Summer Book Review

It's been months and months since I did a book post, but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading! I've read way to many to put together a review of all of them, so here is a list of the books I read over the summer, with a few highlighted:

We've been looking forward to "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer since "Eclipse" was released. Will Bella marry Edward? Will Bella end up a vampire? I won't give anything away, but I do want to caution parents that this is not as middle school friendly as the first two books (if you can call the first two books, middle school friendly). I can't say more without spoiling the story. You will have to read it to find out!

"Here Be Monsters!" by Alan Snow was a wonderful surprise! box trolls, cabbage heads, sea cows, rabbit women, pirate rats and an young boy band together to thwart the cheese hunters. This book is fun and will delight everyone. This book would make a great read aload bedtime story. The next book in the series is called "Man in the Iron Socks." I'll be picking that one up too as soon as it hits the library.

I was prepared to like "Moloka'i" by Alan Brennert. It started off sad, and got sadder. I skipped to the end, figuring if it had a happy ending I would keep reading. The ending was sad too.... I like my books with happy endings. I guess that's why I like reading kids' books so much. I never finished reading "Moloka'i." The characters were interesting and "real." The story was well written... just be sure to have a box of tissues handy.


This is a delightful series about a young London girl, Mary. She was orphaned by the plague and taken in by a street gang. When the gang's leader is murdered, she decides to set off on her own and see the world as a boy named, Jack. The adventure starts on the high seas in "Bloody Jack," and continues in the "Curse of the Blue Tattoo." There are several more books in this series that I'll pick up and read one of these days.


Other Kids books:
This is still my favorite genre. I split the kids books I've read into kids and teens catagories.

Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce	The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech	The Stone Fey by Robin McKinley
Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon	Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson and Nicoletta Ceccoli	The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Carson Ellis
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale	Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis and Pauline Baynes	The Revenge Of The Shadow King by Derek Benz and J. S. Lewis
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones	The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle

Teen books:
These are still kids books, but may not be appropriate for young kids.

Two-way Street by Lauren Barnholdt	Austenland: A Novel by Shannon Hale	Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin Mckinley	Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley	Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Other adult books:
I took some reading time this summer to checkout some adult authors who I've heard a lot about, but have never read...

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie	Smoke in Mirrors by Jayne Ann Krentz	City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon	All Night Long by Jayne Ann Krentz	Strange Candy by Laurell K. Hamilton
Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts	The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss	Dark Possession by Christine Feehan
Taken by Storm by Tami Hoag	Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle

Vampire romance:
After finishing Breaking Dawn, I went into vampire romance withdrawl. As a result, I ended up reading all the vampire romance that I could find at the library.

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks	Vamps and the City by Kerrelyn Sparks	Be Still My Vampire Heart by Kerrelyn Sparks
The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks	Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris	Sugarplums and Scandal by Kerrelyn Sparks
Sunshine by Robin McKinley	A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole	No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole