Becky's Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

February Reflections

In February, I read thirty-eight books.

Books reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

14. Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir. Pedro Martin. 2023. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [Nonfiction Graphic Novel; MG Graphic Novel; Newbery Honor]

15. Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1935. 335 pages. [Source: Bought] [children's classic]

16. Not Quite a Ghost. Anne Ursu. 2024. [January] 288 pages. [Source: Library]

17. The Frozen River. Ariel Lawhon. 2023. [December] 432 pages. [Source: Library] [adult historical fiction]

18. Fighting With Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. Lesa Cline-Ransome. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. 2024. [January] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction picture book; picture book biography; civil rights movement]

19. The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn. Sally J. Pla. 2023. [July] 336 pages. [Source: Library] [J Fiction; J Realistic Fiction; MG Fiction, MG Realistic Fiction; dysfunctional families]

20. Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint. (Danny Dunn #1) Jay Williams. Illustrated by Raymond Abrashkin. 1956. 154 pages. [Source: Library]

21. Making It So. Patrick Stewart. 2023. 469 pages. [Source: Library]

22. Mrs. Quinn's Rise To Fame. Olivia Ford. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library]

23. All-of-A-Kind-Family. Sydney Taylor. 1951. 192 pages. [Source: Library]

24. Nothing Else But Miracles. Kate Albus. 2023. 288 pages. [Source: Library]

25. Heroes. Alan Gratz. 2024. 272 pages. [Source: Library]

26. Wait! What? The Beatles Couldn't Read Music? Dan Gutman. 2023. 144 pages. [Source: Library]

27. Who is Nathan Chen? (Who Was? Series) Joseph Liu. 2023. 56 pages. [Source: Library]

28. What was the Children's Blizzard of 1888? Steve Korte. 2023. [November] 112 pages. [Source: Library]

Books reviewed at Young Readers

My Dog and I. Luca Tortolini. Illustrated by Felicita Sala. 2023. [November] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book, Humor, Pets, Animals]

13. [Board book] Teeny Tiny Turkey. Rachel Matson. Illustrated by Joey Chou. 2023. 16 pages. [Source: Library]

14. [Board book] If Mama Sings. Laura Wittner. Illustrated by Maricel R. Clark. 2023. 16 pages. [Source: Library]

15. [Board Book] The Bedtime Book. Katy Hedley. Illustrated by Paola Camma. 2023. [October 17, cybils eligible] 20 pages. [Source: Library]

16. [Board book] Lion, Lion Peekaboo. Grace Habib. 2023. 8 pages. [Source: Library]

17. [Board book] Baby On Board Train With Tabs to Push and Pull. Sebastien Braun. 2023. 8 pages. [Source: Library]

18. [Board book] You're the Apple of My Pie. Rose Rossner. Illustrated by Jill Howarth. 2023. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

19. [Board book] Winter with Hedgehog. Elena Ulyeva. Illustrated by Daria Parkhaeva. 2023. 20 pages. [Source: Library]

20. [Board book] Bundle up, Little Pup. Dori Elys. Illustrated by Elena Comte. 2023. 20 pages. [Source: Library]

21. The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America's Cook. Emma Bland Smith. Illustrated by Susan Reagan. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

22. Board book: Apple vs. Pumpkin. Jeffrey Burton. Illustrated by Lydia Jean. 2023. 22 pages. [Source: Library]

23. Board book: Some Cats. Illustrated by Lydia Nichols. 2023. 12 pages. [Source: Library]

24. Kitty and Cat: Bent Out of Shape. Mirka Hokkanen. 2023. [November] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

Books reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

12. Simplify Your Spiritual Life. Donald S. Whitney. 2003. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Christian nonfiction; theology; Christian living]

13. A Season of Harvest (Leah's Garden #4) Lauraine Snelling. 2024. 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]

14. Just Once. Karen Kingsbury. 2023. 336 pages. [Source: Library]

15. My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope. Anne Wilson. 2022. 196 pages. [Source: Library] [Memoir, Biography, Music Industry]

16. God Is Kind. Jamie Calloway-Hanauer. Illustrations by Patrick Brooks. 2023. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book, children's book]

17. The Watchmaker's Daughter. Larry Loftis. 2023. 384 pages. [Source: Library]

18. If the Boot Fits. Karen Witemeyer. 2024. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]

19. The Bookends of the Christian Life. Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington. 2009. March 2009. Crossway Publishers. 160 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Bibles reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

1. WHOLE BIBLE. New King James Version, Sovereign Collection, Wide Margin. God. (Thomas Nelson Publisher). 2022. 1696 pages. [Source: Bought] [Bible]

2. WHOLE BIBLE. New American Standard Reference Edition. 1973. God. 1899 pages. [Source: Bought]

2024 Reading Totals

Books Read in 2024	74
Pages Read in 2024	16606
January
Books read in January	36
Pages read in January	6875
February
Books read in February	38
Pages read in February	9731

28. What was the Children's Blizzard of 1888?

What was the Children's Blizzard of 1888? Steve Korte. 2023. [November] 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: January 12, 1888, started out as an unusually warm and sunny winter day in much of the central and midwestern parts of the United States. This area was known as the Great Plains.

Premise/plot: This nonfiction book for young readers answers the question, What was the Children's Blizzard of 1888. It is part of the WhoHQ series of books. This book focuses--though not narrowly--on an event. It provides different "snapshots" of what happened. There are small stories--vignettes--from many different people chronicling their experiences. This was a big-interest news story back in the day, and these stories were captured in newspapers--many, many from all across the country. There are happier stories and sadder stories.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed reading this one. I always have had a big interest in history. This is a good introduction to the Children's Blizzard of 1888. There are plenty of books on this event/subject. (Though many are for adult readers.) Some nonfiction. Some fiction. Many if not most are fascinating and haunting.

IF kids enjoy the I Survived series--which are mostly historical--then I see this one could having great appeal to the same audience.

I mentioned earlier that the focus wasn't narrow. I haven't decided if that's good or bad. This one pulls in a LOT of what might pass as "context" if you are kind or "filler" if you are mean. I have to remember that it is written for young kids and it assumes no previous knowledge of American history. This makes sense when talking about weather forecasts especially. I'm going to guess that most kids haven't wondered HOW weather was forecast/predicted a 140+ years ago. It is so ordinary, so common place, to have MANY ways to get alerts about bad weather. The book could have perhaps gone into more when it comes to early meteorology. But some places felt a little history-dumping of more general knowledge that didn't really directly connect to the story. (Indirectly yes.)

27. Who Is Nathan Chen?

Who is Nathan Chen? (Who Was? Series) Joseph Liu. 2023. 56 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: During the 2022 Winter Olympics, Nathan Chen stood alone in the middle of the ice rink in Beijing (say: BAY-jing), China. His legs were spread apart and his arms were relaxed at his side. He was dressed in black pants and a red shirt covered in stars. The stars were not like those you see on a flag. These were more like stars you see in space.

Premise/plot: Who is Nathan Chen? is a biography for young readers--think elementary aged. It is part of the Who HQ series. Who is Nathan Chen? A figure skater--from the United States--who, for a time, dominated the sport and many competitions. The sport is an ever-constant in its changing. Skaters come. Skaters go. Legacies can be formed, for sure. But there's always "new" and "better." I use quotes because there's SO much room for subjective speculation in the sport. There are a million and one factors involved in judging. One person's "better" is another person's flop. Fans can and do disagree with judges. Fans can and do disagree with other fans. The book is a basic, straightforward biography of an athlete, an Olympian.

My thoughts: I just remember so much RAGE of the 2022 Olympics when it comes to figure skating. Though not particularly the men's competition. (I was bitter/am bitter at the LACK OF DECENT coverage on television. But that's another story not for another day). The writing of this one was serviceable and decent. It works okay. I thought the writing was a little lacking, but it was far from horrible.

Do kids watch figure skating? Maybe. Maybe not. Do kids get assignments like read a biography? Yes. Probably. Are athletes a more interesting choice for such assignments? For some, sure. Are living subjects infinitely more exciting than dead ones? Probably. Maybe. This one will have an audience.

Friday, February 23, 2024

26. The Beatles Couldn't Read Music?

Wait! What? The Beatles Couldn't Read Music? Dan Gutman. 2023. 144 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Most teachers don't really want you to know anything about the Beatles! They want you to know about Abraham Lincoln and educational stuff like that.

Premise/plot: This is a "nonfiction" book. The framework is fiction, a fictional brother and sister duo battle it out to see who knows more about the Beatles. The information they're sharing is factual and nonfiction.

The book talks about the band, The Beatles. It talks about the four members of the band, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Each Beatle gets his own personal biographical chapter. Other chapters talk more about the band as a whole--chronicling the timeline of the band.

My thoughts: Did I learn anything new? No. Is that surprising? Not really if you KNOW me. I liked this one. I did. I was slightly annoyed by the fictional framework. However, I do appreciate that this one focused on the band AND the individuals within the band. I do think the Beatles are best introduced by their music. I know this is impossible to do in a book. Or perhaps not impossible, challenging enough, but the best way to get to know the Beatles is by....listening to the Beatles. Without that immediate connection to the music itself, I'm not sure how memorable or impactful or interesting or entertaining the book is.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

25. Heroes

Heroes. Alan Gratz. 2024. 272 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "It's an attack!" Stanley cried. "Enemy airplanes--dozens of them. Coming in low over the water!"

Premise/plot: Frank and Stanley are best friends living on [one of the islands] of Hawaii in December 1941. When the novel opens, these two are bonding over comic book superheroes. In fact, these two want to write and illustrate their own comic book series. So many ideas. So much potential. But that near-perfect day is soured when bullies enter the scene. Stanley stands up to the bullies, and Frank, well, Frank is too scared to stand up for what's right and just. The next day, December 7, will be a big day. Frank must find a way to repair his relationship with Stanley. The two will be going on a tour of a battleship. But Frank's confession of a deep, dark secret takes second place to the drama-trauma of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Can Frank and Stanley be heroes when it counts the most?

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, crazy-loved this historical novel for children and middle grade. Definitely my best read of the year--granted it is February. I loved Frank. I loved Stanley. I loved all the talk of superheroes and origin stories and comic books. I loved the creativity. I loved the HEART and substance of this one. I thought the book was great at SHOWING and not telling. Of course, that is my perspective. I loved the narrative. The writing was outstanding.

I already want to reread this one.