Mini Panda's Book Reviews

Revie w: Let It Snow  by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista. A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- brings all the magic of the holidays to live in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away. Initial Thoughts: I started reading this one on a whim. I bought this book the beginning of 201

#Cramathon 2015 (December 19th-December 22nd) Cramathon was hosted by Whittynovels on Youtube. It was created to read as many books as possible to finish your Goodreads challenge for the year. I wasn't originally going to participate being I would be very busy the first day that the Cramathon took place. I also didn't really need the help with my reading challenge. I only had three books left to read to meet my goal for the year, but I decided I wasn't going to give up an opportunity to get some of the books on my TBR (To Be Read) read.  Challenges: Read an audiobook or ebook Read a bind up Finish a series/read the last book of a series Read a book under 200 pages Finish a book you DNF’ed Read a graphic novel series (or as many graphic novels as you can) Read 5 books total Day 1:  I didn't read anything the first day. I was too busy. Day 2:  Read a book under 200 pages:  The Twits by Roald Dahl:  ★★★★ I love

Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Format (That I Read It): Book/Audiobook Summary: This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help h

Review: The Walking Dead, Vol. 05: The Best Defense ( The Walking Dead #25-30) by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard (Illustrator), Cliff Rathburn (Illustrator) Format (That I Read It): Comics Summary: As the survivors settle into their prison home something has drawn them out into the open... out of the prison... out of their sanctuary. This is a major turning point for the overall story of The Walking Dead, setting the stage for years to come. Initial Thoughts: The reason I read this is still the same as it has been but I choose to read it now was because I wasn't feeling the books I was reading. I could feel a reading slump coming on so I decided what better way to prevent that than reading something quick and easy like a comic book. ↓ Spoilers ↓ Review: ★★★★ The last volume wasn’t the best. It was a slow read. This volume, on the other hand, was a fantastic installment. I gave this book four stars. The series picked up the pace really quickly with the i

Review /Rereading: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy. He lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who are mean to him and make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. (Dudley, however, has two bedrooms, one to sleep in and one for all his toys and games.) Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed forever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard! The first book in the "Harry Potter" series makes the perfect introduction to the world of Hogwarts. Initial Thoughts: I have never re-read Harry Potter, EVER. I have great childhood moments with this series. For the past few months, I've been wanting to get back into the series, but it had never been the right moment. That was until I woke up a Decem

Review:  The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad. Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana—and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so ca