Fresh Fiction Reviews (21)

Just a few books I recently reviewed:

"Still a Delicious Series"

"Can Fashion be Saved?"

"Win at all Costs"

"Librarian Spies!"

"A Charming Rom-Com"

"Cozy Drama"

 

Mini Review: The Favorites

 

I love books about figure skating, so ice dancing isn't a huge leap.

I'm not a fan of Wuthering Heights and toxic relationships - however, this was a really hard book to put down. The short chapters interspersed with interviews from a documentary was like catnip. I had to know what happened. 

Usually, I read a book because I connect to the characters - but this was one of those books where you just didn't like anyone. But that didn't bother me. 

Graphic Novel Review: We Are Big Time

Aliya and her family moved from Florida to Wisconsin to be closer to family. There she and her siblings attend an all-Muslim school. She tries out for the school basketball team. Neither the girls' team or the boys' team is really any good. But Aliya and her new friends start working hard.

As they start winning games, a reporter writes a piece about the girls. The piece starts getting buzz. Soon more reporters want to interview the girls - asking about their religion and their uniform. How far will their talent and hard work take them?

My Thoughts: I've been waiting to read this book as I love books about basketball. I loved how Aliya started playing basketball for the school. I love how they didn't take the bait of the reporters - they focused on basketball. I enjoyed the hard work they put in. I loved the relationship the girls had with their coach. I love that she was not Muslin and that she tried to understand them too. I didn't want this book to end - I wouldn't mind seeing this book develop into a series for the next three years.

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public library.

Picture Book Wednesday: Little Golden Biographies

Just a few Little Golden biographies

These might be small books, but I always learn something from them

To be honest, I didn't know much about Dick Van Dyke's life - but now I want to read more about it.

I love his singing and dancing. You can tell he's having fun.

She's such an amazing athlete. I love how she enjoyed other sports before committing to swimming.

I wish this had gone a little deeper into her feminism and struggles, but it's a great starting off point. 

I knew some about this woman's life, but I didn't know that she was the first Black female conductor when she was still a teenager. 

Willie Mays's skills are seriously impressive, even from a young age. He went pro directly after gradating high school. I loved the story about how Mays was playing with kids and forgot to show up to a game.

Top Ten Tuesday: Quotes

 This week's topic is all about quotes. I don't usually keep a list of quotes that I love. But I've started an instagram idea.

Have you read any of these books?

Middle Grade Review: The Ribbon Skirt

Anang isn't a boy or a girl. They are a two-spirit or nonbinary. They want to make a ribbon skirt for the powwow. They don't want people to treat them differently; not every in the tribe is welcoming about their two spirit-ness. Even someone Anang considered a friend.

They ask the spirits for help. The turtles show up and help. Anang takes it as a sign that they should wear the skirt. 

My Thoughts: This was a really interesting book as it combined so many pieces. The author is from the same tribe as Anang - and is also a two-spirit person. I felt so bad for them and wanted to wrap them in a hug. I love the way the spirits were woven into the books. The illustrations are lovely. I love how the skirt turned out. 

The back matter is fantastic: glossary, histories, two-spirit information, and a recipe.

Cover Thoughts: Sweet

Source: My Library

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

Picture Book Review: Honk Honk Beep Beep Putter Putt

 

A boy and his cat travel with Baba on the road. There's so much traffic, they have a hard time getting onto the road. Once they are on the road, other people want to travel on the road too. But what happens when there is a frog in the road?

This is such a fun book - filled with brightly colored illustrations and so many vehicles. Each vehicle has a different sound. I did love kitty in this story. The author's note shares how every one watches out for each other. The horns can mean different things. 

Teen Summer Reading (4): Books

This is the last of summer reading posts. If you missed the previous posts, take a look here. 

This one is all about books.

There are lots of art and dancing books. What else would you add?