Book Review: Orchards by: Holly Thompson

4 out of 5 stars*


I haven't heard very much about this novel, until I won it off Random Buzzers. I was excited to see that it was written in verse and that the book was filled with beautiful illustrations. It was a very quick read, and it was different from anything else i've ever read. 

This Story was about a girl named Kana Goldberg, who after the suicide of a schoolmate is sent to her relatives in Japan. Kana feels guilty about Ruth's suicide due too some things that were said by her friends to Ruth, and spends her summer contemplating what influence her and her friends had on Ruth's suicide. She is starting to feel at home in her native Japan after much hesitance about wanting to go away for the summer at all. She's starting to feel at home until news from back home sends her into a spiral all over again. 


This story was fast-paced, and i really enjoyed it. It was beautifully written, and hopefully recieves much more praises in the near future. It not only had very thought-provoking issues, but also had very beautifully written poetry, that made you not want to put the book down!

Review for Kat, Incorrigible by: Stephanie Burgis

5 out of 5 stars!! 

Wow, I cannot remember the last time I read a middle grade story, probably since I was 10 years old or so, but WOW!! after reading this I may need to seriously pick some more out, because otherwise I would feel like I am seriously missing out!! I honestly don't even know why I recieved the ARC from Simon and Schuster, but not only was I shocked when I recieved it in the mail, but I also LOVED the story.

This book had the right amount of everything, from fantasty, to drama, to comedy, etc. It was a pleasent mixture of everything you'd want to find in a book. Kat was an amazing 12 year old narrator, and I absolutly adored her character, she was cute, comical, and very smart for her age. The story itself was interesing and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next.

The only thing I can say about this book that would be of a critque nature would be that I felt that some of the word choices were a little bit advanced for a middle grade book, It was fine for me, but I think some 10 years old might have trouble with some of the terms, but then again it's been a long time since I was 10 years old, so maybe they arern't as advanced as I think they might be for someone of the age group.


All I can say is definitely go pick up this book, you will not be dissapointed!! I cannot wait to see what else Stephanie Burgis has in store for us and for Kat.