crystalreading's reviews
6708 reviews

Bloomability by Sharon Creech

4.0

Fun read. I enjoyed seeing the main character's dream diary. I also related to her because she had moved so many times as I had when young. She did show adaptability.

Her voice was fresh, fun, and believable.

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

4.0

Fun realistic fiction summer adventure story. Not quite as magical as I expected, but very charming.

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

4.0

Very amusing story about an artistic and zany family taking in a troubled teen.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

4.0

I always love his comedies. They are a hoot. How can you not love a name like Sir Toby Belch?

A False Sense of Well Being by Jeanne Braselton

3.0

This book shows how difficult life can be and what some people do to cope. I found the ending vague, but it seemed that was deliberate on her part.

I was saddened to find that she committed suicide at 41 - only 2 years after this debut novel that did very well.

Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian

3.0

An Elk Dropped In by Andreas Steinhöfel

4.0

This book made me laugh. I thought that it was fun and entertaining.

The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

3.0

This book intertwines a current story with The Great Gatsby. There were several very difficult passages due to an attempted rape and some other difficult situations.

I enjoyed the plot-driven aspect, and the connections to Gatsby, but found some aspects of the book less than appealing. The twists and turns in the book seemed to get out of hand a bit.

Das doppelte Lottchen by Erich Kästner

3.0

No Talking by Andrew Clements

4.0

Very fun account of fifth grade boys vs. girls in a no talking competition. Lots of comedy. Clements always delivers very humorous and believable realistic fiction.