Sara Reads Things

  Title: Nocturne By: Alyssa Wees Genre: Historical Fantasy Pages: 240 Release Date: February 21st, 2023 Publisher: Del Rey Rating: ★★★★★   Summary from Goodreads: In this haunting, lyrical fantasy set in 1930s Chicago, a talented ballerina finds herself torn between her dreams and her desires when she's pursued by a secretive patron who may be more than he seems. Growing up in Chicago’s Little Sicily in the years following the Great War, Grace Dragotta has always wanted to be a ballerina, ever since she first peered through the windows of the Near North Ballet Company. So when Grace is orphaned, she chooses the ballet as her home, imagining herself forever ensconced in a transcendent world of light and beauty so different from her poor, immigrant upbringing. Years later, with the Great Depression in full swing, Grace has become the company's new prima ballerina—though achieving her long-held dream is not the triumph she once envisioned. Time and familiarity have tarnished tha...

  Title: The Ask and the Answer By: Patrick Ness Genre: SciFi Pages: 553 Release Date: May 4th, 2009 Publisher: Candlewick Rating: ★★★☆☆   Summary from Goodreads: We were in the square, in the square where I'd run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her - But there weren't no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men... Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode... "The Ask and the Answer" is a tense, shocking and deeply moving novel of resistance under the most extreme pressure. This is the se...

  Hello Sunday! September is ending already and I'm surprised the weather is still mild here in the PNW. While I say that thought, the rest of the world is on fire. My heart breaks. This weeks read is The Children of Men by P.D. James. I've seen this movie, and didn't know it was a book until now. Lets see how accurate the movie really was. Lets get to this weeks menu. Enjoy! WEEKLY MENU Monday Ground Beef Tacos Kids - Cheese Quesadillas   Tuesday French Toast   Wednesday Baked Sage Chicken Meatballs Kids - Chicken Nuggets and Biscuits   Thursday Toquilla Lime Grilled Chicken Club Kids - Chicken Nugget Sliders   Friday Sausage Potato Soup Kids - Chicken Nuggets and Tater T ots   Saturday Memphis BBQ Grazing Board   Sunday Leftovers Night

  Hello Sunday! What a week. It seemed like every single person in my family had a tough time making it through their day. It wasn't just me. Lets recap the week on the blog, maybe that will cheer me up. Sunday Confessions #165 ~ Weekly Menu #473 And The Book Of The Week ~ Book Review: The Witch and the Tzar ~ Book Review: My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart ~ 4 Books Every Autism Parent Should Read Weekly Menu #474 And The Book Of The Week ~ Book Review: The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness ~ Book Review: Nocturne by Alyssa Wees ~ Sunday Confessions #167 Still working through all the books that were suggested to me for my autistic kids. I think this is the last one I have.  Tiny Dancer by Elton John You have to try this sheet pan pancake by Lilly at InstruPix . If you have a large amount of family to feed, this will save you time and its delicious.  My youngest who happens to be the pickiest eater you will ever meet, who generally will only touch a roll and piece of ch...

  If you've been following my story, you know I have three autistic children. I love them to death, but everyday is a new adventure. Over the summer we really had a breakthrough in our communication, which I've found to be key with autistic people in general. A lot of our communication wins have come from the books I'm about to share with you. I'm hoping by sharing my experiences, so other parents and people who come in contact with neurodivergent individuals have a little more info under their belts. Here we go. Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids by  Mona Delahooke From a leading child psychologist comes this groundbreaking new understanding of children's behavior, offering insight and strategies to support both parents and children. Nominated for Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel H. Pink's Next Big Idea Club Over her decades as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Mona Delahooke has routinely...

  Title: My Shadow is Purple By: Scott Stuart Genre: Picture Book Pages: 32 Release Date: June 15th, 2022 Publisher: Larrikin House US Rating: ★★★★★ Summary from Goodreads: My Dad has a shadow that’s blue as a berry, and my Mom's is as pink as a blossoming cherry. There’s only those choices, a 2 or a 1. But mine is quite different, it’s both and it’s none. A heartwarming and inspiring book about being true to yourself and moving beyond the gender binary, by best-selling children's book creator Scott Stuart.     Add on Goodreads   Review: This is a glorious read! I loved every little thing about this book. Scott Stuart has a wonderful rhyming voice and a powerful story of gender identity and acceptance. I wish this book had been around when I was a kid, but am so glad its here now. The art is incredible and help bring life to the story. An powerful read.

  Title: The Witch and the Tsar By: Olesya Salnikova Gilmore Genre: Fantasy Pages: 432 Release Date: September 22nd, 2022 Publisher: Ace Rating: ★★★★★   Summary from Goodreads: In this stunning debut novel, the maligned and immortal witch of legend known as Baba Yaga will risk all to save her country and her people from Tsar Ivan the Terrible—and the dangerous gods who seek to drive the twisted hearts of men. As a half-goddess possessing magic, Yaga is used to living on her own, her prior entanglements with mortals having led to heartbreak. She mostly keeps to her hut in the woods, where those in need of healing seek her out, even as they spread rumors about her supposed cruelty and wicked spells. But when her old friend Anastasia—now the wife of the tsar, and suffering from a mysterious illness—arrives in her forest desperate for her protection, Yaga realizes the fate of all of Russia is tied to Anastasia’s. Yaga must step out of the shadows to protect the land she loves. As ...