Amy Fellner Dominy

TW: dating violence; self-harm for manipulative purposes; emotional abuse; sexual assault
This romanticizes dating violence. I think in parts of this book, i was expecting adult boundaries and actions out of teenagers, which is unrealistic and unfair. At other times, I solidly believe that I am right in hoping Emma would behave differently. Her boyfriend does not die at any point. At the forty percent mark of the ebook, he burns his arm with candle wax badly enough to need bandages. He does this because he's upset his girlfriend is going to Rome without him, and the unspoken addition that -she's continuing her education and beginning a career- without him. At the seventy percent mark, there's implied sexual assault. Emma narrates, so her inner monologue explains her actions and why she makes decisions that she does. At the eighty percent mark in the ebook, her boyfriend carves her name into his arm and cuts his wrist. Run, Emma, run! He's acting this way because you're not doing what he wants. This was all so uncomfortable, which it's intended to be. The ending was abrupt and the author clearly didn't want too much harm to come to the boyfriend for whatever reason, which is how he gets out with so few injuries relatively, and they're not permanent. I was annoyed by this. I wouldn't really recommend this book to anyone.… (mer)

Cookiesaurus Rex is a cookie with a BIG attitude. He wants to be frosted first, but when he sees how the other cookies are getting sprinkles and shiny stars, he throws a fit and demands a "do over". The decorator has a sense of humor and decorates him in clever ways that are not to his liking! Finally Cookiesaurus takes the decorating into his own hands and he takes a "licking". This is a hilarious story for young students! They love the cheeky dinosaur and the clever decorator. It is perfect for a read aloud and kids love to read it again and again. There is some satisfaction when the dinosaur gets his just desserts!… (mer)