The Lost Cousins by B.B Cronin
I found the hide-and-seek aspect a bit difficult in The Lost Cousins by B.B Cronin, therefore, this is more for the older child (5 to 8 or even older). However, it is suggested for slightly younger aged group. It will depend on the actual child and if there is adult help as well. Just announced as part of the NYT’s Best Illustrated Books of the Year 2019, it is described: “All great picture books make you see the world in a new way, but B.B. […]
Stop Snoring, Bernard! by Zachariah OHora
I can empathize with Bernard’s friends in Stop Snoring, Bernard! In typical Zachariah OHora style, their little otter just wants to sleep, his friends want to sleep, but Bernard and his snoring keeps everyone up. Will he ever find a place he will not bother others? This is a cute but somewhat predictable story. I do think a different ending would have been interesting, however. As there is an interesting solution that could have been taken farther, even if not exactly the most realistic ending. […]
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 1 by CLAMP
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 2 by CLAMP
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 3 by CLAMP
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 4 by CLAMP
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 5 by CLAMP
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 6 by CLAMP
I began reading and collecting Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle when it was first released in 2004. It is written and drawn by my favorite manga collective, CLAMP, a four woman team of artists and writers. Over the years I slowed down my collecting but always intended to get the entire series. When Borders went out of business, I grabbed as many of my missing volumes as they had but was four short of all twenty-eight. Fast forward quite a few years later and my eight year old […]
Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
After my friend got me a copy of Carry On for my birthday, I read it immediately, and naturally I loved it. It had all my favourite tropes: magic, vampires, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, and-they-were-roommates, spoofing on the concept of a chosen-one, etc etc. I loved the characters and how it didn’t take itself too seriously, while still having a strong heart and emotions within it. This follow-up novel took hold of me with my love for these characters once again, but story-wise it certainly takes a dip: […]
Spinning Silver by Noami Novik
When I was in 6th grade, people in my class made Heil Hitler gestures and I told my teacher because I was very upset. Things escalated, as these things do, and soon we were all sitting in a circle sharing why we shouldn’t be like “hooray for killing Jews.” I think I cried when I explained why I was so hurt by what I saw. Since I am Jewish, I explained, people were looking as me as not a person, or a lesser person. I […]
The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White
OKAY. This book was a journey, a real struggle to the finish line. It was listed (I think this counts?) as one of the selections of my local library book club for this year, so, like a dutiful former English major, I read it. I had a sneaky suspicion from jump that this wasn’t my kind of book. I like historical fiction and was intrigued by the juxtaposition of this story over the sinking of the Lusitania, but this book boasts three different authors who […]
