* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The Invisibles by Rachel Dacus is contemporary women's fiction with a touch of magical realism. Set in an idyllic Italian seaside town, the story follows the reconnection of Saffron and Elinor following the death of their somewhat estranged father. The two half-sisters are in charge of the estate, including a house that may or may not be inhabited by the ghost of Percy Bysshe Shelley.

The Invisibles is a good early novel. The writing flows easily and the bones of the narrative are solid. However, there were some issues with the book that kept me from fully enjoying my reading experience. Though there is beautiful description with regard to imagery, the remaining senses seem to disappear and the writing in these areas veers more to the telling rather than showing approach. This isn't necessarily bad, but does display a bit of lopsided attention to the surroundings.

The story was not as focused on the magical realism aspect as I expected and it seemed as if this element was actually more of a distraction in the story, more of a plot device to propel the narrative than an actual useful piece. The plot may have been stronger with out this added detail, which is unfortunate given the fact that the title hinges on this particular component. Additionally, there are several moments when the plot is a bit choppy. There are holes that are never quite rectified and there is some unnecessary repetition. These pieces were distracting and pulled me out of the story.

Despite the issues I had with the narrative, I will say that the book itself is full of wonderful potential and good writing. The visual descriptive pieces are very well done and the development of characters was well explored. I did not necessarily like the personalities of the two sisters, but this was actually something of a good thing as they contain natural flaws that make them seem a bit more realistic. The overall story is lovely and the building of the romance makes it a perfect beach read.

The Invisibles by Rachel Dacus was a decent read with a steady flow that felt comfortable and relaxing. There was enough movement of the plot that I never felt bored and I did develop some concern for the plight of the characters. The read was engaging and enjoyable, though there were some pieces of the writing that did not feel as smooth as I would have liked them to be. Overall, an enjoyable read worth the time.

Another good book from childhood. I remember enjoying this one when I was young, but I had forgotten the majority of the story. This time around, I listened to the audiobook as read by the author. I highly recommend this for young readers as the inclusion of actual trumpeting was a pleasant surprise. The story was endearing and written in true E.B. White style, including natural references, definitions of some of the more challenging words for middle grade readers, and some arithmetic instruction sprinkled in. Though I don't love it as much as White's Charlotte's Web, this was still a fantastic reread. A nostalgic wonder.

It is amazing how well this story holds up with the passage of time. Yes, it is the autobiography of a horse from the animal's perspective, but it is also such a wonderful social commentary. The language is easy to understand, despite the age of the tale, and it is both beautiful and educational. Not only does it instruct about the health and keeping of horses, but it also sheds light on the nature of the human spirit. It is a reminder to be kind, to be appreciative, and to always do your best despite the circumstances. This is such a great read for middle graders. And adults could stand to learn a few lessons from it as well...

4.5 stars.

A good follow up to The Lightning Thief. Riordan does a good job introducing the characters and history for those who haven't read the first book without it being overbearing. I love the comic relief that he weaves throughout the stories that keeps things light and fun. The story moves fast and the characters are growing a little in depth. There are some moral lessons to be learned in addition to the bits of Greek mythology. I am really enjoying this series and finished this one in a single day. On to the next one!

4.5 stars.

I'm so glad I finally read this. I'd been putting it off since it's middle grade and I didn't think I would really enjoy it. Somehow, it had gotten the reputation of a poor man's Harry Potter in my mind. I was so wrong. This book stands all on its own and though it takes on the same trope in a way, it stands alongside Harry Potter rather than needing to be compared to it.

Yes, there is some less mature writing since the intended age is younger, but it was still incredibly entertaining. I love the detail to the inclusion of the Greek mythology pieces and the somewhat flippant attitude of the writing made things both interesting and fun. The mystery of the book wasn't obvious, but there were clues along the way that allowed the reader to discern the ending if they paid close enough attention. This is written very well for the age group, still a somewhat challenging read but both entertaining and educational in a way. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.

I had not read this book in my elementary years, but it was one that came up over and over again on the top lists of middle grade reads. I don't know how or why it was never one I picked up. This is a beautiful read with such a masterful way of telling a difficult story in a way appropriate for the age of the intended audience. There is keen attention to the development of mystery in a way that a young child would have perceived the events in the book and the revelation of historical fact is very well done. The depth of investigation into the activities of WWII is fairly light, well-constructed as an introductory text to the happenings of the Holocaust while remaining correctly voiced. There is enough here to demonstrate the prejudice and violence that took place without becoming overly graphic. That is a difficult balance to make while still remaining powerful in delivering the message of the age, but Number the Stars achieves it well. It now ranks among my favorite middle grade level reads.

* Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way. *

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith is an interesting and unique fantasy novel with good pieces of historical reference and magical phenomena. A perfect book for the fall season, a lovely spooky atmospheric feel carried well from beginning to end.

For the duration of the story there was a strong attention to detail, with pieces of the wine making and grape tending processes sprinkled through the narrative. This made the story feel highly authentic and kept me wrapped up in the novel and its world. Smith is clearly very good at setting a scene. Similarly, the magical element in this book was fantastic. I just love me some spooky, creepy vibes and this one had it dripping from the pages.

When it comes to characters, I felt like this could have given me a little more. Beyond the protagonist, the characters weren't really overly dynamic and the world-building in this department felt like it needed a boost. Supporting characters didn't feel fully fleshed out. Partially because of this, the romantic plot of the narrative felt a little awkward and convenient and didn't really progress in a way that felt natural.

Regardless of my disappointments in the world and character building departments, The Vine Witch was still an entertaining and quick read. Though it has its faults, this book was very much worth the read.

See the full review at EPJ

This is a cute and whimsical story, well-suited for imaginative middle graders. I love Roald Dahl's creative wording in the BFG's speech. It adds both a layer of complexity and a layer of entertainment to the tale. It was an enjoyable and quick read.

I adored this book when I was a child of 7 or 8, and I remember crying horribly at the ending. More than a few *ahem* decades later, I still find the story just as touching and wonderful. It is a beautiful story of friendship and love. I very much appreciate White's tendency to mix in more complicated words, but to always allow Charlotte to provide a definition that not only helps Wilbur, but also helps the young reader. White additionally does not talk down to his young readers. The narrative is bright and complete, with vivid descriptions and inclusion of the realities of life. Charlotte's Web remains one of my favorite books of all time. It will always be near and dear to my heart as one of the first "chapter books" I read on my own.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I don't read a lot of YA contemporary romance anymore, but this one just had a cute synopsis and a cover that caught my eye. And you know what? It was fun and totally worth the read.

Pepper attends a private school in New York where she chats with a boy she calls "Wolf" on a schoolwide phone chat app. She doesn't know that "Wolf" is actually Jack. She also doesn't know that Jack is behind the Twitter account for his family's small deli, which becomes embroiled in a social media war with Pepper's family's franchised restaurant (while Pepper is at the Twitter helm).

The story starts a little slow and awkward and it took me a hot minute to get involved in the plot. Part of that was the writing, part of that was my unfamiliarity with the genre after such a long hiatus. Once I got my sea legs, the narrative took off. The writing was light and fun and the book read quickly. Both Pepper and Jack felt realistic and I did get Gossip Girl vibes from the atmosphere, which was somewhat tongue in cheek referred to a couple of times in the narrative. I thought that was cute and clever. The supporting characters are a bit flat, but this bounces along like a good rom-com should and I enjoyed how dedicated to their families both teens were.

I did take issues with Pepper's mom and felt that she was unrealistic in her expectations for Pepper. That irritated me and maybe added a little bit of unbelievability to the plot, but I gave it a pass for the most part anyway.

There were quite a few moments that will definitely date this book in the future, as the narrative frequently references specific slang and pop culture. But I enjoyed it. It was fun to read, had a cute plot, and a good ending. It's a well-written teen romance with good family vibes and characters that were highly likable with realistic flaws.