Garveyās father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, readingāanything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garveyās life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant fatherāby speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.
Review:
This story was about a boy named Garvey who is really into things like science, reading, math, and singing. His dad really wants him to be more tough and play football. Garvey doesn’t know how to communicate with his dad the way, so he turns to food as comfort. Garvey is gaining more weight and his classmates and his sister have all noticed. So he tries to do a crash diet which doesn’t work.
In the end with help from his friends Joe and Manny he learned to accept himself for who he is. Take control of his weight and learn to talk to his dad better. I really enjoyed this, especially because it was written in my favorite writing style – verse.
Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him.
They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner…
My thoughts:
I heard so many good things about this series that I was excited to pick up the first book. As I was reading I could quickly tell something was off. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, the conversations were rushed and thrown together. Honestly the only thing I did enjoy was the illustrations. I only read 25% of the way through and I had to stop. I felt like I was reading this just to read it. Like the story wouldn’t stick with me long after I read it, which is unfortunate. I know there is a Netflix adaptation of this series maybe I’ll watch that instead but I couldn’t force myself to finish this. That doesn’t mean it was horrible no, it just wasn’t for me and I didn’t get much joy reading as much as I did read.
Eddie’s Great-aunt Mathilda is sick and he has to help take care of her. But when Eddie and his friends visit Mathilda’s house, strange things start to happen. Howie sees someone staring at him from the attic window and, when his back is turned, his garlic potato chips are used to spell the word ATTIC on the ground. During later visits the kids hear noises from the attic, but Great-aunt Mathilda swears there’s nothing up there. Could the ghost of Eddie’s Great-uncle Jasper, who died years ago, be haunting his aunt’s home? The Bailey School kids will find out!
My thoughts:
I remember reading The Bailey School Kids series when I was in grade school and I enjoyed all of them. I would normally buy them at my school book fair, I wanted to collect them all. I enjoyed reading this it was fast paced then I remembered. But it brought me back to when I little reading these chapter books. These are really fun and cute reads.
June’s life at home with her stepmother and stepsister is a dark one and a secret one. Not even her dad knows the truth, and she can’t find the words to tell anyone else. She’s trapped like a butterfly in a net. Then June meets Blister, a boy from a large, loving, chaotic family. In him, she finds a glimmer of hope that perhaps she can find a way to fly far, far away. Because she deserves her freedom. Doesn’t she?
Review:
Paper Butterflies is a very intense novel. One of the most intense stories I have read in a very long time. This story is about a biracial girl named June. June mother (who is black) dies by drowning when she is young. June’s dad (who is white) remarried a woman named Kathleen and she has a daughter of her own named Megan. Even since June was in grade school Kathleen and Megan both abused June in awful ways. The abuse June had to go through by Kathleen was mind blowing. Kathleen hated June one part because she was half black and her mother was black. In the book this is brought up a lot. Kathleen had her daughter Megan help her in the abuse of June.
June’s dad was no help at all. June wanted so badly to reach out and tell her dad what was going on behind his back but he always stood and took Kathleen’s side no matter.
June meets a boy who ends up being not only her best friend but someone she loves. He goes by the name Blister.
June only wanted her voice heard and to be understood. She wanted the world to know about the abuse she was going through each day. She eventually told Blister.
In the end this is a very exhausting, emotional, frustrating and upsetting book to read.
My final thoughts:
My feelings changed with each chapter as I read. I felt for June at times I felt I was going through what she was facing. I felt so sad for her but was rooting for her at the same time. I enjoyed Blister’s and June time together with their friendship and love was nice to see. It was set up to be a real friendship before they started to say I love you. I wanted the best for June and Blister. Every chapter they were together made me smile. I liked the writing and the realistic nature of the story. I had an emotional connection with all the characters which never really happens when I read books. This story took all my feelings and I have to say I really enjoyed it.
Trigger warning: Physical abuse, bullying, death, prison, death row
When her friend Sandy asks for help, Anne Wilson leaves her small, lonely life in Miami for the picturesque island of Saint Martin. But as soon as she arrives, Sandy is murdered, and her death exposes lies: an alias, a secret past, stolen money. Suspected of murder and trapped on the island, Anne is shocked when a cryptic message arrives:
Find the money. Take it and run.
She follows Sandyās trail of obscure clues, desperate for proof of her innocence and must decide if she can trust the two men who offer help-the dark, mysterious Brit or the American with a wide grin and a pickup truck. When memories resurface-dark truths sheād rather leave buried and forgotten, her past becomes intertwined with her present.
Her only way forward is to face her own secrets.
Interview:
On writing:
Which was the hardest character to write?
Anne. Have you ever disliked someone the first time you met them, but then as you got to know them you realized they were just shy and perhaps quite sad? Thatās how it felt to write Anne. I didnāt approve of her choices, but chapter after chapter she showed such strength, and I warmed to her.
What is your writing process like?
Like hiking through progressively larger hills. I canāt see very far ahead, and everytime I climb a hill, Iām surprised by what I find.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Three things: write, read, share. You hear the advice āwrite every dayā because itās so essential to success. Reading inspires your creativity. And finally, let other people read what you write. Join critique groups, ask friends and family to give you feedback. Constructive criticism will make you a better writer.
Your book is set in Saint Martin, an island in the Caribbean. Have you ever been there?
Yes. (sigh) Such a beautiful place. I want to go back.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
Iām a bookkeeper by day. Itās the opposite of creative writing.
How long have you been writing?
Iāve always journaled, but I began writing novels about nine years ago – which is about the time my first marriage fell apart. Huh, I never made that connection before. Whew. Thatās a breakthrough of sorts, isnāt it?
What helps you overcome writerās block?
There isnāt one remedy. I do laundry or go for walks and listen to loud, angry chick-rock. Sometimes I pull out bins of yarn to design a new knitting project, but then I usually just end up fondling my yarn until I solve the block and return to the computer screen. Yarn is my muse.
What is your next project?
Book 2: Accused. Anneās story continues! It will be released in 2023.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. But the one comment that stands out is when an Amazon reviewer said that Anne (my main character) was so REAL. That was amazing to hear.
How are you similar to or different from your lead character?
We are very different, but we do have a couple things in common. She works in accounting like I do, and weāve both suffered significant loss – the kind of loss that you never really recover from. Writing her character was so interesting because she dealt with her loss so differently than I did.
What is something you had to cut from your book that you wish you could have kept?
A scene between Anne and Luke. It was such a sweet moment between them, but nothing really happened, and I had to cut it. But the banter between them was so much fun. And, of course, we all want more time with Lukeā¦
On rituals:
Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?
Tortilla chips. But never from the bag or I wonāt stop. The crunching helps me stay calm during suspenseful scenes – like eating popcorn while youāre at the movies.
Where do you write?
Everywhere. At my desk, in my favorite armchair, in the car (when Iām not driving,) on a plane. Iāve written during warmups at my sonās soccer games, sitting in the parking lot waiting for jiu jitsu to finish, and on a sailboat. That wasnāt a good idea though. Iām not sure how my laptop didnāt fall into the Pacific ocean.
Do you write every day?
No. (slight chuckle.) Some days it just isnāt possible. But I try to write even if I know Iām going to delete all of it the next day.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
I listen to music. Really loud music. It blocks out everything else so I can focus on the story. A few indie bands like Metric, but sometimes I plug in my earphones and play catchy mainstream pop. And I like it.
In todayās tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
In the first part of a flight, I scribble furiously in a notebook until that glorious ādingā sounds, and I can start typing.
If youāre a mom writer, how do you balance your time?
Define balance…The truth is I donāt have balance. I work too much. But I think ābalanceā is overrated. We threw out the idea of traditional gender roles in my house. My husband and I are a team. I work, and he does almost everything else. (Except matching socks. He cannot figure that out.)
Fun stuff:
Favorite travel spot?
Kansas City. Such a friendly place. It always inspires creativity. I love the Nelson-Atkins museum and City Market on the weekends. Also, thereās a place in Westport Plaza that makes the best Matcha ever. Donāt get me started on the barbequeā¦yum.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
Ulysses. I might be able to read it cover to cover once Iām stuck on a deserted island. One of the Harry Potters because Iād want a little magic. And Iād bring one of my husband’s books on boat building because then I could escape to get back to all the other books!
Any hobbies?
So many hobbies. Knitting mostly, but I enjoy loads of crafts, jewelry and macrame. I want to try pottery, but my yarn takes up too much space. I simply donāt have room in my life for clay. Yet.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
A while ago, season 1 of Silent Witness popped up as a recommendation on my BritBox. It should have come with a disclaimer like āDonāt watch this unless youāre prepared to commit several months to it.ā Sheeshers. I just finished Season 25. I donāt regret a thing. Well. Maybe I regret some of the popcorn.
What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?
I just watched Free Guy with my son, so that Mariah song. So. Freaking. Catchy. Itās in your head now too, isnāt it?
What is something that made you laugh recently?
I live in SoCal, so we donāt get a lot of weather. My son went out for a bike ride and came back after only three minutes and put on a second sweatshirt, a beanie, and gloves. Five minutes later he returned for knee pads and a chest plate because the āwind was bitter cold.ā It was 56 degrees.
What is your go-to breakfast item?
A beet smoothie. I know. Gross, right? I hate beets, but they resolve my gallbladder issues. I roast golden beets and blend them with spinach and frozen berries to hide the taste.
What is the oldest item of clothing you own?
Such an embarrassing question! I have a favorite T-shirt that I keep because maybe someday Iāll be the same weight I was in college. The shirt is not even that cool. Itās faded green with a well worn cartoon frog. But itās so soft and comfy.
Tell us about your longest friendship.
Marie. We met in college because our boyfriends were roommates, and we both instantly had a āyouāre my personā moment. I live in California, and she lives on the East Coast, so we meet annually in random cities in the middle of the country to hang out. Sheās still my person after all this time.
What is the strangest way you’ve become friends with someone?
LikeOne of my friendships started during the darkest period in my life. We were at a youth football practice that my ex-husband was coaching. I canāt even remember why, but I had to move my chair, and someone I barely knew carried it for me. Thatās it. She carried my chair. It was a tiny thing, but the gesture meant the world to me. And weāve been close friends ever since.
About Author:
MHR Geer was born in California but grew up in the Midwest. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara to study Physics. After school, she moved to Ventura, CA and started a small bookkeeping business. She lives with her two sons and her unicorn husband (because he’s a magical creature).
I posted a video the other day of me discussing the 5 books I plan to read for the 1st quarter of the year. Check out the video to see what books I chosen to read first. Video link below š
