https://arielaonthego.com/in-search-of-puffins-book-review/

I didn’t really know what to expect with this book. I think part of me half expected short stories, but I was treated to the next best thing. Real life memories of a woman who had just lost her husband. Her journey through grief, how she navigated that, and her fondest memories of her life. Firstly, when it comes to any nonfiction story or autobiography or memoir, I’ve heard critics say that “not everything is worthy of being in a book”, and these little moments that the author writes about can be… well, normal everyday moments. The guiding theme of this book is a walkthrough between stories of loss, light and flight. So the author carefully arranges her experiences and thoughts into memories. It’s a really sad book, but it’s so interesting. As a younger reader who has not experienced any of the things she has, it’s really a new world to me. I love opening myself up to what people older than me are saying. There are so many life lessons to be learned from those older than you. I find that in this book. Really, I find that it’s a wonderfully compiled recount of experiences, and how you can be broken into what feels like a million different pieces and still come out okay.

I think there are many different people that can relate to this book, find comfort in it, and really enjoy it. The writing is good, it’s interesting, every time I was reading this book I found myself reading multiple chapters at a time. I think this book is really interesting and meaningful for what it is. Not everyone can put out a story of their life and be brave enough to have people read it. This truly feels like a diary entry, where you are walked through her thoughts through every stage of life. It’s very interesting!

I would recommend this book to anyone who is going through a similar experience of losing a loved one, or anyone that likes to read memoirs and be opened up to the stories of other people.

At first, the title made me nervous about picking up the book, but looks like Lesley Crewe never fails to amaze me!

Death and Other Inconveniences by Lesley Crewe surprised me in the best way. From the very first piece, the book feels sharp, witty, and slightly uncomfortable, but that is exactly how it grasps my attention outside my comfort. Crewe looks at death not as something dramatic or far away, but as an awkward, everyday interruption that people quietly learn to live with.

Throughout the book, Crewe tells stories about people dealing with aging, loss, and the uncomfortable realities that come with knowing life is temporary. These situations are not dramatic or exaggerated, but they feel familiar and realistic. The characters face small disruptions, realizations, and moments of reflection that slowly reveal how death influences the way they live. This storytelling approach makes the book feel personal and relatable.

What I most enjoyed was the balance between humor and seriousness, which goes with every other book by Lesley Crewe. She knows how to make me smile, laugh, cry, think, and feel all at the same time.

I would recommend Death and Other Inconveniences to readers who enjoy thoughtful writing with a playful, dark sense of humor. The book doesn’t try to give clear answers or comfort. Instead, it simply invites you to think.

A Sure Cure for Witchcraft
By: Laura Best
Lilli is living in Germany and the year is 1752. People are starting to drift away from the notion that witches exist. Although Lilli’s Vater still believes in witches, that doesn’t stop her from hanging out with her Mutter’s friend Alisz. Alisz is a skilled healer with plants. In some people’s eyes Alisz skills can be seen as witchcraft. Alisz has been teaching Lilli how to be a healer since she was five years old. They both really enjoy spending time with each other. Lilli’s family is moving to the New World and she and Alisz are trying to keep their friendship together. 267 years later in 2019, a girl named Lilly is starting to experience dreams that feel very real which even have her friend Alice in them. Lilly is trying to figure out the meaning behind her new dreams. Are these present day friends linked to these girls of the past?
This was a good book. It was really interesting to see how knowledge about specific types of plants could be seen as witchcraft back then. I do wish we got to see more of “present day” Lilly but none the less I really enjoyed the book. I also liked how the author spelt words like mother and father as mutter and vater to subtlety show that past Lilli wasn’t speaking English. I rate this book a 4/5.

Goth Girl
By: Melanie Mosher
Fifteen year old Victoria (Vic) Markham is really into art. Growing up her Mom’s boyfriend, James, taught her how to paint. Since their breakup Vic’s mom has been disapproving of her artistic side! Her mom doesn’t realize but the breakup has also been hard on her. She decides to re-invent herself by changing her style and becomes interested in street art. One night while practicing her “street art” she gets caught by the police and is sentenced to community service. Together with some other kids who were also caught doing graffiti they have been asked to make a mural for the city. Can this misfit group of kids get their act together and pull out a masterpiece? Can Vic find herself while trying to help her and her mother through this troubling time?
I liked this book. It shows how some kids just need a little bit of freedom. It also shows how families and people have an assortment of different problems. I give this book a 4/5.

This book follows our main character Jeremy as he goes through his cancer journey as well as his dying journey. Throughout the book we meet Jeremy's soul, Jewel, as he is learning about heaven and saying goodbye to his family and friends.

I found this book very sad, but it also approached the topic of dying with ease and compassion for the reader. I think that while it was sad, it gave me a good idea of how to understand dying from multiple different perspectives. My favourite part was when Jeremy first meets Jewel!

I would recommend this book to older teens and adults because of the content that is in the book.