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libscote's reviews
6325 reviews
Forever Twelve by Stacy McAnulty
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Ivy wants to go to West Archer Academy so she can get started on her life goal: finish middle and high school in two years, accelerate college and law school, and get on track to be on the Supreme Court. Meeting Abigail, her roommate, throws her off. She claims she has been 12 for 217 years. What's up with that? Middle grade readers will love trying to figure out what's happening in this book.
A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays by Tasha Tudor
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
Would love to see an updated version of this
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
I found this book very hard to read in February 2025, but it was also so good. Bird's mom disappeared a few years ago, and he's not sure why. Her words are everywhere though: they've become the mantra of resistance to PACT, a Patriot Act-like government program. Ng offers us no easy answers in the book, but it certainly provides a lot to think about in this day and age.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Over the Rainbow: The Science, Magic and Meaning of Rainbows by Rachael Davis, Wenjia Tang
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
3.0
The book is what it says on the cover: an overview of rainbows from science to myths to present day understanding of their meaning.
Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie Alonso
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This is a picture book biography of Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He faced racism all during his MLB career as an Afro-Latine man from Puerto Rico. This book concentrates on his life as a baseball player, rather than his death while flying to do humanitarian work. Gutierrz's illustrations are gorgeous and flowing, making Clemente's skills sing on the page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Rising by Sidura Ludwig
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
A look at a ritual done in Jewish families all over the world: the making of challah bread for the Shabbat.
Bea and the New Deal Horse by L.M. Elliott, L.M. Elliott
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Bea is just trying to survive during the Great Depression and keep her younger sister, Vivian, safe. When their father abandons them in a hayloft, claiming that the owner of the house will take them in because she is good-hearted, Bea can hardly believe it. Strangers take them in during hard times? Luckily, Mrs. Scott is pretty good-hearted, even if not totally trusting along the way. Other friends of Mrs. Scott, Ralph and Malachi, help ease the way, along with a rambunctious chestnut horse. This book shows the power of community and friendship in hard times. I will say as an adult reading it in 2025, I did not find it as relaxing as I had hoped, but it was still a good story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
A Maleta Full of Treasures by Natalia Sylvester
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Dulce is so excited for her abuela to arrive with maletas (suitcases) full of treasures and surprises. I enjoyed this story of a grandmother and granddaughter bonding, especially ones that live so far away from each other. Medina is a wonderful illustrator.