How Do I Self-Care?: A Guided Journal to Practice Self-Kindness (Even on the Hard Days)

This book is about you and what you can do for yourself during each day, whether it is going well or not so well.  Perfect for the holiday season, it helps remind you to slow down and be ok with what you can and can’t get done in that instant.  How to be kind to yourself: no major steps, just reminders to you.  This is a nice book that I am happy doesn’t tell me I have to do this every day or meditate for an hour or stuff like that; instead, maybe just some deep cleansing breaths.  This really is a good book and great for the season.

 

Making Friends (Apocalypse Parenting Book 2)

 

With everyone being forced to play this game by who knows who, even babies have to keep up.  But the deadline is approaching for the time when some will be forced to take part in the challenge, but who?  Old, young, more points, not a lot of points, or totally random?  Meghan is doing her best with what her kids give her to work with; she just wishes they would wait for her to help them with picking their new attributes, but she makes do with what they chose. 

This is book two of the apocalypse parenting series, and it is just as wondrous as the first.  The characters are moving along and ever-changing as they pick their new attributes.  The story is like you would really expect people to be, and Meghan, her kids, and their friends make do with the people around them.  This story has all the action and suspense one can hope for, and this is just book 2; I can’t wait for book three.

The Lost Compass Clue (Codebreakers)

Emma is finally doing ok with school; she has some friends, one who understands her very well, Nate, and helps when he can.  They bonded over ciphers and still decode some at lunch, with bets from their other two friends over who is faster, and the winner gets the junk food.  But when mysterious notes start to appear in Emma’s locker, then her backpack, in code, the four are on the case, and it looks like another relic is to be found.

I guess it is possible to put more action, suspense, and ciphers in another book, because this is it.  Maybe I am not so good at cracking the codes, but I sure love learning about all the different ones and how they work.  What only Nate and Emma’s guidance counselor know is that Emma is autistic, and she has to find the courage to help others including her new step mom about how she works and feels, so they can better help, but mostly treat her.  I really love how the book confronts many issues at the same time.  I love the first book, and this one is even better, so I cannot wait to see what happens in the third book.

 

The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade: The Graphic Novel book 2

Max and his three friends notice a steep decline in the zombies, which would normally be cool, you know that harsh zombie eating the humans brains and all- but this is a lot more.  So Max, his three friends, and their pet Rover go out to investigate.  They did not expect what they found.  A pizza joint with a killer sound system and lots of, huh, really? Monsters. Didn’t see that coming, but the rest you find out for yourself.

This was a wonderful story, the same but also very different than other stories.  I loved all the characters, and the art was so wonderful.  This is a series not to be missed.

 

Recruitment (The Resistance Trilogy, 1)

 

In Valta, a burned and bombed city, everyone’s birthday is the same day, November 1st.  It is also the day the 17s will soon be picked up by recruiters and taken off for training so they can serve and fight their enemy.  For Kress and some others from her city, tomorrow is their recruitment day.  They have no idea what is to come because, other than Kress’ brother, no one is ever seen again, and he was killed not long after he got back.  Everyone has someone or something they will have to leave behind, but for Kress it is a raven, Render, that she is bonded to.  When they get to the processor, they are trained extensively on all things military. However, the longer they are there, the more they find the story doesn’t add up.

Wow, for a dystopian trilogy, the first book is way different, and I really like it.  Plenty of action, suspense, and highs and lows.  Who the bad people are is not always very clear; good thing Render has really good eyes.  I cannot wait to read the next two. 

Radio Free Texas

First and foremost, remember this takes place in the 1980’s. 

It is the start of Bowie’s senior year, and he has no idea what he will do next.  The only thing he knows is he is crushing hard on Comet Jensen.  So much so that he takes the blame for a prank she does because he doesn’t want her to be expelled.  Bowie gets stuck with a lot of community service, and he chooses to do his at the local radio station.  Wow, that community service does not go anywhere near what he possibly thought it would go, and that is enough about that.  You need to read the book to see how his senior year goes or doesn’t. 

This was great as I was an ’80s high schooler, but that time was very different than the high school experience of today.  I am hoping the kids might ask parents (ugh, grandparents, I can’t be that old yet) about that time, or heck, it would make a great adult and teen book club book.  This is a well-written and researched or lived, book.  But I really liked it a lot. I know it was written for YA and teens, but it was a blast from the past for me and maybe others.

 

Fatal Glitch: Let's Play a Game

 

On Lewis’ first day of school, he just wants to make a friend; maybe the toy, a kid AI panda bear his dad sent him, will help.  But as others in his school are able to get the pandas as well, he has a lot of new friends.  But as more of the bears link up, they decide to start asking their kids to do things so they can win the game against the other kids in the circle.  At first, they were weird things, but as time goes on, the tasks become dangerous. When the bear starts augmenting itself, Lewis gets concerned about where this is going, and if he knew the answer, he might be more scared than he already is.  But what can kids do against these now armed in a since bears?

If you read the first Fatal Glitch, this one is even better.  This is the next step up from Goosebumps, and even creepier.  This is a very imaginative book, and I really liked it a lot.  I will make you think about that Furby or Teddy Ruxpin in the closet a bit differently.  I love the characters and the premise of the book; it is just wonderful and fun for anyone from Middle graders on up, even reluctant readers.