Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is a middle grade novel narrated by an oak tree named Red. Every year, on Wishing Day on the first of May, people come to Red to hang their wishes on her branches. A new family moves into the neighborhood, and Red and the critters who call Red home, make it their quest to ensure that the little girl in the family feels at home. This was such a sweet, heartwarming read. When the new family is met with prejudice after someone carves something threatening into Red’s bark, we see Red, the critters, and the community come together to make them feel welcome. I wrote a full review of Wishtree which you can read here.
Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert is a new release about a woman named Chloe who, after having a near death experience, creates a sort of bucket list for herself. Our protagonist, Chloe, is somewhat strong-minded and sarcastic, but also quite charming. She suffers from a chronic illness, and from what I can tell, the book does a good job of depicting the exhaustion and pain that she experiences, even when completing everyday tasks. She enlists the handsome, artistic supervisor of her apartment building to help her complete her list, and in exchange she offers to build a website for his art. As the cover gives away, the two start to fall for one another. I didn’t love this book, to be honest. This was fun, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me or maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for a romance.
The Enchanted by Renee Denfeld is a gorgeously written debut novel that examines the lives of prisoners on death row. It’s narrated by a death row inmate whose otherworldly visions add a touch of magical realism to the story. Through his eyes, we learn about other inmates and workers within the prison. The novel uncovers the corruption and conditions in the prison while exploring themes like loneliness, the passing of time, mortality and the root causes of evil. Overall, I found The Enchanted to be absolutely captivating. You can read my full review here.
The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Caroline Keene is the fourth book in the good ol’ Nancy Drew series! In this book, Nancy Drew cleverly discovers the cause of the mysterious happenings at her friend’s Lilac Inn. Reading Nancy Drew today, at the age of 27, was a fun experience. I laughed out loud numerous times at the outlandish plot. Trouble seems to find our “young sleuth” at every turn! And it’s hard to ignore the very conveniently placed clues and the stilted dialogue. However, it all works quite well, making it a pleasant read, and a great recommendation for middle grade readers. You can read more about my experience reading Nancy Drew here.
Intensity by Dean Koontz is a thriller/suspense novel that is, to put it simply, very intense. The protagonist, Chyna Sherpard, is a 26-year-old woman who was surrounded by dysfunction and violence as a child. Even in her adulthood, Chyna can’t catch a break. When she goes to stay overnight at her best friend’s home, where she meets her warm, welcoming family, terror ensures when a killer enters the home. Chyna manages to hide and survive, but her friend and the entire family are murdered. Ultimately, Chyna makes it her mission to bring justice to the killer’s victims as well as to save a girl she learns is being held hostage in the killer’s home. This was an excellent thriller. It was fast-paced and thoroughly disturbing, with the action starting in the first chapter. Also, Chyna is not only strong and selfless, but a total badass.
Pawsitive Reads 