A Royal Read

Grace and Fury (Grace and Fury #1)

by Tracy Banghart

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published July 31st 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN13: 9780316471411

Listened To On Playaway, Also Have Book From OwlCrate

ABOUT:

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other in prison.

Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace - someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. But when her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, catches the heir's eye, it's Serina who takes the fall for the dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.

Now trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one way to save Serina: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to release her sister. This is easier said than done. A traitor walks the halls of the palace, and deception lurks in every corner. But Serina is running out of time, imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive and one wrong move could cost her everything. (GoodReads)

RATING: 5 Stars 

REVIEW:

I had this book sitting on my shelf for a while and decided to pick up the audiobook at work to listen to in the car. It was an excellent choice!

The readers of the book ( Megan Tusing, Sarah Mollo-Christensen) were fantastic, which almost never happens in my experience. The book is told in alternating voices from the two sisters. Each narrator voiced a sister. Though they sounded similar it was always pretty easy to tell which sisters’ chapter it was.  The narrators really brought the sisters to life and put a lot of emotion into the reading. 5 Stars for narration!!! It helps that they had an excellent story though too. 

The story, though on the short side, was full of girl power and survival. It takes place in a world where females have no choices or power. They’re told what to do and that’s it. I’ve read that kind of story before, but this story takes it to a new level with it’s story telling. I didn’t think I was going to like both sisters, one was kind of stuck up in the beginning, but by the end I couldn’t get enough of them. I was rooting for them and hoping that they’d both survive. I loved the alternating points of view. You really got to learn more about the characters that way and really start to feel for them. There is so much family loyalty and betrayal it just made the book even more exciting. It does end in kind of a cliff hanger though. Definitely a 5 Star go out and read this book right now type read! I can’t wait for book 2 (Queen of Ruin) coming out in July 2019! 

This book would be a great read for anyone looking for a fantasy with strong female characters. It was mostly clean so even most of the younger teens can enjoy it. 

Loved It!

Only a Breath Apart

by Katie McGarry

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: January 22nd 2019 by Tor Teen

ISBN: 9781250193858

First ARC (Was Just Called Breathe, 2^nd ARC I Received Is Titled Only A Breath Apart)

ABOUT:

Jesse Lachlin is cursed.

So the town folklore says, but while Jesse’s had his fair share of tragedy, the only curse he believes is in his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year, Scarlett Copeland.

Scarlett Copeland is psychic.

Glory Gardner tells Scarlett she has hidden psychic abilities, but Scarlett thinks Glory is delusional. What is real is Scarlett’s father’s irrational fears, controlling attitude, and the dark secrets at home. Scarlett may have a way to escape, but there’s a hitch: she’ll have to rely on the one person she used to trust, the same boy who broke her heart, Jesse Lachlin.

Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other. But as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…  (Goodreads)

RATING: 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This book is classic Katie McGarry formula. Why mess with a great thing?

Misunderstood teens finding each other and making each other better people in the long run. Teen and family drama, this time mixed with a little mini touch of supernatural made for an entertaining read. (Note the supernatural part of it isn’t a big deal. There are no ghosts, vampires, etc. It’s most psychic readings and fortunetelling.) The characters in this book were all likeable and just like in her other books I really just wanted to hug the kids and tell them everything would be ok. 

(Possible Spoilers/Hints. Read At Own Risk) 

Since this is a “formula” book, we know it will end up all working out, though the teens are not going to have a super easy road ahead of them (a common jumping off point the author uses to bring us back for the next book). And there are parts of the story (especially towards the end) where it really looked like we were not going to have a typical Kaite ending. It made it a very tense couple chapters for me. According to what I’ve read online this is just the first book in the series. It’s supposed to turn into a series like “Pushing The Limits”, which excites me so much! I can’t wait to see who the next book might be about…. Though I have some ideas. And in case Katie McGarry reads this …. I really want to know more about Jesse’s friends! What is that girl suffering with! 

Overall, I really liked this book. It’s one that I could see picking up for a second read. There are some issues that could be triggers in people (abuse, drinking, sickness….) so it’s not a book for everyone. I think that older teens looking for a contemporary romance will love it.

Hunter or Pawn?

Warcross (Warcross #1)

by Marie Lu

Hardcover, 353 pages

Published September 12th 2017 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780399547966

Book Box/Autographed

About:

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life.

The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

This is an exciting fast past first volume in Marie Lu’s new (2017 release) Sci –Fi series. It’s not completely original. It kind of reminded me of Ready Player One, but it was still a great read. The story line is awesome. A mix of video game tournaments, virtual reality, bounty hunting, and a touch of romance (it’s YA so what do you expect?). The characters were all likable. I was rooting for Emika the whole way through. I even like Hideo…. At first anyway. One problem I had with the story is that once a certain secret is reveled in the book, it wasn’t too hard to figure out who the “bad” guy is. That being said though, the twist at the end of the book leaves me wondering…. Who is Emika going to help in book 2? And who is really the bad guy in the end? I can’t wait for book 2 “Wildcard” coming out in September of this year! I’ve already ordered it for our library and placed my hold on it. Weather you’re a Sci-Fi fan or not, pick up this book and give it a read. I think you’ll like it! 

A Light Summer Read!

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink (Pilgrims #1)

by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Paperback, 204 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by HMH Books for Young Readers

ISBN13: 9780547564593

Signed Copy From YA Conference

About:

Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

A cute, contemporary, summer camp story. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to special or stand outish about this book. It’s your basic YA summer romance story with a bit of comedy thrown in. It’s short and sweet which makes it a good beach or plane read. There’s historical geekyness to it with a touch of ghost stories which gives it a little something… but not enough to really be remember able. The cover is a little old fashioned for 2018. The main character is hiding an older cell phone in her dress on the cover and you might find kids asking what it is. If they get past the cover though and pick it up to read, the characters are likable and the story moves along quickly. It was a fun read and there is a second book (Confederates Don't Wear Couture ) in the series which I am curious to pick up at some point. I think this is one of the author’s first books. I read her other book Prince in Disguise and could really see improvement in her writing.   Pilgrim’s Don’t Wear Pink is not a clean read. There is underage drinking at a big party that younger teens might not be ready for. Other’s who are looking for a cute quick summer read should pick up this book .

P.S.
I met Stephanie Kate Strohm back in October at a YA Conference. She was awesome in person. Check out my YA Conference Posts to see her autograph and learn a bit more about her! 

A Fairytale Worth Reading...

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1)

by Holly Black

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published January 2nd 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780316310277

From Owlcrate Book Box

About:

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

While I have read better written books this year, I will say that this one was entertaining and I can’t wait for book two. Fairy stories aren’t really my kind of thing. They usually end up being overly complex and there are so many names to keep track of, and don’t get me started on the whole trying to figure out how to say the names. While this book has a bit of that, I feel like it was more toned down and easier for me to get into. 

This book had a Pride and Prejudice feel to it. You have a main character with sisters, the youngest who is excited for marriage and has a secret, the oldest who is just there, and our main girl who is kind of the tom boy of the group (like Elizabeth Bennett). You have a male character that comes into play and seems stuck up (like Mr. Darsey). Both our main female and main male hate each other with a passion (Pride and Prejudice much). This book ends with the characters still at odds but leaves an opening for the next book to go the route of our two main characters falling in love in a Pride and Prejudice moment.  

Maybe I’m reading too much into things. There is plenty of fairy court drama and some beating up and tricking the poor humans. There are spies and mock battles. There is a battle for the crown that ends in blood shed. There are family and friendship moments. There is even a slight touch of romance. I couldn’t help but root for Jude and Caden to figure things out and get together. They might make a really great ruling team. 

Overall, I give this book 4 stars. The writing could have been a bit better plus, as mentioned before, fairies aren’t my favorites.  I could see any teen who is into fantasy gobbling this book up and asking for more. In fact since this book came out I haven’t been able to keep it on my shelves. It is constantly checked out!

For teens not into fairies… Give them Holly Black’s The Coldest Girl In Coldtown. It was a great vampire read! 

Not So Much Stalking....

Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1)

by Kerri Maniscalco

Hardcover, 326 pages

Published September 20th 2016 by Jimmy Patterson

ISBN: 9780316273497

Copy Bought And Autographed At YA Conference

About: 

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget. (Goodreads)

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Review:

A disappointing 3.5 stars for this read. I met the author at a YA conference and she seemed so cool and into exploring all things creepy for her research. It made me expect a lot more from this book. I was very interested in Jack the Ripper growing up so I was very curious to see what Kerri could do with him in a YA novel. I can tell that she did her research on the time period and the cases, I had no problem with the story there. I also liked that at the back of the book she tells the reader what facts she changed and why. My problem was that she promised thrills, twists and turns, and horror; and though we had dead bodies from the Ripper, none of that was present. The “love” story was generic and simple and just got in the way. The book was predictable, and I felt like our main characters were never really in any danger. The main character Audrey has been done before, though I always do appreciate a good strong female going against the norm. I enjoyed the ending and the unveiling of the Ripper, though I had an idea of who he might be from around the middle of the book. I don’t think I cared for the cover up of who the Ripper was, though since their identity was never solved in real life it makes sense that they did that. Besides the violence there wasn’t anything to “mature” in the novel. It’s recommended for 15 and up by the publisher, but younger teens might be ok with it too, if they enjoy historical fiction. Despite my disappointment I am curious about the second book in the series “Hunting Prince Dracula” and I might give it a try some day. 

Anderson's YA Conference

Anderson's Bookshop 14th Annual Young Adult Literature Conference 

Saturday, November 4th, 2017

Hilton Lisle/Naperville Illinois

8:00Am-4:00 P.M.

Some of the awesome Authors I met yesterday!

I had the privilege yesterday of attending Anderson's Bookshops 14th Annual YA Literature Conference for authors, librarians, educators and fans. It was so awesome!

First of all I got to sit at a table with two authors for breakfast, keynote speakers, and lunch! I can’t tell you how cool it is to sit and talk books, writing, travel, plays, tv shows, movies, and more with someone that you admire. It’s even more awesome when you realize that they like the same stuff as you! Who knew that my knowledge of the DC/Marvel universe and Supernatural would come in handy lol! 

My co worker and I were lucky enough to get to sit next to Morgan Rhodes (author of the Falling Kingdom series) and Veronica Chambers (author of The Go Between, and many other wonderful books). Both women were incredibly nice. I snagged a copy of both of their books at the conference and will be reading and reviewing them soon! 

There were 4 keynote speakers this year, Sara Shepard (author of The Pretty Little Liars series and more), Adam Silvera (author of "More Happy Than Not", "They Both Die In The End" and more), Nicola Yoon (author of 'Everything, Everything and more) and Ryan Graudin (author of Wolf by Wolf series and "Invictus" . I loved them all. 

Nicola Yoon, you inspire me to read more diverse books. To be a supporter of humans first and put all of the race, gender, etc stuff second. To encourage hope in all. Your speech meant something to everyone in the room! You go girl!  

Sara Shepard, I didn’t know I could relate to you as well as I did. The Pretty Little Liars books have been on my list of books to read for so long, and now that I’ve heard you speak I have to read at least one. I love the Pretty Little Liars TV show and now I really want to go back and find you in those two episodes! I can really relate to having teachers and librarians who inspired me throughout the years. Koodos to you for staying so close to some of them and being able to share your stories about them. As a librarian/teacher I hope that I’m making a difference in kids life as well, just like those inspirations did for you. I can also relate to having weird awkward stages and needing time to find out who I was. I’m glad you had a teacher who was willing to give you a journal and time to figure out who you were. I never had someone like that, but kind of wish that I did. Thank you for speaking!

Ryan Graudin, you seem like a kindred spirit. I too have a dire wolf like dog. Mine is more like Ghost though. And I also had that Disaster book growing up. It was one of my favorites, especially the Titanic information! It was so interesting hearing you speak about some of your travels and how they inspired your writing. I love traveling and if I could figure out how to write a novel I’d love to use my experiences in it. It seems like a lot of your adventures relate to understanding others and their cultures and situations which I think is so amazing. While I like to think that I could do a trip like you described, I don’t think I’d have the courage to go to the extremes that you do. I do however also have a husband that gets us into strange situations. When he says hey lets try this path while hiking… well lets just say we’ve definitely had some interesting adventures and have met some interesting people that way. The way you described Invictus as a mix between Firefly and Doctor Who peaked my interest and I’ll definitely be picking it up to read soon! 

Adam Silvera, I was about halfway through with your book “More Happy Than Not” when I heard you speak. Shit! Your speech gave that book so much more meaning now! You really are an inspiration and role model. First off, I love fan fiction. That is I love reading it. I don’t think I have the courage or skill to ever write it, but who knows. Maybe someday I’ll give it a shot. I’m definitely thinking of using it as a future writing program for teens where I work though. It was awesome to hear you say that fan fiction was kind of where you got started writing. There are tons of teens in my town who will probably never go to college. If they’re lucky, maybe they’ll go to a trade school. I like to try to make it known to them that that’s ok. They are still someone no matter how much schooling they’ve had. You sir, are proof of that. We also proudly support our LGBTQ community where I work, and we try to let our teens know that no matter what they are (race, gender, sexuality, religion, etc. wise) they’re all equals, and they’re all welcome. Thank you for being you, and having the courage to tell your story. Your tattoos are awesome by the way! I want an compass/arrow to remind me to follow my arrow where ever it may point.

Throughout the day there were also breakout sessions with groups of different authors. While I wish that I could have attended all of them, I only got to pick 3. I went to the Love and Contemporary one, the Thriller, Mystery, and Chiller one, and the Sci-Fi one. All were really great! It was so interesting to hear how each group writes a book (romance writers don’t really use outlines, while Thriller writers usually did), what they use for inspiration (their own kids, music, podcasts, real life crime stories, science, etc.), what kind of research they do (shooting ranges, talking to astrophysicists, riding motorcycles, going to body farms, etc), and more. The lightning round questions they were asked were a riot. It seems like most authors would like to live in a Harry Potter story and during a zombie apocalypse would either like Jamie from Outlander or one of the Harry Potter characters by their sides. 

Overall, I had a ton of fun mingling with YA authors and learning about… well all things YA lit. I even managed to get 4 books signed. (I would have loved to get one from every single author there but I didn’t have enough money.) I also came away with a huge, and I mean huge list of books that I need to read! Hopefully I’ll get to some of them soon and have reviews up for you guys. If you’re a fan of YA and you’re ever in Illinois near the beginning of November/end of October you should check out the YA Conference! You won’t regret it! 

Here are the books I got signed at the conference...

 

And here is a list of the authors that were at the conference…

Keynotes: Sara Shepard, Adam Silvera, Nicola Yoon and Ryan Graudin

Panel Authors: Ann Brashares, Crystal Cestari, Elly Blake, Kim Turrisi, Ryan Graudin, Wendy Brant, Jessie Ann Foley, Kerri Maniscalco, Katie Kennedy, Kayla Ancrum, Jessica Taylor, Julie C. Dao, Morgan Rhodes, Peter Bognanni, Traci Chee, Jared Reck, Jessica Cluess, Julie Buxbaum, Kara Thomas, M.C. Atwood, Marit Weisenberg, Tara Goedjen, Veronica Chambers, Samira Ahmed, Steve Schafer, Gabrielle Prendergast, Lisa Maxwell, Lynn Weingarten, Margaret Rogerson, Michelle Hodkin, Peternelle van Arsdale, Amy Reed, Carrie Jones, Julia Keller, Heather Maclean,  Stephanie Strohm, Livia Blackburne & Daria Polatin.

It's Turtles All The Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down

by John Green

Hardcover, 286 pages

Published October 10th 2017 by Dutton Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780525555360

Given To Me By An Awesome Co-Worker (It’s even signed!!!)

About:

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. (Goodreads)

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I will admit it right from the start that I have been a huge John Green fan from his very first book “Looking For Alaska”. Yes I am one of those people who have read all of his books. Yes I am one of those people who has also watched his Vlog Brothers videos. Back in High School I even considered myself one of his “nerdfighters”. I still recommend many of his books to teens who come into my library looking for a “good” read. How can you not when most of his books have won one award or another, and 2 of his books have been turned into movies? I love that he always has some kind of geekiness/nerdyness in his stories. I also love that I usually learn something new from his books too. Who knew what a paper town was before the book?

Green went radio silent in his book writing for quite a few years. From what I hear it was to deal with personal issues, which good for him for knowing when he needed to take time for himself. From what I’ve read, his time off actually helped to inspire “Turtles All The Way Down”. He suffers from I believe OCD, and used his anxieties and experiences to help shape the main character Aza. 

Anyway back to the review…needless to say I was very excited to hear that a new book was finally coming out. 

Originally upon hearing what it was called, I wasn’t excited for the title.I couldn’t figure out what it meant. Was he going to talk about Ninja Turtles (he’s known for adding nerdyness to his stories)? After reading the book though I love the title!!! I don’t think there could have been a better choice. I will leave it at that because I don’t want to spoil anything for you. The saying “turtles all the way down” definitely has a new meaning for me though.

The writing is just what you’d expect from a John Green book. I’m glad to see he hasn’t lost his wit and cleverness in his long writing hiatus. The nerdy shout outs are still in place as well. His description of a town in Indiana is perfect. His description of a high schoolers school day is perfect. I don’t deal with the anxiety and mental issues that our main character Aza has but his writing really put me in her shoes. In some cases it even made me a bit paranoid about things as well. How many cells really do transfer over to me when I kiss someone??? (Yuck!). The supporting characters were also well written and entertaining. I couldn’t help feel so bad for Davis and his little brother. How all of the supporting characters deal with Aza’s issues was a welcome change to YA. In most YA books the supporting characters won’t speak their minds, or tell the person that I love you, but you’re really hard to be around sometimes. It was a relief to see true feelings show for once. This book will pull at your heart strings and make you think, but it won’t end the way you think. If I had one problem with it, it would definitely be the end. I wanted more! I want to know what happens to everyone. I really don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it at that, but if you want to rant about the ending with me at all contact me! 

Overall, I give this book a solid 5, and that’s not just because I like John Green. Anytime I read a book in a day or two I know it’s a good one. It would be a great read for older teens and new adults. Some younger teens might enjoy it as well, although there is a bit of “mature” subject matter touched on.   

Off The Bucket List...

 A few weeks ago I got to knock meeting S.E. Hinton (my favorite author) off of my bucket list. It was so amazing and she is so nice! I asked her which of her books was her favorite, to which she answered “That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child. If I had to pick though it would be Tex”. I also found out that she is a huge fan of the TV show Supernatural and often visits their set. She even guest appeared in one of the episodes! To show how nice she is, she not only signed my copy of the Outsiders, but also my copy of Rumble Fish (my favorite of her work, and yes I’ve read it all multiple times), and she signed my Rumble Fish and Outsiders DVDs!!!! Thank you Ms. Hinton for making my day, month, year, and possibly life lol!