honeybeejoyous's reviews
382 reviews

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

4.0

This book was excellent! There were multiple twists that i didn’t see coming (which is always appreciated) and the whole thing really felt like an extended, more fleshed out episode of The Twilight Zone, which was awesome. This was a super interesting, classic sci-fi read. Older sci-fi can often feel dated, but this book managed to surpass that and become a novel where I could almost entirely suspend disbelief in 2018.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

5.0

This has been one of my favorite books since I first read it in high school. It stands up upon re-reading and the character complexity, masterful storytelling, surprises and twists, and pacing all make it a five star read in my book.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

4.0

This book was excellent! I haven’t read a dystopia in a long time because I got pretty burnt out by that genre in high school. I’m so glad I picked this one up though because the writing was wonderful, the character building was excellent, and the story was interesting and unique. I loved the way it bounced back and forth in time and between characters and the way the connections between characters were revealed. This was a solid read.

If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney

3.0

Started 2019 by re-reading a book from my bookshelf and luckily I originally read it long enough ago that the twists and turns were a surprise. I really enjoyed this book and wow oh wow was it a page turner.

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

3.0

I really enjoyed this book. Margaret Peterson Haddix has always been one of my favorite authors and for some reason I’m always into books about clones. The premise was great, the story was a page-turner, and I flew through this one in an afternoon.

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2.0

Margaret Peterson Haddix is the master of a page-turner with an incredible twist. Not so much a master of endings. But this book kept me riveted and the twist was unexpected.

The Art of Confidence by Wendy Lee

2.0

(2.5 stars) I picked this one randomly from the shelf at the library and it ended up being a pleasant surprise! It was an interesting look into the world of art in the city and also into the family struggles of the various characters. The strength of this book was definitely the character building and I enjoyed getting to know them.

Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle

4.0

(4.5 stars) This was one of my absolute favorite books in middle school and I enjoyed it just as much as an adult. A naive, coming into her own teenage protagonist, political intrigue, mystery, spies, and environmentalism make for a suspenseful and interesting story. I’ve always wanted this book to be made into a movie.

Relentless: Changing Lives by Disrupting the Educational Norm by Hamish Brewer

4.0

This book was a clear, easy to read story about what happens when you believe in yourself, your staff, your students, and take a no holds barred approach to education. Hamish Brewer (“the tattooed skateboarding principal”) is a principal in my county who I first heard about through the local news. My mom recommended his book to me and I’m so glad that she did. Mr. Brewer is passionate about everything he does and that comes through in his writing. I enjoyed reading his stories of success and of learning from failure, but even more I enjoyed his mantra of being all-in for the students. There are lots of opinions in education, but one that both Mr. Brewer and I hold strongly is that relationships are the key to everything. This book isn’t exactly a memoir and it isn’t exactly a guide to educational success, but it is a story of how passion and dedication have impacted the lives of individuals and communities. I definitely recommend this book to folks in education and I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for opportunities to see Mr. Brewer speak.

Boo by Neil Smith

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was a unique kind of coming-of-age tale as well as a unique take on the afterlife. The story is creative, the twists are unexpected, and the characters are easy to care about. Major trigger warning for suicide, death, and gun violence if those are topics that bother you. Otherwise, this is a solid read and one I'd definitely re-read in the future.