Book Review: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

[I have no idea why this post thinks it's new. I wrote it back in 2016]

The authors of this book were at Book Riot Live last year participating in a panel about writing with a co-author, or something like that. Jason Reynolds was already one of my Secret Author Boyfriends ever since he was at the Rochester Teen Book Festival last year, but shhhh, as the name suggests, it's a secret.

If you get the chance to see either of these men on tour, do it. If they are together, it's worth camping out to get in. Top quotes from this Book Riot Live panel:

Mini-Reviews: We Are Okay and You're Welcome, Universe

Here’s a wee post on a couple of cute little slice- of- life books I’ve read recently. They both feature diverse protagonists that aren’t trying to be diverse. They are just being teens/ young adults and trying to live their lives.

Series Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Ok, yall know that there is no way that I’m going to remember which events happened in which one of these books so proceed with caution knowing that it’s possible I will spoil something. However! I am going to try to talk broadly and briefly about the series as a whole.

The Daughter of Smoke and Bones series is a completed trilogy by Laini Taylor. I think that the author has a well- deserved reputation for her vivid writing and world building. She takes the time to paint a picture in your mind without being

Best MG/YA of 2017 So Far! (Top Ten Tuesday)

It’s about that time for a mid-year check in! Of course, its almost the end of June and it’s unbelievable how fast the year has gone already. But doesn’t everyone say that? Isn’t it really funny how we are always just so shocked and betrayed at how time passes… It's also funny how often I find this gif appropriate for a post. 

But I digress.

So, this post is going to be about the best books I’ve read so far in 2017. By coincidence, that’s the topic for Top Ten Tuesday (link to host's page) so I’ll see if I can get to ten of them and that will be two proverbial dead birds!

I was going to do a combined Adult/YA list, but I had 10 YA favorites. I’ll do a short list of adult fiction/ nonfiction for tomorrow. (update: I didn't do an adult post.)

RocTBF Mini-Reviews: Fat Angie and Melt

Two more books read for #MissionRocTBF! I already know I'm not gonna hit my goal AGAIN this year but I'm just gonna keep on keeping on.

Books in this post:

Mini-Reviews Everything Leads to You and The Outsiders

Quick little post to tell you about a couple of awesome YA books that I’ve read recently.

One was for TBF 2017

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour:

This book is about a senior in high school who has been working on the movie sets as part of her summer internship. She and her best friend discover a letter written by a famous dead movie star and start following clues from it to figure out the mystery of his life. I might be making it sound lame, but this book was well- written, charming, and emotionally satisfying. I’m excited to hear Ms. LaCour talk about the book a the book festival in a few days. The author that I will be working with that day is presenting with Ms. LaCour so I will be all up in her kool-aid all day! 

One was a Classic I thought I had Read

The Outsiders by H.E. Hinton: This book turned 50 years old this year and was originally written when Hinton was only 16 years old. It’s a coming of age tale (whatever the fuck that is) about a 14 year old boy who lives on the rough side of town, dodges fists, and almost drowns. And then, bad stuff happens. I knew it was coming and I almost decided not to finish the book to avoid it, but no. I hung in there. There are many great quotes about life and the interesting ways in which the social classes are different, but so-much-the same. Stay gold, y'all. This might be a challenged book, which makes it count for Read Harder.

Related Posts: 

   

Book Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

I discovered Neal Shusterman because of TBF, I think. Or maybe I discovered him right before a TBF several years ago. Either way, I definitely met him at a TBF and he is one of my author boyfriends. He doesn’t know that, so mums the word. Anyway, Mr. Shusterman wrote one of my favorite series (Unwind) and one of my favorite YA stand-alones (Bruiser). His previous book Challenger Deep was a good book but not my favorite so I was hesitant to jump into Scythe for fear that this would be author-hero-letdown. BUT NO! It’s definitely got the deep-if-you-think-about-it political commentary that I loved from Unwind along with his usual swept away in the story OH MY GOD WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT piece. Mr. Shusterman doesn’t shy away from the feels and I’m glad I forged ahead.

Oh, maybe I should actually mention something about the book. Duh.

Book Review: The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles

I got this book from a YA box subscription that I didn't really want. So, maybe I'm salty about that. But I don't think so. I might also be done with over-done tropes. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's just jump in:

The Goodreads bit:

"For the perfect love, what would you be willing to lose?

It’s been a shattering year for seventeen-year-old Zoe, who’s still reeling from her father's shockingly sudden death in a caving accident and her neighbors’ mysterious disappearance from their own home. Then on a terrifying sub-zero, blizzardy night in Montana, she and her brother are brutally attacked in a cabin in the woods—only to be rescued by a mysterious bounty hunter they call X." ...[Go to Goodreads page]

My Two Cents:

Book Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

It seems like it’s been forever since I’ve written a review. It was almost two months ago! I’m not sure that I know how to write one… bear with me.

The Goodreads Mumbo Jumbo:

"Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner..." [go to Goodreads]

RocTBF2017: Books I Already Read

This will be my third year trying to read one book from each RocTBF author. I’m just dropping this little post as a shout out to the authors that I have already read who will be participating this year. I have discovered some awesome books. In fact, the reason I keep failing my own challenge is because I get caught up reading multiple books by the same author, rather than moving on down the list.

	Previously Read	Any Strong Feelings?
Renée Ahdieh	"Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn, book 1)", "The Rose & the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn, book 2)"	I talked about Book 1 for days.
Charles Benoit	"Fall From Grace" and "You".	Both books were awesome.
Libba Bray	"Diviners"	I think I don’t like this time period?
Zac Brewer	"The Blood Between Us ", "Cemetery Boys", "Eighth Grade Bites” Books 1 – 5, I think	This is an author I go back and forth about.
Michael Buckley	"Undertow: Undertow Series (Book 1)" "The Fairy-Tale Detectives: The Sisters Grimm”	Love both series so far.
Ellen Hopkins	"Burned", Smoke	I was surprised at how much I loved Burned.
A. S. King	"Reality Boy", "Ask the Passengers" "Dust of 100 Dogs". "I Crawl Through It"	Ask the Passengers was a must read. I Crawl Through it was SUPER confusing.
David Levithan	"Every Day"	This is a wonderful book, but I’m scared to read the second one.
Sarah J. Maas	“A Court of Thorns and Roses”	Great.
Danielle Paige	"Dorothy Must Die” Trilogy	One of my favorite retellings.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz	"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe"	I didn’t love it as much as the internet told me I would. But I did like it a lot.
Terry Trueman	"Stuck in Neutral"	I was so pissed off about the ending!

Related Posts:  My Other Current Book Challenge

 

RocTBF2017 - Running Post

It’s an absolute travesty that I have yet to post about the 2017 Rochester Teen Book Festival. What is my life, yall?

RocTBF is an annual event focused on… yes… young adult literature. It’s grown into a massive event with over 2000 teens and 300 volunteers. This will be my fifth year volunteering I think.

So, for the last couple of years, I’ve tasked myself with having read at least one book by each author who will be there by the day of the festival. This can include books that I previously read. Ya know, the beauty of giving yourself a challenge is that you can basically change the rules when you realize that you were over- ambitious!

I’ve never actually met the goal completely,  though 2015 was NOT MY FAULT!!

 

So, this year, there are 28 (AAAHH) authors scheduled to attend. For the last couple of years, at least one or 2 authors have to cancel at that the last minute but you can’t predict who it’ll be! So... here's the running list/ progress (updated 5/13):

Book Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

The Ember in the Ashes is awesome, but let me not get ahead of myself . I got this book from the library and I think it was my final read of 2016. 

From Goodreads [linked]: 

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
 
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
 
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
 
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, it’s most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My Two Cents:

January Wrap Up - Three Excellent YAs

I’m exhausted right now. But, I have to wait for my daughter to get out of rehearsal, anyway so I might as well tell you why by Book January sucked so hard.

First off, I have only completed 6 books this month, three since the outbox post a couple of weeks ago. This isn’t really a low number and I would never think this isn’t “Enough” books. It’s just well below by average for the last couple of years. However, I’m trying to take it easy on myself and switch my way of thinking about THE NUMBER. My goal is to read fewer books more mindfully this year. My guess is that the goal will wax and wane like so many others.

All three of these books earn a We Need Diverse Books badge!! Whoot whoot! Here's what I've read:

Book Review: The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

I’m not sure where I got this book or how long it’s been sitting on my shelf, which made it a great candidate for a ClearAShelf challenge book. I have not read the sequel (published September 2016), yet, but plan to.

The GoodReads lead in:

The world is at peace, said the Utterances. And really, if the odd princess has a hard day, is that too much to ask?

Greta is a duchess and crown princess—and a hostage to peace. This is how the game is played: if you want to rule, you must give one of your children as a hostage. Go to war and your hostage dies. [Link to GoodReads page]

First, the summary doesn’t really do the book justice, which is why I didn’t post the whole thing as I typically do. So let me just cut to my bit.

My Two Cents: 

Series Review: Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud

I read this book because it was suggested to me through my Overdrive app and was available “now” at the time that I was looking for something to download. I had never read any other Jonathan Stroud books but had already heard great things about The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus Sequence #1), which I own. That series is also available on Overdrive and it’s likely I will listen to it super soon.

Ok, so Lockwood and Co. is a series about a supernatural detective agency. The world is London following an unknown event that has led to the infestation of the dead. The dead here are ghosts, phantasms, spirits and the like, not zombies. Children and teens, being those with the most sensitively to see other worldly being are recruited and trained to be Watchmen or hunters.

Book Review: A Sense of the Infinite by Hilary T. Smith

I got this book in one of Book Riot’s quarterly boxes last year. I love the cover. I love all the silhouette book covers that came out a while back. You know the ones. Anyway. A Sense of the Infinite is my first Clear A Shelf book for December. And it was a pretty good way to start.

The (edited) Goodreads bit [Link to GR page]:

It's senior year of high school, and Annabeth is ready—ready for everything she and her best friend, Noe, have been planning and dreaming. But there are some things Annabeth isn't prepared for, like the constant presence of Noe's new boyfriend. Like how her relationship with her mom is wearing and fraying. And like the way the secret she's been keeping hidden deep inside her for years has started clawing at her insides, making it hard to eat or even breathe.

But most especially, she isn't prepared to lose Noe.

For years, Noe has anchored Annabeth and set their joint path. Now Noe is drifting in another direction, making new plans and dreams that don't involve Annabeth. Without Noe's constant companionship, Annabeth's world begins to crumble. But as a chain of events pulls Annabeth further and further away from Noe, she finds herself closer and closer to discovering who she's really meant to be—with her best friend or without.

Hilary T. Smith's second novel is a gorgeously written meditation on identity, loss, and the bonds of friendship.

My Review:

This is a book where nothing big happens. It is also a book in which many important things happen.

Book Review: The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

I read The Female of the Species because I wanted to. I liked the cover and its eye catching color but it was just any other book I picked up at the library that I was pretty sure I had heard something about, but I didn’t know what.

(Part of ) The Goodreads Summary [click here to go there]:

Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best. The language of violence.

She relegates herself to the shadows, a girl who goes unseen in plain sight, unremarkable in the high school hallways.

But Jack Fisher sees her. So does Peekay.

Circumstances bring Alex, Jack, and Peekay together as their senior year unfolds. While partying one night, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting the teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.

My five cent review:

Book Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

This book was checked out from my local neighborhood library. I’ve never read any other stuff by this authors, though I know she’s all the shit in some circles.

The Goodreads Bit:

There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

What I had to Say about it:

This one gets a strong 3 stars or a wobbly 4 stars. 

Book Review: And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich (Horror-tober)

I'm always a fan of the horror genre but this month is October, so it's a special treat to kind of focus on it this month. To the extent that my attention span allows, a'course. I picked this book up purely based on the chilling title and the spookily- amazing cover porn.

The Goodreads official summary:

When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt's home, it's immediately clear that the "blood manor" is cursed. The creaking of the house and the stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets, too--the questions that Silla can't ignore: Who is the beautiful boy that's appeared from the woods? Who is the man that her little sister sees, but no one else? And why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer?

Filled with just as many twists and turns as The Dead House, and with achingly beautiful, chilling language that delivers haunting scenes, AND THE TREES CREPT IN is the perfect follow-up novel for master horror writer Dawn Kurtagich.

What I Had to Say About It:

Ok, yall. First this book is kind of fucked up.

Book Review: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands has been on my radar for about a hundred years, even though it was pubbed just a few months ago. This must mean that I saw some early cover reveals or something. Anyhooo. I checked it out from the library and read it in about two seconds.

Here’s the GoodReads mumbo Jumbo.

 

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic.  For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.

Amani Al’Hiza is all three.  She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.

Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.

Rebel of the Sands reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes—in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally, at long last, embracing her power.

What I had to say about it: