Review: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was very well-written. It ended a little fast, but I really enjoyed the story. One of the best non-fiction books I've read in a long time!

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Review: American Street

American Street by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was debating between a 3 and 4 stars for this, but after seeing a few other reviews, I've settled on 3 stars.

What I liked: I really liked the characters and overall the situations felt really real for me. The way the characters talked felt authentic and their relationships with each other seemed realistic. I loved the main character and felt for her throughout the novel.

What I didn't like (or why I gave this 3 stars instead of 4): The biggest thing someone else pointed out that I agree with is that this book seems to normalize abuse. Dre's character and relationship with Donna felt realistic, but it seemed like the abuse was just accepted and maybe even romanticized some. That is never okay and dropped it at least a full star from me. I also felt like things were a little too magically resolved in the end, which I didn't like.

However, overall this was a decent book that many readers will enjoy. I'm glad I picked it up before going to this year's Battle of the Books!

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Review: The Same Stuff as Stars

The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Paterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My rating of this book reflects simply my enjoyment level - not how well-written the book was. This was a hard one for me because I have a difficult time reading about children with bad home lives. It was truly a heartbreaking book and I probably would not have picked it up if I had known anything about the subject matter. I only knew that I loved other books by Katherine Patterson (although it's been years since I read anything by her). She remains and incredible author, capable of making you process all kinds of difficult emotions and fall in love with her characters. This one was excellent, but I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 or more because I just couldn't handle how heartbreaking it was. It just upset me so much that I had a difficult time listening to it at all. However, it was definitely a good book. I just need to take a break from Katherine Patterson for a while.

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Review: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was a charming story about four children and their summer vacation. While I was clearly not the target audience for this book, I liked the sisters and the story well enough to want to continue the series. This one was fairly juvenile, but I probably would have loved it as a kid. I'm also excited to see how the girls mature and what comes next for the Penderwick family. I see a lot of potential!

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