Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Our return to school is rapidly approaching!  It seems we will be going back half-days, five days a week.  The Library will still be open during study hall, but sign in will be QR code rather than laptop.  I moved the tables and chairs to be 6 feet apart. We will have some new roommates this year.  Ms. Eburg, a new English teacher, will be taking the Conference Room where Mrs. Pazsak was. Five different teachers will rotate through with their Academic Labs.  I also heard Mr. Pistone will have a class or two in our space, but that's not definite yet.  Ms. Deninger and the English Department's Book Closet will be in our back room temporarily.  A full house!  

So, today's review.  This was recommended to me by Amazon.  I've been on a supernatural/witch kick as of late, so I'm guessing that's where this came from.  This was...interesting.  Think The Giver and Gathering Blue meets The Grace Year, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Crucible.

Which is my problem with it.  Nothing was really original.  Readable for sure.  Even enjoyable.  But I wasn't shook the way I was reading Gathering Blue or The Grace Year.  I'm finding originality lacking in some new books, as evidenced by my last THREE reviews.  Is it my own fault for reading similar books?  Perhaps.  Which is why my next is completely out of the genres I've been stuck in (The Field Guide to the North American Teenager).  The book that'll follow is the book club selection Just Mercy.  Unrelated, I suggested Tigers, Not Daughters for October, and I will moderate. 

In this story, Immanuelle is the mixed-race, illegitimate daughter of a suspected witch and poor man from an ostracized family.  Her mother was betrothed to The Prophet, a Pope-like figure leader of their village.  Her parents were burned at the stake.  Living under the care of her grandmother, the Dark Wood calls to her, and it appears her first menstrual period brings about a curse from the Witches of the Dark Wood.  The Prophet's Son, a secret disbeliever, tries to help her break the curses and plagues.  Immanuelle knows change is coming, and it comes with her power.

Like I said, readable and enjoyable.  Not original.

I'll be heading in tomorrow to hopefully process all these donated books from me!  My book order for this year has not been approved yet, so I do not know when or if we will get any new books (sad emoji)!

Please stay safe!

 

Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven by Bella Forrest

 Hello all.  It seems we will definitely see each other in two weeks.  There will be many changes, not all of which I am a fan of, but let us evaluate how things go once they start.

Anyway.

Today's review is for my next book club selection.  A reminder this is only my 2nd book as a part of the group.  I am hosting the gathering, and Ms. Corrado (that's Mrs. Paredes's secretary) is moderating the discussion.  I believe she is who chose this novel.

Bella Forrest is a widely popular "author".  I put the term in quotes because I don't think she's a real person.  She has no biography, no back story, no social media presence outside publishing info.  I am leaning toward "Bella Forrest" actually being several ghost writers in an anonymous group.  The vast majority of "her" work is paranormal series in YA.  This is listed as book 1 in a new serial, that of Harley Merlin.  

In addition, I am thinking "her" works are based off fanfic ideas.  There are several Twilight and Harry Potter connections that are too coincidental to be oops or common threads.  I would also draw attention to the Skull and Bones (Yale) reference and how similar the Kid City in the novel is to the one in Middletown.  A CT-based writer?  

Plot-wise, this is base novel in that there is a LOT of description--this is X and her job is Y, this is A and his specialty is B.  Introductory stuff to lay a foundation.  In short, the long lost last descendant of Merlin was hidden at birth and now finds herself part of a secret society of witches and warlocks looking for another long lost witch out for world domination.  Where have we heard this before?  Yeahhhhhh.  Looking at you Voldie.

Decent enough, but I have no intention of picking up anything else in the series or anything else of "Ms. Forrest"'s.  

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

I hope you are all safe and well.  I spent two weekends in New Hampshire (masked and socially distanced), which was fantastic.  I finished this before we left for Loudon, and promptly forgot to do the review before we left for LinWood.  

I wanted to like this.  I really, really wanted to like this.  It is set in Fairview, which is really Fairfield, CT. But, unfortunately I found it too similar to a mix of Dark Places (seriously, the ending is wayyyyyyy too similar), My Sister's Grave, and One of Us is Lying or All Eyes on Her (perhaps if I hadn't just read All Eyes, I might feel differently?).  There were also some glaring geographical mistakes that someone from Southern CT would notice right away. 

Andie Bell was beautiful and popular.  5 years ago her AP student boyfriend Sal Singh (read: brown skin, different culture than most in town) killed her.  He then killed himself. 

Now Pip, a senior, has decided to complete her capstone project on media literacy (didn't I say that in the review for All Eyes?) using the Bell/Singh murder-suicide as a case study.  She breaks her privacy commitment and reaches out to the families (wouldn't that disqualify her anyway?), befriending Sal's brother.  

The two reinterview witnesses, read transcripts, look at photos, etc.  Everything that happened in Dark Places and My Sister's Grave.  By the time I got to the end I was rolling my eyes and the ridiculousness of the plot twist, since I'd already read it! Ugh. 

Would this be a good murder mystery had I not read the aforementioned books so recently?  I'm not sure.  My bias in reviewing might be clouding my judgement.  Also, this was actually published BEFORE All Eyes, I just read it after.  Well, find it on the new shelf when we go back and decide for yourself!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels

This is the 2nd review for today.  Again, my apologies.

The world lost a music legend this month with the passing of Charlie Daniels.  I have been a huge fan all my life, and have seen him and The Charlie Daniels Band perform live four times.  I recited "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" for a Halloween-themed oral lesson in one of my undergrad classes.

I've always found him to be so incredibly down to Earth, often meeting with fans before or after performances with little to no security.  He's been married only once, as in "til death do us part" and loves his horses.  While I may not agree with his religious views, he is strong in his faith and offers praise and thanks for all.

The meteoric rise of CDB after "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" often leaves out the story of a young man just trying to make it.  Taking on little gigs playing whatever the audience at that particular establishment wanted, is one reason the Band's music is so varying among genres.  Country, bluegrass, rock, gospel, rockabilly, folk, soul, and even pop blend in their music.  Through it all, Charlie reminds his readers he doesn't actually know how to play the fiddle or guitar.  He learned by doing, no lessons or formal training. 

For any of my teachers reading or listening to this review, make sure you read the acknowledgments.  For any of my kids, don't ever forget to thank the teachers who influenced you.  

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

All Eyes on Her by L.E. Flynn

This will be the first review of another two-fer.  I'm being terrible at getting these posted.  My allergies are a mess right now too.  

Also, this reviews refers to the Advanced Reading Copy edition, but the book is now on sale. 

I LOVED this book.  You know I am not a fan usually of the alternating viewpoints, but for this whodunnit, it's necessary for the reader (in essence part of the judge and jury via the media) to get all the information.

Imagine One of Us Is Lying, Cruel Intentions, and "The Lady or the Tiger?" mixed together.  

Tabby Cousins, 17, and her boyfriend Mark Forrester, 20, go hiking in the woods.  Mark doesn't make it out.  Tabby will, arriving home hours later after becoming disoriented.  She says Mark fell off an overlook.  His body will be found in the river below.  

So, did he fall?  Did he jump?  Or was he pushed?

The story is told through various viewpoints of Mark and Tabby's friends, family, and classmates.  The media has convicted Tabby, who is known to have a temper and was jealous of star-athlete Mark's new "friends" away at college.  You, the reader (again, as someone consuming media reports and social media posts) have to make the decision.

This is actually a fascinating lesson on digital media literacy.

I do not want to spoil too much, but I will say the ending left me pretty shook.  I could not put this down until I finished it.

Hopefully we can get the published book in an order soon!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Black Spire Outpost Cookbook

Yes, today is a two-fer review day.

With our culinary program being so awesome, and my own love of cooking, I'm always looking for cookbooks I think will make a good addition to our collection (see my review of Crook to Cook!).  I'm also a huge Star Wars fan (if you've followed this blog for any length of time, you know that already).  So, of course I bought this!  

When we went to Disney World, Galaxy's Edge was still under construction.  I had huge hopes to see Disney Land's version this summer.  Covid of course had other plans.  

I kinda thought this would be like the Harry Potter cookbook, with items from the book made with every day ingredients or like the "copy-cat" recipes you see all over Facebook of Disney's signature dining places (try the gray stuff at Be Our Guest in Orlando!).  However, this is written in an in-universe style, as if by the extended cannon Strono "Cookie" Tuggs, a chef.  The recipes are pretty simplistic and renamed to match a Star Wars theme.  I'm not sure if any of it is actually on a menu in Disney somewhere, though.  I'll report back if I ever there...

Definitely a novelty, maybe for one of those theme weeks Mr. Kent does, but not exactly the standard in cookbooks for the home chef.

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.   

Tigers, not Daughters by Samantha Mabry

I was in a session with Samantha Mabry at the School Library Journal's conference, which was moderated by my review editor.  I immediately ordered this book for WHHS. A ghost story with strong Latina leads?  Yes, please.

This book did not disappoint.  I read it in a day; I could not put it down.  The four Torres sisters--Ana, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa are all incredibly different, but also inherently the same.  Being raised by a single father (their mother died in childbirth with Rosa) in poverty, surrounded by gangs, theft, drugs, and classism but also by family, faith, and resilience.  The girls hatch a plot to escape to an aunt's in the country, by their father finds out and drags them home.  Two months later, Ana kills herself by jumping out a window (it is possible she fell trying to escape again or was pushed--I don't want to spoil too much).  A year later, Jessica is dating Ana's ex, Iridian is folding in upon herself mentally, and Rosa has turned to Jesus to help animals in need as a distraction. Ana's ghost is not happy.

As this IS a ghost story, with a very angry ghost trying to deliver a message and, perhaps revenge, I will stop the plot review there.  But, I promise, you will not be able to stop reading this!

Find this front and center come my Halloween display!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs W.