I’ll admit I was one of the ones who was not on board with Archie Comics’ new look and didn’t want to read any of their new material. However, a few years ago I caved and was pleasantly surprised. It surpassed my expectations in how they combined the traditional Josie antics with a more “realistic” feel.
What do you did when you are a enter a matchmaking agency that makes you to a real life Cupid.
A Cupid. There is more than one after all.
Felicity may mess up sometimes in her matchmaking schemes (especially her choice to matchmake her parents. The aftermath scars her for life) but she is full of heart and a true romantic even when things aren’t going her way. Besides offers some true advice on love and friendship. Plus it feels relatable as she describes the skeezy house parties and boring health classes. Also it’s funny which is rare plus for me.
Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce
Pierce is a classic fantasy author, and this quartet really shows off her skills in creating a unique world. This one based on creative skills like weaving, metaworking and planting. But the main draw for me was the tight friendship of the four main characters, and seeing them come to trust and love each other as family.
While it is not impossible to love books and sports, I find most readers prefer to curl up with a book than to go out and tackle someone for a ball. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to vicariously read about sports. Here are some sporty books I enjoyed when I was a kid.
Kids
Go for the Gold Gymnasts series by Dominique Moceanu and Alicia Thompson
This middle grade series gets straight into the competitive world of gymnastics touching such points as anorexia, the physical strain on the body, pushy parents and financial straits that come when seriously committing to a sport. And that’s not even getting into the interpersonal relations in a team where you support yet also compete with each other for the top score. This gives a realistic look into the joys and struggles of the sport and as co-written by Olympic champion, Moceanu it fittingly describes and depicts the amazing feats the girls do.
For a kids (and more dated version) of this, try The Gymnasts by Elizabeth Levy.
Here’s a little break from all the book suggestions I have. I want to hear from you or really anyone’s who’s reading this little blog.
So my first question to get the ball rolling is, who has read those book novelizations of tv episodes?
Or just based on celebrities like Mary Kate and Ashley. They had so so many books based on them.
Comment below with ones you’ve read or your favorite ones? Or do you think it is a blantant cash grab? What is the point if you can just watch the episode, why read about it too?
Or what do you think of books that are from a tv show. Such as the below example, Snow Falling by Jane Villanueva. Within the show we see the process of her writing the book and now readers everywhere can see what Jane “wrote” themselves.
Or for example these books that have notes written in the margins by your favorite characters? Is it to make them more ‘real’? Just greed, creating more merchendise for people to consume?
This a good starter series for kids who want to puzzle out the whodunnit while relating to the lower school protagonists, the bookish, thoughtful Dink, the whip smart Rose and goofy Josh as they figure out the small town local mysteries that pop up in their lives from missing authors to runaway raceshorses to potential zombies.
Check out the spin off on their younger siblings in The Calendar Mysteries.
The Capital Mysteries by Ron Roy
Set in the same universe, (see below there is literally a crossover book), White House mysteries has a more specific premise following KC, the first daughter of the President and her best friend, Marshall as they also solve mysteries that threaten KC’s stepdad’s presidency and the sanctity of D.C. monuments.
Lady Grace Mysteries by Jan Burchett
This one was my favorite series as it was slightly more historical, set in queen Elizabeth’s court which creates a few more limitations for the the titular Lady in waiting to solve crimes on her majesty’s behest. But she does so with aplomb because almost no one notices a lady and yet she is privvy to much of the court’s gossip. A court where everyone has their own agendas and plans for the throne. Always exciting, I quite enjoy it and wish it had continued beyond L.
Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Ah these classic books with beautiful covers, I make a point of reading them every year. While Anne is obviously the most famous and I prefer the first five books of the series, it is worth a read of all 8 books just for Montgomery’s lush descriptions of Prince Edward Island. Also, it adds a certain extra dimension if you know of her personal life. In book 7, Rainbow Valley, she has her society ladies gossip about a preacher man and his wife, an unflattering story that closely resembles the unhappy marriage she had with her own minister husband.
The Emily of New Moon trilogy also has its beautiful descriptive passages, but it is more of an ode to writerly dreams. While Anne gives up her romantic fantasies, Emily is persistant in her goals and the way she describes that intense fever speaks to the passion Montgomery herself felt for her craft. It also adds some supernatural events and interpersonal dramas that make Emily a separate heroine from Anne to root for.
Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott
This is a less well-known book than Alcott’s famous Little Women series, and it is not quite up to par to it in all honestly, but I think this is a nice short novel that would help get kids into her work. It follows Jack and Jill after they roll down the hill and break their bones. The sledding accident leaves them bedridden. It has several of Alcott’s main themes as seen in her other novels, of being a good, virtuous person, and other teenage fun. Well fun for teenagers in the 1920s.
I believe every child has read at least once so there’s no need for fanfare, especially since they are still going. They must be at number 100 by now. Anyway, I love the cover designs, every fairy is unique and beautiful. But I will always have a soft spot for the first series that introduced the world to Rainbow Island and the dasterdly Jack Frost and the ever lasting friendship of Rachel and Kirsty.
Never Fairies or Tales from Pixie Hollow
I’m not quite sure since there are conflicting titles but this Disney series sports some beautiful watercolor illustrations. Plus some really well-done world building based upon Gail Carson Levine’s (of Ella Enchanted fame) Fairy Dust Trilogy. I love how every fairy has a unique personality with strengths and flaws, not as sanitized as the movie versions, and again, I really love the illustrations.
Fairy Chronicles by J.H. Sweet
This underrated middle school series by Texas writer, J.H. Sweet has amazing worldbuilding. IN fact you must buy her Fairy Handbook that details what she calls her “House of cards” each book built upon the next spanning seven years. There’s religious symbolism, Chinese elements, magical creatures, and more. It all features relatable girls delivering inspiring messages of what courage is, belief in growth and change, sacrificing yourself for love, animal extinction, enviromentalism, patience for wisdom and much more.
I’m sure many have read or at least seen the brand called Whitman Classics of which frequently can be seen in flea markets and antique shops. They are abridged, easily readable editions of classic literature like Heidi and such, with some originals sprinkled in as well. I have a whole collection of them for my summer reading and so I must impart my love for them.
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
I’m going to shock peopple by saying I like this novel of Alcott’s more than Little Women. While Little Women is a classic, I have read this over ten times and I just find it more homey. It follows a young twelve year old Rose a year after the death of her father. She lives with her aunts on the appropriately named Aunt Hill but is still ever so depressed. However, this year brings a change. She will be under the temporary guardianship of Uncle Mac, if he can brighten her spirits and bring her a healthier color, he can continue his guardianship. Through Uncle Mac, who’s a sailor and a doctor, Alcott introduces newfangled notions for her time like pajamas, no corsets, exercise and education for women while also praising the simplier pleasures like being able to do inventory and bake bread. As for the titular eight cousins, Rose learns to rough and tumble and play with her seven cousins, all boys and all full of personality. It’s a sweet story about family and very enjoyable.
P.C. Hawke Mysteries was a middle school mysteries series by the late Paul Zindel, author of sci fi novels like The Pig-Man.
It is centers on two sleuthing high schoolers whose natural curiosity and ability to see things that adults miss allow them to solve more cases than the incompetent adults. Classic stuff.
Rachel Reads & Reviews 