Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan, 2019

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Hamish DeLuca and Regina "Reggie" Van Buren have a new case--and this one brings the war in Europe dangerously close to home.

Determined to make a life for herself, Regina "Reggie" Van Buren bid goodbye to fine china and the man her parents expected her to marry and escaped to Boston. What she never expected to discover was that an unknown talent for sleuthing would develop into a business partnership with the handsome, yet shy, Hamish DeLuca.

Their latest case arrives when Errol Parker, the leading base stealer in the Boston farm leagues, hires Hamish and Reggie to investigate what the Boston police shove off as a series of harmless pranks. Errol believes these are hate crimes linked to the outbreak of war in Europe, and he's afraid for his life. Hamish and Reggie quickly find themselves in the midst of an escalating series of crimes that seem to link Boston to Hamish's hometown of Toronto.

When an act of violence hits too close to home, Hamish is driven to a decision that may sever him from Reggie forever . . . even more than her engagement to wealthy architect Vaughan Vanderlaan.

(336 pages)

I enjoyed the first book in this series, so when I was offered the chance to read the sequel I jumped at the chance. I'm a long-time murder mystery fan, and Hamish's sweet, shy character made for an interesting new type of detective. I'll be honest, I didn't care quite as much for Reggie's fairly typical "rich girl with spunk" persona, but I liked her enough (and liked watching Hamish like her) that I looked forward to seeing how things progressed between them in this book.

But I have to say, Murder in the City of Liberty definitely doesn't live up to its prequel. It's just not as tight a story. Things that don't really seem connected just sort of happen periodically, and there are too many different characters and perspectives on the story that don't really go anywhere but distract from the main story.

And don't get me started on the love triangle in this one. If it was a bit much in the first book, it was a LOT too much in this one. There's some trumped-up reason why Reggie just has to marry Vaughan, and most of the time I was reading about it I was internally rolling my eyes. I'll be honest, there certainly were times when I did get wrapped up in the character drama and enjoyed it, but the overall situation was just drawn out enough that I couldn't get completely lost in it. Possibly because there are like three times per character where either Hamish or Reggie has an "ah-ha" moment where they internally realize/acknowledge how they really feel for the other . . . but then nothing really changes, and they have the same eureka experience a few chapters later. This is especially egregious for Hamish.

As for the mystery itself, I'd say that in some ways it was actually more interesting than the first one. The exploration of hate crimes, and racial bias in detection, was an interesting angle. The book explores discrimination against African Americans, plus anti-Semitism, and I appreciated the effort. I did think the ending was a bit too far out there to really bring any message home about any of the issues it was dealing with, since it felt pretty contrived, but it was interesting anyway.

All in all, a pretty entertaining read but not quite as fun as the first one. If you're interested in Murder in the City of Liberty then, by all means, pick it up. But if you're waffling on it, then maybe give this one a pass.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson, 2013

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More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students learn the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing—kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery—one that will change Rithmatics—and their world—forever.

(353 pages)

This is one of my favorite books and it makes me SO SAD that there doesn't seem to be a sequel in sight. I don't care that you haven't gotten inspiration to continue the series, Brandon Sanderson, I need to continue this story now!

Actually, having read a sequel written just because fans harrassed the author, scratch that. Wait until you're good and ready, Mr. Sanderson.

But seriously. This book is incredible. The worldbuilding is so fascinating, the idea of an America where each state is an island and where magic is done through chalk drawings, and where the main characters are focused on exploring the bounds of the magic system and trying to find the root of a lurking evil, is such a great concept that it would have been pretty hard for Sanderson to screw it up.

Luckily, though, Sanderson is well-known for being a great author. He pulled me into Joel's story almost immediately, and I was rooting for that poor chalkmaker's son to find a way to participate in the world he loved so much. I love the perspective in this book of the anti-chosen one, the character who has all the right characteristics to be the Harry Potter of the story but who doesn't get offered that chance. Nothing is handed to Joel, but he is so desperate to get involved that he forces his way into lessons and investigations that he has no place in. And I absolutely love it.

I read this book several years ago, and my mom did as well, and she still asks me once in a while if there's been a sequel yet. Just last year, when I was at college and didn't have access to a library copy, I bought a copy of this book just because I got such a strong urge to reread it. And if that's not a good indicator of how addictive it is, I don't know what would be. I love it, but I don't entirely recommend you read it since it sets up the start of a series that has yet to be continued.

Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne, 2019

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Sarah Anne loves lacrosse, and the MK Nightshade series that everyone was obsessed over in grade school. The problem is that she's still obsessed, which is way too nerdy for a popular kid like her. So she hides her geekiness with a set of rules meant to keep her geek and jock selves separate.

Except when she's offered a spot in a Nightshade fandom contest, where the winner gets to see the new movie premiere in LA. No one seems to think Sarah Anne can win, since she's up against a pair of guys in high school--but the more she's called a fake fan, the more determined she is to wipe the floor with her competition. As long as none of her friends or anyone at school knows what she's doing.

Can she keep her geek identity a secret, win the contest, and manage to keep her friends even though she's been living a lie? Sarah Anne is going to have to make some choices about what's truly important to her and which rules she's going to break to stay true to herself.

(272 pages)

I have been a fan of Dionne's books for a very long time, ever since The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet became my favorite book in middle school (I have reviewed both that, here, and another of her books, Lights, Camera, Disaster, on this blog). That's why I was so happy to receive a surprise copy of Secrets of a Fangirl.

I have to say that, at a certain level, I really do feel like this book is not for me. I am much older than I was when I fell in love with Dionne's books, and sometimes I just can't help rolling my eyes at the stupid predicaments that her main characters get into because they care so much about prestige in middle school. This is especially true in this book, because even when I was Sarah Anne's age I totally owned my love for geeky topics like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, etc. I prided myself on being able to beat everyone at Harry Potter Scene-It every time. And let's be honest, my geekiness hasn't exactly mellowed with time. Thus the book blog.

I do think it's very interesting to see how Sarah Anne struggles as a girl in the nerd world, though, because while I have not faced much condescension in the geek (or tech) world so far, I do know that a strong majority of guys in a room can make you acutely aware of your gender. Honestly, from my own experience, I would have thought that the runners of the contest would have tried to make a big deal of her gender to show off how inclusive they were being. I can definitely relate to her experience of being talked over on the panel, though. Guys have a tendency to be pushy talkers - especially when they are trying to show themselves off - and I know I have definitely had trouble with that in interview workshops, etc. It would be even harder to be Sarah Anne's age and be dealing with that in a high-pressure situation.

On the whole, even though I thought her friends situation was ridiculous and her self-imposed set of rules surpressing her fangirl side were painiful, I did still really enjoy reading this book and I actually found a fair bit of myself in Sarah Anne. I think a lot of other kids, especially those closer to the target age, will love it even more than I did. A quick content warning for parents, one side character does have two moms which is mentioned a couple times in passing. Other than that it's a pretty unobjectionable read, and one that some will really enjoy. Go ahead and pick it up if it sounds interesting!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit, 1906

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In this much-loved children's classic first published in 1906, the comfortable lives of three well-mannered siblings are greatly altered when, one evening, two men arrive at the house and take their father away. With the family's fortunes considerably reduced in his absence, the children and their mother are forced to live in a simple country cottage near a railway station. There the young trio — Roberta, Peter, and young Phyllis — befriend the porter and station master.

The youngsters' days are filled with adventure and excitement, including their successful attempt to avert a horrible train disaster; but the mysterious disappearance of their father continues to haunt them.

The solution to that painful puzzle and many other details and events of the children's lives come to vivid life in this perennial favorite, a story that has captivated generations of readers and, more recently, delighted television and movie audiences. In this inexpensive, unabridged edition, it will charm a whole new audience of young readers with its warmth and appeal.

(188 pages)

If I had to quickly summarize this book, I would describe it as a cross between The Boxcar Children and The Enchanted Wood. It's like a non-fantasy version of The Enchanted Wood, with its clever children who move to the country and explore their new surroundings, with the slightly darker undertone (and the basic idea of living near a railroad) of The Boxcar Children. Nesbit's story never feels derivative or overdone, though. On the contrary, she carves her own place into the world of classic children's books. There is a slightly darker tone even than The Boxcar Children (which moved rather quickly past the death of their parents to focus on the characters' adventures), since the mysterious disappearance of their father and their sudden descent into poverty, and thus the move to the country, are mysteries that hang over the characters–especially Bobbie, the oldest and most sensitive of the children–throughout the book. Their mother is also clearly in great pain throughout the book, though she tries to hide her sorrow from the children.

The characters are perhaps a bit more fleshed out than their counterparts in other children's books, and Nesbit's narration is definitely funnier than most others. She even stops the narration to address the audience sometimes (including at one point admitting that Bobbie was growing to be her favorite character). I also loved the way Nesbit was so honest and didn't idealize any of the characters. When the children offer their house up to take care of an injured boy (assuring everyone that their mother is a caring person and would of course agree to this), their mother's reaction is described like this:

"Mother smiled, but she sighed, too. It is nice that your children should believe you willing to open house and heart to any and every one who needs help. But it is rather embarrassing sometimes, too, when they act on their belief."

Perhaps my favorite bit of narration comes from the introduction of the children near the start of the book, just because it introduced me to how much fun this book was really going to be:

"There were three of them. Roberta was the eldest. Of course, Mothers never have favourites, but if their Mother had had a favourite, it might have been Roberta. Next came Peter, who wished to be an Engineer when he grew up; and the youngest was Phyllis, who meant extremely well."

Even reading back over that now makes me smile a bit. I just adore her narration style.

There are so many things I'd love to say about The Railway Children, but I think I will keep this review a bearable length by just mentioning one aspect of the story that I found very interesting from a historical perspective. The book was originally published in serial form in 1905, and then properly as a book in 1906. There are so many interesting references to what life back then was like, and it was fascinating how a book written so long ago felt like it almost was modern-day (except for the way the kids carried handkerchiefs and the girls wore petticoats). But I also loved seeing how well Nesbit handled gender, at a time when it's pretty much assumed that most people didn't respect females very much. In the very first chapter, before he goes away, the children's father is telling them that girls are just as clever as boys and that his daughters could be engine drivers if they wanted to. Throughout the book, Peter is seen playing with his two sisters and the few times he tries to be condescending to them they quickly dress him down, sometimes gently and sometimes with a fight. He's even shown helping around the house, setting the table and helping the girls with their washing water, etc. It's really nice to see such a respect for women in a time when it isn't really thought of as being the norm.

The only time a character says something about women that really made me stop is when the doctor pulls Peter aside after he tortured his sisters by describing lots of gory medical things. He tells Peter that women are softer because they need to be for the babies, and that while the softest people can become the strongest when they really need to be Peter should still try to protect his sisters by not talking about such things. As the daughter of a female doctor I found the doctor's explanation of why women can't bear medical things to be a bit laughable, and rather offensive, but it was meant so well–and Peter's sisters bite back so disdainfully when he tries to tell them about "girls being poor, soft, weak, frightened things like rabbits"–that I can honestly forgive Nesbit this one lapse.

All in all, this was a wonderful read that was perfect for whiling away a journey. I highly recommend it to everyone, no matter their age, but if you have a child in your life then I doubly recommend it. Books like this, when I was young, were what excited my imagination and turned me into a lifetime lover of books.

Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible: Silver/Gold from Thomas Nelson, 2018

The pink Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible is sure to be a hit with girls! This fabulous material is on everything from pillows to t-shirts. The "mermaid" sequins change color right before your eyes. Girls will love the design and will want to carry the Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible everywhere!

This Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible features a cover with pink sequins that change color depending on which way your child swipes. It's double the fun! It's perfect for kids ages 6 to 10 to take to Sunday school, read with the family, or study on their own.

The ICB, the first Bible translation created specifically for children, is easy for children to read and understand with a third-grade reading level and is typeset in a large, readable font. The Bible text is set in ten-point type, with bold in-text subject heads that help kids easily find the passages they are looking for. Also included are boldface words that correspond with a dictionary and concordance entry to explain word definitions. A great new feature in this updated setting is more than 300 key verses that are highlighted throughout the Bible for kids to read and learn. The beautifully illustrated insert pages are in a style that children love and will delight their imaginations, including topics such as:

A Bible timeline
A presentation page
A place to keep favorite Bible verses
Bible maps
Articles on topics such as how Jesus loves them, knowing Jesus better, and how to pray, etc.
Your little girl will love herSequin Sparkle and Change Bible!

(1,312 pages)

[Note: this is a copy of my review of the pink version of this Bible.]

Okay, I have to admit that I haven't exactly read this book cover to cover. I mean, I've read the whole Bible before, but not this particular one. In fact, I really haven't spent much time reading this Bible at all, other than to flip it open and see that it does, indeed, contain the text of the Bible and that the font is a pretty good size. I assume the ICB translation is a nice one for kids.

But just because I didn't read much of this particular copy doesn't mean that I didn't keep it very near me for a while. I did, in fact. Why? Because those sequins are just so addictive! I could sit there and run my fingers over the front of the book, turning the picture from light pink (almost matching the rest of the cover) to the hearts design and back again over and over. It's such a soothing feeling on the fingers.

It wasn't just me, either. My siblings (including one of my brothers!) kept trying to steal it just to sit with it and run their fingers through the sequins. It's a strange thing, but it's strangely addictive. And I suspect that's a very good feature for a Bible to have, because the longer a kid spends stroking their Bible the greater the correlations they grow in their head between happy sensations and the Good Book. Then, at some point, some adult can actually open the book for them and help them read it.

I very much recommend getting a copy of this Bible, in whatever color best suits your needs, either for yourself or for a child in your life. If you do give it to a kid, though, just be aware that it will probably become a bit worse for wear over time.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.