The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket

Summary:

Dear Reader,

If you are looking for a story about cheerful youngsters spending a jolly time at boarding school, look elsewhere. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent and resourceful children, and you might expect that they would do very well at school. Don't. For the Baudelaires, school turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives.

Truth be told, within the chapters that make up this dreadful story, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E., and the metric system.

It is my solemn duty to stay up all night researching and writing the history of these three hapless youngsters, but you may be more comfortable getting a good night's sleep. In that case, you should probably choose some other book.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:

I love that this book finally veered a little from the standard story arc. The kids finally had an opportunity to talk with other children, and make friends. Of course, the school was so absurd I couldn’t imagine any adult sending their children there. Also, I keep wishing Child Protective Services would get involved. I mean, seriously, these kids have been put through ridiculous amounts of child labor, neglect, and tragedy. And poor Sunny, the infant, has to work as a administrative assistant –who is required to make her own staples…

I kind of have found myself getting used to this absurd world though. I find myself nodding along to the narrator’s explanations for things like classes that only involve measuring objects or punishments involving no silverware at meal times, or shacks specifically designated for orphans. I’ve become so accustomed to the writing style and voice of the narrator, and I love this. And I love the narrator.

The one thing I still can’t nod along with though, is Mr. Poe.  Why is it so hard for him to recognize Count Olaf? Is he maybe partially blind?

I loved the triplets the children befriended. I loved the school setting. I loved the closeness that keeps growing between the siblings. I love how other adult characters can use logic and seem to sometimes just be there to point out how awful and non logical other adult characters are. The teachers (like the judge and some of the factory workers in books prior) did not see why it was necessary to expel the children. They were very impressed by how intelligent the kids were. I truly believe that if the kids had anyone but Mr. Poe, they’d be in a much healthier living arrangement by now.

This one also ended with a fun, different kind of cliffhanger. I’m super excited to see where things go from here. I think this installment was one of my favorites. I give it a 9/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (171)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on Remembrance by Meg Cabot (2/2/16):

Description on Goodreads:

In REMEMBRANCE, the seventh installment of the Mediator series, all Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).

But when she stumbles across an ancient murder, old ghosts—and ex-boyfriends—aren’t all that come back to haunt her.

Why I’m Waiting:

I love this series. And I have loved Meg Cabot since little, tween me first read The Princess Diaries. It’s one of those series that I’ve re-read several times over the years. It’s just so much fun. I know Cabot writes excellent adult books too, so I’m super curious to see this adult addition to one of my absolute favorite YA series. Also, she’s marrying Jesse? My heart just leaped out of my chest, kind of. I cannot wait for February!

What are you waiting on this week?

A Good Week in Books (127) - The ALA Midwinter 2016 Edition

I had an unbelievably amazing week in books. My awesome library director allowed a whole bunch of the staff to pick a day of the Midwinter conference to attend. I’d been to an ALA Annual conference before and I know those are insane, but this was Midwinter, and I just didn’t think it would be anywhere close to that.

Mostly, I was right. It was a small fraction of the size, with a small fraction of the amount of panels, discussions, and exhibits. However, it was just so calm and peaceful. Maybe I’m comparing it too much to BEA, which I’ve been going to for a few years now in NYC. But seriously, Midwinter was like a nice, slow Alice in Wonderland tea party compared to the sometimes Hunger Games type atmosphere of BEA. And the best part? There were books everywhere!

I didn’t need to time my exhibit hall strolling/mad dashing to be at the right place for the right book drop. Books stayed dropped for a long time. And if I missed a drop, I asked for a certain book and then was 3 times out of 4, given that book. The people at the booths were all friendly (minus one publishing company, which never seems to have friendly people, ever). And while I wish there were more discussions and panels about Youth Services or Children’s and YA literature, the ones that did exist were excellent. All in all, I was happily surprised. I wish I was a bit more prepared for the book haul I trucked home with me, but really, that’s a first world problem. I cannot complain about a thing.

I knew I found my home away from home when the first booth I looked at featured an author signing, and a friendly person asking if I wanted to meet Margaret Peterson Haddix…Would anyone say no? There were two people in front of me and I was immediately handed a hard cover of her new book to have signed, and well, I knew it would be a good conference. I only attended one day. I'm sure there would be more books if I went for the whole thing.

The beauties:

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (!!!!!!!!!!!)
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke
Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
Wax  by Gina Damico
Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
See How They Run by Ally Carter
Bluescreen by Dan Wells
Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman
How to Stop Your Grownup from Making Bad Decisions by Judy Balan
Essential Maps for the Lost by Deb Caletti
Shuffle, Repeat by Jen Klein
A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
Booked by Kwame Alexander
Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun
Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black
A Totally Awkward Love Story by Tom Ellen and Ivison (signed)
Once Was a Time by Leila Sales
Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier (signed)
The Gallery by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
Under their Skin by Margaret Peterson Haddix

How was your week in books?

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Summary on Goodreads:

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?

Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

Review:

This sounds weird, but I couldn’t remember a single detail of this book. I believe I’ve read it before, maybe 9 or 10 years ago…I do remember a lot of details from this author’s other series: Heist Society. I absolutely adored the Heist Society books. I’m not sure why I never went back and continued with this earlier series. However, I’ve come to realize I now own all but the last book in this series, so why not give it a go?

It was a lot of fun to read. And I read it super fast (one day fast). However, I’m pretty sure I would have loved it more 10 year ago. It’s not that I didn’t like it now; it’s just that there’s a lot of the older YA tropes happening here and I while they are annoying and formulaic now, I’m sure back then they wouldn’t have been.

I still ate it up. The concept itself is pretty amazing. Though, it’s a bit reminiscent of the Finishing School series by Carriger, which I just finished. Of course, this book came first, but I couldn’t help making comparisons between the two schools, which made for some sereious epic settings. And well, one school hides in plane site as a school for wealthy kids and the other book has a school that hides in the sky on a giant balloon…Why do you think sounds cooler?

Any way, it was still super fun reading about about spy classes and spy lunches, where the characters are only allowed to speak in whatever foreign language of the day is given to them. I also loved the characters. The main character was believable. The two best friends were pretty awesome. The new girl (who starts off mean) was also pretty interesting. Though the whole “mean girl” idea was one of those things I was tired of reading about.

I loved the mother/daughter dynamic. The mother of the main character is in charge of the school. I loved their relationship. Though, I want to know more about what happened to her dad. My guess is I’ll learn this later.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the insta-love romance. I also don’t get how quite as bad with boys the main character is. Shouldn’t one of the classes be about seduction (like it is in the Finishing School books)? I feel like a very important element of spying is being neglected here. Though, the main character’s constant thinking of the boy and crushing were super believable for me. I just wish everything involving said boy could have been handled a lot better, and maybe have built up over a longer period of time. And honestly, I was super disappointed in how stuff ended with him at the end, but it certainly leaves things interesting.

All in all, this was a fast-paced, girly, spy-school book. It was a lot of fun to read. There were a few things I’ve seen before (though this book came out 10 years ago and maybe started the trends). I loved the characters, but I was not a fan of the romance. I’m excited to see where things go with the series because I know this author can be amazing. I give this first one a 7/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (170)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on Dream On by Kerstin Gier (5/3/16):

Description on Amazon (there isn’t one posted to Goodreads yet):

Things seem to be going well for Liv Silver: she's adjusting to her new home (and her new family) in London; she has a burgeoning romance with Henry Harper, one of the cutest boys in school; and the girl who's been turning her dreams into nightmares, Anabel, is now locked up. But serenity doesn't last for long.

It seems that Liv's troubles are far from over--in fact, suddenly they're piling up. School gossip blogger Secrecy knows all of Liv's most intimate secrets, Henry might be hiding something from her, and at night Liv senses a dark presence following her through the corridors of the dream world. Does someone have a score to settle with Liv?

Romance, adventure, and danger abound in Dream On, the second book in the Silver trilogy.

Why I’m Waiting:

The Ruby Red Trilogy is one of my all time favorite YA series. I loved it. I want to re-read it now that I’m talking about it.  While, the first book in this new series could in no way compare, it was a lot of fun to read. I’m excited to see where the story goes. And let’s face it, because of Ruby Red, I will read all the things this author comes out with.

What are you waiting on this week?

A Good week in Books (126)

Happy New Year everyone!

I read above and beyond both my reading challenges of the year. I wanted to read 80 books, and I read 90. I also wanted to re-read 15 books, and I re-read 17. I set a new goal for this year to read 90 books. And for the first time, possibly since I started blogging, I don’t think I’m going to set another goal and just read more of what I want to be reading. I want to read more middle grade, more graphic novels, and more excellent YA, and I think I will accomplish this without a bonus challenge.

What are your challenges?

I also have the world’s sweetest boyfriend. If you follow my blog, you read that I left my much-loved signed copy of Sword of Summer on my plane in Boston. I was in the middle of it, too! It was really just one of those awful, delayed, miserable flying experiences everyone seems to have lately. I was so happy to have finally made it home that I somehow left my treasured book behind.  I filled out a lost item form and even talked to live people about it at the airport, but I knew it was gone. I get weekly emails from the airline saying they are still looking… Any way, my sweet boyfriend found a signed copy on eBay and surprised me with it this weekend! How sweet is he? I also got one book for review. Thank you, Hyperion.

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Starflight by Melissa Landers

How was your week in books?

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Summary from Goodreads:

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

Review:

This was even better than I was expecting it to be! Seriously, what a fun, hilarious, Norse adventure. I have to admit that I was getting a little tired of the Percy Jackson formula. And while there are things in this book that are in the past formulas (quests, mini quests, deals with the gods, etc.) there were also some truly unique aspects to this new series that I was not expecting at all.

To start, the main character is homeless. He also (in the very beginning – I promise I’m not spoiling anything) dies. The main character is dead. How cool is that? He even gets to witness his own funeral. Also, in the very first pages, there is Annabeth (my favorite character from past series)! So, right away, this book had a lot of things going for it.

Also, I loved the Norse mythology. I have to admit that I don’t know a ton about Norse mythology, besides some probably wrong things from certain superhero movies and the inspiration I know that lead to the The Lord of the Rings, so a lot of the stories and myth were brand new for me.

I loved the side characters, like the fashion obessed dwarf (Blitz) and the deaf, magic learning elf (Hearthstone). There’s also Sam, the Valkyrie who brought Magnus to Valhalla. She is so cool. She reminds me a little bit of Thalia Grace from the past series. Though, she’s certainly not afraid of heights.

All the details about Valhalla, the tree that goes to all the worlds, death, the end of the world, the Norse gods, and magical objects (like Magnus’ sword) were just so amazingly fun to read. This is Rick Riordan at his best. And of course the book is action-packed. From sea journeys, to battling giants, to helping Thor, to dreaming of Loki, to learning about Odin, to battles with hallmates, to confronting Valkyries, there is never a dull moment.

Also, the humor was so good. It was a little more sarcastic and a little less cheesy than the humor of the earlier books. Magnus is a lot darker and wittier than Percy, Leo, or Jason. And I actually routinely found myself laughing out loud. The chapter titles alone had me laughing.

And Riordan dedicates the book to Cassandra Clare! He thanks her for sharing the name, Magnus! How cool is that?

I cannot wait to see what happens next in this series. There was quite an interesting end there with Loki. And I’m curious to see how the different mythologies (Greek, Roman, and Norse) might possibly connect. All in all, I loved this. I give it 10/10.