Interesting Times

Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In order to fully appreciate Interesting Times, you have to at least read the other books in the Rincewind part of the Discworld series. Characters come back into play, and really, the only reason Rincewind is even involved in the events that take place is because of what happened in previous books. It's easy to jump around the Discworld series, but all sub-series should be read in order in order to really understand what is going on.

The best part of the book for me, was the fact that someone finally figured out Rincewind. The poor guy has been trying to get people to believe him for a while, and someone finally gets it. With his luck, it's doubtful anyone else will see things his way.

He is such a great character because he is someone, I at least, can relate to. In a world where there is crazy stuff happening all the time, and creatures running around that affect things in ways we will never see, Rincewind could be anybody. He's your average Joe stuck in this crazy world, but somehow, the fact that he is average, makes him amazing.

Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: HarperTorch
Publication Date: 1994

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The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Dinosaur Hunter

The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Dinosaur Hunter by Tim Collins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Long-Lost Secret Diary series is a great series for elementary age children. The stories are entertaining, and there are facts scattered throughout the books, making them educational as well.

This book is all about fossils, and the search to discover new species. The title makes it clear that the journey is not smooth sailing. This book was okay, but so far in the series, I like The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Pirate the most. Not that this isn't a good book, just my preference.

Kids starting to read chapter books will love this series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Tim Collins
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Publication Date: 2018

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Death by Toilet Paper

Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The story was interesting, but on top of that, every chapter starts with a random fact about toilet paper. I just felt that needed to be thrown out there.

This book is filled with funny moments, but it also deals with serious matters like eviction, memory loss, death, and bullies. The main character seemed pretty well developed, but some of the others seemed one dimensional. Ben's best friend seemed a little too self-centered for my liking. No matter what was going on the book, he was in his own little world, completely unconcerned with what was happening around him.

For children in the upper grades of elementary school, I think they would enjoy this book.

Author: Donna Gephart
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2014

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Midsummer's Bottom

Midsummer's Bottom by Darren Dash
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A little note before the review:

While Darren Dash and Darren Shan are technically the same author, the books are in no way meant for the same audiences. Darren Shan books are YA, and great for teens that want a little bit darker of a read. Darren Dash on the other hand, is for adults. They are entertaining, but they feature adult themes that parents may not want their children exposed to. By using the two different names, it is easy for readers to differentiate between YA and adult. This books was written by Darren Dash, therefore, it is an adult read.

I have to say, I was impressed by the rhymes. It felt like an extension of Shakespeare, which is not easy to do. The plot was original and one that I didn't see coming. The way the story unfolded went against everything I thought was going to happen. At the start of the book, everything points to events happening one way, but the whole story screams PLOT TWIST. I loved how unpredictable the story line was. Everything seemed to be in complete chaos most of the time, which made me wonder if maybe a little part of me was losing it. It was easy to get lost in the lives of the characters.

I will say, that sometimes it took me a moment to remember which character I was reading about. Some where easy to remember, but others, the ones with names I wasn't used to, tended to be harder to keep straight. That was my own personal dilemma, since I am not that great at names.

The ending was enjoyable and somehow worked all the way around without seeming forced. I'm not a big fan of Shakespeare, but after reading this book, I am tempted to do a comparison.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Darren Dash
Publisher: Home of the Damned Ltd
Publication Date: 2018

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Not if I Save You First

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of Ally Carter books, not so much the ending of series, but the books in general. I was excited for this book to come out, especially since it is a stand alone, and I don't have to wait for another book to come out, or worry that the story is going to go in some way that seems forced to me.

To really appreciate this book, I feel that you have to at least have read Only the Good Spy Young and the rest of the Gallagher Girl series. There is at least one joke that you will not understand if you have not read those books.

This book was a pretty quick read like the rest of her books. A quick read does not necessarily make this a poorly written book. I feel like the book is a quick read because the author does not waste pages by adding unneeded backstory and dialog. When a book is filled with as much action and suspense as this one, adding in extra stuff just to make it longer takes away from what the book is really about.

I applaud Ally Carter for keeping her focus on the actual story and keeping her readers hooked on the story line.

Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 2018

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The Switch

The Switch by A.W. Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book had an interesting premise that was sometimes hard to wrap my head around. It took a different spin on YA fantasy. There were no sparkly vampires or people hunting demons or anything like that. There were normal teenagers, learning that every time you made a choice, a world line was created where you made a different one.

When Jacobus and his friend Connor discover a switch, they are given a first class look at these other world lines. The problem is, once you start traveling, how do you get home again?

While reading this book, I kept wondering if they were ever going to make it home, or if the story would end with them continually wandering. It really seemed like 50/50 the whole way through. It was interesting to see the differences in the world lines as each switch was pulled.

There was one part of the book that was questionable if you have any religious beliefs, but besides that, it was a solid read that makes you think about how the little choices we make everyday can have an impact on the future.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: A.W. Hill, Nathanael Hill
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: 2017

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The Creature from my Closet Pinocula

The Creature From My Closet Pinocula by Obert Skye
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Creature From My Closet Pinocula was a cute book for elementary age children, teaching the importance of telling the truth, via the age old story of Pinocchio, with a twist.

While the book was entertaining, it is definitely one that is geared towards children, and does not translate well as a book an adult will want to read. That's fine, the target audience will love the book, the series, and the characters.

A great Obert Skye read for those that are older is

Author: Obert Skye
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 2013

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Sourcery

Sourcery by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rincewind is a wonderful character in literature. He is the accidental hero. The one who should have been dead long before this book, but because of amazing dumb luck, manages to always be just what is needed.

Terry Pratchett created some memorable characters, though I did get some of the minor characters in the book mixed up every now and then. Part of that could have been because the story lines are so jam packed. You're not just following Rincewind, but also a host of other characters that have their own stories going at the same time. All the stories are part of a whole, the reader just needs to be able to keep up with what is going on the really appreciate the story.

Possibly the best characters in this book are the four horsemen who, well, have issues.

Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: 1988

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Unblemished

Unblemished by Sara Ella
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

If I could give partial star ratings, I would. This book, for me, is somewhere between two and three stars. It was hard for me to get into at first, which makes it difficult for me to continue reading, but I stuck with it. As the story progressed, and knowledge about Reflections came to light, I became more invested in the story line. The author seemed to pick up speed once everyone was out of New York.

By the time I finished the book, I was ready to read the other two books in the series as soon as possible, which is a good sign. If the first book in a series doesn't grab the reader, it doesn't matter how great the other books are.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Sara Ella
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 11 Oct 2016

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School of the Dead

School of the Dead by Avi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Holy guacamole, I don't care how old you are, School of the Dead will have you hooked. I was not prepared for how intense this book was. I thought I knew what to expect from Avi, but I was wrong, I did not expect this.

To me, the best part of the book is that like the main character, Tony, you don't really know who is telling the truth. In this case, trusting the wrong people could prove deadly. I appreciated the books POV. It wouldn't have had the same feel if the narrator had been all knowing. The reader needs to learn everything with Tony to keep the suspense and mystery going. Knowing who Tony should trust from the beginning would have made the book flat and difficult to finish.

Author: Avi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 2016

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Sheets

Sheets by Brenna Thummler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I decided to read this book on a whim, and I'm so glad I did. Sheets is an adorable children's book that talks to people of all ages. There are parts of this book that are completely fantasy, and other parts so anchored in reality you can see yourself in Marjorie's shoes. It's the juxtaposition between fantasy and reality that pulls the reader in. We all want to see good defeat evil and friendship prevail no matter what type of situation a character may be in.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Brenna Thummler
Publisher: Diamond Book Distributors / Lion Forge
Publication Date: 28 Aug 2018

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City of Lost Souls

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Cassandra Clare is good at being unpredictable in her writing. Her books pull you in and keep you guessing. They fit well into the YA category of books, but don't transfer into adult reading well. I think that this would be different if you had read this series as a teenager.

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Momo Freaks Out

Momo Freaks Out by Samone Bos
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Momo Freaks Out was a blog that made into a book. For those of us in America, think something along the lines of
There is plenty of humor and real life, which makes the book something everyone can relate to at some point in their life.

This is a good book to read when you feel like your world is going crazy, it can help put things into perspective. Having not read the blog before reading this book, I feel like I had a harder time getting into it than I would have otherwise. On the flip side, I now want to take a vacation with the author and her family.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Samone Bos
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Australia
Publication Date: 2017

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It's Only Stanley

It's Only Stanley by Jon Agee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's only Stanley is a cute children's book that asks the important question, What is Stanley doing? While the family tries to sleep, Stanley is up to something, but they don't know what until it is too late to stop him.

I found this book enjoyable. At the same time, I'm wondering why the people didn't question what was going on a little more. I know it's a children's book, so it doesn't matter, but still, inquiring minds want to know.

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To Look a Nazi in the Eye

To Look a Nazi in the Eye: A Teen's Account of a War Criminal Trial by Kathy Kacer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

To Look a Nazi in the Eye was a pretty intense book. I have always devoured books on the Holocaust, but there is a different tone to books like this one. While this book is about the Holocaust, it is more about the question of how culpable were all of the SS. Is the soldier who handled luggage off the cattle cars just as responsible for what happened as the guards forcing people into the gas chambers? This book goes through the war trial of one of the SS soldiers, asking how culpable was he, and how do you handle a trial where the events happened decades earlier.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Kathy Kacer
Publisher: Second Story Press
Publication Date: 2017

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