#2019Book77
Books about grieving families have a special place in my heart, and I was fascinated by the unusual point-of-view in this novel. Not only was the main character grieving the loss of his brother, but he was also dealing with the fact that his brother died after committing a horrific crime. The chapters that focused on the main character and his mother were beautifully written and I loved learning about those two.

#2019Book76
Every time I read this book, I enjoy it a little bit more. While I'm not sure my students got much out of it, I still find myself surprised by the lengths the boys in this book go to in order to survive and assert their dominance over the others.

#2019Book75
#GoodreadsAwardWinner
#2018Winner

#2019Book74
This was a pretty fun graphic novel, but some of the jokes went on just a little too long.

#2019Book73
This was probably the first dystopian novel I ever read, and I loved rereading it with my class of 8th graders this year.

#2019Book72
This middle-grade graphic novel is filled with absolutely adorable illustrations and a story that makes you want to keep reading. The main character is one of the spunkiest heroines I‘ve read in a long time and I look forward to reading the other comics in this series and spending more time with her.

#2019Book71
I bought this book because I‘m obsessed with true crime and because I have a massive crush on Billy Jensen. It did not disappoint and I highly recommend it!

#2019Book70
I‘m honestly not sure which I love more: the title of this book, or the quirky cast of characters.

#2019Book69
This family drama shifts perspectives among the three Jacobson children and their mother as they all plan ways to murder the family patriarch without getting caught. The story starts at a pace that‘s almost too slow, but picks up about 50 pages in and has a strong finish. The characters are memorable and frequently slip between lovable and impossible to like.

I‘m going to overshare for a moment in hopes of finding some advice. A few years ago, I was teaching high school English and had an absolutely horrible teaching experience. Through that, I developed severe anxiety accompanied by Irritable Bowel Syndrome. After quitting that job, my anxiety and IBS calmed a little. Now, I‘m going back to teaching high school and my symptoms have returned with a vengeance. Any advice on how to deal with this?

#2019Book68
Five women walked into the woods for a company retreat. Only four of them came back out. This is how Force of Nature begins, and the suspense never really lets up until the end. The best part, though, is the ever-present feeling of claustrophobia, as though someone just might be watching from the darkness between the trees.

#2019Book67
#LitsyAtoZ Part 2: TBR books by title
#BookF

#2019Book66
If you want to read about an alcoholic ex-painter, a wannabe ghost hunter, and a reincarnation of Joan of Arc‘s executioner going on a road trip together, then you should definitely read this book.

#2019Book65
This holds up as a pretty solid coming-of-age YA novel, but kind of loses its way during the chapters that delve shallowly into some vague supernatural elements.

#2019Book64
Books that cover multiple decades and family generations are my jam and I loved watching these characters grow. I only wish the novel was longer, because I wasn‘t ready to leave West Mills just yet.

#2019Book63
If you‘ve ever worried that a combination of climate change, corrupt government officials, and basic human awfulness will lead to the downfall of American society, then you should definitely read this book.

#2019Book62
#AtoZClassics
#BookS

#2019Book61
#LitsyAtoZ Part 2: TBR books by title
#BookE

I‘ve gotten on a jewelry kick lately and I just happened to order this bracelet the night before Suzanne Collins announced the upcoming Hunger Games prequel. Seems appropriate.

#2019Book60
This graphic novel was a fun way to learn more about the brain and how it works. However, many pages are so packed with information that it started to feel a little too much like a textbook.

#2019Book59
This book does a beautiful job of weaving together three stories that span several decades and two continents. The ghostly elements added to the character development and helped build the atmosphere. My only complaint is that the “reveal” at the end was kind of a let-down.

#2019Book58
As usual, the artwork in this graphic novel was fantastic. The story was also great, focusing on the divisions within the Justice League as the members begin to question whether or not they can trust each other.

I very rarely wear jewelry, but as soon as I saw this bracelet, I knew I had to have it!

#2019Book57
While it was interesting to read about the various men who were suspected to be Jack the Ripper, the author tends to repeat himself way too much. In fact, if you removed all of the repeated details, this book probably could have been condensed to a long article.

#2019Book56
The good: All of the characters feel real and their interactions are great and often heartbreaking.
The bad: When the characters discus one character‘s autism diagnosis, they often land on and seem to accept the conspiracy that vaccines cause autism.

#2019Book55
If you want the scandal and backstabbing of reality television without having to actual watch those women scream at each other, check out this book!

#2019Book54
This book moves at the quick pace of a horror movie, but I would have still loved it if it had been a 500-page extremely slow burn. Either way, it‘s wonderfully creepy, keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the ending is absolutely perfect!

#2019Book53
The title of this book is a bit of a misnomer. Several of the stories aren‘t really ghost stories and many are far from being the best. It also makes no sense that this collection was published in 2011, yet all of the stories are from the late 1800s-early 1900s.

#2019Book52
#AtoZClassics
#BookR

#2019Book51
#SummerOfStephen
#KingAndI
#Nonfiction2

#2019Book50
The artwork in this graphic novel was great, but the story became repetitive very quickly.

#2019Book49
If you love the My Favorite Murder podcast, then you‘ll love getting a closer look into Karen‘s and Georgia‘s lives.

1. One of my best friends calls me “J” sometimes. It‘s only endearing when he does it, though. It would feel weird from anyone else.
2. How to Raise Your IQ by Eating Gifted Children
3. Well, I only read the Twilight series because of the hype and those are four days I can‘t get back, so make of that what you will.
4. I tend to judge by price and title more than cover.
5. @kdwinchester @Robothugs

The rest of my TBR pile is going on vacation so this one can rise to the top!

#2019Book48
Not only is this science-centric, female-led mystery novel a thrilling read, full of unreliable characters; it also looks beautiful on your shelf.

#2019Book47
The art style in this graphic novel isn‘t my favorite, but I‘m impressed that Brown managed to make the history of Tetris a truly interesting topic.

#2019Book46
The plot of this graphic novel is great and the artwork is amazing, but the best part of this book is the characters. Even the most minor background character has a fascinating story and you‘ll want to learn more about these people long after the last page.

#2019Book45
The artwork in this graphic novel is gorgeous and the story is one of the more original plots I‘ve read lately. If you like to read about “super diseases” and don‘t mind a bit of blood and nudity, then you‘ll love this book.

#2019Book44
As someone who hated the two days of summer camp I managed to suffer through, I found a kindred spirit in the author/illustrator of this graphic novel. If camp and attempting to make new friends have never really been your favorite things, then definitely check out this book.

#2019Book43
I loved this book. Yes, a few situations could have used a bit more buildup, and sometimes the use of magic was just a little too convenient, but the writing was absolutely beautiful, so I‘m willing to forgive everything else.

#Bookmail #ARC

#2019Book42
This is a beautifully written memoir about the awkwardness and drama that comes with being a teenage girl trying to figure out her identity. The artwork style isn‘t my favorite, but it works well with the story being told.

#2019Book41
Laurie Halse Anderson is one of my favorite writers and this poetic memoir just solidified my love for her and her writing.

#2019Book40
I‘m a sucker for black and white drawings in graphic novels, but the storyline in this one wasn‘t always easy to follow. It seemed to jump around from past to present at random and frequently repeated sequences with just a slight shift in perspective.

#2019Book39
The idea behind this YA novel was interesting and the use of mythology strengthened it a bit. Overall, however, the execution was lacking. Nothing was explored deeply enough, so the characters were all pretty shallow and the action somehow seemed rushed while simultaneously dragging. The “magic” involved also didn‘t really appear to have any rules, so it only popped up when it was convenient for the plot.

#2019Book38
This graphic novel was incredibly fun to read and filled with colorful characters (literally and figuratively). If you're a fan of Adventure Time or Rick & Morty, then you'll probably enjoy this comic.

#2019Book37
Just like the previous 8 volumes in this series of graphic novels, I loved every page of this one. My only complaint is that I have to wait so long for the next volume to find out what's going to happen next.

#2019Book36
#SummerOfStephen
#KingAndI
#Book15

#2019Book35
This graphic novel reads like an incredibly sweet Pixar short. Told entirely through pictures, it tells the story of a park bench that experiences pretty much the same events day after day, a silent observer. Despite the lack of dialogue or narration, the various story lines are easy to follow and more than one is a little heartbreaking.

#2019Book34
#GoodreadsAwardWinner
#2014Winner