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #ChasingFireflies by #ChloeFowler. 4.5 stars rounded to 5