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Calling All Bookworms

Purple Star emoji 20 items
Books that are truly too good to put down!
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Animal Stories

I love animals and I also love reading about them!

 
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I consider this my top #1 dog story- Enzo, the dog, narrates the story- you'll laugh, cry, cheer and want to stay up all night reading it- Yep, I didn't go to bed until 4 AM!  +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Art of Racing in the Rain
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I didn't think he would survive the first chapter- A tiny kitten dropped in the return box of a library on a freezing night- Survive he did and was adopted by the library and won hearts everywhere- Terrific cat tale of his intriguing library life-  +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
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Warning: Do Not Read In Public- Parts were so funny it had me laughing hysterically, hence, the warning because people were staring at me- Anyone with dogs will relate to Marley's shenanigans and be shaking their heads-  +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
 
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I was literally holding my breath as I turned the pages- We all know the dedication of your dog is non-negotiable, they will do ANYTHING for you- Amazing story of a dog's devotion to what matters to her-  +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Rose in a Storm
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This is philosophy put in the hand's of a dog- And if I don't say so myself, he nails it! Most everybody wonders why they are here and to do what exactly? Let's look at that through a dog's perspective- Insightful and funny and verifies every creatur... +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
A Dog's Purpose
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A gripping and beautiful story of the bond between humans and animals- I had read many stories of boys and their dogs but a boy and his elephant? By the end, I wanted to ask for an elephant for my birthday-            +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived
 
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Just how far would you go for your dog? After all, they are family- Champ was dubbed the “furry fugitive” as his family goes on the run after he is accused of biting a neighbor- Definitely a roundabout murder mystery! Me? I would have done what the L...      +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done
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Beautiful memoir as the author tries to deal with the sudden death of her Father- She decides to train a goshawk, which is one of nature's most difficult predators. The intense training of the hawk becomes a way for her to work through her grief- I f...     +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
H Is for Hawk
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This is a timeless classic- I first read this when I was ten years old and return to it again and again- You don't have to be a horse lover or a kid, this will stand out because Farley captures the magic of the relationship between a boy and a horse ... +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Black Stallion
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Very captivating story filled with action, adventure & romance- The story of Jacob’s life in a Depression era traveling circus- The vivid descriptions of the people and animals and their experiences will have you laughing & crying- Some parts...                                 +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Water for Elephants
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When Lily’s health takes a turn for the worse, Ted will do anything to save her- I found this to be hilarious & heartbreaking at the same time- Really defines what it means to love a dog in a very moving way-  +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Lily and the Octopus
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So bittersweet & I loved reading from a cat's perspective- A great deal to be learned about friendship, love, family and relationships from this story- It is a journey neither Satoru nor Nana will ever forget- Neither will I-                +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
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A solitary life in the natural world shifts through an unusual friendship with a fox- The fox teaches Catherine that she is never alone when she is connected to the natural world- I appreciated the deep attention to the fox's presence-    +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship
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Banned Books

Guilty as charged! I've been known to read a banned book from time to time…Here are books that have been exposed to controversy and censorship- Decide for yourself whether these titles should have received that negative attention-

 
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Banned/Challenged reasoning? It seems that several words and phrases (for example, "hell" and "damn") were deemed inappropriate and/or objectionable- I found this to be both fascinating and scary- What society would burn books and destroy knowledge? ... +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
Fahrenheit 451: A Novel
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Banned/Challenged reasoning? Not only does the novel discuss racial issues in the South, but the book involves a White attorney, Atticus Finch, defending a Black man against rape charges (and all that such a defense entails)- The story follows Scout ... +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
To Kill a Mockingbird
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Banned/Challenged reasoning? The book was thought to include material which would “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.” Unforgettable, heartbreaking story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant- Set in ... For me, this account touched on family, friendship, betrayal and salvation in a powerful way-  +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Kite Runner
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Banned/Challenged reasoning? This book was banned for passages that were considered "sexually offensive," as well as for the tragic nature of the book, which some readers felt was a “real downer.” Her diary entries provide a genuine account of the ch... +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Diary of a Young Girl
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Banned/Challenged reasoning? Frequently banned for profanity and rebellion- Holden Caufield leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days- Caught up in Holden’s world, I could understand his frustrated &a...                  +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Catcher in the Rye
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Banned/Challenged reasoning? Objected to for being “too philosophical” or “encouraging regretful thinking”- If I had made different choices at any point in my life, my experiences would have varied greatly- But what if you had the chance to go to the...                            +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Midnight Library
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Banned/Challenged reasoning? The story plot "normalizes manipulation and deceit”- It's a thrilling murder mystery concerning the guests who gather for a wedding at a remote island-  This will keep you guessing until the very end- I never saw it ending as it did!          +BOOKSHELF APPROVED
The Guest List: A Novel
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