books

Comic Book Review: Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge

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Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge by Grace Ellis

Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge
by Grace Ellis, Brittney L. Williams (Illustrations)

3 out of 5 stars

Lois and her best friend, Kristen, are entering the neighborhood bike race, but the fireworks for the big event have been stolen. Lois only wants to record the event for her online channel where she hopes to create a viral video. She’s so focused on her own project that she doesn’t understand how anxious Kristen is feeling about leaving for camp the day after the race. Can their friendship survive when Lois is so determined to be an internet star?

I loved the artwork and the cute designs! The story is vibrant and the plot is interesting. I really liked how Lois learns about the moral differences between journalism and detective work. “Journalism isn’t about justice. Journalism is about the truth.”

However, I didn’t really understand the characters in this book. Lois is up and down all the time.

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Comic Book Review: Teen Titans GO! to Camp!

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Teen Titans Go! to Camp by Sholly Fisch

Teen Titans Go! to Camp
by Sholly Fisch, Marcelo Dichiara (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars

The Teen Titans have been banned from superhero summer camp, so this year for camp they are going to Camp Apokolips. The evil Granny Goodness is looking for recruits and is trying to undermine the heroes’ friendships by getting them to compete against each other. No one is more competitive than Robin, and his enthusiasm sometimes overwhelms his better judgement, causing problems for the team.

I liked the comedy in this comic! Robin is always getting up to crazy highjinks and ruining everyone’s camp experience with his insane determination to win the “Best Camper” award. He is always trying to prove that he is the fastest, smartest, biggest hero in the entire camp, and that is the perfect backdrop for some truly hilarious failures.

The campers have to endure the disgusting food, the crazy counselors, and the ultimate obstacle-course race where the winner is the one who lives through it. But somehow they learn to rely on each other and trust their instincts, and their friendships become stronger than ever.

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Book Review: RuneMarks

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Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Runemarks (Runemarks, #1)
by Joanne Harris

4 out of 5 stars

Maddy was born with a rune mark on her hand, and the people in her village despise her as a possible witch. As she grows up, she discovers that she does have a small amount of magic. Most of the magic in the land died with the old gods hundreds of years before, but there are small traces of it to be found. An old peddler begins to teach Maddy how to use her magic, but he has plans of his own to retrieve a magical artifact from deep within the Underworld.

I loved this imaginative story! It takes elements from old Norse mythology and legends, and weaves them together with the world of faerie and fae. The world has a deep history and I loved discovering the magic along with Maddy. The story starts out in this little country village, but then the scope gradually widens and becomes more and more epic until the fate of the entire universe is hanging in the balance.

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Picture Book Review: The Mighty Silent e!

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The Mighty Silent e! by Kimberlee Gard

The Mighty Silent e!
by Kimberlee Gard, Sandie Sonke (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars

Little e is a small alphabet-letter child, and many of his schoolmates overlook him because he is so quiet. But when the other alphabet letters try to make words when he is absent from class, they can’t make the right sounds. Only Little e can save the day!

This is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen! Little e is such an adorable character. He dreams of being important someday, and he wears a superhero cape. It’s amazing how I became so emotionally invested in a little alphabet character guy. He’s so sweet!

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Book Review: Mudshark

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Mudshark by Gary Paulsen

Mudshark
by Gary Paulsen

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Mudshark is the smartest kid in school, finding lost objects and solving mysteries for his classmates and teachers. When a psychic parrot takes up residence in the school library, Mudshark’s detective agency is threatened, and he’ll do anything to outsmart that talking bird. Between stolen chalkboard erasers, a missing gerbil, and a toxic situation in the faculty restrooms, Mudshark will have to think and scheme and plan to save his school!

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Book Review: Jonathan Livingston Seagull

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Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach (Goodreads Author), Russell Munson (Photographer) 

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Young Jonathan is a seagull who longs to unravel the secrets of flight, but the other seagulls only care about simple basic flight, enough to get them to food and shelter. Jonathan is banished from his flock for practicing and perfecting aerial tricks, high speed turns, and low-level glides. He finds a higher purpose in his love of flying, but the other birds don’t understand his obsession with flight. 

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Book Review: John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise

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John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise by Marc Aronson

John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise
by Marc Aronson 

3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This book explores the connections between two historical figures, John Winthrop and Oliver Cromwell, as both attempt to establish a new order in their respective lands, America and England.
John Winthrop based his new colony on the idea that God was guiding the Puritans’ community to a righteous way of life. Oliver Cromwell believed that God was guiding his army to purge England of the old evil ways and establish a better government for the British people.

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Book Review: The Joy of Less

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The Joy of Less by Francine Jay

The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify
by Francine Jay
K

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This book is perfect for those who are curious about minimalism and want to declutter their homes and try it out. I love that the author emphasizes that minimalism is a mind-set and a life-style, not an aesthetic or a decorating trend. It’s not about how your home looks; it’s about how you feel in your home. It’s not about having a set number of belongings; it’s about having the right number of items that belong in your life for a reason.

I find the philosophy similar to the KonMari method of decluttering. Every item must have a purpose, whether it is useful or brings beauty into your life or just makes you happy.

This book takes you room by room, and gives common-sense advice on decluttering each space, how to get rid of things you don’t need or want, how to store what is left, and how to keep more clutter from building up again. 

There is also a chapter all about how to get your family involved in decluttering the house and keeping it tidy. 

I really enjoyed reading this book, and it inspired me to do a mini-decluttering session in my closet! (My house is already pretty minimal, but my clothing needed some pruning.)

I would recommend this book to anyone who isn’t sure about minimalism, or who hates minimalism but just wants to declutter and find more space in their home. This book might change your mind about minimalism and what it really stands for!