Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grades, Retelling

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

Peter and the Starcatchers #1 I am a sucker for Peter Pan stories, especially ones that provide a more interesting and compelling female character than Wendy! Synopsis Peter was the leader of the orphan boys because he was the oldest – or so he claimed. And because he could spit the farthest. Not that it… Continue reading Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grades

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Fairyland #1 I picked this book up upon the recommendation of a fellow educator at the school book fair last spring and I read it while on vacation last summer. While I’m trying to review only books that I’ve read most recently now, I figured it best to throw this one in as well. Synopsis… Continue reading The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Pastiche

Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Sherlock Holmes #2 I'm not the biggest Sherlock Holmes fangirl, but when Anthony Horowitz came to the bookstore I work at, I figured I should pick out one of his books to read, and to break out of my reading comfort zone! Synopsis Internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz's nail-biting new novel plunges us back into… Continue reading Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Contemporary, Fiction, Young Adult

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

A few years ago I was looking for new books to listen to on my long work drives and picked up Eleanor & Park, having seen it all over the book stores and hearing lots of wonderful things about Rainbow Rowell’s work. I almost didn’t bother listening to it after the first 5 minutes –… Continue reading Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction, Psychology

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

A Funny Book About Horrible Things I started reading Furiously Happy as soon as I finished Let's Pretend This Never Happened. I love it THAT much. There seems to be only one person who understands my anxiety better than I understand it, and that person is Jenny Lawson. Also, how awesome is a book that when you casually… Continue reading Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction, Travel

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

Adventures of an American in Britain My mother had a copy of A Short History of Nearly Everything in our minivan for pretty much my entire adolescence. Intrigued, I figured that when I finally wanted to read nonfiction (once it was done being assigned to me), I would read a book by Bill Bryson, especially as I… Continue reading The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

Contemporary, Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

When I was a little girl, I took many ballet classes and I loved it! Unfortunately, I wasn’t very good. In fact, I was incredibly clumsy, and as such, I never really managed to finish a recital or class without causing bodily harm to myself or someone else and therefore, I had to give it… Continue reading Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Nonfiction, Photography/Art, Travel

The Grand Tour Guide to the World by Jeremy Clarkson, James May & Richard Hammond

It's all my husband's fault. When we first started dating, he asked if I wanted to watch a little British show call Top Gear. "What is Top Gear?" I asked, ignorant of it's cultural relevance. "Oh, well it's kind of a car show, kind of a comedy show," he answered. "Ok," I shrugged, "let's watch… Continue reading The Grand Tour Guide to the World by Jeremy Clarkson, James May & Richard Hammond

Book Club, Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

A Mostly True Memoir It is not often that I get the idea in my head that I absolutely must read a book at a particular time, but I decided this year before Christmas that I absolutely had to read Furiously Happy. My coworker, Jennifer, who loves Jenny Lawson, said "No, no. You have to… Continue reading Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson