Lifeboat 12

Review:

Audience: Grades 4 & up

Format: Audiobook/Library

 

I shouldn't do it.

- first line

This book is based on a true story of kids that were travelling on the SS City of Benares to Canada to escape the Nazi bombing of London. When the ship is torpedoed, Ken (13) and other survivors are left on Lifeboat 12 in the middle of the ocean. It's the little details in this book that make it so impactful. Ken was supposed to be on a different lifeboat, the young woman who makes up stories for the boys, the one sailor who acts crazy to make everyone laugh.
The story is told in verse, so I recommend reading a written copy more than the audio (or maybe both together). The audio is very well done and I could hear the emphasis and lyricism in the narrator's voice. The story is compelling and shows the importance of believing in yourself and each other and joining together to survive. Highly recommended. A 6-8 Sunshine State nominated book for 2020-21.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2925011/lifeboat-12

The Returned by Jason Mott

Review:

Audience: Adult

Format: Hardcover/Owned

 

Harold opened the door that day to find a dark-skinned man in a well-cut suit smiling at him.

- first sentence

This book was okay. People start returning from the dead, not coming back from the grave, but just appearing in places all over the world. There is no pattern to where they appear or who returns, or how long they've been dead. So many of them come back that the "true living" get nervous. The returned are placed into camps and it just goes downhill from there (as we would expect). Imagine the religious objections, the people who don't accept those who are different, etc.
The book is well-written, but I found it just ok.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2924967/the-returned-by-jason-mott

Review:

Audience: Young Adult

Format: Hardcover/owned

 

The drone circled high above the wreckage of war.

- first sentence

 

The third book set in the Drowned Cities universe brings us full circle by including characters from both previous books. It was great to see everything connected and to see Nailer back. I enjoyed the book, but Ship Breaker will always be my favorite from this universe. Tool is like the Terminator - he never gives up and almost can't be killed.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2924901/post

The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin

Review:

This final book in the series was just as good as the rest. An amazing story that I was sorry to see come to an end. I love the way everything tied together in a period of time that lasted over a thousand years!

 

After reading the whole thing, I watched The Passage tv show (it aired on FOX last year and was cancelled). It was ok. They changed a lot but I can see why. At the end of the series, they moved forward in time just like the book and were going to start where book 2 begins (I think). It could have been amazing... but it would never have compared to the books. :)

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2888915/the-city-of-mirrors-by-justin-cronin

The Twelve by Justin Cronin

Review:

Book 2 in an EPIC series. I loved every minute of it.

 

(I'm not putting much effort into these reviews because I have no idea if the site will even work.)

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2888871/the-twelve-by-justin-cronin

Booklikes-opoly 2020 Roll #4

Last roll I landed on Space #19, and read a book whose cover is more than 50% blue:

 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman which is 259 pages ($3.00)

 

Current Bank: $23.00

 

My next roll:

 

Landing me on:

 

A Science Fiction book is an easy one for me. I'm going to read Tool of War by Paolo Bacigalupi. 

 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2774334/booklikes-opoly-2020-roll-4

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - audiobook

Review:

Audience: Adult

Format: Audiobook/Owned

 

 

It was only a duck pond, out at the back of the farm.

- first sentence

 

Neil Gaiman's voice is amazing. I loved listening to him narrate this story. Basically this story is about growing up and how at seven years old, adults seem so big and important, yet disconnected from childhood. The narrator of the book is an adult who is remembering an event that occurred in his childhood (when it is so much easier to believe in magic and monsters).

 

I enjoyed the story and especially the narrator's childhood friend, Lettie Hempstock. It was a quick listen and had some creepy parts. It is interesting how much differently we see things as adults compared to how it seems to children. 

 

I read this for Booklikes-opoly Pandemic Edition, space #19 as a book whose cover is more than 50% blue.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2774263/the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-audiobook

Last Firehawk Book #8 - The Silver Swamp

Review:

Audience: Early Elementary (1st-3rd)

Format: Ebook/Library Copy

 

Tag and Skyla stood in a dusty clearing and examined the magical map.

- first sentence

This is a cute story, with animal main characters who are on a quest. This is the first book of the series I read, but the kids at school love it. There is an introduction at the beginning of the book to remind kids what the characters are currently facing (the story continues from book to book).  The Branches books are a gentle bridge into chapter books for early readers. They still have pictures, but the stories are more complex and interesting. A great series for kids who like magical animals and adventure.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2774213/last-firehawk-book-8-the-silver-swamp

Booklikes-opoly 2020 Roll #3

On to my next roll...

 

Current Bank $20.00

 

 

This lands me on:

                                 

 

My read for this space is going to be The Ocean at the End of the Lane. The cover is mostly blue because it is underwater.

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2737171/booklikes-opoly-2020-roll-3

Hunger Games Trilogy - reread (listen)

 

 

After reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I was inspired to reread the Hunger Games trilogy. I was amazed by how much I forgot or misremembered. Then again, my last exposure to this world was probably the movies. :)

 

I still love these books so much!!

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2737022/hunger-games-trilogy-reread-listen