Early Reader Bedtime Story: Pearl & Wagner: Five Days Till Summer by Kate McMullen & Illustrated by R.W. Alley

Read for: Early Reader Challenge

Synopsis: "Pearl dreads leaving her favorite teacher in the latest addition to the Geisel Honor-winning series 

Pearl and Wagner have only five days left in the school year with their awesome teacher, Ms. Star. And when Pearl catches a glimpse of next year's teacher, Ms. Bean, she looks mean. Pearl imagines they're in for a year of taking spelling tests with super-hard words, doing one hundred jumping jacks every morning, and counting backward--by sevens! Pearl announces she's going to stay in Ms. Star's class forever. But is Ms. Bean as bad as she seems? 

Perfect for beginning readers, the fifth book in the charming Pearl and Wagner series shows that first impressions aren't always right."

My Review: I picked this book up because it sounded like a great one to read as summer approaches and it ended up being even more perfect than expected. It was a great story to read with young children finishing up their first year of school. This is a level 3 book with full pages of text and chapters. Munchkin had no problem with this one and really related to the story as he is counting down the days to the end of 1st grade when summer will start and he will be a 2nd grader. It also is a great conversation starter about what to expect from a new teacher and classroom, and how what you hear from other kids or think you see may not be accurate. This will be a great way to ease any fears or anxieties about going to a new classroom with a new teacher.

My Rating: This was a perfect book that came at the perfect time for us. Munchkin is so excited about being a 2nd grader but like many kids was a little nervous having a new teacher and this was a great book for him to read.  We give it a rating of Four Paws!

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Review of In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

Read for: Borrowed Books/ Audio Book Challenge

Previous Books In Series:

Every Heart a Doorway

Down Among the Sticks and Bones

Beneath the Sugar Sky

Synopsis: "This fourth entry and prequel tells the story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should.

When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well."

My Review: I was finally able to get an audio book copy from my library and it was totally worth the wait. I think this might be my favorite book in the series. I loved the Goblin Market world and I really enjoyed Lundy's character, it really explains a lot about the previous books. I now really want to go back and re-read the series with this new information in mind. This book has rekindled my interest in the series and I really hope to see more coming now.

My Rating: After Beneath the Sugar Sky I wasn't sure if I would want to continue with this series so I waited for the library copy to become available.  Now I am happy to say I can't wait for more! I give this one a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Review of Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

Read for: Recently Added/Audio Book Challenge & Booktube SFF Shortlist

Synopsis: "While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine.

Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the rez to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.

As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive.

Welcome to the Sixth World."

My Review: I picked this book up because it made the Booktube SFF Shortlist, it seemed like it was a little outside my normal comfort zone but so many readers have loved it I thought I would give it a shot. I did decide to listen to the audio book because of my schedule at the moment, and I am really glad I did! This book is inspired by Native American mythology and a lot of the words used and names are from a Native American language, so the pronunciations would have been way beyond my abilities and I may have given up without the audio book. The world building was easy to follow as it does happen in a post apocalyptic US and it builds on the Native American beliefs from there weaving them through the story seamlessly. It was also a really unique story compare to the other YA fantasy/ Urban Fantasy type books out there. I definitely recommend picking up the audio book and reading along with the print book so you can grasp the pronunciations in preparation for the next book in the series!

My Rating: I was really pleasantly surprised by this book, it had a lot of action, well developed world, easy to follow magic system, a touch of romance and some great characters to root for, I give it a rating of Four Paws!

It's Not Monday Reading List

It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World by Fredrik Backman
Untitled by Timothy Young (Bedtime Story)
The Black Bull of Norroway by Cat Seaton & Kit Seaton (Graphic Novel)

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Trail of Lightning
A Long Walk to Water
In An Absent Dream

Currently Reading:

A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa - Print - on Page 205 of 384
Sniper's Pride by Megan Crane - Ebook - on page 129  of 334

Pages Read/ Time Listened
306:22 Hours Listened (16:36 listened this week)
14,114 Pages Read (none this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
The Snow Gypsy
WarDance
Warsong

Lost Boy
Year One
Girl Who Drank the Moon
King of Scars
Dactyl Hill Squad
The Darkdeep
Lord of the Fading Lands

 Crown of Feathers

 Argos: The Story of Odysseus as told by his Loyal Dog

 Trial of Lightning

Wundersmith
A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Shadow of Doubt
Gates of Stone
Nevermoor
A Conspiracy of Truths
Viper
Vortex Visions
Through the White Wood
Descendant of the Crane
The Princess and the Fangirl
Holy Sister
Rhapsodic
A Strange Hymn
The Emperor of Evening Stars
Dark Harmony
The Black Bull of Norroway
We Rule the Night
The Opposite of Always
The Sea Queen
The Mountain of Kept Memory
Metamorphica
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 1
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 2
The Sea King
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Irresistible Force
Force of Attraction
Primal Force
Rival Forces
A Rogue by Any Other Name
A Scot in the Dark
The Day of the Duchess
The Pirate Bride
Pirate Stories
Man Made Boy
This Monstrous Thing
The Case of the Missing Moonstone
Dear Santa
An Endless Christmas
Christmas Magic
Falling Softly
Christmas Town
The Christmas Star
Crazy Rich Asians
Once and Future
Highland Crown
Her Royal Highness
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World
Seal's Honor

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Yup so last week was a bit of a rough one! We ended up having a very busy week with Hubby's schedule being changed once again and Munchkin having baseball 3 days last week and then the holiday weekend filled with spring cleaning.  I sadly did not get much reading done at all. I am definitely going backwards on my book balance sheet this month, I have not read nearly as many books as I have wanted to but have been book shopping far more than I should have been. Oh well, this happens some times.