kailey_luminouslibro's Reviews (3.79k)

A little boy named Daniel pretends to be an alien sent to observe Earthlings. He is upset that the new baby is getting more attention than him and he feels unloved, so he lashes out and causes trouble for his family. He eats the cat food and makes himself sick to get attention. He locks his older brother in his room during a game of hide and seek. He ties the family pet into a bag and throws it in the trash bin. Thankfully, the cat escapes and makes it back home, but what a horrible thing to do!

I ended up DNFing this book. I didn't get the weird sense of humor, and I hated the main character. What a little brat! He's so mean and destructive. He's selfish and horrible to his family. All he does is criticize everyone and say mean things about them in his diary. Apparently, he warms up to the baby at the end of the book, but that doesn't mean I want to suffer through chapter after chapter of his bad behavior to get to one chapter of reconciliation at the end.

I did not like the art style either. It seems to purposefully make people look ugly or gross. There is way too much emphasis on animal buttholes. Why include that in the artwork? It's so inappropriate.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book gives advice about how to navigate the difficulties of middle school. There are chapters about not judging others, bullying, friendships and cliques, trying to be popular, having a crush on someone, gossip, social media, and peer pressure.

My main problem with this book was that it didn't really go into WHY young people should avoid bad decisions and toxic behaviors. It didn't talk about honor or morality or modesty. It didn't talk about honesty or virtue. It just says lots of nice things about being kind to others, but the whole philosophy is very casual and lackadaisical. It even says at one point that "There are no correct responses." You can do whatever and make whatever choices and nothing is right or wrong. The entire attitude is very amoral and toxic.

There is one little paragraph about sexting that says that it is not a good idea to send nude photos to anyone because those photos might not end up being private. They could be shared or posted online, so it's a bad idea to sext anyone because you need to protect your privacy. But nothing is said about respecting yourself, respecting your body, having modesty, or reporting the person who asked you for nude photos or sent you nude photos. There are a myriad of reasons why sexting is a bad idea, but only one reason was mentioned. Nothing about how it is immoral and abnormal and should be reported.

Same thing with bullying, and peer pressure, and a lot of other serious topics.
The chapter on peer pressure just talks about not allowing yourself to be pressured into doing something that you don't want to do. It doesn't even go into why vaping, alcohol, and drugs are destructive and illegal in the first place. This book doesn't go enough into depth. It just scrapes the surface, but doesn't explain the full issues with these topics.

There is a lot of nice advice in this book, and the design is really attractive and fun. But I just couldn't get past the nonchalant morality and purposeless philosophy. It's like you are equipping children with tools to navigate serious issues in life, and when they get out there they realize that the tools you gave them are made of sand, and your philosophy crumbles into dust because it is not built on anything real or lasting.

I wish there were a book like this with strong morals, and real advice about right and wrong, and real solutions to ethical problems. I wish there were a book like this that championed truth and goodness and virtue, because those are the only tools that will actually help you in life.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Coralie is organizing a play with her mermaid friends, but they can't decide on a topic for their play. They have the idea to do some research about humans and get some ideas for their play, so they travel to the Red Sea to investigate an old shipwreck. They find human utensils, tools, and plates. They even discover an old bathtub and wonder what humans could use it for. However, there are many dangers in the Red Sea. There are angry sharks, and aggressive fish protecting their nests. But the greatest danger of all comes from the humans themselves. Coralie wonders if all humans are evil, polluting the ocean, or if some humans might be good people, helping to preserve and protect the ocean.

I loved this cute book! The mermaid culture is wonderfully imaginative, and I thought it was so fun to learn about all the mermaid friends. We also get some real life facts about interesting fish and conservation in the ocean. The plot and mysterious adventure had me guessing and wondering!

I love all the interesting mermaid characters. They all have their own strengths and that is what makes them such a great team. Coralie is funny and smart and strong. Naya is always inventing some type of new scientific magical combination to help them in their adventures. Luna has a special connection to marine animals. Kai is always looking for a new way to do things, a new approach to their problems. And Marina is the heart of the group, and she is always encouraging and supporting the others.

The black and white illustrations in this book are so cool! It really brings the story to life. I love the art style, and the unique designs for each mermaid character.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

The magical mermaid whirlpool is malfunctioning, but Naya and Marina are sucked in and transported to an underwater cave. Unable to return, they begin to explore and discover that they are in an underground river with many twists and turns. Their friends follow them in a rescue attempt, but they are all stuck there until they can figure out why the whirlpool is malfunctioning. One part of the underground river emerges in a sunlit jungle, and the merfriends have fun playing on the rocks. However, there is a dangerous predator lurking in the shadows of the jungle, and the mermaids will have to protect their vulnerable pets.

I loved this cute book! The mermaid culture is wonderfully imaginative, and I thought it was so fun to learn about all the mermaid friends. We also get some real life facts about interesting fish and conservation in the ocean. The plot and mysterious adventure had me guessing and wondering!

I love all the interesting mermaid characters. They all have their own strengths and that is what makes them such a great team. Coralie is funny and smart and strong. Naya is always inventing some type of new scientific magical combination to help them in their adventures. Luna has a special connection to marine animals. Kai is always looking for a new way to do things, a new approach to their problems. And Marina is the heart of the group, and she is always encouraging and supporting the others.

The black and white illustrations in this book are so cool! It really brings the story to life. I love the art style, and the unique designs for each mermaid character.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

The merfriends are working together on a school project about types of coral in the different ocean zones. The decide to do some research in the Midnight Realm in the depths of the ocean that cannot be reached by any sunlight. First, they will have to prepare some lanterns, food, a map, and a special way for their mammal pets to dive so deep without needing to come up for oxygen. They know it is incredibly dangerous, but the friends are resourceful and brave! When they encounter a deadly giant squid, it will take all their courage to make it out alive!

I loved this cute book! The mermaid culture is wonderfully imaginative, and I thought it was so fun to learn about all the mermaid friends. We also get some real life facts about interesting fish and conservation in the ocean. The plot and mysterious adventure had me guessing and wondering!

I love all the interesting mermaid characters. They all have their own strengths and that is what makes them such a great team. Coralie is funny and smart and strong. Naya is always inventing some type of new scientific magical combination to help them in their adventures. Luna has a special connection to marine animals. Kai is always looking for a new way to do things, a new approach to their problems. And Marina is the heart of the group, and she is always encouraging and supporting the others.

The black and white illustrations in this book are so cool! It really brings the story to life. I love the art style, and the unique designs for each mermaid character.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Marina is heartbroken when her dad announces that they will have to leave Mermaid Rock to study walruses in the Artic. But Kai suggests that Marina could stay with his family while her father is in the Artic doing his research, The mermaid friends start planning to train their pets for the big Pet Talent Competition coming up. But when Marina doesn't hear from her father for two days, the friends begin to worry that something must be wrong, and they travel through the magical ocean portal to the Artic seas. It will take all their courage and ingenuity to navigate the dangers of these frigid waters and find Marina's missing father. If their pets have been well-trained, maybe they could help in the search!

I loved this cute book! The mermaid culture is wonderfully imaginative, and I thought it was so fun to learn about all the mermaid friends. We also get some real life facts about interesting fish and conservation in the ocean. The plot and mysterious adventure had me guessing and wondering!

I love all the interesting mermaid characters. They all have their own strengths and that is what makes them such a great team. Coralie is funny and smart and strong. Naya is always inventing some type of new scientific magical combination to help them in their adventures. Luna has a special connection to marine animals. Kai is always looking for a new way to do things, a new approach to their problems. And Marina is the heart of the group, and she is always encouraging and supporting the others.

The black and white illustrations in this book are so cool! It really brings the story to life. I love the art style, and the unique designs for each mermaid character.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Coralie and her friends are playing at the magic whirlpool, transporting to different oceans around the world to explore. Coralie travels to a kelp forest and discovers a map that seems to point to a treasure. The friends plan a treasure-hunting expedition, but the nosy Glenda is spying their plans. The mermaids are also worried about encountering dangerous animals like orcas or sharks in the kelp forest, and they try to make a plan to stay safe. But you never know what might happen out in the ocean!

I loved this cute book! The mermaid culture is wonderfully imaginative, and I thought it was so fun to learn about all the mermaid friends. We also get some real life facts about interesting fish and conservation in the ocean. The plot and mysterious adventure had me guessing and wondering!

I love all the interesting mermaid characters. They all have their own strengths and that is what makes them such a great team. Coralie is funny and smart and strong. Naya is always inventing some type of new scientific magical combination to help them in their adventures. Luna has a special connection to marine animals. Kai is always looking for a new way to do things, a new approach to their problems. And Marina is the heart of the group, and she is always encouraging and supporting the others.

The black and white illustrations in this book are so cool! It really brings the story to life. I love the art style, and the unique designs for each mermaid character.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone. 

Bela dreams of becoming a movie star in Bollywood, and hopes that her dance skills will win her a scholarship to the famous Bollywood Academy, where young students are trained as actors, dancers, and film crew. Her mother, a dance instructor, convinces her that she is good enough to enter the Dance Starz TV competition, and Bela submits an entry. When Bela dances, she feels supremely happy as if the entire world just falls away. But will her love for dance be enough to win the competition and the scholarship?

This was such a fun book! The plot is really interesting and I loved all the different characters. The best part of this book for me was learning more about the rich Indian culture, and seeing how Bela's sweet family interact and support each other. The writing is excellent and I love the world-building and all the details of the school!

I really loved Bela's character and her inner journey to find confidence in herself. She has a lot of doubts in the beginning, but she grows and begins to trust herself. She has a few good friends who encourage her, and gradually she learns that her abilities and skills have value. But most importantly, it is her good heart and her kindness that prove her worth both on and off the stage.

At first, I didn't like all the meanness in the rivalry plot line. The bullying and rude comments seemed really hurtful on both sides, but the ending made it better, and a valuable lesson was learned by all, so I liked it. I was glad to see character growth from a lot of the characters, and hope that continues through more of the series!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book was written only a few years after Lord of the Rings was published. It is like a little historic peak into what people thought of Lord of the Rings in the beginning, before it was established as the colossal modern classic we know it as today. Before the modern genre of fantasy was really defined, the Lord of the Rings was difficult to classify. It was like the epic stories of the Greeks and Romans, and some people called it "super science fiction" or a "giant-sized fairy tale".

The author begins with a few chapters about Tolkien himself, his writings, his education, and his family. At the time, Tolkien was still alive and "hearty" at the age of 76, and retired in a "modest house" near Oxford.

Then come several chapters which offer a lengthy summary of the entire plot of The Hobbit and LotR with massive spoilers. The author assumes that some of his readers have not read LotR and will need some information about the plot to continue. This seems really weird to me. What reader would pick up a book about LotR if they had not read it? Why would anyone be interested in reading a book about a book that they haven't read? Why wouldn't you go read the actual book first, then read the book about the book?

I was grieved to see that the author gets a couple of things wrong in his summary of the LotR. He states that Eowyn is King Theoden's daughter, when she is in fact his niece. Little mistakes like this made me wonder what other facts the author might have written incorrectly elsewhere in the book.

Another chapter discusses why LotR is definitely not an allegory or satire, since Tolkien despised both. But any story can be "applicable" if the reader so chooses. We also explore Tolkien's philosophy of "subcreation" and his belief that all mythology contains a grain of truth.

The author then proceeds to give a history lesson in the origin of the fantasy story, going back to the Greek and Roman epics with heroes, wars, quests, gods, and monsters. The next chapter shows how the Anglo-Saxons imitated the Greeks in developing their ideas of epic heroes such as Beowulf. Then medieval poets imitated their predecessors in the popular "Romance" adventure tales of their day, but adding more magic, wizards, ghosts, and sorcerers.
(I found out an interesting tidbit of history; the "Romance" genre used to mean simply an epic adventure, and "Romances" were so called because they were written in the Romance languages.)
Then we dive into Renaissance through Victorian literature where a few great fantasy adventure writers stand out from the crowd as redefining the genre. And finally we arrive at the modern idea of the fantasy genre where a handful of fantasy writers attempt epic stories, the immediate precursors to Tolkien.

There are several chapters detailing old Norse mythology where Tolkien got many of his ideas and some names. The names of most of the dwarves from the Hobbit are found in an old Scandanavian poem, Voluspo, part of the Elder Edda. Gandalf's name is found in the same poem, and is also the name of a King in the Anglo-Saxon tale of Halfdan the Black.
Earendal is the Saxon name given to a star, which means "splendor" in Old English. The name "orcs" can be found in Beowulf, "...monsters of all sorts were born: etins and elves and orcs, worst of all, giant folk also..." Theoden means "chief or ruler of a tribe, prince, king" in Old Anglo-Saxon.

There are a few things in the last chapters that I thought were interesting insights into the characters of LotR. The author says that while a classic hero like Aragorn is obviously destined for greatness, Frodo is a humble character who "has greatest thrust upon them." The reader identifies more with Frodo because he is ordinary in the beginning and grows through his suffering.

My favorite insight is about Sam's character. The author says that Sam is not really a comedic character. He is not a clown, but the juxtaposition of his common sense and plain-speaking manner contrasted against the more formal speech of highly educated people who surround him creates a humorous element. I love that Sam is taken seriously, but we can also acknowledge that, without meaning to, he does bring humor to the story. It's the contrast between who Sam is and the extraordinary circumstances around him that makes him as funny as a fish flopping about out of water. Poor Sam! And yet, all the characters around him respect him, admire his good qualities, and value the common sense approach that he brings to the group.

This book was published before The Silmarillion, so the author has to guess about many things that were revealed in Silmarillion. For instance, the author guesses that perhaps Gandalf is actually one of the gods of Valinor and not a mere mortal. As we now know, that was a good guess!

Overall, this is an interesting book about LotR and gives some great history of the fantasy genre and the myths that Tolkien drew from to create Middle Earth.

Lord Harold asks Jane Austen to keep an eye on Netley Lodge near the ruins of the ancient Netley Abbey. He fears there are French spies plotting mischief in the area. Jane takes her paint box and pretends to sketch the abbey ruins while keeping a close watch on all the comings and goings at the Lodge. But her watchfulness is in vain. A ship in the dockyards is set on fire and the shipwright is murdered. It is definitely the work of spies and traitors against the British crown.

I really liked this story and the history behind it. There is quite a lot of real history woven into the story with Jane's family and her acquaintances, but of course the murder mystery and Jane's involvement in the investigation are entirely fictional.

I enjoyed seeing more of Jane's brother Frank, whom she nicknamed "Fly". Jane also has a sweet scene with her sister-in-law, Mary, that shows how close they were. It was lovely to see how Jane cares so much for her family, but they also exasperate her at times. Jane is especially annoyed by her mother sometimes. Her mother is similar to Mrs. Bennet, always fussing and worried.

The murder mystery itself is good, and all the intrigue with the spies is exciting! I was completely shocked at the ending! I never imagined what the ending could be, and it was a total surprise.

I love the formal writing style that mimics the Regency era language. The dialogue is fairly close to what a real conversation might have been like in that time period. It really immerses you in the history.