Seeing Red

Title:  Seeing Red

Author:  Sarah Mlynowski

Series:  Whatever After #12

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Date Published:  October 30, 2018

Genre:  Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-    I read this aloud to Gnome. We enjoy reading this series together. 

-    Abby and Jonah's Nana is visiting them. Their Nana loves telling them fairy tales for bedtime stories. When Abby gets invited to a sleepover, Nana says she can't go because she wants to spend time with family. Abby is upset and tries to get around the situation by going through the magic mirror. Of course it doesn't work, and Abby and Jonah end up in Little Red Riding Hood's story. 

-    I always love the twists Mlynowski comes up with. They are so clever and improve the original stories by making them more modern and forward thinking.

-    There aren't a lot of stories about grandkids and their relationship with their grandparents, so I really liked that aspect in this book.

-    I don't know if I'd enjoy these books as much if I read them myself. They are definitely too young for me, but they are perfect read-a-loud books. TBH, Gnome is probably outgrowing these books as well, but we still love reading them. 

My Thoughts in a GIF:

Previous Books in the Series: 

    
    

    

(Covers are linked)

p.s. I could not figure out how to fix the spacing issue on the last three book covers. If you have a solution, please let me know.

Rook

Title:  Rook

Author:  Sharon Cameron

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Date Published:  April 28, 2015

Genre:  Young Adult, Distoptian

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-    In what used to be Paris, a mysterious do-gooder named The Red Rook, is saving people from execution. Yes, exactly like The Scarlet Pimpernel. I don't think this was a reimagining or a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but the story was definitely influenced by the classic book. Instead of historical France during the French revolution, this story takes place in a futuristic world where technology is frowned upon because it brought about a horrible catastrophe. 

-    I liked the story overall, but it was too long. I think I would have enjoyed it more if some slower parts had been cut. 

-    Sophia made for a perfect Red Rook. She was constantly underestimated because she is a girl. I liked how Sophia used society's misogyny to her advantage. I also loved her cleverness and determination. 

-    I didn't get too attached to any of the characters, I liked Sophia well enough, but I didn't care of anyone else.

-    I don't know why, but I'm not enjoying YA books as much as I used to. Lately, I've been gravitating more towards adult and middle grade.

My Thoughts in a GIF:

Abby in Wonderland

Title:  Abby in Wonderland

Author:  Sarah Mlynowski

Series:  Whatever After #10.5

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Date Published:  September 17, 2017

Genre:  Middle Grade, Fairy Tale Retelling

Rating:  ★★★★☆

My Thoughts: 

-    Abby usually visits fairy tales through the magic mirror in her basement, but this time she falls into a giant hole on a golf course, and instead of her brother and dog accompanying her, her two best friends and sort of enemy falls into the hole with her. Abby and her friends have to wander through Wonderland and figure out how to get back home. Abby also has to deal with Penny, who isn't her most favorite person. 

-    I like that Abby and Penny learn that they have more in common than they think. I also really like that Abby learns why Penny acts the way she does. It is a good lesson to learn. Often times, the mean kids at school are struggling in some way, and they are just acting out because they don't know how else to behave. 

-    I loved all the Wonderland characters. I am a sucker for Wonderland stories. It's whimsical setting and characters are delightful. 

-    Gnome and I enjoyed reading this together. We laughed and had a lot of fun. 

Previous Whatever After Books

(covers are linked to my thoughts on each book)

  
  
  

Resistance

Gooodreads Synopsis:    Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people. 

Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis' supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya's network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works -- in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Though the Jewish resistance never had much of a chance against the Nazis, they were determined to save as many lives as possible, and to live -- or die -- with honor.

My Thoughts:

-    I am a big Jennifer Nielsen fan! Her books never fail to deliver memorable and incredible stories. Resistance definitely delivered!

-    Chaya's journey was incredible. I love that she and others chose to stand up and fight against unimaginable horrors. I can't fathom the kind of courage she would have had to do what she did.

-    What really blows me away is that this is based on true events, and I love how respectful and honest Nielsen is in her story telling. 

-    I had the privilege of attending the launch party, and Nielsen gave a compelling presentation. I knew I had to read this book, and it was everything she said it was going to be. 

-    One thing I love about Nielsen's books is the writing. I don't feel like I'm reading. The story just flows, and I get really immersed.

Dark Breaks the Dawn

Goodreads Description:    After a thousand years of peace, the battle between Light and Dark has resumed.

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Éadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless. 

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn into the throne much sooner than she expected. 

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shape-shift, and rely on the alluring, but mysterious Lord Tanvir. Not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.

My Thoughts:

-    I enjoyed this one.

-    I love the magic system that Sara created. It is unique, but makes perfect sense, and it isn't over complicated.

-    I really liked Evelayn. She is a doer. She doesn't wait for things to happen, and she doesn't let others do things for her or in her place. She takes care of everything herself, and she really steps up and takes her responsibilities seriously. 

-    On the flip side, I was bugged that Evelayn would push herself too hard. There were people willing to help.

-    There were some slow points in the middle. I didn't like how the battle plans were completely laid out and then we had to read about them be carried out exactly how they were supposed to. I wish there had been variables, or that the plans weren't laid out for me so completely

-    The ending was really good. Even though I know the Swan Lake story, I was still mildly surprised by the ending. 

-    I'm excited to read the next book, and I'm happy that this is just a duology. It could change, but I hope it stays a duology.

Starring Jules: As Herself

Goodreads Synopsis:    Lights! Camera! Action! A hilarious chapter book debut from a fabulous new talent!
Things to Know About Me

by Jules Bloom
1. I am a scrambled-eggs-and-chocolate-milk type person.

2. I have an audition for a TV commercial (which would be great if I were a tall-icy-drink type person.)

3. I am in between best friends right now.

4. I am worried that the audition will be a disaster. (See #1 and #3!)

Jules doesn't want to ruin THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, and she's willing to turn to anyone for help--even her know-it-all ex-best friend! If only that lovely new girl in class would turn out to be the new best friend of her dreams, maybe, just maybe, Jules will be ready for her close-up.... 

My Thoughts:

-    Gnome and I had opposing opinions on this one. She loved it, and I was bored. 

-    Gnome liked all the silly girly stuff, and she liked the drama with the girls.

-    I was not so amused with the silly drama stuff. 

-    Sadly, this is a series, and Gnome wants to read more. Hopefully the next book is better.

Sugar and Spice

Goodreads Says:    That's the way the cookie crumbles!

Yum! Our magic mirror has dropped me and my brother, Jonah, into the story of Hansel and Gretel. If we're lucky, we may even get to taste the cake-house...

But we didn't count on accidentally getting trapped. The real Hansel and Gretel are on the run, and Jonah and I have taken their place. And the witch is making a kid casserole for dinner... 

Now we have to:
- Avoid being eaten 
- Pretend our dog is a cat
- Learn to make kale smoothies
- Befriend a talking duck 

Or we may never make it back to our home sweet home!

My Thoughts:

-    I usually get sick of a series after so many books, but even though this is the 10th book, I'm still enjoying them. 

-    There is something really charming and refreshing about these books. They are fun and quick to read, and it is a nice break from my usual reads.

-    I love the fun and inventive twists on classic fairy tales. This one had a pretty funny twist in the end. I liked it.

-    I'm still very curious about Mary Rose. When are we going to get more of her story?

-    I thought it was interesting that this is the first book in the series that hasn't done a fairy tale that has been an animated Disney movie. 

Previous Whatever After Books

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

  
  
  

Genie in a Bottle

From Goodreads:    Abby and her little brother, Jonah, have a magic mirror in their basement that takes them to different fairy tales -- which they always wind up messing up. But sometimes, it's for the better: Snow White doesn't eat the apple, Cinderella gets a job she loves, etc. In this enchanting ninth installment, the siblings fall into the story of Aladdin. They're excited to be in this world of magic carpets and genies ... but making three wishes isn't so easy, and soon hilarities and hijinks ensue! These books are feminist fairy tales for a new generation.





My Thoughts:

-    This book wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. I liked it, but it is one of those books that sits right in the middle of a rating scale. It is enjoyable, but I think I'm getting burnt out on this series.

-    I really liked the twist on genie in this book. It was fun to see the genie learn new tricks, and she had a fun personality.

-    Aladdin seemed really young. I felt like he wasn't much older than Abbey.

-    The story was a fun play on the original story. I never know how things will change in these stories, but I'm always pleased.

-    I'm still curious about Maryrose and what happened to her. Will I ever get to find out? Does this series end?

Previous Whatever After Books

(covers are linked to my thoughts)