Bingo Square for Dream Vacation. I’d love to go to Ireland, and funnily enough I bought this to read on my international trip where I met up with friends in Spain … after their first leg of the trip concluded in Dublin. (Boring reasons I couldn’t go this time, but hoping to get another chance). Anyway, this is the fifth book I’ve read of French’s Dublin murder squad series, and given that theyre all about homicide, it’s pretty impressive that I still want to go, […]
If Wishes were dandelions……
When Carmela’s birthday comes around, she knows she does not have to make a wish, it has already come true! She is now old enough to run the family errands with her older brother. Who, of course, is less than thrilled with the idea of his little sister tagging along. Matt de la Pena creates a relatable sibling story with Carmela Full of Wishes. Who has not had an annoying little sister, brother or cousin or even next-door neighbor tag along? Jingling their bracelets, being […]
YA sequel that holds up to the first
Unfortunately, it seems to have become a bit of a given in publishing that sequels are generally a let-down. Maybe it’s a function of the first being more popular than anticipated and the second being rushed, but there seems to be taken for granted a drop in quality. Fortunately, in her latest series Strange the Dreamer, Laini Taylor holds ground. Another unfortunate reality of modern publishing is that anything with a teenage protagonist becomes “young adult”. There are definitely some themes in here that are too […]
When the art flies off the page
Red and Lulu is another book that is deeply set in the true Christmas spirit. It is about love and family and the joy of the holiday. There is information about the history of Rockefeller Center and the Tree that stands in the center of it at the end of the book. Matt Tavares has great text and even better illustrations telling his story. The art is a 5 and the text a solid 4 rating. (Spoiler) When Red and Lulu are separated the reality […]