Book Review – A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman

 

A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman is about the MacBride family, whose lives are forever changed after one tragic accident.

In 1958, in a remote part of Western Australia, the MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station called Meredith Downs for generations. The station spans a million acres and is surrounded by dry, unforgiving land.

Patriarch Phil MacBride is driving with his two sons when he swerves to avoid a kangaroo. The accident leaves Phil and his eldest son dead. Matt, the youngest son, survives but is left with lasting physical and emotional scars.

Matt tries to move on from the accident and live his life as it was before. However, after another unfortunate incident results in the death of another sibling, he finds himself on a difficult moral and emotional journey, unsure of what to do. As he uncovers long-buried secrets from the past, Matt realizes he must choose between love and duty, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness.

The book was beautifully written with an interesting story, but it is a long read. At times, there were so many characters that I found myself getting confused about how they were related to one another and how they fit into the story. There were also parts that felt drawn out to the point where my eyes started to glaze over. However, I still enjoyed the book. Even though it was a bit dark, it had a few redeeming qualities.

Book Review – Nugget and Tenders's Eggcellent Adventure: A Star Chapter Book by Kaz Windness

   

Nugget and Tenders's Eggcellent Adventure by Kaz Windness is about two chicken friends trying to stop an evil scientist from taking over the world.

Tenders and Nugget discover that an evil scientist wants to take over the world. To make matters worse, their baby chick, Waffles, has been kidnapped and mind-controlled by the evil mastermind. The duo realizes that to stop the scientist, they will need help from some of the greatest minds in history. Will they be able to stop the evil doer before it’s too late?

The book is the second in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the books in order. The graphic novel was easy to follow and had some mild chicken humor. It is a quick read with short chapters that are suitable for young readers. I love the inclusion of four strong women who mostly focused on STEM fields (except, technically, Rosie the Riveter). I thought this was a fun way to introduce young readers to influential women and their contributions.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review – Bawk to the Future: A Star Chapter Book by Kaz Windness

 

  

 

Bawk to the Future: A Star Chapter Book by Kaz Windness is about two chickens, Tenders and Nugget, who try to escape a laboratory only to accidentally travel back in time.

Nugget and Tenders are being held captive in an evil laboratory, where they are accidentally fed a serum that makes them super smart. While trying to flee their captors, they accidentally get trapped in a time machine and are sent back to the time of the dinosaurs. While in the past, they must devise a way to save themselves from the dinosaurs and change the past to save their future. Will they be able to succeed?

The graphic novel is a short read with small chapters, making it great for young readers. The artwork is done in a black, white, and red color scheme. Personally, I would have preferred full-color illustrations instead. The book has some fun and humorous moments. Since this is the first book in the series, it will be interesting to see what other adventures the chickens go on. 

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review – I Need Space by Molly Harris

 

I Need Space by Molly Harris is about a rocket ship that gets overwhelmed and needs a break.

Rocco is a rocket ship who treats space as one big playground. He loves playing in the playgrounds, but he realizes that not everyone follows the rules. Rocco tries to be patient and understanding with those who break the rules, but sometimes, he can’t take it anymore. He decides to take some space and cool his jets before he explodes. He realizes that all he needs is a few minutes of peace by himself and that space has plenty of room for everyone to have fun.

The picture book is beautifully illustrated, with fun drawings that are colorful and vibrant. I liked that the story was easy to follow. I also liked that the back of the book includes suggestions for kids to use when they feel overwhelmed. These suggestions can be a good starting point for adults and little ones to talk about different stressful situations and how to cope with them.

I think the moral of the story is important for little ones. It helps show that sometimes you can’t control other people, but you can control how you respond to a situation. It also illustrates that things can sometimes feel overwhelming or stressful, and you might need to take a break to regulate your feelings. The book also shares the important message that it’s okay to need space and have boundaries. Lastly, the cute space facts are a fun added bonus that make this a lovely book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review - The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves

 

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves is about Detective Jimmy Perez, who is asked to investigate the death of his oldest friend, Archie Stout.

Detective Jimmy Perez left Shetland several years ago and has since settled into his new home in Orkney, a group of islands off the coast of Scotland. He lives there with his partner, Willow Reeve, and their children. One day, he receives a frantic call informing him that his longtime friend, Archie, has gone missing during a stormy winter night.

Jimmy catches the next ferry to the island of Westray, desperate to find his friend. Archie has spent most of his life on the island, where he worked as a farmer alongside his wife and children. When Jimmy arrives, he makes the shocking discovery that Archie has been murdered at an archaeological dig site. The apparent murder weapon is an artifact stolen from a nearby museum, leading Jimmy to believe that Archie's death was carefully planned.

As Jimmy begins his investigation, he struggles to remain objective when questioning the potential suspects. He has known Archie's family for years and finds it difficult to separate his personal feelings from the case. As the investigation deepens, Jimmy uncovers devastating rumors suggesting that Archie may not have been the man Jimmy believed him to be. With each new revelation, the case becomes more complicated, and Jimmy fears he may never uncover the truth about what happened to his friend.

I thought the book was an okay read. Although this is the first book in the series, I felt like there were character nuances and relationships that I was missing, almost as if I had started in the middle of the series. The novel also has a large cast of characters, and there were a few slow sections that made the pacing drag.

I was genuinely surprised by the identity of the culprit, even though I wish the author had included a few more subtle clues leading up to the reveal. Overall, I would still be open to reading more books by the author because I do think she is a talented writer.

 

Book Review – Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama by Maisha Oso

 

Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama by Maisha Oso is about a young girl, Venus Washington, who tries to discover her grandmother’s secret lasagna recipe.

Venus Washington isn’t sure why she is named that. She has never been to Washington and was born on Earth. The one thing she does know is that her favorite food is cotton candy, but cheesy lasagna is a close second.

Her grandmother makes the best lasagna. Her mother wants to know the recipe, but her grandmother is reluctant to share it. While having a piece of lasagna with her grandfather, he mentions that the secret ingredient might be her grandmother’s feet. Venus is beyond disgusted, and she knows she has to save her family from eating the disgusting lasagna.

The book was easy to read and follow along with. It had a few black-and-white illustrations that were fun. I will admit that, as an adult, I couldn’t get past some of Venus’s antics because all I could think about was how much work it would be to clean everything up. However, I can see younger children laughing along with her and enjoying where the story takes them. The story moves quickly, and it would be a fun read.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review – The Christmas Wish (Spotlight Sprinkles) by Lee Heart

 

 

 

 The Christmas Wish (Spotlight Sprinkles) by Lee Heart is about a young girl, Joy Rudolph, who wants to celebrate her birthday a little differently than she normally does.

Joy Rudolph loves Christmastime. She feels that no one loves it as much as she does, especially since she was born on Christmas Day. Her birthdays are always filled with holiday cheer and excitement, but this year, she hopes her secret crush, Kris Conrad, will be there.

Joy thinks Kris is the cutest boy in their class, and his birthday is on Christmas Eve. She thinks they would make the perfect pair. However, Joy is unsure if Kris likes her back and whether they will be able to spend time together during the holiday season.

The book is a cute read. It is a tame middle school romance with no twists and turns. It shows a young girl navigating a crush along with her relationships with friends and family. The book is a perfect cozy read for young readers who want a bit of holiday romance and warmth. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review – The Intergalactics by Erik Jon Slangerup

 

The Intergalactics by Erik Jon Slangerup is about a group of mutant children who crash on a distant land.

Brinx, like his friends, wasn’t born; he was created in a lab. He is one of many gene-spliced, vat-grown experiments living on Base Lab 9. He has never left the lab and spends his entire life surviving the tests his creator forces him to endure. He is patiently waiting for the day that he reaches 1,000 passes so he can be transferred to the Graduation Center. He doesn’t know what is waiting for him there because no one has ever come back from there, but he feels that it has to be better than his current life.

Brinx and his best friend, Jang, barely manage to finish their final test. Afterwards, he and the others who passed board an armored transport vessel that is going to take them to the Center. However, things go awry when the vessel is destroyed by a meteor shower, leaving Brinx and the survivors stranded. During the collision, Brinx and Jang get separated, and Brinx is desperate to find his way back to his friend. Will Brinx be able to survive and find his friend?

I found the novel to be an okay read. I thought the author could have done more explaining and worldbuilding. The slang the characters used was confusing, and some of it was explained much later. For most of the book, I had no idea if they were happy, sad, or disappointed, or even what they were saying. I also wish the author had gone into more detail about why they were creating hybrids and for what purpose.

I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, and I wished the book was a bit more humorous. However, I did enjoy reading about Brinx and his fellow hybrids working together and growing as a group. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.