As someone who's been the new kid and the odd friend out (and is still constantly mistaken for being younger than I actually am), I really love Tib — and how easily Betsy and Tacy include her in all their games and schemes.

This book has the same classic appeal as the previous one: straightforward stories, simply told, which many readers will find relatable if they can remember being going-on-ten years old.

This series is the last of [b:The Mother-Daughter Book Club|318016|The Mother-Daughter Book Club|Heather Vogel Frederick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345762234l/318016._SX50_.jpg|308806] selections that I haven't read yet, and the only one I hadn't heard of. But I'm glad I gave it a shot, because these stories are absolutely adorable. Idyllic, nostalgic, wholesome.

Not my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, but it's certainly not bad. As always, masterful writing and fascinating insight into the beliefs of Shakespeare's time; but the characters and plot are relatively bland compared to a lot of his other works.

This is absolutely adorable. I love how it introduces color theory in a really simple, accessible way alongside themes of inclusion and teamwork; I just wish it was longer and the plot was a bit more developed, though of course I'm not exactly part of the target demographic.

I wrote a "Thoughts I Had While Reading This Book" post, if you want to check it out. No pressure or anything.

If I squint, I think I can see why this is a classic (and a beloved one, at that), but it doesn't really work for me — I have some ethical hesitations about the romance, and some of the fourth-wall breaks are more annoying than funny since there are so many of them. Certain plot developments stretch my suspension of disbelief right to the breaking point, though Goldman is such a fantastic storyteller that I still wanted to see it through to the end.

(Won through a Goodreads giveaway! Thank you to author Lisa Pelto for providing me a free e-copy.)

3.5 stars.

Obviously I'm not the target audience for this book, but it takes me back to some of my childhood favorites. The art is gorgeous, so I'm rounding up my rating; the "story" is pretty simplistic, more a scene sketch than a plot, which I can see working especially well with younger readers and/or budding writers (though personally I've always preferred some kind of progression of ideas). Still, it's a short and sweet read that I'll definitely keep to share someday.

The beginning and ending were pretty good, but the middle dragged on quite a bit, which was only exacerbated by all the narrator’s constant moralizing and philosophizing. As half of a sibling pair myself I love that Maggie and Tom’s relationship was the focus, more important even than her romantic entanglements, but theirs wasn’t a healthy dynamic. It’s somewhat alright when they’re kids and Tom just wants his baby sister to stop following him everywhere, but when they’re adults and he’s mostly been cruel to her, she should’ve just stayed away after she got out of there. Family is important, but a toxic one (like the Dodsons and Tom) is by no means one that you have to stay obligated to — at least in this day and age; it’s clear Maggie didn’t have a ton of alternatives. The ending is probably supposed to be sweet and was a genuine “wait, WHAT” moment, but it’s pretty heavy-handed and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

The patriarchy is rampant in this one, with the plot being dominated by the feuds of the fathers (Tulliver and Wakem), then Philip’s and Stephen’s entitlement as they each pursue Maggie and try to coerce her into returning their feelings. There’s some social commentary in the condemnation and ostracism that Maggie faces after she doesn’t elope with Stephen, and a sweet moment with her cousin Lucy (who was all but engaged to Stephen but didn’t hold the betrayal against either of them); Bob Jaskin is terrific for a bit of humor and plenty of practicality.

Overall, it’s an interesting picture of a very specific way of life. I just wish it was more focused and had more of a cohesive plot.

Finally. Slogging through this book reminded of all the reasons I’m wary of reading The Classics, and also of certain reads required in school — dull even during the action scenes, overly intellectual, not formulaic per se but overt in its themes and morals.

I did enjoy the pirate-y vibe of life on a poacher’s ship, but I had a hard time caring about Humphrey and his benevolent sexism/possessiveness toward Maud, or Wolf Larson and his eyes (“blue as the clear sea”) and awful strength and materialistic musings and his feud with his brother Death Larson. There just didn’t seem to be much point to the plot, and added to my indifference towards the characters it just didn’t make for an at all engaging experience.