River Readers

This book has so much going on it kept me busy keeping track of who everyone was. Mary wants a life at sea and boy does she get it! Not only does she become a female pirate, but she discovers that her childhood love may not be the type of life she wants. Her new life leads to a new forbidden love.

An interesting series recommended by a co-worker. It is quite an adventure. I liked the art work too. No shrinking violet, but a good cup of tea does come in handy now and then.

This was a sad segment in this story. Losing characters is never easy, but these were new friends. Listening definitely allows me to learn new facts and remember old ones. Onward through the saga of the gods.

It's not everyday you find yourself in combat with a half-lion, half-human. But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster. Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive...
Goodreads.

This was an interesting take on the story of Archie. I never thought of him and Valerie as a couple. This story was full of different pairings and huge changes in the musical world. I'm not sure it was my favorite, but it was a fun read.

This book has an interesting car race to add to the action. Meeting Sugar Maple was amusing. 

Meeting Goldie's mom in this book was funny. Who has wanted to say, "My mom is a mermaid!" Once again she helps the resort's detective with a problem. Her success allows her to start an internship with Charles.

A fun, light-hearted detective story with an entertaining cast of characters. Goldie lives in a resort where her father works and is always finding a mystery to solve instead of doing her job. She has a lot of fun while cracking the case.

Xiomara is conflicted. She wants to hide and avoid the attention she draws by men and boys yet she seeks to find a voice. She wants to matter. Her over zealous religious mother has her pegged as a "bad" girl and strives to keep her chaste and protected but she comes off as angry with Xiomara for who she is and things she has no control over. She begins to pour her feelings out in poetry. When her Language Arts teacher asks her to join the poetry club, Xio yearns to but can't without skipping confirmation classes which is something her mother would never agree to.

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Josephine was a house slave to an abusive master and an ailing mistress. She had tried to run once before but was turned away because she was heavy with child.

Comics for Choice is anthology of comics about abortion. As this fundamental reproductive right continues to be stigmatized and jeopardized, over sixty artists and writers have created comics that boldly share their own experiences, and educate readers on the history of abortion, current political struggles, activism, and more. Lawyers, activists, medical professionals, historians, and abortion fund volunteers have teamed up with cartoonists and illustrators to share their knowledge in accessible comics form. --from Goodreads

This is an almost satisfying conclusion to the Egyptian series. I would like to know how teenage life continues for the Kanes. The successfully juggle romance and life-and-death drama without breaking a nail, so I imagine high school will be a breeze. I like how they have to learn to rely on each other and that makes for a much stronger brother/sister relationship. Always a nice turn on those ancient myths that makes me wish magic was real.

More drama in the second book of the series. Hard to believe so much can happen to someone who hasn't even turned thirteen yet! Sadie's British wit is so much fun and Carter tries so hard to be the adult of the twosome. I think I would like my cat to become my guardian. Maybe I would find time to nap. I always laugh whenever the two dream and find themselves floating around with their heads on a chicken. Such an entertaining visual. It's easy to find the humor amid the drama.

This was an enjoyable audio for our trip to Dallas. The story was intense and the voices were done by a male, as Carter, and female, as Sadie. This added to the fun since Sadie was raised British and has an accent. Since they each encounter a romantic crush, the brother-sister teasing and drama gets lots of laughs too. Trying to remember who is who in Egyptian gods and pharaohs was a challenge, but got easier.

I enjoyed listening to this book. It's been a while since I read it with my son and saw the movie (which I don't recommend), so I had forgotten a lot of the details. It is a fun story with lots of action, new and old characters that continues to lead the listener towards a temporary conclusion. Knowing there are three more books in this series helped me to focus on who was who since the cast keeps growing.