Book #7 Read in 2019
I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
This is a true crime book and a genre I don't usually read, but I really found this to be an interesting. McNamara relentlessly investigated a cold case of the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer and kept a constant spotlight on the case. Sadly, she died before an arrest was made. I borrowed this book from the public library.
Book #6 Read in 2019
Puddin' by Julie Murphy
This is a companion to the hit young adult novel Dumplin' and it stands up to it in quality. This book focuses on Millie as the main character and she is struggling on standing up to her mom about her dreams, her desire to date a boy etc. I recommend this book to high school girls especially.
Book #5 Read in 2019
Calm the F*Down by Sarah Knight
This "self-help" book is funny and entertaining...and somewhat helpful. Knight tells you how to calm down and deal with stuff once it happens and that you cannot control some things. I will read her other books for entertainment. I borrowed this book from the public library.
Book #4 Read in 2019
The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
This was a good, action read but, at over 500 pages, it could have been just as good with 200 less pages. It reads like a Dan Brown book--short chapters, an interesting main character and lots of action. The President is trying to prevent a huge cyber attack on the United States and puts himself at risk. It was good.
Book #3 Read in 2019
Killing the SS by Bill O'Reilly
This book details the hunting of the Nazis who did not get caught immediately after the war. It talks about the trials, their punishment and their lives in hiding. The format made it a bit difficult to read since it didn't read like a novel but the content was interesting. I could see high school readers reading it in they were interested in the period of history as well as adult readers. I borrowed this book from the public library.
Book #2 Read in 2019
Bully on the Bus by Kathryn Apel
This is a verse novel, geared towards elementary readers, about a boy who is being bullied on the bus by a high school girl. He is in second grade; his sister, a 5th grader, is on the bus with him and tries to help him but the bully shuts her down. It shows the effect bullying can have on a child. I feel the adults in the book (the parents, bus driver and teacher) were a little clueless but I think it was because the author wanted to show how a child can handle bullying him/herself. I can see the value of this book as a read aloud/discussion book in elementary classrooms and by parents at home.
Book #1 Read in 2019
The Wicked King by Holly Black
This is the second book in a YA fantasy trilogy and of course, I need #3 now. This book was excellent and full of action, murder plots, romance and strong characters. There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming. I recommend this series to high school and adult readers. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
I ended up reading 109 books in 2018, 9 more than the 100-book Goodreads goal I set for myself. Not a bad reading year.
