Kiki and Gizmo

Kiki and Gizmo are sleeping amid my piles of books. Kiki is a Maine Coon battling HCM and Gizmo is a seal point Ragdoll.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (5/5)

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (5/5)

The latest in the Stephanie Plum series, probably my favorite series of all. In this one, a chicken barbeque guru is decapitated and Lula is a witness. The killers are after her and she moves in to Stephanie's apartment, causing Stephanie to move into Ranger's apartment. The usual twists and turns (cars blowing up, Stephanie torn between Morelli and Ranger) and the usual laughs (love Lula and Grandma as a cooking team!)

Al Capone Shines My Shoes (YA) (5/5)

Al Capone Shines My Shoes (YA) (5/5)

This is the sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts. Moose is still living on Alcatraz and has to pay back Al Capone for doing a favor for him. Natalie is at a special school now, Piper's mom is pregnant and Jimmy is jealous of Moose's friend Scout. Good action in this one. MS and HS boys and girls would like this book.

Stolen Children (YA) (5/5)

Stolen Children (YA) (5/5)

Amy gets a new babysitting job and gets more than she bargains for when she and her little charge are kidnapped. Amy tries to leave clues in the ransom videos for cops. She's a smart girl. Good action in this book. MS and HS girls would really like this book.

The Rock and the River (YA) (4.5/5)

The Rock and the River (YA) (4.5/5)

This book details the civil rights movement and the Black Panthers. Sam and Stick are two brothers whose father is involved with Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. Stick, the older brother, becomes involved with the Black Panthers. This book shows the horror that African Americans faced during this time period and how desperate people were to make a difference. Good boy book especially.

Skin Deep (YA) (5/5)

Skin Deep (YA) (5/5)

Andrea Anderson is a HS student who doesn't really fit in. She is hired to walk a neighbor's dog while the neighbor is in the hospital. She meets Zena, a Saint Bernard, and feels a connection. When the neighbor gets out of the hospital, Andrea and she form a close friendship. Andrea begins to connect more with people including Ashley, a popular classmate, and Dennis, her mom's boyfriend. Good realistic fiction, especially for HS girls.

The Help (5/5)

The Help (5/5)

I can see why this book has gotten rave reviews. It is powerful, even though sometimes it is difficult to read. Why do people hate other people based on the color of their skin? That question can still be asked today. In this book, the high society white ladies of Jackson, Mississippi treat their help like lesser beings. One lady, Miss Skeeter, decides to write a collection of the stories from the colored help. This is risky for all involved. But man does it create a reaction when it is published. Readers will root for Miss Skeeter, Aibleen and Minny to get out of this unscathed. A great read. Good writing style. I would highly recommend it.