The Stolen Queen

The Stolen Queen, by Fiona Davis

6/60 | Started 01.22.26 • Finished 01.30.26 | 3.5 stars

While I would admit to this being a page-turner of sorts, I found that it was a little too "neat" for me. Just for one case in point - when Annie decides she's going to follow Charlotte to Egypt, she grabs her passport. Was that a common thing in the late 70s for people to have their passports? Especially a young girl who'd never been anywhere and due to economic difficulties, wasn't in a place to go anywhere anytime soon? It didn't pan out for me. It feels like the book was riddled with these kinds of things, but the overall plot was quite good in and of itself. I'd also say that this was more of a plot-driven novel where I'm more drawn to character-driven ones.

Dracula

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

5/60 | Started 12.23.25 • Finished 01.21.26 | 3.75 stars

It's possible that I'm not cut out for classics... or maybe just not gothic literature? I picked this up by recommendation from a new reader friend and it wasn't really what I was expecting. I did enjoy the way the novel is arranged around journal/diary entries by the various characters. I guess I just feel like it was super slow-moving until the final scene, when everything happens lightning quick. The story centers around the enigmatic figure of Dracula and his interactions with Jonathan Harker and two women, Lucy and Mina. It takes Lucy's tragic death for Dr. Van Helsing to discover that there is a vampire at work. He then bands together with Jonathan, Mina (now married to Jonathan), Dr. Seward, Quincy Morris, and Lord Goddalming to root out Dracula and put an end to his evil ways. Dr. Van Helsing is clearly THE hero, though all of the other characters are heroic and brave in their own right. I'm sure this one is more accessible than some of the other classics out there language wise, so maybe if you're looking for one you can manage, this would be an option.

Black Beauty

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell (abridged by Lisa Church)

5 stars

"This book is about a horse named Black Beauty who has many different owners. Some treat him kindly and others treat him poorly. One man who treated him poorly, didn't care when one of Black Beauty's horseshoes was loose when they were going down a rocky path. It flew off but the man didn't care. That led to his hoof being cut. One of the owners who treated him kindly was Jerry, who gave him the right amount of food and didn't overwork him. At the end, Black Beauty goes back to an old home and is treated kindly all over again, staying there for the rest of his life. That was my favorite part."

Carolyn, age 8