Bina and Austin have been best friends for as long as they can remember. But this summer, things are changing. Instead of hanging out and working on their Summer Fun Index like they do every summer, Austin is heading off to soccer camp and leaving Bina alone. At first this seems like the worst thing ever, but Bina gradually adjusts, and for a short time even finds an unlikely friend in Austin's older sister. Charlie lost her lifeguarding job due to breaking her arm, so she's in a similar boat as Bina: looking forward to a summer of boredom since all of her friends have jobs. The two girls may not be the same age, but they like the same music and get along pretty well. Things are great until Charlie puts Bina in a difficult situation and the two fight. And then Austin returns from soccer camp acting distant and strange. All Summer Long is a great summer read for any middle schooler, especially if you, like Bina, have friends leaving you behind while they go off to camp or vacation a grandma's. And if you enjoy Bina's story as much as I did, you may want to also read All Together Now, where Bina and some new friends start a band!

The book was Based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II—comes a story of two courageous women who risked everything to fight an evil they couldn’t abide. Was good but not one of my favorite reads

The lucky one A movie where a marine travels to Louisiana after serving in Iraq to search for an unknown woman who he believed was his good luck charm...He found her picture after one of his Marine buddies was killed and he believed carrying a picture bought him luck... he finally found the woman and found out that she was the sister of his body that was killed… Enjoyed watching this movie there were some ups and downs but other than that it had a good ending

 

A short and sweet coming of age memoir about Deaf identity, mixed race experience, and discovering one's gender identity. Don't expect deep commentary or twisting tales, Contiuum focuses more on the journey of introspection and finding one's people; and especially the experience of having marginalized identities that are not shared by biological family. Chella Man is transgender, genderqueer, Deaf, and mixed race; while their mother is cisgender, hearing, and white. Chella's mother quickly accepts Chella and finds ways to support them, which is a refreshing narrative for marginalized youth of many stripes.

Action-Packed.  Adventure. Thiller.  Violence.  Fast-Paced.  Powerful Visuals. Memorable Characters. More New Actors.

The 3rd Chapter of John Wick is bolder and more violent than its predecessor.  If you watched the 1st and 2nd Chapters you will not want to miss the 3rd.  Packed with action, fast hand fighting action, new faces and with some humor this is one you will truly enjoy. The fist-fighting skills and gun fights are on point. The fight battles will make you cringe. The little humor thrown into some scenes helps to smooth out some of the violence (because these movies are violent). Halle Berry was great and classy in her action scenes. Some of the characters after Wick in this film are interesting (The Bid Fat Sumo Guy...really)  I really enjoyed watching all three chapters of John Wick....can watch them all again back to back ....and waiting for Chapter 4 in 2022.

Action.  Adventure. Thiller.  More Violent Than The 1st . Fast-Paced. Intense,  Great Stunts. Great New Actors.

Usually a sequel is not as exciting as the original...but, not in this case.  This film take up where the 1st John Wick left off.  Keanu Reeves is just as awesome as he was in the first film.  His plan is to go back into retirement, but, not so.  Gangsters will not let him rest.  The violence is more intense then the first film. This second chapter was so fast-paced and exciting it leaves you waiting for the third installment.....which I'm about to watch.  Although, I am not the violent-loving movie type, I really enjoy watching John Wick take it to the crminals...maybe it's just Keanu Reeves (I've been a fan of his since Speed). This film is packed with action, Common and Lawrence Fishburne are extra bonuses for me. The film has a great ending leading up to Chapter 3.

Action. Adventure. Thiller.  Violence. Gangsters. Fast-Paced. Nail-biting Stunts. Good Acting. Revenge.

Keanu Reeves plays a retired hit man.  He is a awesome soft spoken character who means business.  He comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that killed his dog and stole his car.  The action is non-stop.  It's lots of blood and violence. The move was fast-paced and a sequel is definitely on the way. Overall, I think this was a pretty good action film worth watchig.

Climate change, history and murder will make your heart race when you read one of Clive Cussler's best: Arctic Drift. Who is killing Canadian explorers? Why are ships from the 1800's so important to solving climate change? Dirk Pitt and Al Giordano battle the evil and clever Clay Zak and Mitchell Goyette for the source and control of a rare and mysterious mineral in Canada. Who will find it first?

The Moor's Account is historical fiction written as a rebuttal of Cabeza de Vaca's famous account of being shipwrecked by the ill-fated Narvaez expedition (1527) and surviving with three others to wander for 8 years over 2000 miles in the desert wilderness of the New World.

Cabeza de Vaca has always been a hero of mine.  I've read excerpts of his book and was impressed at his transformation from a haughty conquistador to an acceptance and admiration for indiginous humanity.  All four traveled as healers and traders and were well recieved as they made their way through what is now the South Western part of the United States.

The novel is told from the point of view of Estabanico a Black Moorish slave, who receives scant mention by Cabeza de Vaca.  He is not impressed by Cabeza de Vaca, who comes across as calculating, more self serving than self sacrificing.  Estabanico is no saint.  In his former life he was a slave trader which he deeply regrets.

This is an action-filled, but also reflective tale of the collision of three cultures: Spanish, Moorish and indiginous. I highly recommend it to history buffs.

After the first three action-packed books in this third Wings of Fire story arc, The Dangerous Gift slows the pace a bit. The Pantalan dragons have reached the shores of Pyrrhia only to be turned away by the new Queen of the Icewings, Snowfall. Newly appointed to the position following the untimely death of her mother, Snowfall is fearful of making mistakes and desperately wants to be a good queen who protects her tribe. As she struggles to establish herself in this new leadership role, she decides to give herself a magical advantage by retrieving a long hidden enchanted bracelet from the Icewing treasury. But the bracelet doesn't seem to be working correctly. Snowfall starts having strange dreams, where she sees past, present and future events from the perspectives of several different dragons, hailing from both continents. These events seem connected, and are deeply troubling to Snowfall who gradually begins to realize she cannot stand by while innocent dragons' minds are taken over by an evil force, or lock herself away in her kingdom while other tribes are dying. This book offered a surprising twist because I didn't expect an Icewing to be the protagonist, or for the entire story to take place back in Pantala. But I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Snowfall on her journey of self discovery. It was also cool to find out more about Jerboa I and II, I've been so curious about that story. All in all, this was a great penultimate book and I can't wait to find out how this fantastic series ends!

A nice story. A women whose husband like to invent things came up with a product with the help of another guy. THere was a crash and her husband died. SHe was then raising 3 kids on her own and struggling. Her husband partner came to tell her the good news but there was a storm thet washed away the mailbox where he had put the envelope. She eventually finds out and thinks he was taking the credit for the invention and tells him to leave. It finally works itself out. A good movie

Romance. Comedy. Feel-Good. Heart-Warming. Touching. Good Acting. Chinese American Culture.

It's nice to see a film that shows other cultures dealing with the things that we seemly deal with all the time.  It goes to show people are the same whereever you go (rich or poor). I loved how the couple was so into each other and not concerned how their family felt about them.  This was a very colorful movie with beautiful actors and actressess. The costumes and the scenery were beautiful. The film has lots of relatable characters. Some scenes were really funny. The movie was heart-warming when it came down to people re-examining themselves and looking at someone else's feelings and point of review. This a good movie for a teen girl's sleepover.

This book is an easy, captivating read.  It takes place just after the Civil War in the Hill Country of Texas.

Benjamin Shreve, age 17, is ordered to write a testimonial letter to a circuit judge pertaining to the guilt of a man suspected of partaking in the hangings of 8 innocent men.  Benjamin came upon the crime scene while out hunting and witnessed the man, Clarence Hanlin, stealings items from the dead.  He did not see the actual hangings, but knows in his gut that Hamlin was involved in the murders.

Benjamin is an orphan.  He lives with his younger sister, Samantha, whose mother was a former slave.  When Sam was six she was attacked by a panther.  Her mother, Juda, was killed when she fought the big cat.  Sam survives, but her face is terribly scarred by the beast.  From that day on, Sam becomes obssessed with tracking down and killing the panther.  It turns out, the panther has a fearsome reputation and is known the Demonio or the Demon.

After a series of events, Sam gets her chance. She and Benjamin are accompanied by a kindly old preacher, a mysterious Mexican and an ancient, but relentless tracking dog.  However, the hunters become the hunted as they are tracked by the murderous Confederate, Hamlin.

Benjamin's letters to the judge are akwardly written and ungrammatical.  Yet, he is a vivid story teller in his plain spoken way.  If you are partial to Western historical fiction, such as True Grit or Lonesome Dove, this book is up your alley.

Drama. Romance. Comedy. Family. Emotional. Inspriring. Encouraging. Funny Characters. Touching. Survival.

This film deals with some sensitive issues, but, Tyler Perry always adds a way for you to look at the bright side.  The film has a touch of romance, but, it doesn't overwhelm the film.  The characters were funny and memorable (especially Mr. Brown}. The film touches on some everyday real life situations that at some time or another we may all go through.  It shows how family can come together in crisis to help each other survive. The movie was fun to watch. This is a film that the family can enjoy together.

Drama. Strong Acting.  Amazing Music. Feel Good. Funny. Upbeat. Comical. Emotional. Violence. Strong Language.

The late Chadwck Boseman did an awesome job as the legendary, Godfather Of Soul,  James Brown.  His walk, talk, attitude, singing and his personality shouts James Brown 100%.  I liked the way the film takes you through Brown's survival of a  life of abuse, abandonment, jail, drugs and other life challenges. Through it all he still became one of the most memorable musicians and entertainers of our time. I think it was a lot to try and put it all in one film.   The music in this film was upbeat and enjoyable... songs that you knew and could sing along too.  The supporting actors and actressess did a awesome job as well.  Some scene in the film are so funny you have to wonder..."did that really happen". It will have you laughing and crying at the same time.  I enjoyed this film and can watch it over and over.  Asides for the violence against women and the strong language the film was enjoyable.

Comedy. Action-Packed. Funny.

Another Cop-Buddy movie.  Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, however, are very funny together.  When Jimmy's (Willis) famed baseball card is stolen ..he recruits his buddy Paul (Morgan) to get it back....from gangsters.  This movie is hilarious, fast moving, action packed and kind of predictable. The combination of action and comedy made it fun to watch.  Morgan facial expressions are always winners.

A musical based on the newsboy strike of 1899. The newsboys were being exploited by their bosses. They formed a union and went on strike. A good movie about the history that has happened, 

Comedy.  Hilarious. Funny Characters.  Action Packed.  Feel Good.   Awesome Acting.  Fun To Watch. Strong Language.

This buddy-cop movie was hilarious.  McCarthy and Bullock were great together...both very funny in their own way. Mcarthy is always funny in her film, but, I love the way Sandra Bullock is so versatile in roles that she play.  They have a love/hate relationship in this movie.  They are quick thinking in the action scenes....one being professional and the other just working on gut feelings.  Although, they are primarily different, they have the same goal in mind...." get the bad guys'.  The bar scene is so funny....wait for it.  This movie is really funny if you can get pass McCarthy's foul language.

 

 

a movie where there’s a comet heading for the earth and as fragments fall it starts burning cities and countries and destroying them. A few select are chosen to go to Greenland. One family is turned away because their son has diabetes. The rest of the movie shows what they go through to try to get to Greenland. Not a bad movie enjoyed watching this.

Funny Characters.  Hilarious. Feel-Good. Silly. Girly Movie.

Thanks to the wedding party this marriage is on a downward spiral before it begin.  With girlfriends like Annie's who need enemies. I think it's pretty much a movie about growing up and moving on, but , still to be friends forever. The movie heals some wounds, restores some hurt feelings and confesses some secrets..   I loved this movie because the multiple awkward incidents were so funny.  Great for a group of girlfriends or bridesmaid to watch together.