Book Reviews
As book publishers, we are also book readers; always have been and always will be. DJ's mantra is "So many books, so little time." DJ's always reading at least three or four books at a time, depending on her mood and what she's interested in reading at any given moment.
Book Reviews Rating System
DJ never goes anywhere in the car without a bag of current reading materials. It is a serious addiction, but a healthy one, she thinks. So, it makes perfect sense for her to share what she's read with all of you.
DJ reads a wide variety of books, so they're identified by the following: C (Children), JFic (pre- and early teen), YA (Young Adult), A (Adult)
DJ's ratings follow our own rating system which is as follows:
- 1 star ★ = This book was not for me.
- 2 stars ★★ = OK, but not one of my favorites.
- 3 stars ★★★ = A good book.
- 4 stars ★★★★ = A great book that's worth reading!
- 5 stars ★★★★★ = An excellent book! A must-read!
Animal Family by Randall Jarrell with Illustrations by Maurice Sendak is a fantasy story that was a nice change for me and something I haven't read much of over the years. But I was interested in this book because of Randall Jarrell, who I recently learned, had committed suicide. I read that after he turned 50, he became very depressed about aging. He went through several bouts of depression going on and off medication. Although it was reported an accident when he was struck by a car and killed, many who knew him thought it was suicide. Jarrell was only 51 years old.
Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo and illustrations by K. G. Campbell is the Newbury Medal winner for 2014. When I started reading this book, a middle grade selection, I was pleasantly surprised at the combination of novel and comic strip.
Doll Bones by Holly Black with illustrations by Eliza Wheeler is a fun read that I think any middle grade child will enjoy. The story takes three best friends, Zach, Poppy, and Alice, on an adventure to return a doll to its proper grave, with its parents who are long dead.