I get this feeling of anticipation just before I read one of Angie’s books. I know they’ll be no turning back once I read that first page, for she begins setting the stage with her authentic scenes, the intense drama, and those characters that I swear have to have an address somewhere because her fiction is incredible, it’s so natural.
With his father in jail and his mother working, 17-year-old Maverick is learning about life the hard way. It seems that he just keeps getting knocked down again and again. Following in his father’s footsteps, Maverick has joined a gang and is selling drugs. This promise is an obligation that Maverick has now committed himself to. He’s enjoying his relationship with Lisa when his one-night stand, informs him that he’s now a daddy.
The temperature is starting to get warm as Maverick tries to handle the emotions and responsibilities that come with this new accusation. Maverick doesn’t understand how this can this happen, as it was only one night. I had to smile when I read this, as that’s normally what you hear from pregnant women. What’s going to happen with his relationship with Lisa? How will he be able to juggle everything that seems to be coming at him at full speed now?
I felt that Maverick did the best that he could, given the circumstances that he was under. Oh, he was frustrated and outraged at times yet, at the back of his mind, he was focused. He saw the end of the tunnel; he was just having a hard time getting there.
Another remarkable book by this fantastic author. I highly recommend this book and all the other books in this series. I look forward to the next book that Angie Thomas writes.
This book took me back to when my children were little. I used to love reading these books when my children would check them out from the library and this one, was no exception. I choose my first path through the book, based on what I’d want to do and then, I went back and reread the book a few times, choosing paths that were totally different. I was Harry Houdini, a magician with big dreams!
All paths in the book begin in America, in the year 1899. Working as a traveling sideshow, you like to call yourself the “The King of the Cuffs,” as you’re able to outwit any handcuff that anyone tries to attach to you. This of course, angers the police but you’re starting to make a name for yourself, as people are beginning to notice you. Now in Chicago, as a crowd gathers around, you’re getting the attention that you don’t want. The police have arrested you, placed you in chains, and put you in a cell. Can their charges be legitimate? You’ve never attempted a cell break before, yet it could be possible. You receive a sign just before the lieutenant rushes into your cell to offer you a deal.
It’s time now for the first decision in this book: does Harry take the deal that was offered to him or does Harry decide to use the omen that he received and not take the lieutenant’s deal? What the reader chooses will direct their path to the next section to read and set their course for this book.
This book is based on a true story and there’s an article about Harry at the back of the book. I enjoyed my adventures as I traveled through the book; some were short-lived and I did have one very long journey. I did learn a few things about this man as I read and having the opportunity to choose the storyline is a very fun way to read a story.
“Content warning: mentions of sexual abuse, rape, assault, child abuse, kidnapping, and addiction to opioids.” Yes, to all of this but yet, there is no warning about not being able to eat, drink, or think of anything else besides this book once you step inside its pages. Then, there’s that book hangover, once you’re finished and you’re left staring at the back of the book breathing, reliving those incredible scenes that were more than just words on a page, where was this warning, as my mind tries to unwind.
Korey, was everything she ever wanted. He was perfect, at least that side of him was. When Enchanted finally sees all sides of Korey, it’s too late. This was a fantastic page-turner of a book, a book in which I felt a deep connection to the characters and the story couldn’t have been more honest and real unless I knew these individuals personally.
The book opens with a brutal murder and then, the book flashes back to when the characters first met each other and their story unfolds. Enchanted was trying to fulfill her dream, a dream filled with music when she is spotted by Korey. Korey, the famous R&B artist has taken an interest in Enchanted and tells her everything that she wanted to hear. As he works his charm, she is swept away. Korey knows exactly what he’s doing, as he wins Enchanted over but Enchanted is an innocent, 17-year-old, victim who just wanted a music career. And Korey, he’s a manipulator, a controller, an abuser(mentally), and a serial pedophile, who just got his next victim.
This was a hard book to read as Enchanted voice got harder to hear. Korey began placing restrictions on her which confused her yet Korey made them seem like a positive part of their relationship. More constraints and limitations began to weigh Enchanted down. She was losing control as she began acting like a puppet, doing what she was told, losing her self-confidence as she feels she has no other option. Such a powerful book, a book that had important messages and I appreciate the author addressing these issues openly and directly. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy stories addressing these issues. Amazing story!
Dang! I picked this book originally based on cover love and I’m so glad that it caught my eye. I absolutely loved it! I’m not normally a sci-fi reader and seeing the size of this book, I almost walked away but this book was amazing! This was one of those books that I couldn’t stop thinking about as I tried to close the book and walk away. I loved how the author weaved the story together and the second half of the book, was incredible,
I felt connected to Nico in this book and I enjoyed being a part of her journey. I can’t describe Nico and her father’s bond, as I feel that the word love doesn’t define it properly. It felt greater than love. As she sat with her father reminiscing and discussing their future, they didn’t have to see eye-to-eye but they did have to respect one another. You could tell that they appreciated each other and felt fortunate to have each other. From Nico watching The Deliverer, to walking with Harry, to her meeting the other survivors, and following the plan, I traveled with her as she made her way.
I did take a few side trips away from Nico where I met the other characters in the book on a more personal level. From when Nico first described him, I pictured The Deliverer as something from The Twilight Zone. This character was brilliant. Where do you come up with this stuff? This character was primo! I can’t go into too much detail The Deliverer but this character generated more, “What?!” “No way!” out of me then, anyone else.
Nico meets other survivors on her journey which amount to about a handful of individuals to remember. Remembering how Nico lived, I had to wonder what was going through her head when she first saw them. These individuals don’t realize how important they are to Nico and vice versa. Everyone knows what they need to do to keep the swarm away as they’re out in the open traveling. Letting their guard down, they would be able to hear the hum before they’re under attack, they just won’t have much time to do so. Each of them has seen what the swarm can do and they don’t want it to happen to them. There is a bit of romance in this book with the characters but nothing dramatic or heavy.
I was surprised how fast I read this book. There was this momentum throughout the book, yet as I got to the second half of this book, the momentum increased as little details began to appear and everything started to come together. It was entertaining as the author began slipping these subtle details into the story, it was like I had discovered a clue. I really hoped that I had caught all of these little details as I read the story. It would have been nice to reread the book now that I have the whole picture in front of me but I needed to return the book to the library as someone else had a hold on the book. I’m going to put this book on my birthday list and I hope to get my own copy because I definitely need to read this one again. I highly recommend it, even if you don’t read sci-fi, if you like apocalyptic, fantasy, or dystopia books, this is one you should read. 5 stars
The ending of this book was fantastic! That was one adrenaline rush! I seriously don’t think I took a breath as the minute-by-minute action played out. As I reflect back on this book, I realized just how much I enjoyed it. After I had been introduced to the characters, I didn’t want to put this book down.
Zoey didn’t want to be on the debate team, nor did she want to be a part of the debate club. It’s not like she didn’t have an opinion, its just that she doesn’t like to talk out loud in class and isn’t that important in debate? Zoey’s teacher sees something in her and she motivates her to join. As Zoey attends a few of the meetings, I had to laugh as she begins scribbling information down and it seems as if she’s just “existing” while she’s there. You can tell she’d rather be anywhere else then, sitting there in these meetings. Yet, she’s listening and she’s grasping what’s really transpiring all around her, is anyone else doing the same?
Zoey’s life at home is complicated. She has three younger siblings (Hector, Bryce, and Aurora) which she helps care for when her mother works at the Pizza Pit. Zoey doesn’t see her father and Bryce and Aurora don’t visit their father either. Her mother is trying, she really is. With a roof over their heads and a bed to sleep in, her mother is trying to make a better life for her children. They’re all currently living with Hector’s father, Lenny and his grandfather in a trailer. Sounds cozy, doesn’t it?
I could see myself in Zoey’s mom, so much that it hurt. Her mom saw a goal and she was trying to reach it. In-between her and that goal were her kids -that’s it……nothing else. She was trying to make a better life for them and that was her goal. Zoey: her view through the lens was different. With everything that Zoey is juggling, she wants to help her mom now.
This is an excellent story that addresses the issues of poverty and abuse through the eyes of a middle-schooler. I really enjoyed how Zoey’s knowledge of debate came into play and how Zoey’s character matured in this book. Zoey relationships with her peers and her family played a huge part in her life. The responsibility she shouldered and her attitude was remarkable. I loved how realistic this book felt and how smooth the writing was. It deserves more than 5 stars!
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain. This has been my precept lately and when I read about August’s language teacher giving his students precepts to reflect upon monthly, I was moved. In fact, there were many characters in this book reflecting back on their actions and/or their comments because sometimes, individuals act spontaneous. I enjoyed all the characters in this book, each one of them was important to this story. August may have been the common thread that linked them all together but they were all needed, to make August into the best person that he could be.
I can’t tell you how many times I have read parts of this book over the years. As a substitute teacher, I would read this book in various classrooms when I would do a read-aloud with the students. I never heard a student tell me they didn’t enjoy the book, in fact, most kids got excited when I read it to them. They would try to tell me different parts of the story and I could definitely feel their enthusiasm. I had no desire to read this book after reading the disjointed version over and over throughout the years. Book Club came to my rescue and dang, what a book! I laughed, cried, and gave my copy of the book a good talking to, a few times as August ventures inside a school building. Don’t go to school, go to school, don’t go, go, heck…..I don’t know. I wobbled back and forth, as August tried to decide what he should do about attending school in a building vs. being home schooled again by his mother.
August knows the reaction that he’ll receive when he goes to school, he’s been getting it his entire life. He wants to think that he’s used to it but in reality, he knows he’s not. His mom feels that since it’s 5th grade, all the students will be new to the building and it’s a perfect transition time but August knows that he still has the disadvantage. After the school tour, August feels that it’s not as bad as he thought yet, when he actually attends the school, it’s harder than he thought.
I wasn’t ready for parts of the story as I read them. In the back of my head, I’m thinking positive thoughts but I know that negative things can happen, when “it” happened. They made me feel as if I’ve been run over by a bus. I know kids can be cruel, I know they can be truthful and honest but wow, seriously? I loved August’s sister, Via. She’s the real deal. She tries to toughen him up as she throws punches at him and he has the choice to either fight back or walk away. I believe that Via hoped that he’d confront her, she wanted him to push back, as that made him stronger.
Being a kid is hard, you want to fit in, but where? There’re many examples of this in the book, and the reality of it hits home. Kids want to be accepted, they want to a part of something, I think everyone has this feeling sometime in their life as I read, I understood the position they took. Sometimes I didn’t like it but I understood it. I think both his peers and August matured in this book. I liked how the teacher was trying to get his students to think on their own when he assigned the precepts. He wanted them to apply the various concepts and form an opinion, then they were to express themselves on the various subjects. I think this is a great exercise will help the students grow internally.
I’m so glad that I was forced to read this book for book club as I don’t think I would have read this book otherwise. I now want to see the movie as I heard it was good and was close to the book.
There were many great quotes in this book but these stand out as my favorite:
“Now, unless you want to be treated like a baby the rest of your life, or like a kid with special needs, you just have to suck it up and go.” (guess who said that?)
““Do people go out of their way to avoid touching you, Vic?” he answered, which left me momentarily without an answer. “Yeah, right. That’s what I thought. So, don’t compare your bad days at school to mine, okay?””
Sky’s playing field is the basketball court but she can’t stay there forever. On the court, she’s confident and free yet off the court, Sky insecurities control her. When she talked about Lay Li, this story sounded all too familiar.
Lay Li and Sky were best friend, the emphasis is on the word, were. Sky discovers that Lay Li is not girlfriend material as she doesn’t have Sky’s best interest in mind afterall. Its hard to come to this realization and then, to have to walk away from this close relationship but she had to.
Written in verse, this was a great book about relationships and about taking care of yourself.
Why? Just why, would anyone throw a teddy bear away? The whole cover of this book grabbed my attention from the fun text fonts used, to the unique teddies on the front who seemed to be in a wasteland, to how the author made this topic into a series, I had to know more. Enter the world of Furringon Teddies. Where a group of five teddies finally make it free out into the world and realize, perhaps they being inside the store was better.
When Buddy wakes up, he finds that he’s no longer trapped. It hot, bright and he’s sitting. As he moves his paws to shield his eyes, he makes a huge discover, he can actually move his paws! He’s always been upright, bounded by white plastic cords but now, he could physically move every part of his body! He’s made it outside the store! The teddies in the store have always wondered about this place.
Hearing something, Buddy spies a box that looks familiar. Disappointed that it’s not his own box, Buddy realizes that it’s an identical box and there’s 3 more of them close by. Buddy has found 4 other Teddies like himself. They can’t stand around after Buddy releases them as there’s a group of gulls moving towards them. How did this group of five end up in the trashlands? They read their boxes later, hoping to find clues, and they realize a few things about themselves. They’re supposed to “snuggle, cuddle, nap, sleep” and not talk, walk, get in trouble, and be mean. The group decides that they need to get out of the trashlands but as teddies, is any place safe?
This book was different than how I thought it would be. I liked how detailed the author was with setting the book up and how he shares that information. There’s Reginald, he’s a gray teddy. He has a lot of knowledge, he’s been on the shelf the longest, and he’s also the cautious one. Then, there’s Sugar. Her box had a “sticker reading damaged merchandise” which had affected the box that she was found in and her face. Her actions and the way that others reacted to her were different than the other characters. Her actions at the end of this book surprised me. These are just some of the subtle ways that the author “tells” the reader about the world that they’re painting for them.
It’s quite a journey for the group as they make their way out, the store shelves are long gone. They’re no longer the Furrington Teddies they once were. I was surprised at how dark this book became as they were met with outside influences.
I liked how this story flowed and the variety of characters but I think my main issue was the use of the teddy bear characters. For it being a children’s book, I became concerned for those who would be upset when they were reading it and suddenly, they came upon a section that they weren’t prepared for. If I think along the lines of Toy Story, where dangerous situations happen to those characters, to me, those characters are toys. Toys fall apart, you put them back together. Toys get their voices and attitudes from the children who play with them, typically. These are teddy bears, most individuals think of teddy bears as sweet, loveable, huggable animals.
I did think the ending was sweet and I look forward to the next book. Make sure you know your reader before handing this book to them.
Thank you, James, for writing this beautiful book. Using a touch of magical realism, 13-year-old Collin tries to find himself and his place in the world all while navigating around his OCD, bullying, family, and the other relationships that he encounters.
Collin lives with his father but when he runs into trouble at school, his father informs Collin that he is going to move to Minnesota to live with his mother. A woman that he has never met. I was instantly shocked at this news. His father had already planned this move for Collin: he was just waiting for the opportunity to tell Collin. I know parenting is hard but you shouldn’t surprise your child like that and then, bail. I was also shocked at the principal’s comment when he suggested homeschooling for Collin. He thought that Collin’s condition (OCD) was too hard for the other students to “adapt to.” Seriously? I couldn’t believe this!
When Collin meets his mother for the first time, I was glad that he made the move. I knew it would be difficult for Collin but her attitude and the affection that she showed him from that first day, I knew she would be good for him. Collin learns that she’s a Native American and her mannerism was something to be desired. Collin also discovers that he has a brother and a grandmother, their stories really made this book special.
Schools in this area are no different than his previous school and after being teased for his OCD, he runs out of his new classroom. So, what is Collin’s OCD? Collin counts the letters in the words that are spoken to him and then, he says that number out loud. Some kids in the past, have taken to saying long passages to Collin, to see if he can keep count of all the letters while others like to talk fast to him, to see if he can keep up with them, it’s all mean no matter how you look at it.
Collin meets Orenda. She lives next door and she spends a lot time in her tree house. Orenda says that she’s changing just like her mother did but Collin doesn’t understand what she’s referring to.
As Collin continues to get bullied at school, Orenda and Collin meet and she helps him discover who he really is. Collin was finally enjoying parts of his life and I could see a smile on his face, it seemed that he had finally found joy. He needed somewhere to land and he had found it, he was accepted and he felt a connection. A truly beautiful book that I definitely will need to reread in the future.
She was “pretty” – pretty amazing, pretty smart, and pretty funny 😊
Every book I read from Alan, I think he can’t write any better and then, he does it again. In Project 1065, I time-traveled back to Berlin, where I met Michael and his parents who were spies. Michael’s father is an Irish Ambassador so there is plenty of opportunity for the family to interact with high-raking officials. Michael is 13, he attends an all-boy school and he does his part in the resistance. Michael is also part of Hitler’s Youth Army where he can obtain information for the Allies. One of the hardest parts of being a spy for Michael is, when he has to fake being a Nazi.
When a British spy plane is shot down, Hitler’s Youth Army is called in to help search for him. Michael wants to save the man yet his team is needed to turn him in. The original search comes up empty but he’s found later and they’re able to safety hide him for the time being. He’ll need to get out of the country soon and that’s when Michael’s family comes into play.
Michael meets a new boy at school, Fritz whose father is on the design team for a new aircraft w/o propellers. This aircraft will help win the war. At Fritz’s house, Michael steals the blueprint but later realizes, he only has a small section of the blueprints. He’ll need to find the rest of the pages and get the information to the proper authorities BUT Fritz is quickly moving up the ranks in Hitler’s Youth and he’s leaving Michael behind. This friendship is falling by the wayside yet Michael needs those blueprints soon but how can he get them?
I’m sitting on the edge on my chair, the stories are running simultaneously, each one just as important as the others. It’s war, there’s some violence but that’s expected, as that’s what these individuals experienced. I enjoyed how all these stories were all tied in to one another, they’re full of energy and how enticing they were. Alan’s book are phenomenal, I need to breathe now!
One Chapter 