When Rosemont Abbey goes up in flames, the result of an apparent arson, it shocks the residents of Wilbeth Green, a quaint English village. In the wake of the blaze, Paul Everly, the town troublemaker, has vanished. He's quickly convicted in the court of public opinion, but his twin sister, Louisa, refuses to believe that Paul would set fire to a church. In fact, she's convinced not only that he's innocent but also that he's dead. Even though the 26-year-old twins haven't been close in years, Louisa can feel his loss. She can't explain to others how she knows Paul is gone without sounding insane, so she launches her own private investigation into what she's sure is her brother's murder.

As Louisa pokes her nose into the arson, she ruffles feathers among the good folks of Wilbeth Green, not all of whom are telling her the truth. The more she digs, the more sure she is that something nefarious is going on in the sleepy village. With several unexpected helpers—including a handsome detective inspector, a spunky old lady, and a wise vicar—Louisa will find out what happened to Paul, no matter the risk. Can Louisa solve the puzzling mystery before it's too late? Or will she be the next to vanish?

I always enjoy a good historical mystery and I was pleasantly surprised by The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens. Louisa and Malcolm are both understated, likable characters. They're compassionate, determined, smart, and nice without being doormats. You can feel the warmth and chemistry between them from the moment they see each other. The investiative trio they form with Mrs. Watson, a sassy octogenarian, is probably my favorite part of the book, though. Their antics just made me laugh. The mystery they're looking into is fairly straightforward, but there were enough plot twists to keep me guessing throughout the novel. Although I probably should have seen the killer coming, I really didn't. Their motive did seem a tad weak. Still, their identity was a surprise but not a what?-that-doesn't-make-any-sense surprise.

The novel is published by Bethany House and is, technically, Christian fiction. However, it's not overtly religious. Louisa is the daughter of a (deceased) vicar. She and her family attend Sunday services regularly and are involved in the social happenings at the church. In addition, their vicar is her friend, confidante, and spiritual leader. Most of the "Christian" bits of the story are things he says, showing that requesting and receiving his advice is a natural, normal part of Louisa's life. The book never feels preachy. In fact, it doesn't even really feel like Christian fiction, although it is clean and, ultimately, a hopeful, faith-promoting read.

All in all, I very much enjoyed The Burning of Rosemont Abbey. I'm definitely up for reading more by Stephens. Apparently, she has another mystery coming out soon that has a similar setting to this one. You can be sure I'll be keeping my eye out for it!

Readalikes: The publisher compares this book to Agatha Christie's mysteries. I haven't read enough of them to really compare. 

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey from the generous folks at Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Tornadoes are known for causing havoc and destruction, but for 12-year-old Lexington Willow, a tornado was the thing that brought her home.  Seven years ago, the biggest storm in Nebraska's history blew her into the zoo.  She was found near an elephant enclosure, watched over by Nyah, a 20-year-old African elephant.  No one has ever come forward to claim Lex, so she has remained at the zoo in the care of Roger, her foster father.  She feels so safe and sheltered by the place's familiar boundaries that she rarely leaves.  Her days are spent doing homeschool lessons; hanging out with her best friend, Fisher Leigh, who also lives on the grounds; and voicing train tours of the zoo.  Now that she and Fisher are finally old enough to help with the care of her beloved elephants, Lex couldn't be happier.

Lex has always felt a special connection with Nyah, but when the pachyderm sends her a telepathic message, Lex is puzzled.  The elephant seems to be telling her to go outside the zoo, into the woods beyond, to find the answers to the many questions Lex has about her past.  Is she crazy to listen to the advice of an animal?  As nervous as she is to leave the safety of her precious zoo, Lex feels compelled to follow Nyah's instructions.  When Lex makes an otherworldly discovery out there, she embarks on a magical adventure involving a ghost, a treasure hunt, and a mystery, all of which promise to lead her back to her own inexplicable beginning. 

Magical realism is common in middle-grade books, but to find it combined with a mystery, a ghost story, and a tale of lost treasure?  That's something special.  The Elephant's Girl, a debut novel by Celesta Rimington, offers this enticing genre mash-up along with a unique setting, two likable heroines (one human, one pachyderm), and an exciting plot.  Not only does the book educate readers about elephants, but it also teaches important lessons about humans' responsibility toward animals, kindness, the true meaning of family, standing up for one's self, and finding courage to do hard things.  The story is predictable and I didn't always find the magical realism bits convincing, but overall, I found The Elephant's Girl to be a delightful, entertaining book.  Young animal lovers looking for a fun, magical reading adventure won't be disappointed.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, and books by Kate DiCamillo)

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of The Elephant's Girl from the generous folks at Penguin Random House as part of an awards program I'm helping to judge.  Thank you!

Aven Green was born with no arms.  The 12-year-old is used to getting stares when she's in unfamiliar places, but she's lived in the same town for so long that no one at school or in her community gives her a second glance anymore.  Her classmates see her use her feet to do all kinds of ordinary tasks—eat, turn pages in her textbooks, write, even play the guitar.  No big deal.  They know she can do pretty much anything they can do, even without arms.  

When her dad announces that he's taken a new job as the manager of an amusement park in Arizona, Aven is not thrilled.  She doesn't want to move to the desert, leave her friends behind, and start over at a new school.  Doing so is just as awful as she thinks it will be.  Stagecoach Pass is a grungy, derelict old place; her family's new apartment is teensy; her classmates gape at her torso and make rude comments; and Aven's taken to hiding out in the school bathroom to avoid their stares.  Things start to improve when she meets two boys who feel just as outcast as Aven—Connor has Tourette Syndrome and Zion is overweight.  With her friends by her side, she sets out to prove anew that challenges or no, they can do anything, even solve the mystery of Stagecoach Pass's missing owners!

It may not sound like it, but Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling is a funny, upbeat book.  Really!  Our heroine, who likes to make up fantastical stories about how she lost her arms and play practical jokes on gullible, unsuspecting folks, is downright hilarious.  Although she's well aware of the limitations imposed on her because of her disability, she's determined not to let them stand in her way.  Which isn't to say she doesn't sometimes feel humiliated and angry or engage in self-pity.  She does, but she also shows that she's just as capable, determined, and clever as anyone else.  While the novel is humorous, it also offers a poignant, intimate portrayal of what it's like for a child to be different.  The story is empathy-inducing and moving without being saccharine or preachy.  It's easy to see where the book's plot is going, but even still, the tale is fun and engaging.  For all these reasons and more, I very much enjoyed this appealing, entertaining novel.  

A note:  I listened to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus on audio.  The book is read by Karissa Vacker, whose performance I didn't love.  She tended toward a Valley Girl/mean girl accent when voicing Aven and other young females, while employing a mopey/dopey tone for Aven's male pals.  Thus, the girls all sounded like snots while the boys just sounded dumb.  I'm an audiobook novice, so perhaps I'm way too picky about narrators, but Vacker drove me a little nuts.  I got used to her after awhile, but I came close to abandoning the audio version because her voice grated on my ears, especially at first.  Just sayin'.

(Readalikes:  Hm, I can't think of anything.  You?)

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

What do you want to accomplish in 2021?  Do you make New Year's resolutions?  Do you keep them?  Are you a person who chooses a focus word/idea to guide your choices throughout the year?  I've always been a great goal maker, but not a very good goal achiever!  Because of my son's wedding in early January, my usual New Year's tasks were postponed, so I haven't made any resolutions yet.  It feels very liberating, let me tell you!  I may use February 1st as my January 1st or I may not make any resolutions at all.  We'll see.  I am curious what you all do and how well your methods work, though, so please share.  I need some motivation (obviously).

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about our hopes and goals for the new year.  Book/blog-wise, my only real aims are to read 200 books in 2021 and to complete the reading challenges I've taken on.  If I fail completely?  No biggie.  These are just-for-fun goals.  Since I'm not really sure about what else I want to accomplish this year, on the blog and off, I'm not going to do today's topic of Top Ten Goals and Hopes for 2021.  Instead, I'm going to steal a topic that Katherine over at I Wish I Lived in a Library did last week:  Top Ten Series I Want to Finish/Catch Up On By the End of the Year (check out her list here).  I love series, especially mystery ones, but I get stuck in the middle of them all the time.  2021 seems like a good time to catch up!  

Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun.  This is an awesome weekly meme that encourages bloggers to spread the love throughout our wonderful book blogosphere.  It's a great way to get involved in the community, find new blogs, revisit old favorites, and, of course, add more books to your TBR pile mountain mountain chain.  What's not to love?  Hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the TTT deets. 

Top Ten Mystery Series I Want to Finish/Catch Up On Before the End of the Year (in no particular order)

1.  Name:  The Noodle Shop Mystery series

Author:  Vivien Chien

Description:  Cozy culinary mysteries revolving around a Asian-American family that runs a Chinese restaurant in Cleveland

Books in series so far:  8 (two of which come out in 2021)

Books I've read:  5

Next up for me:  Killer Kung Pao 

2.  Name:  The Gilded Newport Mystery series

Author:  Alyssa Maxwell

Description:  Cozy historical mysteries starring a poor Vanderbilt relation who gets caught up in upstairs/downstairs tangles of all sorts

Books in series so far:  9 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)

Books I've read:  2

Next up for me:  Murder at Beechwood

3.  Name:  Lady Darby Mystery series

Author:  Anna Lee Huber

Description:  Set in 1830's Scotland, this mystery series features a widow whose former occupation as an anatomist's assistant makes her especially suited to help solve confounding murder mysteries.

Books in series so far:  9 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)

Books I've read:  2

Next up for me:  A Grave Matter

4.  Name:  The Bakeshop Mystery series

Author:  Ellie Alexander

Description:  Cozy culinary mystery series set in a family-owned bakeshop in Ashland, Oregon

Books in series so far:  13 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)

Books I've read:  1

Next up for me:  A Batter of Life and Death

5.  Name:  The Amish Candy Shop Mystery series

Author:  Amanda Flower

Description:  Cozy mystery series set in a family-owned candy shop in the heart of Ohio's Amish country

Books in series so far:  7 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)

Books I've read:  3

Next up for me:  Toxic Toffee

6.  Name:  The Ruth Galloway Mystery series

Author:  Elly Griffiths

Description:  An English archeologist helps solve mysteries involving bones and secrets

Books in series so far:  13 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)

Books I've read:  4

Next up for me:  A Dying Fall

7.  Name:  Below Stairs Mystery series

Author:  Jennifer Ashley

Description:  London's best cook is also a keen observer and amateur detective

Books in series so far:  5 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)

Books I've read:  3

Next up for me:  Murder in the East End

8.  Name:  Inspector Armand Gamache Mystery series

Author:  Louise Penny

Description:  Canada's best detective solves puzzling mysteries, with a special interest in those originating from the small town of Three Pines

Books in series so far:  17 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)

Books I've read:  11

Next up for me:  A Great Reckoning

9.  Name:  Shetland Mystery series

Author:  Ann Cleeves

Description:  Crime series set in the Shetland Islands

Books in series so far:  8

Books I've read:  3

Next up for me:  Blue Lightning

10.  Name:  Lucy Campion Mystery series

Author:  Susanna Calkins

Description:  A chamber maid solves mysteries in plague-ridden 17th Century England

Books in series so far:  5

Books I've read:  0

Next up for me:  A Murder at Rosamund's Gate    

There you go, ten mystery series I want to catch up on in 2021.  Are you a fellow fan of these series?  Which mystery series are your favorites?  Which series in other genres do you enjoy?  I'd truly love to know.  Leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

April might be temporarily caught within the foster care system, but she's not like other foster kids.  Not only is her mother alive, but she's also coming back for April just as soon as she can.  The other children might laugh at her for believing in the promise pledged in the note that was left at the fire station along with 3-year-old April, but April knows her mom would never totally abandon her.  She just needs to be patient.  

Patience has never been April's strong suit, which is how she ends up setting a museum exhibit on fire.  The incident brings her to the attention of a charity funded by the wealthy Winterborne Family, which has decided to house a group of foster children in its ornate mansion.  Gabriel, the Winterborne heir, disappeared ten years ago, leaving a great mystery in his wake.  April's entranced by the thought of solving it while also figuring out why the necklace April's mother left her bears the Winterborne crest.  The answers must be inside the great mansion, but where?  The place is massive and crammed full of tantalizing secrets ... Can April unravel its many puzzles, including the mystery of her own past?

If you've read books by Ally Carter before, you're not going to be at all surprised to hear that her newest, Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor, is a sassy, upbeat read that's full of adventure and mystery.  It stars a diverse cast of middle-schoolers who are sympathetic and likable, along with peripheral grown-ups who add additional layers of intrigue to the tale.  Revealed in short, exciting chapters, the plot is compelling and engrossing, making the book an enjoyable page-turner.  While this first book in a planned series answers some of the questions its plot poses, it leaves plenty more to be revealed in a sequel (or two).  I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the second book!

(Readalikes:  The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes)

Ever since her dad died three years ago, Maddy Gaines' anxiety has been out of control.  The 11-year-old sees danger lurking around every corner, even if no one else does.  She's made so many emergency calls to local authorities that they don't take her seriously anymore.  So, when she meets a mysterious boy setting booby traps in the cemetery, a boy who looks an awful lot like one who went missing six months ago, Maddy knows she can't take her knowledge to the police without proof that the kid really is Billy Holcom.  Maddy is warned off the hunt by her arch enemy, who insists the boy is just his visiting cousin.  She won't be thwarted that easily, not when she's discovered a real emergency, but she will be sure to gather proof this time.  The boy is Billy and Maddy aims to make sure he's found.  When she discovers a reason he might need to stay hidden, however, she realizes that not everything is as it seems.  Is she truly rescuing the kid or putting him in more danger?

Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin is a nuanced middle-grade novel that's part mystery, part family drama.  Maddy has a lot to deal with—grief over losing her dad, managing her anxiety, accepting her new, trying-too-hard stepfather, and grappling with a BFF who's leaving Maddy behind as she grows up too fast—even before she starts playing detective.  Her earnestness is appealing, making her a character who's easy to like and root for.  Plot-wise, Every Missing Piece is exciting and engrossing.  The book is also full of subtle lessons about friendship, family, and figuring out how to adapt when change rocks your safe, orderly world.  Every Missing Piece is a touching novel that I very much enjoyed.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me a bit of Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins)

Amelia "Millie" Ashford is stoked when she wins a fabulous prize—along with five other girls, she gets to spend the night in the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas.  The 11-year-old Rubik's Cube champion has no friends, an absent mother (who's a pilot, like Earhart), and a fascination with the famous aviatrix.  She needs this diverting opportunity to socialize, immerse herself in history, and maybe learn enough about Earhart—her mom's idol—to bring her own missing pilot home.  

When a scavenger hunt is announced, giving Millie and the other girls a chance to take a close-up look at artifacts throughout the museum, Millie's excited.  She's even more thrilled when she comes upon a roped-off room where Earhart's flight goggles are being stored before being transferred to a Washington, D.C., museum.  When the priceless goggles go missing, however, Millie's as shocked as everyone else.  Fingers start pointing in her direction, reminding Millie that she's surrounded by strangers—one of whom is a thief!  It's up to her and the other girls to find out who's hiding the precious artifact.  As a winter storm rages outside and tension mounts inside, the stakes get higher and higher.  How far will the robber go to smuggle the goggles out of the museum?  Can six middle-schoolers (one of whom is the likely kleptomaniac) find the culprit in time?  Or will an irreplaceable piece of history be smuggled out right under their noses?  With no way to call for outside help, it's up to the Amelia Six to solve the mystery.

I love me a good, old-fashioned locked-room mystery.  The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray is just that, complete with the requisite stormy weather, mysterious house, and quirky characters.  Filled with Amelia Earhart trivia, a girl-power vibe, and plenty of surprises, it's a fun, entertaining read.  Realistic?  Not so much.  And yes, the girls talk like senior citizens (no 11-year-old says "May I ..." let alone "Oh,crumb") and indeed, some of them are fairly indistinguishable from the others.  Overall, though, the book stars an engaging detective team and features an engrossing tale.  Not only did I learn a lot about Earhart from this enjoyable romp, but I also found it to be a delightful read that kept me turning pages with a smile on my face.  

(Readalikes:  I can't think of anything.  You?)

An eclectic group of apartment dwellers are brought together for the reading of the will of Samuel Westing, a 65-year-old millionaire who went missing thirteen years ago.  All of them are eager to get their hands on a piece of his fortune, even if they're not sure exactly why the wealthy eccentric would leave it to them.  They're shocked when they hear the terms of the will—whoever solves the elaborate puzzle Samuel left behind first gets the cash.  The participants are paired off and given clues to follow.  What ensues is a competitive race to be the first to find the million-dollar answer and win the game.  Of course, there's more to the contest than meets the eye.  Samuel Westing may be deceased, but he's still got some tricks up his sleeve!

I've always loved mysteries and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is one I remember enjoying as a child.  Published in 1978, the novel is clever and fun with likable characters and an engaging story.  While I figured out what the word clues meant right away, there were a few plot surprises I didn't see coming.  Overall, this is just a light, entertaining read that I enjoyed as much as an adult as I did as a child.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and a little of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library books by Chris Grabenstein)

Grade:  

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

Family is complicated.  Especially if you're a Miller.  This becomes especially obvious when Helen Auerbach, the family's elderly matriarch, dies, bringing her three estranged grandchildren back together under one roof.  Birthed by Deborah, a mostly absent mother, Beck, Ashley, and Jake were raised by Helen, who "was more than a grandmother; Deborah was less than a mom" (24).  When Helen's will is read, the grandchildren are all shocked to discover their ancestral home has been given to their unstable mother.  Beck, the grandchild who has spent the most time doting on Helen over the years, is puzzled by her inheritance—a gaudy brooch.  Was Helen completely out of her mind when she drafted her will?

When a jeweler friend spies Beck's new bling, he's certain it's more valuable than it seems.  Like $10 million more.  Authentication shows one of the brooch's gems is actually the famous Florentine diamond, a 137-carat stone that went missing from the Austrian Empire over 100 years ago.  As much as Beck tries to contain the news, soon everyone knows about her stunning inheritance.  Not only are various government heads vying for possession of the diamond, but Beck's family members are wrangling to get their piece of the proverbial pie as well.  Looming above it all, though, is the very intriguing question—just how did Helen Auerbach acquire the Florentine diamond?  Did Helen's family even know her at all?  As Beck and her siblings search for answers, they uncover the shocking story their grandmother never wanted them to know.  In the process, they discover that money can never buy what's most important in life.

The Imperfects by Amy Meyerson brings together some of my favorite fictional (and real-life) themes—family, genealogy, mystery, and history.  I enjoyed learning about the real Florentine diamond (which is still missing), a subject I knew little about.  The characters in The Imperfects are complex and intriguing.  They're all flawed, with varying degrees of likability, which makes them feel authentic.  Their complicated relationships also seem true-to-life.  Plotwise, the novel remains compelling throughout, as Helen's past is slowly revealed.  As the Millers grapple with their everyday dramas, plus those of the past, and the tantalizing possibilities of a glimmering future, they learn some valuable lessons about family, forgiveness, and where true fortune really lies.  If you can't tell, I loved this wise, engrossing novel.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of the movie Knives Out and of The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper)

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

A Minnesota farm girl raised by stern, emotionless parents, Violet Iverson never dreamed she would someday end up living on the lush, exotic island of Hawaii.  When a whirlwind romance leads to a one-way ticket to the Big Island and a marriage proposal, she takes a chance and goes.  A decade later, warm, gentle Hawaii feels more like home than cold, grim Minnesota ever did.  Violet's been happy in Honoka'a, where she teaches at the high school and lives on its campus among friends who feel like family.  Recently, however, war has brought unwelcome change to the small town, including rationing, air-raid drills, and the unexplained disappearance of Violet's husband, Herman.  Although it's been a year since he vanished, no one can say whether Honoka'a High's former principal is alive or dead.  Violet thinks her daughter, 10-year-old Ella, knows something about her father's disappearance, but the girl won't admit to it no matter how hard Violet prods.   

When Honoka'a suddenly becomes overrun with soldiers training for a special mission, Violet and her friends decide to earn some extra cash by opening a pie stand near the military base.  With suspicion swirling in the sultry island air, the women soon find themselves accused of spying for the enemy.  Their Japanese friends are also being targeted.  Desperate to clear all of their good names, Violet relies on a handsome Marine to help her find out what really happened to her husband.  Exposing secrets is dangerous business, as she soon discovers.  With danger all around, can Violet solve a mystery, save her friends, and keep her daughter safe?  

I haven't read many World War II novels set entirely on American soil, so I was immediately interested when I heard about Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers by Sara Ackerman.  Inspired by the experiences of the author's grandparents—who lived in Honoka'a during World War II and hosted many soldiers in their home while the men were at Camp Tarawa before shipping out for Iwo Jima and Saipan—the novel offers a vivid setting and an intriguing story.  Ackerman's prose isn't quite as dynamic, as it's a bit stiff and more tell than show.  Her characters aren't all that memorable either, although they're likable enough.  Overall, though, I ended up liking Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers.  I didn't love it like I wanted to, but I enjoyed the read overall.

(Readalikes:  Um, I can't think of anything.  Can you?)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

When you come from a line of strong women who've been scandalizing your small Mississippi town for the last 45 years, your reputation is pretty much doomed from the start.  It doesn't matter that 15-year-old Mosey earns stellar grades and stays away from boys.  She's a Slocumb, which means she'll end up barefoot and pregnant before she has a chance to graduate high school.  Just like her mother, just like her grandmother.  No one expects anything less.  Except Mosey, who refuses to follow the future-less path fate has laid out before her.

Still, everyone knows big trouble comes calling for the Slocumb women every fifteen years.  This year is no exception.  While digging a swimming pool on their property, a worker unearths a rusted treasure box with a tiny skeleton inside.  Mosey's as shocked by the discovery as her grandmother is, but the revelation causes Mosey's mother to utter the first intelligible word she's said since her recent stroke—mine.  Struggling to make sense of that startling proclamation, Mosey begs her grandmother for answers.  Ginny "Big" Slocumb doesn't have them—at least not all of them—but she'll die before she lets the scandal destroy her family.  Big will do anything, risk everything, to protect Mosey and her stroke-ravaged mother.  Even if it means covering up a shocking secret from the past.  

I love me a lush multi-generational novel brimming with family secrets and Southern charm.  I've recently discovered Joshilyn Jackson, whose novels deliver just that.  Although I didn't enjoy A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty nearly as much as The Almost Sisters, I still found it engrossing.  Centered around three headstrong, intriguing women, the story pulled me in and made me care about what happened to this dysfunctional, yet devoted family.  The mystery at its core kept the novel interesting, even if the Big Reveal didn't feel all that surprising.  While A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty definitely gets sad and depressing—way more so than you'd expect judging by the book's light, frothy cover—it's a compelling read that kept me turning pages.  It's not my favorite Jackson novel, but overall I enjoyed it.  

(Readalikes:  The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson.  Also reminds me of novels by Anne Rivers Siddons and Karen White, although White's books are gentler—more in the PG-13 range—but with less personality than those by Jackson and Siddons.)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for strong language, sexual content, violence, and depictions of illegal drug use

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

If 10-year-old Perry Owens had his druthers, he'd spend all day every day reading comic books and gorging on junk food.  Who needs nature?  Or friends?  Or an ordinary, mundane life in the real world where nothing exciting ever happens?  Perry would rather imagine himself inside Ocean Blasterzoids, his favorite comic series.  There's always something thrilling going on there.

When Perry finds a distress note inside the newest comic Uncle Zeke has sent in the mail, he's startled.  The message doesn't say much, but it's pretty obvious that the man needs someone with Perry's unique skill set to help him.  Traveling alone to Bunny Island, he soon realizes that something is very, very wrong in America's 37th Favorite Vacation Destination.  Not only is Zeke missing, but his island home is covered in ... bunnies.  Impossibly adorable, the cute little rabbits can almost distract one completely from the fact that a lot of strange things are going on.  Almost.  Perry vows to figure out what has happened to his uncle no matter what it takes.  Can a comic book couch potato step up and become the kind of hero he's always imagined himself to be?  Or will the overwhelming cuteness overload be the death of him—and everyone else on Bunny Island?

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for some scary scenes

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Mutant Bunny Island from the generous folks at HarperCollins.  Thank you!

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

I read a few exceptional novels in 2017, but the one that stands out most is The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy.  Why?  Lots of reasons: it's original, it's absorbing, it's intelligent, it's well written, it's just ... magical in a lot of ways.  It's also really hard to describe, so you know what?  I'm not even going to try.  I'll just hit you with the back cover blurb:

What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared?
 
Aila Quinn’s mother, Juliet, has always been a mystery: vibrant yet guarded, she keeps her secrets beyond Aila’s reach. When Juliet dies, Aila and her younger brother Miles are sent to live in Sterling, a rural town far from home—and the place where Juliet grew up.

Sterling is a place with mysteries of its own. A place where the experiences that weave life together—scents of flowers and food, reflections from mirrors and lakes, even the ability to dream—vanish every seven years.

No one knows what caused these “Disappearances,” or what will slip away next. But Sterling always suspected that Juliet Quinn was somehow responsible—and Aila must bear the brunt of their blame while she follows the chain of literary clues her mother left behind. 

As the next Disappearance nears, Aila begins to unravel the dual mystery of why the Disappearances happen and who her mother truly was. One thing is clear: Sterling isn’t going to hold on to anyone's secrets for long before it starts giving them up.

  

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for violence and brief, mild language (no F-bombs)

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of The Disappearances from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.