Pax 
by Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Narrator Michael Curran-Dorsano
Publisher Harper Collins
Published 02/02/2016
Read the ebook/audiobook 

Trigger Warnings: Animal death, War, Blood, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Grief

What does war really take from us?

This is the story of a young boy named Peter and his pet fox Pax and their experiences during the time of war. At the beginning of the story Peter is forced by his father to leave Pax in the wild because Peter is going to his grandfather's while his dad goes off to war. We then follow the events of Pax and Peter after they are split up and both are trying to find their way back to each other. 

I think that the characters really were the best part of this book. I think that Peter was crafted in a way that gets inside the head of a growing boy. I also loved seeing Pax having to learn how to be a fox after being raised around humans from the time he was two weeks old.

I think that the themes of grief and war were also done in a way that showed the severity of each of these themes without being to much for a younger audience. I think that the plot of the story pulled you in and made you care about Peter and Pax finding each other again. 

For me as an adult reading this book I did feel like the pacing was a little slow at times but I think for the audience that this book is the target audience that the pacing will probably be just fine. 

I think that the authors voice is compelling and is informative with out being preachy. 

I think that this is a story that I will one day read with my kids. I would also be interested in picking up more from this author in the future. 

 You Are Not Alone 

By: Elisa Morgan 
Puplisher Our Daily Bread Publishing 
Published 11-02-2021
Read an ARC from NetGalley 

This is a book that looks at what it means to be lonely but also what it means to know that we are never truely alone when we have a relationship with God. 

This is a study of how we can see through out the Bible that God is with us even in the times that we personally feel alone. That doesn't always mean in just a physical sense either. Through out this book we are given references to six affirmations (God's Promise, God's Perception, God's Purpose, God's Presence, God's Provision, and God's Perspective.)

I want to commend Elisa Morgan for the research and time that went into this book because it felt like there was a lot of hard work and biblical study put into this book. I think that she did accomplish what she set out to do, but I don't know that it worked for me. 

I can see where this book could be extremly helpful to those who don't have a close relationship with God and are trying to find a book that helps them find their way to a closer relationship to him. 

For me this book just reaffirms things that I already know and I was hoping that I was going to get some new insight. I think also at the time in my life where I am trying to deconstruct my faith and doing a lot of self reflection and trying to discern what it is I believe and not just what I have been taught/ conditioned to believe that this book didn't really help me. 

I do think that this is a great place for someone who is new to their faith and is struggling to pick up and learn some of these biblically based truths about who God is and what God wants a relationship with us to look like. 

The Case of the Missing Marquess
Series: Book 1 of the Enola Holmes Series
Author Nancy Springer 
Publisher Philomel
Published 02-16-2006
Audiobook Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Format Read: ebook/audiobook

Trigger Warnings :Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Misogyny, Violence, Confinement, Sexism, Blood, Death of a parent 

Can the Holmes name have more than one great detective in their ranks?

On the fourteenth birthday of Enola Holmes her mother leaves and doesn't return. While trying to figure out what has happend to her mother and also running from the life that her older brothers Mycroft and Sherlock see best for her; our heroine ends up on the investigation of a missing Marquess. Will she be able to find her mother and the Marquess before her brothers find her?

I think that this novel does a great job of leaning in to the mystery genre and paying omage to the great Sherlock Holmes stories. I had previously watched the Netflix adaptation before reading this book and was pleasantly surprised by how much more I enjoyed the novel. I think that this could be a really fun way to introduce Sherlock Holmes to a younger generation. 

I loved Enola and her spunk. Enola took all of the things that her brothers and society told her were "wrong" with her and use those things to her advantage to help her in her escape from the life that she didn't want as well as aiding her in her search for her mother. I think that Enola read as a fourteen year old should.

I think that this was a great set up for the rest of the series. The story was one that moved quickly and kept the reader guessing and engaged. 

The pacing from the beginning felt quick but not rushed. I think that for the audience that this is geared towards the plot moves just fast enough to keep the reader engaged without feeling rushed. 

I thought that the prose was done extremely well. All of the characters spoke in a way that gave you a distinct sense of the time period as well as being easy to understand. I think that this author did an amazing job in their research of the original stories of Sherlock Holmes and the result is a novel that feels like an extension of the original narrative. 

I really enjoyed this book and can not wait to share it with my niece and continue on with the series. 

A Letter to Three Witches 

Author Elizabet Bass 
Publisher Kensington
Published 01-25-2022
ARC from NetGalley 

Trigger Warnings : Animal Cruelty, Bullying, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic Friendship

Have you ever wonder what a sitcom version of Practical Magic would look like? Well this book is exactly that for me. 

This is a story of three cousins Gwen, Trudy, and Milo. As well as Gwen's adopted sister Tannith. We find out at the beginning of the story that Gwen's whole family is forbidden from using their magic due to some action of their ancestors. There are also people called watchers who are tasked with making sure that people like Gwen and her family are not using their magic. As of right now I think this is supposed to be a standalone. 

This is definetly a rom-com type of story with a little bit of some magical elements thrown in to add flavor. I think that the rom-com elements of the story were right on par with other books such as One Night on the Island by Josie Silver. I think that anyone going into this book thinking that it is a paranormal or fantasy book would be sadly mistaken. 

I think that the characters all had their issues but I did enjoy seeing a family that really did try to look out for one another. I think for me this was less of a character driven story so I didn't really feel a strong connection to any of the main characters.

I think that this is definetly one of those stories that grips you right from the beginning and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. I think that this book did a great job of showing how sometimes the family that is forced upon you isn't one that you have to keep forever. I think that the story wrapped up nicely but also left things in a place that if the author ever wanted to continue on with some of theses characters stories that they could. 

I think that the pacing was one of the strongest parts of this book because it was a one sitting read for me. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know how everything would turn out. 

I think that the authors writing style was very straightforward. As someone who loves flowery writting occasionally I still enjoyed how straightforward the writing was and how compelling the author's voice was to the overall enjoyment of the story. 

I don't think that this is a story I would pick up again but I could see me reaching for this author when I was in the mood for a quick fun read. 

The constant back and forth of the POV just kept pulling my out of the story I may try this one again later