mjenae's reviews
246 reviews

Good solid denouement? Check.
Tugs at the heartstrings? Check.
Familiar, lovable family of characters? Check.
Relevant, morally-strong themes? Oh, at least 10 checks.

You can read this even if you haven't read the first book. I mean, you should definitely read the first book, but this one has a story that stands very strong on its own. I think everyone should give it a shot, really. It's like nothing you've read before, and just trust me on this—it's Dan Gemeinhart. Seriously can't go wrong.
And if that means nothing to you, suffice it to say—this book is awesome.

The first thing I noticed about these stories was how different each of the three voices were. I thought I wasn't going to like the book much because Julian is so obnoxious and so unlike me. But his ending was the best of all three. (It made me cry the most.) And then I hit Chris's story, and I love love his voice, and his story. Charlotte annoyed me a little, but her story was the most unique; I have never read a middle grade book from the POV of someone like her. I don't know that I agreed with everything she did, but did it make me see the world differently? Yes, and in a good way. I learned something from all three of these characters. Now I only wish the author would do this with every side character from Wonder.
If you read and enjoyed Wonder, you've just got to read Auggie and Me. It adds a whole different dimension to a story that's already so important on its own.

I couldn't cry at the end because I was sitting in an airplane between my brother a stranger. But it's so good.
I think the author might have gone a tiny bit overboard with the emotion in some of the climactic moments, but it's her debut—I'll excuse it. And I love emotion anyway.
GREAT representation, in my mind. (Plus a good old London mystery thrown in the mix.) Very worthwhile read.

Fabulous.
I want to read the physical copies. I think they would sound even more like Sanderson without so much of it being interpreted through the actors. And nothing against the actors—they're great (although I think Bastille's voice is entirely wrong). I just know I'd imagine the whole book differently if I were reading it on the page, and I think it would look more like his adult novels that way.
Anyway. Excuse the spiel. I loved this one. More of the same, which is just what I wanted. Alcatraz is such a lovable heroic numbskull.

Beryl, an American by blood, grew up in Africa, riding her father's horses and hunting (at the age of ten!) with her dog Buller and the natives of an African tribe. At age 18, she became professional racehorse trainer (and oh, that race scene was spellbounding). A couple years later, while riding her horse along an African road, she met a pilot who later became her flight mentor. Destiny meets fate meets poetry, and what a story. Beryl is brave and wild and adventurous, and this has led her life to places I will never be; but I so enjoyed seeing them through her eyes, and hearing of them through her beautiful reflective style. If you like memoir, this is well worth it.

Captivating. I love the fast-paced, no-minced-words style. The story didn't have much science or background—there wasn't much of an effort to make it sound realistic—but it was a fabulous escape. The only thing I disagree with is that AJ and his friends are in no way 16/17 years old. I'd say at least 18.

Clements is so real-to-life. He knows how a kid feels. He tells most of this story through the main character's thoughts, and he gets all the emotion and thought processes spot on while incorporating good, healthy morals in the character development we can easily see happening on each page.
One of the main reasons it's so relatable is just that Jordan is so... well, average. There's nothing outstanding about her. There's nothing outstanding about her thoughts (although there were so many times I wanted to cheer for her good decisions). She's the regular everyday kid walking the halls who doesn't make a splash one way or another. And yet she's a hero in so many ordinary ways.

A lovely read (in large part because it was Anne—she's so relatable and listening to her voice is like listening to an old friend). I loved the "Next Steps" sections at the end of each chapter. If you struggle with decision fatigue or analysis paralysis, this book could prove as helpful for you as it was for me.

This book helped cause the same (much needed) mind-shift and offered the same encouragement that I received from Telling Yourself the Truth. I liked it for extra reasons as well, including the facts that it is written by a woman and is very Jesus-centered. Jennie's enthusiasm is contagious, and she explains concepts in a way that is easy to understand and impossible to deny. Her relational style (and her prolific use of storytelling) help the reader feel safe and at home in her words.
So full of Biblical, actionable advice toward transforming your mind in Christ. I've already recommended it to nearly all the girls I know, and I'm sure I'll continue to do so for the rest of my life.

Reminiscent of Pax, especially the setting. For ages 5-10 or so, primarily. Peaceful, and full of wholesome themes like forgiveness and trust and finding your own truths. This book is going on my comfort bookshelf.