Review: Death in the Cards

 

Danika reads Tarot cards at school to make a little extra money. One day a girl she's never seen before approaches her. It turns about her sister is missing and Danika read cards for her before her disappearance. Gaby needs answers.

Danika's mother is a private investigator. Danika longs to join her in cases, but so far, she's being kept to the business side of things. Until her age is beneficial. She can ask questions and get into places her mother can't. Maybe this could be her big break.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. It reminded me a little bit of Veronica Mars. I loved the tarot card readings. I loved watching Danika work her magic. Her family was great - I especially enjoyed her cousins. I like how Danika works at her relationships because she's not great at them. Obviously, I was a huge fan of all the food described. The mystery was great with twists and turns and a little danger.  

I hope this is the first book in a series! 

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My Library

Why I Read This: While I do love mysteries, I read this for the Tarot card aspect

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library's mystery collection

Hand this to: Everyone who likes thrillers

Picture Book Review: Falling Star

One star waits to grant wishes, but it takes a toll on the star and the star falls. The star isn't sure what to do anymore or who to be.

So many emotions is this book! It's a great book to talk about change and failure and success. Sometimes life changes things in ways people can't imagine. This book carries that message across beautifully. 

* Book sent for review

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach/Vacation Reads

 This week's topic is all about books you'd read at the beach or take on vacation with you. Here are some I've read this year that I recommend. 

Have you read any of these?

Author Interview: Lucy Knisley

 

I'm super excited today to be chatting with Lucy Knisley. 

I love her Peapod Farm graphic novel trilogy.

The next (and last) book in the trilogy comes out next week!

And while it's the heat of summer, I'm ready to read about the snow.

Let's get chatting:

I love this trilogy. As the creator, is it sad saying goodbye to the characters? 

I'm not sure I'll ever really say goodbye to these characters! There's always a possibility I will return to Peapod Farm, but I do feel like I'm leaving them in a good place. Stepping Stones was about finding your footing in a new situation, Apple Crush was about figuring out how to navigate a new stage of friendship, and Sugar Shack is really about settling in to yourself. I think Jen, Andy and Reese have run the gauntlet of adolescence and step-sisterhood in a way that makes me feel like I did right by them, at least for now.

I can't wait to read Sugar Shack. 

Have you lived on a farm? What's the best part?

Yes! Just like Jen, I moved to the country with my mom when my parents split up. I'd been born and raised in the city up until then, so it was a big change. We didn't have a huge farm, but we had chickens for eggs, and we grew flowers and vegetables and sold them at the farmer's market. I also grew up working on larger farms in the area, milking cows and mucking manure and knocking bugs off organic produce. Obviously, there were parts I preferred over others. The best part of all was learning about where my food comes from-- the people that grow it and the land that produces it. Fresh food is delicious, and taking part in the making of it makes it even tastier! 

 

Do you have a favorite season? Favorite food(s) with that season?

I love summer-- best produce. Cherries and peaches and tomatoes and corn! But there are wonderful parts of farm life in every season. I tried to showcase those in the Peapod trilogy through the changing seasons-- even in the wintertime, when almost nothing grows, farming still continues and there's hard work and delicious treats.  

I do love all the berries of the summer. And the apples of the fall.

Do you have a favorite comic/graphic novel from childhood? 

I didn't grow up with the abundance of kids comics that we have now! But I was lucky enough to come up at the height of Calvin and Hobbes. Those were always my favorites. 

 Calvin and Hobbes are fun; I loved reading the comics from the newspapers. There were so many great ones. 

What's the best part about creating graphic novels?

I love it when a reader finds something in my books that I'd forgotten or that I'd done unintentionally, and tells me about it! Connecting with readers through my work-- making them feel less alone, or creating a kinship or appreciation for something, is my absolute favorite thing. I also like the part when I'm inking, because it's when I get to listen to an audiobook and watch the lines flow out without a lot of thought--writing and penciling takes a lot of focus and problem-solving, but inking is the part that, for me, let's me just enjoy drawing without a lot of concentration.

That does sound relaxing. 

Anything you'd like to share that I didn't ask?

Nope! I hope this book brings you coziness and makes you crave pancakes!

Vacation Photos: Nantucket

We spent a long weekend with family on Nantucket.

Here are some photos:

Loving the views here 

Sandy dunes - reminded me of Anne of Green Gables 

A little chilly, but perfectly fine

Always spending time at the beach

The waves were very nice

Loved this on the wall of a building

All the pretty flowers

More flowers in a courtyard

The "Nantucket" photo

So pretty with all the landscaping

Sunset 

Until Next Year...

Christmas in July: Christmas Cards

It's time for the crafting to start...

I have a lot of cards to make, so I need to start early.

Christmas Book Review: My New Crush Gave to Me

Charlotte Charlie Donovan knows exactly what she wants for Christmas: Teo Ortiz. He's the school's star athlete, in the National Honor Society, invited to every party, contributes to the school paper (where Charlie is co-editor), and is about to be featured as One to Watch in a teen magazine basically, he's exactly the type of guy Charlie s meant to be with. The only problem he barely knows she exists.

But Charlie is determined to be Teo's date to the Christmas ball. And she has a plan: To rig the paper's Secret Santa so that she can win his heart with five perfect gifts. But to do that she needs help. Enter J.D. Ortiz Teo s cousin, and possibly the most annoying person on the planet. He's easy going, laid back, unorganized, spontaneous, and makes a joke out of everything the exact opposite of Charlie (and Teo). But he's willing to provide insight into what Teo wants, so she s stuck with him.

Yet, the more time Charlie spends with J.D., the more she starts to wonder: Does she really know what, or rather who, she wants for Christmas? - book summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really liked this book - but I did love all the relationships. I wasn't quite sure why Charlie liked Teo so much. I liked the moments between Charlie and J.D. - they were like oil and water. I enjoyed the fact that Teo loved the 80s so much. The Christmas moments were funny - the dressing up, the caroling, the sweaters. I loved the moments between Charlie and her mother. I loved the moments between J.D. and Morgan - that when I liked J.D. There were some really cute moments here. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute - love the sweater

Source: My Library

Hand this book to: readers of Hallmark movies

Library Recommendation: A fun Christmas read for teens

Christmas Book Review: Christmas Sweater Weather

Charlotte has loved her brother's best friend for as long as she can remember. But after they kissed one night, he pushed her away saying it was a mistake. They haven't been alone since. 

On the way to her brother's wedding party, she gets into an accident. Hayden is the only one not at the resort - therefore he's picking her up. They have plenty of time to talk. Due to her injuries, Charlotte isn't skiing. 

Hayden decides to keep her company. They're even paired together for the Christmas Games the resort is hosting. They more time they spend together, the more they catch up in each other's lives. Hayden knows it's only a matter of time before Charlotte realizes he has feelings for her. Will their chemistry ignite over this weekend?

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. Most of it takes place during one weekend. The wedding party weekend was really fun: from the games to the secret between the bride to be and Charlotte's brother and to the friendship moments. The chemistry between Charlotte and Haydon heated up nicely during their alone time. The prepping for the job moments were the best. I loved when Hayden asked Charlotte to make a list of reasons why should she get the job. When she was blanking on her good qualities, he started making the list. That was such a powerful and sweet moment. It made my heart melt. I felt badly for Charlotte when she interviewed for a job, knowing that everyone else wanted the other person for the job. But I admired how she handled it. I enjoyed learning about Hayden's family - from his little girl to the woman who gave her up. I love how everything turned out. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Why I Read it: I really enjoyed the author's previous book: Snowed In for Christmas 

Library Recommendation: A fantastic Christmas romance for your library's collection

Picture Book Wednesday: Christmas Books

Just a few board books and picture books that I'm looking forward to reading this holiday season:

Any of these books on your list?

What other books should I add?