Reviews written by C.J. Redwine

What I Loved: Gretchen McNeil knows how to write about the things we fear, even the things we don't yet *know* we fear. In 3:59, she delivers another fast-paced page-turner that showcases her best writing to date. A gripping mystery, some interesting science, and a fun premise...

What I Loved: I've been a huge fan of this series from the start. Elisa is such a fabulous heroine, and in THE BITTER KINGDOM, we see her fully step into her own as a woman and as a queen. Her journey from book one to book...

What I Loved: The strength of this book is the authentic way the main characters deal with the horror of seeing most of the world's population decimated and with the ongoing struggle, not just to survive, but to daily decide that surviving is still worth it. I...

What I Loved: GAME continues the story of Jasper Dent, son of notorious serial killer Billy Dent, who was raised by his father to be a sociopath--to be the best serial killer who ever lived, but who is determined to choose a different fate for himself even...

What I Loved: Written as a narrative memoir instead of a "how to" manual, this book gives plenty of real world experiences and examples to illustrate each topic. Writers who are new to the field or who are considering whether this is the career they want will...

What I Loved: The premise of VIGILANTE NIGHTS is absolutely fascinating. It's part contemporary urban street gang, part ghost story, part haunting journey from grief to hope. I loved the juxtaposition of a rich, privileged boy running a gang on the streets because his grief and rage...

What I Loved: As a reader who really loved DON'T TURN AROUND, I had high expectations for the sequel. The high stakes that kept me frantically turning pages in the first book continue to rise in the second. Readers who love thrillers and adventures where life and...

What I Loved: From the very first page, this book is infused with constant tension. The sense of discombobulation experienced by the main character is felt by the reader as well. Fear for the main character's safety ratchets up with every chapter. I devoured this book because...

What I Loved: The strengths of this book are the realistic setting and the nuanced relationships between family members. Blythe clearly knows her characters' neighborhood, and she delivers the setting in vivid, sensory detail. Readers will be fully encompassed in the 1980's Brooklyn streets on which this...

Most touch and feel books have small areas for young readers to feel, and the texture isn't much different than the actual page. This book is an exception. The illustrations are colorful and cartoon-ish, and each page has a large touch and feel object that is markedly different from the...

This is a fun, informative book that will grab early readers' attention even while it teaches them lessons about animals all across the globe. Each page is devoted to one striped animal. Big, bold, colorful illustrations depict the animal in its natural habitat. The rhyming prose is concise and easy...

Eccentric characters, colloquial prose, and colorful, lively illustrations come together to create a humorous, silly story that also teaches a lesson about finding common ground with those who are very different from you. Readers who love adventurous stories and humor will enjoy this book!

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. Colorful, dreamlike illustrations draw the reader in. Lovely poetic prose creates a soothing cadence for a bedtime story. And the weaving in of magical creatures all across the world is masterfully done. I imagine if Tolkien had tried...

Lively, colorful illustrations and a fun, dramatic story line make this the perfect read-aloud book for young readers. The theme of friendship and of not judging others before getting to know them is well done--completely accessible to younger readers. I can easily see this being a heartwarming favorite lovingly pulled...

The story of a postman-turned-boxer in turn of the century Paris is brought beautifully to life with gorgeous illustrations that look 3-D in many places. The illustrator used the old tatebanko (Japanese paper diorama art style), and the effect is lovely. The story itself is accessible...