13. Eureka

13. Eureka. Victoria Chang. 2026. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, YA Historical Fiction, MG Historical Fiction, verse novel]

First sentence: "Eat before you go out,"
says Ma Ma. "And be
back for Chinese school!"
Ma Ma says this to me
every single day.
I'm not allowed to go to a public school
in San Francisco
with the American kids.

Premise/plot: Eureka is historical fiction set in 1884/1885 California. When Mei Mei's parents feel their young daughter is in danger if she remains in San Francisco (in danger of being taken and sold), they send her--for her own good--to Eureka, California, little knowing that they are sending her to even greater danger. In just a few months, all the Chinese will be expelled--much violence--from Eureka. Mei Mei and her new friends will have to find their own way back to San Francisco in the hope of finding refuge.

My thoughts: I enjoy verse novels. I enjoy historical fiction. I definitely enjoyed this one. It was a quick read.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

12. Frankenstein

12. Frankenstein (Oxford World's Classics). Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. 1818/1998. 261 pages. [Source: Library, Audiobook, classic, science fiction, speculative fiction.]

First sentence: You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings.

Premise/plot: Robert Walton is on the adventure of a lifetime; he's always, always, always wanted to be an arctic explorer. He just wishes he had a best-good-buddy to share it with. As he's sharing his longing for a friend with his sister--via letter--he stumbles across a candidate for the job. He's a strange, odd man with one super-crazy story to tell. He's also a man full of warnings and woes. His name is Victor Frankenstein. You might have heard of him. Maybe.

Victor Frankenstein understands dreaming big. If asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he might have responded oh-so-seriously: GOD. You see, Victor spends way too much time thinking about how life is created. Well. Perhaps I should rephrase that. When he's thinking about creation, he's thinking about how to reanimate DEAD BODIES and RECREATE life.

Frankenstein becomes more than a little obsessed with his science project. I personally could never figure out the appeal. He isn't interested in bringing the dead back to life--as is. That is, reanimating the life of a specific person. He is interested in piecing together bits and pieces of dead humans into a new super-human form. Taller. Stronger. Bigger. And definitely uglier. He isn't interested in prolonging life or reuniting families. What does he hope to gain by his creation? Does he see himself as a Creator? What does he owe his creature--if anything? What does his creature owe him--if anything?

If man is created in the image of God, is the monster created in the image of Frankenstein? Does the monster share the characteristics of Victor Frankenstein? Are the two more alike or different? Does the monster reveal the heart and mind of his Creator?

My thoughts: I've read Frankenstein so many times now. I think I've really only ever read the 1818 text of the novel. Most of the time I stick with the same copy I used in college.

I love the book.

 

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

January Reflections

In January, I read twenty-one books and watched thirty-two movies. (I won't always include movies in the reflection post. Probably. Maybe.)

I listened to eight books on audio. I read eight e-books. I read five physical books.

Books Reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

1. The Long Winter (Little House #6) Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1940. 334 pages. [Source: Library][audiobook, historical fiction, classic]

2. Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury. 1953/2011. 194 pages. [Source: Library][5 stars, audiobook, dystopia, science fiction, adult classic]

3. Westfallen #2: Into the Fire. Ann and Ben Brashares. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, series book, mg speculative fiction]

4. Anne of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1939. 274 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, audio book, classic]

5. Little Town on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Illustrated by Garth Williams. 1941. 374 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, audiobook, historical fiction, children's classic]

6. These Happy Golden Years. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Illustrated by Garth Williams. 1943. HarperCollins. 289 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, historical fiction, classic, audiobook]

7. The First Four Years. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1971. 134 pages. [Source: Library] [historical fiction, classic, series book, 3 stars]

8. By the Shores of Silver Lake. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1939. 290 pages. [Source: Library] [audiobook, j historical fiction, series book, 4 stars]

9. The Running Man. Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). 1982. 317 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, action, thriller]

10. Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte. 1847. 532 pages. [Source: Library] [audiobook, classic, adult romance, 5 stars]

11. The Experiment. Rebecca Stead. 2025. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy] [j fantasy, j fiction, mg fantasy, mg fiction, j mystery, mg mystery, j science fiction, mg science fiction, 4 stars]


Books Reviewed at Young Readers

1. The Animals of Farmer Jones. Leah Gale. Illustrated by Richard Scarry. 1942. 32 pages. [Source: Bought, 4 stars, Golden Books, children's classic, farm stories]

2. Squirrel Sits Still (Board Book). Christianne Jones. Illustrated by Jayri Gomez. 2026. 20 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, 5 stars, animal fantasy]

3. If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone. Gideon Sterer. Illustrated by Emily Hughes. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, imagination, picture books]

4. Traitors in Space. Tim Collins. 2025. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy] [3 stars, pick your own path, choose your own adventure, science fiction, space, aliens]

Books Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible


1. The Lawyer and the Laundress. Christine Hill Suntz. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, christian fiction, christian romance, christian historical fiction]

2. Pilgrim's Progress Adapted by Anna Trimiew from John Bunyan's classic allegory. 2013. 111 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, children's books, adapted books, abridged books, allegories]

3. The Story of Corrie ten Boom: The Watchmaker Who Forgave Her Enemies. Jennifer T. Kelley. 2025. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, children's book, biography, history, world war II, missionary]


4. 10 Questions About Pain and Suffering: 30 Devotions for Kids, Teens, and Families. Beth Broom. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, christian nonfiction, devotions]


5. 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust: Core Beliefs of The Christian Faith That Will Change Your Life. Paul David Tripp. 2025. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] [christian nonfiction, christian theology, teen books, teen devotional]


6. The Fault Between Us. Stephanie Landsem. 2025. 344 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical fiction, christian fiction]

Bibles Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

none!

Totals for 2026

Totals for 2026
Books Read in 2026	21
Pages Read in 2026	5,119

January Totals
Books Read in January	21
Pages Read in January	5,119

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Century of Viewing, January

In January, I watched thirty-two movies (or shows). I did watch Metropolis twice. Once with the original score which earned it 5 stars, and once with a jazzy-loopy-loop that earned it 4 1/2 stars.

My top five favorite movies from January are: IVANHOE, MUSIC MAN, GROUNDHOG DAY, STRICTLY BALLROOM and WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. Honestly, it may be a tie between While You Were Sleeping and Overboard.

Other five star movies include: Bride and Prejudice, Gilded Age season 3, Metropolis, Overboard, The Thirteenth Floor, and VHS Christmas Carols. I would watch all of these happily again. They were solidly enjoyable. (Overboard as I mentioned is SO, SO, SO good).

My four and four 1/2 star movies this month include:

• Escape from LA (4 stars)
• Chaos on the Bridge (4 1/2 stars)
• Starship Troopers (4 stars)
• Marjorie Morningstar (4 1/2 stars*)
• Millennium (4 stars)
• Red (4 stars)
• A Wrinkle in Time (4 stars)

*Honestly I would NOT watch Marjorie Morningstar again but I thought Natalie Wood did a fantastic job in the movie and I am glad I saw it once.

Millennium and Red are movies I would definitely watch again!

I did watch TWO one star movies. I would not watch Camelot or We Three Kings again.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #5

This week I read three books.

I reread one of my favorite classics Jane Eyre. I listened on audio. It was wonderful!

I read a middle grade science fiction book, The Experiment by Rebecca Stead! I loved the beginning and middle more than the end, but it was still an enjoyable read!

I read a Christian fiction novel--historical fiction--The Fault Between Us by Stephanie Landsem. It is set in Yellowstone National Park in 1959.

Century of Viewing #5

I did not realize that I did NOT include the Great British Sewing Bee seasons one through three in my round-ups. I don't remember when I finished each season of this competition show.

I also have watched TEN episodes of the Twilight Zone. Seven or eight episodes of Star Trek The Original Series. And one episode of Space 1999. I honestly don't know what to do about individual television episodes.

1980s

• 1985 1918. Horace Foote's 1918. This period drama is emotionally intense. But it is thought provoking. HISTORY and family history often are. You can think *how* did they cope with so many, many losses, so many, many struggles. This one deals with World War I and the influenza epidemic. One really sees how BIG an impact they could have on one community. And this one is set in Texas.

2000s

• 2003 A Wrinkle In Time. It's been ages and ages since I've read the book. I can't tell you if it was faithful to the book or not, but, it was a great way to spend the evening with my best friend. Two siblings (Meg and Charles) along with a friend (Calvin) travel the galaxy in an attempt to save Charles and Meg's father from great darkness. IT must be stopped.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews