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justagirlwithabook's reviews
432 reviews
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I finished The Saturday Night Ghost Club fittingly on the very night before school officially started back up. This book might been small but it’s also mighty. It follows a twelve-year-old Jake through a series of ghostly adventures over the summer with a few close friends, his Uncle Cal, and Uncle C’s friend Lex.
I found it to be a bit reminiscent of The Sandlot, but with ghost stories and a smaller group of friends and family members … and with a bit of a heartbreaking reveal towards the end relating to Uncle Cal and the people that love him the best way they know how. (Don’t worry, everyone still turns out okay!)
If you’ve not read it, it’s worth picking up, especially if you’re looking for a book that’s got some “summer time is coming to a close” vibes. It’s mostly light-hearted and fun, but it also addresses mental health issues and people loving other people in the midst of their struggles.
I found it to be a bit reminiscent of The Sandlot, but with ghost stories and a smaller group of friends and family members … and with a bit of a heartbreaking reveal towards the end relating to Uncle Cal and the people that love him the best way they know how. (Don’t worry, everyone still turns out okay!)
If you’ve not read it, it’s worth picking up, especially if you’re looking for a book that’s got some “summer time is coming to a close” vibes. It’s mostly light-hearted and fun, but it also addresses mental health issues and people loving other people in the midst of their struggles.
Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Once upon a time … there was a prince and princess who fell in love. Shortly after, the princess ate a bad tomato, but a witch arrived in the nick of time and offered a deal to the prince: give up their love in exchange for the princess’s life. So he said yes.
A year and a day later, the prince and princess can no longer keep up appearances in their kingdom of Love’s Keep (because it runs on love, and without love, it just can’t sustain itself). Before they part ways for forever, the witch appears again with a new bargain: travel to a kingdom on the day of a new king and queen’s wedding and steal a potion vial from the new queen for the witch. Then, in exchange, she’ll give them what they most want.
But what DO the prince and princess most want? Will they reclaim their lost love or do they value their freedoms even more?
What I Loved:
- There were a handful of funny and quirky characters (a cloak that can talk and thinks itself a horse, a honey badger in the midst of an identity crisis, and more!).
- There was a lot of wit and humor throughout this novella and I found myself smiling and chuckling at regular intervals.
- The witch herself is the main narrator and has a handful of little asides as she tells the story. This added an extra level of humor and fun.
- It gave me old school Shelley Duval Fairy Tale Theater or even Enchanted (Disney movie) vibes, and I loved that!
What I Didn’t Love:
- As other reviewers have said before, this book is a novella, so it’s under 200 pages, but it easily could’ve been drawn out (with more little adventures and challenges for our leading couple to overcome) to become a full length novel. That said, I don’t know if I would have loved it more if it were to have been longer or not. I think it was the perfect read for me when I needed it!
Overall:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It incorporated plenty of wit and humor, quirky and silly characters, ridiculous scenarios, and characters the reader could root for. I highly recommend this read for high school readers and above (and I think adults would especially appreciate it!). I think younger YAs or junior high schoolers might not quite be able to follow the story as well or fully get the humor, but maybe some could? It was definitely a fun read, though, and with the right audience, I think it would really land!
A year and a day later, the prince and princess can no longer keep up appearances in their kingdom of Love’s Keep (because it runs on love, and without love, it just can’t sustain itself). Before they part ways for forever, the witch appears again with a new bargain: travel to a kingdom on the day of a new king and queen’s wedding and steal a potion vial from the new queen for the witch. Then, in exchange, she’ll give them what they most want.
But what DO the prince and princess most want? Will they reclaim their lost love or do they value their freedoms even more?
What I Loved:
- There were a handful of funny and quirky characters (a cloak that can talk and thinks itself a horse, a honey badger in the midst of an identity crisis, and more!).
- There was a lot of wit and humor throughout this novella and I found myself smiling and chuckling at regular intervals.
- The witch herself is the main narrator and has a handful of little asides as she tells the story. This added an extra level of humor and fun.
- It gave me old school Shelley Duval Fairy Tale Theater or even Enchanted (Disney movie) vibes, and I loved that!
What I Didn’t Love:
- As other reviewers have said before, this book is a novella, so it’s under 200 pages, but it easily could’ve been drawn out (with more little adventures and challenges for our leading couple to overcome) to become a full length novel. That said, I don’t know if I would have loved it more if it were to have been longer or not. I think it was the perfect read for me when I needed it!
Overall:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It incorporated plenty of wit and humor, quirky and silly characters, ridiculous scenarios, and characters the reader could root for. I highly recommend this read for high school readers and above (and I think adults would especially appreciate it!). I think younger YAs or junior high schoolers might not quite be able to follow the story as well or fully get the humor, but maybe some could? It was definitely a fun read, though, and with the right audience, I think it would really land!
Hunting by Stars by Cherie Dimaline
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Cherie Dimaline really didn’t hold back with this sequel to The Marrow Thieves, available October 18, 2021! I had some mixed feelings as I read this because I read it as both an adult reader as well as a junior high (7th-8th) librarian; reading this served two purposes: one, for my own personal desire to read the sequel, and two, to decide whether or not the sequel would be perfectly fine to add to our library’s collection. But before I go into all my thoughts, a quick summary!
Hunting by Stars picks up a little bit after the events of The Marrow Thieves. French has been captured and is being held in a residential school. Meanwhile, his band of friends take charge in the search and a few even decide to implement a plan to find him and bring him back. While the events of the first book were tough, the challenges presented to the main characters are even tougher this time around, and not all will come out of it unscathed.
What I Loved:
- There were many back and forth chapters between characters and groups of people, which I tend to love as a reader (but also admit can be difficult to follow as a junior higher). Some of these chapters were set aside specifically for a character to share their story of how they arrived where they did, and I appreciated having that extra new background information about characters I remembered from the first book.
- I love how personal this story was in how it incorporates Cree language and culture. (The author’s note was especially wonderful seeing all that went into the story. I really appreciated how she encouraged readers to talk to teachers and do research on other nations and histories, especially in regards to residential schools in Canada and the US.)
- There are some really obvious parallels between the events of the story and the recent events of mass graves being found a residential schools. I found it incredibly timely that the story touched on this information in its own way.
- There were a few parts that were almost reminiscent of Stephen King’s “The Institute” which was interesting to me.
What I Didn’t Love:
- This sequel really upped the ante on profanity usage to the point that it was even a bit distracting. As a junior high librarian, I just can’t justify putting a book in the library that had so much (and a significantly large variety!), and this really breaks my heart because the first one was so impactful and I wanted desperately to be able to house the continuation of the story. As a reader, I didn’t mind it but it was distracting at times and took away from the enjoyment of falling into the story.
- The back and forth between characters and groups was initially confusing (to get your bearings) and I could see junior high kids struggling to stay oriented.
- I wish there had been a little bit more of an explanation of how this world really worked and how everyone got there. (More details on the past world.)
- There were some content moments that were really tough and I was not expecting, and while these sort of ended up okay (ish?) in most cases (and entirely fine in others), again, some of it was just more than I could justify putting in our library. As an adult reading the book, some of it was rough but still made for a great read.
Overall:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book as a general reader but have some reservations as a junior high librarian. This is definitely more Young Adult than the first book and I would be cautious when considering putting it in a library for 7th-8th graders or below. This might be fine for upper level high schoolers or more mature YA readers that could handle some of the tougher content and profanity. I definitely do recommend this to adults and young adults who read the first book, enjoyed it, and want to know where the story went.
Content Warnings:
- Significant amounts of profanity
- Loss of family members and friends (grief, coping)
- Death of relatives and friends
- Some violence
- Abuse (medically, physically)
- Near death of a child (smothering)
- Cult content (dominant male, predatory behavior, abuse of women)
- Culture and identity theft of Indigenous individuals (and associated trauma)
Thank you to Netgalley and ABRAMS Kids for an e-ARC of this book!
Hunting by Stars picks up a little bit after the events of The Marrow Thieves. French has been captured and is being held in a residential school. Meanwhile, his band of friends take charge in the search and a few even decide to implement a plan to find him and bring him back. While the events of the first book were tough, the challenges presented to the main characters are even tougher this time around, and not all will come out of it unscathed.
What I Loved:
- There were many back and forth chapters between characters and groups of people, which I tend to love as a reader (but also admit can be difficult to follow as a junior higher). Some of these chapters were set aside specifically for a character to share their story of how they arrived where they did, and I appreciated having that extra new background information about characters I remembered from the first book.
- I love how personal this story was in how it incorporates Cree language and culture. (The author’s note was especially wonderful seeing all that went into the story. I really appreciated how she encouraged readers to talk to teachers and do research on other nations and histories, especially in regards to residential schools in Canada and the US.)
- There are some really obvious parallels between the events of the story and the recent events of mass graves being found a residential schools. I found it incredibly timely that the story touched on this information in its own way.
- There were a few parts that were almost reminiscent of Stephen King’s “The Institute” which was interesting to me.
What I Didn’t Love:
- This sequel really upped the ante on profanity usage to the point that it was even a bit distracting. As a junior high librarian, I just can’t justify putting a book in the library that had so much (and a significantly large variety!), and this really breaks my heart because the first one was so impactful and I wanted desperately to be able to house the continuation of the story. As a reader, I didn’t mind it but it was distracting at times and took away from the enjoyment of falling into the story.
- The back and forth between characters and groups was initially confusing (to get your bearings) and I could see junior high kids struggling to stay oriented.
- I wish there had been a little bit more of an explanation of how this world really worked and how everyone got there. (More details on the past world.)
- There were some content moments that were really tough and I was not expecting, and while these sort of ended up okay (ish?) in most cases (and entirely fine in others), again, some of it was just more than I could justify putting in our library. As an adult reading the book, some of it was rough but still made for a great read.
Overall:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book as a general reader but have some reservations as a junior high librarian. This is definitely more Young Adult than the first book and I would be cautious when considering putting it in a library for 7th-8th graders or below. This might be fine for upper level high schoolers or more mature YA readers that could handle some of the tougher content and profanity. I definitely do recommend this to adults and young adults who read the first book, enjoyed it, and want to know where the story went.
Content Warnings:
- Significant amounts of profanity
- Loss of family members and friends (grief, coping)
- Death of relatives and friends
- Some violence
- Abuse (medically, physically)
- Near death of a child (smothering)
- Cult content (dominant male, predatory behavior, abuse of women)
- Culture and identity theft of Indigenous individuals (and associated trauma)
Thank you to Netgalley and ABRAMS Kids for an e-ARC of this book!
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another book from Victoria Schwab for readers of all (or at least most) ages!
Olivia Prior is all alone and living most of her life (from what she can remember) at Merilance School for Girls. Her only company is a journal of her mother’s filled with thoughts that don’t quite make much sense but that still bring comfort to her in the midst of a lonely life without much love or feelings of belonging.
One day, unexpectedly, a letter arrives from a supposed uncle asking Olivia to come home to Gallant, where she has a family who loves her and people waiting to welcome her back. But upon arrival, Olivia feels less than welcomed and over time begins to discover that there’s a lot more to Gallant than meets the eye and more to her mother’s journal than she initially realized.
Something sits and waits behind a gate on Gallant’s grounds, and it is hungry. What will Olivia discover beyond, and can she muster the courage to save the something (and someones) that she’s only just found, or will she be too late?
What I Loved:
- This has Victoria Schwab’s writing style all over it. The phrases she strings together to describe feelings and sometimes small, but momentous and meaningful events … chef’s kiss. No one writes like she does.
- I loved the gloomy atmosphere, but it wasn’t too stifling and it didn’t overwhelm, it just was. While the story wasn’t super crystal clear on a historic timeline, it felt very Victorian era but I imagine it might’ve been a bit more recent than that (early ish 1900s?). It almost gave me “A Little Princess” vibes in regards to atmosphere and setting.
- There were so many fun elements to the house, Gallant, that I loved, like secret passageways and hidden doors leading to other places. It was easy to get wrapped up in the adventure of exploring spaces.
- I loved the story of Olivia’s parents that is slowly revealed.
- The premise was really interesting and had scenes that were slightly reminiscent of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell as well as Shades of Magic.
- I loved the “friendly ghost” aspect that was really key to the story and their abilities to interact with Olivia in the way they did.
What I Didn’t Love:
- While this book did end on a positive note, there were plenty of little moments of sadness (though they were all part of the story and well done and necessary, etc., etc.)
- Aside from that, I only wish that there had been more.
Overall:
I really loved this book. There was something about it that was soothing to fall into. I always picked it up at night before bed and felt like I was reading myself to sleep with a good middle grade novel. There were some fantasy, horror, and sort of paranormal elements to this story, but it wasn’t too creepy, though for much younger readers there might be a character or few that an active imagination could run away with. I think it’d be a great read for middle graders and up. (And yes, definitely adults!)
Content Warnings:
- Loss of family members (grief, coping)
- Death of a relative
- A tinge bit of violence but nothing wild
Other Notes:
- Free of language
- No mature content
- Potentially a character or two that might be deemed a bit scary for younger readers
Thank you to Netgalley and Greenwillow Books / HarperCollins for an e-ARC of this book!
Olivia Prior is all alone and living most of her life (from what she can remember) at Merilance School for Girls. Her only company is a journal of her mother’s filled with thoughts that don’t quite make much sense but that still bring comfort to her in the midst of a lonely life without much love or feelings of belonging.
One day, unexpectedly, a letter arrives from a supposed uncle asking Olivia to come home to Gallant, where she has a family who loves her and people waiting to welcome her back. But upon arrival, Olivia feels less than welcomed and over time begins to discover that there’s a lot more to Gallant than meets the eye and more to her mother’s journal than she initially realized.
Something sits and waits behind a gate on Gallant’s grounds, and it is hungry. What will Olivia discover beyond, and can she muster the courage to save the something (and someones) that she’s only just found, or will she be too late?
What I Loved:
- This has Victoria Schwab’s writing style all over it. The phrases she strings together to describe feelings and sometimes small, but momentous and meaningful events … chef’s kiss. No one writes like she does.
- I loved the gloomy atmosphere, but it wasn’t too stifling and it didn’t overwhelm, it just was. While the story wasn’t super crystal clear on a historic timeline, it felt very Victorian era but I imagine it might’ve been a bit more recent than that (early ish 1900s?). It almost gave me “A Little Princess” vibes in regards to atmosphere and setting.
- There were so many fun elements to the house, Gallant, that I loved, like secret passageways and hidden doors leading to other places. It was easy to get wrapped up in the adventure of exploring spaces.
- I loved the story of Olivia’s parents that is slowly revealed.
- The premise was really interesting and had scenes that were slightly reminiscent of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell as well as Shades of Magic.
- I loved the “friendly ghost” aspect that was really key to the story and their abilities to interact with Olivia in the way they did.
What I Didn’t Love:
- While this book did end on a positive note, there were plenty of little moments of sadness (though they were all part of the story and well done and necessary, etc., etc.)
- Aside from that, I only wish that there had been more.
Overall:
I really loved this book. There was something about it that was soothing to fall into. I always picked it up at night before bed and felt like I was reading myself to sleep with a good middle grade novel. There were some fantasy, horror, and sort of paranormal elements to this story, but it wasn’t too creepy, though for much younger readers there might be a character or few that an active imagination could run away with. I think it’d be a great read for middle graders and up. (And yes, definitely adults!)
Content Warnings:
- Loss of family members (grief, coping)
- Death of a relative
- A tinge bit of violence but nothing wild
Other Notes:
- Free of language
- No mature content
- Potentially a character or two that might be deemed a bit scary for younger readers
Thank you to Netgalley and Greenwillow Books / HarperCollins for an e-ARC of this book!
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I haven’t read (or in this case listened to) a nonfiction book this compelling in a long time. It was incredibly reminiscent of Into Thin Air in regards to the journalistic writing style that the author employed. I really enjoyed this one and plan on doing a little bit of a deep dive to learn more (i.e. find interviews, watch the movie, etc.). So highly recommend!
The Withches by Roald Dahl
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0