More action sequences than first, more mysterious. Yet felt slower. More deliberate in its steps. I feel content finishing the story, though it didn‘t flow as much for me. Chela and Mateo are compelling characters, and I was glad this was more on Chela. I really like her; complex and gritty. Not afraid to not pull her punches. Her inner challenge was well played. Mateo I wish continued to grow some more.
#riordanpresents

I adore Miles as Spider-Man. I love how Jason writes. Yet this book felt not much like a Spider-Man story, but a student stuck in suspension. With something in the ways trying to get him. It wouldn‘t make sense to those who didn‘t read Jason‘s last Miles book. I barely got it. As the villain is new, didn‘t feel long enough or strong enough to leave an impact. Just him doing his teachers work on thinking of self improvement through what life throws

You must prove yourself equal to the other students of this establishment if you wish to be regarded by them as an equal. In fact, you will have to prove yourself superior in all the ways they expect you to be inferior, just to be regarded as equal. To some, you will always be found wanting. But there are people here who are willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. […]You are a representative here whether, you want to be or not.”

This was a story about a nackie (Native American) being forced to join an Anglish (colonizer) school in order to keep the dragon that choose her. The book is slow in action yet insane in school bullying and others comments on Anequs, that she be grateful to be at the school to be enlightened. All she wants is to learn to shape her dragons breath and go back to her island. As her people don‘t know how to since the Great Dying attack.

Interesting concept. Julia Child fan fiction is what it comes across as. A neighbor of hers goes out for dinner and come home finding someone dead. With Julia‘s knife as the murder weapon. And a note from the main character in the dead person pocket. Quite a mystery. We‘ll have to see where this goes. #ouabc

Mixed feels mainly because it just wasn‘t my forte. Previous books was marvelous; may have affected it. This was a journey of self discovery after a great loss forced upon Alex as his team traveses a planet with a weird anomaly. could only have been made by aliens. It felt real in how the travel affected the team with injuries and tension. It‘s all about the dark hole in yourself. Wanted to know more of the “turtles”. End dropped off a bit to me.

Very interesting take on aliens and religion. This feels like it I will be an upcoming topic, what with its continual mention. I don‘t always like how she mentions it all, but it is a deep thought.

A little more over the place than I generally enjoy. Two traumatized adults who coped in different ways find eventual comfort in each other. He felt all is wrong with the world, she looks for light. Did like most of their personalities. Didn‘t get the whole bad vibe she gave him. Didn‘t stand up well. While they learned to talk it out, I didn‘t get the feel that brought them together. Too much a loose end for me. Still was an enjoyable read.

This will be the best Father‘s Day gift. My perspective? These are jokes only a dad would get. They‘re so obstine and gross. 8 parts; wide crack, poop, farts, messy, boogers, pee, doctors, & butts. Most I don‘t see as funny, just shake my head. But I know my dad will LOVE it. It‘s just not for me, and I hope I won‘t regret gifting it.

💐 Happy Mother‘s Day 💐
Got this for my mom, as a sort of jest that she‘s always saying she‘s a horrible mother when things go wrong. Was very worried she wouldn‘t like it, but she was laughing through most of the book. Alternated a lot from “oh no” to laughing. It‘s written for younger moms, but any mother would enjoy it.

Officially a fan of Emily Henry and how she write complicated relationships. Love complicated people. These two are long term best friends that want different things and never saw a reason to get together. They thrives and suffered for it. Yet here they are, figuring out all over again if they can make it work. I felt worse for Alex in this one. He wants the simpler life and feels played.

Incredible for a second book. Not as predictable as the first, this one went places. Quartet are still as diverse as ever, and that‘s not always a good thing. As we find out. Even as it becomes a strength. I felt something for ever single character. All of them. That‘s hard to do. More myth building in here, which I‘m always a sucker for. We learn so much more about the island. HP vibes from building up the series as magic school levels. So stoked

Insanely close to the Admirals other book, Make your bed. Combination of personal stories to show examples why his chosen points of what makes a great leader. I caught many good quotes that I thought more people should know. Especially that; “shepherd should smell like his sheep." Te stories show issues Admiral went through and how he learned that trait of leadership. A great read to work on a growth mindset.

Never underestimate the power of hope. Hope is what inspires, hope is what encourages, hope is what empowers, and without hope, nothing worthwhile can be accomplished. But hope alone is just wishful thinking. Pair hope with a sound strategy, a detailed plan, and a lot of hard work, and nothing is out of reach.

This was an amazing book about a son of darkness and one of the sun coming to terms with each other. I didn‘t see Will being “whiny”, he doesn‘t understand Nico‘s nonchalance at the darkness. I love how cute they are together, how much they balance each other. Balance change with acceptance. So many good quotes. I laughed out loud and cried (ending especially) and just felt immense joy. Bob is still amazing. Hades, too, I enjoyed
#riordan presents

Nico didn't answer at first. “I think, after what I just went through," he said eventually, "the best thing I can say to you is that we are not only one thing forever. We're allowed to change at any point in our lives. We don't have to be stuck with a label someone else assigns us. Gods, we don't even have to stick to a label we give ourselves. […]” #RiordanPresents

Harriet and Wyn were the prefect college couple. Yet now, they‘re not talking. The notion that they didn‘t tell their best friends makes sense to me. Most made sense to me, especially clicked with Harry explaining she never learned how to argue with people she loves. I connected deeply. The couple focused so hard on making the other happy they overlooked the reality of a relationship, forgot themselves in it. Not perfect. Refreshing read. #ouabc

Never have I ever been to a book tour event that was so much FUN. Everyone acted like crazy fangirls. Excited to get this going to see what they mentioned on their process through Tartarus and learning about each other more. It was Marks comment about the importance of Platonic love (a shoutout to aces) and his comment that the end is about Nico being told he made an impact on those who love him.based off Riordans impact
#riordanpresents #lgbtq

Guess I should be happy I didn‘t buy this book during indie bookstore day. Was Intrigued yet didn‘t want the large book for my flight to keep all contained. Passed up a signed copy, and instead got this book box. The “never have I ever” bookish is really cool. Feels like it‘ll be a good summer prep book. #ouabc

This is not Pinocchio, thou has similar themes. Better thinking it‘s not the same. I loved all these varying characters. Not as heartfelt as his previous stories; more on humanity‘s horrid yet lovely view on the world. How humans are extinct because of the robot uprising, and the downfall of freedom. Which I found intriguing and wish there was more psychology on. Yet a story of a robot learning to release its past and forgive itself. #lgbtq

Indie Bookstore Day!!! #ibd
I think last years goodies were nicer, but I really liked the duo “meet me at the bookstore” cloth bag and collapsable water bottle. Although it was the House in the Cerulean Sea character stickers that I was most excited to nab, it‘s an absolute favorite read.
This book grabbed me because of its Addie LaRue vibe; immortal man falls in forbidden love with a mortal.

“But be warned, a heart is not like the battery you used to have. It's strong, but fragile."
"H-how can it b-be both?"
Dad laughed, though it sounded hollow. "It just is. It might be for the best that you don't remember what your life was before because it's not going to be the same. The heart, it's ..." He shook his head. "It's something special. It will lift you up. It will ache without reason.”

This light hearted book metaphors a shark creeping up on a family. They move to reclusive town, away from everything else to a lighthouse. Where the mum is obsessed with finding a Greenland shark. To the point her mental health flails. This is through Julia‘s eyes, watching her mother fight her bipolar disorder. Watching the obsession drag her deep into the cold ocean. Beautiful graphics help show Julia‘s emotions throughout.

Wonderful story so far; between the words being told through young Julia‘s eyes and through the beautiful yet simplistic images. I just have a minute issue with the marine biologist mother saying sharks have bones. I know it was to her daughter about their “magic bones.” I love sharks, so I have to say please use the correct term of cartilage instead.
Great small book for these short flights.

Roughly dozen short stories each varying in the types of mental health they showcase. This is the one that resonates with me the other, not so much. I love the idea of this book; story about a teen going through a mental health crisis of some kind that the author then quickly describe from their life. Although still good exposure for PTSD, depression, OCD, etc. I just couldn‘t get into them all. Sure I‘m not the intended group. Some went far in

Not what I was expecting. 144 pg tell two kids stories, worlds apart. Too much for such a short time. Meet, drama life or death, closure. Tried to feel for them, but feel like I didn‘t get the time to know them. One in the Indian Ocean where flooding keeps pushing his community back. One in the Arctic# where polar bears and brown bears bred to a new species. Each child is left out on their own, trying to get home. This is more a I survived story

I don‘t recall a book being so hard to consume because of its contents. India girl infanticide historical fiction. Janani is a low level caste cleaner who‘s husband hates how she keeps having girls. This is a heart wrenching story. Yet it keeps amazing India perspective of tradition. Split times of her going through that and her daughter going back. Mother daughter bonding over past trauma. Felt like a breaking read, though necessary

This book was recommended to me from one of my students, who is Irish. Nory is a girl who lives in Ireland as the potato famine appears to begin. She watches as her younger brother gets thinner, grandfather has to work… 3-7th grade read. It is rare to come across a book that takes you through the potato famine. This historical fiction was not really educational, but to get a student interested. It didn‘t stay with anything enough to really learn

Informative read about why spiders shouldn‘t be feared. Doesn‘t force upon loving them, but explains why they are important. Slightly interactive with the hand squishing them learning to pet them instead. How, yes they are out there, but YOU don‘t have to worry. I liked the page so full of bugs that couldn‘t read it. Yet the spiders web comes into view to help.
#children

Narrator and buddy Edgar. It is sort of a talking out to the reader about why bees are awesome. Yet in a way that students can absorb the simple and fun information. How important they are to the world around us. What they do and what would happen without them. Simple art doesn‘t distract from the narrative. People are scarfed of what they don‘t understand, so why not get to know them?
#children

Classic ABC book with animals that, I feel, the common person or child may not know. 3 of them are some of my favorites. Simple short book, again for hooking you, not for a full education. It‘s a classic abc book from what I remember when I was a kid. Maybe just less words. Which I do miss for some of these books. Yet them tell a bit more about the animals. #children

This book shows how small things can damage our earth. One small, insignificant molecule of carbon dioxide, when put together, does this. The same goes for fixing the planet. One person may seem small, yet when many get together they make a big impact. I love the art style being simple yet powerful. Showing polar bears on a slab of melting ice, flood kicking out families, coral reef overheating… but also how one person can start it all #children

Book I bought to share with all the kiddos I work with. #children
This book is amazing with its unique facts about the world we live in. We‘ve actually questioned a couple and did some research. Was true. There‘s space, animals, earth, world records… Great engaging way the facts are presented, too, with the color blocks. This is meant to hook you, not necessarily teach you.

This is definitely nutty gritty Nick drawings here. Works with the emotional and rough story. Mash up of being a western start siding with what the end of the tf war would look like. With all the stars dying out. Felt similar to the Last Ronin: one is left, to finish the self proclaimed job. Felt the grief and remorse for what tf‘s did to the universe. This scene hit hardest; the stars dying out. Many MTMTE & Lost Light callbacks. #transformers

The stars sayin‘ goodbye, I mean? Do you know what causes it?
Yeah. yeah, that I do know. […] It‘s because of beings like… that thing that came to your town. Its because of beings… like me.

I did enjoy the story, insane busy premed student finds out she‘s dating a superhero (at college). What I liked was that it didn‘t stray from the “realness”: you get kidnapped, go to therapy, and attend this dating supers class. What I didn‘t like was how heavy the trope was and the whole ending. Everything with the lab felt so distant, second plot barely alongside the main. Spelling errors were distractions.

What a difficult read, both in this old writing style and themes of racism from the eye of a growing black child. I can see why everyone speaks highly of it as a great way to look into the past. Can also see others upset at sexual tendencies, thou rare and far in between. This book does get real, I‘m some aspects of her life. She holds nothing back.
This memoir is the most challenged book in America. TED-Ed has a great YouTube video about it

Adorable art style about a young girl who wants to shed light to others. She chose this lonely job because she is used to being alone. She believes she can do it while she struggles with loneliness. Her fear of the dark being overpowered by wanting to shed light for others. Yet she feels useless. Her friend is constantly looking out for her. Community is always there. While it didn‘t leave me feeling big feels, I loved the original story and art

This felt like a worst case scenario that may be in Southern Californias future. The Tap Out, when the Colorado river is damned by other states and they get no water at all. This feels surreal now with parallels to COVID, in how nena people became to each other. Water Zombies. Killing over water bottles. These kids have ptsd after what they fought to survive. The multiple perspectives, these kids and not, help bring in the devastating reality.

Now that the story is building, there‘s not a lot newer stuff. This is Daminin and Dicks backstory and how they are now a part of Gar and Ravens story. I liked the coloring and sibling rivalry addition. Golden oldest boy v youngest stubborn vibes. Same with the /real/ training they‘re finally getting. This does feel like a filler in the middle of a larger book. I enjoyed it, as much as others.
Honestly just excited for StarFire joining next spring

Not impressed coming down from the first. This was difficult to read through as the story just kept going with so much going on. Very rarely any breaks for the characters to reflect and grown from. Everything just went the characters way, even as every bad was her fault. I‘m disappointed she didn‘t get to grow. The ending was done too quick and twist felt out of place. Overall, think it went too hard trying to be like the little mermaid

For being 500 years before the PotOT, it connects incredibly well. Like wow. The wyrms have come, it‘s the Sorrowful Years, a story we know from PotOT. That is usually difficult to portray, but not here. This story followed the firsts direction as a feminist queer fantasy. Felt like more dragons. As an epic again: 846 pages that have much, yet not enough. I felt for Dumai and Glorian the most, how they both affect the PotOT in the future.

Not what I expected from blurb. Love messy and expansive Georgia. Also Levi and his trauma from childhood. Both I see within my relationship. He‘s so sweet to her, so vulnerable, that still gets him in trouble. Georgia is so soft, and bubbly. Pretty steamy chapter, though I‘m not one for the sex this early in a relationship, they got it working out. Including understanding each other, talking like adults. I liked the ending. Georgias got it #ouabc

Mental illness of psychosis/schizophrenia through the eyes of a teenager. Caden loves two lives; a real world and a mystery one on a ship. The story follows as these two worlds collide into what is real. This is a difficult book to read because it holds no bars. The authors child went through this and helped. One thing that stuck was how Cadens views on the world and his parents changed from start to finish.

Not bad, but wasn‘t stellar. I don‘t know these stories much, besides the one with the bridge, and don‘t feel like I know them any better. That‘s what stuck with me. Fun story of crazy items running a much though San Francisco. That was fun. It felt like there might‘ve been too many storylines going at once.
#RiordanPresents

Flight back from San Diego didn‘t take me far from the coast of this book. So I had to get it started. I‘m confused upon where the story is going, as I feel like I‘m waiting to learn more of the myth of the Whimsies. It‘s all background right now. #RiordanPresents

Colorful. Bright. Dangerous. Heartfelt. Tragic. Wonderful. A city where Wynd, a magical boy, wants to be human where having magic blood gets you killed. I‘m such a sop for those types of stories. You can flee the emotions through these incredible expressions. The Bandaged Man is ruthlessly scary. Wynd is enduring to listen to. How could he not be when he speaks with such conviction. #lgbtq rep

This was a slow healing type book. Wasn‘t bad, just didn‘t click with me. Vivienne is a renowned pianist who finds herself in charge of an asylum inmate. Which she becomes a forced inmate herself. Which is what hit me hard, as most women here are not insane. With one in there because she lost her baby. I liked the soft theme of finding the light in the darkest of times. The times you‘re broken down the most so you can be rebuilt. #ouabc

Phenomenal Story had just about everything. Nubia‘s story was well written about her overpowering drive to help people. Even though it always gets her I‘m so much trouble. Especially when she‘s dark skinned. This story is so emotional with a young lady wanting to do good in a world that doesn‘t seem to believe it‘s possible. feel this greatly. Love how she goes with her friends to protest. Such supportive friends.