A Library of My Thoughts
I love my bones.
Do you know why?
They lift me up and raise me high.
With them, you know how I’m blessed?
Otherwise I’d be a floppy mess!
Did you know that bones are teeth?
Then how would I eat my Heath?
But then it leaves the exeptation-
I couldn’t eat my vegetation!
Author: Lisa Graff
# of Pages: 217
About the book:
Something fishy is going on in Lake Atropos. Kids attending Camp Atropos for Singular Talents don’t know it yet, but whenever they decide to take a refreshing dip in the lake (“Toes to hair,” their camp director always urges them), their precious Talents are being duplicated and forced into sample-sized jars for the camp director to collect when they wash up on the shore. Cabinmates Lily, Chuck, Ellie, Renny, and Miles work together to to solve the mystery undoubtedly stirring up trouble in the lake – and fix Camp Atropos once and for all.
My opinion:
This book displays magic in a really fun way. I think it’s also cool how there are several main characters in it. It works so well – at the end, everyone’s happy, and somehow, everything that has happened all clicks together so perfectly. The things I thought were just for fun, that I didn’t think mattered, actually played a big part in the book and made the grand finale all the more exciting.
Recommendation:
If you like magic, a tremendous satisfaction at the end of your book, and seeing all points of view, read this. Probably best for upper elementary and middle school.
Order your own copy here!
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Title: Big & Little Questions (According to Wren Jo Byrd)
Author: Julie Bowe
# of Pages: 228
About the book:
When she was told that her parents were getting a divorce and her dad was moving out of the house, 9-year-old Wren Jo Byrd freaked out. Of course, they assured her that it wasn’t her fault, that they both still loved her, but for Wren, this changed everything. She was sent to her grandparents’ house for the summer without warning, while her parents split up their stuff and got Wren’s schedule all figured out with their lawyers.
Meanwhile, Wren’s best friend Amber tries to text her, but she’s afraid to reply. She doesn’t want the fact that her parents divorced to slip out. Amber, hurt and bored out of her mind, discovers Marianna, who just moved from Seattle, and starts hanging out with her instead.
When Wren returns from her grandparents’, she is met with a fuming best friend, a bossy girl from Seattle (who also happens to have divorced parents), and two houses. She realizes, after many clever lies, that she will have to, somehow, tell the truth about her parents to her friends. The truth only stretches so far, you know. With time, Wren sees how similar Marianna is to her. Maybe she isn’t so bad after all. Maybe … just maybe … divorce isn’t the worst thing in the world either.
My opinion:
I like that Big & Little Questions (According to Wren Jo Byrd) is so similar to real life. Well, I don’t think it’s very common for 9-year-olds to have their own phones, but other than that, it’s pretty realistic.
Recommendation: This would be a great book for kids whose parents are divorced and they haven’t gotten over it yet. Or just for entertainment – it’s a pretty interesting book. Probably best for ages 8-12.
Order your own copy here!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting Bookish Bethany!
Title: Absolutely Almost
Author: Lisa Graff
# of Pages: 288
About the book:
All throughout his life, Albie feels like he’s not enough. Over and over again, he is told with a sigh, “Almost, Albie.”. Then Calista comes in. Albie doesn’t want a nanny (or a babysitter), but Calista turns out to be the best thing that’s happened to Albie in a long time. She makes Albie feel . . . well, not as much of an “almost”.
Until one day, when Calista takes Albie to the zoo instead of to school. Albie has to forge his mom’s signature in order to be excused. Find out what ends up happening to Albie – and Calista – when you read it yourself!
My opinion: I adore Absolutely Almost for its many feelings spread out in the book. The details also amazed me, with lots of things going on.
Recommendation: If you like donuts or model airplanes and sometimes feel like you are just almost, then this book is for you. Probably best for ages 9-12.
Order your own copy here!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting Bookish Bethany!
Author: Charise Mericle Harper
# of Pages: 348
About the book:
For Ashley, it seems that life can’t get any worse. First of all, her best friend, Lucy, is moving to Oregon. Second, to make things even worse, they won’t even get to spend the last weeks before she moves together – Lucy will be at Camp Red Oak, while Ash stays home babysitting an annoying seven-year-old girl named Claire with an overflowing bucket list and a cheerful attitude that never seems to run out.
Then comes the day that will change Ashley’s view of the world forever. While digging around in the basement, she comes across a particularly grimy jar labeled “WISHES”. She doesn’t think much about it at the time, but later she picks it up, thinking maybe there is magic involved. But after multiple chants, shakes, and waiting impatiently, she decides that there is no genie, it’s just a regular old jar after all. But something strange is still going on…
My opinion:
Packed with adventure, friendship, wishes, and magic, Dreamer Wisher Liar is easily one of my favorite books. One thing I think is cool about it is that it adds a sprinkle of magic to a realistic life story.
Recommendation:
Dreamer Wisher Liar is an amazing book for those who like magic, some sadness (the kind that makes a story stronger), and a mysterious atmosphere in their books. Probably best for ages 9-12.
Order your own copy here!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting Bookish Bethany!
For my younger group of readers, Judy Moody is a fun series. Packed with adventure and hilarious dialogue, you’ll find yourself in a state of laughter in which you can’t stop yourself! Even older kids could become hungry for more! There are a lot of these books, so you’ll be entertained for a while. Good luck!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting Bookish Bethany!
To purchase this book, click here.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting Bookish Bethany!
To purchase this book, click here.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting Bookish Bethany!
Everything is boring for Milo. So when a mysterious tollbooth appears in his room, he’s got nothing better to do but drive through it with a car that his horribly untidy room provided. He was very surprised at what was on the other side of the tollbooth, though. A world beyond imagination – especially Milo’s! This world was so amazingly exiting, with so many things to do and discover! Milo doesn’t want to leave, but he has to. When he does get home, he realizes that life isn’t pointless after all . . . you just have to use your imagination.
Twelve year old Truly Lovejoy is almost six feet tall. She also loves her neighborhood and friends. So she is NOT excited about her family moving to teeny-weeny Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, where she gets bullied because of her odd name and because she is so tall. And to make life even worse, her goofy father lost his arm in the military and hasn’t been himself ever since. Where things get a bit – actually, a lot – more interesting is in the failing family book store. While Truly is sorting books, she notices the original copy of Charlotte’s Web – with a secret note in it! Along with her new friends – and enemies – Truly gathers the clues and organizes them into a solved mystery . . . and just in time for a happy ending.
To purchase this book, click here!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting Bookish Bethany!
Narrator: A lot of people in the world don’t have clean water to drink. I’m going on a tour to see what it’s like.
Mother: My children and I have to walk long hours to get water. And the water isn’t even clean!
Kate: (pointing to Tom) Tom got sick just from eating that yucky water!
(Tom moans)
Jamie: We don’t get to go to school and learn. And we never get to play!
Narrator: While the mother and her children are going to get water, we will hear how life goes from the father.
Father: I work in the yard and harvest food for my family. It is very hard work without water to feul me.
Narrator: Hmm. It seems that the mother and children are not home yet.
. . . .
Narrator: (annoyed) It’s been 2 hours now. Shouldn’t they be home yet?
Father: No! It’s not near the time they get home! They are usually home in around 6 hours.
Narrator: Oh . . . then I’d better go.
Father: Okay. . . but I kinda wanted you to stay. It gets a little lonely.
Narrator: Well, sorry, but I really gotta get home to my family.
Father: Okay, bye!
(Mother and children come back and get seated for supper)
Father: Hello! I’ve brought us our cold vegetables and uncooked rice!
(There is silence while they are eating)
Mother: Oh, dear. I do wish Narrator were here to tell the audience a little more.
Father: It’s okay. Anyways, it’s time to pray, cause clean water would change everything!
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