My Book Reviews

Category: Friendship

  • 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr

    365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr

    365 Days to Alaska

    365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr
    Release: January 19th 2021
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Amulet Books
    Source: Netgalley

    Synopsis:

    A thoughtful middle-grade debut about a girl from off-the-grid Alaska adjusting to suburban life

    Eleven-year-old Rigel Harman loves her life in off-the-grid Alaska. She hunts rabbits, takes correspondence classes through the mail, and plays dominoes with her family in their two-room cabin. She doesn’t mind not having electricity or running water—instead, she’s got tall trees, fresh streams, and endless sky.

    But then her parents divorce, and Rigel and her sisters have to move with their mom to the Connecticut suburbs to live with a grandmother they’ve never met. Rigel hates it in Connecticut. It’s noisy, and crowded, and there’s no real nature. Her only hope is a secret pact that she made with her father: If she can stick it out in Connecticut for one year, he’ll bring her back home.

    At first, surviving the year feels impossible. Middle school is nothing like the wilderness, and she doesn’t connect with anyone . . . until she befriends a crow living behind her school. And if this wild creature has made a life for itself in the suburbs, then, just maybe, Rigel can too.
    365 Days to Alaska is a wise and funny debut novel about finding beauty, hope, and connection in the world no matter where you are—even Connecticut.

    365 Days to Alaska Review:

    A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Amulet Books for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of “365 Days to Alaska” for my review.

    I loved reading this story. It is always difficult making changes to your life and adjusting to a new environment. I thought the author beautifully captured Rigel’s difficulty in the book. Also, I liked Rigel as the main character and could relate to her emotions. I also loved the bond she forms with the crow. It was wonderful to see their bond together. Moreover, I think it was wonderful the way Rigel accidentally meets her true friends even when she is not looking to make any. The author has paced the story beautifully and makes you feel heartfelt emotions as you read the story.

    The supporting characters were okay. Although the author made the characters realistic, I really didn’t like Willow or Lila or even Bear very much. They seemed to be lost in their own world were putting their own priority over their family. I know a lot of families do this, but I just felt that at least her mother or grandmother would have focused more on her. In fact, I liked her friends more than her family. Moreover, I also loved her relationship with Julie. It is indeed very sad when someone you feel is a close friend stops talking to you. I wanted to see how this progressed between Rigel and Julie and thought it was written very well. On a side note, there are a few characters like Davis who I felt was unnecessary to the plot. But apart from that, I enjoyed this book a lot!

    Overall, I think the author has a done a wonderful job for a debut novel and cannot wait to read her future books. The illustrations also compliment well to each chapter.

  • Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer by Nina Chapman

    Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer by Nina Chapman

    Micah

    Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer by Nina Chapman
    Release: April 1st 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Capstone
    Source: Netgalley

     


    Synopsis:

    With equal parts humor and heart, Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer tells the story of twelve-year-old Micah as she embarks on the summer before middle school. More than anything, Micah hopes to undergo a miracle transformation. One that will bring with it new friends, a fresh start, and boobs . . . preferably the round kind. If that happens, then maybe she can finally forget about what happened in the past. About losing her mom, about losing her best friend, and about the disaster she became in sixth grade, when everything fell apart. She and her dad have just moved away from their old neighborhood, and Micah’s childhood home, to put some space between themselves and the secret burden they both bear, one that’s already changed their lives and has the power to do even more damage.

    On her first day in her new neighborhood, Micah is greeted by the Water twins, Luke and Megan. Micah is surprised to find herself caught between their two worlds. In one world, there’s Luke and his band of neighborhood boys, who challenge Micah in feats of strength, crowning her The Big Kahuna at the local pool, and vying for her attention, even though she doesn’t quite understand why. And then there’s Megan, whose world is full of lip gloss and padded bras, where Micah dabbles in the fine art of being a girl. As Micah awkwardly navigates her way through crushes, friendship, and budding boobies, she discovers that the real transformation that needs to take place is in how she sees herself.

    Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer Review:

    A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Capstone Books for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of “Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer” for my review.

    I honestly could not put this book down! It was funny, quirky, ridiculous, charming, sweet and many more! In a nutshell, it is a very cute romantic comedy with a middle grade charm to it. Micah is a great protagonist. She is the awkward, silent, flawed yet talented. I loved her entire personality and how she always wanted to give people the benefit of the doubt. It was also interesting to see how she deals with growing up and puts herself out there through all her ups and downs before she reaches her teens. In addition, her friends, who are the supporting characters are wonderful as well. They also show what true friendship is to Micah. I loved Megan and Luke and Ryan and even Josh. He is hilarious! Of course, even the mean girls like Trish and Marissa were nicely written.

    Also, in terms of the romance, I loved how innocent the author wrote the friendship and romance of the characters. As much as I liked Micah and Luke, I also like Ryan a lot. I also liked how the author added a serious topic like depression and suicide to make the characters more real. There are some pretty heavy scenes as they cover this topic, but I thought the author covered it really well with the plot.

    I think this is the author’s debut novel and she has done a terrific job! Moreover, this is one of those books that I feel people of ANY age group would enjoy if they like these kind of charming stories. Can we have a part two to this book please? A continuation with what happens between Luke and Micah and Ryan in her teen years? I really want to read more about all of them! Overall, this book is a complete feel good entertainer!

  • Lost on the Titanic (Out of Time Book 1) by Jessica Rinker, Bethany Stancliffe

    Lost on the Titanic (Out of Time Book 1) by Jessica Rinker, Bethany Stancliffe

    Titanic

    Lost on the Titanic (Out of Time Book 1) by Jessica Rinker, Bethany Stancliffe
    Release: May 19th 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
    Source: Netgalley

     


    Synopsis:

    Allie and Vic Taylor are just regular kids who help out in their parents’ antique shop. Until one day, when they find they can travel through time! From Epic! Originals, Out of Time is a middle-grade chapter book series about time-traveling kids who explore important moments in history!

    When Allie, Vic, and their friend, Max, are mysteriously sent back in time to the Titanic, they have to find a way to save their parents’ shop, save their futures, and get off the ship before it sinks! Join them as they explore the Titanic in its prime and attempt to find their way back to the present!

    After the adventure, readers can flip to the back of the book to learn interesting facts about antique stores as well as the Titanic and its passengers!

    Lost on the Titanic Review:

    A big thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McNeel Publishing for providing an advanced reader copy of Book 1 from the Out of time series called “Lost on the Titanic”.

    This was really a fun book to read! I feel like this series has all the right elements to make it successful and can imagine the friends going on all kinds of wild adventures. Even though I would have liked to see more of the Titanic in the story, I can understand they wanted to spend a few pages to setup the characters and theme of the series. Moreover, I liked how the author doesn’t focus only on the adventure, but sets up space for character development as well. Also, some questions are left open ended that makes you want to pick up the next book and read more about who Atlas and Juniper are and what connection they have with the children. Similarly, the characters are all charming, including Luna. Vic seems a bit immature but Allie and Max were adorable.

    Furthermore, the illustrations are also breathtaking in this book. Bethany Stancliffe has done a terrific job in bringing the characters and settings to life in her colorful illustrations. Equally, each image stands out beautifully with its vibrant contrast of colors. What I also liked about the illustrations is that even the villain in the story doesn’t look too evil, and make them fun for younger readers to enjoy. Furthermore, I also enjoyed the snippets provided in the end about summary of the Titanic and Molly Brown.

    Overall, I thought this was a fun start to the series and I hope it does well in the long run!

  • Cat’s Cafe: A Comics Collection by Matt Tarpley

    Cat’s Cafe: A Comics Collection by Matt Tarpley

    Cat

    Cat’s Cafe: A Comics Collection by Matt Tarpley
    Release: May 26th 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
    Source: Netgalley

     

    Synopsis:

    Serving up more than just coffee and tea, Cat’s Café  provides its cast of adorable characters a gentle, supportive space and a hefty serving of the warm and floofies.

    Welcome to Cat’s Café, a neighborhood coffee shop where all are welcome! Based on the popular webcomic, Cat’s Café introduces readers to the adorable denizens of this world. There’s Penguin, who has a bit of a coffee problem; Rabbit, whose anxiety sometimes overwhelms him; Axolotl, whose confidence inspires his friends; the always-supportive Cat, who provides hot drinks made with love and a supportive ear for anyone’s troubles; and many, many more. With a sensitive take on real issues and a gentle, positive outlook, Cat’s Café is about the power of acceptance, friendship, and love … and delicious cups of coffee.

    Cat’s Cafe Review:

    A big thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me an advanced copy of this book for my review. I really enjoyed reading this one!

    Firstly, I have to say the main thing that stood out for me was the love and positive messages depicted in each page! Most, if not all, the panels are filled with so much love and heartwarming tales and feel good vibes.

    The illustrations are simple but very cute and pleasing. Initially I thought the stories would be boring and repetitious because the book is 160 pages and each story is just a one page humorous snippet of what happens in the coffee shop. But surprisingly, the stories are very quirky and innovative, and ranges from the different type of customers who come in for their brew to the different situations they find themselves in. The creatures themselves range outside your typical land critters to dragons, octopus, and what not.   The author also covers a wide range of topics like love, friendship, anxiety, depression and stress.

    The only thing which I felt a little odd was the order in which the author arranged the stories. Initially I thought all the panels would center on the café or be coffee themed. But some of the stories just divert to random characters and focus on their daily activities. For example, rabbit having fun jumping in the rain puddles or lying on the grass and seeing the clouds. Don’t get me wrong. I loved reading these as well but I just felt it was odd to include it in this book. Perhaps they could have released a separate book just for these characters and story-lines outside the café?

    Overall, I really enjoyed reading Cat’s Café! I have never read the web series prior to reading this, but I have subscribed to the website and am loving the new updates! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read a simple feel good book without any negativity in it.

  • Hamstersaurus Rex (Hamstersaurus Rex #1) by Tom O’Donnell , Tim Miller

    Hamstersaurus Rex (Hamstersaurus Rex #1) by Tom O’Donnell , Tim Miller

    Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O’Donnell
    Release: October 4th 2016
    Format: Kindle
    Publisher: HarperCollins
    Source: Amazon

     

     

    Synopsis:

    BEWARE: Rampaging Mutant Dino-Hamster!

    When a mysterious growling hamster appears at the back of his class, Sam knows just what to call him: Hamstersaurus Rex. Sam tries to protect Hammie from an overzealous Hamster Monitor, and from the meanest bully in the history of Horace Hotwater Middle School. The bully isn’t afraid of some weird little class pet. But maybe he should be. Hamstersaurus Rex is no ordinary hamster.

    Hamstersaurus Rex Review:

    This was such a fun book to read! Sam and his pet, Hamstersaurus Rex are hilarious as the main leads. It was so funny to see the situations that they get themselves in, and how Hamstersaurus makes Sam look like a hero in front of his friends. Hamstersaurus is kind of creepy but also cute and I liked the dynamic between him and Sam. Some of my favorite parts in the story are when Martha and Sam go to the doll museum, or when Hamstersaurus makes Sam win in the Little Mister or Miss Challenge.

    More than Sam, I absolutely loved the supporting characters in this story. I think Martha is my favorite character in this story. Even though she is supposed to be an annoying, snobbish, know-it-all, her dialogues are so hilarious and grown up that I could not help but laugh out loud whenever she came in the scene. Beefer is also one of those characters that you are supposed to hate, but I ended up feeling sorry for him. He seemed like someone who was just misunderstood. Reading this as an adult, I also enjoyed Mr. Copeland’s character and could really feel his frustrations for teaching the class.

    I really think this is one of those books that kids and adults will both enjoy reading. The kids would enjoy the gross humor while the adults would enjoy the underlying themes. Tom O-Donnell has done a great job with the story and Tim Miler has complimented it very will with his quirky illustrations. Overall, Hamtersaurus Rex delivers everything that I expected , and I enjoyed reading it thoroughly! I am very keen on reading the following books in the series to find out what happens.

  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

    From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

    Zoe Washington

    From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
    Release: January 14th 2020
    Format: Kindle
    Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
    Source: Amazon

    Synopsis:

    Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime?

    A crime he says he never committed.

    Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.

    But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.

    Zoe Washington Review:

    I absolutely loved reading this book! It was fun, intriguing, emotional, and one of those books that a reader of any age would enjoy. The author has wonderfully made the character tackle so many issues for a middle grade novel. Zoe is awesome as the protagonist and comes across as a creative, sensitive, yet strong person. She always wants to reach out and help others no matter how difficult the situation is. I loved Trevor’s character as well because he tries to help Zoe even when she was angry with him. Both of them share a wonderful friendship that is fun and inspiring. In fact, I liked all the character, including Marcus, Zoe’s mom and Dad and her Grandma as well. I loved the bond that Zoe shared with her Grandma.

    The author, Janae Marks, has done a fabulous job for a debut middle grade novel and I was engrossed throughout. She writes in a simple yet engaging manner, and manages to cover a wide range of topics like racism and what happens if someone is wrongfully accused. These are very serious topics which I think she handled very well in this charming tale of family ties. I didn’t even know something like the Innocence Project existed till I read this book.

    The only downside I found was on how quickly Zoe and Trevor were able to track down Susan Thomas. It felt a bit unbelievable that they were able to find her quite easily. But, I guess the author had to keep in pace with the story and not stretch with the details. Speaking of which, I really loved the adventure that Zoe and Trevor have when they sneak into the city and ride the train to meet her without telling their parents.

    I also loved the whole cooking angle with the ‘Bake Challenge’ in the first half of the book, but I felt that it suddenly stopped in the middle when the story shifted focus to Marcus primarily. It would have been interesting to see what had happened if Zoe did enter the challenge.

    Lastly, I really liked the how the author plugged in song references like Boys II Men and Stevie Wonder, and smiled on how Zoe got the nickname Little Tomato.

    Overall, I loved reading “From the Desk of Zoe Washington” and cannot wait to read similar works from the author in the future.

    Purchase this book from: [Amazon]

  • The Belated Bachelor Party by Ravinder Singh

    The Belated Bachelor Party by Ravinder Singh

    Bachelor

    The Belated Bachelor Party by Ravinder Singh
    Release: July 23rd 2019
    Format: EBook
    Publisher: HarperCollins India
    Source: Amazon

    Bachelor



     

    The Belated Bachelor Party Synopsis:

    It’s been twelve years since Happy, MP, Raamji and Ravin graduated. Well into their married lives, they realize that none of them had a bachelor party before their weddings. But it’s never too late to set things right. They go about planning their belated bachelor party – a Euro trip which, well, ends up becoming the trip of their lifetime. Picture this: It’s the middle of the night. The four friends wait to be strip-searched by the border police. They are stuck in the no-man’s land between Croatia and Slovenia, without valid visas, but with banned party drugs and a rifle cartridge … Welcome to one hell of a reunion! Bestselling author Ravinder Singh returns with his friends in a hilarious, moving story of friendship and adventure.

     

    Review:

    Watch my video review of The Belated Bachelor Party by Ravinder Singh

    [embedyt] https://youtu.be/JazllBeLKyM[/embedyt]

    I have never read Ravinder Singh’s earlier novels, and I picked out this book because the plot sounded interesting. After reading it, I thought it was very average and somewhat over-hyped. My main problem about this story was that it didn’t have any direction at all. It felt like a random story where these 4 people reunite, some funny situations happen with them, and that’s it, the story is over! Moreover, I thought only two out of the four characters distinctively stood out, who were Ravin and Amardeep. The other two from US and UK, Harprit and Manpreet, felt like the same person. Moreover, you should NEVER bring up AIDS or Cancer as a joke in any book. There are people who are suffering from these diseases daily, and I really didn’t like the characters using them in a lighthearted manner, no matter what the context is.

    But there are some funny moments in the story that made me laugh. I also liked the concept of ‘friendship’ having a voice and narrating the story. Also, I did like the overall theme of friendship between the four friends, as it does give you that nostalgic feeling of your school and college days where life was simple and fun spending time with your friends before responsibilities kicked in. But, would I re-read this book again? Probably not, because in the end, it is not that memorable.

  • Because Its Love by Kishore Nanda

    Because Its Love by Kishore Nanda

    Because

    Because Its Love by Kishore Nanda
    Release: May 14th 2019
    Format: EBook
    Publisher: Notion Press
    Source: Author

    Because



     

    Because Its Love Synopsis:

    Family
    Abhiram, a HIV infected old man, is abandoned by his family due to fear of the infection spreading to them. Broken, Abhiram adopts Devika, a prostitute, Adithya, a gay man and Karthik, a mentally retarded child. They become one family, breaking all the rules of society.

    Friendship
    Karan, a money–chaser and believer of time is money, finds out that he is about to die at any moment due to his intestine cancer. He becomes friends with an 11-year-old blind boy, Aryan. He changes Karan’s life, becomes his wingman to help him find love and teaches him about the real meaning of time.

    Romantic
    Aarav, a book author, is in the quest of a dying girl to become part of his manipulative marketing strategy. When he finds Ananya, a cancer patient, he learns about the true meaning of happiness.

    Canophilia
    Rajesh, a hedonist, finds a missing dog and she teaches him the real values of a relationship.

     

    Review:

    Watch my video review of Because Its Love by Kishore Nanda

    [embedyt] https://youtu.be/DsvrNaJuBio[/embedyt]

    I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review and opinion and to be honest, I really liked it. As a debut novel, I think the author has done a wonderful job. The dialogue is a bit rusty and could use improvements here and there, but it is told in a very simple, straight forward, easy to read manner. Even those who do not like to read, or are slow readers, could pick this up and enjoy reading it. Moreover, I liked how the author touched on various issues that is still considered taboo in our Indian society today. He has mentioned cases of HIV, prostitution, homosexuality, and cancer and how people deal with them realistically.

    There are a few minor things that the author could have handed better. Firstly, I felt like the timelines were disorienting between the various stories. I also felt like a few stories ended in an open ended manner without any closure. Thirdly, there were a quite a lot of repetitions in the dialogue that could have been avoided. But, overall, this is a nice, easy to read story and I would give it a rating of 4/5 stars.

  • The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

    The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

    Bridge

    The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
    Release: February 5th 2019
    Format: Kindle
    Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
    Source: Amazon

    Bridge



     

    The Bridge Home Synopsis:

    When Viji and her sister, Rukku, whose developmental disability makes her overly trusting and vulnerable to the perils of the world, run away to live on their own, the situation could not be more grim. Life on the streets of the teeming city of Chennai is harsh for girls considered outcasts, but the sisters manage to find shelter on an abandoned bridge. There they befriend Muthi and Arul, two boys in a similar predicament, and the four children bond together and form a family of sorts. Viji starts working with the boys scavenging in trash heaps. Meanwhile, Rukku makes bead necklaces, and they buy food with what little money they earn. They are often hungry and scared but they have each other–and Kutti, the best dog ever.

    When some goons force the kids from their safe haven on the bridge, they take shelter in a graveyard. But it is now the rainy season and they are plagued by mosquitos, and Rukku and Muthu fall ill. As their symptoms worsen, Viji and Arul must decide whether to risk going for help–when most adults in their lives have proven themselves untrustworthy–or to continue holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.

     

    Review:

    Watch my video review of The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

    [embedyt] https://youtu.be/IlySbUfWTw0[/embedyt]

    This is the first book that I am reading by Padma Venkatraman and I just loved it! It is so inspiring to see the main characters strong and brave and display so much love for one another. You immediately root for them and want to support them and hope that things work out for them. The book is quick to read as it is a middle grade novel and written in a simple manner. However, at the same time, it doesn’t shy from the dangers and the harsh conditions of the slums in India, and the evil people who abuse children in one way or another. Overall, “The Bridge Home” is a wonderful novel that is simple yet very profound.