Action. Drama. Suspenseful. Intense. Good Ending. Gripping Scenes. Good Cast.

Russell Crowe was very calm throughout this movie. He held your interest while you tried to figure out his next move. Elizabeth Banks was very good as well. Liam Neeson had a short but memorable role. The movie had just enough action and not too much violence or foul language.  This movie started out a little slow but built up well as it went on.  The ending was clever and unexpected.

FABLE by Adrienne Young is a YA fantasy novel about seventeen-year-old Fable, the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, who at fourteen gets abandoned on an island, Jeval, by her father after his ship sinks and Fable’s mother dies. She is left on Jeval with thieves and little food. To survive, she can’t trust anyone and must rely on the skills her mother taught her. What keeps her going is the goal to get off the island to find her father and demand a place beside him and his crew. When her father left her, she promised him not to tell anyone he is her father and he makes a promise to her if she ever gets off Jeval. After raising enough copper, Fable gets off the island and ends up becoming a passenger on a ship run by West, a young trader, to get off the island and across the Narrows to find her father.

This was a fun novel to read and it taught me so much about life living on a ship. Fable is such a likeable and strong character. The crew on West’s ship are fun characters, and the world itself is just explained so beautifully. FABLE is about a novel where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world that is built for men. I admire Fable, and I think a lot of teens reading this will, also! A lot happens in this book, like deadly storms or kidnapping, but you are always going to want to stay for the ride to see what happens next. FABLE ends on a cliffhanger and I am so excited to read the next book in the duology, NAMESAKE. I recommend this book for teens 14+ as it focuses on bravery, survival, a father/daughter relationship, trust, and finding who you truly are and where you truly belong.

Adrift, starring Shailene Woodley (The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent) and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games, Me Before You) is about Tami Oldham (Woodley) who since she was eighteen, decided to travel the world. She ends up in Tahiti where she meets Richard Sharp (Claflin), a sailor, and they both end up falling in love. They decide to take a trip on the boat, but end up in Hurricane Raymond, which destroys the boat. Based on a true story in 1983, Tami and Richard have nothing else to do but survive.

This movie did a really good job telling this story. The only problem I had with it was that it didn't feel like a story based in the 80's, but other than that, this was a beautiful story that I feel not many people talk about. I would have liked to see more of Tami and Richard's relationship before the storm and their survival, but I understand we saw the amount we did because a film is only roughly two hours long. However, I think Woodley and Claflin did a great job showing their survival through hunger, hallucinations, sunburn, and dehydration. I can't imagine the challenges these actors had to face filming this movie, but they ended up putting on a great film. It will definitely tug at your heartstrings but I do recommend watching this Adrift.

Comedy. Family Film. Heartwarming. Motivating. Spirit-filled. Fun to Watch. Great Soundtrack. Memorable Characters. Friendly Competition.

Whoopi Goldberg returns as Sister Mary Clarence to teach a group of rowdy teenagers respect and music.  She enter them into a choir comptetion to raise money to save the school from closing. This sequel is not quite as funny as Sister Act 1 but it had lots of funny scenes. The characters are hilarious and the soundtrack is great.  Fun for the whole family to watch and enjoy.  This is a feel good movie,

Comedy. Family Film. Heartwarming. Motivating. Spirit-filled. Fun to Watch. Great Soundtrack. Memorable Characters. .Uplifting

I liked the storyline: A lounge singer hiding out in a convent for witness protection  (who would think to look there). Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg) brings new life into the church when she joins the choir. She teaches the nuns some new moves.  Over all the movie is very funny and family friendly. The music is a big highlight..it will have you singing along (if you know the songs).  The movie was comical and fun to watch. I recommend it for a family watch night.

LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds, a YA novel in verse, was made into a graphic novel illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff. I love graphic novels that are originally from novels, and this one didn’t disappoint! The art was gorgeous and helped bring a new touch to a really great story. LONG WAY DOWN is one of my favorite books, and to see it come to life through Novgorodoff’s illustrations made the story feel even more real and powerful and beautiful.

Will’s older brother, Shawn, has been killed. There are three rules that you need to follow, and that’s 1) No crying. 2) No snitching. 3) Revenge. Will learned these from Shawn, and he decides he is going to do follow them and get revenge because he swears he knows who the killer is. The next day, he goes into the elevator and on each floor, someone connected to his brother gets on. He learns the truth about his and his brother’s past. His decision is made harder when he is asked: What if you don't shoot the right person? What if you're wrong on who killed Shawn? Are you sure you want to do this?

I could always see this story so vividly in my head, and all the right parts that needed to be illustrated were included in the graphic novel. To tell a story that is just an elevator ride is a true talent and Reynolds does it so well while taking a look at teenage gun violence.

Jason Reynolds is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve met him in person. He told me to not forget him when I’m famous. I’m just in awe of his work, and I even told him that I hope to do for readers what he does for then. For all teens 13+, go read LONG WAY DOWN and then this graphic novel! It was so great to be reintroduced to such a good story after reading LONG WAY DOWN three years ago.

This is a graphic novel about the Japanese American internment camp experience. Kiku Hughes draws with facts from her own history, as a Yonsei. Displacement as a book contains a mix of fact, fiction, fantasy and history. Kiku never met her grandmother who died before she was born, she writes though with incomplete family history from her mother. This is a similar experience for people within a diaspora who settle to live in the United States.

The book begins with Kiku going with her mother to visit San Francisco where her grandmother used to live, prior to the internment camp period for the Japanese Americans during WW2. What happens next is fantasy as Kiku time travels and basically spends an unknown period in the past at the time when her grandmother was at the internment camp with her parents. The book goes on and ends with parallels about the Japanese American WW2 camps with Trump presidency’s detention camps at the southern United States border.

Though this book is short, there are bittersweet moments, because with history there is always the issue of sadness and a feeling of "what if." I wondered what happened to characters beyond the one character that Kiku “befriended” as with the instances for where there were Japanese in the book, there were no translations, so unless you read Japanese, readers are left to wonder what was it that was written in the book?   

This is a graphic novel about the Japanese American internment camp experience. Kiku Hughes draws with facts from her own history, as a Yonsei. Displacement as a book contains a mix of fact, fiction, fantasy and history. Kiku never met her grandmother who died before she was born, she writes though with incomplete family history from her mother. This is a similar experience for people within a diaspora who settle to live in the United States.

The book begins with Kiku going with her mother to visit San Francisco where her grandmother used to live, prior to the internment camp period for the Japanese Americans during WW2. What happens next is fantasy as Kiku time travels and basically spends an unknown period in the past at the time when her grandmother was at the internment camp with her parents. The book goes on and ends with parallels about the Japanese American WW2 camps with Trump presidency’s detention camps at the southern United States border.

Though this book is short, there are bittersweet moments, because with history there is always the issue of sadness and a feeling of "what if." I wondered what happened to characters beyond the one character that Kiku “befriended” as with the instances for where there were Japanese in the book, there were no translations, so unless you read Japanese, readers are left to wonder what was it that was written in the book?   

Drama. Action. Romance. Suspense. Love/Hate Relationships. Thriller. Awesome Soundtrack.

Kevin Costner's acting has always been unmatched. He is a very good actor. Whitney Houston's acting, singing, and charming persona is astonishing as well. This was very nice for Whitney's debut acting role. I believe it  was easy for her because for the most part she was exactly playing herself. If you are a fan of Whitney Houston's music you will love this film.  The characters are memorable.  I would watch this again and enjoy it.

What a timely nonfiction book that is avaliable in print and in digital. I read the digital version of this book, but this book is avalaible as a paper title. Drawing the Vote has content can be pretty dry, but is a book with a heartful and important message. Voting is an undeniable right as an American citizen, though there are points of American history that would mean either the repression or uplifitng for a right to vote. Graphic novels is in my opinion an easier to stomach book that just reading text. This book listed out in linear historical order American voting milestones, what is electoral collage, when and who were able to vote, just as when specific laws were enacted to supress voting and various historical periods in the United States history. This book goes up to Election of 2016. 

This movie kept me jumping. talk about  bad day and road rage. I will never beep at the person infront of me again. from start to finish this movie kept me jumping

A former DEA moves to a quiet town with his daughter. Someone recognizes who he is and lets the man who's son was killed know. He then sends people to try and kill him. Its an action packed movie that I enjoyed watching. Would definetely watch again.

After her alcoholic father goes to jail, 12-yr-old Cady Bennett must leave foster care in San Diego to live with an estranged aunt in the obscure mountain town of Julian. Cady doesn't know the particulars of the family's estrangement (she finds out later), nor does she know how to respond to Aunt Michelle and her partner, Suzanne, who give her the stability, a pretty room (her mother's), love, and a wholesome natural environment which she has never experienced. Cady gradually unwinds, learns to trust, make friends, heal her emotional scars, and save her Aunt's failing pie business. A fan of baking shows, Cady wants to learn how to bake. Aunt Shell's unfailing patience and discipline in teaching Cady how to bake, tempered by Suzanne's sweet indulgence, transform a damaged recalcitrant pre-teen into a lovable and responsible girl. Cady marshals the help of the townspeople to save Aunt Shell's business by developing her own pie recipes to add to the shop's menu. Wonderful book, true to life characters. Latino interest. Illegal aliens, undocumented workers. Great recipes for pies, Lady Baltimore Cake, Tres Leches Cake, icing ,and gluten free crust included. Attractive cover. Must read! Double-thumbs up! Gr. 5 and up. Marianne Bucci, Head, Children's Dept., NER

Drama. Suspenseful. Thriller. Violent. Crime.

The movie is full of tension from the very beginning.  The actors are strong and convincing. Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson worked well together.  Elba looked the part of a bad guy. He was very effective (simply evil). Taraji never have a problem with keeping up with any of her leading men  She is always quick and on point with her responses( but a little too naive in this film). This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you like fast-paced suspense this movie is for you.  I enjoyed this movie.

Watched the Matilda with my grandson. Forgot how much I enjoyed this movie. A story of a gifted girl who has a special power. She uses her power for good. Nice family movie.

It all started when Chess, Emma and Finn Greystone found out about those kidnapped kids from Arizona.  Because they weren’t just any kids.  They were kids who shared the Greystone’s exact birth dates.  Kids who, strangely, were also named Rochester, Emma and Finn.  Kids whose mom looked like she could be their mom’s twin sister.  And once their mom read about these mystery kids, things began spiraling out of control, leaving the three young Greystones confused and scared.  Mom began acting unusual, saying and doing things that didn’t make sense.  Then she had hastily left them in the care of a woman they had never even met, and taken off on a “business trip.”  It didn’t take Chess, Emma and Finn long to realize that what was supposed to be an important last minute business trip might actually be something entirely different, maybe even something extremely dangerous.  And their mom most likely would never be returning unless they had the courage to find and save her.    

Get a glimpse into the minds of fun-loving second grader Finn, problem-solving fourth grader Emma, and overprotective big brother Chess as they team up with an unlikely friend to solve the mystery of what happened to their mom.  Embark on a trip to another version of the world where an evil regime controls inhabitants through their sense of smell.  Race against time with Chess, Emma and Finn as they attempt to rescue their mom from certain death at the hands of a judge, who looks exactly like their new babysitter, and her cult-like navy-and-orange clad soldiers from another dimension.

I was drawn into this story right from the start, and the suspenseful, action-packed plot made me never want to put the book down.  After I finished I knew I immediately had to get my hands on book two, which I am currently reading now!  This first book in Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Greystone Secrets series will not disappoint her fans, or any fans of mystery and science fiction for that matter.  I would recommend this book to readers in fourth grade up through middle school.  It is currently available in print, ebook and audio formats.  

This album won 5 Grammy Awards. Check it out.

This is John Legends' second album.

Here is a Michael Jackson biography written by a former editor of Rolling Stone.

Recommended.