This was an amusing story of a Jewish kid in the 1970s who is hoping for a Hanukkah miracle. It was cute and a little heartbreaking, but happy in the This was an amusing story of a Jewish kid in the 1970s who is hoping for a Hanukkah miracle. It was cute and a little heartbreaking, but happy in the end....more
Not my first Gratz book, but my first of his new forays into historical fiction. Maybe should have started with a different one, or at least not the aNot my first Gratz book, but my first of his new forays into historical fiction. Maybe should have started with a different one, or at least not the audio version of this. There were far too many characters to keep up with in the audiobook, particularly as some characters are introduced and then not revisited for a looooooooong time. It's still a decent read, and definitely has a lot of appeal for kids....more
Though it's been a long time since I read the first one, I definitely didn't enjoy this as much as that.Though it's been a long time since I read the first one, I definitely didn't enjoy this as much as that....more
Having read and enjoyed Lai's previous novels, I was excited to see her release a YA novel. I downloaded the audio for a road trip and that was definiHaving read and enjoyed Lai's previous novels, I was excited to see her release a YA novel. I downloaded the audio for a road trip and that was definitely the right choice. A surprising amount of this book relies on language and grammar and I think a lot of it would have been lost on me if I had been reading the print rather than listening to it. I very much enjoyed this. It's beautiful and hopeful....more
Bit of an abrupt ending with some loose ends that I'd like to see tied up.Bit of an abrupt ending with some loose ends that I'd like to see tied up....more
Hoo boy, this is a tough read. I didn't know much about this particular bit of world history, and I imagine a lot of children don't either, so this boHoo boy, this is a tough read. I didn't know much about this particular bit of world history, and I imagine a lot of children don't either, so this book will be educational. The story is sad and gripping - you want to see the girls survive and succeed. The verse makes it a quicker read, but because the topics are so heavy, it doesn't read as quickly as other verse novels have....more
Yay I'm done with this. It's just pedestrian and there are a lot of things I just didn't buy.Yay I'm done with this. It's just pedestrian and there are a lot of things I just didn't buy....more
Okay, here is an example of why you shouldn't be like me and just quit books if they're not working. This book isn't, like, offensive (actually, I takOkay, here is an example of why you shouldn't be like me and just quit books if they're not working. This book isn't, like, offensive (actually, I take that back - it might be and I just don't know) and it's not TERRIBLE. But it's also very much not good. Particularly in this volume. Every man who meets Jayden falls in love with her? Really? And she goes off alone knowing that people are trying to kill her? Many parts of this just made me shake my head, but there's only one volume left (and they're relatively quick reads), so I'll finish it out....more
I had started reading this forever ago (like, before it was published) and am trying to finish up things I started once upon a time. It wasn't hard toI had started reading this forever ago (like, before it was published) and am trying to finish up things I started once upon a time. It wasn't hard to catch up to where I'd been in the story, but it's not particularly compelling. Some aspects of it also felt a bit ridiculous and overwrought. I've got the next checked out as well, so we'll see....more
I had heard a lot of good things about this book and so was pleased to receive an ARC. I've finally finished it and unfortunately, I just didn't enjoyI had heard a lot of good things about this book and so was pleased to receive an ARC. I've finally finished it and unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy this book. It is extremely slow paced and felt jumbled and unclear to me. Ebony-Grace is a very unique character and it's never made clear if she is on the spectrum or has some other sort of issue. I also didn't like that the situation with her grandfather was left unclear not only to Ebony-Grace but also to the reader. I think this also has a limited appeal for children - its 1980s historical setting, the muddled narration, and the slow pace all seem like things that would work against a young reader's enjoyment of this....more
Picking this series back up after a looooooooooong break. The reader on the audio is excellent, but I lost the thread a few times while listening. MosPicking this series back up after a looooooooooong break. The reader on the audio is excellent, but I lost the thread a few times while listening. Most likely my own fault. I'll try the next on audio as well and see how it goes....more
This series is just lovely. I'm captivated by the time period and place captured here (albeit in a more fantastical way that it actually was). I absolThis series is just lovely. I'm captivated by the time period and place captured here (albeit in a more fantastical way that it actually was). I absolutely adore the characters and I love the way the story is told - it propels the novel along nicely. Very much looking forward to reading more by Arden....more
So, I was really excited to read this because I had read a short story set in the same world as the novel. And when I started it, I really enjoyed it.So, I was really excited to read this because I had read a short story set in the same world as the novel. And when I started it, I really enjoyed it. However, during the middle part of the book, I was not in the right frame of mind for listening and completely lost focus. I also stopped listening for a long time - maybe a week or so. When I finished it up, my focus was better and I did enjoy it, so I think I would have liked this a lot if I'd been able to focus better. I'll definitely pick up the sequel but I'll try to wait until I'm in the right frame of mind for it....more
The plot description of this book seemed tailor-made for me, so I was very excited when my coworker selected it as a book suggestion in our reader's aThe plot description of this book seemed tailor-made for me, so I was very excited when my coworker selected it as a book suggestion in our reader's advisory exercise. It is a bit long for the story and dragged a bit in places, but I loved going back and forth between the two stories and seeing how these queer women would rise above the situations they were given....more
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