library – Page 7 – One Chapter

Boo the Library Ghost by Becky Paige

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Stay away from this library! This library is haunted by a ghost who likes to scare all who enter while causing chaos inside the walls of this structure. Children are his favorite, frightening them so much that they run out of the library and head home. Boo does it all, from throwing books to ripping out the pages of the books, to making spooky scary faces on the walls. You have been warned.

Boo meets his match when Poppy walks into the library. After all of Boo antics, Poppy remains in the library. Poppy even asks Boo to calm down as she’s reading a book and he’s distracting her. This makes Boo mad, so he becomes more destructive. Wow, Boo is really tearing up the library! Poppy tries to stop Boo’s behavior and that’s when she realizes why Boo is really acting out.

Boo is reluctant to warm up to Poppy as she talks to him. He’s listening but he’s scared. Poppy’s patience and loving words warm Boo’s heart and they connect. Poppy is the perfect advocate for the library and soon she has Boo on board.

It’s a great story and I liked Boo’s transformation. Boo’s behavior was caused by something deeper and Poppy discovered it and helped Boo. I liked how she became friends with Boo. The illustrations were busy, colorful and they complimented the text. I enjoyed the text, but it did get a bit too long for my 3-year-old grandson. A fun book about books and the power of reading. 5 stars

Escape From Chernobyl by Andy Marino

4 stars YA/ Middle School

It was cover love that brought this book to me. I didn’t know that this was book one of a series and after reading this one, I don’t think I will continue with the series as the ending was disappointing to me. For me, there was no ending. As I listened to this book, I was hooked, I felt a deep connection to the characters and their fate and then, the book ended. I had been cheated. There had to be more! Was there book #2 to finish this story? No, it was over, and I felt cheated.

It’s April 26, 1986, the place Pripyat, Ukraine. This city was built for the individuals who would work at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. I liked the variety of characters as it gave a great view of what was happening around this event as it was unfolding,

It was Yuri who I fell for in this book. He was the one who had less at stake but gave the most. While those with higher titles, rattled off commands or walked among the clouds, Yuri was on the ground with his eyes open, watching and risking everything. Alina, Yuri’s relative, was just like him, but at times, her emotions got the best of her. Who could blame her, considering what was transpiring right in front of her. Yuri knows Chernobyl like the back of his hand. Yuri is a janitor at Chernobyl. They treat him better than a janitor but that’s still what they consider him to be. Yuri hopes that one day, yes one day, they’ll realize the potential that Yuri has and move him up into a more suitable title. While at work on April 26, Yuri notices something isn’t right. His eyes have been on the ground since day one but today, today is different. Today, there is no going back.

What was happening inside Chernobyl? Sofiya dad is an engineer at the power plant and getting his perspective as the day’s events spiraled downhill added an intensity to the drama unfolding. Despite everything, Sofiya tries to help the residents of Pripyat. Sofiya had a different emotional burning within her than Alina but together they show the confusion and turmoil that the residents faced as this event changed their world.

This book covers April 26, 1986. One day. I felt cheated as I wanted and needed to know what happened after this day. I felt a deep connection to the characters and as I closed the book, I was sad and disappointed that there wasn’t something to help bring me closure.

Jane and Dan at The End of the World by Colleen Oakley

5 stars Fiction

That was a fun read. I didn’t know what to expect at first but about ¼ of the way into the book, I was hooked and their night out eating was pure entertainment.

Extravagant and expensive, those are the words to describe the dinner that Jane and Dan were having tonight. It was their 19^th anniversary, and they were going all out. Only the well-to-do typically dine here but tonight the parents of Josh and Sissy find themselves a table here, a night they should have went somewhere else.

Dan is ready for a fun-filled night, but Jane is on edge. She’s been reading Dan’s phone messages and tonight is the night that she’s telling Dan that she’s done. She feels betrayed and lied to, amongst a host of other emotions and she’s ready to move on without him. Feeling that Dan by committing his affair, has already moved on without her, she wants to just officially get everything out in the open. Relief hits Jane as the words tumble out of her mouth leaving Dan stunned and surprised. What a way to celebrate an anniversary.

They rushed through the door, his voice was loud as he shouted, “Nobody move,” as the rest of his posse made their way into the restaurant carrying guns. Gathering up the patron’s cell phones, they laid out the rules. Sure, everyone would walk out safely through the front door at the end of this ordeal as they only want one thing tonight but as the minutes tick by, their plan was not going as they intended. Jane accepted the fact that the only book that she had written wasn’t a bestseller but as the night unfolded, it seemed that someone had read her book. There were too many similarities between her book and the drama unfolding around her. Could this really be happening?

I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated. The tension between Jane and Dan escalates as the drama of the restaurant intensifies. They’re trying to understand their relationship, grasping the meaning of their own lives, and doing a reality check. With the restaurant seized by a group of muddled thieves, the outcome of the evening is anyone’s guess. 5 stars

Night Owl by Christopher Denise

5 stars Children’s

A wish comes true. A cute short story where dreams really do come true. Even though little Owl doesn’t fit the true description of a knight, that doesn’t keep him from striving to become one.

A shortage of knights in the kingdom allows little Owl the opportunity to apply and that is all he needs. Little Owl works hard throughout the training to graduate and earn a position in the Knight Night Watch. Where others have failed in this position, because of who he is, he succeeds.

Owl has achieved his dream, he feels like an official knight. As he stands guard late at night, he hears a noise. Investigating, Owl discovers a powerful beast. A beast who would like to make a snack of Owl. How will Owl prove his knighthood to the beast and save himself?

A cute fun story that will have children guessing as you turn the pages. The bright bold illustrations are fantastic.

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

4.5 stars Fiction

It’s all about Bob. This was such a relaxing read. I had read a few other books in this series so falling back into the life of Lucy was easy and comfortable. She has adjusted to her move, but Bob is facing some complications and now it’s Lucy who he leans upon to help him. The roles have now reversed. Bob takes centerstage in this book and Lucy is the supporting character. With the roles reversed, their connection becomes even deeper.

Bob, Lucy’s closest friend, since her move to Maine have had a close relationship. Bob has helped make this transition smooth for her. Lucy now starts to build a relationship with Olive who lives in a retirement community. Stories are shared between the two of them and the details and emotions that erupt between them, you would have thought they were talking about current events.

Bob is facing some complications of his own and it’s Lucy who he leans upon to help him through them. I liked how the roles were reversed and how they each knew what to do. The writing is interesting and comfortable, and the characters are individuals that you want to know more about. I suggest reading the first book of this series, so you know the history of their relationship to one another before jumping into this one. Such a great continuation of this series. 4.5 stars

A Dog in Georgia: a Novel by Lauren Grodstein

4 stars Fiction

Well, why not? I was a bit envious when Amy escaped her everyday life to pursue something dear to her heart. Amy knew what she was supposed to be doing, she knew the roles that she was supposed to fill but inside she felt empty. Getting away just might be the answer that she needs to get back into the swing of things.

Amy is fascinated with Angel and has become a regular watcher of Angel’s YouTube channel. Helping the area schoolchildren across the street, Angel has become quite a sensation. When Angel is discovered missing, Amy wonders if perhaps her talent for locating lost dogs could help locate Angel. Toying with the idea of searching for Angel, Amy ponders the possibility of her actually joining in on the search. As Amy contemplates this decision, I enjoyed her thoughts and how she analyzes the situation. It’s not like she’s going for a short drive to assist: Amy will need to leave her comfort zone and be independent. It’s all or nothing.

When Amy arrives in Georgia, she knows that her main concern is the dog Angel but every step in this journey is about discovery. This book is not about light bulb moments but it’s about the steps and revelations that help Amy rediscover herself and passion about life. 4 stars.

Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers

4.5 stars Children’s Picture Book

With unique ideas and fun illustrations, Oliver Jeffers is one of my favorites. This is a cute story about a boy who plays hide-and-seek with his friends, Star and Penguin. Just like every other day, the boy does the counting while Star and Penguin hide. It was their routine: day after day, the same plan, and the same hiding spots. Penguin decides one day to hide extra well, and the game has changed.

Tending to Penguin, the boy forgot about Star until he is missing. Penguin and the boy set off to find him. Searching everywhere, they cannot find him, so the boy asks the Martian for help.

The boy knows that The Martian knows more about Stars than he does. Meanwhile, we see where Star is, and I wonder how they will ever find him.

Jeffers does it again with a fun entertaining story. Looking outside at night, I wonder……. 4.5 star

The Froggies Do NOT Want to Sleep by Adam Gustavson

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

How funny! The frogs don’t want to sleep as they’re too busy hopping, practicing their accordions, riding unicycles, dressing up, taming ferocious beasts, and numerous other things.

I loved the vocabulary in this book – not too large but enough to spark the minds of the young children reading this book. “Tame ferocious beasties, jousting like knights, zipping through galaxies, fizzy soda, alien life-forms, jelly-headed, pillowy-clouds,” see, just reading those words makes you want to read this book.

Now for the illustrations, they’re adorable and full of life. With colors that pop, the frogs are full of energy moving from activity-to-activity until they just can’t keep their eyes open. 5 stars

Found by Salina Yoon

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Such a cute book! I loved the bright illustrations and the simple text. I fell in love with Bear and his connection with Bunny.

Bear was in the forest, and he discovered a stuffed rabbit under a tree. He immediately falls in love with it and “gently carries the toy Bunny home.”

Thinking the Bunny is sad, he makes some Found signs and puts them up everywhere. Bear believes that the Bunny misses his home.

Bear starts searching for the Bunny’s owner, but he can’t find anyone who is missing him. Bear feels sorry for Bunny, but he also wishes that he could keep him.