Reviews written by CJ Redwine, Site and Staff Manager

I really wanted to love this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I was left sort of feeling ... meh. It's an interesting idea, but many elements of it feel too predictable and cliche. The immortal hot boy who inexplicably loves the human girl. The human...

There are many things to enjoy about this book: the world building, the dragon lore, the constant sense of danger ... But there are also a lot of basic plot cliches and most of the book happens inside Eragon's head so there's very little dialogue. However, the story is solid...

This tense, atmospheric gem of a story takes place in a southern setting that is so real I feel like I could walk out my front door and see Boo Radley hiding behind his curtains in the house on my corner. I love the sense of adventure, honor, and family...

I liked this book better than Twilight because Jacob is a relatable character whom I truly like. I really like the kind of friendship he has with Bella. I never felt Edward and Bella had a truly comfortable friendship with each other. I also found Bella's depression and then self-destructive...

I'll start this review by admitting that I'm not a Twihard, but I'm also not a hater. This book is kind of like a can of Pringles. Once you start reading, you can't stop, but when you finish the entire can in one sitting, you kind of wonder what in...

Book 2 in the Series of Unfortunate Events continues the unusual narrative of the three orphans and their nemesis Count Olaf. This book is full of heroics, family, drama, and adventure and is just as darkly delightful as the first in the series.

A beautiful, haunting story about immortality, coming of age, and hard choices. The story is romantic and full of difficult decisions that will keep readers talking long after they close the book.

This dark, atmospherica series definitely isn't for sensitive younger readers, but the compelling story of the three orphans and their nemesis Count Olaf will delight readers who love unusual, vivid tales.

The prose is sparse and clean, but the ideas are complex. I loved Jonas and it was interesting to slowly discover a new way of thinking along with him. The story will engender discussions about the value of emotions, even those that are difficult, and what happens when we try...

This is a creepy, atmospheric tale with a delightfully unusual narrative style. So unusual and compelling. It's definitely a dark book from start to finish, so younger readers or those easily influenced by darker themes might be a bit uncomfortable. The characters are vividly portrayed (and so different from the...

Reading about the continuing adventures of Anne Shirley (and of course Gilbert!) is like settling in with an old friend for a long, lovely chat. The writing is beautiful, Anne and the cast of characters are vivid and memorable, and the reader's investment in the series continues to grow. A...

I love this book like WHOA. Gorgeous writing (this is the first book I ever read as a child where I could literally SEE the setting unfold in my mind) and unforgettable characters make this charming, magical book a familiar friend readers love to return to time and again. Anyone...

This is a tense, atmospheric tale that chills. I love the way the tension builds and builds until the reader almost can't stand any more. This is a nuanced, layered story of psychological suspense that perfectly combines boarding school drama with the haunting possibility of the kind of danger you...

A beautiful, poignant book full of imagination, heartbreak, and hope. I read and re-read this book so many times as a girl, my cover fell off. I loved the princess to pauper to princess theme, and the author is skilled at making the reader feel a part of the story...

This is a bedtime favorite in my house. The cadence of the prose is soothing and calm. The illustrations are beautiful and interesting to my toddler. I've read this book as a bedtime book to each of my four kids when they were young and they all love it....