Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian Happy Halloween from our house to yours 🎃💀👻 #halloween #spookytown #halloweendecor #halloweenfun ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Book Tok: 12 to 22

If you like this movie:

you'll enjoy this book:

 Here's why:

@yabooknerdlibrarian If you’re a #Swiftie or a fan of 13 Going on 30 - this book is awesomesauce! #13goingon30 #booktok #middlegradebooks #influencer #amreading #halfbirthday ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Spooky Review: Lumberjackula

Jack has to choose his secondary school - his parents are determined to leave the choice up to him. But with one parent a vampire and one a lumberjack, it's hard to know which school to choose. Neither the Mighty Love Lumberjack Prep nor the Sorrow's Gloom Vampire Academy feel right to Jack. He's not sure there's a third option until he meets a new friend. She attends Tip Tap Twinkle Toes Dance Academy. When he visits, he falls in love. But how can he tell his parents he's not choosing either of their schools?

My Thoughts: This graphic novel is clever. I loved the different schools. I admire Jack for figuring out what he liked and going after it. I liked that he enjoyed bits and pieces of all the schools. Lots of great family and friendship moments. I hope there are more adventures with these characters.

* It's not really spooky - but because Jack is half vampire, there are some vampire moments. Which makes it perfect to read all year round, but especially during October. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendations: Highly recommended for your school and public library 

Spooky Review: Boo! Hiss!

Best friends live together - until a family moves in. They don't need a family living in their space. First, they move everything. Then they're super loud - especially the baby. Ghost and Snake just want their house back! They decide to scare them into moving out. But it turns out differently than they expected!

My Thoughts: This graphic novel is super cute! I loved the friendship story - how they fight and make up. I love their reaction when the family moves in. Their scaring tactics are funny. The ending is sweet. And the illustrations are charming.

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public libraries.

Picture Book Wednesday: Halloween Books

My town currently has a budget freeze, so the library can't order new books.

But these are some Halloween books I really wanted to read this year.

And I will get them, as soon as the budget passes. 

Board Books:

Picture Books:

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Freebie

 This week's topic is anything Halloween. I had fun putting together my Favorite Fall Words, so I went with spooky words. I'm not a fan of scary things. And these words can send a shiver down my spine...

Spooky Creepy Words:

Are their words you don't like?

Spooky Read: Daybreak on Raven Island

No one wants to be on the 7th grade field trip to Raven Island - a remote island that used to host a prison. Tori's missing a soccer game because of poor grades, Martin would rather be filing a movie for a film festival with his best friend who moved away. Noah would rather be anywhere with his mom who died recently. Instead, the three of them are paired together.

They spend the day seeing the old prison, hearing ghost stories, and witness something pretty creepy. They meet the rest of their class by 2 pm to catch the last ferry off the island. But Melvin wants to film something spooky for the movie festival. He knows the island will provide and amazing backdrop. At the last moment, he leaves the ferry. Noah and Tori go with him. Neither are pleased with the situation.  

There's a ghost hunting team on the island - hoping to make an amazing show. Something happened on the island years ago - three prisoners escaped, and the warden died. No one has solved the mystery. But Marvin, Tori, and Noah witnessed a ghostly glimpse of the moment. No one wants them to uncover the truth. Obstacles and spooky moments force them to decide what's important. Are they going to uncover the mystery of the island before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I wouldn't want to spend the night on this island - especially after witnessing all the creepy moments. A great story about finding friends. I loved how the trio came together. I felt badly for each other them as they all were dealing with significant trauma - grief, anger, and feeling alone. My heart went out to Tori's brother who was sent to prison. I really liked the author's note about incarcerated loved ones. Lots of action, danger, and mysterious happenings in this book. Part horror and part mystery, this book will leave readers on the edge of their seat as they try to figure out what happened. 

Cover Thoughts: Spooky

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your middle grade section.

Vacation Photos (2): Rocky Mountain National Park

 Yesterday, I shared the nature photos. Today is all about food and entertainment on the trip.

The books I took on Vacation

Cinnamon Roll

Eggplant Parm

Blueberry danish pancakes

Nachos

And Pie - this one is Coconut Cream - but you could get 6 different pieces. And they were all really good. I wish I had a pie place near me...

Statue in a town green outside the library

Nature

A Rose in the rose garden outside the Stanley Hotel (yes, the one from that Stephen King book)

The decor at the Stanley Hotel

The Stanely hotel - where Stephen King got the idea for the Shining - after a nightmare. 

Bear Statues

Boulder's Public Library - this is the main branch. It had a really cool outside play area for kids. I'm a little jealous of it. I had a lovely chat with the Teen Librarian 

Vacation Photos: Rocky Mountains Part 1

 This past week, I was on vacation in Colorado - first in Boulder and then Estses Park. We did some hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. We saw lots of mountains and waterfalls and lakes.

Part one is all the scenery. Tomorrow I'll post more pictures. 

My favorite lake we hiked too. It was a hard hike for me. The steep ones kill me. But the view was worth it. 

On top of Trail Ridge Road one morning - very frosty and chilly!

It looks like a Christmas wonderland.

Another great lake

Crossing a river. 

A sunny lake - this was a long day of hiking and lakes but so many great views

More waterfalls

Fun rock formations.

This was the hardest hike - steep most of the way. We crossed this boulder field twice, but luckily didn't have to climb it straight up. 

The last waterfall of the vacation - this one had a rainbow. 

On the way out to a waterfall 

Top Ten Tuesdays: Favorite Words

 This week I'm looking at why I like the fall. I love Autumn - it's my second favorite season. I love the first fall of snow and the time leading up to Christmas. So I created a seasonal board with some favorite words and feelings.

Are you a fall person?

What do you love about it? 

Here are my favorite things about the fall and words that make me feel cozy.

Which to me is the best feeling of all.

On Your Radar: (55) Behind the Scenes

 

Title: Behind the Scenes

Author: Karelia Stetz-Waters

Publisher: Forever

Publication Date: January 31, 2023

Why it Should be on Your Radar:

* Hollywood

* Pugs

* Female/Female Romance

* Workplace Romance

* Family

* Banter

* Friendships

* Dreams

** Netgalley ARC

Book Tok: Ride On

I loved this graphic novel!

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian New favorite graphic novel RIDE ON #booktok #horses #horsebooks #graphicnovel #readersoftiktok #booknerd ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚