Heroes by Alan Gratz

 

Heroes  by Alan Gratz  219 pages

December 6, 1941: Best friends Frank and Stanley have it good. Their dads are Navy pilots stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and the boys get a front-row view of the huge battleships and the sparkling water. Yes, World War II is raging in Europe and in Asia, but the US isn't involved in the war, and the boys are free to dream about becoming comic book creators. They've even invented a superhero of their own, in the style of Batman, Superman, Captain America, and other stars of the Golden Age of Comics. Maybe they'll even get their comic published someday. December 7th, 1941: Everything explodes. That morning, Frank and Stanley are aboard the battleship the USS Utah when Japanese planes zoom overhead and begin dropping bombs on the ships below. Chaos ensues as everyone scrambles to dive for safety. Frank and Stanley realize what's happening: Japan is attacking America! The war has come to them. As the boys fight to make their way home amidst the carnage, it's clear that everything has changed. Stanley's mother is Japanese American and he is suddenly facing a terrible prejudice that he's never known before -- he's now seen as the "enemy," and Frank, who's white, cannot begin to understand what Stanley will now face. Can their friendship -- and their dreams -- survive this watershed moment in history?

I read this because it was a Mark Twain nominee for 4-6 grades.  This reminded me of an I Survived book, but was actually a lot more graphic.  I couldn't believe all the death in this children's book, but I know that was a deadly attack on Peal Harbor.  It was realistic about the perspective of Japanese Americans being treated differently.  I love Alan Gratz, but this was not my favorite book of his.  

​The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray

 

​The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray, 311 pages

After Juliet Tilney's ruination and Jonathan Darcy's ill-advised duel, it takes Mr. Hearth's puzzling murder at Netherfield Park to reunite the star-crossed lovers. Together they navigate not only a murder investigation but all the human forces pitted against their pairing. Can they unmask the murder before another body is found? Will be they be able to forge a life together or be driven forever apart by their families? 

This Austenverse murder mystery series is always a delightful break from whatever else I might be reading. Gray has a keen knack for capturing the essence of Austen--her language and themes most particularly--while simultaneously making it palettable to modern readers without over simplifying it. The last book ended with a heart wrench, and then this one had the absolute nerve to end right as things were getting really compelling. Can't wait for the next installment!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte-507 pages (Barnes & Noble Edition)

⭐⭐⭐.75/5

At Thornfield Hall, resolute and independent Jane Eyre finds fulfillment in her duties as governess, and the love of her life in her employer Edward Rochester. But when a dark secret from Rochester's past comes to light, Jane must make the most difficult decision of her life: to stay beside the man she loves regardless of the truth, or to embark upon a new life free of the encumbrances of the past.

Charlotte Bronte's powerful tale of romance and strong wills at odds with one another is a classic of nineteenth century literature. This exquisitve collectible edition features an elegant bonded leather binding, a satin-ribbon bookmark, distinctive stained edging, and decorative marbled endpapers. It's the perfect gift for book-lovers, and an artful addition to any home library.

Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this more than I expected. I like the title character and her relationship with Rochester. I like the writing style and wish we still talked like that at times. The ending is fitting and what I was hoping for. Overall, this is a pretty good read. 

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti (368 Pages)

Summary: Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases. The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption. Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus a slick gadget or two—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?

Opinion: This is a mystery and Mark Twain award nominee (2026-2027) juvenile chapter book. It starts off a bit slow in my opinion then picks up, especially around 2/3rds of the way in. I really enjoyed how the twists in each case lead to another case and then eventually they all were connected in a round about way to solve the final, big case. I also loved seeing Zoe's character development, particularly her friendship with Lina. This the first of a three book series, and while I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure I will continue with the series. 

Mr. Lonelyhearts by Clay McLeod Chapman

 

Mr. Lonelyhearts by Clay McLeod Chapman - 368 pages

What if the man of your dreams turns out to be a nightmare?

The past really can haunt you in this killer supernatural slasher by Clay McLeod Chapman, perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix, CJ Leede, and Stephen Graham Jones.

When Jenn first sees Mr. Lonelyhearts, he’s just a CPR dummy in her 7th grade health class. She and her best friends―the Cöven―smuggle him to a sleepover and pour their adolescent fantasies into his open, willing vessel. Then they grow up, get real boyfriends, and forget about him. But he never forgot about them. And now, decades later, after a traumatic break-up leaves Jenn shattered, Mr. Lonelyhearts reappears in her life to pick up the pieces.

But once Jenn begins to suspect that there’s something very wrong about her Mr. Right, it might be too late. Will she survive this situationship, or does Mr. Lonelyhearts have darker plans for them?

I honestly don't know what I expected but dang this was an odd read. Jenn seems to be spiraling into her own little world with just Mr. Lonelyhearts as company, he completely consumes her life. I was drawn to this book not only because of the author but because of the eccentric plot line. Mr. Lonelyhearts is a bit sinister and I did like how this book played out, but I guess I expected a little more horror. This book was hard to put down though, I was all about Jenn's decent into madness.

A Court of Splintered Harmony

 A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas 336 pages

Synopsis: What was broken will be remade.
Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories, attracting powerful allies hell-bent on reclaiming what was once theirs: the human lands.

The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked. But with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War, the task of uniting is proving more difficult by the day.
To make matters worse, those who rule and protect the Night Court are reeling from recent betrayals and revealed truths. The rifts dividing them seem insurmountable.
But to defeat Koschei's creeping shadow, they must find a way back to each other and resurrect their former alliances. To survive, they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony all around them.

My Thoughts: I am ecstatic that this first movement is finally out! Since this is a very popular book, I don't want to give anything away, but I enjoyed it so much, the rifts between all the characters, the stress, the "omg what did I just read" moments. I am excited for the 2nd and 3rd movement to come out soon and then the last installment to be out sometime! My favorite series of hers will always be Throne of Glass, but all of her series are worth the read!

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews | 470 pages | 2026

When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy, and naked in a gutter, it doesn't take her long to recognize Kair Toren, a city she knows intimately from the pages of the famously unfinished dark fantasy series she's been obsessively reading and re-reading while waiting years for the final novel. Her only tools for navigating this gritty world of rival warlords, magic, and mayhem? Her encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, the setting, and the characters' ambitions and fates. 

But while she quickly discovers she cannot be killed (though many will try!), the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she's coming to love—a motley band that includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, various outrageous magical creatures, and a dangerously appealing soldier. Soon, instead of trying to get home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes—and attentions—of dueling princes, dukes, and villains, all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the way she knows their stories will end: in a cataclysmic war.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)