Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Book Review - Let’s Call It A Doomsday
📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖
by Katie Henry
Ellis Kimball is a preparer; for the end of the world, that is. Her anxiety doesn't help the situation. When leaving therapy one day, she meets Hannah Marks in the waiting room. Hannah informs Ellis that they were destined to meet because Ellis fears the end of the world, and Hannah knows when it's going to happen. As doomsday draws near, the search for answers seems to lead to more questions.
Though maybe a tad longer than needed, this is an intriguing read with an excellent portrayal of mental illness. Ellis and Hannah are both white, but the rest of the cast is more racially diverse. While about the potential end of the world, there is some humor in the story and moving moments.
Friday, December 25, 2020
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Book Review - Sisters of Sword and Song
📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖
by Rebecca Ross
When her sister Halcyon is sentenced to fifteen years for murder (and running away like a coward), Evadne offers to take half her sentence. The judge won't allow her to take half but will allow her to serve the five years of her sentence. The part Evadne takes on is the time at Halcyon's commander's home and the father of the boy she killed, working as a servant. Now Evadne finds herself not only wrapped up in her sister's sentence but the mission she had been on before her conviction.
This story is a standalone high fantasy novel that alternates between both sister's perspectives. There are many twists and turns and trying to figure out which characters were good and evil. The books include a map and a list of the magical artifacts mentioned in the book to assist readers in the story. Those looking for a great fantasy read but don't want to take on a whole series should be sure to give this a read.
Friday, December 18, 2020
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Book Review - Early Departures
📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖
by Justin A. Reynolds
Jamal’s best friend Quincy, aka Q, dies in a freak accident just to be brought back to life by a mysterious organization. The thing is, Q is just going to die again, as reanimation only gives him a limited amount of more time. Also, Q is technically Jamal’s former best friend, as the pair haven’t been friends since Jamal’s parents died, and he planned Q for what happened. With this second chance, Jamal is determined to make things right with Q, but there are complications as Jamal can’t fully explain why. Only a few people know Q is reanimated and set to die again, and Q isn’t one of them.
Though longer than it needs to be, this is still an intriguing read that will make you question how you would handle this situation if you were in it. While this book is a work of science fiction, it isn’t heavy into it beyond the reanimation itself, making it a lighter sci-fi novel. Despite the impending sadness of Q’s death, there is humor in the story, including transcripts of videos the boys made back when they were initially friends. If you can get past the slow start, this is worth the read.
Friday, December 11, 2020
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Book Review - Charming as a Verb
📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖
by Ben Philippe
Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm anybody, except for his neighbor and classmate Corinne Troy. After uncovering Halti’s dog walking scheme, Corinne decides to blackmail him into helping her improve her image at school and getting her a better recommendation to her dream school. As the two spend time together, Halti discovers he enjoys hanging out with Corinne and that maybe she may provide a way to help him get into his own dream school.
A fun romantic comedy that starts with a nice dose of blackmail. The story is told from Halti’s point of view. Readers will get insight into what it’s like for him to be a first-generation Haitian-American looking to meet his father’s expectations. While Halti and Corinne are terrific and likable characters, Halti’s friend Ming often steals the scene or makes it better. Readers will love the authenticity of the characters and the ways they can relate to them.
Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio
Monday, December 7, 2020
Peer Reviews Wanted!
We would love to include your reviews!
Read a book you think others will enjoy?
What about one they maybe shouldn’t waste their time on?
Junior Friends will earn 2 hours of community service for each review they submit.
Books can be Fiction & Non-Fiction in any format (print, e-book, audio).
Graphic Novels, Manga & Comics can be reviewed as well.
As long as you read all of what you are reviewing, you can submit it.
Submit your review by filling out our Google Doc.
Friday, December 4, 2020
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Book Review - We Are Not Free
📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖
by Traci Chee
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, things changed for Japanese ancestry people living in the United States. That following February, American residents of Japanese descent living on the west coast were forced to leave their homes and move to internment camps. This book is the fictional story of fourteen teens and young adults who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco. Now they are among those who were relocated to Japanese Internment Camps. Throughout the years, they face many ups and downs, and they and their families are forced to make tough decisions.
Intriguing and eye-opening, this is a wonderfully written book and portrayal of Japanese-American experience during World War II. The author pulled from the stories of family members who went through this experience. The story is told from fourteen different perspectives that follow each other in chronological order. Except for one character, each view occurs just once in the book. We Are Not Free is not an easy story to read as the character’s experience and witness many emotional and difficult situations. Readers who feel they can handle the topic, especially if they are Historical Fiction fans, should give this book a read.
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