Tag: friendship

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

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White library with lots of stairs and "Contemporary" text
Book Genre Block - "Emotional" Person standing between bright earth and desolate earth

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Emotional. Timely. Racial Injustice. Broken Systems. Family. Heartbreaking.

This beautifully written book brings a timely, emotional story to its readers. I could not stop reading this one.

This story follows a young girl whose family has been torn apart one piece at a time. Her father to prison, and then to disease and death, her mother locked away, and now her brother has stopped helping support the two of them. The burden of paying rent and the bills falls to Kiara. It’s not easy for a 17-year-old to find and hold a job though, and time after time she is told no. When one night she is mistaken as a prostitute, and she accepts payment, she unknowingly steps into a life and scandal she can’t back away from.

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It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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Book Genre Tag "Romance": A couple kissing
Book Genre Block - "Emotional" Person standing between bright earth and desolate earth

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Smiles. Tears. Love. Heartbreak. Found Family. Fantastic Story.

This book. Ugh…I cannot truly give this story the props it deserves, but I’m going to try.

This story follows Lily. The story is mostly told through the present day, but we do go back in time to understand her home life as a child. These flashbacks are told through written letters, which are emotional, raw, and revealing. She lives in a home where her mother is abused by her father, and her pain is heartbreaking. Through these writings we also follow the surprise relationship that develops between Lily and Atlas, a homeless boy squatting in her neighbor’s abandoned house. Lily’s present-day story follows her relationship with Ryle, her found friendship with Ryle’s sister, and her following her career dreams.

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Guapo’s Giant Heart by Janet Zappala

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"Childrens" Genre Block - 4 kids laying on stomachs looking at book
Book Genre Block - "Animals" with image of toy animals lined up

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This was an adorable children’s story about a lovable calf and his friends. Guapo is adopted by a family, and he is so happy to have a place to sleep and humans to feed him. As he grows, he finds that his size is intimidating to some.

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Bentley’s Best Birthday Ever! by Claire Eckard

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Welcome to the blog tour for Bentley’s Best Birthday Ever! hosted by Iread Book Tours!
"Childrens" Genre Block - 4 kids laying on stomachs looking at book
Book Genre Block with image of group of children

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is an adorable story of a little dog, Bentley who thinks that his friends have all forgotten his birthday. We alternate between Bentley’s perspective as he looks for his friends and Tia, his Fairy Dogmother has she plans a surprise party for him.

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Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever by Julie Thiessen

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Welcome to the blog tour for Pen Pal Gals hosted by Iread Book Tours!
Book Genre Block - "Middle Grade" with girl reading book
Book Genre Block with image of group of children

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This is a really great book for little ones that are just starting out reading chapter books! It’s 36 pages, and with a great story, it’s an easy read!

Addie and Reese become friends at a family camp where both of their families are vacationing. As the summer comes to a close, they want to make sure they stay in touch, so the Pen Pal Gals are formed!

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The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb

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"Historical Fiction" genre card with glasses and book photo
Book Genre Block with image of group of children

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This book was absolutely fantastic! Through the perspectives of two women one either side of the immigration line, I learned so much about Ellis Island in the early 1900s!

Francesca has been through a harrowing journey with her sister across the ocean to arrive at America’s doorstep. Excited and nervous, her expectations are quickly reduced to nothing as everything goes wrong. Then she meets Alma, and they form a bond that takes the reader through this fantastic story.

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How the Bay Was Saved by Steve Gray

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"Childrens" Genre Block - 4 kids laying on stomachs looking at book
Book Genre Block with image of group of children

Rating: 4 out of 5.

If you are looking for an inspirational children’s story, look no further! These friendly ocean creatures are here to save the bay, and they bring the reader along on the journey!

The Chesapeake Bay has been overrun by litter! It’s leaking into the water and it’s all over the beach! When a dolphin decides to make a change, all his ocean friends help out!

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Starr’s Wonderful Discovery by Trey Jefferies

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"Childrens" Genre Block - 4 kids laying on stomachs looking at book

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is an adorable children’s book with a great main character! Starr is a wonderfully unique panda, and she knows it! She is proud of herself and her talents, and she loves to share them with everyone! When she meets a new friend, Shine, who is not a comfortable in his own skin, Starr helps him to see how wonderful he is!

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The Living Christmas Tree by Kristin Sponaugle

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"Childrens" Genre Block - 4 kids laying on stomachs looking at book

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

When we take all of our ornaments out each year, we have lovely memories of them. They are each special and bring something unique to our tree. In The Living Christmas Tree the special ornaments are more than a little special. They come to life at night!

This is a great Christmas story that brings personality and fun to the ornaments on the tree. My daughter enjoyed seeing what kind of trouble the ornaments got into, how they played and spoke to each other, and how they kept their secrets from the family.

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Daughter of the King by Kerry Chaput

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"Historical Fiction" genre card with glasses and book photo

Rating: 4 out of 5.

What a wonderful story! This book takes the reader on a journey from France as an exiled young girl across the ocean to Canada to become a Daughter of the King. I loved learning so much about this part of Canadian history! I didn’t know anything about the Filles de Roi until I read this.

The story is filled with emotion as our main character goes through one tragic event after another, and yet she doesn’t give up. Her spirit and determination drive this story from start to finish. I found myself wholly enveloped in the atmosphere. I was with them when the boat was rocking in a storm and when there were attacks from multiple fronts. I just loved it!

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Popper and Friends: Popper Finds a New Home by IL Ritchie

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"Childrens" Genre Block - 4 kids laying on stomachs looking at book

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Our little friend Popper has found out that it’s time for him to move out of his family home and live in his own place. This is a bit of a struggle for Popper, and he definitely needs the advice of his friends! As he tries out different places for his new home, he learns more and more about what he needs in a home.

I thought this was an adorable book. My daughter absolutely loved it! There is another book, The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman where two birds go looking for a new home. My daughter loves that one, and Popper’s story is somewhat like that one. She enjoys seeing the variety of homes and why each one won’t work.

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Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long

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Book Genre Tag "Fantasy" with image of fantasy world of mountains and water
Book Genre Block - "Young Adult" with 4 young adults

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Holy smokes, this book was AMAZING! I couldn’t stop reading this one!

When Sena was young, she lost her moms to the famous race that her planet is known for. That’s really all her planet has. It’s freezing cold all the time, constantly under some sort of storm, and filled with corporate gangsters. When Sena ends up in trouble with one of the gang boss’s she ends up unintentionally stealing a fighting wolf from him. On the run from the boss, she ends up doing the one thing she swore she would never do…help with the race.

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