Salem's Lot

People have told me that this was the scariest Stephen King book they have ever read and while I did thoroughly enjoy this book, I wasn't all that scared. It could be because I listened to the audiobook and the narrator wasn't very suspenseful, or maybe it was because I went into it thinking I was going to be scared stupid, whatever the reason it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought Pet Semetary was. Salem's Lot is Stephen King's take on the Vampires and Dracula, but set in a small, sleepy Maine town. When some out of town folks buy the creepy old Marsden house, things in town suddenly start getting bad. People are scared to go out at night and people are disappearing. Told mainly through the eyes of Ben Meers, an author staying in the town boardinghouse while he writes a novel, and through the eyes of various townsfolk. I liked the multiple town people perspectives because it showed the slow progression of wrongness taking over the town. Another great Stephen King novel, but I don't know if this one makes it in my top 10. 

I Thirst

This is a book that I am going to need to sit down with a few more times to really get it's meaning and message. This book is one of the most high concept and detailed devotionals I have read (it's also the first one that's exclusively Catholic). Father Joseph Langford penned this book about Mother Teresa's devotion and understanding of Jesus' thirst and ties it back to the bible. It's really powerful and I really enjoyed listening to the accompanying video series on Hallow, it helped break it down and make it more understandable. My small group has been reading and discussing this book each week. I've enjoyed it and I definitely plan on reading it again so I can hopefully absorb the message even more. 

Emma and the Reindeer

This is a fun middle grade read that will encourage kids to care about their environment using the spirit of Christmas. One ordinary day, Emma is working on her homework when a small woman with red and green hair pops up on her bed. At only two feet, she is small and dainty and full of spunk. She introduces herself as Emma's great great grandmother who lives with Santa. She tells Emma that she has been chosen by Santa to help write a book on environmentalism. Things are getting dire at the North Pole as the reindeer are struggling to find food to eat. Grandmother Hazel transports Emma to the North Pole so she can interview the Reindeer, meet Santa, and see for herself what Climate Change is doing. Emma is aghast and vows to write a book that will help children turn climate change around. A fun concept and I loved all the reindeer. What a unique idea for a book! 

Popcorn

I absolutely adored this middle grade novel about anxiety and panic attacks. What a necessary read in a world that needs to talk more openly about mental health. Popcorn is about a seventh grade boy who is having the worst of worst days. It's his mom's first day at a new job, a job she really needs because they need the money to help put his grandmother in a safe facility (her Alzheimers is getting worse by the day). All she asks of him is to PLEASE take a nice photo (it's school picture day) and it seems as if the universe is out to get him. He already suffers from anxiety and he's nervous about his mom's first day, his grandma being watched by a friend, and staying clean and presentable for his photo. It's a lot! Throughout the day there is a bully who is out to get him, a science experiment gone wrong, juice box sneezes, and a basketball to the face. Andrew's anxiety keeps ratcheting up after each and every incident. He's never had a panic attack at school and he is determined that today won't be the day. But what if the universe is out to get him? Filled with amazing illustrations and comic frames; this middle grade novel is so important. Should be required reading for kids and adults!

Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix

This middle grade fantasy novel is perfect for kids who like folk and fairy tales. When Soledad hears her mother's awful visions, she is determined to not be a part of them. She steals her mother's magical flute and runs into the mountains. Over the course of a year, three plagues befall her village and she is helpless to assist them. All she knows is that she cannot fall into the hands of the Phoenix otherwise she will be used as his pawn to create further chaos. Even while isolated high in the mountains, Soledad has fallen victim to one of the plagues, she has a wound on her leg that will not heal. She can prevent it from spreading further only if she keeps bathing it in the healing waters by her former village. It's getting more and more dangerous though. The ruin dwellers and the Phoenix's men are down there and one of these days they are going to catch her. When she runs into an old friend, she thinks that everything might be ok, but that interaction sets off a chain of events that will end everything once and for all. Solid, but some of the events seem out of order or not needed. 

Once Upon a Time in Maggie's Key West

Short and sweet, this little self published novel for middle grade readers had good bones, but could definitely have used an editor. It was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, the formatting was weird, and the homemade drawings were very... amateur. That being said, I think it's an enjoyable story about a young girl and the magical Christmas she spent with her family in Key West. It's easy to read, sweet, and fun. Again, I think the story has potential, it just needs some more TLC. I do believe this is also part of a series. 

28 Days of Neon

This was a quick read that will appeal to middle graders. Twelve year old, Neon overheard her parents whispering in their bedroom and to her utter dismay she finds out that she only has 28 days to live. They are trying to keep her healthy and happy; but they are hiding the truth from her. Neon decides to live her last 28 days to the fullest and doesn't let her parents know that she knows. She decides that she wants to do one good deed a day and if she's really good, maybe she'll be granted a miracle and can live. She decides she'll help everyone in town if that's what it will take to get a miracle. She helps her elderly neighbor, decides to sit with an autistic classmate at lunch, gives her sweater to someone who needs it and so on. The pressure to keep her secret though is weighing on her. She doesn't want people to start treating her any differently. Soon though she is having to make up lies and is inadvertently pushing her friends away. But could they handle the truth? Sweet and a little sad. With some more chapters and a better editor, I think this could be a big book.