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rpweber15's reviews
258 reviews
Carol by Darin Kennedy, Darin Kennedy
4.25
A Christmas Carol has never been one of my favorite stories of Christmas, mostly because it's overdone, predictable, and often saccharine. My friend wanted to read this YA retelling for our buddy read and I thought, "Maybe a YA perspective will be a fresh look at a tired story." Lo and behold, it was. I don't know how a middle-aged man wrote teenage girls so accurately, but he did. The story is still (mostly) predictable but I really enjoyed it! There are some very heavy topics covered in this book (mostly grief) and I think it's most appropriate for high school aged teens (and adults, obviously). The characters are incredibly real and complicated; Carol, our troubled teen was pretty unlikable and yet, I felt a lot of empathy for her. I had to request my library carry this book...and they ordered like 8 copies, which is awesome...so I hope more people discover this retelling!
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
3.5
This cozy murder mystery where all the characters are woodland creatures was cute. Nothing shocking or surprising about the story or writing…it was just cute. I prefer my books to have a little more oomph to them, and suspect cozy mysteries are not for me, but it was a cute little interlude to my normal selections! Have I mentioned it’s cute?
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
0.5
This was a page turner that I couldn’t put down, not because it was a great book, but because I just had to see how it would end. The characters are flat and unidimensional. The story has so many unbelievable plot points that are incredibly annoying. And the resolution was so abrupt, almost as if the author got tired of her own story and just wanted it to end. I’m glad this was a fast read. I’m even more glad that it’s over.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. I haven’t read many middle grade or YA books as an adult but this one really spoke to me. It tackles so many issues facing kids these days in such a simple but effective way without being manipulative!
Infected by Scott Sigler
5.0
I read this when it came out, cementing my place as a Sigler Junkie. Nobody does sci-fi horror like Sigler. Nobody. All I have to hear are the two words ‘chicken scissors’ and I’m immediately transported to the hellscape of Triangles. Bravo, Scott!
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
3.5
Cute sequel to the first book that included some fun characters and a happy ending. It was missing a little bit of the magic of the first book, lacked plot, and didn't have enough of the kids in it, but was still a nice little read.
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
3.0
A bookseller I follow decided to reread this beginning 4/1 so I (and many others) joined her. I read this as a tween in the 80s (honestly, it’s not even close to the other adult stuff I read) as did most Gen X adolescents who were left to their own devices. Re-reading it more than 30 years later was a trip. It’s a gothic horror written like a soap opera; that’s all I can really say. Have I read worse? Oh yes. Have I read better? Oh yes, thankfully. I couldn’t put this down and I don’t think it was 100% due to nostalgia. Andrews did something right, even though it was all kinds of wrong in those pages!
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
4.0
The premise of this book is really cool and while it is speculative fiction with time travel, written by a guy with a PhD in philosophy, it’s not heavy on the science fiction or the philosophy. It’s almost the right amount of both. It’s also written very beautifully; it’s very quiet and contemplative. This isn’t a book you can rush through, partially because it’s almost a little too quiet, but also because it really promotes a “slow down” pace to the reader. I’m not generally a reader of time travel stories but this one was pretty good and I look forward to the author’s next book.
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
4.5
I don't know how he does it, but Backman truly has a gift for writing complicated and real characters who imprint themselves on you, despite being somewhat unlikable at the start. Granny and Elsa, though, are immediately likeable...Granny being a wild firecracker and Elsa being the most precocious almost-eight year old ever. The characters sparkle with Backman's unique wit and sense of humor. I struggled a bit to get into the book, mostly because the fairy tale story within the story included a lot to keep track of without a ton of detail to make all the things stick. But as the residents of the house are brought to life when Elsa comes roaring into their lives, the fairy tale story within a story fades enough into the background so as to not be so distracting. This is a hard book to explain to folks. It's about love, grief, inter-generational relationships, and the joy of being different.
I do feel the need, however, to point out that wurses should absolutely NOT be fed chocolate and mulled wine. This detail bothered the hell out of me!
I do feel the need, however, to point out that wurses should absolutely NOT be fed chocolate and mulled wine. This detail bothered the hell out of me!