Becky's Book Reviews: January Reflections

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

January Reflections

In January, I read thirty-six books.

Books reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

1. Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust. Neal Shusterman. Illustrated by Andres Vera Martinez. 2023. [October] 256 pages. [Source: Library]

2. Facing the Enemy: How a Nazi Youth Camp in America Tested a Friendship. Barbara Krasner. 2023. [December] 359 pages. [Source: Library]

3. Coretta: The Autobiography of Coretta Scott King. Coretta Scott King. Illustrated by Ekua Holmes. 2024. [January] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction picture book, biography, autobiography, children's nonfiction]

4. Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1932. 238 pages. [Source: Bought]

5. A Bear Called Paddington. Michael Bond. 1958. 159 pages. [Source: Bought] [Children's classic; animal fantasy]

6. Something Rotten. (Horatio Wilkes Mystery #1) Alan Gratz. 2007. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Mystery; YA Suspense; dysfunctional families; adaptation of William Shakespeare]

7. Make Way: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings. Angela Burke Kunkel. Illustrated by Claire Keane. 2023. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book for older readers; biography; art appreciation]

8. Light and Air. Mindy Nichols Wendell. 2024. [January] 218 pages. [Source: Library] [J Historical; MG Historical; 1930s; tuberculosis; coming of age]

9. The Blood Years. Elana K. Arnold. 2023. 400 pages. [Source: Library]

10. There Was a Party for Langston. Jason Reynolds. Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey. 2023. 56 pages. [Source: Library]

11. Big. Vashti Harrison. 2023. 60 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

12. An Autobiography. Agatha Christie. 1977/1996. Berkley. 635 pages. [Source: Bought]

13. Elf Dog and Owl Head. M.T. Anderson. Illustrated by Junyi Wu. 2023. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [MG Fiction; MG Fantasy; J Fantasy; J Fiction; Newbery Honor]

Books reviewed at Young Readers

1. Happy Cats. Catherine Amari and Anouk Han. Illustrated by Emi Lenox. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

2. Pizza and Taco: Wrestling Mania (Pizza and Taco #7) 2024. [January] 72 pages. [Source: Library] [graphic novel; early reader/chapter book]

3. Homegrown. Deann Wiley. 2024. [January] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

4. Ploof. Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser. 2023. [September] 51 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, not quite board book]

5. 100 Chapatis. Derek Mascarenhas. Illustrated by Shantala Robinson. 2023. [October 17] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

6. The Knight Snacker. Valeria Wicker. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

7. Flat Cat. Tara Lazar. Illustrated by Pete Oswald. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

8. Hornbeam All In. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2023. [December] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter books; animal fantasy]

9. Kitty Feral and the Case of the Marshmallow Monkey. Eddie Muller and Jessica Schmidt. Illustrated by Forrest Burdett. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book; mystery]

10. Mine! A Story of Not Sharing. Klara Persson. Translated by Nichola Smalley. Illustrated by Charlotte Ramel. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

11. I Am Stuck. Julia Mills. 2023. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

Books reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

1. A Winter by The Sea (On Devonshire Shore #2) Julie Klassen. 2023. [December] 448 pages. [Source: Library]

2. Mortimer's Christmas Manger. Karma Wilson. Illustrated by Jane Chapman. 2005. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book, holiday, animal fantasy]

3. Busy Nativity. Campbell Books. Illustrated by Emily Bolam. 2023. [September] 10 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book, children's book, Christmas, holiday]

4. Calling On the Matchmaker. Jody Hedlund. 2023. [December] 352 pages. [Source: Library] [historical romance, historical fiction]

5. A Tailor-Made Bride. Karen Witemeyer. 2010. 348 pages. [Source: Library] [Historical fiction; historical romance, christian fiction, reread]

6. Short-Straw Bride. Karen Witemeyer. 2012. Bethany House. 368 pages. [Source: Library]

7. The Letter Tree. Rachel Fordham. 2023. [October] 352 pages. [Source: Library]

8. How To Get a Mommy To Sleep. Amy Parker. Illustrated by Natalia Moore. 2020. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Children's book, picture book]

9. The Devil Shall Not Prevail. A.W. Tozer (with James L. Snyder) 2023. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

10. God Is Here. Lisa Tawn Bergren. Illustrated by Greg Stobbs. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book; children's book]

11. After the Shadows (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #1) Amanda Cabot. 2023. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [historical fiction, Texas fiction, historical romance, mystery and suspense]

Bibles reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

1. NEW TESTAMENT ONLY The Amplified New Testament. Lockman Foundation. God. 1958. 989 pages. [Source: Bought]