Reviews written by C.J. Redwine

To be honest, this book didn't really ring any bells for me. I didn't respond to the stylist choice of superimposing chartoon characters on top of real photographs, and I didn't really find the storyline to be highly entertaining, even though it's certainly charming enough. However,...

What a thrill ride this book is! From the first page, we're plunged into danger and mystery, and it never lets up for long. What I Loved: Just about everything. Seriously. The characters were interesting, relatable, and flawed. Noa is everything I wanted...

This is just the kind of book kids love. Two trolls, Grunty and Grouchy, live together in the most disgusting mess they can possibly manage and have one bumbling adventure after another. Kids will be drawn to the messiness (saving sneeze snot in a snot jar, using eggs for ping...

What I Loved: The author keeps the story focused and simple, which makes it accessible for pre-school readers. Using the familiar game of hide & seek also keeps the story accessible, as does the inclusion of so many fun animals. I also really loved that the chameleon is disguised on...

It isn't often that a book really takes me by surprise with an original concept. What's Left of Me did exactly that. Even better than an original concept is the beautiful, compelling writing. I don't think there's anything about this story that I didn't appreciate and enjoy. ...

Maybe it isn't fair of me to judge this book against Goodnight Moon, but I purchased it to read to my toddler simply because it was written by the same author as Goodnight Moon, and the titles sounded similar enough to lead me to expect that it would be the...

Throne of Glass has all the right ingredients for a fabulous fantasy series. There's murder, betrayal, a scary king, otherworldly interference, court intrigue, and of course, romance. It's epic! Things I loved: The world! I could see every scene so clearly, and we get to travel...

This is a fast-paced comic that reminded me of a bit of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (nerd w/nerdy friend who want to be something more and are bullied) but with the super power/government experiment twist and with far less charm and humor. Of course, in a comic aimed at...

When Jace and his dad stop off in a strange town and buy a few things from a garage sale, they have no idea what they've brought home. Soon strange and dangerous things start happening, and Jace has to quickly figure out which item is cursed and how to get...

I recently purchased this book because my local bookstore was having an amazing sale on summer reads and this one has a stellar blurb from Stephen King. I should've paid attention to the fact that the blurb was for the author's entire body of work and not just this one...

When I was in middle school and high school, I used to devour historical fiction by Janette Oke. I must have read the Love Comes Softly series twenty times. Ms. Gwyn's debut reminds me of Oke's stories: well-developed characters with distinct agendas, careful attention to historical detail, and a sweet...

In the aftermath of a huge volcanic erruption, the world is in chaos. Food is running out. Ash covers everything and people must wear masks to keep their lungs clear. And as the situation deteriorates, it becomes survival of the fittest, the most resourceful, and those who are willing to...

I loved The Giver and this book reminded me of that story in many ways. The way the Society controls all the information, the Big Brother aspect, and the way fear is used to motivate obedience are all familiar hallmarks of a dystopian book and Ms. Condie builds her world...

THE DESERTER is another ambitious addition to the Bone World Trilogy. As is the case in THE INFERIOR, the world building is meticulous and epic in scope. I can truly say that the author has pushed the envelope to create something new and distinct. Two separate societies, cannibalism, nanotechnology ......

If you want to experience old world Venice as if you're actually living in it, this is the book for you. Beautiful descriptions and sensory detail weave into Venetian politics and intrigue to form a gorgeous backdrop for the story. The premise is intriguing as well, though I felt rushed...