I read a lot. Sometimes, it’s so much I can’t even keep up with all the reviews I need to write! This morning, I had five or six reviews on my hands, and with all those books having just read, you can imagine that all the books were sort of blurred together in my head! I haven’t done one post with several “mini” reviews in a while, so I thought today would be a great day to do that.
This Means War by Ellen Whittlinger
Wow, what a sweet book! This Means War was a short read – but certainly not light, as it seems in the beginning of the book. At first, I was just kind of like “This book is good… BUT IT’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE!” And it totally went somewhere. Why do I doubt?
I give this book five stars! Yep. It’s made its way to my favorites shelf! 😉
Keep Smiling Through by Ann Rinaldi
This one was kind of sad… alright, a lot sad. I mean, really depressing. But no tears were shed! It was too short for me to really get into the book… and the characters were… well, bland. The story itself was great, though. Plus I love a good WWII historical fiction. 3 stars!
Serendipity and Me by Judith L. Roth
Ohmigosh, I LOVED this book! I have to admit, I kinda-sorta pre-judged the cover. I mean, it seems kind of silly. A book about a girl trying to convince her dad to let her have a cat? But I totally shouldn’t have. There was so much more to the plot than that. Plus, it was written in poetry, which is always refreshing. I need to read more books like that. And can we just talk about Sara’s crush, Garrett? *sigh* FIVE stars!
So, have any of you read any of these? Did you like them? Do you want to read them? =)
Serendipity and Me sounds so cute!! i <3 mini reviews!
It was! Me, too! I need to do them more often.
I need to check out these books. Especially the 5 star ones.
You definitely should. I think you would really like Serendipity & Me.
Ack. It can get so difficult to keep up with reviews when you end up reading a lot. Anyways, I love these mini reviews, and it’s especially interesting that two of these three reviews are historical fiction because I LOVE historical fiction so much. This Means War and Keep Smiling Through both look like wonderful books, although This Means War seems even better. I actually love books that start out slow and gain speed and focus at the end. It allows me to ease into the story and get to know the characters before things really start to matter and it’s so much better than the other way around.
I know! It can be really hard, but I still love it. At the moment, I’ve been in a bit of a book slump, so now I’m having to CATCH UP on reviews! There’s no in between!
You know, that’s a good point, Ana. I haven’t thought about it that way before, but you’re right. 🙂
Yeah I read Serendipity and Me. I thought is was really good. I agree, I thought from the beginning, Oh this is another one of those girl and pet books, but No it was SO MUCH MORE! I loved it!
Wasn’t it, though?! I loved it, too! The ending really shocked me!
All these books sound good. I should probably read them. 🙂
You probably should! 😀
Ok so have any of you read THe Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan? Its in verse, and its very good. Crossan just came out with a new book that everyone needs to read. It’s called Apple and Rain. I’m just halfway through. If you’ve read either books tell me what you think!!
I haven’t heard of The Weight of Water before, but I just looked it up and added it to my “to-be-read” list on goodreads! It looks really good… I HAVE heard of Apple and Rain before, though. In fact, I’ve read several great reviews about it. I really ought to read them!! 😀
Cool. 🙂 The more I’m reading Apple and Rain, the more “iffy” it gets and sometimes the characters annoy me a little. It’s YA. But its good and I’ll will definetly finish it
Hey lu! I’ve heard great things about Apple and rain and I’ve been wanting to get it, but i wasn’t sure how bad the iffy parts were, is it really bad??
I’d like to hear about this, too…
Just finished Apple and Rain, ITS SO GOOD!!
Oh well the mother is a little unique. Apple lives with her grandmother who is loving but a little strict. Apple’s mother is young and a lot different. She has late parties and stuff. There isn’t anything really bad at all don’t worry. I just didn’t think about the stuff with the mother but its really nothing. Just a kiss in a dare, small amount of drinking (but nothing really happens) and things like that. Also there is a little romance thing but its only kissing. I usually read books without drinking and stuff so I’m not as used to it. Don’t worry its a good book and good for anyone I’d say ages 12+
Hm… it sounds alright. Thanks for letting me know. I think I’ll look into it. 😉
For most people, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration – the most anticipated and eagerly-awaited day of the year. But for thirteen-year-old Apollinia Apostolopoulou (Apple), Christmas is a sad reminder of the saddest event in her life. Her mother ran off to New York to be on Broadway on Christmas’ eve, without once thinking about the child she’d left behind and never came back. Christmas means tears and unfulfilled longings for her mother’s hugs. In time, she hates Christmas season as intensely as she hopes for the return of her mother.
The subject matter is also a little different, about a terrible parent who abandons her child for an acting career, and then returns and takes advantage of her need for approval. I appreciated the focus on a parent’s behaviour in a genre filled with absent parents, but Apple’s mother was a sorry excuse for one. Abandonment, irresponsible behaviour, expecting your child to skip school and be a babysitter/maid and letting them drink, that’s the iffy kind of part.
That’s so sad. 🙁 It still sounds like a really good book… thank you all for letting me know what kind of content there is! I think I could handle it, but we’ll have to see…
Yes I think that you can def handle it. It’s such a good book, it was just a litle surprise when the drinking and stuff came up. It’s def written for our age group 12 ish or 13ish. I’m reading We Are all Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen now. It’s so good!!
When you read Apple and Rain (if you do-you should haha 🙂 ) let me know what you think!!!
Hi, I agree with Apple and Rain. It’s really good, though. I’m reading We are All Made of Molecules too! I’m only on page 2 tho!
Emily, what is your goodreads name? How do I friend you? 🙂
You’ve read Apple and Rain? I think I’ll definitely look into that one.
My Goodreads account is here, but I’m only using it to keep track of the books I’m reading/have read/want to read and to post reviews. So groups/messaging/etc., I’m not doing. (And not allowed to; parents’ rules.) 🙂
Ok thanks! I just friended you on Goodreads. It’s okay about the no messaging since I don’t do ANY of that either. 🙂 It’s just good to keep track of books and also see what your friends are reading