NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2020 -- February

My Reading List (Books I've read, with links to reviews):

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• NetGalley Books To Be Read:

1. A Castle in the Clouds.  Kerstin Gier
2. All the Stars and Teeth.  Adalyn Grace
3. A Falling Starr.  Dani Hoots
4. Story Boat. Kyo Maclear
5. Supernova.  Marissa Meyer
6. Brightstorm.  Vashti Hardy
7. If We Were Giants. Dave Matthews, Clete Barrett Smith
8. We Wish You Luck. Caroline Zancan
9. The Every Body Book.  Rachel E. Simon
10. What I Like About Me. Jenna Guillaume
11. It Sounded Better in My Head.  Nina Kenwood
12. Back to Christmas.  Dennis Canfield
13. Justice in a Bottle.  Pete Fanning
14. Surviving the Angel of Death.  Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri
15. Forgive Yourself These Tiny Acts of Self-Destruction. Jared Singer
16. Epic Kids.  David Blaze
17. The Stars We Steal.  Alexa Donne
18. Turtle Under Ice.  Juleah del Rosario
19. Story Boat.  Kyo Maclear

NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2020 -- January

My Reading List (Books I've read, with links to reviews):

1.  Queer Heroes by Arabelle Sicardi
2. Speak Up!  by Adora Svitak
3. Stand Up!  by Wendy L. Moss
4. Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson
5. Stars Before Bedtime by Jessamy Hibberd and Claire Grace
6. Big Ideas for Young Thinkers by Jamia Wilson

My List of Books To Be Read (2020)

• NetGalley Books To Be Read:

1. A Castle in the Clouds.  Kerstin Gier
2. All the Stars and Teeth.  Adalyn Grace
3. A Falling Starr.  Dani Hoots
4. Story Boat. Kyo Maclear
5. Supernova.  Marissa Meyer
6. Brightstorm.  Vashti Hardy
7. If We Were Giants. Dave Matthews, Clete Barrett Smith
8. We Wish You Luck. Caroline Zancan
9. The Every Body Book.  Rachel E. Simon
10. What I Like About Me. Jenna Guillaume
11. It Sounded Better in My Head.  Nina Kenwood
12. Back to Christmas.  Dennis Canfield
13. Justice in a Bottle.  Pete Fanning
14. Surviving the Angel of Death.  Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri
15. Forgive Yourself These Tiny Acts of Self-Destruction. Jared Singer
16. Epic Kids.  David Blaze
17. The Stars We Steal.  Alexa Donne
18. Turtle Under Ice.  Juleah del Rosario
19. Story Boat.  Kyo Maclear

Reasons to Stay Live by Matt Haig

Another book that was checked out!  (Granted it was an audiobook.)

Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt Haig's real-life story of his struggles with depression and anxiety.  I love that he narrated the audiobook!

There is a quote that goes around social media, that basically says, "Your story could be the one that saves another. "  I may have misquoted that, but it is true.  We need to share and talk about mental health  more.  This is the only way to end the stigma.  We all may see/feel things different, but we have the human condition bringing is all together.

Matt talks about all the feelings he was feeling inside and outside his body, during his symptoms.  I personally can relate to a lot of what he was saying.  The rapid heart rate while walking to/in a store, for me is a big one, every day.

Remember, the more we talk about mental health issues, the sooner we can work on ending the stigma around it.

If you are struggling, please be sure to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:      1-800-273-TALK (8255)  or in life threatening emergency dial 911.

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

Finally a review on a book checked out from a library.

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics is the second book in the Lemoncello's Library series.

I am a huge fan of the Lemoncello books.  There is a lot of great books that are mentioned in each one, plus talks about how the library works. 

Library Olympics brings children to Mr. Lemoncello's unconventional library to see which team has more information and knowledge on books and how libraries work to win 12 games, and a prize worth thousands of dollars. 

I found this books informative to me based on past and present ideas on book banning.

Big Ideas for Young Thinkers by Jamia Wilson -- A NetGalley Review

Thank you NetGalley and Wide Eyed Editions for the electronic advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Big Ideas for Young Thinkers is broken up into several questions.  With these questions, the author describes what she has thought about the subject, and what other people in history have thought.  I find giving these examples shows how thoughts on the subject can change over the years. 
Many of the questions are important ones that each person must come to their own conclusions, even if they are different from those close to the person. 
It is important to discover who we are are as a person and make our own beliefs.  This book lays out many of those questions that will help us discover ourselves and see our world through different lenses.

4.5 out of 5

Stars Before Bedtime by Jessamy Hibberd and Claire Grace -- A NetGalley Review

Thank you NetGalley and Wide Eyed Editions for the electronic advanced copy for me to read and review.

Stars Before Bedtime has amazing artwork.  It shows the stars that make up a constellation and an image of what it is to be.  I wish the pictures would help the child to be able to look at the sky and be able to find the constellation.  More children, and even adults, should look toward the sky.

To me the best part of the book, and most relatable part of the book was the calming exercises.  I think these would be the most used part of the book by me. 

The wording of the book seems very advanced to me, and would really only be comfortable to children that are stargazers already, that want to learn more about the stars.

3 out of 5

Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson -- A NetGalley Review

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for the advanced reader copy of this book, to read and review.

Help Wanted, Must Love Books shows us a unique view of a child wanting to be read to by her parent.  What happens when there is a break-down in the bedtime routine?

This book shows what happens with Shailey.  Her love of books, but her father's new job schedule.  Shailey wants that book read, like most children, so she fires her dad and goes on to look for someone to take his place reading.  She is  not pleased with the results, as most of them are fairy tale characters, that have some problems meeting her standards.

I think it is important to have some of the higher language that is in this book, examples being: applicants, hygiene, and personal statement.  It is important that the reader (parent, babysitter, librarian, teacher) explain these words that the children may not know, to help increase their vocabulary and understanding of the world.

5 out of 5

Stand Up! Wendy L. Moss -- A NetGalley Review

Thank you to NetGalley and Magination Press for the early copy of this book to read.

Stand Up! is an important book for those in school, wanting to make a difference.  There are many examples of the work in action.  This book gives several steps on how to become an upstanding citizen and friend. 
I hope that those that end up reading this book, will follow what the book says, so they will be able to stand up for themselves, friends, classmates, neighbors, and the world.

5 out of 5

Speak Up! by Adora Svitak -- A NetGalley Review

Thank you to NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.

Speak Up! is filled with many young people, which may be relative to the youth of today.  The speeches are highly impactful, even to me, a mid-30 year old. 
I hope that the youth, or even adults, that read the book, realize how important our youth are and how they can enact change in the world.

4.5 out of 5

Queer Heroes by Arabelle Sicardi -- A NetGalley Review

Thank you NetGalley and Wide Eyed Editions (Publisher) for the opportunity to read this book.


This book, was extremely colorful and bright.  It drew in my attention, based on this fact.

I am grateful for the variety of the people that they did a short biography on, and how they fit in the LGBT+ spectrum. 

I have hope that this book will help youth to know that they are not alone in their experience, and know that they can be themselves and make great impact in world.

4.5 out of 5