So Glad

I am not a huge fan of the books of Rebecca Stead.  I know she is a good writer, she just is not my kind of writer.  And I have enjoyed books by Wendy Mass, but they have all been on the just-a-wee-bit-too-long side for me.   And so I was not even going to read Bob, but man, I am so glad that I did.  I ended up loving this very sweet story.  Magical, indeed.  I loved it.  I don't know if it is Newbery stuff, but I really did love it.

The Last Trip to Willow Falls

Wendy Mass takes us back to Willow Falls one last time and it is great visit!  Told from the POV of Amanda, featured in 11 Birthdays, The Last Present answers the questions we've had for years now.  As the books have gone on, I have enjoyed each more more than the last.  Great series, sorry to see it end! 

The More Paranormal Side of Willow Falls

The third book in the Willow Falls series, 13 Gifts, has more paranormal stuff in it than the second book did.  I loved them both.  I am still waiting to see if I get approved for the advanced copy of the fourth on netgalley.com, but it doesn't look good, so I will probably have to wait until it is released on September 24.
This one brings another gal to Willow Falls where she meets the strange woman with the mole shaped like a duck.  Tara never had too many friends, but when she comes to WF she learns about real friendship and the power of magic.  I love this series!

Willow Falls

I can't say I was totally taken with Eleven Birthdays, but it was loved by so many and this one was available for e audio checkout.  I really liked Finally a lot. I didn't know that the Willow Falls series focused on a different member of the WillowFalls community in each book.  The kids from the first book are in this one, but Finally is told from the POV of Rory, who is a quiet, in-the-background kinda gal, and has just turned twelve. She is super excited because now she can get a cellphone and hopefully her usually over- protective mom will give her a little more space.  It is full of great humor and an understanding of what it is like to be twelve. Good stuff.  This one didn't have supernatural element, like 11 Birthdays did, at least I don't think so.  Looking forward to reading the next one!

Maybe Just One Day Too Many...

I really liked 11 Birthdays! I just thought maybe it took one too many days to come to its final conclusion. So many people recommended it to me and I was glad to finally get to read it.

Leo and Amanda met in the hospital on the day they were born. Thanks to some help from a crafty old lady in town, they celebrated their first birthdays together and friendship formed between Leo and Amanda and their families.

On their tenth birthday, however, Leo and Amanda have a huge falling out and they don't talk for a year. They plan to celebrate their eleventh birthdays apart. And they do. But the next day, Amanda awakens to find that it is her eleventh birthday all over again!

A children's/tween tale of Groundhog Day, but it is still fresh enough not to be a copycat. I would recommend this book for sure. I want to read Wendy Mass' The Candymakers next, as I have heard that is really good.