Completely Full Bookshelf

( Update:  I'm having to make all kinds of edits to this post because I forgot all the things I needed to mention, and besides correcting the giveaway deadline listed at the end of the post, I also wanted to mention that I shared an original poem for Thursday Thoughts last week, "Where I read" —check it out if you're interested! Now, back to the post!)  I never thought this day would come. When I joined #IMWAYR in March 2020, it was expressly for the purpose of having a place to share MG and YA book reviews. But as I have participated in #IMWAYR, I have seen review after review, recommendation after recommendation, of picture books. And some of them didn't seem like my thing, but some of them honestly sounded pretty good. And finally, with blogger after blogger after blogger showing me all of these wonderful stories, I caved. My blog is still going to be largely focused on MG and YA books. But every so often, I plan to take some time and write mini-reviews of some...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas if they celebrate it! I know I did, mostly because I got NEW BOOKS!!!  I spent the week cleaning out my bookshelves in preparation, largely because "Completely Full Bookshelf" had become "Completely Full Bookshelf In The Family Room, Two Completely Full Bookshelves In The Upstairs Room, Desk In My Room Covered In Various Piles of Books, Bookshelf In My Room Completely Full of Books I Neither Needed To Read Nor Wanted To Keep, And Pile On My Dresser Of Books I Actually Wanted To Read But Had Now Read And Had Since Started Filling With Books I Had Already Read Because I Had No Space In The Aforementioned Locations." (Not the catchiest blog title, if you ask me.) I have since gotten my collection of books stuffed into the bookcase in my room, alongside three (yes, three) piles on the floor which I will put into another bookcase once it ships (along with the picture rails I will use to display my all-time favorite books). For my...

I hope everyone is holding up OK as the winter holidays approach! (So...much...online...shopping...) I'd like to share a teensy bit of news before we get to today's review. A few days ago, Disney held their "Investor Day" when they basically announce all of the things  and cause an Internet spectacle to prove to their investors how beloved they are, and although I was personally most excited by the new Disney and Pixar animated movies (just 454 days until Turning Red !), there are a few book-related adaptations coming soon! Flora & Ulysses , a movie based on the book by Kate DiCamillo , is coming to Disney+ on February 19 (it sounds like they have changed the plot somewhat, so I'll hope for the best, I suppose). They are also going to put a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie on Disney+ in 2021, this one animated instead of live-action. Finally, they reminded us that they had apparently already announced a show based on the Mysterious Benedict Society series , als...

I have to say two things before we get to today's review. First, the fact that Hachette Book Group is publishing J.K. Trolling's (pun still intended) ridiculously transphobic new book after she has already been ridiculously transphobic is, well, ridiculous. If you feel like educating yourself a bit about transgender people to fight those who run around espousing nonsense, read the fabulous MG book Zenobia July  by Lisa Bunker ( which I reviewed here )! Second, I am absolutely crushed by the death of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, so much so that I felt I needed to say something here. It takes a certain kind of person to make decisions—informed, rational decisions that must be publicly explained, I might add—about a document as debated, as contemplated, and as vague  as the Constitution. It takes a certain kind of person to work alongside not one, but two probable sexual abusers and still maintain the utmost composure. It takes a certain kind of person to be the s...

Before we get started, I want to mention that Completely Full Bookshelf is now 4 years old! I've had such a wonderful time reviewing books for so long. Thank you to MMGM for being a wonderful community where I was able to start my blog and improve my reviewing skills, and thank you to #IMWAYR for being such a welcoming group and allowing me to broaden my blog to YA reviews as well. And of course, I have to thank all of the amazing authors whose books have brought me so much joy! Now, for #IMWAYR, I am recommending the graphic novel  Relish: My Life in the Kitchen  by Lucy Knisley. A word of caution to any young readers: although this book doesn't fit precisely into the YA genre, it is not an MG (middle grade) novel and contains some mature content.           I decided to read this graphic novel after seeing Jana Eschner recommend it on her blog, Jana the Teacher , and I'm so glad I did! Relish  is a graphic memoir about a subject I think ...

For #IMWAYR, I am recommending the graphic novel Pumpkinheads  by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks. This book is a YA (young adult) novel, not an MG (middle grade) novel, but it doesn't contain any mature content and is probably safe for younger readers to read.           I realize that the middle of spring isn't the most reasonable time to be reading a book set on Halloween, but too late! For most of us, Halloween is a semi-fun holiday that comes once a year, but for Deja and Josiah (who also goes by Josie), Halloween is the last day they'll spend working together at the wonderful pumpkin patch where they've worked each year of high school (and probably the last time they'll ever see each other, since they aren't friends outside of the patch). Josiah is ready to spend this last day exactly as he always does: working at a booth with Deja, serving succotash and talking about Marcy (a girl who works there who he has a crush on but has never spoken...

Firstly, I am extending the deadline for the New Year's Poetry Contest for one week! Remember that, if your poem is good enough, you will win a $20 Barnes & Noble eGift card, which you can use in store or on your Nook! Click here to enter. Secondly, for MMGM, I am recommending Dumpling Days by Grace Lin. Here's the publisher's description: Pacy is back! The beloved heroine of The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat has returned in a brand new story. This summer, Pacy's family is going to Taiwan for an entire month to visit family and prepare for their grandmother's 60th birthday celebration. Pacy's parents have signed her up for a Chinese painting class, and at first she's excited. This is a new way to explore her art talent! But everything about the trip is harder than she thought it would be--she looks like everyone else but can't speak the language, she has trouble following the art teacher's instructions, and it...

Notice: You can now comment on my blog anonymously! To do so, in the comment field, click the dropdown box that follows "Comment as:" and select "Anonymous." You can also comment with several other types of accounts as well, such as WordPress. Notice 2: There is a new poll on the sidebar below the old poll! Be sure to vote in both, as they end on New Year's Day. (It may take several clicks of "Vote" before your votes are accepted. Also, if using a Mac, when looking at the results, you may not see a scroll bar, but you can still scroll sideways to see the poll results.) One of the best parts of the holidays is new books! (My Christmas list has 18 books on it!) However, to get through this next week, for MMGM, I am recommending The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. Here's the publisher's description: In the town of Spring Haven, four children have been selected to compete in the national candymaking contest of a lifetime. Who will ma...