Native Plants of the Midwest: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 500 Species for the Garden -- A NetGalley Review

Alan Branhagen sets his book up in a very easy look up format.  The book starts out with an Introduction and other chapters that discuss selecting, designing and a guide to the plants in the book.  The main part of the books are chapters on trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, groundcovers, bulbs, and annuals and biennials.  Each of the plant chapters and set up with an introduction on the topic, followed by an individual plant.  The individual plants are then broken down into further sections that may include: an introduction, how to grow, landscape use, ornamental attributes, related plants, and notes.

While I found this book to be interesting in the beginning, the plant chapters (the majority of the book) became a bit monotonous from being set up exactly the same.  I do, however, understand that this could help those using the book for the intended use easier access to the information.  I did love the pictures.  Who doesn't like pictures of pretty plants?  I do wish that instead of a stand alone Hardiness Zone Chart, Hardiness Zone maps were included.

Thank you Timber Press and NetGalley for the ARC to give an honest review.

Do-Gooder -- A NetGalley Review

 A coming of age LGBT novel written by J. Leigh Bailey.  Would you, or could you, do something that could get you sent to Africa for summer community service?  Isaiah Martin sure did!  Do you think you could fall in love while despising your being there?  Isaiah did! 

Isaiah helps a friend by taking the gun away, but then is found with it near school property.  Because of this, he has to join his father in Cameroon, Africa as a missionary.  Isaiah hasn't seen or heard from his father in a long time, and has some issues with it.  When arriving in Africa, he is not met by his father, but one of the others at the mission, Henry.  Just a short shot way from the mission camp, they are picked up by rogue soldiers.  Will they make it out of the camp alive?  Can they trust each other and their felling? 

I think I would put this in YA Action/Adventure before I put it in YA romance.  While there may be overtones of love/lust in the book, the main portion of it is the action/adventure for Isaiah and Henry.  This is still an amazing book!  I did not want to put it down!

Thank you Harmony Ink Press and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book to give an honest review!

The Bear Who Couldn't Sleep -- A NetGalley Review

A cute little tale of a bear unable to sleep in the forest with his parents.  He goes to the city that never sleeps.  While the book never says the actually city name, by the places he visits, you will find out. 

Growing up in Kansas, I don't think that the book would have a hold on me like if I lived in a bigger city.  I think rural area kids would have a hard time grasping the places he visits, but the message still rings true.

Thank you NorthSouth Books Inc. and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book to give an honest review.

Armstrong: The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon -- A NetGalley Review

Armstrong is a mouse that is not part of his mouse crowd.  He believes that the moon is an object made out of rock, but his town mice firmly believe that it must be made out of cheese.  Armstrong sets out to prove them wrong.  Read along as he has to make everything from scratch to make his journey.  Does he have someone watching him after an unfortunate accident?

The writing and illustrations are fantastic!  I felt like I was with the mouse making his plans and proceeding to  fulfill them.  This book would be perfect for beginning readers, and those that have a high interest in the moon landing!

Thank you NorthSouth Books Inc.  and NetGalley for the digital ARC to give an honest review.

The Buddha Journey: Questions and Answers for the Awakening Mind -- A NetGalley Review

This book talks about the core reasons that Buddhism exists.  The first part, the part I found most interesting, was about  how The Buddha himself became enlightened.  The book then talks about the 4 Noble Truths, the 8 Fold Path, and other basics of Buddhism.  The remainder of the book is Questions and Answers, chants and prayers, and an index.  The author does remind the reader to not take his answers for truth but to meditate and research them for their own understanding.  The questions  are sorted by topic.

I love learning about other religions, or in this case as many believe that Buddhism is a philosophy or way of life.  This book did an awesome job explaining the origin basics and the basics of meditation.  I did, however, find that the question and answer section to be rather repetitive.  This book would be best for those looking into adding Buddhist ways to their religion or starting the transition to Buddhism. 

The author leaves many topics to be meditated on and researched further, which even The Buddha told his followers to do.

Thank you Waldorf Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You -- A NetGalley Review

This books is from the view of Aurora Skye's view point.  We see how she feels about relationships, especially her friends, her parents, her neighbor (Hayden) and her trying to find the perfect prince.  In the process of trying to find her prince, in an effort to please her mother, she tries out for the school play.  While in one of her usual fights with Hayden, she gets the lead for "Much Ado About Nothing". She feels like she has to play matchmaker for all of her friends, making sure they are all prince material.

I found Aurora a bit whiny  at times, but I firmly believed that she was in high school.  I have heard similar things come out of high schoolers' mouths.  This book is perfect for the YA group.  I loved that it subtly told readers that you can choose who you kiss (or do more with) and who doesn't.  This is something that I am not sure this age group is really taught anymore.  But, with school and family, you don't always get what you want.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book!

Why We Have Thanksgiving -- A NetGalley Review

I love Margaret Hillert books!  "Why We Have Thanksgiving" is another hit.  With only 72 words, the book illustrates the imprisonment, travel and struggles of the pilgrims.  Stephen Marchesi does a wonderful job with the illustrations. 

As with all Margaret Hillert books, I love the Reading Reinforcement activities and word list at the end of the book.

Perfect for those learning to read and for pre-k to have a simple idea of the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Thank you Norwood House Press and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book!

Natures Temples: The Complex World of Old-Growth Forests -- A NetGalley Review

Do you know everything there is to know about trees and what they do for the environment?  Well I don't either!

This book is very detailed on everything there is to know about trees and the forests they grow in.  The author goes into great detail about how trees ages are determined, measuring height, and a chapter for each group that live in the forest (fungi, amphibians, insects, mammals, etc).

To me this book felt like a textbook turned into a personal narrative.  I had a hard time staying focused with the book, but non-fiction botany related books are usually not what I would read.  I do agree with the author that the protection of old-growth forests needs to be a top priority.  We just need to keep in mind that there is a difference in protection and maintaining/preserving.  Old-growth forests need the old to decompose to then feed the new growth, otherwise we do not have a forest!

Thank you Timber Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book!

Come to School, Dear Dragon -- A NetGalley Review

Oh, Dear Dragon!  I love Dear Dragon!  This time he goes to school with his boy.  He gets to help and spend a day at the school.  They look at books, go to recess, and a few more.

I love that the book only uses 75 words.  I think it is fantastic that Reading Reinforcement activities are included.  These activities help the child with phonics and phonemic awareness, fluency, and comprehension.

Thank you Norwood House Press and NetGalley for a free copy of the book for an honest review!

It's Circus Time, Dear Dragon -- A NetGalley Review

In this book, Dragon goes to the circus.  Instead of watching from the crowd he joins in the circus acts.  Read the book to find out what he does!

I love that there is a Reading Reinforcement section in this book.  These are ideas for parents and teachers to help improve the child's reading skills.  There is also a list of the words that are in to book to help with rapid identification.  This book is perfect for those that are just starting to read!

Thank you Norwood House Press and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book for my honest review!

Fall -- A NetGalley Review

In this book, the reader is given a simple introduction to fall; leaves changing colors, cooler temperatures, bird movements, school starting, just to name a few.  I love the fall relevant pictures with the words. 

This book is perfect for pre-k and kindergarten, or those that struggle reading, especially with the lists of high frequency and content words.  I especially love the Reading Reinforcement activities at the end of the books.

Thank you Norwood House Press and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book for an honest review.

Small Great Things -- A NetGalley Review

This book is told from the view point of 3 people, Turk (a White Supremacist), Ruth (a labor and delivery nurse, who happens to be a person of color), and Kennedy (a white public defender).  Ruth is just trying to do her job when she goes to take care of the only hours old baby of Turk and his wife Brit.  She is kicked of the case, with a post-it note from her supervisor, saying that no African-Americans can touch the child.  When the child dies, Kennedy is brought in as her defense attorney.  Kennedy says that race has no place in the courtroom.

While this books brings to light some of the privilege, racism, prejudicial and judicial issues there are in the United States today, I felt that it was over simplified and offensive.  "The vast majority of us do not come home from work today and say, Hooray!  I didn't get stopped and frisked today!"  So am I being told that if I am not being followed by store security or get stopped by the police that I am a racist.  How is following the laws/rules put forth being a racist?   Now I will admit we all have our preferences, but who doesn't.  When did preferences become racist?

I firmly believe that this book should have really been written only from 1 point of view, Ruth's.  This is Ruth's story and the treatment she received.  While I understand that the author was trying to give us a full rounded story, it really wasn't Turk's or Kennedy's story. 

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the uncorrected digital proof given to me for an honest review.

Cheating Lessons -- A NetGalley Review

What would you do if you thought someone had cheated, especially on an important test?

This book is about sixteen year old, Bernadette and her struggles when she things that someone has cheated on the test to let them go to the state level trivia challenge.  She loves her mystery novels and uses what she has learned from some of them to find out what is going on.  Was it one of her fellow students, the teacher, or even the principal that cheated on the test?  She has to find out and figure out what to do with the information that she acquires.

I personally feel that with all the academic pressures on students today, this book is very relevant to the middle school and high school age group.  Bernadette has to figure out what to do with the information that is figures out, which is an every day issue growing up.  Who do you tell, or not tell, and how do you deal with the emotions associated with what you find out.  

I received a free copy of this book from Tadmar Press and NetGalley to give an honest review.