I think the parallel of Amish holding their own traditions, culture, and language is the perfect way of protecting the choices made by those who opt not to seek out or use voice & CI in favor of the Deaf community. You don't need to understand the choices of others to respect them.

I've literally never watched the Bachelor but this was eye-opening not just because of the show but also from a different perspective than I usually find in deaf/Deaf/HoH themed books- interactions with people who blatantly stereotype others have a profound impact on others and this is a good reminder of that. I hope in a few decades I get to read a follow-up book.

I think I want to be friends with Lynn Painter. I love her storytelling and musical connections, I enjoy every character she creates, even the ones I can get mad at for making dumb choices because they are that much more realistic. Humans are so flawed when it comes to love and Lynn's words capture that. I'm quite embarrassed to not get the Elizabeth Bennett possibility until the epilogue, I'll blame it on all the other nicknames she answers to.🤷

A good representation of how labels are harmful and you are never too young to make a positive impact on a person, family, and the community you call home.

5⭐ what a whirlwind!
For a teen thriller it really kept me guessing!

Very cute retelling of The Little Mermaid with a music scene backdrop.

I'm embarrassed to only just now have read this book for the first time.

Expand Your Horizons- Written the year you were born (1987)

I didn't realize how quick this one was but a combination of engaging story and the full cast audio was amazing.

I always enjoy Rachel Hauck's time slip narratives. This one alternates between several different decades in the 1900s from multiple perspectives but all centered around a beloved local roller rink. It is the hive of the community and the owner, an unwavering, mostly single woman who raised her two boys without much help from her husband who was rarely home. Reads with nostalgia- I felt like I could hear music as if my head created a soundtrack.

Publishes December 3, 2024

Dust is a YA book with a variety of themes that would work well for a book club discussion or topic driven papers. Thea is born partially Deaf to a family who refuses to believe it, her dad has premonitions causing the family to, stockpile resources, relocate and go off grid outside a community dealing with the reprocussions of corporate farming and the destruction of commodities. (Continued in comments)

Do you ever read a book that you automatically picture becoming a movie? That's what this one was for me. Scenes playing out in my head with impeccable detail thanks to the writing. The grief and mental health topics land hard enough to make me wish this book had a different cover. The cartoony graphics often make me assume it's a light romcom. First portion definitely gave me You've Got Mail x "Meet Me In The Margins" (Ferguson) vibes.

October 2024
Host of Maggie's Book Bites Podcast
Goodreads.com/MaggieCarr
#2024SpineStack
#MaggiesSpineStacks

September 2024
Host of Maggie's Book Bites Podcast
Goodreads.com/MaggieCarr
#2024SpineStack
#MaggiesSpineStacks

Infant loss and death mentioned.
This will be a favorite of 2024 for me. Perfection.

This book is written without a clear beginning and end which feels more real. Readers get a window to just drop in and observe the world of a teen couple dealing with family issues, their relationship, and the complexities of senior year of high school and all that comes with figuring out the future. I appreciated, and laughed out loud, at the parents approach to more sensitive topics but their frankness meant they cared.

Giving myself permission to not really like the first person protagonists is still odd to me but I'm getting better at it with the help of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Liv Constantine.

I do feel like I'll be more interested in tennis now if I ever cared to watch, but like most sports it doesn't really hold much appeal to me. Captivating read though!

Really puts the slamming of our recent politics into perspective - what we are dealing with is minimal to that of the 1870s political time in our country. I certainly didn't learn about this in US history class.

A fantastic end to a great four book series surrounding a Christmas tree farm community of friends. This is an open door friends to lovers romance.

Dual perspective. Clean romance with two very unlikable characters.

An incredible sequel.

It's been 14 years since I last read this book and hands down Katie Weldon's series is my favorite. Am I allowed to say that? Simply put you just see so much growth in her while she is in college.

Hard to rate. By far not my favorite R.R. and yet it's getting way more hype and with Reese Witherspoon's tag has likely already had filming rights sold. I would have liked this one better if it was closed door romance- the scenes felt tacky in the middle of such a mental and emotional lifelong friendship- if that makes any sense. Would rather any other of her titles get the accolades, hope readers that are enjoying it pick up her other work.

Sigh. A perfect five star narrative history.

Our town's annual Apple Festival is in full swing. Our library was represented in the non-profit category and received first prize! (Float carried our most recent 1000 Books Before Kindergarten finishers)

Our town's annual Apple Festival is in full swing. Our library was represented in the non-profit category and received first prize!

Our town's annual Apple Festival is in full swing. Our library was represented in the non-profit category and received first prize!

Marvelous second book from Anna Sortino. This one was extra emotional for me with an MS diagnosis in the family. While my prospective of the Deaf community is from the outside, I just can't fathom that any parents/siblings wouldn't want to communicate in sign for their family member. It absolutely boggles my mind how frequently that happens.

Interesting approach to a second chance romance but I like that it didn't follow a typical story arc and it kept me guessing- will they/won't they. The epistolary email drafts were a fun add-in as well.

Swoony 50 First Date vibes (falling in love all over again) × drive/determined characters similar to The Wedding Planner × clean romance + loveable friends, family, guests, and pup = delightful read. ❤️

I've read Orbiting Jupiter 3x and it's a story that will make me cry every.single.time despite knowing how it will end. Jupiter Rising follows up a few years later and readers are instantly back inside of Jupiter's world. I will never not recommend these two books to all ages. Absolutely incredible.

Adult autism realization × taking ownership of being overshadowed at work and within a family unit all while fighting to make a marriage work.

Rainbow Rowell is and will always be one of my favorite authors. I always feel like I'm experiencing her for the first time - everytime because the world building is so complete. Even with the Fangirl turned graphic novels I knew how it would end but gah, the heartstrings, you know? Just hated waiting for each volume.

So lovely to be back in a Liane Moriarty world. This book gave me much to think about and I ended up reading whole sections to my husband. Obviously the butterfly effect in play with the cover is so enticing but it's the story, each character, that just draws a reader in. I can't wait for the rest of the world to get their hands on this book.

August 2024
Host of Maggie's Book Bites Podcast
Goodreads.com/MaggieCarr
#2024SpineStack
#MaggiesSpineStacks

It took me 4.5 weeks but golly I finished the biggest western in the library collection. 20 chapters in it feels like a soap opera and it continues on for the next 80+ chapters. Wow!

I picked this up because of Lynn Painter's praise on the front and it did not disappoint. Told in alternating chapters from childhood friendship until the current day a deep rooted relationship is at the very core of Ethan and Rebecca. It's one of the best friends to lovers I've ever read because they are each dealing with so much independently but they never hide their struggles with each other but hold closer together.

So fascinating and that was even before I found out Annie and I shared a birthday. 😍 What an amazing trek and world to have experienced generosity, kindness, and the start of many friendships.

Anyone else swoon when authors comment back?

I absolutely loved this book. Already planning on making it into a library program. Would be amazing to reference in an art class or creative writing class, even an architect would find it an enjoyable title.

I absolutely loved this book. Already planning on making it into a library program. Would be amazing to reference in an art class or creative writing class, even an architect would find it an enjoyable title.

Non-fiction narratives are easier to understand with the context given for real life events. This book is written in three parts, the first being origin stories about how the community grew to its size/wealth due to what lay beneath the ground. The second section is the recount of the 2016 fire, and the third section covers science that makes sense after reading the Fire Weather and contextualizes other climate issues due to the warming of Earth.

Holy cow another history that schooled me in this I never even wondered about but in all the best ways. Non-fiction unique histories continue to be a blast and I have zero plans of stopping anytime soon. So much respect for these athletes that I, myself, snickered at previously.

Waiting 6 months in publishing to get these most recent Olympics included in the book would have been even more amazing. Physical book = photographs and diagrams

Some sections I loved and counted read fast enough and other parts felt too long. Each character felt well developed even if many only lasted a chapter or two.

Very cute teen romance. Reminded me a lot of the Heartland book series turned show. Teens needing to grow up too quickly, dealing with sickness and death, changes for the future and a budding romance. This is a list driven-storyline book.

A bit too open door for me but a fun friends to lovers where they fall at the same time. Reminded me a lot of Abby Jimenez in the story arc.

Two top reads of the year so far for the month- Storm Kings, Lula Dean's...

July 2024
Host of Maggie's Book Bites Podcast
Goodreads.com/MaggieCarr
#2024SpineStack
#MaggiesSpineStacks

I'm certain of several things. Poetry is beautiful, heartfelt, and can have a last effect on a reader that feels seen, and understood through the lines on each page. All.the.feels.

Not all completely new information but I like the child perspective of beginning a sport and the ins and outs of becoming great. Very timely read to share as a family with the Summer Games in Paris going on concurrently.

Confetti #1 (Peculiar Travel Suggestions...) 2004
Digital Silk Screen Image

Is it weird that I love mermaid storylines but fantasy is one of my least favorite genres? I've had this book shelves since before it came out and even had an ARC but never read it. Just like in Kiera Cass's Siren I loved that sign language representation used when voice isn't an option. The current event themes don't go unnoticed. Everyone deserves a voice!