Category Archives: book reviews

I finally got around to reading this book. Being an English teacher has its downsides: when I assign independent reading projects, a lot of books are spoiled for me before I get to read them. This was one of them—many … Continue reading →

Ceremony follows the story of Tayo, a Native American who fought against the Japanese during World War II. The horrors he witnessed in the war have left him sick and restless, and he cannot settle into regular life upon his … Continue reading →

This book had been on my “wish list” for several years, but I finally decided to buy it for myself. I love the movie The Mothman Prophesies, (I lost the DVD when I moved!) simply because I love the mystery … Continue reading →

This middle-grade/children’s book was available free as part of my Amazon Prime lending library, so I thought I’d give it a try. The theme also resonates with me: brave dogs changing humans’ lives for the better. The story follows Lady, … Continue reading →

What a fantastic book! I read all 379 pages in a single day. The Martian was recommended by a writer I respect, and he was right. I bought a copy for my dad for his birthday because I think he’ll … Continue reading →

I’ll start out by once again admitting that I am not a fan of nonfiction unless I am really interested in the topic. I read this book since it was one of the 2015 Loudoun County Schools Battle of the … Continue reading →

This is a young-adult modern(ish) love story with a twist. The story takes place during the days of cassette tape mixes. Eleanor, an awkward redhead, co-stars with Park, an Asian boy who loves punk music. The two find themselves on … Continue reading →

The main character (we’ll call him “Hank”) in this young adult novel wakes up at a train station in New York with a bump on his head, a copy of Walden beside him, and a little bit of money in … Continue reading →

Written in the voice of 15/16-year old Felton Reinstein, this story is told as Felton looks back upon a very trying summer he’s had. When he was five (we learn in the very first few pages), Felton opened the garage … Continue reading →

The Lady of Steinbrekka is a young adult fantasy about a twenty-something named Rhea who finds herself kidnapped and taken to a fantasy world run by a despotic king and evil prince. She’d been a grad student in “the real … Continue reading →