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librarianryan's reviews
6364 reviews
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This sequel does not suffer from the second book slump. It gives you a mystery and it just keeps on going. Pip is winding up her first podcast for the mystery Sal’s brother and Addie. There’s been a little bit of backlash on the podcast because well, it’s the Internet. But now her friend, Connor’s brother, is missing, the police won’t search for him. Pip is the only person who can help. This book continues the ideas and the characters that from the first book and is a new mystery to solve. This mystery has a few twists and turns that one is not going to expect. It is well written, and it’s fun to read. Do you like a mystery or a thriller? Pick up book but, but first read book one because you will need it. Also, make sure you have book 3 on hold because you’re going to want it.
Curlfriends: New in Town by Sharee Miller
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a book about being yourself. Friends are hard to make it at any age but when you spend your life constantly being the new kid, making friends can be hard to do. Coming into a new school three weeks after start makes it even harder. This is a sweet graphic novel about not only being a good friend but about being yourself. It’s got a great message and a fun story for any age.
The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel by Jeanne DuPrau
Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
This was a DNF. I started and stopped at least four or five times all throughout 2023. I’m surprised I couldn’t get into this considering how much I adore and love both the original book and the movie. I think part of it for me was the illustrations. And while they are fit for the topic because they’re so brown and dreary, they seem disheartening, instead of hopeful and enlightening. This is a great introduction to the story, but I think the original novel does it better and keeps one’s attention way more than the graphic.
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I listened to this is a full cast audio. The audiobook is incredibly well done. However, the last hour was missing on my digital download. Thank goodness for TBBS as they helped fill in the last hour. I was a tad sad. None of the libraries around me, had Promise Boys on audio! This is a mystery about a prep school that has some very, strict rules. The idea is to teach boys to be “men”. However, this is not a happy go lucky school, which is obvious from first chapter when the principal is shot. The rest of the book is who did it and how. This was an entertaining read that feels real and feels very “now”. Any kid would be able to pick this up and go hey this isn’t my school, but I see things in this that are like my school. That’s why for me this is a book that is what I think you should read.
Beyond an Allowance: Understanding Income - Bear McSavings Series by Bear McSavings
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This is the first in a long series of books on money matters for kids. It spends a lot of time focusing more on the story, so it rhymes quite well and has a nice cadence. The illustrations are soft and lovely and feel like they stepped out of an animated show. This book gave an idea of all the ways people earn income. That was interesting, but I hope that there’s deeper information in the following books in the series. This seemed a basic view over which while I’m not sure it fits the title of “understanding” in it rather just says, “here’s how to get income”.
Amazing A-Z AlphaQuest Seek and Find Challenge Puzzle Book: Discover Over 2,500 Brilliantly Illustrated Objects! by Andrew Ruhren
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
This is exactly what the title implies. This is a “Waldo” type of book, but instead of finding Waldo, you’re finding various things under the letter of that page. The illustrations are fun and the author illustrator even talks about how while they’ve left the images black-and-white so the reader could find joy in coloring them. This is well done, and I can see it getting checked out over and over again.
What are you feeling? by School of Life
informative
medium-paced
3.0
This book is fine. It sets out to do something and it does it. It is a tad bit long, but this isn’t a “read before bedtime” type of book. This is an informational book about different feelings and how to talk about those feelings with other people. This book serves its purpose.
Hi Pug!: Right to Happiness by By Kids for Kids
informative
slow-paced
2.0
The team behind this book spent so much time, drafting words about a kid’s right to happiness, types of happiness, etc. that they didn’t spend any time on the story. All the front matter should be in the back of the book. This book is heavily loaded front and back with extra material. That extra material is important and serves a place so make this a nonfiction book. The fiction story is severely lacking, and the illustrations feel rudimentary. I wanted to like this book, unfortunately I don’t.
The Magical Science of Feelings: Train Your Amazing Brain to Quiet Anger, Soothe Sadness, Calm Worry, and Share Joy by Jen Daily
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This is a wonderful book that gets into the heart of how emotions work. The book does not shy away from using real scientific words and languages. It also uses a 70’s style art to help illustrate what’s going on. It all works together quite well to make not only an educational book but entertaining one as well.
Little Duck: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Belonging by Hadiyah Schwartzman
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.0
This story is entirely too long. It feels more like a story that should be told than a story that should be read. The illustrations are lovely, but it’s a fight to get to the end and the illustrations are not enough to redeem it.