Goals for 2025

 

"Goals" for my three blogs: Becky's Book Reviews, Young Readers, and Operation Actually Read Bible. My goal is to [at the very least] review 156 books in total for the year--which, I believe, works out to fifty-two books per blog. If I read more that would be fabulous, and if I read less, I *should* give myself grace. I am considering a weekly schedule as well. What if I were to write one blog post per week sharing that week's books??? I haven't decided for certain, just something I'm considering.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Year in Review (2024)

Top Ten Books I Read in 2024 (from Becky's Book Reviews)

1.  Tree. Table. Book. Lois Lowry. 2024. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
2. Westfallen. Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [MG speculative fiction, MG science fiction, MG dystopia, TIME TRAVEL, alternate history]
3. Heroes. Alan Gratz. 2024. 272 pages. [Source: Library] 
4. All the Beautiful Things. Katrina Nannestad. 2024. [October 30] 352 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg historical, mg fiction, world war II] 
5. Mouse and His Dog (Dogtown #2) Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. Illustrated by Wallace West. 2024. 336 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [animal fantasy, j fiction, illustrated chapter book]
6. Olivetti. Allie Millington. 2024. 253 pages. [Source: Library]
7. Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust. Neal Shusterman. Illustrated by Andres Vera Martinez. 2023. [October] 256 pages. [Source: Library]
8. Ferris. Kate DiCamillo. 2024. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [MG Fiction, J Fiction, Realistic, Historical] 
9. Still Sal. Kevin Henkes. 2024. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [j fiction, j realistic fiction, family, school, 5 stars] 
10. Superman: The Golden Age #1 Jerry Siegel. Joe Shuster. 2016. (Comics are from June 1938 through December 1939.) 392 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [comic books; graphic novel; superheroes; action]

Top Five Books I Reread in 2024

1. Dogtown (A Dogtown Book #1) Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. 2023. [September] 352 pages. [Source: Library] [Animal fantasy; J Fiction; MG Fiction] [5 stars] 
2. Doomsday Book. Connie Willis. 1992. Random House. 592 pages.  [Source: Book I Bought]
3. Life As We Knew It. Susan Beth Pfeffer. 2006. 337 pages. [Source: Library] [MG Fiction, YA Fiction] [5 stars]
4. The Hunger Games #1 Suzanne Collins. 2008. 374 pages. [Source: Library]
5.  The Long Winter (Little House #6) Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1940. 334 pages. [Source: Library]

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

December Reflections

I read 29 books in December.

Books read and reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

98. Unsinkable Cayenne. Jessica Vitalis. 2024. [October 29] 304 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [verse novel, historical fiction, realistic fiction, mg fiction, coming of age] 

99. All the Beautiful Things. Katrina Nannestad. 2024. [October 30] 352 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg historical, mg fiction, world war II] 

100. Let It Glow. Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy. 2024. 292 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, winter holidays, 3 stars, friendship, family]

101. Still Sal. Kevin Henkes. 2024. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [j fiction, j realistic fiction, family, school, 5 stars] 

102. Christmas Eve love Story. Ginny Baird. 2024. 416 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [adult romance, mostly clean romance, holiday, Christmas, time loops, fantasy]

103. The Velveteen Rabbit. Margery Williams. Illustrated by William Nicholson. 1922/2014. Random House. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars] [fantasy, children's classic]

104. Quagmire Tiarello Couldn't Be Better. Mylisa Larsen. 2024. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [mg fiction, realistic fiction]

105. Grenade. Alan Gratz. 2018. 270 pages. [Source: Review copy] [3 stars] [historical fiction, world war II, mg historical]

106. Little Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. (This is a lightly adapted/abridged edition). 1843/2024. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, illustrated read aloud, classic]

107. The Long Winter (Little House #6) Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1940. 334 pages. [Source: Library]

108. The Christmas Box. Richard Paul Evans. 1993. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] [4 stars, family, Christmas, sentimental]

109. Doomsday Book. Connie Willis. 1992. Random House. 592 pages.  [Source: Book I Bought]

 

Books read and reviewed at Young Readers 

157. All at Once Upon a Time. Mara Rockliff. Illustrated by Gladys Jose. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy, picture book, humor] [5 stars]

158. Barbie in the 1960s. Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [nonfiction, early chapter books] 

159. Barbie in the 1970s. Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [nonfiction, early chapter books]

160. Barbie in the 1980s. Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [nonfiction, early chapter books]  

 161. Barbie in the 1990s. Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [nonfiction, early chapter book]

162. How To Draw a Brave Chicken. Ethan T. Berlin. Illustrated by Jimbo Matison. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

163. I Am Wriggly. Michael Rosen. Illustrated by Robert Starling. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book]

164. Merry Whatmas? Eoin McLaughlin. Illustrated by Polly Dunbar. 2023. 34 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book, holiday, animal fantasy, friendship]

 165. Genius in a High Chair. Rosemary Wells. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [picture book, family, learning to talk]

 

Books read and reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

57. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Dane Ortlund. 2020. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy] [3 stars] [christian nonfiction, theology, devotional]
58. The Eclipse of God: Our Nation's Disastrous Search For a More Inclusive Deity (And What We Must Do About It). Erwin W. Lutzer. 2024. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [christian living, culture, theology]
59. Daily Liturgy Devotional: 40 Days of Worship and Prayer. Douglas Sean O'Donnell. 2024. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, devotional, prayer, christian nonfiction]

60. Bible Translations for Everyone: The Guide to Finding a Bible That's Right for You. Tim Wildsmith. 2024. 192 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, christian nonfiction, books about the Bible]
61. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Barbara Robinson. 1972. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, children's book]
62. Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life. Paul David Tripp. 2024. 488 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, devotional, christian nonfiction]

 

Bibles read and reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible


26. King James Version. Center Column Reference. (Compact) Zondervan from circa 1977. God. 1494 pages. [Source: Bought]
27. NKJV (Verse Art) [ISBN: 9780785291589] God. 1982. 1568 pages. [Source: Bought]

 

Totals for the Year

Books Read in 2024	365
Pages Read in 2024	110354
January
Books read in January	36
Pages read in January	6875
February
Books read in February	38
Pages read in February	9731
March
Books read in March	39
Pages read in March	6730
April
Books read in April	32
Pages read in April	9367
May
Books read in May	21
Pages read in May	10246
June
Books read in June	24
Pages read in June	8253
July
Books read in July	25
Pages read in July	3980
August
Books read in August	23
Pages read in August	8603
September
Books read in September	34
Pages read in September	7874
October
Books read in October	39
Pages read in October	21829
November
Books read in November	25
Pages read in November	8506
December
Books read in December	29
Pages read in December	8360

 

 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

109. Doomsday Book

109. Doomsday Book. Connie Willis. 1992. Random House. 592 pages.  [Source: Book I Bought]

First sentence: Mr. Dunworthy opened the door to the laboratory and his spectacles promptly steamed up.
"Am I too late?" he said, yanking them off and squinting at Mary.
"Shut the door," she said. "I can't hear you over the sound of those ghastly carols."
Dunworthy closed the door, but it didn't completely shut out the sound of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" wafting in from the quad. "Am I too late?" he said again.  

 Premise/plot: In a world where historians learn their subject firsthand by time travel, Kivrin, our heroine--one of them--is sent to the middle ages to learn just "how exaggerated" (according to her professor/advisor Gilchrist) the accounts of the Black Death were. That's spinning it a bit. Kivrin is there to LEARN and OBSERVE and ABSORB. Technically, she's to be sent to 1320--the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany season in OXFORD. But that's if all goes according to plan and there are no mix-ups or mistakes. 

Mr. Dunworthy, our hero, has a bad feeling that those in charge of the project are incapable and incompetent and imbeciles. The book opens moments before she is sent back in time....it isn't long before Dunworthy has reason to panic...But this book isn't about one man's panic--his helicopter teaching, if you will. It is about TWO pandemics. One is set in the present of 2054. This pandemic requires a quarantine, contact tracing, mask-wearing, and safety protocols. With it comes toilet paper shortages--along with soap! The present story line is full of mystery and action. The other is set in the past--the Black Death. There is a theme of helplessness in both.

My thoughts: Doomsday Book by Connie Willis is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite books. This is my seventh? time to read and review it. I last reviewed it in 2023. I love and adore this book so much. It is set during Christmas/Epiphany. It's just a book that calls out to me every year to reread. I am surprised it has never been adapted into a film. The world needs more action Christmas movies.

 

 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

108. The Christmas Box

The Christmas Box. Richard Paul Evans. 1993. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] [4 stars, family, Christmas, sentimental]

First sentence: It may be that I am growing old in this world and have used up more than my share of allotted words and eager audiences.

Premise/plot: Richard Paul Evans' wrote this book for his daughters. It is a story of a man who realizes--just in time--that love is the most important thing always and forever. A business man realizes he is squandering all of his daughter's childhood in his attempt to be a success. 

My thoughts: It's been years since I've read this book and years since I watched the film adaptation. I do think there are probably some key differences between the two? But again, it's been years. This is a sweet, sentimental holiday story. It isn't so much a romance as it is a family reconciliation story. It is a short, bittersweet novella. 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

107. The Long Winter

107. The Long Winter (Little House #6) Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1940. 334 pages. [Source: Library]

 First sentence: The mowing machine's whirring sounded cheerfully from the old buffalo wallow south of the claim shanty, where bluestem grass stood thick and tall and Pa was cutting it for hay.

Premise/plot: The Ingalls family--and the whole community/territory--face a brutal, harsh, and terribly long winter full of blizzards. 

This first chapter is called "Make Hay While the Sun Shines" and if it's found within a book called THE LONG WINTER, the reader knows what to expect even if the characters don't. The book opens with Ma and Pa and family getting ready for harvest and winter. Laura is helping out Pa. Mary and Carrie are helping out Ma. Laura is especially pleased that she's old enough (around 14 now) to help Pa and do outdoor chores.

The Ingalls family is living in their claim shanty. This would be the first fall/winter they've been there. And they know it will be tough, but when the first blizzard comes in October, they know that it wouldn't only be tough to survive but impossible to survive if they were to try to stay on their homestead. Fortunately, Pa owns property in town. A place where they can be nice and warm and cozy for the winter. Or so they think.

What no one could know is just how hard, how long, how tough this winter was going to be. Some folks are prepared--the Wilder boys for instance--but most are not. Most are relying on the train making regular stops in town. The trains are essential for stocking the stores of supplies. But when almost every day brings a blizzard--with clear days coming only one at a time and never on a predictable schedule--it soon becomes clear that the trains will not be saving the day. Not til spring. The town's survival, the Ingalls' family survival, is a big if at this point.

Cold. Hunger. Starvation. No supplies. What's not to love?

My thoughts: The Long Winter has always been one of my favorites of the Little House series. I'll admit it tends to make you cold and hungry. But that's not a bad thing, right? I didn't think so. Only two books can trick my mind and body--okay maybe three--into thinking it's cold and hungry. One, of course, is The Long Winter. The other two are by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I think one of the reasons I love The Long Winter is that it introduces Almanzo Wilder onto the scene. True, there was Farmer Boy, but not every reader takes the time to read Farmer Boy. I spent forty plus years avoiding it. I read it earlier this year for the first time. But this Almanzo is a man--a young man it's true--19 years of age. And he's acting "manly" alright when it's time to save the day. I love every scene Almanzo is in. Laura first meets him when she's lost and trying to find her Pa in the slough of hay. Here is the description: "His blue eyes twinkled down at her as if he had known her a long time." Anyway, I love this book.

Is it my favorite and best from the series? Probably. I do love These Happy Golden Years. So those two are my favorite and best. But I really LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one so much.

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Books read in 2025

Books read and reviewed in 2025

January
1. A Queen's Game. Katharine McGee. 2024 [November]. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Historical, YA Romance, YA Fiction] [3 stars]

2.  We Are Wolves. Katrina Nannestad. 2020. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [historical fiction, mg historical fiction, world at war, 4 stars]

 3. The Oarsmen: Chasing Embers. Glenn Beck with Mikayla G. Hedrick. 2024. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, mg speculative fiction, mg dystopia, mg fiction]

4. Wolves at the Door. Steve Watkins. 2024. [December] 288 pages. [Source: Library] [MG historical, MG fiction, world war II, 5 stars]

5. Kidnapped From Ukraine Under Attack. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. 2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg realistic fiction, mg fiction, survival, war stories]

 6. Chicago. Maurine Dallas Watkins. 1926 (December). 111 pages. [Source: Online] [play, classic] [3 stars] 

7. All the Light We Cannot see. Anthony Doerr. 2014. 544 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical fiction, magic realism??? world war II]

8. Bluffton: My Summer with Buster Keaton. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Library, 5 stars, graphic novel, historical fiction]

9. Lost in the Empire City. Avi. 2024. [October 29] 304 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, j fiction, mg fiction, j historical, mg historical, immigration/emigration]

10. Three Men in a Boat. Jerome K. Jerome. 1889. 174 pages. [Source: Bought] [4 stars, adult classic, travel, humor]

February

11. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. Chanel Miller. 2024. 160 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, Newbery Honor, mg realistic, family, friendship, light mystery]

12. Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains. Anita Yasuda. Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction picture book, 3 stars]

13. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance. Jennifer Armstrong. 1998. Random House. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, history, biography, adventure, South Pole, survival]

14. First State of Being. Erin Entrada Kelly. 2024. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, Newbery Medal, MG Speculative Fiction, MG Fiction, Time Travel]

15. Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker's Life. James Curtis. 2022. 810 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, adult nonfiction, biography]

16. The Great Good Thing (Sylvie Cycle #1) Roderick Townley. 2001? reprinted 2025. 224 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, mg fiction, books about books]

17. Becoming Real: The True Story of the Velveteen Rabbit. Molly Golden. Illustrated by Paola Escobar. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction picture book, book about books, author biographies]

18. Scattergood. H.M. Bouwman. 2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, mg historical, 3 stars]

19. My Wonderful World of Slapstick. Buster Keaton with Charles Samuels. 1960. 340 pages. [Source: Library] [adult biography, adult autobiography; film-making, show business, comedy]

20. The House on the Canal. Thomas Harding. Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup. 2025. 56 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, picture book for older readers, 4 stars, nonfiction]

March

21. Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century. Dana Stevens. 2022. 447 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction, biography, history, culture] [3 stars]

22. The Secret of Honeycake. Kimberly Newton Fusco. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [j historical fiction, j fiction] [5 stars]

23. Happy Town. Greg Van Eekhout. 2024. [October 22] 208 pages. [Source: Library] [j fiction, mg fiction, j dystopia; mg dystopia, speculative fiction; 4 stars]

24. The Rose Bargain. Sasha Peyton Smith. 2025. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Fiction, YA Fantasy, YA Horror, YA Romance] [3 stars]

25. Daughters of Shandong. Eve J. Chung. 2024. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [adult historical fiction, coming of age, refugees, adult fiction] [4 stars]

26. To Say Nothing of the Dog. (Oxford Time Travel #2) Connie Willis. 1998. 512 pages. [Source: Bought]

27. One Wrong Step. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2025. 336 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg historical, mg action, mg survival, mg fiction]

28. Famous Last Words. Gillian McAllister. 2025. 336 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] 

29. Martian Chronicles. Ray Bradbury. HarperCollins. 1997 edition. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, science fiction, speculative fiction, classic, short stories]

30. All Better Now. Neal Shusterman. 2025. 528 pages. [Source: Library] [1 star, YA fiction]

31. How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America. Kwame Alexander. Illustrated by Charly Palmer. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, nonfiction, picture book for older readers, poetry, history]

32. HappyHead. Josh Silver. 2023. 383 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, YA dystopia, YA fiction]

33. Sunrise on the Reaping. Suzanne Collins. 2025. 382 pages. [Source: Library] [audio book!] [4 stars, YA dystopia, YA thriller, YA fiction, series book]

April

34. Dead Happy (HappyHead #2) Josh Silver. 2024. [May] 416 pages. [Source: Library] [YA fiction, YA dystopia, 3 stars]

35. The Enemy's Daughter. Anne Blankman. 2025. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [MG Historical fiction, MG coming of age, MG fiction,  3 stars]

36. All Creatures Great and Small. James Herriot. 1972. 437 pages. [Source: Library] [semi-autobiographical, adult fiction, animals; 5 stars]

37. The Worthing Saga. Orson Scott Card. 1990. Tor. 465 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, adult science fiction, short stories, framework stories]

38. Wonderland. Barbara O'Connor. 2018. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, mg fiction, mg realistic fiction]

39. Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On A Dead Man). Jesse Q. Sutanto. 2025. 325 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, adult mystery]

40. Once for Yes. Allie Millington. 2025. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [magic realism, mg fiction, 3 stars]

41. Rebellion 1776. Laurie Halse Anderson. 2025. 405 pages. [Source: Library] [YA historical; MG historical, 4 stars]

42. Inkheart. Cornelia Funke. 2003. 563 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, MG fantasy, Mg Fiction]

43. The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1937.  320 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, MG Fantasy, fantasy, classic]

 May

44. Mickey7. Edward Ashton. 2022. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, science fiction, adult fiction]

45. The Inheritance Games. Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 2020. 386 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Fiction, YA Romance, YA Mystery]

46. The Tides of Time. Sarah M. Eden. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, time travel, adult romance, historical fiction]

47. The Trouble with Heroes. Kate Messner. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j fiction, coming of age, verse novel, mg fiction, poetry]

48. Death in the Jungle. Candace Fleming. 2025. 346 pages. [Source: Library] [YA nonfiction, nonfiction, true crime, 5 stars]

49. Amazing Annie: The Spectacular and Mostly True Adventures of Annie Kopchovsky. Stephen Krensky. Illustrated by Adriana Predoi. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book biography, children's nonfiction]

50. The Hawthorne Legacy. Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 2021. 380 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA fiction, YA romance, YA mystery]

51. Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Katie Wray Schon. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction picture book]

52. Scarlet. A.C. Gaughen. 2012. 287 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Fiction, YA Historical, YA Romance, 5 stars]

53. The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place. Kate Summerscale. 2024/2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [true crime, adult nonfiction, 4 stars]

54. The Girls in the Picture. Melanie Benjamin. 2018. 448 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, adult fiction, adult historical fiction, Golden Age Hollywood, silent films]

June

55. Gus and Glory. Sarah Guillory. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, dogs, friendship]

56. Home of the Brave. Katherine Applegate. 2007. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, mg verse novel, 4 stars]

 57. The Tiger Rising. Kate DiCamillo. 2001. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, j fiction, coming of age, j realistic fiction]

58. The Fellowship of the Ring. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 423 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, fantasy, classic]

 59. The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum. Thornton W. Burgess. 1914. 139 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, classic, children's classic, animal fantasy]

60. Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins--The First Lady of Children's Music. Traci N. Todd. Illustrated by Eleanor Davis. 2025. 60 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, picture book biography, music appreciation]

61. Snowglobe. (Snowglobe Duology #1) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopian; New Adult]

62. The Rules of Matrimony (Matchmaking Mama #4) Anneka R. Walker. 2025. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult romance, proper romance, clean romance, historical fiction, historical romance]

 63. Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls. Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrated by Susanna Chapman. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, picture b ook biography, art appreciation]

July

64. Death on the Nile. Agatha Christie. 1937/2007. Black Dog & Leventhal. 352 pages. [Source: Library]
65. Old Mother West Wind. Thornton W. Burgess. 1910. 96 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, children's classic, animal fantasy]
66. The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk. Thornton W. Burgess. 1918. 96 pages. [Source: Online] [5 stars, animal fantasy, children's fantasy, children's classic, j fantasy]
67. The Moving Finger. Agatha Christie. 1942/2007. Black Dog & Leventhal. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, adult mystery, classic, romance]
68. The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia #6) C.S. Lewis. 1955. 221 pages. [Source: Library [4 stars, audio book, children's fantasy, children's classic]

69. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance. Jennifer Armstrong. 1998. Random House. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, history, biography, adventure, South Pole, survival, AUDIOBOOK]

 70. The Giver. Lois Lowry. 1993. Houghton Mifflin. 180 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, Children's Fiction; Dystopia; MG Fiction; Newbery Medal]

71. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. Jonathan Auxier. 2011. Abrams. 397 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j fantasy, mg fantasy, coming of age, quest]

72. The Wild Robot. Peter Brown. 2016. 282 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, j fantasy, j fiction]

73. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. J.K. Rowling. 1997. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg fantasy, mg fiction, audio book]

74. The Wild Robot Escapes. Peter Brown. 2018. 279 pages. [Source: Library] [j fiction, 3 stars, speculative fiction]

75. Time Travelling with a Hamster. Ross Welford. 2015. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg speculative fiction, time travel, mg science fiction]

76. The Two Towers. (Lord of the Rings) J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, audio book, adult fantasy, adult classic]

77. Beezus and Ramona. Beverly Cleary. 1955. HarperCollins. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Star rating: 5/5] [audio book, j realistic fiction]

78. Snowglobe 2 (Snowglobe Duology #2) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2021/2025. 438 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA Fiction, YA Speculative Fiction, YA Mystery]

79. Moonleapers (Moonleapers #1) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2025. [September] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [MG fiction, MG speculative fiction, 4 stars]

80. Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card. 1985. 324 pages. [Source: Library]

81. Right Back at You. Carolyn Mackler. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg speculative fiction, Jewish, mg fiction, coming of age]

82. Skipshock. Caroline O'Donoghue. 2025. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, YA dystopia, YA speculative fiction, YA romance]

August

83. Unboxing Libby. Steph Cherrywell. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, MG Fiction, MG speculative fiction, MG science fiction]

84. The Return of the King. (Lord of the Rings) J.R.R. Tolkien. 1955/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 440 pages.

85. Time Travelling with a Tortoise. Ross Welford. 2024. 220 pages. [Source: Library] [MG speculative fiction, time travel, dinosaurs, 4 stars]

86. Pocket Bear. Katherine Applegate. Illustrated by Charles Santoso. 2025. 272 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, J fiction, J fantasy, animal fantasy, toy fantasy]

87. Lost in Time. A.G. Riddle. 2022. 455 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, adult science fiction, adult speculative fiction, alternate universes, time travel]

88.  Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. J.K. Rowling. 1997. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg fantasy, mg fiction, audio book]

89. The First Men in the Moon. H.G. Wells. 1901. 213 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult science fiction, classic]

90. Clara the Triumphant Rhinoceros. Jane Kurtz. Illustrated by Claire Messer. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction picture book, 5 stars]

91. 4:50 From Paddington. (Miss Marple #8) Agatha Christie. 1957/2007. 288 pages. [Source: Bought]
92. Into the Bewilderness. Gus Gordon. 2025. 192 pages. [Source: Library] [graphic novel, children's graphic novel, 5 stars]
93.  Station Eleven. Emily St. John Mandel. 2014. Knopf Doubleday. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, speculative fiction, adult science fiction, apocalyptic]
94. Old School. Gordon Korman. 2025. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, multiple narrators, school, inter-generational friendships]
95. Stitch: Reimagining Frankenstein. Padraig Kenny. 2025. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg speculative fiction, mg fantasy]

96. How To Train Your Dragon. Cressida Cowell. 2003. 214 pages. [Source: Library] [audio book, 3 stars, children's fantasy]
97. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) J.K. Rowling. 1998. 341 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

September

98. Whispers of Shadowbrook House. Rebecca Anderson. 2025. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [adult fiction, adult historical, adult romance, 3 stars]
99. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 1999. 435 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [MG speculative fiction]
100. We Are The Beatles. Brad Meltzer. Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [j biography, j nonfiction, series biography, 4 stars]
101. The Other Side of Now. Paige Harbison. 2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [adult romance, 3 stars]
102. Hansel and Gretel. Stephen King. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars]
103. The Fairy Tale Fixers #1: The Fairy Tale Cinderella. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Jorge Lacera. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [graphic novel; j graphic novel; fractured fairy tales; 5 stars]
104. The English Masterpiece. Katherine Reay. 2025. 302 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult fiction, general fiction, art appreciation]
105. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. J.K. Rowling. 2000. 734 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

October

106. Echoes of the Sea. Sarah M. Eden. 2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, adult romance, adult historical, proper romance, clean romance, time travel]

107. Dream. Barbara O'Connor. 2025. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [MG Fiction, J Fiction, realistic fiction, 4 stars]

108. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. J.K. Rowling. 2003. 912 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [mg fiction; mg fantasy; series book]

109. Lost Evangeline. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. 2025. 160 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, j fantasy, j fiction]

110. A Bitter Wind. (Billy Boyle #20) James R. Benn. 2025. 379 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, world war II, mystery, historical fiction]

111. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6). J.K. Rowling. 2005. 652 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

112. Mrs. Porter Calling. AJ Pearce. 2023. 313 pages. [Source: Review copy] [adult historical fiction, world war II, 3 stars]

113. Kidnapped From Ukraine #2 Standoff. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. 2025. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [realistic fiction, family, drama, war] [5 stars]

November

114. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Harry Potter #7) J.K. Rowling. 2007. 759 pages. [Source: Library]  [4 stars]
115. The Teacher of Nomad Land. Daniel Nayeri. 2025. 192 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical fiction, world war II, family]

116. Anne of Green Gables. L.M. Montgomery. 1908. 448 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars]
117. Anne of Avonlea. L.M. Montgomery. 1909. 304 pages. [Source: Bought]
118. Dear Miss Lake (Emmy Lake Chronicles #4) A.J. Pearce. 2025. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy] [historical fiction, historical romance, world war 2, 4 stars, series book]
119. Anne of the Island. L.M. Montgomery. 1915. 272 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, classics, romance, friendship]
120. A Time Traveler's Masquerade. (McQuivey's Costume Shop Romance). Sian Ann Bessey. 2025. 296 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, historical romance, time travel]

December

121. Anne's House of Dreams. L.M. Montgomery. 1919. 227 pages. [Source: Library]

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews