MISS PICKEL'S PICKS

  I haven’t updated my blog in so long - I’ve been in a little of a reading slump and very much in a writing slump. But I’ve read a few really good books lately and I want to talk about them! The first one is Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet. The title and the cover drew my attention right away - of course I love the pink cover! The book is based on the classic novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. My mother was a librarian and she really wanted me to read Little Women when I was young, but I wouldn’t. I didn’t like sad books (I still don’t) and as soon as I heard that one of the sisters, Beth, dies at the end I refused to read it. In Little Women Beth dies from an illness, but in this modern retelling she is murdered. I love mystery/thrillers and I also love retellings, so I figured this would be the perfect book for me. And it was! The story grabbed my attention right from the start. It’s told in alternating chapters by the four March sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy. Their father ...

  If you love Freaky Friday this book is for you! This is a funny, fast-paced story about Ellie and her scientist Grandpa, who turns himself into a kid and has to attend her middle school. This book was laugh out loud funny; I thought Grandpa Melvin was hilarious, especially the way he complains about "kids these days" while being one himself! I really liked the family dynamics between Ellie, her mom, and her grandfather; they bicker sometimes, but they truly care about each other. This book is the perfect mix of humor, science, and heart and I definitely recommend it!

  This book was so good! It's told from the perspective of four teens: twins Addison and Mason, their cousin Natalia, and their soon to be stepbrother Theo. They are all gathered in a luxury resort in Cancun to celebrate the engagement of Addison and Mason's mom to Theo's dad. Addison, Mason, and Natalia used to be really close until The Incident three years ago. Since then they have barely talked and they all arrive in Cancun harboring their own secrets. Theo feels like the ultimate outsider, trying to navigate this new family as the relatives are avoiding each other. The book is told in alternating chapters from the four main characters' points of view and as the reader you slowly learn about their family dynamics and the secrets everyone is keeping. I loved the multiple viewpoints and the way the story unfolded; I felt like the pacing was perfect! I also enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Natalia's little sister Mia. The beach setting was also great an...