francescadefreitas's reviews from LibraryThing

Sign With Your Baby : How to Communicate With Infants Before They Can Speak (book only) by Joseph Garcia

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:21:41 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "This is an incarnation of the original baby-sign book, and it still has a garage photostated quality to it. The writer's large moustache is visible in every sign example, making his image pretty memorable. I liked the tone of the explanation, although it was a titch proselytising - unnecessary when I am already converted to the idea of baby signing."
Northlight Communications (1999), Edition: Revised, Paperback, 106 pages

The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:35:42 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "This has some good tips on how to help your baby sleep, but the emphasis on teaching baby to go to sleep by him self was not what I was looking for - although it might be exactly what someone else needs."
McGraw-Hill (2002), Paperback, 254 pages

Where the mountain meets the moon by Grace Lin

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:34:38 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "This was a delightful folktale-ish story of a girl who leaves her home and parents in search of advice from a mythical creature. The short chapters are perfect for reading aloud, and the diverse stories all tie into a highly satisfying conclusion."
New York : Little, Brown and Co., 2009.

How to say goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:33:37 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "The main character in this story of high school friendship is likeable and believable, and her friendship with the outcast boy at her new school is as far from cliché as I can imagine."
New York : Scholastic, 2009.

Meridian by Amber Kizer

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:41:49 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "(spoilers) I loved the beginning of this, it had an amazing moody set-up, teenage Meridian is surrounded by dead things - literally. Insects crawl up to her and die. On her birthday her dad hands her a bus ticket, a weak explanation, and tells her never to contact her family again. Sent to her elderly aunt, Meridian is in unknown danger until she can find out what's going on. The story is really tense, wonderufll ntil she gets to her aunts house, and then iit loses steam. Too much explanation, not enough character, adn then, the worst possible divine intervention of an ending I have read in a long time. Three stars for the good start, but it tapers off significantly. I'd give this to teen urban fantasy fans, especially poeple looking for darker stories, if I don't have something better to hand."
New York : Delacorte Press, 2009.

Sydney by ferry and foot by John Gunter

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 16:51:31 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "This was a fantastic excuse to spend time in parts of Sydney we would never see in our usual work routine. Each walk was well documented, with maps photos, and a very detailed description of the things to see. The author's love of the harbour and its suburbs is very apparent when reading this charming guide book."
East Roseville, N.S.W.: Simon & Schuster, 2000. 190 p. : ill., maps ; 19 cm. 5th ed

Instance of the Fingerpost, An by Iain Pears

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:58:26 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "Its been years since I've read this, so I don't remember it well, but it is one of my favourite books, and I've successfully recommended it several times."
Vintage (1998), Paperback, 704 pages

Rampant by Diana. Peterfreund

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:49:49 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "The premise was really fun, and the story was entertaining. I had a hard time believing that so many parents would send their kids to such a sus training facility. I'd give this to teen urban fantasy/adventure story fans."
New York : HarperTeen, 2009.

POP by Gordon Korman

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:31:47 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "I know little about football, but a love of the game wasn't required to thoroughly enjoy this story of a teen and his unconventional mentor. This was a loving portrayal of a hero living with Alzheimer's disease. The occasional change in point of view was jarring, but on the whole I enjoyed this. I would recommend it to someone looking for realistic fiction about sports, and I would caution that it is not Korman's one of laugh a minute books."
Grand Haven, MI : Brilliance Audio, p2009.

The magicians : a novel by Lev Grossman

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:31:01 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "I heard this refereed to as Harry Potter for adults, it reminded me more of Pamela Dean's Tam Lin - the school setting was there, but largely ignored for the story. This was complex and layered, I think it will bear rereading to get to the heart of it. I enjoyed it very much on the first read through. There wre lovely nods to Harry Potter, and obvious references to Narnia books. More modern references to iPods and such I found a little distracting, the timeless nature of the story keeps it above the soon-to-be-dated references to technology."
New York : Viking, 2009.

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:29:19 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "A high school thriller, a group of marginalised teen boys suspect a teacher has killed one of their friends. A tale of 'things gone too far'. Reminded me of Lord of the Flies and The Pigman. I'd give this to someone looking for realistic teen fiction, or a tense mystery story."
New York : Scholastic Press, 2009.

Eloise; a book for precocious grown ups by Kay Thompson

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:16:04 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "Absolutely charming from tip to toe. I loved the illustrations, the characters, the story. I am not sure if a child would find this as delightful as I did, I'll have to field test."
New York, Simon and Schuster, 1955.

Catching fire by Suzanne Collins

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:32:56 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "For the most par this was a strong sequel to an astonishing beginning. I really enjoyed seeing more of the world outside the games, and getting a glimpse into city politics and life in the other districts. I was sorry when the arena was revisited - but only a little bit. Peeta sometimes is just a little bit too good to be true, I can't wait to find out what'll happen next. I'd give this to anyone who enjoyed the first book, of course."
New York : Scholastic Press, 2009.

How to be bad by E. Lockhart

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:33:02 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "Three girls take a road trip across Florida, friendships are made and renewed along the way. This is a light story, even with heavy topics (one girl's mother is diagnosed with cancer.) With each character written by a separate author, the voices of the three girls are very distinct. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, and at times each one had annoying 'quirks' that broke my suspension of disbelief. But for fans of the authors, it is a light and fun read - a bromance for girls! I'd pass this on to existing fans."
New York, NY : HarperTeen, 2008.

Itch by Michelle D. Kwasney

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:29:20 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "When Itch's grandfather dies, she moves with her grandmother from Florida to Ohio. And when she makes a new friend, she discovers a secret she need courage to reveal. This story is set in the 60s, and the time period adds an odd feeling of emotional distance, the child abuse pictured seems almost, well, quaint. I'd give this to someone looking for a realistic story, or shows an interest in stories about moving, child abuse, or making new friends."
New York : Henry Holt, 2008.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Tue, 08 May 2007 18:28:42 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "I suffered from huge spoilers reading this, as I read //Love Stargirl// first. Even with that, I found the Stargirl in this book pretty annoying. And knowing exactly what would happen in the end might have cast a pall over the story. I just didn't like it as much as the sequel. I'd give this to someone looking for a quirky romance."
Knopf Books for Young Readers (2002), Paperback, 208 pages

Lucy Rose, here's the thing about me by Katy Kelly

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:51:55 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "When Lucy Rose's parents split up. Lucy Rose moves to Washington with her mother. She has to make new friends, miss her dad, and adjust to life in a different city - and she does so with style, and as her grandfather puts it, original thinking.I'd give this to tweens looking for realistic stories, especially if they want a series book."
New York : Delacorte Press, 2004.

Fly on the wall : how one girl saw everything by E. Lockhart

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:50:58 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "Gretchen's wish to be a fly on the wall in the boys locker room coems true, giving her insights into more than just male anatomy. This was fun, I enjoyed it, it felt a little slight and a little predictable. But a nifty highschool story about fitting in and standing out. I'd give this for younger teens looking for something entertaining about relationships or boys."
New York : Delacorte Press, c2006.

Bad girls don't die by Katie Alender

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:28:31 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "Alexis has enough trouble without her sister acting up. But when acting up turns dangerous, Alexis realises that it might not be her sister who's doing the acting. This was wonderfully creepy, the atmosphere was think enough to chill me on a sunny day. The story was a little weak, the mystery adn the secrets were obvious, and anyone who has ever seen a horror movie would have been able tot ell what was happening within the first few pages.Other than Alexis and her sister, the characters were a bit flat. But still, I'd recommend this for the creepy factor to people looking for gentle horror or atmospheric ghost stories."
New York : Hyperion Books, 2009.

Free range kids : giving our children the freedom we had without going nuts with worry by Lenore Skenazy

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:18:02 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "This books gives very specific examples of fears that cause parents to cottonwool their kids and then presents statistics, research, and anecdotes to show why those fears are, if not groundless, not worth depriving your child of a rich life. Interesting topic, and presented in a light-hearted manner. Examples include the lack of any poisoned Halloween candy - ever, and the likelihood of your child being abducted by a stranger."
San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, c2009.