Update!

Hello everyone! Wow, it’s been a hot minute since I last checked in with y’all. If you haven’t seen it yet, I just posted a new book review on The Altitude Journals by David Mauro. It’s a truly incredible book and I highly recommend you go check it out!

Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve changed the format of my reviews! I recently joined a website called Online Book Club. This amazing website gives you free books in exchange for a thorough book review. Instantly, I knew I had to get back on my writing game with this website. My first book was the Altitude Journals, and I thought, “I bet my fellow book lovers would really enjoy this adventure too!” I knew I had to take you guys along for the ride. The format of the reviews changed a bit too, because Online Book Club asks for certain things in their reviews, and I thought that this format would provide you guys with a bit more information regarding the book.

Because this website also has special time requirements, I will be posting a lot more often! Sorry it’s been crickets from me for so long. I lost the passion that I felt for this blog when I got started, if I’m being honest. Hopefully I can continue to stay on my game.

Make sure to stay tuned for another excellent read coming your way soon! And thank you!

-Uniquely Hannah

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The Altitude Journals: A Seven Year Journey from the Lowest Point in My Life to the Highest Point on Earth

Written by: David Mauro

The Altitude Journals-A Seven Year Journey from the Lowest Point in My Life to the Highest Point on Earth is a story of self-discovery, redemption, and love. Born into an impoverished family, David Mauro struggles with his sense of purpose, and it is only after his marriage collapses as an adult does he start to change. As David starts his mountain-climbing journey, he is accompanied by many famous mountaineers who later become the truest friends he has ever had. And sending him on these quests is a voice David describes as his calling–he won’t go unless he is called. As he summits each difficult mountain, David learns something new about himself–and how he feels about others in his life. Through the support and unconditional love of his family, David strikes back against his depression and becomes the man he has always aspired to be. After all, conquering the 7 summits certainly beats becoming an Olympic athlete in axe-throwing. šŸ™‚Ā 

I would rate this book 7.5/10 stars. The Altitude JournalsĀ features a sense of hope in a broken character. His inspiring journey makes you want to leap up out of your seat and go do something to change the world. However, I did not give it 10 stars because I wanted more description of his personal life, and how he applied the lesson he had just learned on the mountain into his lifestyle.Ā Ā 

Photo by Zack Melhus on Pexels.com
David had to endure many different climates during his adventures.

This book featured intense profanity, though much of the cussing happened while David was on the mountains and it didn’t occur often.

I would recommend this book to audiences who want to be inspired and people who like nonfiction. In addition, if you are interested in learning about mountaineering or the summit of a difficult mountain such as Everest, this book is for you. And finally, I would recommend this book for people who are going through something tragic or just can’t seem to find the light in the day anymore–read this book about a man who went through the same thing, and watch how he transforms because of something he loves.

Photo by Pawan Yadav on Pexels.com
David learned more about himself through stunning and uninterrupted views like this.

This book was very well edited; I did not find a single grammatical error. What I liked most about this book was the way it made me feel at the very end. His unceasing joy seeped from the page into my fingertips, and I got to experience his remarkable journey from start to finish with this incredible man. What I like least about the book was the mountain of Elbrus. It didn’t hold my attention and felt rather bland to me.Ā Ā 

All in all, this unbelievable journey was well documented in a captivating book. With a review of 7.5/10 stars, I believe audiences of non-fiction and inspiration lovers would fall in love with this story. With the theme of new beginnings and redemption, this was a feel-good story.Ā The Altitude Journals is certainly worth your time.Ā The usual two links are below. Thank you so much for reading!

-Hannah

Purchase Altitude Journals on Amazon here:

Learn more about David Mauro here:

Salt to the Sea

Book by: Ruta Sepetys

Summary

A nurse, the head of a group of refugees, running for her life. A deserter, with a life once all planned out, running for his life. A young Polish girl, who was abused more than she was kept safe, running for her life. And a German soldier, faithful to his country and to his mission, hunting them all. These four are the product of the horrific world created by Adolf Hitler, a world where you could trust no one, a world where your race matters more than anything, and a war that turned everything upside down. Join Emilia, Florian, Joanna, and Alfred as they try to keep their secrets safe.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Reaction

Oh my goodness graciousness! What a book! This book was a romantic, haunting, and powerful story that will remind you of how much you have and how lucky you are. We often take so many things for granted, and I think its really refreshing to read narratives such as these. I have to admit, I read this book a little bit ago, but I can still remember almost everything in its plot because it was so memorable! If you like reading books by the author Alan Gratz, like I do, I would recommend this book for you!

Recommended Reading Age

I would definitely recommend this book for 13 and up. I read it at this age, and I thought it was the perfect time. World War 2 is a very controversial subject around the world, and I had just started getting into these types of books when I found Salt to the Sea. Again, I will say it is a very powerful and haunting book, so keep this in mind if you decide to read it.

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Seagulls were a prominent metaphor in Salt to the Sea.

Conclusion

Salt to the Sea is a book that displays characters who feel much fear, but who chose to be brave. It serves as a reminder about how lucky we are to be surrounded with all of our fortunes. And I donā€™t know how you yourself are doing, how your day is going, but if you read this book, I can tell you that you will never take your problems for granted again. The usual two links will be below (the link to buy this book on Amazon and the link to learn more about the author) and please have a fantastic rest of your day!

-your fellow book lover

Links

Find this book on Amazon here

Learn more about Ruta Sepetys here

Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels.com

The Young Elites

Written by Marie Lu

Kindness with no strings attached. This is all that Adelina Amouteru wishes for in her abused and dark life. She is a malfetto, a survivor of the blood fever that killed adults and gave some children strange powers, Adelina being one of them with powers. Abused and threatened by her father, Adelina runs, only to be received by the Daggers, an elite group of the malfetto children who want to fight back against unfair and biased treatment against themselves. When Teren, the head of the royal army, catches the only thing that Adelina has ever loved and turns her into a spy against her will, will Adelina spill the Dagger’s secrets to save what she loves most? Or will she fight back with her strange and strong power of illusion that does not belong in this world?

What a fantastic and daring read! Adelina is a thrilling bad girl who has been hurt all her life, but with the family that the Dagger’s provide her, her power truly blooms. It captivated me all the way until the end! Marie Lu captured a wounded and abused girl who is tired of the way life has kicked her to the ground, and made her into someone readers can love. This is definitely a must read!

Adelina struggles with who she truly is inside, and if that is good enough for anyone to truly love.

I would recommend this book for 12 year old’s and up. This is definitely a read that had violence and vivid descriptions, as well as a character who was not a positive influence. I would definitely recommend not toĀ  read this before bed, because it makes you want keep reading on and on!

The Young Elites is a fantastic book about finding who you truly are, appreciating your own life and the unique set of abilities that you have been given and using them for good. Once again, I apologize profusely for not publishing in a while; I will definitely try to be more consistent with my blog posts. As usual, the two links for purchasing this book on Amazon and learning more about the author are featured below. Take care and have a wonderful rest of your day!

-your fellow book lover

Links:

Amazon link here

Learn more about Marie Lu, the author, here

Happy Motherā€™s Day!

To all the beautiful and strong women out there…Happy Mother’s Day! We appreciate all that you do for us. You are always so kind and loving, and know exactly what to say. To my own mom…once again, thank you for all that you do. I love you so much! šŸ’• Have a great rest of your day, everyone, with the women who make your life special! Be on the lookout for a new read coming your way on May 15th! Cheerio!

About Books and Reading

Hey guys! Can you believe April is almost over? Crazy to think about right? I just wanted to post a little something about books to pick up your day and mine.

Books are an escape, something we can go to in times of need. Whenever I sit down to read, I’m able to take a deep breath and truly breathe. I love stories that make me cry, laugh, gasp, scream and love all at the same time. So I encourage you: for May, make a goal for yourself just to sit down and read once a day. Doesn’t matter what, for how long, or anything like that, just sit down and read. A lot of terrible stuff is going on in the world right now (if you look at the news, it’s super easy to get depressed) so I encourage you to escape in a book. Forget about all your problems and forget about the world for 10 minutes. I can promise you that you will so much more relaxed (unless you read a Stephen King book šŸ˜) and it will really pick your day up.

Remember these words of wisdom for this week and face whatever comes your way with a book. Now, I will leave y’all with a poem I absolutely love. I will talk to everyone soon (because is almost May 1st!!) and have a great rest of your week!

-your fellow book lover

I Opened a Book

by Julia Donaldson

I opened a book and in I strode,

now no one can find me.

I left my chair, my house, my road,

my town and my world behind me.

I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring

I’ve swallowed the magic potion.

I fought with a dragon, dined with a king,

and dived in a bottomless ocean.

I opened a book and made some friends,

I’ve shared their tears and laughter.

And followed the road with its bumps and bends

to the happily ever after.

I finished my book and out I came

the cloak can no longer hide me.

My chair and my house are just the same,

but I have a book inside me.

Happy reading!!! ā¤ļøšŸ“š

April Reads: Outwalkers

Outwalkers by Fiona Shaw

Summary

“They’re coming for you, Jacob Riley.” Jacob is a teenager who has been in the orphanage for six months. His parents passed away in a car crash, and Jacob was forced into the home, leaving his beloved dog Jet behind. He has three parts to his escape plan: get out of the orphanage, reunite with his dog and get to Scotland. The only problem is, the government has tagged everyone so that they know exactly where you are, always. And, since there is a huge wall keeping everyone in, getting into Scotland is not exactly easy. Desperate to escape, Jacob reunites with Jet and soon finds the Outwalkers: a local gang of kids who are trying to get to Scotland, same as Jake. They live by four simple rules: no technology, be outside, be hidden and the most important one: obedience to the gang. Jake joins the Outwalkers and feels like he is part of a family again. But will that last? Read the book to find more.

  • The cover page of Outwalkers taken by me.

My Review

Let me just start off by saying this: I absolutely loved this book. Definitely one of my top reads for 2019. The prominent theme of loyalty in this book was beautiful. I loved the way that Jet, the dog, and Jake, his boy, were always incomplete without each other near. I also loved that the author, Ms. Fiona Shaw, had a unique way of showing dialogue. Definitely check this book out to see how she does it and to read the book.

Recommended Reading Age

I would recommend this book for 13 and up. It was on the longer side, being 424 pages, but don’t let this scare you! Read it at your own pace. Also, there were some references and actions with drugs, but other than that, it’s a pretty clean read.

The Outwalker gang was trying to get to Scotland to claim their freedom.
Photo by Jamie McInall on Pexels.com

Conclusion

Outwalkers was a fasted-paced, action-packed and beautiful story about what it means to be a family. No matter where you come from, what you have done, or who you are, there will always be someone who accepts you as you are and loves you for that. It also shows us how beautiful it is to walk back from grief together. I challenge you to read this book and connect it to your own life. You definitely won’t regret it. As usual, the two links are below to purchase this book on Amazon and to check out the lovely author of the this book, Ms. Fiona Shaw. Happy reading everyone and don’t forget to check out the other April read!

-your fellow book lover

Hannah’s Grade: 9.5 stars out of 10

Purchase this book on Amazon here.

Learn more about Fiona Shaw here.

There is truly something magical about reading a good book.
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April Reads: The Supervillain and Me

The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas

Summary

How would you feel if your brother was the most famous superhero on the planet? Abby Hamilton knows what it’s like to deal with this in the bookĀ The Supervillain and Me. Not only is her brother Red Comet, teenage heartthrob who takes down bad guys, her dad is also a local celebrity. He is the caring and interested mayor who is just as big of a celebrity as her brother. Ever since her mother died, Abby has felt increasingly alone. Between her two famous family members, no one really has time for her until one day the new supervillain in town, Iron Phantom, saves her from an attempted mugging. Abby knows that she should not meddle in this business, especially if he is a villain, but her curiosity gets the better of her. As she gets to know the person behind the mask, Abby is left wondering how the supposed bad guys can actually be good. As the two team up to take down a new threat, Abby is faced with a decision: either be framed as a wanted criminal, or stand on the sidelines as her city falls apart. Read the book to find out more about these action-packed adventures.

The cover of The Supervillain and Me

My Review

A hero has truly arrived! This book was such a light-hearted and fun read. Though the middle was a little slow, this took me little to no time to read because of the overall action packed narrative. Abby was going through a lot in her life and all it took was the town’s newest supervillain to help her through it. This was definitely a book that I will have no problem reading over and over again.

Recommended Reading Age

I would recommend this book for 13 and up. Though it was a fun read and a unique story, there was profanity in it. I, however, usually just skip over these words and keep reading right on through. I recommend you do the same thing if you are nervous about reading this book because of the inappropriate language.

The Iron Phantom’s identity is a mysterious secret that Abby has a hard time figuring out in The Supervillain and Me.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Conclusion

The Supervillain and Me was a great story that had me guessing until the very end. Though it did have profanity, I loved the story and characters that the author created. I challenge you to read this book this month if you are looking for a book that won’t let you down, no matter how many times you read it. The two usual links are down below: one to purchase this book on Amazon and one to learn more about this author and her books. Great reads this month guys! Have a great April and I will see you in May! Cheerio!

-your fellow book lover

Hannah’s Grade: 9 starts out of 10

Link to this book on Amazon here.

Link to learn more about Danielle Banas here.

Have a great rest of your April everyone!
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New Reads Coming Soon!!

Well hello there! Can y’all believe that March of 2019 is almost behind us? I certainly can’t. Though this fact is sad, dry those tears quickly because on April 1st, two new reads are coming your way! That’s right…new material for you to dive into and enjoy. I have the privilege of seeing the musical Hamilton at the end of this month. In this spirit, a third book will be covered as a special edition. Get ready, get set, and be prepared to do some serious reading in April. Talk to y’all super soon!

-your fellow book lover

Happy Summer!

Well hello my devoted readers! It really has been too long since I talked to you last. This last month has been absolutely HETIC and I have barely been able to get a breath. However, I have some very exciting news! School has just ended for me, which means that new books will 100% be coming to you soon! I appreciate y’alls patience with me. Being expecting a lot of new books to read this summer! I will talk to you very very soon šŸ˜‰.

-your fellow book lover

Update

Hello everyone! I have a quick update for you on my book reviews. Unfortunately, I have been feeling sick as of late. Please do not worry, I am working through it, but for right know, I am going to postpone the book reviews until about midway through this month. Thank you so much for you patience. Read a good book for me! Talk very soon.

-your fellow book lover