Book Review - The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher is about a young woman who tries to overcome a childhood tragedy by finding her own voice. In the spring of 1911, Lucy Wilson traveled to Rowan County to help her second cousin Cora Wilson Stewart, the superintendent of education for the entire county. Lucy hopes that the change of scenery will help her quell the hurt of losing her sister. When Lucy was young, her father tasked her to watch over her younger sister, Charlotte. Lucy was nose deep in her book before she realized Charlotte was missing. She has been haunted and filled with guilt since her sister’s disappearance years ago.

Cora sends Lucy to the hills to act as a scribe for the mountain people. Lucy is disgusted by their living conditions and norms. She feels that they are uncivilized with their behavior. She is heartbroken when she realizes that only a few of the mountain people can read and write.

 

Lucy’s father was born in the hills and is familiar with the illiteracy that plagues the people. As Lucy tries to figure out the hills, she crosses paths with Brother Wyatt. He was also born in the hills and is a singing teacher who travels through the hills to share and spread the gospels.  As Lucy spends more time with Cora and Brother Wyatt, she finds herself becoming attached and caring for the community. 

 

After seeing the community being taken advantage of by a local lumber company and political leaders, the trio decided they needed to do something to help. They decide to create an after school program for adults to help them learn basic writing and reading skills. They believe it is the best way to help the community rise out of poverty. 

 

They face opposition from a local company and leaders. The local leaders want to keep the community under their control through ignorance.  Lucy wonders if their idea will survive or if anyone will show up to the program. Lucy needs to find her confidence and voice to fight for their cause if she wants the school to have a chance. Will Lucy be able to find her purpose in life?

 

The book is inspired by events and the life of Cora Wilson Stewart. I liked reading how the team was making strides to improve the lives of the illiterate and impoverished citizens. There were a few times when the author mentioned the sadness and isolation a person can feel by not being able to write or read. It was heartwarming seeing how learning made the students feel empowered and independent. It made me appreciate how much freedom and joy reading can bring to someone.

 

I enjoyed seeing Lucy grow as a person. She went from someone who was sheltered and afraid to an outspoken woman. I loved when she found her voice to speak about literacy programs that benefited others and she was willing to put aside her own biases and discomfort to help. 

 

I was surprised to learn that Cora Wilson Stewart was a real person. I like that the author included notes on which elements were true in the story. I loved that Cora believed in helping others become literate even if she had to fight every single step of the way. 

 

The book was a bit slow in the beginning. It was only towards the middle before the idea for a midnight school came into fruition. The earlier parts of the book was about Lucy understanding and bonding with the community along with seeing the need for the literacy program. If you love historical fiction with a bit of romance and strong female leads, then you will enjoy this book!

Book Review - The Legacies by Jessica Goodman

 

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman is about a group of young socialites who pine to join an exclusive social club. People who have membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City know that it is more than just an honor to be a member. Being a member gives you unfettered access to power and wealth beyond what they can get from attending a prestigious prep school. They are also guaranteed safety and security because members always look out for each other.

For high school seniors to be invited into the club, they will need to be nominated by a committee member and then make it through a week of events and the lavish Legacy Ball at the end. It is not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Skyler Hawkins, and Isobel Rothcroft are nominated into the club. Their families are well connected to each other and the club. The club is not only their safe haven but it also protects the families and their secrets and reputations. 

 

However, things become interesting when Tori Tasso is nominated. She is nothing like other nominees. She received a scholarship to the school and she lives in Queens unlike most of the other students who come from a wealthy background. Everyone is surprised when she is nominated because her family doesn’t have any affiliation in the  club.

 

Tori has a hard time fitting in with her other classmates. Unlike her, they never had to work hard to ensure food was on the table. They have their names on buildings, while doing nothing noteworthy to deserve it, and spend more money on material things than Tori could ever hope to have.

 

As the night of the Legacy Ball approaches, even Tori is wrapped up in the festive atmosphere she knows her connection to the Legacy Cub is her and her family’s ticket out of poverty. However, a betrayal occurs that changes the lives of everyone involved. The night was supposed to be the best night of their lives until one of them ends up dead. Who ends up dead? And why?

 

The novel is told from three alternating points of views: Bernie, Tori, and Isobel. Early on in the book, we learn that Bernie is Queen Bee at the school but she suffers from self confidence issues. She is afraid that people are only her friends because of her status and not because of who she really is. Her best friend, Isobel, seems to have a secret that she is keeping with Bernie’s boyfriend, Skyler. Isobel is afraid of telling Bernie because she feels that it will alter their friendship forever. As we try to piece together what causes the two women to drift apart, we learn about other secrets that could have led to the death on that fateful night. 

 

While I enjoyed reading how their friendship fractured and their journey through initiation went, I didn’t connect with any of the characters. The characters felt bland and stereotypical. I wish we got a glimpse into Bernie’s mother’s past and her motivation between disappearing and where she went. Bernie’s mother was an interesting character but we barely got to know her origins.

 

The book goes back and forth between the past and the present when the murder occurred. I believe it was to keep the reader guessing on who died and the events that lead up to it. However, I felt the dialogue and the story dragged on for chapters with no real progress. The book was a quick read and plot twists felt predictable and boring. I would recommend reading if you like young adult high school dramas.

Book Review - The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

 

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon is about a couple who decides to move to a rural area to live off the land. After Helen’s father passes, Helen misses him deeply and wishes for a way to connect with him. Helen and Nate planned to sell their suburban condo and leave their cushy private school teaching jobs to live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.

After searching through countless homes, the pair decide to build their dream house from scratch. They thought it was the best way to pay homage to her father who was a contractor.  He built numerous houses from the ground up. Helen remembers all the pleasant times she had with her beloved father while they were building houses together.

 

Using the inheritance Helen received, they build their house on forty four acres of rural land that is near a bog. While building, they heard rumors of the dark and violent past surrounding the property.  Helen was a former history teacher and she finds herself obsessed with the previous owner, Hattie Breckenridge. 

 

Hattie is a local legend in the area. People are not too sure of the circumstances surrounding her death a century ago but they do know that she haunts anyone who lives on her land. Helen is determined to find out what happened and believes that she has a connection with Hattie. Helen starts to collect artifacts that have a dark and violent history. She feels that these objects are imbued with special energies that can connect her with Hattie.

 

As Helen delves deeper into the story of Hattie and her descendants, she is drawn to these women who died violently at a young age. As Helen gathers the items, the house becomes a safe haven and in-between for the ghosts of the women tied to these artifacts. They connect and bond with their ancestors while Helen helps them find peace. However, when Helen collects all the pieces Hattie requests, she realizes that Hattie is asking her to do something else. Is Hattie asking Helen to save one of Helen’s last living relatives or is Hattie leading Helen to an early death? 

 

I thought the book was an interesting and thrilling read. The book alternates between Olive, a young girl who lives near Helen, and Helen’s point of view. I found both characters well developed and I like reading both of their stories. I felt that the story progressed very slowly in the beginning and towards the middle. There were portions of the story where nothing happened.

 

I enjoyed reading how Helen tries to discover the different artifacts she needs to connect with Hattie. I liked trying to figure out how the clues correlated to the different women and what the main goal of Hattie was. I felt like Helen was a relatable character. I like that she took an interest in something and followed through even though other people didn’t agree with her.

 

The book had an additional side story arc about Olive searching for her mother. Olive is the young girl who lives near Helen. She helps Helen search for clues about Hattie.  I liked reading how Olive went from accepting the story she has been told by others about her mother to actively trying to figure out the truth behind her disappearance. It was interesting seeing how the two story lines intertwined. The novel had a lot of strong women characters who made solid choices based on the information they had. I enjoyed seeing how Olive grew into her confidence to make the best choices for herself. I wouldn’t consider this a horror or spooky book but, if you like reading mysteries with a supernatural twist, then this book would be for you!

Book Review - Mindset: The Complete Series by Zack Kaplan

 

Mindset: The Complete Series by Zack Kaplan is a graphic novel about the perils of mind control. A college student is behind in his college coursework. He asks a teacher’s assistant to let him into the lab to finish an experiment. While working on the experiment, he discovers that certain sounds and lights have the ability to control people.

He decides to create an app with his friends to help people meditate and break their addiction to technology. While our protagonist’s intentions were noble, things take a turn when someone programs the app to control people maliciously.  Will the college student and his friends be able to figure out who is behind the override before it’s too late?

I like reading graphic novels but this was my first time reading one from this genre. The artwork was nicely done and had a bit of a mystery. I usually like graphic novels with a bit more humor to them. It took a bit of time before I got invested in the story. If you like mind-bending, sci-fi thrillers, you might enjoy this graphic novel more than I did.

Book Review - End After End by David Brian Andry

 

End After End by David Brian Andry is the beginning of a new series about a man who died and is coming to terms about his new existence. Walter Willem’s death was fast and unexpected. He was taking a picture and inadvertently stepped off the ledge onto the path of an oncoming train.

He ends up in a place that is in between life and death. In this in-between place, there is an endless war against a dark force that intends to consume all of existence. His choices are to continue on fighting or leave the realm by dying. Will Walt be able to find his purpose in the in-between place or will he succumb to eternal death?

The graphic novel was an interesting read. It didn’t have much humor. The book didn’t delve too much into the characters’ background and the purpose of the war. I felt that I had a lot more questions on what the story was going to be about then I had answers at the end. They hinted at some of Walt’s background but it didn’t offer any answers on why he ended up there other than he is dead, i.e why didn’t he go to “heaven” or “hell”?  In the reality of this novel, do these places even exist for a soul to move on to? I am interested in finding out some of the answers but I hope the second volume offers more information about this new mysterious world and our protagonist.

Book Review - Bizard the Bear Wizard by Chrissie Krebs + Giveaway

 

  

Bizard the Bear Wizard by Chrissie Krebs is about a bear who is given magical powers. Bear was just an average bear who enjoyed sleeping and eating. He was content with his quiet life.  Everything changes when a tornado sweeps through the land.

The tornado took the wand from a neighboring powerful but eccentric wizard who is casting a spell, and lodges it into Bear’s head. Now he looks like a bear with a unicorn horn on his head. Bear isn’t excited, especially since the wand seems stuck. 

Bear and his friends realize that he is able to grant wishes because of his new appendage. When other animals find out, they travel to Bear to grant his wishes. He is overwhelmed and doesn’t want to cast any more wishes. So, when an evil wolf (unbeknownst to Bear) asks for his own wand, Bear is all too excited to get rid of the responsibility. Will Bear be able to see through Wolf’s wish in time and save the animals from harm?

The graphic novel was a fun and quick read. It was filled with humor and witty jokes. I didn’t care for the drawing style as it looked a bit silly. However, a young audience might not care about the drawing style as much as the story. The graphic novel teaches young readers that sometimes a situation can work out in their favor even if it's something they didn’t want. I would be open to reading more of Bizard’s adventures or graphic novels by the author.

 **Disclosure - I received a free unedited version of this book in exchange for an honest opinion** 

   

 

About The Book:

Title: BIZARD THE BEAR WIZARD

Author: Chrissie Krebs

Pub. Date: June 20, 2023

Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 160

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/BIZARD

An ordinary bear gains extraordinary magical powers in this hilarious early graphic novel reader.

Bear was just an average bear, until the day a tornado lodged an out-of-control wizard’s wand in his head. Now he looks a bit like a cross between a bear and a unicorn. He is none too pleased, but it seems he might be stuck with the wand for the foreseeable future.  

Even worse, he now has the ability to grant wishes—something he wants no part of. He’d much rather spend his days dozing away. His friends give him a new name—Bizard the Bear Wizard—and he reluctantly accepts his new magical powers and starts granting wishes to everyone in the forest.

But when the evil wolf and his bad guys threaten them all, Bizard knows it’s time to embrace his magical destiny. Only he and his newly wanded head can save the day now. Along the way, Bizard’s friends, Fox, Owl, and Squirrel, all bring their own brand of kooky support to his antics as he uses . . . and accidently misuses, his powers.

From the talented author-illustrator Chrissie Krebs comes the first of two hilarious younger graphic novels about Bizard and his friends.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

 

About Chrissie Krebs:

Chrissie Krebs has illustrated several picture books, including Pig in a Wig, A Dinosaur Ate Dad's Hair, and There's Something Weird in Santa's Beard. She also illustrated Rodney Loses It by Gerard Bauer, which was named a CBCA Children’s Book of the Year for Early Childhood. She lives in Australia. Visit her at chrissiekrebs.net. 

 

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of BIZARD THE BEAR WIZARD, US Only.

Ends June 27th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/12/2023	The Chirpy Bookaholic	Excerpt/IG Post
6/12/2023	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
6/13/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
6/13/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
6/14/2023	onemused	IG Post
6/14/2023	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
6/15/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
6/15/2023	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
6/16/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
6/16/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

6/19/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
6/19/2023	@get.outside.and.read	IG Review
6/20/2023	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
6/20/2023	FUONLYKNEW	Review
6/21/2023	Two Points of Interest	Review
6/21/2023	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
6/22/2023	Nerdophiles	Review
6/22/2023	Jeff_of_allmedia	IG Review
6/23/2023	@evergirl200	IG Review
6/23/2023	Little Red Reads	Review/IG Post

Book Spotlight - The Girl Who Lost a Leopard by Nizrana Farook + Giveaway

About the Book:

Title: THE GIRL WHO LOST A LEOPARD

Author: Nizrana Farook

Pub. Date: May 9, 2023

Publisher: Peachtree

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 224

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-GIRL-WHO-LOST-A-LEOPARD

From the author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant comes another thrilling escapade set in fictional Sri Lanka.

Selvi is a free spirit who loves climbing in the beautiful mountains behind her home. There, she befriended Lokka, a leopard with a beautiful coat and huge golden eyes. Together, they roam the wilderness as they please.

But when hunters come with bows and arrows, Selvi knows she must stop them before they hurt Lokka. But what can she do against such powerful enemies, especially when the friends and family she turns to for help are not all they seem to be? To rescue her leopard friend, first Selvi must outwit the poachers and expose the mastermind behind it all.  

With breezy chapters and lush, atmospheric settings, this action-adventure is a superb pick for young readers who enjoy stories with peril, friendship, and close encounters with the natural wild.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

 

Grab the first 2 books in the series now!

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

The Boy Who Met a Whale

 

 

About Nizrana Farook:

Nizrana Farook was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the beautiful landscapes of her home country find their way into the stories she writes. She has a master's degree in writing for young people, and lives in Hertfordshire, England with her husband and two daughters.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE GIRL WHO LOST A LEOPARD, US Only.

Ends June 20^th, midnight EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/5/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee	Excerpt/IG Post
6/5/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
6/6/2023	The Chirpy Bookaholic	Excerpt/IG Post
6/6/2023	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
6/7/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
6/7/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
6/8/2023	@jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Review/TikTok Post
6/8/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
6/9/2023	Ariandher.books	IG Review
6/9/2023	@get.outside.and.read	IG Review

Week Two:

6/12/2023	@evergirl200	IG Review
6/12/2023	Lifestyle of Me	Review
6/13/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
6/13/2023	Little Red Reads	Review/IG Post
6/14/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
6/14/2023	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
6/15/2023	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
6/15/2023	Two Points of Interest	Review
6/16/2023	@thrillersandhistoricalfiction	IG Review
6/16/2023	Nerdophiles	Review