Children of Jubilee

Children of Jubilee. (Children of Exile #3) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: "Run! Hide!" my brother Enu screamed beside me.

Premise/plot: Children of Jubilee is the conclusion to a series first begun in Children of Exile and continued in Children of Refuge. Each book has its own narrator. The first book is told from the point of view of Rosi. The second book is told from the point of view of Edwy. The third book is told from the point of view of Kiandra. It is not a novel that can be read as a stand alone.

Who should read the Children of Exile series?

• If you enjoy speculative fiction
• If you enjoy action-packed adventure stories with ALIENS
• If you enjoy mystery and suspense with your sci-fi
• If you enjoy series books
• If you have enjoyed other books by Margaret Peterson Haddix

My thoughts: I liked this series. I'm not sure I loved, loved, loved it. (But I'm not in the target audience either.) Part of me is curious--if I'd read all three books back-to-back or within a few weeks of each other, would I have been swept up into the world Haddix created? Would I have found the action so compelling that I couldn't have put it down? As it was it was almost like starting from scratch with this third novel as far as caring about the characters. For the record, I did end up caring about the characters, it just took a while.

There are so many novels I've loved by Margaret Peterson Haddix. A few series of hers that I love to reread because I love them so much. So I'm thinking that if I'd read these three all together that I might feel more of a connection.

Have you read this series? What did you think?


© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Dry

Dry. Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 390 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: The kitchen faucet makes the most bizarre sounds.

Premise/plot: What would happen if a region--say Southern California--ran out of water completely. How would individuals, families, communities react and respond? Would they turn on each other and fight--fight even to the death for a chance to get their hands on a little water? This 'what-if' YA novel is narrated by several teens: two, Alyssa and Kelton, are next-door-neighbors and two are strangers, Henry and Jacqui. There's also another protagonist, Garret, the younger brother of Alyssa. These people come together--unite--to better their chances for survival. But is everyone honest and worthy of trust? Who can you trust when your life is on the line?

My thoughts: This is a fast-paced, compelling read. So much drama and melodrama is packed into a short amount of time--perhaps five to seven days. Things escalate quickly. I didn't have any problems with pacing or the action. I was hoping--in a way--for more characterization. (You know me, I love my character-driven novels!) I felt slightly disconnected from the characters at times. But no doubt it's a compelling enough read. It is a stand alone novel.



© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Quiet

Quiet. Tomie dePaola. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "My, oh my," the grandfather said. "Everything is in such a hurry."

Premise/plot: One thing I love about picture books is that often what you see is what you get. This is a story celebrating quietness and stillness. A grandfather is on a walk with his grandchildren and a dog. Once the grandfather points out how 'everything' is in a hurry, they all take turns pointing out the busyness they see in nature as they walk along. But soon it is time to sit down and rest, to slow down their minds and bodies, to just be still. Just as nature can be busy, it can also be restful.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I agree with the conclusion--the moral, if you will--of this one: To be quiet and still is a special thing. There is a timelessness to this one which makes it somewhat unique.  I think Mr. Rogers would approve of this one!

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

P.S. I Still Love You

P.S. I Still Love You. (To All The Boys I've Loved Before #2) Jenny Han. 2015. Simon & Schuster. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Dear Peter, I miss you. It's only been five days but I miss you like it's been five years.

Premise/plot: P.S. I Still Love You is the sequel to Jenny Han's To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Peter and Lara Jean, our hero and heroine, are together--except for when they're not. Their now "real" relationship gets tested. Tested by the reality and aftermath of the hot tub video. Tested by Peter's friendship with his ex. Tested by Lara Jean's relationship with another recipient, John Ambrose McClaren. Will they still be together by the end of the book? Or will Lara Jean have a new boyfriend?

My thoughts: I recently watched the Netflix adaptation of To All The Boys I've Loved Before. I loved, loved, loved it. It brought to mind all the reasons why I enjoyed the first book. I would have reread the first book, but the holds list was LONG. So I began with the second book. I have memories of starting it before--but not finishing it. (Probably because it wouldn't renew not because it was dreadful.) How do I feel about the second book? I don't love, love, love it.

What I loved about the first book was the connection between Lara Jean and Peter as revealed by their conversations. In the little things these two shared together as their relationship developed. It's not that these two never, ever, ever talk in the second book, BUT more often than not the dialogue is an ARGUMENT, a misunderstanding, or just awkward.

The person she's having those sweet, little, get-to-know-you conversations with in this book is John Ambrose McClaren. It begins with an exchanging of letters. Then they begin to hang out in real life. Then they begin a flirtation of sorts. Lara Jean feels justified because Peter is still talking--even hanging out with--his ex.

Though always telling the truth was written into their new contract, Lara Jean and Peter struggle to communicate with one another. There is little--if any--trust between them. Peter is jealous of John. Lara Jean is jealous of Genevieve. Lara Jean is more than a little worried about how-to-be-a-girlfriend.

One thing I did love was her sister Kitty. Kitty turns ten in this one.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Doll Hospital

The Doll Hospital. Kallie George and Sara Gillingham. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The sun rises like a golden button in the sky. Dr. Pegs is enjoying a calm morning at the Doll Hospital.

Premise/plot: Dr. Pegs doesn't have much to do, or does she?! Just how busy can a hospital get in a day?!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one very much. Dr. Pegs is ALL about the checklists. It is a good thing she's an organizer. Because there are a LOT of dolls in trouble. The thought of so many dolls having accidents worries me. I know it's necessary for a doctor to have patients....but still. I don't think this will bother most readers.

This may be my favorite cumulative tale that I've read this year.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Summer of Broken Things

The Summer of Broken Things. Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 393 pages. [Source: Review copy]
First sentence: "We need to talk," Dad says.

Premise/plot: The Summer of Broken Things is set in Spain and stars two very different heroines: Avery and Kayla.

Avery Armisted will--like it or not--be accompanying her father on his extended business trip in Spain. When she's told a friend can come, she assumes--for better or worse--that she'll get to pick the friend. That won't be the case. The 'friend' he has in mind is Kayla Butts. These two played together often when Avery was a toddler, but, Kayla has been out of sight and out of mind for practically forever--to Avery's reckoning!

Kayla Butts is nervously excited about this opportunity. On the one hand: she'll actually be leaving her small hometown and going somewhere--out of the country somewhere: Spain. This is an opportunity that is more likely than not once in a lifetime. On the other hand, she'll be living with strangers. Will they get along? Will she be treated like a friend? or like hired help? Will Avery be nice or mean? You see, Kayla is so far from popular. She's used to being treated as less than by her peers. Her friends tend to be decades older. As in living in nursing homes older. Everything will be new-to-her. She doesn't know yet how well she'll adapt to all the new.

The trip doesn't get off to the best of starts. Problems at the airport--both in the U.S. and Spain--make for a rocky start. And Kayla's worst fears are confirmed: Avery looks down upon her and doesn't hide the fact. Avery is so not subtle with hiding her contempt for Kayla. OR for her father for that matter. Avery is argumentative with her father and incredibly disrespectful. Kayla hasn't seen such a messy family this close-up.

What will the summer bring Kayla and Avery?

My thoughts: The Summer of Broken Things kept me reading. I won't say I 'enjoyed' it because can you really enjoy watching someone else's life crumble into a million pieces? But I can say that I found it compelling and well-written.

Kayla is by far my favorite character. As Kayla's coming-of-age story, the book works really well. The trip changes her...and changes her for the better. She is a stronger, more confident, happier person by the end of the book.

Avery is my least favorite character. She isn't the same Avery at the end of the story. Thank goodness! But she's still Avery. She hasn't transformed overnight into a saint. Nor should she. That wouldn't be believable. Perhaps the difference is that Kayla *is* two years older. Avery is fourteen. I appreciate Kayla's maturity and outlook. Avery has potential--but a long path ahead of her. She'll get there. She will. And perhaps she'll look back and say this trip was the start of it all.

The book is an emotional family drama. There are some intense moments. I was right there feeling them all--connected with the story and the characters.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

I Am Loved

I Am Loved. Nikki Giovanni. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. 2018. Simon and Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence:
Because
I wrote a poem
for you because
you are
my little boy
I wrote a poem
for you because
you are
my darling daughter
and in this poem
I sang a song
that says
as time goes on
I am you
and you are me
and that's how life
goes on

Premise/plot: I Am Loved is a collection of poems by Nikki Giovanni newly illustrated by Ashley Bryan.

My thoughts: I want to like poetry more than I actually like poetry. I wanted to enjoy this collection. I did. But with the exception of one or two poems, I didn't. The poems I did like were "Quilts" and "Three/Quarters Time." Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All books are subjective; perhaps poetry is even more so. You may enjoy this collection more than I did. (I hope you do!)

Personally, the lack of punctuation--and the lack of proper capitalization in some cases--bothered me way too much. I realize that poetry is ART. There is no one "right" way to do it.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

I Don't Draw, I Color!

I Don't Draw, I Color! Adam Lehrhaupt. Illustrated by Felicita Sala. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Some people are really good at drawing. But my puppies look like mush. My cars look like lumps...or like boxes...or this. Do these look like people to you? I didn't think so. So, I don't draw. I color.

Premise/plot: The star of this charming picture book doesn't draw--he colors. This book celebrates art and individuality.

My thoughts: I really loved this one. Adam Lehrhaupt was one of my favorite discoveries of 2017. I love the joy of this one.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10


© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Children of Refuge

Children of Refuge. Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 272 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The man lunged out of the darkness to grab me as I ran by.

Premise/plot: Children of Refuge is a companion novel to Margaret Peterson Haddix's Children of Exile. The narrator of this second novel is Edwy, Rosi's skeptic friend. Edwy hasn't been in Cursed Town long before he disappears--is kidnapped. Rosi hasn't a clue where he's disappeared to, if he's dead or alive. Readers aren't kept in the dark long; Edwy's father has "kidnapped" him and sent him away to Refuge City, to be with his older brother (Enu) and sister (Kiandra). Refuge City is nothing like Cursed Town. Most of the book is about Edwy discovering--uncovering--secrets and searching for the truth.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I'm not sure I loved, loved, loved it. But it had plenty of action, especially towards the end. (Earlier action is more like Edwy playing basketball, video games, talking to his sister, and going to a soup kitchen.) If you enjoy your science fiction with aliens, this is a solid read.

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Children of Exile

Children of Exile. Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2016. Simon & Schuster. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: We weren't orphans after all. That was the first surprise. The second was that we were going home.

Premise/plot: Rosi and Bobo are two of many children who are being sent back home to their real parents. For the past twelve years, the children have been raised not by their birth parents, their "real parents" but by the Freds of Fredtown. The children range in ages and reactions. Some are hopeful; some are angry. A few are very, very suspicious. Among the most suspicious is a boy named Edwy. Rosi is typically annoyed with Edwy's conspiracies and negativity. But she changes her mind after arriving "back home." Nothing in Fredtown could have prepared her for the harsh, cruel "real" world of her parents. And assimilation is not easy. Are the children safe? Are their lives now in danger?

My thoughts: Haddix's novels are always--or almost always--quick and compelling reads. Even if the plot later falls apart as you think more and more about the characters, the story, the writing. For better or worse, I'm rarely plagued with questions and doubts as I read the book itself. Did I love Children of Exile. I don't know now. Ask me later. As in when I've finished the second book in the series. Personally, I'd rather have one large book that tells a whole story than two smaller books that just tease you and leave you frustrated.
© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

In Over Their Heads

In Over Their Heads. (Under Their Skin #2) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 320 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The warning alarm woke Lida Mae from the deepest of sleep.

Premise/plot: In Over Their Heads is the sequel to Margaret Peterson Haddix' Under Their Skin. Both books are science fiction for the middle grade audience. In the first book, readers met Nick and Eryn, our hero and heroine who made a shocking discovery about the world they live in. In the second book, the adventure continues. Instead of being told solely from Nick and Eryn's perspective, however, the narrative expands to include more points of view: Ava, Jackson, and Lida Mae. As to the action in this one, I can't reveal that without spoiling the first book!

My thoughts: I liked the whole story as contained in both books. Both books read like one good episode of The Twilight Zone. I think young readers who enjoy eery science fiction will enjoy this two-book series. Fans of these novels who haven't watched The Twilight Zone should definitely seek out some episodes!
© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Great American Story of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts Gang

The Great American Story of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts Gang. Chloe Perkins. Illustrated by Scott Burroughs. 2017. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Everyone has heard of Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Maybe you've seen the Peanuts Movie or read the Peanuts comic strip in the newspaper.

Premise/plot: This biography is a Level 3 Ready-to-Read title published by Simon & Schuster. There is a LOT of text, but it's not bare of illustrations completely. (But don't expect a lot of illustrations of the Peanuts characters themselves.) The book provides basic information on Charles M. Schulz: how he loved to draw even as a child, his becoming a soldier during World War II, his career as a cartoonist, the fame and success he found as a result of his Peanuts characters, his death in 2000.

My thoughts: The book promises A LOT to readers. "By the end of this book you'll know everything there is to know about the artist behind these characters, Charles M. Schultz, and his incredible comic strip. You'll be a History of Fun Stuff Expert on Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang!" Does the book deliver on its promise? I'd almost wish it hadn't been so boastful and exuberant about how much of an EXPERT you'll suddenly become just as a result of reading this 48 page book. I felt let down that I didn't learn more, that not much was actually said about the characters themselves, that not much was said about the stories and themes of the comic strips. If you weren't already familiar with the Peanuts characters, you'd hardly be inspired to seek them out based on this book (in my opinion.) Yes, it's packed with facts, you might say, but the facts in and of themselves don't make for a compelling, fascinating read. The book reads more like a dull list of unconnected facts.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Miffy at the Library

Miffy at the Library. Maggie Testa. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Miffy and Grunty are going to the library. Aunt Alice is helping out at the library.

Premise/plot: Miffy and Grunty "help" Aunt Alice with her library work. First they help by stamping books, and then they help by shelving books. In Dick Bruna's world apparently books are shelved by the color of the book cover. Great fun is had by all.

My thoughts: Miffy is a new discovery of mine. I love the theme song of the new Nickelodeon show. I wanted to see if my local library had any books. They had one--this one. I liked it even if the shelving system is a bit quirky.
© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery

Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery. David Gordon. 2016. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: One beautiful summer day, Karen, an extremely cute animal, was the playground, making a sand castle....Skyler appeared out of nowhere.

Premise/plot: This picture book is about playground bullies. Karen and her extremely cute friends are bullied--repeatedly--by Skyler, Mike, and Trent. Karen and her friends--mainly girls, I believe, though it's hard to tell--never give up, never surrender. As the bullying progresses, they get MAD. And when they get mad, they prepare to operate HEAVY machinery. They ultimately end up building an amusement park on the playground--instead of a sandcastle in the sandbox.

My thoughts: I picked it up because of the title. I suppose that books about bullying are needed. And I suppose that books about bullies can be entertaining at the same time. But I'm not sure this one is. I didn't like the language in this one (stupid, butts); the message is appropriate, but, the language while realistic perhaps might be deemed inappropriate by some families and even some classrooms. (I know there are words that you are not allowed to say at school.) Overall, I was disappointed with this one.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 4 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Say Hello to Zorro

Say Hello to Zorro! Carter Goodrich. 2011. Simon & Schuster. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mister Bud had it pretty good. Everything was just right. He had his own house. His own bed. His own toys. His own dish. But most of all...he had his own schedule. And everybody stuck to the schedule.

Premise/plot: Mister Bud is a dog who likes things his own way. This book is about when a new dog, Zorro, comes. Everything changes, but, are the changes for the better or for the worse? Will Zorro and Mister Bud get along?!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I loved the schedule bits! I really liked how these two resolved things! Definitely recommended for dog lovers of all ages.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

I Don't Know What To Call My Cat

I Don't Know What To Call My Cat. Simon Philip. Illustrated by Ella Bailey. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I have a new cat. She turned up on my doorstep one day looking hungry. She obviously liked the dinner I gave her, because she's stayed ever since. That's fine. I like cats. There's just one problem. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL MY CAT.

Premise/plot: The little girl in this picture book has a big problem: she doesn't know what to call her cat. She tries many, many, many names, but none seem to fit. (For one thing, she has to give up the girl names when she finds out it's a boy.) One day her cat disappears, and, a new "pet" follows her home...from the zoo. She'll have problems with this new pet too, but, not about his name. His behavior, well, it might just call for the Bureau of Naughty Animals!!! By the end, all things are resolved happily.

My thoughts: If you're looking for a funny picture book to share with children, I'd definitely recommend this one. I love the pairing of text and illustrations. It's this pairing that gives it a just right feel--an understated yet very funny tone. For example, "I thought Kitty would be just right. 'Here, Kitty!'" Readers turn the page to see over three dozen cats have responded. The text simply reads: "It wasn't."

Steve was a fun addition to this one. He is VERY naughty indeed.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Because of Thursday

Because of Thursday. Patricia Polacco. 2016. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Thursdays had always been lucky for Annie Fetlock. She was born on a Thursday. She won her first cooking contest at the age of eight on a Thursday. She met the love of her life, Mario, on a Thursday. They were married on a bright Thursday afternoon, and their two children were each born on a Thursday. One in June and the other in July. It was actually on a Thursday that Annie and Mario opened their diner together. And it was on a Thursday that Annie made her signature creation. A splendid pasta salad.

Premise/plot: I'm tempted to say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who love Patricia Polacco, and those who don't. If you've read Polacco, chances are, you'll know exactly what I mean. Her picture books tend to be for older readers, have a LOT of text, and tell wonderful, heartfelt, emotionally compelling STORIES. Not every Polacco is a tear-jerker. But. More often than not, she gives readers stories and characters worth thinking about. She doesn't go for the quick laugh or the word pun.

Annie Fetlock is the heroine of Because of Thursday. The first two or three pages fly readers through the first sixty or so years of her life. And then, the story begins...

My thoughts: If you love cats, I think you HAVE to read this one. While the title could be "Because of Thursday" for a couple of reasons, I'm going to go with the CAT. I really love how Thursday (the cat) really, truly brought joy into her life again and changed all her luck, if you will.

Who else should read this one? If you love COOKING or EATING or watching the Food Network.

Note to everyone: DON'T FORGET THIS ONE FOR THE 2017 CYBILS.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10


© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Unhooked

Unhooked. Lisa Maxwell. 2016. Simon & Schuster. 342 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Once upon a time, there was a boy not so very far from being a man. He crossed a sea to venture to London, for he wanted to find his brother, who was the bravest of soldiers. He carried with him only a light pack, for he had every intention of returning...

The novel opens with a move. Gwen and her mom have moved...again. Readers are given the impression that this happens a lot. That her mom is very unstable, that the daughter takes care of the mom instead of the other way around. Along for the trip is Gwen's best friend, Olivia. The tone of the novel from the beginning is dark and mysterious. (Readers witness Gwen's mom FREAK out because of a drawing on a nursery wall. On an evening run, this paranoia seems to have spread to Gwen who FREAKS out when she sees her friend talking to a stranger.) Gwen's nerves continue to be frazzled that night. She can't sleep. Then her worst fears come true.

I will never forget how this moment feels. Like I am being pinned down by night itself. I thrash wildly, trying to get away, but the intruder holds me easily, and then, pressing his face into the curve of my neck, he inhales--a sharp intake of breath--like an animal scenting its prey. When he exhales, his host, fetid breath crawls against my skin. Instinctively I jerk back, but his body cages me in, and his scent overwhelms me--he smells like the damp underside of old leaves, early and a little sour from decay. Like hunger and wanting. But as close as he is to my face, I can't make him out. The room has grown so dark, there isn't enough light for me to see him. Without warning, something warm and wet traces the length of my exposed neck with excruciating thoroughness. He's liking me. Tasting me. Bile rises hot and acidic in my throat, and I understand that I am not going to make it out of this untouched. I don't know if I'm going to make it out at all. (34-5)

Gwen is kidnapped--abducted--from her new home and taken....where????? Well, first she wakes up on a ship. And then she spots an island in the distance...and told that it's NEVERLAND.

There is a Captain (named Rowan) at odds with someone calling himself PAN. But forget what you know about Peter Pan and Neverland.

Unhooked is a read that is best described as dark, intense, dangerous, very life-and-death. Nothing trivial or jolly about it.

Is there a love triangle? Perhaps for a chapter or two as Gwen tries to make up her mind who is telling the truth. But for 90% of the book there is not a love triangle to be found.

Is there romance? Yes. While I would not describe it as instant-love, I would say there's some instant-attraction going on. I think there is a decent amount of relationship development occurring throughout considering the circumstances.

What about the characters???? I love the depth of characterization in this one. The villain was fully realized, as was the hero and heroine.

I also really enjoyed the dialogue of this one. Very well done!

One more quote:

"But in the story--"
"Were I you," he says, turning back almost viciously, cutting off my words, "I'd not put my trust in stories. They tend to pass off lies as the truth and hide the truth in their lies." (75)

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Strictly No Elephants

Strictly No Elephants. Lisa Mantchev. Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. 2015. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The trouble with having a tiny elephant for a pet is that you never quite fit in.

Premise/plot: Readers meet a boy and his pet elephant in Lisa Mantchev's Strictly No Elephants. The book recognizes loneliness and celebrates friendship. One day the boy and his elephant want to go to a pet club meeting, but neither is allowed inside because of a sign that states: strictly no elephants. He's sad, but, hope is not lost for he soon meets a girl with a pet skunk. Together the two decide to form a club of their own where ALL are welcome.

My thoughts: I really, really liked this one. I read it several times, and liked it more each time. I liked the text. I liked the message. The text incorporates little lessons about friendship into the text. It isn't completely seamless, but, it works for me just fine. The illustrations are practically perfect. Loved them!!!

Watch the Emily Arrow video.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Little Cat's Luck

Little Cat's Luck. Marion Dane Bauer. Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. 2016. Simon & Schuster. 224 pages. [Source: Library]

Did I enjoy reading Marion Dane Bauer's Little Cat's Luck? Yes, I did! What should you know about the book? I'd recommend it to elementary-aged readers who love animals, who love cats especially. It is also a verse novel. One of those verse novels why you're not really quite sure why it's written in verse instead of prose. Personally, prose or verse doesn't really matter in this particular story because I really like cats.

Patches, our heroine, tumbles through a window screen to begin her adventure in the wider world. She's uneasy for the first few chapters, and, readers may be just as puzzled as she is as to why. I guessed a little bit ahead of the big reveal. But it's not something that I guessed from chapter one!

Essentially, Patches is a cat on a mission: find a cozy, just-right place that is out-of-the-way and dark and a bit quiet. She finds her SPECIAL PLACE, but, it isn't without risk. For her special place isn't really *hers* to have. It is a dog house. But this dog house belongs to the so-called meanest dog in town. The super-smelly dog that barks constantly--if he's awake--the one that every person seems to know as *that dog.* His name is Gus. And Gus and Patches will have a lot to say to one another....

I liked this one very much. And for those who are hesitant about animal books because they worry that the animal on the cover will die, don't worry about picking this one up and getting properly attached to the characters.
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews