The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime by Shirley MacLaine

The Wall of Life is a quick delightful book that Shirley Maclaine wrote about the story of her life. It's a light book that shares aspects of her life, growing up, dancing, her family and her friends. A good read and a good audibook. Enjoy.

Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs

Spy School Project X is a delightful good read for middle school students. I enjoy listening to the audibook series as well. A good read to add to any middle school library. Enjoy.

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

What Time The Sexton's Spade Doth Rust book 11 has got to be the best in the series yet. It's a great series and the audibook is also very good. If you like a good mystery, this young girl is way too smart and entertaining. A good read.

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

THe Door of No Return is a story of a young boy who watches his brother get executed because of an accidental death. His life goes from normal boy antics and liking a girl to being captured and sold into slavery. Fine for any school library.

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

These Witches Don't Burn came to me by Junior Library Guilde. It's okay. Not my favorite but I gave it a shot. I have the second in the series also. I'll read that a little later.

Fairy Godmother by Jen Calonita

Fairy Godmother is the first story in the Enchanters series. It's fine for any high school library. It's the story before Disney's Cinderella. It's fine and entertaining. The audiobook is also good.

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams by Karen Hawkins

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams is a sweet story that even teens can read. It has it all, broken heart on the mend, romance and a great mystery. Watching two characters become friends. A good read. Enjoy.

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham

The Letter Tree is similar to You Got Mail in a different century. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. It's a story that is a good read. Fine for teens to read also.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road is a dark story of a father and his young son. He is teaching his son to survive. The world is destroyed and resources are found by scavenging. One sweet moment is the father visits his boyhood home. They must keep moving and avoiding people. No one is safe.

After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay

After the Shot Drops is a good book to add. It's a bit hard to read because a cousin makes bad choices. There is gambling and some fbombs. A friendship between the two boys is jeapordize when one goes to a posh school to help him get college which is helpful because money is pretty tight. A gun forshadows events to come.

Gallant by Victoria E. Schwab

Gallant is a dark ghost story with the required odd orphan. It works. It is dark. I listened to the audiobook. It's fine for any school library.

Pretty Ugly by David Sedaris , Ian Falconer illustrator

Pretty Ugly is a cool book. It reminds me of an old Twilight episode where a plastic surgery patient is turned into a beauty to the horror of the community. The operation was deemed unsuccessful. This book has traces of this. It's a good book to add to young people's libraries.

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys

The Bletchley Riddle is based on a real organization in this fictional account. Get a taste of code breaking as people work together to defeat Hitler's Germany's invations and bombings. A good read to add to middle school.

The Strangest Fish by Katherine Arden

The Strangest Fish is a children's picture book. It's okay and does have a message. But I have a problem with it. The fish ultimately gets released in a lake. People in real life have released gold fish and other pet fish to swim wild in lakes disrupting the true ecosystem. And I have found dead goldfish in a lake near my house. So while the book has a message it doesn't have responsibility of preserving a fragil ecosystem. I would say thumbs down on this one unless you use it for a lesson in preserving the ecosystem.

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science reminds me of Lemony Snickets series. THe audiobook is enteratining. This is fine to add to any children's library collection. It's silly and funny and I do recommend listening to the audiobook just to hear the author read it out.

The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Story Emma Bland Smith , Jenn Ely (Illustrator)

The Gardener of Alcatraz is a great book to add to any school library all ages. It's up for the California Young Readers Medal 2025. True story of a man who turned his life around from crime to gardening. Add this one to your library. Note the illustrations reflect the mood of Elliott in the story.

Nour's Secret Library by Wafa' Tarnowska , Vali Mintzi (Illustrator)

Nour's Secret Library is a picture book for all grades. It's based on real events but with characters created for the story. It's also up for 2025 California Young Reader's Medal. It's a good book for any library.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

Within These Wicked Walls give the feel of Jane Eyre just a little bit. Paranormal beings, murders, ammulents and more plus a bit of romance. Did I like the story? No, it was dark and gloomy. Wasn't my cup of tea.

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science is a farcicle story of a unusal mad scientist teacher with her fanciful animals recruiting orphans who don't fit in various etiquette schools. Fine for middle school libraries

Reading Between the Lies by Lynn Cahoon

Reading Between the Lies is a cozy murder mystery. I am hooked on them. It's a good read/listen too. If you like cozy mysteries you'll enjoy.

Windswept by Margi Preus , Armando Veve (Illustrator)

Windswept is a children's book that also paralells parables. A good book to add to school libraries for children.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Bookshops & Bonedust is an entertaining fantasy book to read or enjoy. For adults.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers is a sexy adult romantic story. A nod to Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally, A good read/listen too.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

Impossible Creatures is a good book with similarities of the real world if you look for it. A good read and a good listen. Fine to add to any middle school library.

Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Bad Blood is an intense thriller that wraps up the series. A good audiobook and strong characters. FIne for any high school library.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is a sexy cozy murder mystery. Think Lucy and Ethel meets Thelma and Louise. A good read/audiobook. Enjoy this adult story.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a great cozy but also sexy murder mysteries series. You get the back story of her and how she becomes who she is. A good read for adults.

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit by Krista Davis

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit is a good cozy murder mystery. The audiobook also very good. Enjoy.

The Diva Says Cheesecake! by Krista Davis

The Diva Says Cheesecake! is a great murder mystery and also a good audiobook to enjoy.

The Diva Delivers on a Promise by Krista Davis

The Diva Delivers on a Promise is a cozy murder mystery. The audiobook is entertaining. A good read.

Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston

Soul of Stars is a science fiction story, part 2. There is a cast of characters with their own back stories to create a unified story. Good vs Evil in science fiction story. Enjoy.

Black Star by Kwame Alexander

Black Star takes us back in time when things were unkind and unfair toward black people. A good book to add to any children and middle school library. Audiobook also very good. Add this one to your library.