Alex Rider Secret Weapon gets 4 Stars {ya lit, action/adventure}

I know books, but I am not a music expert.  However, with the spy and adventure theme of this book I couldn't get the theme music for James Bond and Mission Impossible movies out of my head. If I had to create a Playlist of sorts for this book, it'd definitely include those songs. 

It's not all action and adventure. There is some humor. ;) "Of course it'll work!  I mean, I hope it'll work. But it is a prototype, you know..."

"You should be careful whom you choose to trust." 

Alex Rider, aka the teenage James Bond.  He's a teenage spy for MI6.  Therefore, he gets really cool gadgets, he's super smart, a linguist, martial arts master, and he just seems like a good 14 year old.  This book has seven short stories, which make for a super fast read that'll have you keep turning the pages. You'll finish before you know it, and if you are anything like me you'll love that reality is briefly suspended and that things work out for Alex.  I'm such a sucker for the happy ending.  To be honest, I didn't know the Alex Rider books were for more than just middle and high school boys.  I'm actually a big fan of Alex Rider now, and don't worry, you don't have to have been an AR fan and have read the other books to enjoy this one.  Horowitz does a great job including any necessary background information.  

Basically, this Alex Rider book is fantastic.  At times there are a few gaps in the action, but otherwise I felt the writing was great.  The story moves quickly and there is enough development, but this is definitely a plot driven story.  Definitely a great book to hand to a kid in 5th grade and up; middle school libraries should most definitely have this book on the shelf. 

Alex Rider Secret Weapon by Anthony Horowitz
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 12 and up, action/adventure fans will love this fast read. 
# of Pages:  336
Clean Read: Yes. There is action and violence, but it isn't gruesome. I think an 11 year old could enjoy this.   
Worth a Check Out: Yes. It is such a fun quick read. It's worth a read when you are looking for a page turner that will help you escape reality. 
Buy It or Not: Maybe.  If you are an Alex Rider fan then you definitely should. 
Read Aloud:  Actually, it could be a fun read for 6th-8th grade classroom. 



I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

National Pet Day aka Pet Book List {book list}

It's National Pet Day, and I'm so excited to share some fun "pet" books.  These books are hilarious, funny, and make awesome read alouds.  Some have won awards.  Some are great for beginning readers, and some are entertaining and better than I thought they'd be.  Definitely give them a check-out. 

Pet Books

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

This novel with illustrations is hilarious, but I know about an alien cat warlord that becomes a pet sounds awfully weird.  However, it's hilarious and fun and definitely worth a check-out.  I found myself laughing and enjoying it far more than I thought I would.  It'd make a great classroom read aloud, or nightly read.  The reading level is a little higher, but I think the interest is lower.  Therefore, a class read aloud in 2nd or 3rd would be awesome.    

Best for 3rd-5th grade.  

Flubby by J.E. Morris

Flubby is a pet cat.  He is your typical, lay around the house cat.  Tho, the endings of Flubby books have a surprise. The text is simple and short and perfect for the beginning reader, the pictures are fantastic, and the book series is all around fun!

Best for Preschool through 1st grade. 

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo

This picture book won a Caldecott Honor b/c the pictures are fantastic.  However, the text and story is super fun as well.  These pets are not your normal pets, and the ending will make you smile.  

Best for Preschool through 4th grade. 

Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller

I love Arnie; this book has been a favorite of mine for years.  Arnie is a doughnut, but he is also a pet.  This picture book is a must read, but it is a longer read.

Best for 3rd through 6th grade. 

Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin

Charlotte, like many children, just wants a pet to take care of.  However, her parents give her an unusual pet that becomes even more unusual.  Charlotte is fun, and finds the good in all things.  This would be a great picture book for a teacher to read aloud and complete a Venn Diagram to compare Charlotte's pet to the student's pet.  

Best for 1st through 3rd grade. 

This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne

This interactive picture book is less about her pet dog and more about what happens to her dog, but it is funny.  Definitely a fun read for a classroom or with your child. 

Best for preschool through 1st grade. 

Too Many Moose by Lisa Bakos

If one moose is a good pet then many moose would be even better, right?! This picture book will answer that question in a fun way. 

Best for Kindergarten through 4th grade. 

Molly Mischief: My Perfect Pet by Adam Hargreaves

Molly is definitely silly, and it's quite obvious when she is trying to find the perfect pet.  

Best for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. 

Fairy Tale Pets  by Tracey Corderoy

What happens when a kid wants to earn a little extra money by pet-sitting?  It becomes quite the adventure for Bob when he pet-sits for fairy tale characters. 

Best for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. 

Hopefully today you give your pet some extra love and then enjoy snuggling in with some of these fun books. 

Happy reading!

Some of the books were given to me for my honest review.  All books, thoughts, and opinions are my own.  

Dragonwatch 2: Wrath of the Dragon King gets 4 Stars {fantasy, middle grade fiction, series}

I have a few main goals on my blog.  First, I aim to be honest.  Second, I aim for quality. Third, I aim to have fun and try and make it fun and doable whether it's baking or reading.  

Today, I am being completely honest with you.  I've never wrote this on the blog, but a handful of friends who know me know, that I wasn't the biggest fan of Fablehaven.   Maybe you're shocked.  Maybe your disappointed.  Maybe you never thought about it.  However, if you check the reviews on Amazon or Goodreads you will see I am in the minority.  Either way, if you look at the top of this book, Dragonwatch 2: Wrath of the Dragon King, you will see it is a Fablehaven Adventure book, and many of the characters in Fablehaven make an appearance. 

I've read both Dragonwatch books, and I will say I enjoyed them. {Gasps from the crowd.} Hence, the reason for the review today.  I have enjoyed Dragonwatch more than Fablehaven. 😮    

I, honestly, enjoyed Dragonwatch 2: Wrath of the Dragon King by Brandon Mull.  This book honestly earned 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it. I really did.  I thought the storyline was unexpected.  I thought Kendra and Seth's character development was good.  I enjoyed aspects like the Barrel that transports you to the other location/barrel b/c it reminded me of the Vanishing Cabinet in Harry Potter.  

The pace of the story is a little slow in the beginning.  It takes awhile to get moving; however, once you hit Stormguard Castle the pace definitely quickens.  I also felt the secondary characters were not developed fully even though they were introduced.  Sure, we may get more development of their cousins, Knox and Tess, as the series progresses (b/c this series is definitely set up to continue), but I felt their development was more than lacking.  In my opinion if you are going to introduce them and have them involved enough to have their own chapter(s) you need to develop them a bit more.  

Basically, Wrath of the Dragon King is a great book, but it is necessary to read the first Dragonwatch book.  Boys, and girls that enjoy fantasy, in 5th grade or up will enjoy this series. 

Happy Fablehaven Juvenile/Middle Grade Fiction Fantasy Reading! Feel free to email me or DM me on Instagram/Facebook if you have any other questions. 

Dragonwatch 2: Wrath of the Dragon King by Brandon Mull
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 11+, 5th grade and up
# of Pages:  406
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.  If you love fantasy books, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, or Fablehaven, and you have read the first Dragonwatch.
Buy It or Not: Yes.  Especially, if you bought the Fablehaven books. 
Read Aloud: Yes, this could be a read aloud with a parent, but  it's rare for a teacher to read aloud a series.   
Lesson Ideas: Courage. Siblings. Dragons. Fantasy. Fablehaven. Cousins. Discover or Be Told. Good vs. Bad.  

Are you a Fablehaven or Dragonwatch fan?  I'd love to know what you think of the series. 


A few quotes from Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King that I had to share with you: 

"I'd rather not hold hands the whole night," Seth said. (pg 31)

"You don't become a champion by relaxing." (pg 139)

"Tough week," Seth said. "Lots of running for my life." (pg 229)


Thank you for Smith Publicity for the book to review.  All thoughts and comments are my own. 

Not If I Save You First gets 3.5 Stars {ya lit, action, romance, contemporary lit}

Ally Carter has written A LOT of books, and I always enjoy the action, girl power, and slight romance found in them.  Not If I Save You First  is no different.  

This book is short, aka fast read, sweet, aka fun story with a touch of romance, and perfect for the teenage girl, even the reluctant reader, to pick up and read.  

Not If I Save Your First gets 3.5 out of 5 stars in my review.  I enjoyed the flash back letters, and Maddie's humor through out the story.  I love that Maddie, a teenage girl, saved the day over and over again with her wit, brains, and wilderness survival skills.  I enjoyed this lighthearted book with great pacing.  Though, the story and the characters lacked depth, and there were more than a couple unrealistic moments which caused me to knock off a star and a half from my rating.

Overall, Not If I Save You First is another fun read by Ally Carter. Which Ally Carter book is your favorite? 

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Best For: 12-18 year old girls.
Clean Read: Yes.  There's action and kissing.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: No.
Read Aloud: Possibly, depending on the class.
Lesson Ideas: Alaska, Wilderness Survival, Foreign Relations, Letters.

This short and sweet YA book had my favorite line in the author's acknowledgements when she discussed the research that went into this book. "To the end, I went where people should always go for reliable answers: to librarians!"

Happy YA Easy, Fun, Clean Love Story Reading!  As always, I love hearing your thoughts on the book. 

Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor gets 4 Stars {regency romance}

I 💓 Jane Austen.  My first year living in Denver after grad school, I was living by myself, which was awesome.  However, b/c I had no roommate to share expenses I couldn't afford cable or internet on a teacher librarian salary.  

I watched the entire Felicity series, checked out from the library, on my laptop, and went through a serious Jane Austen phase.  I read all of her books more than a few times, and I even threw some books by the Bronte sisters in there.  It was a great year.  

The past couple days I flew threw Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor by Sarah L. McConkie, and was reminded of my love for Austen.  To be honest, the Regency Romance genre is not my go to genre, but I adored this debut book by this new author and it's well deserving of its 4 out of 5 stars rating.     

I loved the complexity of the story and how beautifully it was woven together.  I enjoyed Christine, her sister Lizzy, their parents, and their friends Meg and Ivory; as characters they are fun, likable, and relatable.  I loved the happy ending even though you weren't always sure how the happy ending would come about.  I overall loved the fun ending, and that there was more to it than just a clean romance.    

I enjoyed as Christine grew, matured, and had real worries and fears she worked through.  Though, at times I felt her development was a bit abrupt, and a tad confusing.  I was also confused with the Mr. Greenville's France story, and didn't see how it added to the story.  

I truly enjoyed how the story transported me to what seemed to be Loughbourn and Pemberley, but to be honest I felt that there were too many similarities to Pride and Prejudice.      

Overall, Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor is a well woven story that is a captivating.  The love story is perfect, and the intrigue with the characters and their stories were fun.  If you enjoy Jane Austen then you should most definitely pick up this book. 

Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor by Sarah L. McConkie
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: Adults and teens that enjoy romance/regency romance books
Clean Read: Yes. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: If you love Edenbrooke or Jane Austen books then buy it.
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: What are the similarities to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? Which of the 4 girls do you relate to the most?  How does class play a role in who you can become?  Does present day have similarities to the struggles to the "class" you are in?  

Are you a Regency Romance fan? Which romance is your favorite?  

Just a quote/thought I loved from Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor:

"She realized she had a choice to make. She could either let her old fears haunt her- and stop her.  Or she could move forward, choosing to hope, believing that her future would work." 

Happy reading!  As always, I love to hear your thoughts on the book. 

Secrets of a Charmed Life gets 5 Stars {adult, historical fiction}

World War II. London Blitz. Fate. Mystery. Family. Dreams.  

Secrets of  Charmed Life by Susan Meissner is a beautiful WWII historical fiction story of resilience, family, mistakes, chasing dreams, and the makings of a happy life.  This novel is fantastic; I loved every minute of it.  There was excellent character development, an unpredictable story, and powerful moments that are impactful.  

The story of Julia and Emmy set during the time of the London Blitz not only opens your eyes to how extensive the bombings in London were, but also how resilient the community was with the motto, "Keep on and carry on" spoken.  Julia and Emmy's stories have similar threads of love and acceptance.       

Susan Meissner is a wonderful author.  I loved Fall of Marigolds, but I enjoyed Secrets of a Charmed Life even more.  If you are looking for a great clean adult historical fiction read, you must check out Meissner's books. 

Happy London Blitz Historical Fiction Reading! 


Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: Adults.
Clean Read: Yes. There's action, and intensity regarding war time, but considered it clean. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes. The audiobook is a great check-out as well.
Buy It or Not: Buy, especially if you love historical fictions.
Read Aloud: The historical aspect of the London Blitz and the mystery that goes along with it would make a good read aloud with the right group/class.  It'd make a great book club book.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: How extensive the London Blitz was, Resilience, Impact of choices, Is it ever okay to lie?, People make mistakes, Fate and providence, What makes up a happy life?


Did you read Secrets of a Charmed Life? What did you think? 


Just a couple quotes and thoughts I loved from Secrets of a Charmed Life:

"Don't chase only the dream. Life is a journey not a destination."

We play the cards we've been dealt and other cards around us are impacted by the cards we play.

A happy life is not made up of what you dreamed of or achieved, but who you poured your  life into and who poured theirs into yours.  Love for others should be the motivation.

Fish in a Tree gets 4.5 Stars {middle grade fiction, contemporary}

"Be careful with eggs and words b/c neither can be fixed." 

"Great minds don't think alike." 

"Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid." 

Friendship. Bullying. Families. Inspiring teacher. Overcoming challenges. Reading difficulties. Dyslexia. 

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is full of inspiring quotes and so many deep and powerful topics; it is a great read.  Personally, I think this would be a great book for a classroom read aloud in the upper elementary or middle school classroom.  It would also make for a wonderful parent/child read.  

I absolutely enjoyed this middle grade fiction, and I definitely think readers of all ages could vastly benefit from this book.  I was inspired and educated, and for all of those reasons Fish in a Tree earned 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

I really enjoyed the character development and the growth Ally portrayed.   She struggled with her confidence and self-esteem at the beginning, and I loved that at the end she said, "I'm having trouble is not the same as I can't."  I feel that statement alone shows a lot of growth.  

All in all, fabulous book that is predictable (hence the slight rating decrease), but it was relatable and powerful as well.  

Fish in a Tree is a fabulous.  Definitely check this book out.  If you liked the book Wonder, which I loved, then I think you will enjoy this read as well.  It'd make a great Book Club book as well.  

Happy Powerful and Inspiring Middle Grade Fiction Reading!


Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: 9 years old and up, 4th grade and up. 
Clean Read: Yes
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: Yes.
Read Aloud: Yes.Lesson Ideas: Friendship. Bullying. Differences. Challenges. Confidence. Dyslexia. Reading. Kindness. Family. Metaphors. 

One for Sorrow gets 3 Stars {middle grade fiction, ghost/horror}

It's October.  That means ghosts stories are in order.  A lot of the time people will think a good ghost story when they hear the author, Mary Downing Hahn.  Hahn is well known for her ghost stories, and this new one is no exception. 

One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn is her latest ghost story published just this year.  It's set in a small town in America during WWI when the Spanish Influenza was spreading.  This book has some interesting parts and a lot of frustrating parts as well.  

One for Sorrow gets 3 out of 5 stars in my book review.  This book was probably one of my least favorite Hahn ghost stories.  I think a ghost story is a fun read, but this one was less ghost and more evil and mean.  I liked the information on the influenza, and the feelings people had about WWI.  I found it fascinating to know that Hahn was inspired by her mother's experience of visiting homes with her friends of those that died, and then they actually came to a home of a classmate that had, unknown to them, died. 

The major issue I had with this book is the fact that I didn't like any of the characters.  Not one.  There were a lot of mean girls, girls with low self-esteem, and bullying.  The bullying wasn't resolved in a good manner, and the girls only changed after a mean ghost bothered them extensively.  The ghost was as likable as a ghost as she was in real life; which that is not saying much.  Honestly, One for Sorrow felt more like an evil mean girl book than a ghost story.  I was bothered that Annie couldn't talk to her parents, but she couldn't stand up for herself either.  I had wished for more character development in that area.  

Overall, it's not a bad ghost story, but Wait Til Helen Comes is probably my favorite Mary Downing Hahn book.  Here are some other fun ghost story chapter books if you only plan to read 1 Halloween-ish like book, and want some more options.  I'm also sharing Halloween books on my Instagram account as well. 

What is your favorite middle grade ghost story? 

If you do pick up this book, or any Hahn ghost stories...Happy Middle Grade Fiction Ghost Story reading!


One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn
Rating: 3/5 stars
Best For: 10 - 13 year olds, 5th through 8th grade
Clean Read: Yes
Worth a Check Out: Yes, if you like ghost stories
Buy It or Not: No
Read Aloud: No
Lesson Ideas: Spanish influenza. Bullying. Life in America during WWI.

Caraval gets 4 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, subscription box}

What do you get when you mix the books Night Circus and Mr. Lemoncello's Library?  Caraval by Stephanie Garber is most definitely the answer.

This fantasy young adult fiction novel has the magic of a traveling circus of sorts, but a scavenger hunt type of a game.  It's a fun read, and earns 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  

I felt Caraval was a well written story, with a complex storyline, and good character development.  There were many aspects of the story that surprised me; I find myself feeling this novel was creative, fun, and unpredictable story with a happy ending.  It was definitely a fun read.   

The fun unpredictable story was great, but I also truly loved seeing Scarlett grow in confidence throughout the story.  Scarlett started as a girl that was afraid of her abusive father and throughout the story she began trusting herself more, standing up for herself, and even fighting for what she wanted.  Confidence is something I believe teens could definitely use more of, and a book that highlights how a character builds her confidence is definitely worthy of a check-out. 

Caraval is a mostly clean read.  There is no language, sex, or drugs, but there is violence related to action as well as sex being referred to tho it never happened.

In regards to the audience, this book is best geared for 8th graders and up.  It's a long book, and not a constant page turner therefore it is not for the reluctant reader.  However, reluctant readers, and all y'all that drive a lot or find life is too busy to read, will really enjoy the audiobook, which is well read, and gets you into the setting and suspense that much more.

A few aspects of the story that I wish was done better is in regards to the romance and the abuse.  Scarlett's romance with Julian was a bit too instant, but I guess that is the YA coming out.  Though, the romance just seemed too sudden and unbelievable.  I also felt the parent-child abuse Scarlett and Donatella experience by their father wasn't dealt with.  With abuse being a big aspect to the story, I feel Garber missed an opportunity to give her book more value and depth.

Overall, Caraval is a fun story.  It isn't amazing, but it's an enjoyable light fantasy read.  Definitely give it a check-out this summer. 

Just so you have a better idea of the storyline, Amazon had the following book description: 

"Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away."

I got this book in my February Owlcrate box, but it took me a couple months before I could get around to reading it. However, I felt the box was fun even though I don't use a lot of it. The tote bag does make an excellent piano lessons bag for my daughter, and the cotton candy chapstick is pretty fun. 

What did you think of Caraval? 

Happy Fantasy YA Lit Reading!  


Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 13 - 18 year olds, 8th grade and upWorth a Check Out: Yes!
Buy It or Not: Not.
Read Aloud: it's a great audiobook, so it could be a great read aloud, but I probably wouldn't.
Lesson Ideas: Confidence, Family relationships

Sisters' Fate gets 4 Stars {Fantasy, Supernatural} {YA} {Cahill Witch Chronicles #3}

I love finishing a series.  I love staying with characters for more than a book, and seeing the series tie up it's loose ends is satisfying.  

Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood is the third and final book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles.  Born Wicked and Star Cursed were the first two books in the series. 

I gave Sisters' Fate 4 out of 5 Stars in my book review.  I liked the book, and I liked the series. The last book left me on such a cliff hanger (which I personally hate when authors do that, but maybe that is my personality) that I had to flip to the end of the book and find out what happened before reading the rest of the book. I am sure my cheating behavior is frowned upon by some, but I just had to know.  I was afraid of reading the entire book and being mad and/or bitter at the ending, but I like the happy and glad I read it.  If you have read the series you may know exactly why I felt I "had" to sneak to the end. 

Overall, the book is great.  There is a lot of action, and the action is well written for the most part.  I feel a middle school and/or high school girl would enjoy this series.  I think a reluctant reader could enjoy this series as well.

I did not enjoy the predictability of the story; however, only a critical reader will notice that and care about it.  A young adult reader will not bat an eye at the predictability, and they will love the clean romance in the story. 

Amazon had the following book description to entice you more to check this read out: 

"A fever ravages New London, but with the Brotherhood sending suspected witches straight to the gallows, the Sisters are powerless against the disease. They can’t help without revealing their powers—as Cate learns when a potent display of magic turns her into the most wanted witch in all of New England.

To make matters worse, Cate has been erased from the memory of her beloved Finn. While she’s torn between protecting him from further attacks and encouraging him to fall for her all over again, she’s certain she can never forgive Maura’s betrayal. And now that Tess’s visions have taken a deadly turn, the prophecy that one Cahill sister will murder another looms ever closer to its fulfillment." 

This is a really fun series.  I'm glad I read it, and I will be referring ti to the next girl who wants a fun new read.  

Have you read this fun series?!  Go check it out! 

Happy Fun Reading and Series Enjoying!

P.S. I Like You gets 4 Stars {YA Contemporary/Realistic Fiction}

Yesterday, I posted about OwlCrate's awesome August Subscription box.  This box was themed YA High and included the book P.S. I Like You by Kasie West, a young adult realistic/contemporary fiction. 

This fast read is a fun book that has everything a Meg Cabot or Sarah Dessen fan will enjoy. 

I give P.S. I Like You 4 out of 5 Stars. I enjoyed this quick clean read.  I enjoyed the clean romance, and the characters were fun and relatable.  I enjoyed that it was set in Arizona (where I'm at), and I enjoyed the character development of Lily.  I enjoyed how Lily's siblings and family life was full of love.  I love how Lily's siblings believed in her when she didn't, pushed her to reach new levels, and supported her in her endeavors and goals.  I loved how West portrayed Lily's home life.  It made me happy and was well done.  

I also loved the hilarious Arizona climate reference on page 194. "Arizona- the state that tried to kill its inhabitants every summer but made them forget about the attempt by being exceptionally kind every winter."  No statement was ever more true.  

What I didn't love, and the reason for the less than perfect rating, is how predictable the story was.  I knew from the very beginning who Lily was writing too, and I knew exactly how the story was going to end up.  I knew the exact moment the teacher, Mr. Ortega, was going to call them out on the letter writing.  The story was fun, but it was quite predictable.  However, a teenager is not going to notice or care about the predictability.  

I definitely enjoyed P.S. I Like You, and I would recommend it to high school girls, or even those as young as 7th grade, looking for a fun clean read.  Those that enjoy music may enjoy this read even more.  

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal.  It helps give you a better teaser of the story line.

"Cade and Lily have been enemies for years: he's rude about her clothes, hair, and whole vibe; she thinks he's a snotty, stuck-up rich kid. Plus, she has her eye on shaggy hipster Lucas, who looks like he could totally be on her wavelength. But when Lily scribbles some graffiti on top of the desk to combat her boredom in chemistry class, she's surprised to find a reply the next day and even more surprised when the answers continue. Soon, she's corresponding through hidden notes and bonding with her secret pen pal over a mutual interest in indie music. Who's her mysterious new friend? Little by little, Lily whittles down the number of possibilities to one that makes absolutely no sense. Although it gets off to a slow start as the author sets up the various subplots, there's much to like about this sweet love story. West allows the sworn enemies to reexamine themselves in a believable way; Lily considers that the person she becomes around her nemesis Cade is not her best self—and that the same could possibly be true for Cade. There's plenty of kissing at the end, but nothing that renders this work unsuitable for middle school readers. VERDICT Hand this one to fans of tween romance and Jennifer E. Smith's books."  


I love realistic/contemporary fictions; it is my favorite genre.  What is your favorite genre? 


Happy Fun Clean Teen/Tween Reading! 

5 Books Everyone Needs to Like Yourself and Be the Best You {Book List}

I know as a teacher I wanted my students to perform the best they could and be okay with be an individual.  At the beginning of the school year my first class read aloud was Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.  It's a great book, and it helped me teach my students that it is okay to be an individual and to like yourself.  

As a mom to a 5, 4, and 1 year old I want my kids to learn to Like Yourself and Be the Best You!  I'm pretty sure every mom and dad want their kids to be their best.

That is where these 5 books help you out, and they are popular enough books your local library should have them.  Check them out.  

5 Books to Like Yourself and Be the Best You 

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

Beaumont has many great books; she is a favorite of mine.  This book is a great read aloud for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners especially.  I love how colorful and fun this book is as well as the message it loudly send.  Be you and like it! 

Max and Marla by Alexandra Boiger

This book is for your dreamer, and Olympics fan.  I love sports books, and I love the 6 steps to becoming an Olympian that they share, and I especially love the last lesson. "Obstacles turned into victories." 

Best for preschool through 3rd grade, possibly even up to 4th grade. 

     

Normal Norman by Tara Lazar

This book is fun.  The scientific side of it just makes my little science nerdy side smile, and the illustrations are fun and hard not to love as well.  Plus, who doesn't love lovable looking animals doing crazy fun things?!  Overall, I love the message, Normal is impossible to define! So be yourself!

Best for Toddlers through 4th grade.  The older kids will understand the message taught, and the younger kids will love the fun pictures.  

   

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie

Alexie is known for his award winning Young Adult (YA) book; this is the first picture book of his that I have read. I liked this story, but I really liked the colorful pictures and the message taught of finding out who you are.  The Native Americans using the name to describe who you are made for a unique story line.  

Best for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. 

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

This book seems like the next best book to give a friend having a new baby.  The story of a mom telling her child that she wonders what that child will be.  I liked that it said, what you will be rather than what you will do.  This inspiring story is a definite heart warmer for mom hearts.  

Best for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners b/c of the characters/illustrations in the book are babies and young. 

I'm telling you these 5 books are definite winners.  They are fun reads, read alouds, and they teach such great messages.  

Happy Valuable Lessons Taught Picture Book Reading!