Category: Friday Fifteen

Friday Fifteen

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Another Friday, another Friday Fifteen! Check out this week’s best (only?) fifteen-word book reviews:

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Still bitter that Jo ended up with Bhaer, who was down on her fiction.

2. Troubling a Star by Madeleine L’Engle
Feels out of place among the other Austins, especially after A Ring of Endless Light.

3. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Hornby captures an honest, relatable (if not always likable) voice.

4. The Messy Room by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Mama Bear loses it when Brother and Sister can’t clean up their stuff.

5. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Collins provides a powerful look at how war sucks for everyone. Even the “winners.”

Friday Fifteen

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It’s a snowbound Friday Fifteen here in New England. Perfect time to curl up with some snow-themed fifteen-word book reviews:

1. Baby-sitters’ Winter Vacation (Baby-Sitters Club Super Special #3) by Ann M. Martin
The BSC goes on a school ski trip. Somehow baby-sitting follows them.

2. Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman
All the animals go sledding, wear cute winter gear. Good for read-aloud and counting.

3. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Orphans, an evil governess, wolves, a goose boy–no wonder it was a favorite.

4. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
A shared notebook creates wild winter fun in New York. Charming and clever contemporary YA.

5. Kiss My Bundt: Recipes from the Award-Winning Bakery by Chrysta Wilson
The only appropriate response to a snowstorm? Stay in, read, and bake.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, everybody–and happy February! February is my birthday month, so I’m gearing up for a month of (hopefully) fun. Including lots of good fifteen-word reviews.

97805532742951. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Everyone in fifth grade cried. Except me. I have a heart of ice.

2. All Around Atlantis by Deborah Eisenberg
Lovely collection of stories. Literary fiction in just the way I like–quiet and grounded.

3. Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Fourth in the series, but I read it first. Great fun for kids into theater.

4. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
“Are you brave enough for Scary Stories?” NO. No. Definitely no. *cowers*

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I gleefully wrote an essay about why the last section of the book is awful.

Friday Fifteen

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Another Friday, another Friday Fifteen, in which I review five books in fifteen words or less. Onto the books!

97806897118171. Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb
Read a short story excerpt of this in Seventeen; was excited to find the novel.

2. The McSweeney’s Joke Book of Book Jokes by McSweeney’s Publishing and John Hodgman
My dad saw this randomly and bought it for me. Nice move, Dad.

3. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Running away to the Met and figuring out an art history mystery? So much yes.

4. Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Excuse me, I’m having all the feelings. Simple but powerful.

5. Life Stories: Profiles from The New Yorker ed. by David Remnick
Excellent collection of profiles ranging from Marlon Brando to dog show people.

Friday Fifteen

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I’m feeling kind of like this, so thank goodness it’s Friday. Check out this week’s collection of fifteen-word book reviews:9780307277695

1. My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud’Homme
Julia’s a favorite–fearless, funny, and an enthusiastic learner. She and Paul warm my heart.

2. Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee
Fun art captures a wild ride. (Although reading the book is ride enough for me.)

3. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Probably my least favorite of the series, but some powerful moments–Pan! My heart!

4. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
You’re either a Faulkner or a Hemingway. I’m a Faulkner. Could not get into it.

5. Amy and Laura by Marilyn Sachs
Where I first heard the “golden arm” story. Another one I reread a lot.

Friday Fifteen

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Holy cow, it’s Friday! And the first non-holiday week in a little while. Good thing we’ve got fifteen-word reviews to send us out right.

97804864043251. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
Compelling history of Hungarian Jews during WWII but never really connected with the main characters.

2. Jim Ugly by Sid Fleischman
Don’t remember much about the plot, but I do remember learning the term “pine box.”

3. White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Captivated reading it as a teen, especially about foster care. Would be curious to reread.

4. As You Like It by William Shakespeare
Let’s all go to the forest, dress in drag, and fall in love!

5. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
Bright colors and fun narrative that would be at home in a jumping rope game.

Friday Fifteen

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After the holidays and vacation time, I have a hard time figuring out what day it is. But I’m glad it’s somehow Friday again! Onto the fifteen-word reviews.

1. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Read this in high school and loved it. Curious to see if it stands up.

2. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
My  mom gave me this book to help me learn about puberty.

3. Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman
Great intro to ASL, and nice focus on what Deaf children can do, not limitations.

4. Flour: A Baker’s Collection of Spectacular Recipes by Joanne Chang and Christie Matheson
Got this for Christmas. Makes me want to stay home and bake all the things.

5. Stacey’s Book (The Baby-Sitters Club Portrait Collection #1) by Ann M. Martin
I thought this was how all NYC kids grew up. Let’s all skip ballroom class!

Friday Fifteen

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It’s the last Friday Fifteen of the year! At first I thought I’d round up some “best of” reviews, but I hate recycling content like that. Instead, today I’m reviewing a few books that I read in 2012 (that’s right, no flashbacks) and, for some reason, haven’t posted about yet. Onto the reviews!

97814231029911. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My favorite Green novel (so far). Still think about the scenes in Amsterdam.

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Didn’t quite have the momentum I wanted, but fun. Would have been obsessed at 14.

3. See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles
Knowles manages to balance a lot in this novel about family. So moving.

4. All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Coffee and chocolate are illegal = my own personal dystopia.

5. Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems
Great combination of illustration and photography, with Willems’s usual humor and sweetness.

Friday Fifteen

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Just like all sitcoms need a Christmas special, so does the Friday Fifteen. Onto the Christmas-iest in fifteen-word book reviews!

97803948007901. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
It’s not Christmas if you’re not haunted by memories of your past.

2. The Case of the Magic Christmas Bell (Sweet Valley Kids Super Snoopers #2) by Francine Pascal
I wrote a complete rip-off of this when I was eight. Was only mildly ashamed.

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
“…Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day” = one of the best lines ever.

4. Samantha’s Surprise (American Girls: Samantha #3) by Maxine Rose Schur
Victorians? Dolls? Paper snowflakes? I freaking loved this book in fourth grade.

5. A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Lovely writing, cozy Christmas feel–great read aloud. (Secretly want it to be about whales)

(No) Friday Fifteen

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It’s been a painful Friday for so many families and, considering this is a YA/kidlit blog, I feel odd posting the Friday Fifteen today. (Other posts today were previously drafted and scheduled.) So I’m holding off for this week and sending good thoughts to those affected by today’s tragic events in Newtown, CT.