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July 03
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July 02
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Abby
gave to:
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Hardcover)
by
Jenny Han
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my rating:
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read in July, 2009
Abby said:
"Every summer since before she was born, Belly's spent at the beach with her family and her mom's best friend's family. And she's always tagged along behind her older brother and Suzanne's boys, Jeremiah and Conrad. This summer will be different, Bell...more
Every summer since before she was born, Belly's spent at the beach with her family and her mom's best friend's family. And she's always tagged along behind her older brother and Suzanne's boys, Jeremiah and Conrad. This summer will be different, Belly can feel it. She's turning sixteen, she's blossomed into a beautiful young lady, and she's determined to prove that she's not a kid anymore. But Belly's caught between wanting to grow up and wanting to cling to the past, and this will be a summer that transforms her more than she would ever predict.
Bittersweet. Very realistic in that not-everything-works-out-the-way-you-want-it way. Which will make it perfect for some girls, but maybe too serious for a beach read. I very much enjoyed it and the more I think about it the better I like it.(less)
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Abby
gave to:
The Gospel According to Larry (Paperback)
by
Janet Tashjian (Goodreads author)
bookshelves:
audio
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my rating:
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read in July, 2009
Abby said:
"Josh and his best friend (and secret love interest) Beth are obsessed with a mysterious online prophet who calls himself Larry. Little does Beth know that Josh is the mastermind behind the website. When "Larry" explodes in popularity, Josh ...more
Josh and his best friend (and secret love interest) Beth are obsessed with a mysterious online prophet who calls himself Larry. Little does Beth know that Josh is the mastermind behind the website. When "Larry" explodes in popularity, Josh will find that making a difference in the world isn't as easy as he'd thought.
I really, really enjoyed this audiobook. It's expertly narrated by an actor who sounds a little bit like John Green (*swoon*). If it hadn't been a bit overproduced (didn't need those sound effects) and if Janet Tashjian was a more talented narrator for the prologue and epilogue (apologies, Janet; you're a wonderful author, but stay away from the mic), it would have been near perfect. Highly recommended for Nerdfighters everywhere. Just keep listening through the prologue. I swear it gets better quickly. (less)
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July 01
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Abby
gave to:
Strawberry Hill (Hardcover)
by
Mary Ann Hoberman
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my rating:
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read in July, 2009
Abby said:
"Nine-year-old Allie is not excited about leaving her best friend and moving with her family to Stamford during the Great Depression. When she finds out that they're moving to a street called Strawberry Hill she has high hopes, but she'll still have t...more
Nine-year-old Allie is not excited about leaving her best friend and moving with her family to Stamford during the Great Depression. When she finds out that they're moving to a street called Strawberry Hill she has high hopes, but she'll still have to deal with starting a new school and navigating the complicated road to friendships in her new town.
This is a quiet sort of book with a classic feel. Allie's voice felt very real to me and many of the events may have been based on the author's own experiences. Recommended for girls who are looking for a gentle read.(less)
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June 29
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June 26
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Abby
gave to:
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5)
by
Rick Riordan
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Abby said:
"In this immensely satisfying conclusion to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Percy and his half-blood friends must save Olympus from certain doom.
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Abby
gave to:
Redwoods (Hardcover)
by
Jason Chin
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Abby said:
"Jason Chin's beautiful book invites the reader to step inside and learn all about redwoods, those fabulous trees that grow in Northern California. Gorgeous art and lots of cool facts, what else can I say? I hope there will be much more to come from J...more
Jason Chin's beautiful book invites the reader to step inside and learn all about redwoods, those fabulous trees that grow in Northern California. Gorgeous art and lots of cool facts, what else can I say? I hope there will be much more to come from Jason Chin.(less)
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June 24
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Abby
gave to:
Fire (Hardcover)
by
Kristin Cashore
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Abby said:
"In the Dells, monsters roam - beautiful, enchanting animals of all colors of the rainbow, some more harmful than others. Human monsters walk the Dells, too, though they are rare. Fire is one of those monsters. So beautiful as to be irresistible to al...more
In the Dells, monsters roam - beautiful, enchanting animals of all colors of the rainbow, some more harmful than others. Human monsters walk the Dells, too, though they are rare. Fire is one of those monsters. So beautiful as to be irresistible to all, Fire has the power to read minds and control thoughts. After the terrible cruelty her monster father had for other people, Fire is determined not to use her power against people... but when the Kingdom needs her, will she be able to help?
What I've come to expect from Kristin Cashore is a complex, imaginative world and compelling characters. On that front, I was not at all disappointed. Fire is definitely a book you can sink your teeth into. That said, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I enjoyed Graceling. There is a romance element, but it's more subtle. The book deals with the politics of the Dells and it's deeper and slower than Graceling. (less)
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June 21
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Abby
gave to:
Eyes Like Stars (The Théâtre Illuminata: Act 1)
by
Lisa Mantchev (Goodreads author)
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Abby said:
"The Theatre Illuminata is a magical place where all the characters in the history of the theater live, ready to perform whenever they're called. Bertie has lived there most of her life, brought when she was a young child by a strange woman she barely...more
The Theatre Illuminata is a magical place where all the characters in the history of the theater live, ready to perform whenever they're called. Bertie has lived there most of her life, brought when she was a young child by a strange woman she barely remembers. She was raised among the Players, costumes, and scenery but now that she's older she must leave unless she can prove herself invaluable to the Theatre. But what Bertie doesn't know is that another force wants to destroy the Theatre, the only home she's ever known.
This is definitely a book for theater buffs. I really enjoyed it, but I think I would have gotten more out of it if I was more familiar with Shakespeare's works. (Which might make it perfect for high schoolers, as many study Shakespeare at some point.) Bertie's a great heroine who makes mistakes (big ones, sometimes) and fights for what she believes in. Her fairy entourage provides comic relief (they were my favorite part of the story). Some ends are left loose as this is the first book in a trilogy. (less)
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June 13
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