Stats:	3.5 stars: 6 books
Total books: 27	3 stars: 10 books
Children’s/Middle Grade Fiction: 19	2.5 stars: 1 book
Memoirs: 7	Re-reads: 6
High School Fiction: 1	New books: 21
5 stars: 0 books	Physical books: 2
4.5 stars: 3 books	eAudiobooks: 24
4 stars: 7 books	eBook: 1

2025 was an interesting year of books… I read 27 books, most of which were children’s or middle grade fiction books, and most were eAudiobooks. I am going to highlight a few of the books and series I read.

Andrew Clements books

I read eight Andrew Clements books this year, mostly in January and February. To start the We the Children series, which was pretty good. We the Children (4.5/5), Fear Itself (3/5), The Whites of Their Eyes (3.5/5), In Harms Way (4/5), and We Hold These Truths (3.5/5)

• This book series is almost like National Treasure for kids with lots of history, breaking rules, and trying to not get caught or run into the bad guys. The ending of the first book keeps you engaged to want to read the next book immediately. The hidden compartments and discovering new places in the school were fun to imagine. Overall, I think the series could have been shortened to three books, and I wish the Lyman and Wally characters had been cut completely. Ben, the main character, was a sweet guy, and it is great to see how Clements highlights kids working together, being curious and interested in history, and having integrity. The books were slightly scary, and I think some things would have been different in the real world.  
• Extra Credit (4/5) was a good read. It was interesting and it was awesome to learn about another culture. I think there was one area where the author took it too far, but overall, it was a good book.
• The School Story (3/5): Gee, I wish it was that simple to get a book published. But even if your mom works at a publishing house, you will need your book to be reviewed, edited, read by lawyers, and undergo a lot more which would cause it to be released in 1-2 years after submittal. The story didn’t captivate me that much.
• Frindle (3/5): The story that launched Clements into the spotlight. It was a good story, and it was interesting. But the teacher 100% knew what she was doing when she banned the word. In my opinion, Things Not Seen is much better and Clements’s best book by far.

Memoirs:

Still Lolo by Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spriggs and family (4.5/5) was one of my highest rated books of the year; it was incredible. The story of a relatively ordinary girl going through normal life experiences with family, friends, and school until she has an accident that gains media attention. I loved the narrators voice (not narrated by Spriggs herself), and I feel like she captures the voice this beautiful, gentle, intelligent, and virtuous woman. The story was gripping and captivating, and I still think about some of the stories she shared. She is so brave, and to have written it so soon after her accident with such clarity and reflectivity is inspiring. I also loved how her family shared their experiences too so the reader could get a more complete picture of the of the story. The testimony of faith was beautiful to read about. Truly an amazing read; I highly recommend!

Be Ready for When the Luck Happens by Ina Garden (3/5) was a pretty good book. I loved how she talked about meeting her husband, traveling Europe with him, and how supportive he was of her. Her life follows a path that is not for me, but if you are curious about it, it is a good read.

Semi-well Adjusted Despite Literally Everything by Alyson Stoner (3.5/5): If you liked I’m Glad my Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy, you will probably like this book. Stoner and McCurdy’s stories are similar, unfortunately, with the troubled home life, acting thrust upon by their mothers, endless grind of auditions, rejections, and tabloids, eating disorders, and money problems. Stoner is intelligent, reflective, poised and her writing is eloquent, poetic, and gripping.

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (3/5): Confession, I do not Emily Gilmore, like at all! Kelly Bishop seems like a wonderful person though! It was cool to hear about her young adult life when she was starring in A Chorus Line and dancing. She does not tell many stories that resonated with me, and she doesn’t talk about Gilmore Girls a ton, but it was a good book.

The Deaf Girl by Abigail Heringer (4/5): I loved this memoir. I have never seen The Bachelor, but I loved hearing about Abigial Heringer’s story. She writes with poise, understanding, and heart. I love everything she has to say about disability and cochlear implants. It was joy tot read about her experiences and learn more about the deaf community.  

The House of my Mother by Shari Franke (3.5/5): This book is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching, but Franke writes with intelligence, grace, and truth. Since Shari Franke and I are about the same age, hearing her talk about middle school and certain tween experiences was relatable. Hearing her talk about her family dynamics and abuse was not, thankfully. She is well-spoken and has done a lot of work on her healing journey.  

Unseen by Molly Burke (3/5): I have been watching Molly Burke on YouTube for probably 10 years and am a big fan. I liked this memoir, but as a long-time follower, I had heard about 60% of the stories shared in this book. I did enjoy the new details and her perspective on her career, success, and living with a disability in the public eye.

The Gilda Joyce series

I started rereading Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator (4/5) on a plane ride and I was like, wow, this book is so funny, I love it! As an adult now, the scary mystery is less scary, and the hilarious shenanigans are even more enjoyable. Gilda is hilarious, and I love how she inserts herself into any conversations and says what we are all thinking even if it’s a bit rude. The first book is great, and the second book, Gilda Joyce: The Ladies of the Lake (4.5/5) is amazing! I find stories set at all-girls schools very compelling, apparently. I do think the book could have been cut shorter, but I love hearing from the side characters’ perspectives randomly. The third book, Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata (3/5) is okay. It is a little long and in-your-face, but I liked the setting and hearing about the competition and the other contestants. The fourth book, Gilda Joyce: The Dead Drop (3.5/5) is enjoyable. I love the Spy Museum element, and her roommate was a fun character. Some of it is a little hokey and far-fetched.  But, overall a great set of books! I still need to read the fifth book, so hopefully in 2026 I can.

I hope this gives you some ideas for your next read! Happy Reading!