4 stars I was pleasantly surprised by this book. When looking for a short audiobook to listen to in the car, I stumbled across this one and gave it a try. I figured it would be a cutesy middle-grade read. At first, I was a little apprehensive about the money-obsessed main character and the focus…

4 stars I really enjoyed this one. Adventure, suspense, and so much grossness. While I liked the first book, I remember Jack’s obsession with June getting in the way of me truly enjoying it. It just came off as creepy and gross so it was hard to really get into the book. This one does…

4 stars Another fun adventure with Judy Moody and Friends. This one is space-themed and centers around Judy and Stink. The two of them do some star gazing, prepare for an asteroid strike, and name a star. It was fun to see them interacting in a more heartfelt way rather than their normal bickering. Judy…

5 stars I bought this book for a Database Management Systems course and found it very helpful as a brief overview of NoSQL databases. The book is broken into two parts: Understand and Implement. In the first, the authors give a survey of some basic information regarding things like aggregate data models, distribution models, consistency,…

4 stars This is a great concise overview of whiskey, which covers a brief history, the basic process, tips for how to drink whiskey, and a guide for hosting a tasting. The majority of the book is dedicated to recipes which include appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and cocktails. I assumed I would not be interested…

4 stars This was such an adorable book. Humorous, silly, and fun. I especially enjoyed the artwork. Each page is so detailed and really enhances the story. Adam Rex built a whole world in the illustrations and they pair so perfectly with the narration. Sometimes with children’s books, I feel too caught up in the…

3 stars A fun retelling of the classic Cinderella story from the stepmother’s perspective. In this version, Cinderella talks non-stop and her step-family is not too happy. This was a humorous take that calls into question all of the magical elements of Cinderella’s life. At the end of the book is a brief overview of…

4 stars Another fun You Choose adventure. It was so much fun being able to relive the classic Cinderella story through these three fresh spins. This collection features a modern Cinderella as a fashion-loving teen; Asher, a wannabe architect; and Drella, who has a knack for fixing and flying spaceships. Each story felt entirely its…

4 stars Growing up, I loved the Judy Moody chapter books. The Judy Moody and Friends series provides even more Moody adventures with these short picture-heavy chapter books. Each chapter contains its own interconnected story. In this one, Judy tends to a sick Jaws, makes a little extra money with her mind-reading cat, Mouse, and…

4 stars I really enjoyed traversing these retellings of the classic Rapunzel story. The choose-your-own-adventure format was an awesome way to experience the fairy tale in an entirely new fashion. This book contains three separate stories, each with their own unique paths to travel. Follow Zel, a high schooler who longs for freedom and friendship;…