If you didn't hate The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you'll love James. It is refreshing to get the story from Jim's POV. I loved the idea that he and other slaves were just putting on the “slave talk“ for the benefit of white people, to appear less educated than they were. Highly recommend!

In the last few years, these have been my favs. I'm looking for your recommendations based on this.

It's not even halfway through January but I know this will be a strong contender for my best read of 2025. Dual time line, a strong fantasy element, with realistic characters and setting, and a strong female protagonist, this is everything I want in a book. If you've had this on your list for a while, don't hesitate.

I'm going to miss this series so much! I don't usually read sequels, so when I do, you know it's good. If you liked this series, try GET A LIFE CHLOE BROWN by Talia Hibbert and BEFORE I LET YOU GO by Kennedy Ryan.

I loved the dual narrative and the way Elaine and Ava's stories eventually intertwined. I liked learning of the history of Portugal's role in WW2.

A beautiful poetic narrative that reminds the reader that ALL life is valuable.

Lord of the Flies meets The Handmaid's Tale, this powerfully gripping YA dystopian story kept me hooked from beginning to end. Tierney, a strong and brave female protagonist, fights against injustice and for what she believes. The Grace Year is a must read!

This book was everything I expect from a Hallmark-esque Christmas read. It was the perfect holiday rom-com, predictable in all the best ways. It was good to read about Callie gaining strength and asserting herself and Marco was the perfect love interest.

I enjoyed this examination of life, family, and race. It shows us how one life could be lived in so many different ways. It also highlights how lies about who you are, your truth, can resonate for a lifetime.

This is a beautiful collection of quotes/tweets about optimism, hope, and growth. It encourages the reader to find beauty in the life they're presently living, making room for the wonderful unknown future, embracing the power of uncertainty.

An amazing duology and atypical for me, I liked the second book even better than the first. I was rooting for Iris and Roman, and I loved Iris's strong female character. I was impressed that the ending was positive without being a happily ever after ending.

This was a beautiful story of friendship, found family, and resilience. Grace was a loveable character, steadfast and heroic. This was everything I want in a good historical fiction read.

The only thing I kept thinking, over and over, is that not much has changed. The rich still keep the poor downtrodden so they can get richer. This was my first Kristin Hannah and I'm excited to read her others.

I teach a course called Growth Goals and Grit. This has been an invaluable resource both personally and professionally. We are working on building strong habits that will help us reach our goals. This is the undisputed handbook.

Can you believe it's my first time reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? The audiobook was simply delightful. With my background knowledge, the allegory was unmistakable. But, I truly think this story would capture the heart of every child and adult alike.

McManus's best yet! I loved Kat and Liam's characters. This book definitely shows young people who rise above their raising. I didn‘t find the plot twists predictable and there were quite a few. A fun and engrossing read.

I think I would have enjoyed this so much more when I was first divorced, over 20 years ago now. I loved the questions, quotations, and chapter titles. I especially loved the chapter, “It gets pretty woo here“ about the idea that children get to choose which parents they'll be born to.

I chose this book because it was a short audiobook and available at the library while I was looking for something while I was waiting for my holds to come in. Compelling, huh? The title was off-putting and part of the reason I hadn't picked it up before now. Sorry mom! Also, memoirs/biographies usually aren't my thing. So, I'm shocked at how much I enjoyed Jenette's story. I was rooting and horrified for her the whole time.

I enjoyed the first book in Barnes' spin-off series. I'm rooting for Rohan. I want to see him become the proprietor of the Devil's Mercy. But I'm annoyed with the ending.

Lord is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me. This is such a sweet YA Romance with well-written characters who grow as a result of the conflict. Andy's internal struggles remind me so much of my own. I feel seen. I love how the title was woven into the story.

This is a MUST read for all parents and educators and everyone who has or works with children of any age. It will open your eyes to what tech companies are doing, knowingly, that harms our children's mental health and development. More importantly, it tells us how to take back our power and mitigate the damage.

Book 2 in the Skyland series by Kennedy Ryan was every bit as good as the first. Ryan has a way of making you root for her characters. An FBI raid, twins with autism, a rising social media influencer, and a dad goes to prison. Bring on book 3!

A beautiful tribute to slow readers with big imaginations. A big hug to my inner child who was, and despite the amount I read, still is a slow reader. This is a must book for every elementary classroom!

I wanted to love this. I read 30%. I have a difficult time knowing when I'm not really enjoying a book. When I start to avoid reading is about the only indicator. This was super funny in spots, but not often enough to hold my interest. #DNF

Great simile. Fits the plot line.

🖤

Watching the final season of The Crown and thought thisline by Prince Charles was worth noting: “great pain and sadness doesn‘t discriminate — it comes to those with beauty and privilege, too.”

Set in a dystopia where reproductive rights extend into a child's teenage years, Unwind is the story of Connor, Risa, and Lev on the run from being “unwound“, becoming unwilling organ donors. This is a story I will definitely share with my HS students.

“Picasso had to prove to the world he can paint the right way, before he goes putting both eyes on one side of a face, and noses stickin' outta kneecaps and stuff. See, if you paint wrong because that's the best you can do, you just a chump. But you do it because you want to? Then you're an artist.“

Riley and Tom, recent high school grads and former best friends reconnect and learn that, “Home has never been a place, but a feeling.“ This book is for anyone who has ever felt like they need to get away, or is searching for a place to belong.

This a great mix of action, romance, and steam. A good quick and light read to indulge after reading something more serious or cerebral. Nash and Lina's story was the perfect continue the reader's romp through the charming town of Knockemout.

My first Alan Gratz didn't disappoint. This dual narrative, of a young NYC boy who was caught in the twin towers when the planes hit on 9/11 and an Afgan girl in 2019, brings a humanitarian and global perspective to the events and war in general. Perfect for a YA or adult audience.

Is this just a stereotype or is it true?

I'm still loving this series as much as I did in book one, which is rare for me. Delilah's story really drove home the lesson that holding a grudge hurts the person who is holding it more than anyone else.

This was a great listen for our road trip. Hubs likes YA and said he wanted something light. I loved the relationship between the three sisters, the Song girls. We may listen to the sequel on the way home.

I found myself relating to Gary Andrews as he shares his grief journey through his collection of daily comics after the death of his beloved wife Joy. In the last 2 years I've lost my only sibling, our dog, and my dad, in that order. This would be an amazing gift for a grieving friend.

I can't wait to better recommend this one to my students. It highlights the school to prison pipeline that exists in much of America. It is about how small decisions can have big consequences and about accepting what you cannot change.

Stunning!