I love Kiersten Modglin's novels, because they're always well-written and suspenseful, but never work out my brain too hard. Of course I had to grab hI love Kiersten Modglin's novels, because they're always well-written and suspenseful, but never work out my brain too hard. Of course I had to grab her latest, The Hollow, and I devoured it in two days.
No one can put out a five-star winner every time, and unfortunately, this one didn't hit the high standard I have for Modglin's novels. Was it interesting? Sure, but it was missing something. The mystery the story was trying to solve was blurred by the interactions between Carmen, Dean and Jack. I wasn't sure where everything was going, and what answers we'd get (and to which questions), and then all of a sudden, it all wraps up and we're done. I felt unsettled when it was over, like I'd missed something vital. Who knows? Maybe I spaced partway through, and didn't catch a few things that would have made my experience less disjointed.
Spacing out could have been due to the choice of narrator for the audio version, which is what the publisher gave me through NetGalley. IT WAS TERRIBLE. Diana Bustelo's high-pitched yet gravelly voice was such a distraction, and would have been better suited to a young teen novel instead of for a 20-something adult protagonist. Then add her mispronunciations of pretty common words, like "miss-chee-vee-us", and the not-quite-there novel became a true miss for me....more
If you took Summer of Night and crossed it with Stranger Things, and then added a litle of the coming-of-age nostalgia of A Gift of Time, you'd get MiIf you took Summer of Night and crossed it with Stranger Things, and then added a litle of the coming-of-age nostalgia of A Gift of Time, you'd get Middle of the Night.
Was it original? Absolutely not. But did it offer characters you could relate to, and who you cared enough about to want them to find peace and maybe even redemption? Absolutely. I found Middle of the Night engaging and a fast, fun read....more
This gorgeously illustrated and heartwarming book begins with a friendly "hello" and "konnichiwa", and becomes a fun-filled day of two gALL THE STARS!
This gorgeously illustrated and heartwarming book begins with a friendly "hello" and "konnichiwa", and becomes a fun-filled day of two girls sharing their words and culture as they play.
The book is easy to follow, for those young and old, and the story unfolds so effortlessly. If you're looking for a gift, this one should definitely go into the pile.
I have no idea how any adult could read this to a child without sobbing.
It's a beautiful book, filled with love and kindness and longing for those whI have no idea how any adult could read this to a child without sobbing.
It's a beautiful book, filled with love and kindness and longing for those who've left us behind in this world as they've passed on to whatever is next. It's important, especially for children, to see that when people die, their memory is still enjoyed by all who loved them.
But prepare yourself: this book brings all the feels. I don't know how you harden yourself to it, in order to read the words aloud, but I feel like we should try....more
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