kathyellendavis's reviews
74 reviews

All About Us by Tom Ellen

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I read this last Christmas and I didn't really connect with the characters or the story that much. I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't read it again. I'm glad the main character got things figured out but it didn't feel very much like a holiday novel. That said, it was well-written, it just wasn't for me, which is fine.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A sleeping beauty retelling featuring beauties from multiple universes? Yes please! I really liked how the main character was a good balance between hopeful and realistic. I wish it were a bit longer! The witch's backstory was awesome. I also really liked how friendship was at the center of this, not romantic love. 

Perspectives by Dav Pilkey

adventurous informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

I love this series! It's really fun to read all the comics the frogs in the class create, and you get to learn right along with them. In this one everyone learns drawing techniques to help with perspective, but to also understand someone they may have fought with before. A fun read that will inspire readers of all ages to make their own comics, I'm sure!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-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

I really loved being in the world of this story! The characters felt so real. I really liked how it was about every day things that feel monumental to our main characters (because that's how life goes, doesn't it?) I was cheering for Luc and Oliver from the start, not only to have a real relationship but to also grow as their own people. Can we get a spinoff starring Luc's Mom when she was younger? I'd love that! This was an enjoyable listen. I got the book from Libro.fm's ALC program through my job as a bookseller.

City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What an adventure! I adore all of the RR presents books, but this one just grabbed me from the start and wouldn't let go. I loved Sik from the start, the mystery around Mo, and how quick the adventure started. I don't know too many middle grade protagonists who have jobs, so I loved seeing that represented. It was awesome to read about a Muslim-American family as well.

Sik is happy to help his parents in the deli, but he's jealous his brother Mo got to go back to Iraq so much. Sik's parents and Mo fled Iraq when Mo was little. Sik is grieving Mo, his big brother, his hero, who has been dead for a few years, and Sik's world gets turned on its head when an evil god attacks his family's deli, claims Sik has something he wants, and sets a plague loose in the city that infects Sik's parents first. Sik teams up with a kick butt ninja, a goddess, and some other unlikely heroes to try and save the day.

I loved the emotion that infused itself into this story. Of course every character goes on an emotional and physical journey, but I felt like this one was a bit deeper than other RR presents books I've read. I got swept up in the mythology and stories, but also in Sik's relationships with his friends and family. 

I hope there are more coming in the series! It was awesome!
I also appreciated that gay couples were presented in the book as simply existing and being commonplace (like they do/like they are) and not something strange or wrong (like sadly so many people still believe). The main characters also lament how so many people are quick to blame Muslims, or cast them in the role of the bad guy, simply because of who they are. I hope this opens kids' eyes to the injustice of that and inspires them to act to combat that as well.

We need more books with Muslim heroes for sure, and this was such a great one.

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert E. Barry

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Another classic in our house. A great rhyming tale with darling illustrations. Mr. Willowby gets a grand Christmas tree, but it's just a bit too big. No worries, his butler will just chop the top off; and pass it to the upstairs maid, who finds that it's a bit too big for her room, so she does the same. The top of the tree gets passed off and cut again from humans to animals alike until it ends up coming full circle in a sense. It's so fun and has such a classic feel to it. Adore this one!

Rory the Dinosaur Needs a Christmas Tree by Liz Climo

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

This is one of my FAVORITE Christmas books. I LOVE the illustrations. I LOVE the story. I LOVE Rory and his Dad. There are really funny moments, really emotional moments, and, let me just say the page turn where Rory sees what is sparkling outside his window is the most surprising page turn I have seen in a GOOD LONG WHILE. I love that Christmas is all about spending time with friends and family in this book too. A classic in our house for sure.

I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is such a sweet and engaging book. Light on the text, but heavy on the Christmas spirit! A little girl and her mother go around and enjoy Christmas things, while also spreading cheer and reflecting on the true meaning of the holidays. The illustrations are STUNNING. There need to be more Christmas books that center around Black familes and/or BIPOC families. We are happy to have this one in our collection.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen, Mark Teague

adventurous funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Love this series, and love this Christmas book. We get to see what the dinosaurs should not do, then what they should do. I love how it focuses mostly on doing things with family; the tree, presents, and stockings are included of course but mainly it's the family doing things together. Love the detailed illustrations as well, and the dinosaur names by the pictures and on the endpapers of the board book!

Must Be Santa by Tim Moore, Pete Whitehead

funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

5.0

This is a five star read for us because my daughter LOVES the song. Cute illustrations, and moves quickly if you sing along.