Category: Fiction

Update and Farewell

Hi there! As you may or may not have noticed, I’ve been absent for pretty much the last nine months or so, and I just wanted to give some explanation and a note on the future. I ended up having to stop posting because I got very busy with school, work and other commitments, and have been unable to resume since. At this point, I will no longer be posting on this blog now or in the foreseeable future. However, I am still active although not currently posting on my Instagram account, @sidbookreviews. I’m so glad to have been able to share my favourite books with all of you for the past eight years. Thank so much for all of your support, and I wish you the happiest reading going forward. For future reference, the following are some of my favourite book blogs and bookstagram accounts to go to if you are looking for more diverse young adult and middle grade book recommendations:

Again thank you so much and I hope you’ve enjoyed some recommendations from me over the years.

All the best,

From The Library: December/January Edition

Welcome back to another edition of From the Library! Today I wanted to share some of my favourite Christmas/winter books! Not all of them are set at Christmas or revolve around Christmas, but they all have some sort of winter or Christmas vibe. I hope you enjoy this edition of From the Library!

Continue reading From The Library: December/January Edition

From The Library: February/March Edition

Welcome back to another edition of From the Library! February is Black History Month, and for this month I wanted to feature three amazing more recent YA reads by Black authors that talk about anti-racism and Black history. This month I also encourage you to read as many books by Black authors as you can, and please make sure to check out book lists and recommendations by Black reviewers as well!

Continue reading From The Library: February/March Edition

Before I Fall

Summary

Samantha Kingston has everything a high schooler could want. Popularity, a perfect boyfriend, a tight group of best friends… and all it takes is one moment for it all to disappear. On Friday, February 12th Samantha died in a car accident on the way home from a party. But she woke up the next morning, only to relive the same day again. Samantha is stuck reliving the last day of her life seven different times. Throughout each Friday, Sam will learn the true value of family, friends and life. And it might be too late for Sam, but it’s never to late for everyone. With only one day, can Sam make a difference for someone else?

Review

Before I Fall is a captivating novel about what it means to live and die. I loved watching Samantha’s character evolve throughout the story, and I think all of the characters in this book are very complex and vividly described. I also love the plot, which leaves you wondering how it all ends until the very last second. This book does have some darker themes, so I would recommend this book to mature teens who enjoy meaningful books set in high school. I hope you enjoy Before I Fall as much as I did!

Info

  • Ages 14 and up
  • Author: Lauren Oliver
  • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • 470 pages
  • Buy for $13.50 at Munrobooks.com

Bartimæus: The Amulet of Samarkand 

Summary 

Nathaniel is a underestimated apprentice to an insignificant magician named Arthur Underwood. Mr. Underwood doesn’t care for children and Nathaniel is no exception. And when one of Arthur’s colleagues, Simon Lovelace, puts Nathaniel in his place and humiliates him, Nathaniel is determined to get his revenge. Teaching himself spell far beyond his expected ability level, Nathaniel summons a witty jokester of a djinn, Bartimaeus. After ordering Bartimaeus to steal an immensely powerful Amulet from the home of Simon Lovelace, he begins to uncover a string of underhanded events and plans, all leading up to what could be a complete disaster to the magical world. As Nathaniel probes further, he is sucked into a world of trouble, magicians and magical creatures alike on the hunt for him and Bartimaeus. Will Nathaniel be able to uncover the devilish plans in time to stop them?

Review

Bartimæus: The Amulet of Samarkand is a exciting novel with many puzzles and unique characters. I enjoyed it because of the unique magical characters and the descriptive scenes. I like the way the author gave a new perspective about London, the setting of the novel, and made his magical world seem real. I would recommend this book to fans of magical adventure stories, and people who enjoyed the Magyk series will probably like it too. I hope you enjoy Bartimæus!

Info

  • Ages 10 and up
  • Author: Jonathan Stroud
  • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • 462 pages
  • Buy for $10.99 at Chapters.Indigo.ca

Touching Spirit Bear

Summary

Cole Matthews has a hard time keeping out of trouble. What’s the point anyways? His parents will always hire a new lawyer to bail him out. So it’s no surprise when Cole beats a boy at his school senseless after he reports that Cole vandalized a store. When Cole finds out about a program called circle justice, which focuses on healing, using a traditional Native American process, Cole immediately jumps at the idea of shortening his sentance. He joins the program, and is banished to a remote Alaskan island for a year to heal. But in his anger, Cole rashly attacks a spirit bear, who mauls him. Will Cole’s encounter with the spirit bear change him? Or will he continue the path he has begun, as a juvenile delinquent?

Review

Touching Spirit Bear is a thought provoking novel centred around healing and self improvement. I really enjoyed it because of the important message, the excitement that is sprinkled throughout the plot and the realistic characters that make the story resonate. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy books about nature and internal healing. 

Info

  • Ages 11 and up
  • Author: Ben Mikaelsen 
  • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Buy for $9.44 at Russellbooks.com

Maybe a Fox

Summary 
Jules loves her older sister Sylvie more than anything. She loves making miniature snow families with Sylvie, exploring the woods with Sylvie and throwing wish rocks into the stream by their house with Sylvie. Sylvie always wished to run faster. Faster than a cheetah, faster than light. Until she was gone. Sylvie disappeared without a trace. Jules, heartbroken and filled with grief, struggles to keep moving without Sylvie. 

In the nearby woods, a fox cub is born. A special fox. A Kennen. This little fox’s spirit is linked with that of someone she is supposed to find. Someone she is supposed to help. Jules. 

Jules and the fox cub are linked, and the tiny fox must help Jules in some way. As the mysteries shrouding Sylvie’s disappearance and the baby fox grow, the Kennen fox cub must help Jules in a way no one else can.


Review

Maybe a Fox is a thought provoking, intriuging and well written novel. I enjoyed the fascinating characters and the mysterious plot in this book. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading about animals or enjoyed co-author Kathi Appelt’s other books. I hope you enjoy Maybe a Fox!


Info

  • Ages 9 and up
  • Authors: Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee
  • 258 pages
  • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Buy for $22.94 at Russellbooks.com