Greetings from Witness Protection - Audiobook

Review:

Audience: Middle Grade

Format: Audiobook/Library

 

I'm working on making a world.

- first sentence

 

Nicki has been living in a foster center since her grandmother died. One day, the FBI suddenly shows up to ask for her help. They want her for a new program in witness protection called Project Family. The idea is to add a child to the family in WITSEC to make them harder to find. Nicki is to become Charlotte Trevor, part of a family that includes a father, mother, and younger brother. The mother testified against the members of her family who just so happen to be part of the Italian mob. Charlotte (Nicki) and the rest of the Trevor family need to play their roles perfectly so that the Cercatore family doesn't find them.

 

I listened to the audio version which I borrowed from my public library and the narrator did a fantastic job. She sounded exactly like a snarky teenage girl. Nicki (Charlotte) struggles with kleptomania and when she gets scared, she tends to steal things (her hands are very fast). Nicki is a clever, strong girl who knows how to take care of herself, but during the course of the book, she realizes how much she needs people to confide in. I knew the bad guys would eventually find them, and I had an idea of how Charlotte would stop them, but some of the details were a bit unexpected.

 

I think kids will enjoy this story and relate to the way the characters feel like they don't fit in. The Trevor family faces homework issues, bullying, sibling squabbles, and other typical situations that kids will understand. The story is engaging and Nicki (Charlotte) makes a great kid hero.

 

This book is nominated for a Sunshine State award for grades 6-8. I am trying to read as many as I can again this year.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1899533/greetings-from-witness-protection-audiobook

Booklikes-opoly 6/9 roll

 

Current Bank: $25.00 + $5.00 for passing GO

 

I finished my second book, so on to the next roll:

 

 

Moving 6 spaces takes me past GO to space #3 - School's Out for Summer

 

    

 

Then, since I rolled doubles,  I roll again:

 

 

Moving 8 spaces takes me to space #10 - Beach Week

 

 

 

So, I passed GO which means I collect $5.00.

 

I'm still holding the Robot & the Scottie dog cards:

          

 

I'm reading Dark Matter by Blake Crouch for space #10 - Beach Week and Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson for space #3 - School's Out for Summer.

 

 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1899499/booklikes-opoly-6-9-roll

Seven Days in May

Review:

Audience: Adult

Format: Paperback/Owned

 

It was half past nine in the morning when Sydney stepped out of the taxi wearing her most drab topcoat.

- first sentence

 

This is a romantic historical fiction novel that follows two sets of people during the first World War. The plot involving Sydney & Brooke (New York heiresses) and Brooke's fiancee Edward (a future lord who happens to be in significant debt) is all unlikely romantic triangle.  They are traveling across the Atlantic on the Lusitania for Brooke & Edward's wedding. The other plot takes place in London where Isabel has found a job working with the codebreakers. Isabel & Sydney are both trying to fight for women's rights and against stereotypes in their own ways. The climactic event is the sinking of the Lusitania by a German submarine.

 

The historical details and the fact that the author's great-grandfather was Walter Dawson, a passenger who was on the Lusitania, made this novel interesting. But I wasn't terribly invested in the characters or what happened to them. The part of the story where the Lusitania was sinking and passengers were struggling to survive was the most heartbreaking part of the book and also the most engaging. 

 

I read this for Booklikes-opoly space #34 - When? - a book that is time travel or historical fiction.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1899486/seven-days-in-may

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron

Review:

Audience: Young Adult

Format: Hardcover/Owned

 

 

I am going to be flogged, and I don't know why I'm so surprised about it.

- first sentence

 

Nadia lives in Canaan, a city that is enclosed by white stone walls; a city whose residents periodically forget everything and everyone. No one knows why the Forgetting occurs every twelve years, but the people all keep journals to remind them of the important things after they forget. Nadia didn't forget and she is the only one. She doesn't know why, but she is determined to find out and help prevent the Forgetting. This is why she frequently breaks curfew and crosses over the walls (even though it is forbidden). As Nadia discovers the truth about Canaan, its people, and the Forgetting, she also faces danger and manages to fall in love.

 

I was surprised by some of the twists, but I kind of figured other ones out. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

 

This is an excellent story, highly recommended to fantasy fans and anyone who enjoys young adult books.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1899284/the-forgetting-by-sharon-cameron

Review:

Audience: Grades 4-8

Format: Kindle/Owned

 

 

A heartbreaking and yet hopeful book. It's hard to imagine being forced to leave your pets behind in a disaster or having to choose between saving your furry family and saving yourself. Hurricane Katrina was a disaster on so many levels. At least these two had each other.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1899008/post