Book Review - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Welp. Here’s another book that left me a blubbering mess. The other one was earlier this week. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think so.

The Hate U Give has gotten a lot of great book buzz. I knew a bit about the main story line and I honestly wasn’t in the mood for a book about another teen death, with civil rights oriented content or otherwise. Seriously, yall. Make sure you are taking care of your own emotional wellness!

Anyhooo!

Book Review: A List of Cages by Robin Roe

I’m already cheating at my own challenge. The point of the ClearASHelf challenge is for me to focus on books that I own. However, to make it more inclusive, books that have been on a virtual shelf can count, too. So, I’m not really cheating, I’m just violating The Spirit of the challenge. This confession absolves me from all feelings of guilt.

Let’s talk about this book, shall we? There may be spoilers, alas, so proceed as you dare.

Clear A Shelf - October 2017

This is the third time I’m doing a month – long challenge to focus on books that I already own.

Here’s the wrap up post from last time, which shows my meager success and includes how the others did, as well. 

I have decided to do it all again for October!

This time I am determined to not check out any additional books from the library through this month in order to be in a good place for the challenge.

I have changed no rules. 

Clear A Shelf Wrapup and December Outbox

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y’ALL!!

It’s hard to believe that it is 2017. My guess is that it feels a lot like 2016. Here’s hoping that we aren’t embarking on the beginning of the end of the world as we know it. I will be honest, though. If the dystopian future is about to happen, I am definitely going to be part of the over- controlled (but possibly rebellious) group within the walls who have electricity and central heating. I ain’t gonna lie. I don’t like temporary camping. I definitely wouldn’t survive as a member of the Resistance holed up in the woods.

Anywhoo…

We all know that outbox posts are harder if they cover the whole month. And, yet, of all the posts I did in December, none of them were outbox posts. Welp. And because I don’t want to do a separate post for the Clear A Shelf challenge, I’m smooshing that in here, too!

Here are the highlights for the month.

Clear A Shelf Challenge Two: Sign Up Post

In August, I challenged myself to read books that I already owned. I called the challenge ClearAShelf (ingenious, right?) and invited tweeps to join me.

Here’s the wrap up post from last time, which shows my meager success and includes how the others did, as well. 

I have decided to do it all again for December! Actually… Lorryn asked me if I was planning to do it again and said she was interested and why the hell not!

August Recap and ClearAShelf Results (Pathetic)

So, August was dubbed (by me) to be focused on clearing out some of my TBR books, especially those that I already owned at the time. I made a post and invited other people to join on this, a noble quest. 

  

Book Review: Shadows of Sherwood by Kekla Magoon

I picked up Shadows of Sherwood at the RochesterTeen Book Festival this year. Kekla Magoon was one of the participating authors… She was the only author of color there (though Mariko Tamaki is half Japanese), but I won’t even get started on that. I’m currently trying to decide if I want to talk to them about it or if I just want to be go along with it resentfully. 

Anyway, Shadows of Sherwood is a Robin Hood retelling on its surface. It's the first book I've completed for my own damn book Challenge: #ClearAShelf.

Here’s the Goodreads mumbo jumbo for the book:

 

The night her parents disappear, twelve-year-old Robyn Loxley must learn to fend for herself. Her home, Nott City, has been taken over by a harsh governor, Ignomus Crown. After fleeing for her life, Robyn has no choice but to join a band of strangers-misfit kids, each with their own special talent for mischief. Setting out to right the wrongs of Crown's merciless government, they take their outlaw status in stride. But Robyn can't rest until she finds her parents. As she pieces together clues from the night they disappeared, Robyn learns that her destiny is tied to the future of Nott City in ways she never expected.

Kicking off a new series with an unforgettable heroine, readers will be treated to feats of courage and daring deeds as Robyn and her band find their way in this cruel, new world.

 

What I had to say about it:

Clear A Shelf August – Reading Challenge (Sign Up Here!)

I know I’m not the only one. Admit it. You have loads of books sitting around your house but you still mostly read books that you just randomly pick up new at the library, at the book store, or from the Little Free Library near you. And they are mostly completely unrelated to the books on your completely overstuffed and ridiculous TBR shelf. 

So, I’ve decided to take a month and try and "Clear a Shelf." Hence the name of the challenge. Clever, no? I've been thinking about hosting a challenge and viola! So, come along with me. You know your shelves will thank you.

READ THE "RULES"

Qualifying books fall into two categories:

OWNED: Anything you own before August 1^st is fair game. You can use this challenge to clear a shelf of books you already own. I am going to try and focus on this category.

TBR: Any book already on your established To Be Read (TBR) list as of August 1^st regardless of whether you own it or not.

DECLARE YOUR GOAL

Percentages are based on the total number of books you read for August.

0% - 25 %:  Noble Page

25% - 50%: Knight

51% - 75%: Ruler

76% - 100% Warrior

MAKE A POST/ GET THE STICKER

If you want to join me on this quest, post your goal on twitter, your blog, or wherever you do such things. On Twitter please use the hashtag #ClearAShelf. And check this out. I made a thing! You can use this sticker on your post. It's cute, right!?

SIGN UP 

Sign up using a link to your post in the linky form thingy below. If you use your actual sign- up blog post or tweet, I will pop in every now and then to shout words of encouragement along the way. All Rulers and Warriors at the end of the challenge will be entered into a raffle to win two new- to-you books from my shelves. I haven't figured out those details yet. Obviously, I'm new!


So, the stupid linky thing is no longer working. If you are joining me on this challenge, just drop me a Tweet or an email with the link to your sign up post! Technology is such an awesome and spectacular pain in the butt!!