The Book Nerd Mom

Halloween Sugar Cookies and Pumpkin Books

Last weekend, our fun Fall activity was making Halloween sugar cookies. Now, I don’t know about you, but I love any excuse for a sweet treat. Thankfully, sugar cookies are an easy snack to make and you can change them up for different holidays. Plus, involving K was super easy. Most of the Halloween cookie cutters were still packed away, but we found a few: a pumpkin, a leaf, and a cat.

Now I’ll be honest, I left the baking up to K and his grammie this time. I supervised and took pictures. I did help K when he started to help roll out the dough–he could become an excellent pastry chef one day. After the cookies had baked to perfection, it was time to sample! Grammie and K had done a great job. When we finished our sampling, we took what was left of the cookies– it’s almost the holidays so none of the extra cookies consumed count right?–and it was time to frost!

I think this was K’s favorite part. We didn’t have orange frosting so we used vanilla and dyed it orange and he got a small taste. Needless to say, we have a new frosting fiend in our house. The cookies turned out beautifully. But most importantly, they turned out delicious. And when it comes to cookies, that’s really all that matters right?

Halloween Reads To Go With Our Halloween Sugar Cookies

K also got a new book: You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie with illustrations by Natalie Marshall. This is a fun Halloween-themed board book with cutouts. K loves these books and enjoys turning the pages to see what’s on the other side of the cutout. Another book that K received was Happy Halloween, Little Critter! by Mercer Mayer. This has flaps on the pages that shows which critter is in which costume and he loves finding out who is under the flap. I’m so glad that books have fun ways to make reading entertaining for children!

I had a really fun weekend baking Halloween sugar cookies and reading Halloween books with my son and my mom. I’m enjoying making new traditions with him as he grows up. Do you have any Fall or Halloween traditions with your children?

You're My Little Pumpkin Pie board book Illustrated by Natalie Marshall

October Releases I Can’t Wait To Read

October is one of my favorite months; it’s partly because I look forward to reading all of the new October releases that put me in the mood for the holidays. There are several new books that I’m looking forward to reading. Not only do they sound so intriguing, but they’re perfect for the Fall season and upcoming holidays.

Already Published October Releases

I am SO excited to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. This is one of my most anticipated books of the year. I’ve heard so many good things about it, I can’t wait to gobble it up! This published on October 6th, so this gem is out in the world, ready for consumption. I’m waiting (impatiently) for my OwlCrate box with mine to arrive. 🤯😅

Another book I can’t wait to read The Lives of Saints by Leigh Bardugo. I really enjoy her writing and fell in love with the Grishaverse. At this point, pretty much anything she puts out I will read. This was published October 6th!

I’d like to read Eventide by Sarah Goodman, which was published October 6th. It seems perfect for the spooky season and I’m a lover of historical fiction. This is right in my wheelhouse!

I also want to read We Were Restless Things by Cole Nagamatsu, which was published on October 6th. This sounds so good and I love a good mystery thriller. I hope it lives up to the expectations I’m setting up for it.

Upcoming Anticipated Releases

I’ve been wanting to read Come On In by Adib Alsaid. It’s an anthology about the immigrant experience written by immigrants. This is so timely and poignant, I’ll definitely be picking this one up. This is set for publication on October 13th.

I’m excited to read The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. This is expected for publication on October 13th. This is another historical fiction but with a twist of fantasy and magic. It sounds good and I can’t wait to see how it is!

I’m super pumped for Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco. I love her writing and enjoyed her Jack the Ripper series. I’m a huge historical fiction fan and I love her work. Also, a Demon Prince? Yes. I’m in. This is due for publication on October 27th.

So there you have it! What books are you looking forward to releasing this month?

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

*Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. You can read more here.

I read The Kite Runner as one of my selections for Banned Books Week. I’ve always heard such good things about it. Alas, like many of my other books, it’s just been sitting on my shelf, eyeing me sadly while I read all the fancy new releases. I finally picked it up and wow did it pack a punch. First, let’s get into what it’s about.

In this story, we’re following Amir, an Afghani man who recounts his life from childhood to adulthood. We learn about his life growing up in Afghanistan, his escape from a war-wracked Kabul, his journey to America, and his journey back to Afghanistan. We witness his relationship with his father, and with his playmate, Hassan, and a myriad of other important characters. In this story, we are privy to Amir’s failures, his regrets, his redemption, his fears, his love, and everything in between, as well as what it means to forgive. It’s an emotional story that will put you on a roller coaster and have you wondering if you can take it anymore.

My Reading Experience of The Kite Runner

I wasn’t sure if I could handle reading it. After 7 chapters in, I had to stop. I didn’t pick the book up for 3 days. As I was reading chapter 7, I was bawling. I couldn’t stop, so I put the book down before I could finish the chapter. I consulted one of my reading groups about the rest. Does this get better? Will I stop crying? I had to know. I wasn’t sure I could continue reading an almost 400-page book with this much turmoil and emotion. “You probably will keep crying, but it’s worth it.” That was the resounding response from the group. So, after a 3-day hiatus, I forged on.

I don’t regret reading it. Yes, it was absolutely emotional. The whole book ripped at my emotions and my heart and I did cry through the rest of it. I’m actually a little upset with Hosseini about some of this book. But it’s a book that will stay with me, and that’s what makes a book great, so I guess that means he did his job.

While I definitely struggled with this one because of the sheer emotional impact it caused, I do recommend it. However, I will say that there are some triggers with this, and some content warnings. Please be advised that some of these triggers include depictions of rape, attempted suicide, bullying, murder, and war.

Twig and Turtle 1: Big Move to a Tiny House by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

I won a free copy of Twig and Turtle 1: Big Move to a Tiny House during BookCon in exchange for an honest review. Special thanks to Holiday House for providing the ARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own. *Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. You can read more here.

This book is about Twig and Turtle, two young girls who move with their family into a tiny house. While Turtle doesn’t mind the move, Twig is sad to have to leave her Great Dane with her grandma. Not only that, but Twig is having problems fitting in at her new school. How can Twig get her dog to come live with them in their tiny house and make new friends?

I enjoyed this story. It followed the typical story arc, and it was a great early reader book. Of course, anything with a dog as one of the focal points of the story has my attention. I read this book to my son as I was reviewing it, and although he wasn’t too impressed (he’s 11 months so I’ll give him a pass 😄), I was curious to know what would happen next. I plan to read it again to him when he’s older; it’s a good story with important themes in it.

There were female main characters, determination, problem-solving, friendship building, the strength of love, and lessons all wrapped up in this book. Despite the short length of this book, there are many aspects of it that will appeal to young readers. After reading this book, I’m looking forward to reading more adventures with Twig and Turtle. I wonder what shenanigans they’ll get into next?!

Twig and Turtle 1: Big Move to a Tiny House by Jennifer Richard Jacobson Physical ARC

Hush by Dylan Farrow

I won a free copy of Hush by Dylan Farrow in a sweepstakes in exchange for an honest review. Special thanks to Wednesday Books for hosting the sweepstakes and providing the ARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own. *Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. You can read more here.

We follow Shae, a 17-year-old girl determined to figure out the secrets of her world. A world that’s kept quiet by Bards who use magic to silence its citizens. Shae must figure out who to trust and find strength to break the Hush. After a deadly plague tormented her world, killed her brother, and marked her family as cursed, Shae has lived a fearful life. When strange things start happening to her, Shae can no longer hide behind her fear, but instead must use her fear to find out the truth.

I was intrigued by this book from the start. The synopsis hooked me and I couldn’t wait to read it. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put the book down. A book about words being cursed? Sign me up! You can imagine my surprise and delight, then, when I opened up the mail to find I had won an ARC.

Strengths of Hush

You should know by now that I enjoy a good strong female protagonist. While Shae has her faults, I think she is a great main character. She is determined, having to know the truth behind her mother’s murder. She is strong-willed, stubborn, and smart. I appreciate that she isn’t painted as a damsel in distress. Being the only one left in her family, she doesn’t succumb to the “I need a man to protect me” ideal.

Another aspect that I love is the magic, although I wish we learn more about it. I love that Shae is told how it is a blessing and a curse, and she often thinks of comforting things to get her magic to “work.” I actually like the fact that it’s marketed as one thing and then we learn it’s another; it reminds me of true life.

The detail in the story, for the most part, is very vivid and well done. The way they dress, the way things smell, it is all described so well.

What Could Have Been Better

While I think Shae is great, for such a strong protagonist, she is very naive. She trusts some too easily considering her background and her world. I also don’t understand why she questions herself about stuff that she knows to be true.

Some things just don’t make sense to me. This included Shae’s ability to get away with stuff. Although it’s not allowed, Shae breaks into the men’s barracks to search Niall’s belongings for evidence. After she’s caught, essentially nothing happens to her.

Again, I want to mention the magic. It is so interesting, but we don’t really get a good understanding of it. I’m hoping that we get to learn more of it in the sequel.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I look forward to the sequel.