Free Verse by Sarah Dooley

Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Source: I purchased a copy

Sasha is a young girl living in foster care. For a long time it was Sasha her brother Michael and her father. The coal mines took her father. Michael is her everything. He tells her that one day they will leave the small town of Caboose. Before that can happen her firefighter brother is killed on the job.

Sasha’s reflex reaction is to run away. Sasha is introduced to poetry. Through this she finds a way to find herself, to deal with those shadows in her soul. This book was so much more than I expected. I thought it would be a simple book with some nice poetry. Instead I found a girl who has lost her way. While in foster care she learns she is related to the neighbors.  This story is full of different layers. There are so many things for readers to relate to, loss, death, foster care, finding your way through the hardships of poverty.  There are so many things this book can teach.  I absolutely loved it.

The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate:

Genre: Children, Middle Grade, Realistic

Source: I purchased a copy

Katherine Applegate has another winner with this book. Bob is a dog we first met in the book, “The One and Only Ivan”. Bob lived in the mall with Ivan and Ruby. Now Ivan and Ruby live in a zoo not too far from Bob’s new house. He was adopted by Julia whose father works at the zoo. Through this book, we learn how Bob became the dog he is. We understand how his personality was developed.  He is a scrappy dog who has learned to survive on his own. He feels guilty about his survival when all his siblings did not survive.   Bob goes with Julia and her dad to the zoo to visit Ivan and Ruby while Julia’s dad is making sure things are ready for an approaching hurricane. No one expected a sudden tornado. Once again Bob has to survive.  Then he is given a second opportunity when he thinks he hears the bark of one of his siblings.

I love this story that is told from Bob’s perspective. It is funny, sarcastic and his view of humans and the world around him make this so fun to read. We see Bob change throughout the book the way a human character changes. This makes him so believable. Not only will this book be on my shelf at school at the beginning of next year, but my grandchildren will also be receiving a copy. Everyone should have the opportunity to read this book.

Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Horror

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

While going through a notebook I found a handful of book reviews I had written but had not posted. What you will find for the next few days will be those reviews.

In the first book we find a situation that has gone terribly wrong. By gathering up zombies, werewolves and vampires and putting them into one area and opening it up to the public Victor Konrad has created a situation that almost destroys the world.

Reading this is like watching a movie. I think it would make a wonderful movie.  You have it all, governments that do things for the wrong reasons, scientists who have their own agendas, people who are greedy and looking for power. You know in the movies when all of these things come together you are going to have the ride of your life. This book is no different.  The author even addresses the issue of stereotyping people.  Wyatt and his friends and family are out to save their town from what is coming.  The author introduced a new monster to the book, the Glob.  I grew up watching every Saturday night a show called, “Nightmare Theater”. One of the most terrifying things a young middle school aged kid can watch, ALONE, is a blob that devours people.  This book brought back those horrifying, yet wonderful memories.  This is a book you can easily lose yourself in and read in one sitting. Highly recommended.