I know I can only use CBR15Passport own for one book, but I do own both of these titles Diary of a Wimpy Kid V15 The Deep End is one I picked up awhile back, and Fairylight Friends V01 A Magic Spark I have had a few copies of. This time, I read the one that came in a book of the month subscription I had. I think the other copy I read was from a return the store was (unfortunately) doing. Regardless of how I came to obtain these books, I found out something interesting about each one. First, even Jeff Kinney can have a miss; and second, sometimes you do like a book better on a second reading.
Now Diary of a Wimpy Kid usually can be read out of order. I know this as I have done this on more than one occasion. Of course, it helps to read them in order, but for the casual reader, it is fine. However, with Volume 15, you need to have read at least Volume 14. There are things that needed to be explained, since the big plot point of the story happens because of things that came before. If you stopped after book 14 and you like Wimpy Kid, then go for it, but do not start with this book. Just know that everything you loved or disliked about the others is here. The same family dynamic, the same type of humor and the same illustrations.
I was about halfway through the first story in the Fairylight Friends book (by Jessica Young) when I said, “This seems familiar. Oh yeah, I’ve read it before.” No big deal. It is what? Twenty pages? If that? I will say I am glad I finished it and not relied on the vague remembering of it was only “okay.” Now, no this is still not OMG BEST BOOK EVER! But it is a cozy story of three fairy friends and finding the special thing that makes you, you. It is a cute story about friendship, finding your talent and having fun. Modern, diverse fairy characters, and personalities (pinks for the “sweet one” and yellow and green for the “earthy one”) are shown through the illustration of Marie Vanderbemden.
