sierranorgan's reviews
159 reviews

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, Ronald Himler

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

I will be reading this book with my 6th grade ELA class soon. 

I know it’s a middle grade read, but it seems too simple. I also saw from other reviews that the story isn’t 100% accurate based on Sadako’s history. So I will be making sure we research and learn of the real history behind Sadako in my class! I did enjoy the story, but I think that it could have been flushed out and not rushed as much as it was. And I would have liked to read more about what happened after she passed away rather than the small blurb in the epilogue. 
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

God I love the Brown sisters! I am PRAYIN to whatever is out there that Hibbert will write more for these characters because they are my favorite! They are so spunky, outspoken and they know what they want and go for it! I love how each character brings something that the last didn’t, but common threads bring them all together. I just love this series 💙
The Line Tender by Kate Allen

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
I may try to pick this back up at some point, but I just cannot get into it currently. 
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I finished with just a few hours to spare on my audio book loan! 
It took me awhile to get into this book, I think the hype surrounding it made me feel it was kinda lack luster at first. I wasn’t super fond of the narrator for a good majority of the book, and if he said “oh dear” or almost fainted one more time I was gonna lose my shit. But the other characters in this book SAVED IT. The kids at the center of this novel just made my heart so happy and filled me with joy. I don’t think I would’ve finished it if it weren’t for them. 
Overall a good book, but I don’t think it lived up to the hype given to it. 
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

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dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

This book broke my soul. I haven’t felt this much pain from a book in awhile. This was my VRC book #3.
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The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
I’ve been trying to read this one for awhile and I’m finding that I can’t get into it really at all. Usually I’m so excited to end my day with what I’m reading and I’m finding I’m not excited to pick this one up so I’m finally giving up on it. 
Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

5.0

This book was absolutely devastating. Knowing from the beginning at least one thing wasn’t going to end well (the Challenger launch) was hard enough as it is. But then watching Nova struggle through this book, and then her realization at the end was really tough. Literally crying as I was driving to work listening to this this morning! Highly recommend this one! 

This was my second book for the VRC challenge at my job! 
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Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

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emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Read this for the VRC this year!

This was a beautiful book! I listened to it on audio and I really enjoyed the reader. I loved how we got to see the cultural shift from moving from Syria to Cincinnati, and how they come to find home there. And I learned more about the cultural meanings behind certain traditions were so that was awesome too! 
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Yearbook by Seth Rogen

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.5

I really enjoyed listening to this on audio! Seth read the book and then when there were flashback scenes or moments with other people there were other voice actors! 
I loved the vibe of the book, and all the funny stories in it. Made me love him even more than I already did. 
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Wild Justice by Kelley Armstrong

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adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I’m so sad that I’m finished with this series! I really enjoyed the books but I’m also running out of Armstrong books to read so that’s a whole other bummer in itself haha 
These books are entertaining and easy to read. It’s the perfect breather between books! 
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