Ms. Anderson's ATM

Some weeks are just the best. I mentioned in my December 1 post that the end of the year is exciting because I anticipate the "best of..." lists. And I'm already having such a great time reading some of the suggested titles! Isn't it funny how quickly a great book goes and how sad it is when it ends? Such a contrast of emotions.

This week started with Clean Getaway by Nic Stone. I am already a fan of Nic Stone because I loved her first book, Dear Martin. But seriously, I loooooved this story even more. It's about a boy named "Scoob" who goes on the adventure of a lifetime with his zany Grandma, G'ma. It'd call this an adventure mystery (adventery or mysture?) with a bit of history sprinkled throughout. And did I mention, it's also hilarious? You will laugh out loud! I know you won't be able to put it down until the very end.

And I followed that with To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer. This is a title that actually cropped up on some 2019 lists but I never got a chance to read. I felt like I was in the mood for another realistic fiction story and this one is epistolary (a fancy term for writing in letters) which I love. And it did not disappoint. It's about two strangers that meet via email and end up becoming fast friends. They go on loads of adventures (including two summer camps) and eventually become... Well, if I told you that I would spoil the end of the story! But I promise you will laugh, cry, and root for all of the characters.

Right now I'm reading a book from this year's National Book Award's Long List. Trowbridge Road by Marcella Pixley had me mesmerized from the first page. I'm not kidding. I love the author's voice and word choice. She seems to make the characters swirl around me and tugs at my heart with each event. I know already (in spite of only being 1/3 of the way through) that June Bug and Ziggy will be characters that I will carry with me long after the book comes to a close. I can hardly wait to sit down and keep reading.

Happiness is a great story.

Ms. Anderson