How I Came Across It...
*Before my summer cruise, I was looking for a novel to bring with me. I can't remember where I came across this title, but found the reviews to be full of high praise and great ratings. I bought myself a physical copy and have been reading the story off and on during the summer of 2025.What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know...
*This story takes place during the Syrian Revolution.
*Salama went to school to become a pharmacist before the unrest in her country.
*As she continues her volunteer work at the hospital, she finds herself taking on more and more responsibility to help all of the victims of the civil war.
*When she is given the opportunity to escape Syria for Germany, she is torn between staying and helping her country, and getting herself and sister-in-law to safety.
*The the war escalates, she knows it is time to make some life-changing decisions.
What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections...
*The story was well written, the characters were well developed, and the action was non stop.
*I didn't remember a lot about his revolution, so I found it interesting and fascinating to read about the conflict in Syria.
*Salama was a strong, independent, and courageous young girl who drove the story forward.
*There were several emotional scenes throughout the story and I felt like I was right there there in the middle of everything.
*I always enjoy fiction stories that are engaging, but also to teach me a new thing of two. This novel definitely did that.
Who Should Read It...
*I believe this novel is marketed as young-adult, but I think both the adult reader and the young-adult reader would be perfect for the story. Historical fiction lovers would also be ideal for the novel. Happy Reading!
How I Came Across It...
*This middle-grade novel came to me via Penguin Random House/Penguin Workshop. I did a bit of online research about the title, and after reading many positive reviews, I decided to read this book right away.What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know...
*Adam, who is living in a world near London, has a job to deliver goods across town and to another "world".
*On one of his deliveries, he comes across some danger, and is surprised to be rescued by a magical Tyger.
*The Tyger needs helps and Adam decides he wants to be the one to help him.
*With the help of his friend, Zadie, they set out to help the Tyger find the guardians who can open a world that has been closed off by the rich sector.
*The two characters work together to help make their world better for the people who are not treated as they should be.
What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections...
*This was quite a different type of story, but I was drawn into it and surprised how much I enjoyed it.
*The characters of Adam and Zadie drove the story and I so enjoyed reading about them and their quest to save the Tyger.
*There were some moments when I was a bit confused about what was happening, but I didn't let that distract me from the overall story.
*The writing was beautiful and the author did a wonderful job of describing the world in which Adam and the Tyger existed.
*Lot of important themes were presented throughout the story and would provide for great discussions.
Who Should Read It...
*I think this story would make for a strong class read aloud in grades four, five, and/or six. I think if individual readers were to take on this story, they should be in fifth grade or above. Happy Reading!
How I Came Across It...
*When I saw that Rebecca Stead had a new middle-grade novel coming out on September 16, 2025, I was quite excited. I was even more excited when I received an email from the Libro.FM app and Experiment was one of the free audio books I could download. Which I did and enjoyed the story during my summer walks. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know...
*From the outside, Nathan appears to be a typical sixth grade boy.
*He has kept a huge secret from the outside world, even from his best friend Victor.
*When his world at home is about change is great ways, Nathan decides it is time to share the family secret.
*Since an early age, Nathan knew his family was from another planet, and now they are being called back to the "mother ship" and Nathan isn't sure why.
*He tells his best friend Victor about the secret, and the two of them sent off on a quest to figure out what is the truth and what are the lies.
What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections...
*The audio was excellent and I was drawn into the story right away.
*I'm not normally a fan of science fiction, but this story didn't seem like the typical science fiction plot line.
*As I was listening, I kept thinking how young readers would think the "events" were actually happening in real life.
*The pacing of the plot was spot on and kept me interested during the entire listening experience.
*I know young readers will think the story is heading in one direction, and be quite surprised in the direction the story took.
Who Should Read It...
*As with other Rebecca Stead novels, this upcoming book would be perfect for readers in grades five and six along with all middle-school students. If you know of young readers who gravitate toward science fiction, this would be the perfect selection for them. Happy Reading!
