Saturday, July 26, 2025

Week in Review #30

  

This week I read eight books.

78. Snowglobe 2 (Snowglobe Duology #2) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2021/2025. 438 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA Fiction, YA Speculative Fiction, YA Mystery]

Read this if...
  • You enjoyed the first book in the duology.
  • You enjoy YA dystopia set in the future.
  • You enjoy mystery and suspense.

79. Moonleapers (Moonleapers #1) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2025. [September] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [MG fiction, MG speculative fiction, 4 stars]

Read this if...
  • You enjoy Margaret Peterson Haddix's middle grade speculative fiction
  • You enjoy time travel 'adjacent' stories
  • You can suspend your disbelief easily

80. Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card. 1985. 324 pages. [Source: Library]

Read this if...
  • You enjoy classic science fiction
  • You enjoy space drama
  • You don't mind a little ptsd in your fiction

81. Right Back at You. Carolyn Mackler. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg speculative fiction, Jewish, mg fiction, coming of age]

Read this if....
  • You enjoy magical realism or very light speculative fiction
  • You enjoy "magic letters"
  • You enjoy your problem novels with lighter side stories


79. The Wild Robot on the Island. Peter Brown. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, audio book, picture book]

Read this if...
  • You enjoy picture books
  • You enjoy picture book adaptations of longer novels

 80. Board book: Cute Cats: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, cats, pets]

Read this if...

  • You enjoy board books
  • You like cats


81. Board book: Cute Dogs: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, dogs, pets]

Read this if

  • You enjoy board books
  • You like dogs

57. Hand to Hold. JJ Heller. 2021. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]

Read this if....

  • You enjoy children's bedtime books
  • You enjoy picture books
  • You enjoy picture books adapted from songs


Century of Viewing #30

1970s

  • 1979 Time after Time. H.G. Wells versus Jack the Ripper in a time-traveling drama-packed love story. I enjoyed this one SO MUCH. Granted there were a few scenes that were definitely on the violent side. BUT I loved the time travel aspect of it. The story and characters were enjoyable!

1980s

  • 1985 Clue. This one is like Galaxy Quest for mystery lovers. Obviously-obviously Galaxy Quest came much, much, much later. But this one is so quirky and fun and delightful. The banter of the dialogue is just delightful and wonderful. I enjoyed it so much!

1990s

  • 1990 Edward Scissorhands. Quirky, yes. Enjoyable, yes. Christmas-y, perhaps. I am so glad I watched this one! The music was great. The story was odd and strange but delightful in a quirky, unique way. I had a few favorite scenes--like when he was giving haircuts first to pets and then to the ladies of the neighborhood. It was definitely INTENSE in places.

2000s

  • 2002 Insomnia. Psychological Murder Mystery Thriller of sorts. I have such conflicted feelings. Robin Williams stole the show for sure. And once his character is introduced, it does become compelling. But this one was slow going. Very slow going. It is not my favorite or best overall. But I am glad I finished it.

2010s

  • 2017 The Current War. Period drama. This one dramatizes the 'battle' or 'war' over electricity between Edison and Tesla. Definitely worth watching.


© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

81. Right Back At You



81. Right Back at You. Carolyn Mackler. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg speculative fiction, Jewish, mg fiction, coming of age]

First sentence: Dear Albert Einstein,
I'm only writing this letter because Barb told me I had to. She said I could write it to anybody or nobody. I chose to write to you. She said I didn't have to send it. That's a good thing because you've been dead for almost seventy years.

Premise/plot: Right Back At You is set in 1987 and 2023. Mason lives in New York in 2023. He's troubled by many things: his mom's drinking, his dad starting a new job in a new city without them, the bullies at school, the lack of friends, shame. He begins writing letters and putting them in his closet never expecting a reply. Talia lives in Pennsylvania in 1987. She's troubled by many things as well: not being allowed to play baseball, being bullied because she's Jewish, no one being outraged at the antisemitism, loss of friends due to growing apart, etc. Both are a bit shocked and surprised to be communicating with the other. She comes to terms with it a LOT faster than Mason.

Right Back At You is undoubtedly and without apology a problem novel. The 'problems' tackled are antisemitism and bullying, but also alcoholism and neglect.

My thoughts: The premise was intriguing. I think the two story lines balanced each other out. Perhaps as individual stories without the speculative fiction aspect would have been too heavy-handed.

I liked this one. Not sure I absolutely loved it. But I did find it a quick, compelling read.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

80. Ender's Game



80. Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card. 1985. 324 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he's the one. Or at least as close as we're going to get."

ETA: My most recent 'read' of the book is July 2025. I listened on audio. I wanted to reread this one after rewatching the film a few weeks ago. I did like it more than I did in 2020, but less than I have in the past. I think the older I get the more I see how much harm and damage they caused Ender and am more outraged on his behalf. I see less 'cool adventure' and more this is so incredibly wrong.

Premise/plot: Andrew Wiggin, aka "Ender," is six years old and potentially the earth's savior. Two wars have been fought and barely won against the aliens known to readers as Buggers. The third war will take much preparation--decades worth of the International Fleet training up children to be commanders and soldiers.

Ender is one such student or trainee. His older brother, Peter, and older sister, Valentine, didn't make it so far as Battle School in space. Ender's life is wearisome and burdensome. He doesn't make friends easily and his biggest fear is being just as violent and out of control as his brother, Peter. He is prone to self-reflection and self-loathing. But in terms of military genius, strategizing, leadership...he excels.

When the time comes to fight the war, will he be ready?

My thoughts: For a decade I would have considered this one of my favorite, favorite books. Now that it's been almost twenty years or so since I first read it--well, my thoughts and impressions have changed some. I love the last fourth of the novel. That hasn't changed. But the first fourth of the novel, well, it's DISTURBING, uncomfortable, awkward, a bit off. I did NOT remember the use of the n word. I did not remember the jokesy approach to different races (or ethnicities). I did not remember the chokehold scene where Peter is trying to kill his brother. I did not remember some of the crudeness.

One thing that bothers me is Peter. Peter is a psychopath in my opinion. He is cruel to his brother and sister. He is cruel to small animals. He is a bully. He is manipulative. He is egocentric and a narcissist. He dreams of world domination. He is just a sick, sick, sick individual. And I think what readers are outright told about him is just the tip of the iceberg. If Valentine is to be believed about the files and records she's been keeping of her brother. Chances are he might have done even more than she knew about. There was one line that disturbed me where she is telling Ender that you don't know what I had to do to keep Peter from hurting you. Of course, we don't know--she doesn't say. But Card later seems to redeem the character of Peter and seeks to make him sympathetic.

Card does do flawed humans well. I will give him that. Are any of the characters in this one not flawed?!?! I think the most likable characters may be Bean and Petra.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Monday, July 21, 2025

79. Moonleapers



 79. Moonleapers (Moonleapers #1) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2025. [September] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [MG fiction, MG speculative fiction, 4 stars]

First sentence: "Maisie? Is that you?" Mom's voice floated down from her second-floor office as soon as Maisie pushed open the front door. 

Premise/plot: Margaret Peterson Haddix's newest book is MOONLEAPERS. Maisie, our heroine, feels 'behind' because she does not have a smart phone. The good news? She's about to receive a phone. The bad news? In return she'll be expected to babysit her brother and sister, Rufus and Dora. It is a hand-me-down phone from her GREAT-GREAT aunt. Great-Aunt Hazel is dying and the family is going to travel to visit her. Around the same time she's told of the upcoming trip, she begins receiving strange riddles on her new-to-her phone and is given a BLANK book. It seems that there will be mysteries to solve perhaps in the upcoming weeks. Mysteries that of course only deepen once they arrive at Great-Aunt Hazel's house. Two of those mysteries are a CAT and a DOG that seem more than just a cat and dog.

My thoughts: Margaret Peterson Haddix is known for her premise-driven middle grade books. I have loved, loved, loved, absolutely loved some of her series [and a few of her stand-alone novels.] I have rated many of Haddix's novels as 5 stars. I have LOVED. I have treasured. I have reread. It was impossible for me not to compare this one with previous books.

What I enjoyed: Moonleapers IS a premise-driven novel. I liked the premise. Moonleapers are people who almost transcend time and are able to communicate with the past, to influence the past and present, to reach out to other moonleapers, to make a difference. It isn't so much the idea of moonleaping that I liked but the idea of alternate realities and small changes making big differences.

I also enjoyed the magical cat and dog and how they were able to 'help' Maisie solve all the clues needed to save the day and change the world. Without the dog and cat....well....the book might have been less engaging.

What I didn't quite enjoy: I was not as impressed by the characterization as I was the development of the premise and the world-building. Not every book needs to be character-driven. This is very much a book about mysteries and puzzles.

I also thought the pacing was a on the slow side. This one had less suspense than most of the other Haddix novels I've read in the past. This one was lacking the INTENSE, engaging, compelling, suspenseful pace. There was not a strong need to keep turning pages, to read just one chapter more. It was interesting and entertaining, but it was not exactly thrilling.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

78. Snowglobe 2


78. Snowglobe 2 (Snowglobe Duology #2) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2021/2025. 438 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA Fiction, YA Speculative Fiction, YA Mystery]

First sentence: At once, all the lights go out and the TV goes dead. On the dark screen, ghostly afterimages linger for another moment before they, too, dissipate, plunging us into darkness. 

Premise/plot: Snowglobe 2 is the sequel to Snowglobe. Jeon Chobahm, our main character, has exposed the corruption of which she is aware. But there are more secrets--more impactful and unjust--to uncover and possibly expose. This time she has a team of support. [She is still living with her fellow Haeri clones, even Serin (the cranky one). Then there's her brother, Ongi, her director-friend, Hyang, and Miryu, a former actress.] The novel starts perhaps a bit slowly, but she soon realizes that she's in great danger and that she may be one of the few people who can change the world dramatically even if it means taking a lot of risks. 

My thoughts: Snowglobe 2 has a completely different vibe. The story is definitely unique and different from the first story. I felt the first story definitely focused more on the television aspect--the actors and directors, the entertainment industry, etc. I think the second story definitely focuses more on the corruption of leaders and politicians. Both deal with socioeconomic injustices--the haves and have nots if you will. The cast of characters is LARGE and at times difficult to keep up with. However, I did reread the first novel a few weeks ago. It could have been trickier if I hadn't. I liked the first book a bit more perhaps. But this one was good.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews