REVIEW: Jackaby

Jackaby
Author: William Ritter

1892. Abigail Rook has made a colossal mistake. She wanted some adventure....to not be left behind because she is a woman. Her parents want her to get educated, but then they expect her to get married, have kids, do what women do. But that isn't what she wants. She wants to discover interesting and important things....to have some adventure....to make her own life. This feeling led her to take her school tuition money and run off to a dinosaur dig site. Then the funding went....her job went.....and she was cut loose. She doesn't want to return home.....so she has to find a job. That's when she meets Jackaby. She gets her adventure.....awesomely spooky, weird, strange adventure!

This book is just....FUN. Jackaby is kooky. Abigail is determined and skeptical. It's like Spooky Mulder and Skully 1892 style. The mix of humor and supernatural investigation kept me binge listening to the audio book....I wanted to know what happened next!

There are four books and one short story in the Jackaby series. I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series. I have to know what trouble they get into next!

This series is geared towards YA readers, but enjoyable for adults as well. Nothing age inappropriate for teenagers. I listened to the audio format (Highbridge). At 7.5 hours, it's an easy listening length and is narrated by Nicola Barber. Barber gives a good performance. Very entertaining listening experience.

On to book 2 -- Beastly Bones!

REVIEW: The Girl With All the Gifts

The Girl With All the Gifts
Author:  M. R. Carey

Melanie is a star pupil at her school. She likes her classmates, and loves her teacher, Miss Justineau. It's a special school....there is no recess, no socializing. Just lessons under the supervision of Miss Justineau. Under the eyes of Sergeant Parks. And the direction of the Dr. Caldwell. All students must be firmly affixed in their chairs with straps. Wheeled out from their cells only for class time. Then wheeled back by soldiers following safety protocols. Melanie doesn't understand. But she doesn't remember anything else. It has always been her cell, soldiers, Miss Justineau and all the rules......  Until one day when everything changes.

Wow! This story is a creative, new take on the zombie apocalypse story. I listened to the audio book format on my commutes to work for a few days. I found myself looking forward to the drive just so I could listen to more of the story! Towards the end I started listening at home too because it was at the exciting part and I couldn't wait til the next day to find out what happened! Interesting characters, very interesting premise....a nice mix of action, story and emotion. Things build slowly.....little bits revealed here and there until the whole picture of what happened to humankind is revealed. Very well written!!

I have a personal rule that I have to read the book(s) before I can watch a film or television adaptation. So when I heard about the Netflix show The Girl With All the Gifts and then read it was based on a book...I made my way to my local library's digital site immediately. Glad I did! Now I'm ready to watch the show....but I'm a bit wary. I hope they didn't tinker with the story. This tale is perfect as it is...and changing it would mess it up.  But, I'm going in....armored with my best bibliophile "been here before" shielding.

The audio book (Hachette Audio) is excellent! I can totally understand why it won an Audie Award! The audio is about 13.5 hours long, and narrated by Finty Williams. She gives a wonderful performance, showing excellent voice acting skills. I have partial hearing loss, but was easily able to understand and enjoy this entire audio book. The recording is superb quality and Williams reads at a nice pace with a pleasant voice. Entertaining listening experience!

There is a second book, The Boy on the Bridge. I'm waiting for my library to consider getting the audio format for it. Hopefully soon! I'm so curious what happens in book 2!!

The Girl With All the Gifts gets full stars from me! Very creative and well written!

REVIEW: Pioneer Girl

Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Author: William Anderson
Illustrations: Dan Andreasen

I actually ordered this book by accident. I meant to buy the autobiography actually written by Wilder and published in 2014. The illustrations in this children's book are beautiful, so I didn't return it. I happily read it's concise re-telling of Wilder's story, tiding myself over until the annotated version of Wilder's original book arrives in the post.

This book would be perfect to read out loud to a class of elementary students. The pictures are beautiful and it tells the story of the Ingalls family moving here and there and finally settling in De Smet and Laura's marriage to Almanzo and their various moves until settling in Missouri. It summarizes their lives in about 32 pages,with beautiful full-color artwork. Lovely book!

I grew up in Kansas, so as a little girl I read Wilder's books as did all of my classmates. I remember we all wanted to be the first class that headed to the library to pick books on RIF day (do they still have RIF day in schools?? Or is that a thing of the past? I will have to look that up....) because we all wanted one of the Little House on the Prairie books. They went fast! We used to read them and then trade with each other. Back then, once a week, the television show with Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert graced the screen. We all watched it. So, I grew up with these stories. I think that's why I keep coming back to re-read them. Growing up in Kansas with the freezing winters and blazing hot summers, the wheat and corn fields, we all imagined what it must have been like before modern farm machinery, cars, paved roads, modern medicine....before the land was settled. It must have been brutal, but hearing the stories from Wilder made her childhood seem magical. Still brutal, but with stretches of beautiful experience and adventure.

Amid the mess of Covid-19, the delivery of my annotated Pioneer Girl (Wilder's original biography that wasn't published until 2014) is delayed a bit. I eagerly await it's delivery, but I really enjoyed this awesome children's book while waiting. The artwork by Dan Andreasen is beautiful!!

REVIEW: The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King

The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King
Author: Max Brallier

Jack and the gang are back in book 3 of the Last Kids on Earth Series. I enjoy these books....they are action-packed, innocent fun. Kids and Good Monsters vs Zombies and Evil Monsters.

This time, the kids discover a radio and hear a signal broadcast by other humans! They aren't the only people left! Jack is conflicted about the radio and afraid of being left alone, as he is the only one with no family to find. But a strange new monster -- the Nightmare King -- comes on the scene and Jack has more to deal with than his fears and emotions.

I listened to the audio version of this story. Robbie Daymond narrates and does a superb job! He voices the characters and monsters so well! It makes for a very enjoyable listening experience. This is a middle grade children's book series, so while it has a lot of action, monsters and mayhem, it isn't particularly scary. The audio book is an easy listening length .... just under 3.5 hours long. I listened on my commutes to and from work.

I like this series because it is humorous, has great action and shows the incredible creativity,courage, and resilience of children. :) When work bogs me down or I've read several "heavy'' adult fiction novels in a row, I need a break -- and I turn to children's books. This series is one of my favorites. Always something exciting and fun!

REVIEW: WarCross

Warcross
Author: Marie Lu

Emika Chen is a bounty hunter. She hunts people who illegally gamble on Warcross, a totally immersive virtual reality video game. But lately, she hasn't pulled in many bounties for one reason or another. Facing eviction with only $13 left to her name, she makes a decision that will change her life. Emika will not only become an internationally famous Warcross player, but she's seeking the biggest bounty of her career. This time there is much more at stake than illegal gambling. A shadowy figure only known as Zero has something much bigger, and much more dangerous, planned.

My reading mojo has taken a bit of a hit with all the changes, stress and anxieties hitting me from all directions during the Covid-19 mess. I found myself unable to really enjoy, or pay attention to books I was trying to read or listen to. Just too much mess in my head. So I decided to try Warcross -- an interesting tech-y action story. I loved Ready Player One....so thought this might be just the book to pull me out of my reading slump.

And I was right!

I listened through nearly 12 hours of audio in 3 days. The story sucked me right in, and the suspense kept me listening. Nancy Wu is an excellent narrator! She gives an excellent acting performance. All in all, a very enjoyable listen!

I already have book 2, Wildcard, checked out from my local library. I can't wait to hear what happens next! And I also checked out the first book in The Young Elites series, also by Marie Lu. 

REVIEW: Short Horror Stories (Scare Street) Vol 2

Short Horror Stories Vol 2
Scare Street
Authors: Ron Ripley, Sara Clancy, Rowan Rook

I am loving this series of horror short stories! Volume 1 was fabulous and I hurridly queued up Vol 2 to continue listening! I loved all 3 of these stories too!

In this second collection of three creepy tales a man discovers cheating death has very scary consequences, a funeral sets the scene for a man to help the dead, and the night shift proves to be anything but boring for a hotel clerk.

I like these stories because they are truly creepy but not overly graphic or cheesy. My favorite tale in this second collection is the final one. The narrator's voice as he voiced a certain creepy hotel guest actually made shivers go down my back....I'm not easily creeped out either. Kudos to Thom Bowers for a great performance as narrator!

There are 19 volumes so far in this series. I can't wait to listen to more! I listened to the audio book version of this story collection. Narrated by Thom Bowers, the audio is 1 hr, 43 minutes long. So a perfect short listening length. Bowers does a great job as narrator! The stories are varied with just the right amount of creepiness, and a perfect listen for a quick dose of horror!

**I received a free copy of this audio book from the authors. This review is voluntary and the free book had no bearing on my opinion. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Short Horror Stories: Vol 1 (Scare Street)

Short Horror Stories Vol 1
Scare Street
Authors: David Longhorn, Ron Ripley, Rowan Rook

This collection of horror short stories was so much fun to listen to! I received the audio book for free from the authors. I wasn't sure quite what to expect...but before I was more than 5 minutes into the first story, I realized this collection was going to be perfect! I listened to all 3 stories while driving to work and home again today. And I enjoyed each story! Sometimes with story collections I like some of the tales, but not all of them. I was pleasantly surprised by all 3 stories in this first volume of Short Horror Stories. The tales are varied, sufficiently long to be interesting but short enough to make this an easy listening length.

Just some basics on the stories -- A young girl whose Let's-Play videos online have made her an internet sensation has an unfortunate altercation with a stalker. A priest discovers that not everyone is what they seem. And, a wealthy widow with sticky fingers and little conscience gets what she deserves.  My favorite? I can't really choose -- I enjoyed all 3!

There are 19 books in the Short Horror Stories (Supernatural Suspense Collction) series. I can't wait to listen to more in this collection! Perfect companion creepy tales for my daily commute!

I listened to the audio book version of these tales. Narrated by Thom Bowers, the audio is just over 1.5 hours long. Bowers gives a great performance! Very enjoyable listening experience! And the cover art is just fantastic!!

**I received a free copy of this audio book from the authors. This review is voluntary, and the free book had no bearing on my opinion. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**