emileereadsbooks's reviews
1052 reviews

What a beautiful and encouraging overview of breastfeeding around the world. I love how this book is empowering while also fully pushing mothers towards getting help on their breastfeeding journeys. This would be a great book to read for some moms before they have their first baby as a primer on breastfeeding. Others might find it overwhelming (I would have!). But as a mom currently breastfeeding my 19 month old, this book helped me feel my place in this global sisterhood of women who have been doing this for a very long time. 

Thanks to Troubador for a copy for my review. All opinions are my own.

Grandma Gatewood is such an inspiration and this book did a beautiful job telling her story. In a linear fashion you are walked through her first hike of the AT and what came after but interwoven is her history, the history of the AT, and what was culturally happening in the US at the time. At times this read like fiction in the rich way it was told and there were beautiful word pictures that added so much to the reading experience. 

I did this one on audio, and the enthusiastic narrator's tone hit the sweet spot of adding to the narrative without being over the top. 

I read about this book in Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill and I'm so glad that fun YA rom com brought Grandma Gatewood's onto my radar! 

Content Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Violence, Bullying, Rape, Suicidal Thoughts

The premise of this book is so unique, that the minute I first heard about it, I had to check it out. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The way Fern acclimates to her new normal and realizes the truths about her old life are fascinating. It is gradual, and there is no magic flip that gets switched. She really has to contend with who and what she is going to believe.

I thought this was a great story to help kids see the black and white elements of the world.

Content Note: This book deals with a child realizing and contending with the place she calls home being a cult. There are also LGBTQ side characters. The mentions are minor, but one scene does feel like an agenda is being pushed. 

Dory's dad got called up and went to fight Hitler. And she's so proud of him. But she's also a bit lost in her emotions because her mom is dead and that leaves her 17-year old brother Fish to take care of 9-year old Pike and her 12-year old self. But, as Pop says, "the neighborhood will give you what you need."

But when their landlord dies and a new landlord threatens their arrangement, Dory and her brothers are in search of a miracle to keep their life together. And along the way they may learn that miracles aren't as in such short supply as one would think. You just have to analyze how you view miracles.

This is the type of book you want to wrap your arms around and squeeze. Kate Albus writes this with such a unique and compelling voice. You are drawn in and become so invested in Dory, Fish, and Pike's stories. 

Dory shares a special affection and felt kinship with the Statue of Liberty that becomes such a symbol of hope throughout the novel. I liked how her emotions came pouring out to the statue.

Pike is just a lost little boy trying to buo himself in the world by honoring his siblings and his Pop. I loved his nerdy little personality and how his siblings still let him be a little boy. 

Fish is a character that grew on me the entire book and by the end, perhaps became my favorite. Saddled with such responsibility, he has to straddle the line between boy and man, as is true of many young men during this time period especially. I loved seeing glimpses of the boy he still is amongst him working to be the man of the house. 

This sibling set bickered and teased and loved each other well and I fell in love with them. If you are looking for hopeful WWII historical fiction, a great novel to hand to a middle grader, or an atmospheric look at 1940s Lower East Side, do yourself a favor and pick this one up! 

Note: I don't always love a romantic element in middle grade fiction. But the minimal romantic elements in this story, rang so true to a middle school experience (read:awkward but sweet), were innocent (a peck on the cheek and some holding hands), and added so much to the character development.

Content Note: Death of parent, Abandonment, War

The Savannah Bananas have taken the internet by storm and this book is a peek behind the curtain about how Banana Ball came to be.

The context of this book is so fun. The stories behind how much of the over the top fun has been brought to life are entertaining and inspiring for anyone who considers themselves a creative of any kind. 

Plus the way the Bananas organization works to be constantly coming up with new and inventive ides to entertain and put the fans first by paying attention to every detail made me thing of the books The Art of Gathering and Unreasonable Hospitality. 

However, the writing style of this book wasn't my favorite. It was not linear and therefore felt very repetitive and disjointed. The same things were referenced again and again, which took up page space for more depth of story. 

I do feel like this is a book I can recommend, but it did fall short for me due to the writing style. 

This is a book about management. About expectations. About putting people first. And even as a stay at home mom, this book is applicable to my life. 

The tenants of giving people more than they expect isn't just for restauranteurs, it's for the those hosting playdates, movie nights, game tournaments, dinner parties, Bible studies, and out of town family. 

I loved the examples of paying attention and going the extra mile that modeled showing you care doesn't have to be expensive, but it will cost you. It costs time, attention, resources, and yes, maybe cash dollars, but the investment is worth the reward in serving others. 

This is a book I will continue to think about and likely will reread in the future when I need a hit of hospitality inspiration. 

I am not one to gravitate towards Hollywood stories. But I like Melissa Ferguson and the unique voice of this one drew me in from the beginning. The down to earth nature of the characters juxtaposed with their positions really played well to readability and likeability.

At first I had a hard time with Finn’s motivations, but I feel like as the book progressed I began to understand the justification of his stance. Book club discussion fodder for sure! And Lavender is a character revealed by peeling back her layers and I loved her more and more as Finn fell for her.

Such a fun read that was such a shot of fun in my reading just when I needed it.

A note on the audio: Steve West also narrates the Wilderlore Series, so it was hard to sink into the audio at first. But once I was into the story I was so soothed by his voice. Fiona Hardingham also so beautifully embodied Lavender. It was an engrossing audio experience.

Thanks to Libro.fm and Thomas Nelson for the audiobook. All opinions are my own. 

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. 

Personally as an adult I really enjoyed it. I think the characters were plucky, and the sense of imperfect found family I was a fan of. I loved that Josephine’s mom does try and get her to behave. So many middle grade books have children running amuck with no real consequences. I also appreciate that Josephine’s plans to run away and solve things on her own are thwarted forcing her to rely on adults. She does get a hero moment, but still has to suffer consequences there too.

My mixed feelings come from the fact that when I was the age of middle grader, I would have found this book fascinating, but I’m not sure as a responsible adult I can recommend it for a middle grade audience. 

First, there are so many 70s references that will go over kid's heads (some went over my head and I had to look them up). This isn’t a content issue, I just think it might take them out of the story. 

Second, this book deals with HARD topics. Terminal cancer, kidnapping, running cons, absent parents, hoarding, and more. While I’m not for shielding kids from hard things completely, this felt like a lot for this age group. Specifically the kidnapping elements. 

Lastly, the tone felt more mature than a middle grade book. I even looked up if this was indeed middle grade or if it was adult fiction with a middle grade protagonist. Maybe it was the references or the subject matter making me think that, but either way, I would only hand this only to more mature/older middle grade readers.

Overall, if you are planning on handing this to a middle grader, read it prior so you know what you are getting them into and you can discuss it with them.

Content Note: This book loosely follows the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, deals with another kidnapping, terminal cancer, parental absence, childbirth, con men, hoarding, and bullying. 

Thanks to Holiday House for the digital copy. All opinions are my own.