Monthly Archives: March 2022

March 30, 2022 · 8:57 pm

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

I was not surprised that I really enjoyed The Sun is Also a Star. I’ve never been disappointed by anything by the author. I was surprised, however, at just how much I enjoyed it. I could barely put it down wanting to know what happened next. I cared so much about the characters. It’s definitely a heart in a blender sort of book. So incredibly emotional. Things are not wrapped up all pretty with a nice bow. Instead, things end up much more like they do in real life. Most of the story is told from the alternating points of view of the two main characters, but every so often there’s a narrative interjected to give explanation or a side character’s story or explain why things are or aren’t the way the main characters think they are. I absolutely loved that writing choice. Those added narratives really added to the story as a whole. I very highly recommend The Sun is Also a Star to teens and up.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 35
Pages Read in 2022: 12,518
Graphic Novels: 1

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Filed under Reason: I Like the Author, Reason: We Be Book'N, Young Adult

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March 28, 2022 · 7:48 am

In a Dark Land by Christina Soontornvat

In a Dark Land by Christina Soontornvat

In a Dark Land is the second Changelings book, picking up several months after the first one ends. It’s a fun, action-packed adventure. You get to see more very imaginative places and creatures of Fairy and get to know some of the other Changelings as well. Izzy’s very interesting origin story is also revealed. I very much enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to people of all ages. It would make an excellent family read aloud!

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 34
Pages Read in 2022: 12,166
Graphic Novels: 1

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Filed under Fantasy, Middle Grades, Reason: Literati, Reason: We Be Book'N

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March 27, 2022 · 5:02 pm

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

I’m going to file this book under “I didn’t see that coming at all!” The Golden Couple is packed with red herrings, storylines that initially seem unrelated, and a cast of characters swirling around the main ones who nearly all seem suspicious at one point or another. The chapters alternate between Avery, a therapist who has lost her license and is now more of an overly involved life coach (first person), and Marissa, half of a wealthy couple who seeks out Avery’s help after she can no longer stand the guilt from a one night stand (close third person). The last three or four chapters were some of the most amazing and shocking I’ve ever read. I really, really didn’t see that coming. I highly recommend this book to adults who enjoy thrillers, particularly with unreliable narrators.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 33
Pages Read in 2022: 11,858
Graphic Novels: 1

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Filed under Reason: Book of the Month, Reason: We Be Book'N, Thriller

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March 24, 2022 · 10:46 am

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Instructions for Dancing is one of those books that just stays with you for a long time after you finish it. On the surface it’s a relatively lighthearted young adult novel with lots of sweet romance. But it’s so much deeper than that. It’s about how the end, no matter how things end, isn’t what’s important. It’s the journey that’s important and to enjoy it. The writing is beautiful as is typical with this author. Some chapters are just silly while others are heartbreaking, striking a perfect balance. I could barely put this book down. I very highly recommend Instructions for Dancing to everyone teens and up!

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 32
Pages Read in 2022: 11,522
Graphic Novels: 1

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Filed under Reason: Book of the Month, Reason: I Like the Author, Reason: We Be Book'N, Young Adult

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March 24, 2022 · 10:34 am

Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie

There’s a lot of running in Crossed. There’s also a lot of finding. Compared to the first and third books in the trilogy, this one moves a lot slower. The alternating Ky/Cassia points of view works very well. There are many questions, but few answers, the biggest being is Ky right? Should they go to the Rising? Is it any better than the Society? There comes a point when things start moving a lot quicker and some chapters are less than a page which is very effective particularly when combined with the alternating POVs. This book sets up the next one very well while still having a satisfactory ended. I highly recommend it (the whole trilogy) to anyone who enjoys young adult dystopian.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 31
Pages Read in 2022: 11,232
Graphic Novels: 1

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Filed under Dystopian, Reason: Bedtime Story for the Boys, Young Adult

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March 15, 2022 · 9:30 am

Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems

Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems

There’s a reason everyone has heard of certain stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe such as The Pit and the Pendulum, The Cask of Amontillado, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Bells. This is because the popular ones are the only ones that are any good. The rest, particularly his essays and one complete novel, are just plain tedious. Stick to the popular stories. The others aren’t worth it.

2 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 30
Pages Read in 2022: 10,848
Graphic Novels: 1

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March 14, 2022 · 7:16 am

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Even though Tiger Lily is told from Tinker Bell’s point of view in first person, because she can read minds and zip around and watch things happen from tiny hiding places it feels more like third person omniscient. In Peter Pan, Tiger Lily is a minor character, but this puts her at the center and changes her relationship with Peter quite a bit. The bits of foreshadowing are obvious, but very well done at the same time. Even though the book is pretty light and easy, it has heavy parts as it delves a bit into being yourself (Tiger Lily’s father, the tribe’s shaman, is non-binary) and how trying to force yourself to be how others want you to be can have devastating consequences, how the English tried to change Natives, and rape. I recommend this book to teens and up, especially those who love the story of Peter Pan.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 29
Pages Read in 2022: 10,027
Graphic Novels: 1

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Filed under Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Reason: LitHub Bingo, Reason: We Be Book'N, Young Adult

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March 13, 2022 · 3:18 pm

The Changelings by Christina Soontornvat

The Changelings by Christina Soontornvat

I really enjoyed The Changelings. It’s a sweet story about friends and siblings caring about each even when they get on each others nerves sometimes. It’s pretty much every reader kid’s dream to discover the fairies and fantasy stories they like are actually real so it’s easy to identify with the main character. I didn’t see the big twist coming at all and it was just perfect. I highly recommend this book to people of all ages. It would make a great family read aloud.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 28
Pages Read in 2022: 9718
Graphic Novels: 1

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March 13, 2022 · 3:07 pm

Beyond the Bougainvillea by Dolores Durando

Beyond the Bougainvillea by Dolores Durando

Beyond the Bougainvillea is a bit depressing. If things could go wrong to the poor main character they did. The story itself is quite good and I enjoyed it, but there were a couple glaring issues. There are a lot of typos. More annoying, though, is the writing style. She’d suddenly change the scene with no indication whatsoever. Characters would be having a conversation and then suddenly one of the characters would be thinking back on something that happened long ago. At times I found it hard to keep up with what was going on. I often felt like I must have been reading with my mind wandering and not paying attention to the words (which I do sometimes), but every time I’d flip back I’d find I had comprehended what was written just fine. It was the author who skipped ahead or changed what was going on for no apparent reason. It just made it a bit awkward to read. It’s still a good enough book and I cared deeply about what happened to several of the characters so I don’t regret reading it. (Plus it was the first book for the author and she was 90 when it was published which is pretty incredible.)

3 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 27
Pages Read in 2022: 9428
Graphic Novels: 1

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March 8, 2022 · 9:06 pm

Generation M by Scott Cramer

Generation M by Scott Cramer

Generation M is the third and final book in the Toucan Trilogy. Once again, the author did an excellent job of nutshelling every time something that hadn’t been mentioned since a previous book came up. The character development continued to be excellent and not just in the children. I found it fascinating how the majority of the adults were so attached to the thought that kids couldn’t possibly be creating a thriving society without the help of adults. I thought that was probably one of the most realistic things in the entire book. I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys young adult dystopian.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 26
Pages Read in 2022: 9166
Graphic Novels: 1

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Filed under Dystopian, Reason: We Be Book'N, Young Adult

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