Rebecca Crunden's Blog, page 2
July 25, 2025
Book Review: Ghost Says Meow! (2025)
Ghost Says Meow!: A Halloween Story by Lauren Kukla
“You all sound great.
You really do! But
why not try out
something new?”
Oh gosh, this was absolutely adorable! The rhymes are super cute and well done, and the illustrations are just precious. I really appreciated the book’s message of being unafraid to be different and embracing being yourself even when others are telling you that it’s wrong to divert from the norm.
Definitely a fun, wholesome book for young kids!
Thank you Netga...
July 18, 2025
Book Review: A Spoonful of the Sea (2025)
A Spoonful of the Sea by Hyewon Yum
Many mothers ago, a haenyeo with a big belly saw a mother whale eating seaweed after she gave birth.
This was such a lovely little read that explains the meaning and history behind making and serving miyeok-guk (seaweed soup) every year for a birthday meal. I love the idea of expectant mothers diving to get seaweed for soup to keep themselves and their babies healthy because whales do the same thing. The animal lover in me just adores that.
The il...
July 16, 2025
Book Review: Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (2025)
Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan
Illustrated by Brittany Cicchese
Only eight hundred miles from the North Pole, away from wars and weapons, safe from earthquakes, fire, and even an asteroid, buried deep in the Earth on an island in Norway, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault holds priceless treasure.
Oh, this made me cry. In a truly, wonderfully hopeful way. My conservationist/environmentalist book from childhood was The Wump World which truly s...
July 14, 2025
Book Review: Belladonna (2022)
“There’s good in it, too,” he went on. “I am the first person people see when they draw their last breath. I am the messenger who can deliver them to those they’ve missed. I am the one who assures them not to worry, or who delivers a swift death to those who are not welcome into the afterlife. I am many things, but what I am not is ashamed.”
Oh wow. So, I read this in a day. SO. GOOD. You know those books where you read book one and you instantly want to read...
July 11, 2025
Book Review: Mourner For Hire (2025)
Mourner For Hire by Caitlin Moss
This is my job. I have turned a passion into an income, and you cannot fault me for that. It doesn’t make it less good or less worthy. It doesn’t make it less meaningful, and it certainly doesn’t mean that I care less about the people I do it for, just because they pay me.
Okay, this was a really pleasant surprise. I totally picked this on a whim because the cover was charming and the idea of a ‘mourner for hire’ was really unique. And honestly, I’m rea...
July 10, 2025
Book Review: Grandmother Moon (2025)
Grandmother Moon by Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason
Illustrated by Trisha B. Waters
Sometimes you only need to stand beneath Grandmother Moon, close your eyes, and breathe. If you’re very still, you’ll feel her light gently kiss your cheek.
Oh, this was simply lovely and beautiful and sweet! The illustrations are so gorgeous! Each page was utterly captivating. The style is super cool. I’m not even sure how you describe it, but it’s like a watercolour-type style that’s very relaxing and vibrant.
...Cover Reveal: Mysterious Ways by Daniel Meyer
I’m so excited to reveal this gorgeous cover for Mysterious Ways, book three in the Sam Adams series by Daniel Meyer. The cover is designed by the incredibly talented Luke Tarzian, who also designed the covers for the previous books in the series, Credible Threats and Rising Shadows.
Behold!
The summary for Mysterious Ways has yet to be revealed (Daniel Meyer is building the SUSPENSE), so here is the synopsis for book one, Credible Threats (add it on Goodreads!):
Sam Adams, sixteen-year...
July 9, 2025
Author Interview with PJC Cahill
Introduce yourself!
I’m PJC Cahill! I’ve been writing in various formats and styles for about twenty-five years, and recently got into self-publishing! I tend to lean into character interactions, fun tropes, and very open homage of various classics in all media. I’m a sucker for romance, found family, and absurd action sequences.
What’s the first book you remember reading?
I first DIRECTLY remember reading a Star Wars extended universe book (part of the Thrawn series), but I was def...
Author Interview with Daniel Meyer
Introduce yourself!
Hi, I’m Daniel Meyer, I’m thirty-three years old, and I’m the author of the Sam Adams series, a fast-paced, action-packed urban fantasy series about teenage wizard Sam Adams. I live in Missouri, USA, where, as ever, I’m banging away at my next book (while shivering away in the cold).
To recap my various bios scattered around the Internet, I wrote my first story at the age of six, about pirates who had their treasure stolen. I’m an occasional kilt-wearer, a supporter...
July 5, 2025
Author Interview with Brett Butler
Introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m Brett Butler—author, photographer, and lifelong storyteller. I write heartfelt, character-driven fiction with strong LGBTQ+ themes, including my debut novel Catholic School Boys in Trouble. I also have a background in zine publishing and film, which definitely shapes how I see narrative, emotion, and voice.
What’s the first book you remember reading?
Probably Where the Wild Things Are. That book taught me the power of imagination, rebellion, and coming ho...
