jenbsbooks's Reviews (2.41k)

 I didn't really care for this one. It was weird, not really a set story, just some jump-the-shark interactions. 

It starts with this "Before the story ..." that I don't really get, even re-reading it after finishing the book. In Part1 we get the sad backstory (parents killed, goes to live with Aunt and Uncle who he runs away from. Chapter 2 ?? Then he connects with some people on the East End. Which is where the blacks live. Jeffrey/Maniac is white.  It was nice to have a great black family take him in (happened in another recent read, Lupica's Fast Break), showing a functional family, loving and caring.

The story tries to address some of the racial issues, but it just got lost in the silliness of him doing a bunch of things while reading a book. I never understood the running on the rail, or the name manic, or how he happened to be able to hit the fast ball that no other kid could, or tried to even envision a pitcher throwing a frog instead of a ball (doesn't seem like it would be very aerodynamic). Mars Bars. Allergic to pizza. Cobble's knot. 

Part 2 started and I was so confused. What? What is happening? Very strange shift. Baby buffalo. A man named Grayson (that's Hub's name, so I have a soft spot for that). Baseball. Funeral. 

Part 3, another family connection, and connecting both sides of town. 

I just didn't really get it. Any of it.

I had this in all three formats. I'd picked up a physical copy at a thrift store (for the Little Free Library), and that bumps a book up my TBR. I was doing #middlegradeMay2025, and borrowed the audiobook and Kindle copy from the library. Went primarily with audio. Female narrator ... I think I would have expected a male narrator, as the MC was male, but it was 3rd person(past tense) so I guess it didn't really matter. 

The blurb gave this a little more of a "Cinderella"  vibe (girl locked in the attic by her evil step-mother, talking to mice) then there actually was. I mean it did have a fairy tale/fantasy feel, with ghosts ;) 

I hadn't heard anything about this book, it was a random find at a thrift store (picking up books for the Little Free Library). Checking Goodreads, I saw several GR friends had read and loved it. I figured I'd give it a read (and I had my #middlegradeMay2025 going on) myself. I was able to borrow the audio and Kindle copy from the library (I like all formats!). 

I went primarily with audio - narrated by Jim Dale (of Harry Potter fame). All 3rd person, as we/the reader get an omniscient view as the POV changes from Liesl, Will (the alchemist's apprentice), Mo (the Lady Premiere's guard) and some secondary characters (Mr. Gray, The Lady Premiere, Augusta Hortense Varice-Morbower).  Augusta's voice always threw me a bit ... sounded too much like a man ;)

The narration was top notch, but there are lovely illustrations in the text editions that are definitely worth looking at (even if I did so after the fact). 

Three PARTS with continuing chapters (31 of them) throughout ... the parts had headers ...
1. Attics & Accidents
2. Narrow Escapes & Excitable Sparrows
3. Reversals & Reunions

I like that these headers all have a THIS & THAT paralleling the title, and there was a connecting image there are the start of each chapter in each part (the box in part 1, baby sparrows in part 2, a tree in part 3). 

... ineffable  :)

There was this little inclusion too, right at the end, sudden shift to 1st/2nd person (the author? talking to the reader?) ...
*** (And this, really, is the story-within-the-story, because if you do not believe that hearts can bloom suddenly bigger, and that love can open like a flower out of even the hardest places, then I am afraid that for you the road will be long and brown and barren, and you will have trouble finding the light. But if you do believe, then you already know all about magic.)

It was fun to follow the connections between characters and situations. I don't know that I really got so pulled in that I was emotionally involved, but I enjoyed it.   The author's note (included in the text copies) was interesting, just a little behind the scenes of the story and how it related to her own life. 

I hadn't heard much about this book (my boys are older now, and so I not that tuned in to middle grade) but I felt like I'd seen it and its sequels here and there, at thrift stores and such, which I frequent to stock my LFL. I wasn't sure which one was the first one, but that's easy to look up. As my #middlegradeMay2025 was wrapping up, I figured I give this a go. Borrowed the audio and Kindle copy from my local library.

I went primarily with the audio, and I was a little surprised afterward to note there were only two narrators (Arielle DeLisle and Mike Chamberlain). The story shifts, 1st person, between seven different students, three boys and four girls. I had felt like the voices were different enough, I thought there were seven different narrators! I guess a lot of the "voice" differences were also apparent in the writing, and there were headers before each POV shift. Jessica (the new girl) presented her portions like a play (Act 1 Scene 1) which helped make her memorable. Luke (the brainiac) got really into the "dollar words" project, and continued it throughout the book, and I never got tired of it, it made me smile every time he pointed out the "dollar word" ... Alexia and Peter, the two troublemakers. Danielle, struggles with weight and an uber religious and judgmental family. Jeffery ... he was a little harder to remember, and "anna" tries to fly under the radar, and I thought it was interesting that her name was all lowercase in the headers (a visual representation of laying low?)

I love when books have "discussion questions" for book club or what not ... if a book doesn't have them, often I can Google and find some ... for middle grade books, anything I find seems to be more of "comprehension" and "book report" stuff, not so much discussion topics like one would discuss in book club. I actually think that even though this is aimed at a young audience, that there would be quite a few things that would make for interesting book club discussions.

I really like the title (apparently it wasn't the first, or the second, but I think it absolutely represents) and the cover images I've seen connect to the story as well.

Loved that (I think it was Jessica) loved to read and some titles were mentioned ... A Wrinkle in Time, Where the Red Fern Grows, Al Capone Does My Shirts, Belle Teal, Ida B. . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World, and The Summer of the Swans ... just interesting to ME, I remembered the first three (as I am familiar with them, have read them, Al Capone just this month) yet I had to look through the book to remember the other three (I've heard of Summer of the Swans, I'm actually not sure if I've read it or not? I don't think so).

I have one of the sequels in hardcopy to share in the Little Free Library, and I DO plan on reading the sequels (maybe I'll plan for a #middlegradeMarch2026) and I'll definitely keep an eye out for this book. I'd love to share it in my LFL! 

As I finish a book, I'll often peek over the reviews, see what other people thought. I LOVE the reviews that indicate a parent AND child read the book, and sometimes showcasing a disparity. For me, reading this as an adult ... eh, I just couldn't quite get into it. It felt very "young" (and of course I realize that is the intended audience), too simplistic, which often is NOT the case. I've loved a lot of the middle-grade books I've read (so many this #middlegradeMay2025).  I followed the story, but I was a little anxious for the book to end so I could move onto something else. The end was interesting (if obvious), setting up the sequel, but I don't feel like I'll be continuing on. I've seen several reviews where younger kids really liked this ... and it IS a full series, I thought it had been made into a movie and graphic novel adaptation and even though it's not new, it looked to be in demand at the libraries.

I had picked up a physical copy (two actually) thrifting for my LFL, and figured I'd give it a read then send the book on its way. That being said ... I did get the audio and kindle copy from the library, and I went primarily with audio. Nothing negative about the audio ... but I'm wondering if I might have preferred this read myself. As I skimmed the text after, it actually seemed my engaging to my eyes (over my ears). Not sure why.  There were some oddities to the audio. It is NOT graphic audio, but there were a few sound effects. A door opening, a voice over an intercom, background noise of a crowd of people or rushing water. But it was very inconsistent. Sound effects here and there, but then not everywhere else. The "Instructions for Egress" torn and missing letters, came across better in print. 

The "Incomprehensible" voice over the intercom was actually a little fun ... I had to look up the text to see how it was represented in print "mayg effn effuff" (someone understands and translates as "making every effort"). 

Doon (which I had spelled "Dune" in my head, listening to the audio) collecting bugs, drawing them, just reminded me of a few other books I'd read ([book:The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science|33413895]  and Amy Tan's Backyard Birds). The whole thing, NOT reminding me of DUNE, but of the Wool/Silo series. 

I was just frustrated with so many of the characters and events ... Grandma and Lina not keeping an eye on the toddler Poppy (how did she survive such lax supervision?), did it ever say what happened to Lina's parents? The mayor, for letting things get to where they were, the people stealing, the "magic words printed on paper" and the misplaced box, Wanted Posters - for spreading vicious rumors  ...

Is this one that age 8-12 will love, but just didn't grab me as an adult? 

This book feels very familiar ... like I've heard the title thousands of times, and have been aware of it, but I had never read it! As I've done a lot of thrift store shopping for my Little Free Library, I'm a little surprised I haven't come across a copy. During my #middlegradeMay2025 I figured I'd give this a go, and borrowed the audio and Kindle copy from the library. 

The audio was great - not "graphic audio" as has become so popular today (I have to be in the mood for the "dramatized adaptation  but there were some sound effects, a doorbell, piano music, etc. Single narrator though. 3rd person. Past tense.  Some illustrations in the Kindle copy, that one wouldn't get with the audiobook.

This felt "young" ... often I'll consider the "suggested audience" to be around the same age as the main character. Here, Mr. Popper is a father with a wife and a couple of kids, but 30-somethings aren't the intended audience ... more 8-10 or so? I could see this being read to a class of 2nd or 3rd graders. 

Penguins have had a resurgence of popularity in the book world, with [book:How the Penguins Saved Veronica|50519007] ... I think I've read a couple others featuring penguins too. My 3.75* rating is more of a "I actually enjoyed this, it made me smile, I bet I would have loved this when I was young" rating.  There are definitely some issues looking at it through adult eyes, and modern eyes (especially the end, introducing a non-native species into the Arctic? Um ... no) but overall, it's all just silly fun. 

I took a peek at a preview of the 2011 movie ... um ... that looks like they changed things up a LOT!

I'd really liked "Speak" by this author, and her "Shout" ... and I like historical fiction, and it was #middlegradeMay (upper end, YA). So, up next. I'd picked up the physical book at some point, and I borrowed the audio and Kindle copy from the library. I went primarily with the audio. 

The story starts in August 1793 and covers the next few months.  While I feel like I learned a little, more than I knew about yellow fever and the plague that hit ... I just never really connected with the characters or got pulled into the story. Sure, I felt bad when bad things happened, but there was no real emotional gut punch. I'm not sure how much I'll remember.  I never felt the urge to stop and make notes/highlights, no wishing this was a book club pick so I would have others to discuss it with. I'll put my physical copy out in the Little Free Library (which was the point of the book purchase). I'm not sorry I took the time to read it, but I don't know that I'd really recommend it either. 

1st person - POV of 14 year old Mattie. Past tense.

I like the cover, the yellowness of it ... simple title works. 

I'd heard of this book ... I even had a copy on my home library shelves. I'd never read it, nor even been tempted to. I'm not sure why not. I loved Hatchet. A recent read [book:How to Stay Invisible|61418413] seemed to indicate this was a bit of an inspiration/similar storyline (and yes, a boy living just outside civilization in a tree, although "Invisible" wasn't really by choice). This perhaps reminded me most of [book:Into the Wild|60869516] ... where a boy just up and decides to go live life alone. 

Still, I like survivalist stories, even though this one never seemed to get too treacherous. He could always just pop back into the city if he wanted, could go home if he wanted.

So I was liking it fine ... until the end. Ummmm, what? Well that was a horrible ending!

I mean, maybe I could have dealt with the whole family coming and crashing Sam's solitude, but to do so uninvited and unwanted, and to disrupt and change it, build a house ... even all that, if it was what everyone wanted, but it was all because Mom didn't like the way the neighbor ladies/the world was viewing her. And yes, I probably would have judged her too. But it just undermines everything, she's not even doing it because she wants to or thinks it's the right thing, she just wants to appear to be a better mother, even if that's not really the case.

I see there's a sequel ... does Sam escape his family again, going deeper into the woods?

1st person - written partly like a diary, to readers, in fact portions ARE his written woods diary. Mostly past tense, but there were a few present tense portions. 

I didn't mean to choose the abridged version! I had the physical book in hand, and borrowed the audio and kindle versions from the library. It was audiobook version the library had (I have since noticed that another library has two versions, as does Audible). I did notice that it was short, just under three hours, and the book in hand seemed bigger than that (although still under 300 pages). I also noticed that while there were chapter headers in the text copy, these were NOT in the audiobook, in fact, the audiobook didn't even have any chapter breaks, no Table of Contents. I was quite confused (I'm a TOC snob). I finally figured it out ... I had an abridged version. WHY is there an abridged version of this short children's book??? Why doesn't the audio start out with "this is an abridged recording ..." and why isn't there a visible banner on the cover indicating the abridgement?  I'm afraid this frustration probably impacted my enjoyment of the audiobook, and I don't know how much I missed in this abridged edition. 

I still liked the book ... slight familiarities to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise (and I do realize that the latter was written afterward, but I read it first). Less "Indian" storyline than might have been expected with some of the character names (and in the book, the mother preferred "Indian" to "Native American").  The two storylines ... Sal's that she's living, and Phoebe's that she's telling, kept my interest. There were some emotional gut-punches.

I'm putting this on a RE-READ list ... to read with my eyes, the unabridged version, sometime in the future, maybe next year I'll do a #middlegradeMarch2026. I wasn't in the mood to do a re-read right after finishing the abridged audio. I wasn't even in the mood to check out all the extras (I did read through the author's Newbery acceptance speech, there were also discussion questions and a Q&A). 

I understand that abridged versions have their time and place ... but one shouldn't ACCIDENTALLY read an abridged version without meaning to. Editors - please label better, don't make me read the fine print in the details section just to make sure it's not abridged!

During my #middlegradeMay I had no problem finding books to read, I had stacks physically, and access to more digitally. I read several "classics" and award winning books, and "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry" popped up. I'd never read it. But I noticed it was showing as part of a series, and not book 1. I realize that this, while historically first, was written after "Roll ..." but I decided to start with it. Pretty powerful. 

I appreciated the author's notes before and after (I don't think they were included in the audio, but I had the Kindle copy too). Yes, the N word is used in the book. The N word was used in that time and as the author states "there are those who wish to ban my books because I have used language that is painful, I have chosen to use the language that was spoken during the period, for I refuse to whitewash history. The language was painful and life was painful for many African Americans." The notes at the end were very interesting too ... while this is fiction, so much was based on actual events/stories from the family history. That almost makes it hurt more. 

The writing just flowed ... first person/past tense, from the POV of Paul-Edward. There were three parts ... Childhood, Manhood and Legacy. Heading for the chapters in each part. It was so easy to get drawn into the story, following along as events happened, never really knowing where it was going to go or how it was going to come together in the end. 

While I didn't stop and make notes/highlights, there would be quite a few topics for discussion in a bookclub or school setting. 

I think I'll read more in this series, by this author. 

Hmmm ... I liked this, more so after it wrapped up and I reflect upon it. While I was reading (listening, I went primarily with the audiobook, although I borrowed the Kindle copy as well), especially at the start, I was quite confused and I'm sure I had a scrunched up look on my face. I wasn't really enjoying the first part ...

Basically ... there are three storylines/POVs. First, is Mortimer, he's a cat. Second, is Evan, a young boy (just finishing up elementary school). Both of these perspectives are 3rd person. Then there's Al ... that POV is first person (female narrator). All are past tense. Some of the chapters are short, super short! We/the reader are aware of the storylines crossing ... Al is feeding the cat, Evan sees the cat and the library he is "guarding" ...

There's a Little Free Library ... which I'm sentimental about (I have one myself #182597). 

I pretty much guessed the reveals/twists pretty early on

that Evan's dad was actually the famous author, that he had worked at the library and some had thought he had started the fire. That Al wasn't really a ghost. I had NOT guessed the mice had accidentally started the fire and that the animals had saved Al/Edward.

So, I liked how everything came together, but it was a little (a lot?) choppy and hard to follow at the start. Al DOES say "It will all make sense, soon" in her first chapter, and it did make sense(ish) by the end.   Cute, but ultimately I'm not sure how much I'll remember.