Friday, October 12, 2018

A Good Week in Books (192)



I had a wonderful week. Every couple of years, my amazing librarian friends and I get together for a vacation. Last week, we had a very Fall vacation in upstate New York. I met some of my best friends in library school, and I’m so glad we are able to take a trip together every now and then. We stayed in Lake George. We “hiked” in the Adirondacks (aka: we went on one easy trail after hanging out at the Wild Walk at the Wild Center). We tasted wines and ciders and beers. And we went to an apple orchard and we went to an outlet mall. But, really the best part was just catching up with everyone, and of course talking about books too.
Happy Fall!

I finished reading two books. And I started a new one that is so good, I’m savoring it slowly. I also received 3 new books for review (Thank you, Swoon Reads, First Second, and Feiwel and Friends).
The new pretties;



Carols and Chaos
by Cindy Anstey
Last Pick by Jason Walz
Blanca Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
I want to read all the books! How was your week in books?

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

The Golden Tower by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare



Summary from Goodreads:
The final, thrilling installment in this extraordinary series from bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

A generation ago, powerful mage Constantine Madden came close to achieving what no magician had ever achieved: the ability to bring back the dead. He didn't succeed . . . but he did find a way to keep himself alive, inside a young child named Callum Hunt.

Facing up to what he is, Callum has battled chaos and evil across four years of magical training at the Magisterium, eventually defeating the armies of chaos in an epic battle.

It came at a cost.

Now, triumphant and heartbroken, Callum Hunt has just about had enough, and is ready to complete his training. But the evil Callum faced has not given up just yet.
Review:
I have seriously enjoyed this series over the years. Holly Black and Cassandra Clare working together on a magical Middle Grade series was like one of my dreams coming true. I loved the magical world they created. I loved the characters. I loved the good guys and the bad guys. And I loved all the twists that never ceased to surprise me.
That being said, this last installment was probably my least favorite in the series. It felt like stuff really resolved in the book before this one, but the authors couldn’t leave us readers with such a tragic ending...They wrote this to give a certain character a better ending. I kind of get why that needed to happen. I even like that everything ended with the last year at the Magisterium…
It’s just that the villain and over-arcing storyline felt a little silly. The bad guy spoke like a bad guy from a bad 90’s cartoon. And Cal’s master plan for everything was no big shocking surprise. It was the only thing that made sense. Like, maybe this book could have just been a normal school year without a stupid additional villain? Or maybe if something like that was needed, it could have been something entirely new? It just felt off to me. The adults in the book felt really stupid too. They weren’t honestly handling the situation as I think they might have in books previous. It felt kind of sloppy.
I did still love seeing the characters again. I loved seeing my ship sail. I loved watching Cal truly figure out where he belongs. I loved getting a happier ending for another loved character. I loved that the father/son relationship was handled well here too, and not just as an afterthought. It just did not live up to my expectations. It was not as good as the previous books. I give this one a 7/10.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Amulet: Supernova (book 8) by Kazu Kibuishi



Summary from Goodreads:
Emily has lost control of her Amulet and is imprisoned in the Void, where she must find a way to escape the influence of the Voice. Meanwhile, Emily's brother, Navin, travels to Lighthouse One, a space station where the Resistance is preparing to battle the approaching Shadow forces that would drain planet Alledia of all its resources. Emily and Navin must be smarter and stronger than ever to ensure Alledia's survival.
Review:
I feel like there are certain books every Youth Services Librarian and teacher of children needs to read. At the top of the list is Harry Potter. This series makes that list too. There is something so unbelievably special about these books. The art in them is beautiful. The adventure storyline and the way everything is connected is just masterful. These books have a little bit everything to please anyone. There’s high-stakes action, space travel, magical powers, family drama, Jedi-style training/learning, kid power, and just everything.
This was the first Middle Grade graphic novel series to ever fully engross me. I remember checking out book 1 at my library, and the next day, picking up books 2-5 (6-8 weren’t out yet). They are the graphic novels I tell parents to read, who just don’t get why their kids are interested in such a format. And I may have sneakily read this latest installment before it’s pub date because I got it in a little early…It’s that good.
This installment did not disappoint. The art was just as amazing. The suspense and action were just as good. I read it in one very short sitting. We learn more about the voice in Emily’s head –more about the power she has in general. I found this fascinating. I feel like a lot has come so easily for her character, so watching her struggle with things was actually kind of refreshing. And Navin had a little learning and growing also. I like how far his character has come. I can’t wait for their reuinion!
There’s some interesting Back to the Future moments in this plot too…I won’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil things. Oh, and an amazing new power makes the ending of this installment pretty epic. You also learn that the next book will be the last!
The bad thing about these books being so good and going through them so quickly is that then you have to wait forever for another installment. I am so beyond excited for the last book in the series. Hopefully, it won’t take another 2 years. How can I wait that long?All in all, this was a great addition to the series. I give it a 9/10.

Monday, October 1, 2018

A Good Week in Books (191)



I had a nice week. My cold is finally gone, and I was finally able to go out and enjoy my favorite season’s weather for a bit. I finished only one book this week, and I ended up giving up on another book. I started a new one that I’m currently very addicted to. I also received 3 new books for review from Macmillan, and one ARC for review from HarperCollins. I have so many amazing looking books to read all of a sudden. Hello, fall! I feel like the fall is YA prime time.
The new books:


This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke
History VS Women by Anita Sarkessian and Ebony Adams

I cannot wait to get started on these! I wish I could just take a week off of work, and do nothing but read!

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Pride by Ibi Zoboi


Summary from Goodreads:
Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.

When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.
Review:
I had a feeling I was going to love this book, and I was right. This book was everything I needed on a day I was trapped inside with a cold. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorite books, and I practically pounce on any and all YA Austin retellings. When I read that this would be a diverse, urban fiction retelling, I was even more excited. I’ve never read Austin like this before. It was both familiar and surprising for me.
I loved the fresh, modern perspective on love, class, and gentrification. This wasn’t just a fluffy romance retelling. This was also an honest, snarky, commentary on society and all of its latest changes. I felt like that makes this book stand out in a truly authentic Austin style. I loved Zuri almost as immediately as I loved Elizabeth Bennet. They are both girls that could so easily have been held back by what society expects of them, but instead flourish intelligently, poetically, and artfully.
This is not a book for poetry haters. The book is full of poetry explaining Zuri’s fears, loves, and ambitions. And I actually felt like I got to know the main character more through her poetry. Her writing added to her person. Often I feel like poetry is used as a plot device, but here it genuinely added to Zuri’s character.
Also, the setting (Brooklyn) felt like a character. The city was alive in this book. I felt like I was seeing everything Zuri was seeing. I was sitting on that rooftop with her and her sister. I was walking to the bodega down the street, and riding that train with her. The only other book I can really compare this setting writing to is The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Both books really make me feel like I’m escaping to somewhere else for a while.
All in all, this went above and beyond my expectations. I read this in one day. I’ll have to track down Zoboi’s other YA novel soon. I know she’s an author to keep my eye on. I give this a 10/10.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson



Summary from Goodreads:
Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.

With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down.

In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.
Review:
As soon as I finished this book, this is what I wrote on Goodreads: “Sometimes a book is so good, you have to finish it slowly, to savor its final words. I savored the whole 679 page volume like it was my favorite French dessert eaten at a cafe in Paris, at midnight when anything is possible. I’m so happy I finally dove into this series and was able to read one book after the other -almost like one epic fantasy, instead of 3. It was a flight of sweet, crunchy yet creamy crème brûlées. I almost feel sorry for the book that comes next.”
I loved this book. I loved the whole series, really. It kind of blew me away into a fantasy world I wasn’t expecting to fall for. Lia is the ultimate kick-butt fantasy main character in this installment. She leads rescue parties, defends herself from attackers, bravely stands up to the family that appears to have rejected her, fights for her freedom, fights for those she loves, and saves the lives of so many people. Watch out, Wonder Woman. Lia is a superhero in her own right.
I loved getting a happy ending for so many characters. I loved finally learning what was what with Lia’s family. I loved learning more about the secret text Lia’s been carrying with her for 3 books. I loved getting so much resolution for all the kingdoms. I accept the the ship that sailed, though it may not have been what I secretly wanted. It made sense. And I knew it was coming. I loved the strong lady side characters here. Considering one woman goes from giving birth to fighting for her friend in a blink of an eye, the fierceness was something else.
 But, most of all, I love Lia. I love how far she’s come. I love how she refuses to let anything or anyone get in the way of her doing what’s right for her people. Kingdoms over bros. Seriously, I had so much respect for her when she parted ways with her love –even though my inner romantic hated it. Her bravery and loyalty was a force in this book.
Stuff did seem to resolve kind of quickly at the end. But, I was kind of glad it did because I’m not a huge war story fan. And I was worried it would be all war at the end. I’m glad things ended the way they did. All in all, this series was unbelievable, and I’m so glad I read it. This book gets a 10/10.

Monday, September 24, 2018

A Good Week in Books (190)



I had a very nice book week. I was sick this week, so I had more time for reading. Unfortunately, this meant I missed a totally amazing teen author festival…but I really needed another day in bed with books for company.
I read one awesome YA fantasy, one Pride and Prejudice retelling, and one graphic novel. I received 4 new books for review (Thank you, Macmillan). And possibly to fix my MIA festival heart, I purchased 4 new books while running errands yesterday.
The new pretties:

Unbroken: 13 Stories starring disabled teens edited by Marieke NiJkamp
Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll
A Blade so Black by L.L. McKinney
Black Wings Beating by Alex London
Sadie by Courtney Summers
A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland
Warcross by Marie Lu
Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton
How was your week in books?