Monday, November 23, 2015

The Negotiator

The Negotiator (O'Malley, #1)The Negotiator by Dee Henderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nice clean uplifting story, but cheesy in parts. Really like-able characters and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series. I wasn't a big fan of the audiobook narrator though. His voices were hard to tell apart.

Friday, November 20, 2015

The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the TrainThe Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

All of these characters are certifiable and unlikeable, but it's a well-crafted and fast-paced book nonetheless.

Heir to Edenbrooke

Heir to EdenbrookeHeir to Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Definitely made me want to reread Edenbrooke! A lovely way to spend an hour.


Friday, November 13, 2015

The Tailor of Gloucester

The Tailor of GloucesterThe Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was our favorite of our Beatrix Potter unit. It's a perfect Christmastime read.

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jemima is the silliest duck going.

The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle

The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-WinkleThe Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle by Beatrix Potter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was fun learning more about hedgehogs when we read this during our Beatrix Potter literature unit. I loved how clever this book was and how Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle took care of all the animals.

The Tale of Benjamin Bunny

The Tale of Benjamin BunnyThe Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Peter Rabbit's cousin! What could be better? And a big yay for dads.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter RabbitThe Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A classic. Forever a favorite.

The Nightingale

The NightingaleThe Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The first part of this book was achingly slow, and the writing tended to be a little clumsy and melodramatic. However, I did enjoy the last 1/3 and the portrayals of strong female characters.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved listening to the audiobook. But, I loved even more how much my kids got into it and are already racing through the rest of the series.

Coraline

CoralineCoraline by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mr. Gaiman himself says it's the strangest thing he's ever written, and I have to agree. Perfect for Halloween.

A Dangerous Place

A Dangerous Place (Maisie Dobbs, #11)A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Great audio narration. But, a so-so mystery and the turn of events of Maisie's personal life made this not my favorite in this series.

Leif the Lucky

Leif the LuckyLeif the Lucky by Ingri d'Aulaire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved the beautiful illustrations and written details in this story of Leif Erickson's journeys. Appropriate for grades 3-7.

Marco Polo

Marco PoloMarco Polo by Demi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Visually stunning book that recounts Marco Polo's 24-year expedition to China. Appropriate for grades 4-7.