posts by Jayne S:
B- Reviews / Book Reviewsanxiety / friendship / graphic novels / Magic / middle grade / self discovery2 Comments
With humor, heart, and an unusual heroine who is braver than she realizes, Bree Paulsen’s colorful and cozy debut graphic novel is a farm-fresh tale that reminds readers to believe in themselves—and that strangers are not always as scary as they seem. An enchanting debut graphic novel to give to ... more >
B Reviews / Book Reviewscats / children's book / music / picture books5 Comments
Ric Ocasek’s rock and roll classic, “Good Times Roll”—one of the Cars’ hit songs—leaps off the page in this exhilarating picture book. “Let the good times roll Let them knock you around Let the good times roll Let them make you a clown . . .” Good Times Roll is ... more >
A- Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readschildren's book / found family / friendship / Paris / picture books4 Comments
A boy befriends a baby gargoyle in this magical wordless story in graphic-novel style from award-winning creators Jo Ellen Bogart and Maja Kastelic. Anthony’s house is full of family photos — of his parents’ trip to Paris, his great aunt, and Anthony himself as a toddler, holding his favorite rock. ... more >
B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Reads17th-century / 18th-century / dual-timeline / First-Person / Historical / historical-Scotland / investigation / Jacobites / Scotland / second chance at love / Slains11 Comments
In the autumn of 1707, old enemies from the Highlands to the Borders are finding common ground as they join to protest the new Union with England. At the same time, the French are preparing to launch an invasion to bring the young exiled Jacobite king back to Scotland to ... more >
B- Reviews / Book Reviewsautobiography / bookseller / bookselling / Business woman / Egypt / independent booksellers / Middle East / Misogyny / non-fiction / POC / POC author3 Comments
The warm and winning story of opening a modern bookstore where there were none, Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller recounts Nadia Wassef’s troubles and triumphs as a founder and manager of Cairo-based Diwan The streets of Cairo make strange music. The echoing calls to prayer; the raging insults ... more >
Book Reviews / C+ Reviewsfairy tale / found family / friendship / Historical fiction / middle grade / self discovery6 Comments
From two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall comes a fantastical meditation on fate, love, and the power of words to spell the world. We shall all, in the end, be led to where we belong. We shall all, in the end, find our way home. ... more >