Mood Board: Mirror Mirror

It's the last book in the series for Abby and her brother Jonah.

I don't want to say too much about it because SPOILERS.

However, I love how it ended.

 

Hanukkah Picture Books

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate

This is a magical book with dragons and unicorns but also about Hannukah.

I love how this book takes the reader through the eight nights of Hannukah. I love how this story begins and how it evolves. A wonderful story!  There is an author's note at the back with frequently asked questions about Hannukah. 

For Sophie and Max, things are different this year. The first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas. So instead of celebrating the holidays separately, they blend the holidays.

This is a sweet story about blending holidays and families. I really enjoyed this story and seeing the traditions on both sides. The author's note has a history of the Dreidel, the rules of games, a recipe, and a history about the Jewish calendar.  

Review: Liar Liar

 

* Book 16 in the Whatever After series * 

Jonah and Abby are dropped into the tale of Pinocchio. They're supposed to help the Blue Fairy make sure that Pinocchio goes to school. But he isn't interested in school, even though he says he will. Abby can tell because his nose grows. Now she has to figure out how to make things right.

My Thoughts: I adore this series. I really enjoyed this story, which is impressive because I'm not a huge fan of Pinocchio. But I did love the friendship moments. I actually liked Penny in this book. I did enjoy the fact that Abby's nose grew too when she lied. It did help her use her communication skills. I can't wait for more adventures. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: This is a must have series for your school and public library

Review: Best Wishes: Time After Time

 

Lucy is excited about the class field trip to the Natural History Museum - but the day goes worse than she ever imagined. At the end of the day, she receives a package with a magic bracelet. She wishes for a do-over day to right the wrongs. 

But the wish doesn't go the way she expects either. Lucy's stuck living the same day over and over again. And it never seems to get better. How can she make anything better?

My Thoughts: Book three in the series is a Groundhog's Day situation is cute. Imagine the worst day ever and having to relive it over and over again. I love how Lucy tried to change things and when that didn't work, she problem solved to make things better. Her problem solving was clever. I loved the chats between Addie, Becca, and Lucy. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your library's collection 

Review: Abby in Neverland

 

* Special Edition Number 3 in the Whatever After series * 

Jonah is having a sleepover and Abby is having a rough night. But then a boy appears in her window looking for his shadow. She declines, but moments later she sees her brother and his friends flying through the air. Abby has no choice but to follow them. 

Abby doesn't love Neverland like Jonah and his friends. She's the oldest and all the responsibility falls on her. She's worried about Maryrose and her health. She's worries about getting back home without their mother noticing. And she's annoyed at Tink's behavior. 

But what she doesn't realize is - there's a reason she's in Neverland. Peter was told to bring her. That can only mean one thing, her nemesis is here...

My Thoughts: I really liked this book - even though I'm not a huge fan of the Peter Pan story. I love the idea of flying and of course I loved Abby's happy reason to flying, I adored the Taylor Swift references. I liked the moments between Maryrose and Tink. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: A must have series for your school or public library collection

Review: The Sister Switch

 

* Book 2 in the Best Wishes series * 

Addie is the middle sister - and she feels ignored. It's hard being the middle sister. When a bracelet arrives in the mail for her, she puts it on. Without thinking, she makes a wish. Addie wishes she were no longer the middle sister. 

And a Freaky Friday is pulled. She's immediately transported into her older sister's body. Her youngest sister is now herself and her oldest sister is now the youngest. 

It makes like (especially homework) challenging. Addie's loving the relaxed rules. As Sophie, she has her own room. She has her own phone. But she misses her friends. Her older sister doesn't have any friends. That's when Addie decides to make her sister's life better. Addie's determined to help her sister gain friends and stop worrying so much about schoolwork.

But is that what she's supposed to do? How will they switch back and when?

My Thoughts: This is a super cute Freaky Friday story. I'm a fan of both Sarah Mlynoswki and Debbie Rigaud's book.  

I love the moments between the sisters - when they were fighting and when they were trying to help each other. I liked the connections to Book 1 with Becca coming into the story. I'm even more curious about the woman who wants to steal the bracelet. 

I can't wait to see where the bracelet ends up next.

Book 3 with a new co-author:

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendations: A must have series for your school and public library! 

BookTok: Best Wishes

 

 A charming start to a brand-new series about wishes, friendship, and living your best life.

What would you wish for???

@yabooknerdlibrarian Becca’s having the worst day ever until she gets a bracelet in the mail that says Make a Wish! What would you wish for??? #bestwishes #middlegradebooks #booktok #newbook ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

* this book was sent for review

Review: Spill the Beans

* Book 13 in the Whatever After Series *

After a terrible soccer game, Abby attempts to cheer her brother up with a trip to a fairy tale. Jonah isn't interested, but when they finally land in his favorite fairy tale, he begins to perk up.

Of course things go terribly wrong and they make a horrible deal with a trader. They do run into the giants who seem nice and not at all mean. Abby doesn't know what to do, but she knows that she must outsmart the trader and help Jack.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy this series - for so many reasons. I love Abby and Jonah and their relationship. I love how they fall into fairy tales and mess them up trying to help. I love that Jonah finally found himself in Jack in the Beanstalk. I enjoyed how he worshiped Jack and how that made Abby feel. I seriously disliked the trader. Looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: If you don't have this series in your library, you're missing out!

Review: Seeing Red

* Book 12 in the Whatever After Series *

Abby's excited that her grandmother is coming to stay with them for the weekend. But when her friends are having a sleepover, she's jealous and upset that her Nana won't let her go. She comes up with the brilliant idea to take the magic mirror to her friend's house - but winds up in the story of Little Red Riding Hood.

When Abby's Nana falls into the story, Abby figures she has some explaining to do. But she's surprised to uncover a family secret. Now if she could only make sure the wolves aren't going to eat anyone...

My Thoughts: Another fun installment of this series. I loved reading about Nana and the family secret. I liked the wolf family and the tree houses. I enjoyed Lali and her grandmother's relationship and how that worked out. I can't wait to read all about Jonah's favorite fairy tale next.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: If you don't have this series in your school and public libraries, you're missing out!

Reviews: Two Peas in a Pod

* Book 11 in the Whatever After series *

After a rough day at school, Abby has no choice but to follow her puppy and her brother into the magic mirror. They fall into the Princess and the Pea story. Abby accidentally takes the place of the princess. But Abby knows she's not the person for the job.

She also doesn't like the way they view Princesses. She believes Princesses shouldn't be passive. Abby helps create a test for the next Princess - which involves kindness, strength, and intelligence. She hopes they can crown a princess before she has to return home.

My Thoughts: I really love this series. I adored this book - for all the usual things: the friendships, the sibling relationship, and the fairy tales. But I loved this book more because of the feminist twist. I love how Abby and other females in the book decided to test any girl in the kingdom. I love how they designed the test and how they decided which attributes a princess should have. I loved the contest and seeing how everything turned out. I will forever read this series.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable. I really love these covers
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school and public library.

Review: Abby in Wonderland

* Book 10.5 in the Whatever After series *

Abby's spending the day with her friends - and Penny. At Penny's house, she controls everything. Abby is not enjoying herself. When Abby and Frankie chase down a card from the game they're playing outside, Frankie falls down a rabbit hole.

Abby knows what happened, but she can't get the other girls to go back. All three of them jump in the rabbit hole after Frankie - and end up in Wonderland.

My Thoughts: I adore this series, this book was super cute. I did miss Jonah and Prince, but sharing the book secrets with others is a great idea. I find Penny annoying, but she did grow on me a little bit during this adventure. I enjoyed Wonderland, even though I've never read the book. The characters from the story were maddening and entertaining. I really enjoyed the tea party scenes - although I would hate to be a guest at it. So looking forward to what happens next between Abby and her friends - and of course, the next adventure.

Source: ARC sent for review
Cover Thoughts: Charming

Library Recommendations: Perfect series for school and public libraries - if you don't have them, go grab them!

Review: Dragon Overnight

* Book 4 in Upside Down Magic series *

Nory and her friends are going on an overnight field trip for the first time ever - to Dragon Haven. Not only do they get to hang out together, but they get to see dragons up close and personal. They can't wait to get there.

Unfortunately - there's another school joining them. Nory's heart sinks when she realizes it's her father's school and that he's also there with his students. Her father's strict with his students and they can do magic properly.

Nory's worried the other students might laugh at her and her friends because their magic isn't the same. But most of the student seem to enjoy their variations of magic. They might even become friends with them...

My Thoughts: Another cute edition to this series - I love how Nory's magic isn't the same as everyone else's. I love how the other students made new friends and shared their differences. I would love going on an overnight to a dragon haven - so I loved tagging along with Nory and her friends. I enjoyed the moments she had with her father and their frank conversation. I admired her for stepping up. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Cover Thoughts: Cute and matches the others really well.
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Great for public and school libraries - grab up this series for the action, the magic, and the empathy.

Review: I See London, I See France

Sydney and her BFF talked about traveling to Europe, but Sydney doesn't want to leave her agoraphobic mother.When Leela's boyfriend kisses another girl, she begs Sydney to travel with her instead.

The two have them have four and a half weeks in Europe with a starting point (London), some plans for France, and leave from Rome. But the rest of the trip is open.

Where will they go? What will they do? And which boys might they kiss?

My Thoughts: God I loved this book. It reminded me of my traveling days  (I did a semester abroad in Bath, England in college). I liked how they had wiggle room in their travel plans. I loved reading about all the sights. 

I loved the romance. 

Leela's behavior annoyed me at times. But I'm glad they took this trip together and had time to readjust their friendship. 

I felt terrible for Sydney and how she took care of her mother, sometimes putting her life on hold. 

I also love how these girls are in college.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable
Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your YA section. It's a must have for public libraries. 

Reading this book made me want to travel, so I made a top ten list of places I'd like to go (or maybe go back to).

Back to:

Wales

Paris

Rome 

Florence

Never Been:

London

Scotland

Greece

Netherlands

Austria

Switzerland

Where would you travel to?

Review: Sugar and Spice

 * Book 10 in the Whatever After series *

Abby and Jonah find themselves in a real mess this time. They fall into Hansel and Gretel where they meet their doppelgangers outside of the witch's house. All four of them take a nibble of the house. But Hansel and Gretel use the portal to escape, leaving Abby and Jonah in their place.

Now Abby needs to outwit the witch, so she and Jonah can escape. But the witch isn't easily fooled and Abby finds herself locked in the cage with Jonah. How will they escape this time or is this the fairy tale that will change them?

My Thoughts: I really adore this series and this book was a fantastic addition. I loved that Jonah and Abby were caught in the witch's cage. I love that Prince tried to help out. I loved the smoothies. I love how Jonah and Abby tired to outwit the witch. I love the idea of a candy house. I really like how this book made them think about their situation in life, sometimes that's hard to remember. I really do hope Jonah makes it to Jack and the Beanstalk story, but I have a feeling that might be the last one in the series. I'm excited to see what happens in Wonderland!

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: This series is perfect for both school and public libraries, and find happy readers in both places. 

Tween Tuesday Review: Genie in a Bottle

 * Book 9 in the Whatever After series *

Abby and Jonah fall into Aladdin after trying to help Maryrose, the mirror fairy. Once inside the new fairy tale, of course things get mixed up.

Abby and Jonah become the ones to search for the lamp instead of Aladdin. Abby doesn't think this plan is terrible because she can use the genie to free Maryrose.

Unfortunately her wish isn't clear and the genie frees himself. instead. Now Abby must deal with a novice genie who can't always grant her wish. Abby gets three wishes a day, but when the wishes go haywire, it's hard figuring out how Aladdin can win over the Princess's father.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy these books. I like how things go wrong, but Abby and Jonah try to fix it. Even though the fairy tales don't turn out exactly like the books, everything seems to work out in the end. I like how they tried to help Maryrose. I liked their interaction with the genie. I really enjoyed Aladdin and his mother and how sweet they were to Abby and Jonah even though they didn't have a surplus of food or really anything. Another fun addition to the series.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for all Children's Departments.

We have the whole set at my library, and most of the summer, all the books were checked out.

Book 10: Sugar and Spice coming November 29th

Tween Tuesday Review: Once Upon a Frog

 * Whatever After Series Book 8 *

Abby and Jonah want to talk to Maryrose about the memories she left in Jonah's head, but instead they get sod aucked into another fairy tale - this time Frog Princess.

Of course, the story become messed up when Prince snatches the golden ball and it doesn't fall into the well. Plus the Princess isn't nice. Abby and Jonah attempt to find alternate methods to turn the frog back into a prince and save the day.

My Thoughts: I love Abby and Jonah and all their adventures. I love how they mess up the story, but then attempt to fix it. Everything never seems to work out fully, which is the best part. I liked learning more about Maryrose from Jonah's memory, especially the memories that had nothing to do with the story. There's quite a bit of talk against bullies. I like how things in the fairy tales often reflect upon Abby's life in the real world. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly recommend this series for all children's departments.

Tween Tuesday Review: Upside Down Magic

Nory's family has perfect magical powers and she doesn't. She's about to take her admittance test to Sage Academy. The same school where he father oversees the school and her brother and sister attend.

She will attend there too if only she can control her magic.

When Nory attempts magic, something strange always seems to happen. It's not normal. The harder she tries and the more she fights for control, the worse it seems to get.

When she loses control during the test, she's forced to move in with her aunt and attend public school. She's beyond humiliated, especially when she's placed in the Upside Down Magic program. Will Nory ever get her magic under control?

My Thoughts: I really loved Nory - she was smart, brave, and sweet. I loved her out of control magic -the creatures she created made me laugh. Plus I loved what happened when she turned. My heart went out to her when she was cut off her from home life and her family life. I really liked Ms. Starr and her instructional teaching. I love her outside of the box thinking and how she wanted to make the school a positive environment for everyone. I loved learning about the other kids in the class - from their insecurities to their own brand of magic. I can't wait to read more in this series.

Cover Thoughts: Super Cute!
Source: Sent for Review/BEA book

Final Thoughts: This book is super cute; I LOVED everything about it. It's heartwarming story about being different and owning it! I can't wait to share it with my niece this summer. 

Look for this book at the end of September!

Tween Tuesday Review: Beauty Queen

 * Book 7 in the Whatever After series *

Abby has a jealousy problem over her aunt work. After she accidentally-on-purpose ruins Penny's painting, she thinks she's a monster.

When Abby and Jonah get sucked into Beauty and the Beast's story, she's not surprised. She and her brother enter the garden, accidentally taking the place of Belle's father in the story. Trying to save her brother, Abby goes into town to locate Belle.

Belle, the town do-gooder, immediately agrees to help out. She returns with Abby to the castle. Abby must find a way to get the story back on track but Belle and the Beast are just not cooperating. You think they'd recognize true love when they see it.

My Thoughts: I really love this series - and I needed it after the cliff-hanger from the last book! I love how that part of the series was resolved and even more curious about the outcome.

To me this one is all about the characters and their interactions.
I really loved Jonah and the Beast hanging out and playing games. I loved the moments with the Beast cooking and talking about food. I even like how Beast feels like a monster and how Abby understands what he's feeling. I love Belle trying to find the right book for Jonah and hooking him on reading. I really like the cheese shop and Freckles. I loved the moments between Freckles and the Beast. 

Cover Thoughts: Super cute!
Source: Sent

Final Thoughts: If you're a fairy tale lover who hasn't read this series, what are you waiting for? Get yourself a copy of these books! You won't regret it!

Christmas Review Week: Cold as Ice

 

 * Book 6 in the Whatever After series *

Abby and her brother have a habit of messing up Fairy Tales and they've promised their parents they won't go into the basement (where the magic mirror is) again at night.  When their puppy Prince escapes Jonah's room and goes through the mirror, the siblings have no choice but to rescue him.

They land in snow and before long, Abby realizes they've been transported to the Snow Queen's story.  Soon they discover that Prince has been captured and frozen. They need to find a way to save both the story and rescue their dog.

My Thoughts: Technically, this one isn't a Christmas story, but it's set in a frozen winterland, plus it centers on the feelings of friendship.  You can feel the cold seeping in through your bones while reading this one - so it's perfect for curling up in front of the fire.  I felt bad for the characters who were lonely or who were forced into doing things they didn't want to do. Friendships were broken and made. I love how Abby realized the importance of true friendship and how people might drift in and out of our lives, but they will always be friends. I like the ending between the two girls in the fairy tale and how they used their power in a different way. Plus that ending with Abby and Johan left me wanting the next book immediately!

Cover Thoughts: Cute! I love the trees in the background.
Source: My Library

Tween Tuesday Review: Bad Hair Day

* Book 5 in the Whatever After series *

After a bad day at school, Abby's feeling miserable. Her brother tries his best to cheer her up with a trip into a fairy tale. At first, she's reluctant, but Abby's not about to let her brother wander off alone. The two of them enter the mirror and tumble out into a forest.

They hear someone singing about hair and realize they're in Rapunzel's story. They convince her to let down her hair and climb up into the tower. Of course, that's when things start going wrong.

One hair cut later and the story's about to change - again. Will Rapunzel find a happy ending?

My Thoughts: I really love this series of fractured fairy tales. I love the siblings- they've clever, funny, and loyal to each other. I love how they get themselves into trouble - but also how they find ways to get out of trouble and to make things right. I loved the hair cut scene and how that completely changed the story. I love how Abby realizes that one failure doesn't mean it's the end of everything - a great reminder for all of us as sometimes it's impossible not to focus on the negative. We just need to keep our triumphs and successes in mind; I know that I have a hard time with that. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfection
Source: my Library