Caroline's book club: Surviving February Blues

It's that time of the month for new book suggestions! I've almost reached the end of my bookshelf so in April we'll all be experiencing entirely new choices together. On another note, has anyone checked out the latest section I've added? When you go to the drop down menu, there is a tab called "Let's Chat" next to the blog. I created this so that we could all talk more and you'd get extra content between blogs. Tell me your thoughts when you get a chance.  Let's get reading!

#5: A Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Where are all my poetry lovers at? A Long Way Down is written in free verse poetry style which also makes it a really fast read if that's what's you're looking for. The book set up also adds to the drama of the plot. The entire book takes place in an elevator. Will's brother Shawn was recently shot in a gang fight. Will decides to go avenge his brother by killing the man who shot him. However, this elevator is no normal ride. On the way down the eight floors of the apartment building, Will meets ghosts from his past who are key in his decision on whether or not to take the shot.

#4: Sincerely by Courtney Shienmel
Sincerely is actually two books in one, told from two different perspectives. Sophie and Katie are both 11. Katie lives in California and Sophie in New York. As a class assignment, they become each other's pen pal. When Sophie's best friend leaves her behind for the older middle school crowds, Sophie confides in the one friend she still has. Katie. Across the country, Katie is dealing with a similar problem. She is really excited to work with her best friend Jake but he starts to notice other girls and misunderstands Katie's feeling. Confused and lonely, Katie turns to the one person she thinks will understand. Sophie.

#3: A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron
Remember, A Dog's Purpose? This book is a continuation of that story. He starts out the book as Buddy but then is reborn as Molly to look after CJ, the granddaughter of his last owners, Hannah and Ethan. CJ is now 11 and takes an immediate liking to Molly. She adopts her but after a car accident caused by CJ's stalker boyfriend Shane, Molly is killed accidentally. But not to worry because she is reborn as Max! Max finds his way to CJ and reunites her with her childhood friend Trent, whom she later marries. CJ, Trent, and Max visit Hannah and Ethan at their farm where Ethan recognizes Max as Bailey (Max's original self) and shows CJ a trick that proves it. After a peaceful life, Max dies but is again reborn. This time as a therapy beagle named Toby who works at a care center for the sick and injured run by nuns. He finds CJ again when Gloria is admitted to the hospital where Toby works as a therapy dog because she is dying. Toby learns that CJ has aged and Trent is dead. CJ admits to Fran, one of the nuns, that she is dying because of a suicide attempt that destroyed her kidneys. CJ decides that she wants to go through with assisted suicide. Fran and Toby are there to comfort her in her final days. Many years later, Toby dies. This time he is not reborn but is brought to heaven where he reunites with his previous owners. I may have just spoiled the book a little but it's to good to leave things out.

#2: The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall
This book may seem familiar because the first book in this series was included in one of my previous book club posts. Set a few years after the original book, the Penderwick family is caught in a winter funk. Spring seems near but snow always seems to cover up the sun's rays. Batty, the youngest is having a particularly hard time and refuses to talk to anyone in the family. But comfort always comes from the most unexpected places and this story is no exception.

#1: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms by Meredith Rusu
Shortly after the death of their mother, Clara and her sisters are each given a special gift she left behind for them. Clara's gift is the most intriguing. A small box that needs a key to open it. She finds the key but it is attached to god string and is constantly moving. She follows it and soon discovers a parallel world filled with wonder and imagination. However, danger lurks close by and Clara doesn't realize it until there's almost no time left. This book is also a movie and if you have a Disney+ account, you can watch it anytime you want. 

That's all for this week! I hope you found something new that you want to take a look at in the future! Make sure to check out the new section that I talked about in the beginning as well as my podcast and YouTube channel in the next couple days! A new podcast (the season 2 premier!!) will go up on Friday at 4:00pm CST and I have two new videos that'll come out this week and next! Stay tuned and I'll see you later!

-Caroline:)
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