what i've read so far...

[orangerful]

My Big Mouth: 10 Songs I Wrote That Almost Got Me Killed by Peter Hannan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a really quick read and perfect for that Wimpy Kid fan who has moved into the perilous world of high school. Davis Delaware is a very realistic and likeable character. The book is a very quick read, lots of doodles drawn on the pages to make it feel like a journal (the author used to work for Nickelodeon).



A Treasury of Xxth Century Murder: The Lives of Sacco and Vanzetti by Rick Geary

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


3.5 stars - I always enjoy this series. I remember learning about Sacco and Vanzetti in school but could not have told you any details except that there was something fishy about their case and people were upset. It was great to read this and get a refresher on that part of American history.

I think EVERY Middle and High School should have the Rick Geary series in their collections, it's a great way for anyone to familiarize themselves with historical true-crime stories and might even inspire someone to dig a little deeper into the mysteries.



Three Cups of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way by Jon Krakauer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Krakauer flat-out attacks Mortenson and exposes the lies in his book "Three Cups of Tea". I figured this might just be a 77-page book of nitpicking, but if what Krakauer says is true, Mortenson completely fabricated SEVERAL of the incidents in the first half of his book. And then he abused his power as the head of his charity. Looking online afterwards, I found that Mortenson is now working to pay back the charity so, even if Krakauer slips from investigatory journalist into bitchy-guy mode, it was worth it to make Mortenson fess-up to his crimes.

Seriously, if you ran a CHARITY, wouldn't you feel bad for making over $200,000 a year??? It's only 77 pages long, but it will get your blood boiling pretty quickly.



Zahra's Paradise by amir

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An amazing book that everyone should read. The blurb on the cover compares it to "Maus" and "Persepolis" and I would have to agree. But you need to read this book NOW so you can understand what is going on over in Iran.



The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Fascinating book made even better by Gladwell's narration. It really makes you examine fads/epidemics in a different way.



Daytripper by Fábio Moon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm not really sure what to say about "Daytripper". I picked it up because it appeared on so many "best of the year" lists that I couldn't ignore it. It was not at all what I expected. I can't decide if it is incredibly depressing or very uplifting. I feel like it can be interpreted in many different ways. To me, it is the story of one man's life, and the little deaths that we all suffer as we grow older.



Amelia Rules! Volume 7: The Meaning of Life... and Other Stuff by Jimmy Gownley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love this series! I love how Amelia and her crew mature just enough in each book, it's one of those series you want to get into kid's hands at that right moment.

I think the beauty of this series is that kid's Amelia's age can pick it up and enjoy it, but adults can also read her stories and identify with what she is going through. I remember feeling the way Amelia does in this book, and finally realizing that, like she says, there is no "child's world" or "adult's world" - there is just life and we all have to learn how to navigate it and friends are the most important thing to have.



Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Got this book through the Amazon Vine Program

I really like the art style in this book, reminded me of "Scott Pilgrim" but, I have to say, I don't understand why the "ghost story" part was even included. It felt very tacked one. I could see what the author wanted to do when it came to the character coming to terms with her mother's disappearance, but I did not feel she used the device to it's full potential. I think I would have liked the book a lot more if the ghost had been left in the graveyard and we just saw the story of her first few months of high school.

If you liked this story but wished the paranormal twist had been better utilized, try Anya's Ghost



The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The first in the series of 'The Chronicles of Pyrdain' - you can tell everything is being set up for the next book, which I look forward to so we can skip all the introductions and just get right to the action! :)



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