Anica Mrose Rissi

It's hard to love a book like this-- the relationship in this book is so hard to read about. BUT yet, this is a book I loved anyway.

Betts meets Aiden and he's everything she's been wishing for. He's sexy and super-interested in her-- and who doesn't like a guy on a motorcycle?? But Aiden is damaged, and soon Betts finds herself tip-toeing around his moods and his jealousy. He wants to be with her all the time, which at first she finds adorable, but it soon it becomes obvious that it's not show more LOVE that is making Aiden needy-- it's control.

Betts and Aiden were toxic. Or really, Aiden was just toxic. I've been in a relationship with an Aiden and believe me when I say, it can be really hard to get out of. These types of dudes know how to suck you in. They know how to pull at your heartstrings, isolate you, and make you feel lower than low. They know when you are about to leave and they know exactly what to say so that you won't. Will every girl or guy fall into their trap?? Probably not. But once they find someone that they can suck into their web, it becomes a dangerous and volatile situation.

Hands down the best part of this book was Jo. Without Jo, I don't know if Betts could have made it. She was losing herself and Jo was the only thing grounding her. Most friends will give up on a girl like Betts-- she's pushing everyone away because in these relationships that's what people do-- but Jo isn't budging. She was an all-around great human being, and I wish there were more Jo's in this world.

I really did love this book. I felt like the progression of the relationship and Betts's evolution was well-done. Betts started out thinking this relationship empowered her to be someone other than a tagalong for Jo and her twin brother, and I think a lot of people fall into that trap. It's easy to confuse being happy that you are finally the center of someone's world, and obsession.

PS-- If you are in a relationship with an Aiden-- LEAVE. I know it's hard. Ask for help. What Betts and Aiden had wasn't love. Love would never make you feel like that.

OVERALL: So happy that I read this book. It brought back painful memories, but it was SO worth it. I hope that anyone who has an Aiden (or may meet an Aiden in the future) gets ahold of this book. The more people are aware of these types of relationships, the fewer people who will be susceptible.

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Some little piggies planning a party have to duck a lurking wolf to get all their goodies together. It's a well-executed and cute story, and even though it is wholly predictable, the ending will still blow you away.

If you want to remember the intensity of your summer camp friendships, this is the book to read. But most summer camp relationships don’t end with a murder trial.

Lainie and Kayla become instant best friends. They sneak out at night and impress other campers with their tall tales. Then Lainie meets Jackson. Even though he has a girlfriend back home, they’re both instantly smitten. Soon, the four of them - Lainie, Kayla, Jackson and Jackson’s cabin mate Nitin - meet at the dock most show more nights after lights out. But, the very last week of camp, a body is found at the dock.

I really enjoyed the author’s storytelling style. This book is told through a series of letters Kayla writes to Lainie to get closure, letters that Lainie will never read. It’s interspersed with police interviews, trial transcripts and text conversations. It’s the story of Kayla making sense of what happened. The characters draw you in and manage to surprise you.

This book had two big twists that I didn’t see coming, which I loved! It also keeps you guessing, with the characters keeping secrets from each other and the reader. It’s a fun ride as you puzzle out what really happened at Camp Cavanick.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an Advance Reader’s Edition in exchange for an honest review. show less

When Mr. Stricter's class must release their "pets" - tadpoles about to transform into frogs - the children are willing, but their instructor wants to keep one. Bruno, who in the artwork turns out to be a rapidly-growing hippopotamus, rather than a frog, is more than a little disruptive however. The children soon see that this teacher's pet must go, but the fond and over-indulgent Mr. Stricter takes some convincing. It is only when Bruno swallows him whole that he begins to perceive that show more there is a problem with having a massive hippo in the classroom...

The author of the Anna Banana beginning chapter-book series, Anica Mrose Rissi makes her picture-book debut with The Teacher's Pet, which offers an amusing variation on the idea of a teacher's much-indulged favorite. In this case, of course, that favorite is a literal pet. Young children will enjoy the reversal of the usual order of things, as Mr. Stricter's students take charge and behave responsibly, while their teacher makes every excuse under the sun for his pet's misdeeds. The accompanying artwork by Zachariah OHora, done in acrylic and pencil, is colorful and engaging, capturing the humor of the story quite well. I've seen this one performed at story-time, and it goes over very well with the young audience. Recommended to those looking for classroom stories with a somewhat silly sense of humor. show less