Category Archives: News and Fun

Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2017

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October 2017 ReviewsThe weather is finally beginning to be almost bearable here in Central Florida as we transition into fall. Well, as much fall as Florida ever really gets. Haha! This month, I was able to fit in a few books which have been on my To Be Read list for a super long time. I hope to add a few more of those over the next few weeks!

If you haven’t done so already, hop over to my review of Mistress of All Evil and enter the giveaway before it closes tonight at midnight! Thanks again to Disney Hyperion for an awesome prize pack!

Here’s what you may have missed in terms of reviews here at The Story Sanctuary. Leave … Continue reading →

Review: In a Perfect World by Trish Doller

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In a Perfect World by Trish DollerIn a Perfect World
Trish Doller
Simon Pulse
Published on May 23, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About In a Perfect World
Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall.

But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever … Continue reading →

Review: Ungifted by Gordon Korman

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Ungifted by Gordon KormanUngifted
Gordon Korman
Balzer + Bray
Published on August 21, 2012

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About Ungifted
The word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It’s usually more like Don’t try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he’s finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students.

It wasn’t exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn’t be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. … Continue reading →

Review: Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

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Once Was Lost by Sara ZarrOnce Was Lost
Sara Zarr
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published on October 1, 2009

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About Once Was Lost
Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. But her mother is in rehab, and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. And when a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, her already-worn thread of faith begins to unravel.

Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor’s kid, it’s hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing … Continue reading →

Monthly Wrap-Up: September 2017

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September 2017 Monthly Wrap-UpSeptember 2017 was another wild month packed with some of my favorite books this year. If you missed my review of Elsie Mae Has Something to Say by Nancy Cavanaugh, just stop and go check that one out. I reviewed nine books this month, and Gabrielle shared her review of the sequel to Wolf by Wolf. If you followed along, let me know which was your favorite. Which reviews made you add books to your reading list?

As we head into the fall, I’m mostly focusing on catching up on some books that have been sitting on the shelf next to my bed forever. Some are books I got last November at YallFest … Continue reading →

Review: Elsie Mae Has Something to Say by Nancy Cavanaugh

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Elsie May Has Something to Say by Nancy CavanaughElsie Mae Has Something to Say
Nancy Cavanaugh
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Published on September 5, 2017

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About Elsie Mae Has Something to Say

Elsie Mae is determined to save her beloved Okefenokee Swamp, but is she willing to accept the unexpected?

Elsie Mae has long treasured summers with her grandparents in the Okefenokee Swamp, so she is devastated to hear that a shipping company plans to build a canal right through it. What will that mean for the people and animals that call the swamp home?

So she writes a letter directly to President Franklin Roosevelt himself and sets off to enjoy what may … Continue reading →