Build Your Library 2021 Reading Challenge

I homeschool my kids. We've always used a combination of many different curricula - picking and choosing what best fits the kids' goals each year. We started using the Charlotte Mason-based curriculum Build Your Library this year and wish we'd known about it all along! Lots of fantastic literature. This is the 2021 reading challenge put together by creators of the Build Your Library curriculum. The theme is Hygge. 

"Hygge is a Danish word that describes a lifestyle placing emphasis on coziness and happy living. Hygge can be anything from eating your favorite meal with the people you love to wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket and reading by candlelight. In 2021, embrace the hygge lifestyle by reading books that evoke feelings of warmth and comfort with the people you hold dear."

https://buildyourlibrary.com/2021-build-your-library-reading-challenge/ 

I'll be using this post to keep track of my reading for this challenge. 

Completed 14 out of 41 books as of 14 April 2021.

  A book with your favorite color on the cover
       Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 

❑  A story that takes place under the sea

❑  A story set in a country you want to visit 

❑  A story written in verse

❑  A story set in a library

  A story inspired by mythology
        Never Say Never by Justine Manzano

❑  A fairy tale retold

❑  A book written by an Indigenous author

❑  A genre you never pick up (ex: mystery, romance, fantasy…)

  A book about a game
        We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

  A sequel you have been meaning to pick up
       the witch doesn't burn in this one by amanda lovelace

  A book with a household pet in the story
       The Squeaky Clean Skeleton by R.A. Muth

  A book in translation
       The Adventures of Dagobert Trostler: Vienna's Sherlock Holmes by Balduin Groller

❑  A book by a favorite author

  A book by an author you have never read from before
       Falling into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley

❑  A book you think will be a new favorite

❑  A book that was released the year you were born

❑  A book about food

❑  A book with a house on the cover

❑  A book that makes you feel nostalgic

  A new release you are excited about
      Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

❑  A book recommended by a friend

❑  A book that a family member loves

❑  A biography or memoir

❑  A classic

❑  A book published in your lifetime that you think should be considered a classic

 A book that won an award
      Between Wild and Ruin by Jennifer G. Edelson 

❑  A book about an issue that is important to you

  A book written by a person of color
        Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success by  Ayesha Ratnayake

  A short story collection
      Black Cat Crossing: A Collection of 11 Cozy Mysteries to Celebrate Halloween

❑  A book that was adapted into a movie or television show

❑  A book about music

  A book with LGBTQIA+ representation
       Chasing The Taillights by Kate Larkindale 

❑  A play

❑  A book written by a local author

 A non-fiction book about a topic you want to learn more about
      Little House in the Suburbs by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskins

❑  A book about girls in STEM

❑  A book set in your favorite vacation destination (ex: beach, camping, amusement park…)

 A book with an animal on the cover
      Queer Icons and Their Cats by Alison Nastasi

❑  A book with a cover that makes you feel cozy

❑  Your favorite book
       To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Between Wild and Ruin by Jennifer G. Edelson

Between Wild and Ruin by Jennifer G. Edelson

Publisher: Bad Apple Books

Publication date: December 2020

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Publisher's description:

Truth, like love, isn’t always obvious.

Seventeen-year-old Ruby Brooks has never had a boyfriend. After moving to small-town La Luna, New Mexico following her mother’s untimely death, boys aren’t even on her radar. Ruby just wants to forget the last horrible year and blend in. But when she discovers an ancient pueblo ruin in the forest behind her house and meets Ezra, a bitter recluse whose once-perfect face was destroyed in an accident he won’t talk about; Angel, La Luna’s handsome sheriff’s deputy, and Leo, a stranger who only appears near the ruin, Ruby finds herself teetering between love, mystery, and other worlds. What happened to Ezra’s face? And why is she so attracted to the one boy in town everyone despises? As Ruby unravels her own connections to both Ezra and the pueblo ruin, she’ll learn surfaces are deceiving. Especially in the heart of New Mexico, where spirits and legends aren’t always just campfire stories.

About the author:

From the author’s website: In a Godzilla-sized nutshell, I grew up in Los Angeles, dropped out of high school, rebelled the hell out of my teens, and spent a couple of rocky years dabbling in everything from car stereo sales, to animal rescue, to scalping concert tickets, to waiting tables. After quickly learning that limitations suck, I went on to complete a B.A. in Fine Arts-Sculpture with a minor in Criminology at the University of Minnesota and later, a J.D. in law school.

My review:

I received a digital copy of this book from BookSirens. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

I have read other fantasy fiction set in the American Southwest (check out the Shards of History series by Rebecca Roland). For that reason, I wanted to love this book. With all the awards (see below) it has won, I had high hopes. I did enjoy looking up the landmarks mentioned throughout so I could get a sense of what the landscape looked like. Unfortunately, I did not love the book. The world-building was lacking and rushed. Relationships were shallow… and rushed. The main character was a series of opposite personality traits that didn’t really mesh. I don’t regret reading the book. I did consider reading the second in the series (though other reviews I read for it changed my mind on that front).  

While I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it either. It is an interesting setup. I just wish it had been fleshed out more and less rushed when the “big reveal” came. Fantasy always asks us to suspend our disbelief but this took that suspension request a little too far. There are likable and loyal supporting characters and the history of the area is interesting. I would recommend it for anyone who loves the Southwest and magical realism (and doesn’t mind love triangles - another miss for me).  

Fun stuff:

** First Place Winner — Young Adult Fiction: 2020 Arizona/New Mexico Book Awards

** First Place Winner - Young Adult Fiction: 2020 National Federation Press Women

** Gold Medal Winner (First Place) - Young Adult Mythology/Folklore; 2020 Reader's Choice International  

** First Place Winner - Young Adult Fiction: 2020 New Mexico Women's Press 

Just South of Home by Karen Strong

Just South of Home by Karen Strong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book to my teen children. They both enjoyed it (and did NOT like Mrs. Greene though she did ultimately redeem herself). You can read their (short) reviews below.

R (13): It was really good and I want there to be a sequel. I liked the characters. The plot is very kid-friendly but still has a racial justice theme. My favorite character was Janie. 5 out of 5 stars.

J (17): I liked that it managed to be directed at children but still painted an effective picture of racial violence. Ellis is the best character. 4 out of 5 stars.

View all my reviews

The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney

 

Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: September 18, 2018
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Publisher's description:

Maps can show you where you are anywhere in the world! A beloved bestseller that helps children discover their place on the planet, now refreshed with new art from Qin Leng.

Where are you? Where is your room? Where is your home? Where is your town?

This playful introduction to maps shows children how easy it is to find where they live and how they fit in to the larger world. Filled with fun and adorable new illustrations by Qin Leng, this repackage of Me on the Map will show readers how easy it is to find the places they know and love with help from a map. 

My review:

I checked this book out of my public library. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

This edition has a different illustrator than the original print of the book. I am reading through all the books from the Build Your Library curriculum from Level 0 on up (this one is from Level 0) - at least the books my library has. This is the version my library had. It's a cute book - I loved the illustrations. 

I would recommend it for kids who like maps. It would go well with any educational unit on maps or geography. 

Adventures in Opting Out by Cait Flanders

Adventures in Opting Out by Cait Flanders 

Publisher: Little, Brown Spark

Publication Date [expected]: September 15th, 2020

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Publisher's description:

Opt out of expectations and live a more intentional life with this refreshing guide from the national bestselling author of The Year of Less.

We all follow our own path in life. At least, that's what we're told. In reality, many of us either do what is expected of us, or follow the invisible but well-worn paths that lead to what is culturally acceptable. For some, those paths are fine -- even great. But they leave some of us feeling disconnected from ourselves and what we really want to do. When that discomfort finally outweighs the fear of trying something new, we're ready to opt out.

After going through this process many times, Cait Flanders found there is an incredible parallel between taking a different path in life and the psychological work it takes to summit a mountain -- especially when you decide to go solo. In Adventures in Opting Out, she offers a trail map to help you with both. As you'll see, reaching the first viewpoint can be easy -- and it offers a glimpse of what you're walking toward. Climbing to the summit for the full view is worth it. But in the space between those two peaks you will enter a world completely unknown to you, and that is the most difficult part of the path to navigate.

With Flanders's guidance and advice, drawn from her own journey and stories of others, you'll have all the encouragement and insight you'll need to take the path less traveled and create the life you want. Just step up to the trailhead and expect it to be an adventure.

My review

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

I read Cait Flanders's first book, The Year of Less, three times... well, read it twice and listened to it once. It certainly is the book that planted the seed of minimalism into my brain. I'm FAR from a minimalist in my home yet... I have YEARS of stuff to get rid of first - not only my own stuff but multiple family members' stuff that got foisted upon me from their estates. I come from a long line of packrats and magpies. After having been nearly 100% responsible for cleaning out TWO giant houses filled with "things" now, I am NOT going to do that to my children... or continue to do it to myself! I think this book is an excellent followup to the intentional living mindset Ms Flanders laid out so well in her first book. I also think this book stands alone.

I will say it took me a bit to get into the groove of her hiking analogy she uses throughout the book. I will likely reread this book as well and, I'm sure, get even more out of it the second time through. The thing that really sticks out to me though is how much I want to gift this book to all the young people I know! I followed the path my family taught me was safe for too long and came to my life's passion much later than I would have liked. I love that she paints a realistic, though also optimistic, picture of "opting out"... taking YOUR own path even if no one has taken it before. Ms Flander's life and my own can't be much more different and yet I still get so much out of her words for myself. I especially think some of the vibrant young adults I know would get even more from this book... and hopefully (if they actually read it), it will spark a fire in them to find or continue on a path that is right for them and not just the one everyone else tells them to follow.

Kids' Review: The Peanuts Movie Novelization by Charles M. Schulz

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if you make a purchase using these links. Thank you!

The Peanuts Movie Novelization by Charles M. Schulz (adapted by Tracey West)
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Publication date: September 22, 2015
My rating: 5 stars out of 5

Miss R's Review

Howdy, I’m Miss R. My mom writes book reviews, but she hasn’t done one in awhile. I’ll be reading books then I’ll review them and take pictures of the book (maybe me with the book).
I’ll help kids see what the book is all about! From time to time, I'll have crafts for a recently reviewed book.

I have a helper named Bubby. She’ll be starring in my photos. (She also might have something to say in my book reviews.) Bubby is an Easter bunny who got kicked out since she couldn’t stop eating all the chocolate eggs! I found her in the store one day. I brought her home and she’s made many friends.

The Peanuts Movie book was about a boy named Charlie Brown. He was around the age of ten. Charlie Brown liked the new girl in his school, but he thought she wouldn’t like him. Snoopy, Charlie Brown's dog, writes a love story book. Lucy, a girl at Charlie Brown’s school, is rather snobby. She and the rest of the kids in the school do not let Snoopy in the school.

My favorite part of the story was when the Little Red Haired Girl told Charlie Brown that he was the sweetest and kindest person in the school

The Peanuts book is a fiction comedy book. It is a twenty one chapter book. I’d suggest it to any age. If you're a kid (or if you are one yourself) that can’t read (but I am sure all of you reading this can read), then your parents could read to you.  If you can read, I'd suggest reading it yourself.

It was originally written by Charles M. Schulz and adapted here by Tracey West. This book was based on the 3D Peanuts Movie. It has a good story. It follows the movie very well. It's a great book for comedy loving kids (and adults).

I loved this book! It's funny and sad (mostly funny if you have watched the movie). They explain the book very well. It's almost like you are in the story. There are pictures in the middle.

Publisher's Description
The Peanuts gang is gearing up for a brand-new adventure in this charming retelling of the holiday season’s biggest animated movie event!

There’s a new kid in town, and she’s a smart, kind, beautiful Little Red-Haired Girl. And—good grief!—Charlie Brown finds himself instantly with a crush on her. Will he be able to impress her?

Meanwhile, Snoopy is heading out on a fantastical flight of the imagination as the Flying Ace! While on his adventure, Snoopy falls head over heels for Fifi, a spunky, high-flying poodle, in the skies over Paris. But when the dastardly Red Baron captures Fifi, it’s up to Snoopy and Woodstock to take down the Red Baron once and for all!

Relive the action, fun, and magic in this incredible retelling of the Peanuts movie that comes with an insert with images from the movie and is sure to be loved by fans young and old!

Review: Dream Eater by K. Bird Lincoln

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if you make a purchase using these links. Thank you!

Dream Eater by K. Bird Lincoln

Publisher: World Weaver Press

Publication date: April 4, 2017

My rating: 3 stars out of 5

Publisher's description

Koi Pierce dreams other peoples' dreams.

Her whole life she's avoided other people. Any skin-to-skin contact--a hug from her sister, the hand of a barista at Stumptown coffee--transfers flashes of that person's most intense dreams. It's enough to make anyone a hermit.

But Koi's getting her act together. No matter what, this time she's going to finish her degree at Portland Community College and get a real life. Of course it's not going to be that easy. Her father, increasingly disturbed from Altzheimer's disease, a dream fragment of a dead girl from the casual brush of a creepy PCC professor's hand, and a mysterious stranger who speaks the same rare Northern Japanese dialect as Koi's father will force Koi to learn to trust in the help of others, as well as face the truth about herself.

My review

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Dream Eater is based on ancient legends. While the legends of many different cultures are referenced, Japanese legends are most represented here along with some Pacific Northwest American legends.