Cute illustrations and fun for the winter, but the rhymes leave a bit to be desired at times.

Cute and fun for rhythm exploration in kindergarten.

Was this book fun to read? No. Did I do a lot of skimming? Yes. Do I think it made me a better person? Yes. Did it help me to imagine Ethiopia and surgeons and the world more complexly? Yes. This is why I am loving my new book club. I would have never in a million years chosen to read this book, but it tells an epic and real story that made me angry and sad and confused but also made me think about the harsh reality of the world. I am so appreciative of the people who choose not just to be doctors and nurses and surgeons but the people who choose to do it not in the wealthy "Mecca" hospitals but in the places where privileged American doctors are hard to come by.

5 stars for writing a really good and interesting book that was only about walking. I loved almost every moment of this book and it made me want to quit my job and go hike the PCT and saw the handle off my toothbrush. At no point during the book did I come to like Cheryl. I frankly think she's kind of an idiot. I do appreciate her reflections on her past and how her biological father and mother and brother and sister and stepfather all led her to where she is today. However, I at no point read anything that I think excused the way she treated the husband she had. And she seemed to know that, but was unable to do anything about it. I can't relate to that.
So, 5 stars because despite the fact that I didn't actually like the person the book was about, I really liked the book. Impressive! I want to go backpacking now.

Slow to start but fantastic to finish. I loved Anderson's writing style - some chapters short, some long. The letters used after Octavian's escape were so interesting.

I really want to see him meet up again with Bono in book 2 and I hope it happens!

This book was a new viewpoint/setting for me, as I haven't really ready any historical fiction from new America/Revolutionary War times. I think I will enjoy book 2 more because I won't have to get through the confusing parts where Octavian was so young. Definitely recommend!

I gave this book 3 stars because by the end Mahi had in fact convinced me that I do want to know what happens next.

Spoilers

What makes me so upset about this book is the sheer potential it has for a great story and great writing and how terribly it fails at both. The x-men/dystopia crossover, while not incredibly original, could have been at least interesting. I just cannot believe that an editor read this novel the way it is now and agreed to have it published. The most stand out issues to me were the lack of plot, character development, and the COMPLETE overindulgence of the romantic storyline. I was confused pretty much straight away that these 2 people were confessing their love for each other after less than 5 conversations simply based on their childhood and the fact that they can touch. I love me some good steamy romance but god even I was getting uncomfortable with the highly descriptive puberty driven make out sessions occurring every other chapter. There was very little concrete foundation for any character in this story, there was practically NOTHING given to us about the world they are living in...everything was just grotesquely lacking! I hate being cruel in a review because I certainly don't want to pretend I could write a better story but come on, I could certainly edit better! The reason this book has such high ratings is that it is being read by very young girls who love all of the romance. But if you look deeper, this book is really just a romance novel disguised as a modern dystopian story.
I'm trying to find the right way to describe how this book is written. It focuses so much on the love story that frankly has little to no foundation or sense to it that it neglects any kind of significant plot or theme. All of these dystopian YA novels are great because they thrive on telling a really good story with an exciting plot. This book was just introspect, kissing, thinking, kissing, teensy bit of excitement, kissing, oh wait was that character development nope just more kissing. Juliette had all of these great character traits that were just mentioned and dropped. She loves to write it's the only thing that makes sense oh wait she lost her notebook to Warren and never even tries to get it back even though it was the only thing that mattered to her for almost a year. She's so helpless oh wait she can punch through concrete but can't punch Warren in the face when he attacks her.
I keep trying to think of other redeeming qualities about this female protagonist and there are just none and it's not her fault. I'm just really disappointed in Mahi and this book as a whole. And in the publisher/editor for not trying to make it better because it could be so much better.
Will read book 2 with crossed fingers hoping for better writing because the last 3rd of the book (and basically any part where Juliette wasn't around Adam) got very interesting. I do want to know answers to some of the questions I have. We'll see. Right now I just want to forget about it and read something really really good.

Very much enjoyed this book. "Good for you, not for me" is my favorite take-away from Poehler. It fits along with the mentality I've tried to have for the past year or so of trying not to automatically judge anyone verbally or mentally for the clothes they wear, the way they look, or the choices they make. Good for you, not for me. Doesn't mean I need to be cruel to you, even if it's in my head.

I LOVED the chapters about Parks and Rec! Especially when she went through each of the actors individually and talked about her relationship with them.

I enjoyed hearing stories from SNL, and I liked her chapter about apology.

Parts were a little dull, but really an enjoyable book overall.

I thought this book was fantastically done. Like Wild, Kerman turned a big jumble of experiences into a memoir that reads like a novel. Despite the rotating cast of characters, I loved the way she portrayed herself and the women she meets. I appreciated the insights she gives into the prison system and wish she had done so more throughout the book. I want to hand this book to every judge/politician/CO/warden/anyone who might be able to make a smidgen of difference to people who are locked up.

I liked that she ended the book with her release and didn't go on - it wasn't about her life outside of prison; it was about her life in prison. Beautifully written and well done.

Adorable.

Cute story. Cute illustrations.