The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Louise Erdrich's narration of this story that takes place between All Souls' Day 2019 and ends on All Souls' Day 2020 with Tookie, a once lesbian Native woman, incarcerated for stealing a dead body with cocaine on it. But this book deals with so much MORE and all of it was so tantalizingly good, I loved this story so much---mystery, humor, ghosts, the supernatural and most important a bookstore and many many great titles recommended for readers!!!


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Destiny Finds Here Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild (Baby Animal Tales) National Geographic Kids by Margarita Engle Photos by Sam Trull

Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild by Margarita Engle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Margarita Engles' books so much, especially her novels in verse! When I saw she published a children's picture book on a sloth---my granddaughter's obsession---I had to get it for her & me!!! This story, a true story with totally awesome photographs by Sam Trull! What I learned about sloths (2 main types The two-fingered & the three-fingered) was mesmerizing. Along with Destiny's riveting story, the photographs also demonstrate immensely how sloths' are losing their habitat. Children, teens and adults all have so much to learn from this book. I loved Destiny's story but I also enjoyed how Engle showed the reader the important animals, plants & vegetation. The end notes, the map, and important information are a must read as well. Highly recommended for all readers!

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Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved Eliot Schrefer's fiction The Ape Quartet series was so so good, I loved this nonfiction book about the animal world and the different kinds of sexual behavior in the animal world. Schrefer uses humor especially in the illustrations, exhaustive research, interviews with field scientists that are very informative and language that is authentic. There are so many animals and history that Schrefer delves into; I was riveted and learned so much. This is a book teens and adults will learn so much from about animals and humans. Highly recommended!

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Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver

Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My friend highly recommended this book since we both have parents in their 80s & Shriver concocts short stories about the many ways Cyril & his wife Kay will be leaving the world. I just did not enjoy this premise at all. And with it taking place in England, the Brexit & Covid just fell flat and became repetitive without endearing me to the story. So, no answers here for this reader...should we stay?

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Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley, Jennifer Jill Araya, Gary Tiedemann, Jesse Vilinsky, I listened and did not enjoy the mystery aspect of this audiobook. I loved the narrators but the constant repetition of thoughts, words, etc. found this listener longing for the resolution which I thought took too long to finally get to! I just did not find many characters believable and the mystery was just too bizarre. The plot was not believable to me.

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The Aquanaut: A Graphic Novel by Dan Santat

The Aquanaut: A Graphic Novel by Dan Santat
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this winner of the Nerdie 2022 Graphic Novels- Sophia misses her dad who died in an underwater accident but she still has the water park, Aqualand, her dad and uncle created to wander around in...until the Aquanaut appears and there is a race to save Aqualand and the sea creatures living there. I loved the fantasy aspect, the sea creatures inhabiting the dive suit, the many places they go (school, Aqualand etc) while trying to save the theme park animals. Middle grade readers will tremendously enjoy this graphic novel, highly recommended---awesome illustrations, too!

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Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee

Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another winner of the 2022 Nerdie Book Club Graphic Novels---Katie and Kacey are best friends until Kacey starts acting weird, but Katie has some ticks that she does not want anyone to know about because that would make her weird. Being home schooled she has her world of friends there but there are cracks in friendships, worry about getting braces & what is going on in her mouth? Middle Grade Readers will love Katie's story and enjoy her growth as she meets each challenge head on and has supportive parents who help her navigate the tough times. Highly recommended!

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Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Horse by Geraldine Brooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this for my Albright College zoom book club and the back and forth history of the characters & horses was intense and so enlightening! My heart broke a lot reading this book---especially for the character Jarret, a slave who lives with Lexington his whole life and Theo and Jess who live in the present and discover a shared passion in their jobs---horse bones & art history & a dog. This book encompassed the racism that was present in the past & still in the present---I did not like the horse racing either because of the toll it took on the horses from obsessed owners. I loved learning Lexington's history as a race horse & stud and the bond with Jarret was beautiful. Highly recommended!

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Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this author so much and this was given a 2022 Nerdie Graphic Novel Award and I see why! Victoria is a 12 year old who rides horses & has a best friend. When the competition of competing & her best friend pressures are too much, Victoria goes to a new stable. But she has vowed not to get too close to anyone and that proves a mistake! Edgewood Stables is a great place with a wonderful owner, trainer and committed riders who want to befriend the new girl. I loved the differing personalities of Norrie, Sam, and Hazel---how will they deal with the new rider they see as competition? A must read & enjoyable!

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Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an award winner in the 2022 Nerdie Book Awards Graphic Novels and I enjoyed Suyapa's summer in Honduras and her journey as she navigates family, expectations, traditions, and culture. I laughed out loud at Sue's hair, clothes choices that her family bugged her about and her "surprise" quinceañera. I loved her beloved, quirky Abuelita who always has Suyapa's back. A must read!

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Invisible by Chrsitina Diaz Gonzales & illustrated by Gabriela Epstein

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An award winner for 2022 Nerdy Book Club Graphic Novels a group of students considered "invisible" are thrown together for a community service project in their school. What evolves are friendships, empathy, and outreach to others. I loved Gabriela Epstein's illustrations! A must read graphic novel!

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The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat & illustrations by Joanna Cacao

The Tryout: A Graphic Novel by Christina Soontornvat
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this because it was a Nerdie Award Winner for 2022 and it was such a great middle school graphic novel with awesome illustrations by Joanna Cacao! Based on Christina's life (she is Asian American) like her best friend Megan, life gets chaotic when they decide to tryout for the cheerleading team in 7th grade. There are those friends who are supportive and other students with their racist remarks. Readers will love the fierce inner musings of Christina as she questions everything while falling in love with cheerleading, making new friends, and chasing dreams. Highly receommended!!!

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New Tricks (Andy Carpenter, #&) by David Rosenfelt

New Tricks by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great series (#7) in the Andy Carpenter books! I highly recommend these legal thrillers which include dogs to all my friends! On to #8!

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