Beautiful Scars

Beautiful Scars by Kilee Brookbank and Lori Highlander with Jessica Noll.

Summary from Goodreads: Kilee Brookbank was a typical sixteen-year-old, thinking about school, soccer, her friends, and her boyfriend. But her last ordinary day erupted in an explosion that consumed her house, burning over 45 percent of her body and sending her to the very brink of death. After thirty-eight days of surgeries, skin grafts, perpetual physical therapy, and excruciating pain, she had to discover how to live again.

When Kilee returned home, she had to find a new “normal,” relearning how to tie her shoes, put on her makeup, and even turn a doorknob. In each moment of her long journey back to everyday life, she had to make choices that would define who she was and who she would become.

With unwavering support from her mom, Lori, and the rest of her family, Kilee faced her journey with determination, strength, and a positive attitude that inspired not only her community, but people around the world.

Told together by Kilee and Lori, Beautiful Scars is a story of recovery, healing, and hope, reminding us all that we’re never powerless, never alone, and that each challenge we face helps make us the people we are meant to be.

My Opinion: This was such an inspiring story and I loved it. At times though the book read too much like a research paper instead of a story that just happens to be true. I also liked the two point of views think (Kilee and Lori) but sometimes they would end up saying the same thing multiple times and it got to be really repetitive. This was such a cool story though, cause it really helped me to appreciate everything that I have. I could not imagine even going through what Kilee did, and I really admire her for how she handled it all. I really enjoyed reading her story, and I think everyone should read it and be inspired by it.

4 out of 5 stars

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.

Summary from Goodreads: Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance.
But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

Opinion: This book had a rather slow start, and after it finally started to get good, it was too short. This was a very eye opening book. I didn’t realize how naïve and blind some of the german citizens were. The ending in this book was also very sad. So overall, I would say to read this book for the learning and eye opening experience. This isn’t a book you would want to read to enjoy yourself.

4 out of 5 stars

Marley & Me

Marley & Me by John Grogan. This is an autobiography of John Grogan and his family growing up with their dog Marley. It is a cute book of all their adventures together. I will not lie, this is a SUPER sad book, but I mean come on, let’s be real, when are you ever going to pick up a book about an animal’s life and expect a happy ending? They all end sad.

This is also a good movie, and this book has a kid’s version and an adult’s version. Both tell the same story, but the adult version’s the original and in my mind better, but I don’t recommend the adult version unless your 13 or older. Every time I read/watch this I cry, so be ready for tears.

5 out of 5 stars

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson. This book was from John Wilkes Booth’s point of view, and it’s about his plan to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. If you go through my reviews, you may notice that I don’t read a lot of non-fiction. That’s because I’m not a huge fan of non-fiction. This book however, was a very good non-fiction book. I do recommend this one.

4 out of 5 stars: I know I said it was a good non-fiction book, but it still was a little too boring for my taste.