ellemnope's Reviews (2.4k)

4.5 stars. Review to come.

4.5 stars. Review to come.

4.25 stars. Review to come.

4.5 stars. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this read. Westerns are definitely not my typical genre, but I really liked how this story was written. Perfect for a middle grade reader, this story moves quite quickly and is short, but still has a lot packed into it. There is a good moral to the story and it packs a good punch with the action that takes place. The character of Shane is really well-constructed, mixing the stereotypes of traditional cowboys with a bit of a softer side. Of all the "classics" I've read this year, I have to say that I may have enjoyed this one the most.

2.5 stars. Such a disappointment. I felt like this was just such a jumble of a read that it can barely be given the title of story. It's a real mishmash. Admittedly, the writing is clever and witty, but the plot was held together by a thread. I'm definitely an outlier in my opinion of this one, which makes me feel a little bit crotchety, but if I'm going to read a book with a nonsense plot, I'd much rather pick up the Oz series.

4.5 stars. Review to come.

4.5 stars. This was a really fun adventure story with a lot of folktale influence. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the world. There was so much that was unique. I'm a big fan of Rebecca Roanhorse's writing, and her middle grade style is just as enjoyable as her adult reads. The worlds she creates are so much fun and full of interesting characters. I wish this one was part of a series, as there is so much more to explore.

4.5 stars. A cozy, cute, and really fun middle grade mystery. There was a lot of enjoyment in reading this book and I sped through it. It has great winter vibes and pulls off the closed room mystery style with great finesse. The characters are quirky and intriguing and the entire plot moves fairly seamlessly. I loved the mix of fantasy and role-playing games into the plot as well. It really made things feel light and fun. The adventure and the protagonist were both very well-written and I'm really glad that there are other accompanying books. Greenglass House is just a cool place with a cool history and I'm very much ready to read more.

4.5 stars. A really impactful middle grade that has a mix of historical fiction and magical realism. I was a bit confused at first about the multiple timelines and the way all the stories seemed to just stop midway, but the ending really comes together well and brings resolution to all the questions I had along the way. There are a lot of historical lessons in the narrative and I particular enjoyed the story of Ivy, a portion of the tale that really had my heart and honestly raised my hackles regarding the horrible treatment of peoples of differing races in United States history. This is not only a fantastic read, but an important one. I am so very glad I read it and it will be one I highly recommend for a long time to come.