June Books

Another month is gone (the year is halfway over already!), and today I am sharing the books I read in June.

As a reminder, here are my reading goals for 2021:
1. Read 221 books. This includes the books I read to the kids, audiobooks, and anything I read for myself.
2. Read at least one (new to me) classic. DONE!
3. Read at least four self-help/education books. 2 DONE

This month I really wanted to finish up some of the books I had started, but not finished. I counted eleven, but are there more I missed? Probably. 🙂 I finished six of them.

I also finished up the How To Train Your Dragon series. And, I tackled my NetGalley review list. It had gotten a LITTLE out of control (more than 40…ahem), since I was listening to so many audio books. I made excellent progress on these goals, so that makes me happy! Although….I may have started another two books I haven’t finished yet….oh well. 🙂

Here is what I read in June:
1. Pursued to Eternity by John Riley-not my favorite
2. The Essential Home-Ground Flour Book by Sue Becker-so helpful! I checked this one out from the library, and then bought it. If you are thinking of grinding your own flour, this is a great resource.
3. Spy School Lost at Sea by Stuart Gibbs-excellent addition to one of our very favorite series! I read this aloud to the kids.
4. Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth (audio) by Rick Riordan-pretty good. I definitely liked it better than books two and three.
5. Greystone Secrets #1: The Strangers (audio) by Margaret Peterson Haddix-fantastic! A wonderful mystery, and an edge of your seat thriller! I highly recommend this one!
6. How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury (audio) by Cressida Cowell-very good! I loved this series so much and am sorry to have finished it. I will definitely listen to these again in the future.
7. Never Miss by Melissa Coslin-good action thriller
8. Fly Home to Me by Chalon Linton-good solid military romance
9. Castle Refuge by Melanie Dickerson-I liked it, but the author really drug out the ending and could have finished it sooner.
10. The Mouse Watch Underwater by J.J. Gilbert-book two in a fun and nostalgic series for those who remember Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers
11. Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks-didn’t care for it
12. Greystone Secrets #2: The Deceivers (audio) by Margaret Peterson Haddix-very good!
13. The Wizard of Once (audio) by Cressida Cowell-not bad, but I wouldn’t re-read it
14. Just Ella (audio) by Margaret Peterson Haddix-more of a grown-up, realistic version of Cinderella-it was decent, but I wouldn’t give it to kids
15. The Moon Speaks by Jason G. Duesing-OK book, but the illustrations are gorgeous!
16. Speechless Controlling Words, Controlling Minds (audio) by Michael Knowles-very good-he made some excellent points and it was worth the read
17. Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason-good!
18. Pumpkin Cat by Ann Turner-cute
19. My Name is Truth by Ann Turner-OK, but not enough detail for me, so it felt choppy

I read one book to the kids, and I read (or listened to) fifteen books just for me. I also read three picture books to myself for review. I can’t believe I only read one book to the kids this month. I think it’s because my youngest can really read for himself now, and tends to just sit down with a stack and go for it instead of bringing them to me. I DO still want to read more to them though, so I will work on this for next month.

For the year, I have now read fifty-five books to the kids and fifty-nine books just for me. I’ve also read (or listened to) twenty-three picture books to myself for review. That’s 137 books so far, and I am at 61% of my goal, so that is great progress.

For a favorite this month……

I did enjoy the last of the How to Train Your Dragon books, but for me, I am really loving this new series. It is SO good. It is the perfect mix of mystery, suspense, and drama. I am hoping to listen to the third one yet this week.

Well, that’s it for this month. I will have another book post the first Tuesday in August! Summer is just flying by, isn’t it?