tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16628129351714953092024-03-13T01:02:32.492-04:00TBF Teens ReadCathy Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15001159825526934646noreply@blogger.comBlogger460125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-31306704100863276032020-05-08T20:10:00.000-04:002020-05-08T20:10:15.683-04:00Friday Fun Post: When Meeting a TBF Author...Hi everyone! It's May already, and although TBF has been postponed, I'm hopeful that we'll all be able to meet our favorite authors sometime in the future. And so today's post will be about just that: meeting TBF authors. Whether you're volunteering or attending, meeting the authors is usually the highlight of the day, so here's some advice from my personal experience!<br />
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1. Be an author assistant! Volunteering at TBF is always so much fun, and even more so when you get your very own author for a day. I was an author assistant for Kim Savage in 2017 and Claire Legrand/Roshani Chokshi in 2018, and both years I had an amazing experience! I loved being able to chat with the authors before the day started and during breaks, and it made the whole "talking-with-authors-you-really-love" experience a lot less intimidating and a lot more free-flowing.<br />
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2. Don't be shy! And side note: talk with other readers! I've found that standing in line during the autographing session is a great opportunity to meet new people because you already have something in common with everyone else (and books are great discussion topics). Authors are also so down to earth, so don't be afraid to ask questions, take photos, and get your books or bookplates signed!<br />
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3. Let the authors know how much their book matters to you! Or how excited you are to read their upcoming works! I guarantee that it will make them smile, and it's also a great way to start a conversation and start asking all those burning questions you might have. I personally love to ask authors about their writing process and book journeys, what they wish they had known when they started writing, and any general advice they have for others.<br />
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And of course, have fun at TBF and enjoy the experience because it really is something special :)<br />
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This may be my last post, so I would just like to say that I've had so much fun blogging this year! I've read some amazing books so far and look forward to many more!<br />
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Best wishes,<br />
AmyAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-3060488115354597732020-04-29T22:09:00.000-04:002020-04-29T22:09:32.536-04:00Book Review: Perfect by Ellen HopkinsHello everyone! I hope you have all been doing well. This week I'll be sharing <i>Perfect </i>by Ellen Hopkins.<br />
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<i>Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school </i><i>seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.</i></div>
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<i><br />Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never understand.<br /><br />Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?</i><br />
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I'm a physical-book type of reader, but like many of us I suspect, I've been shifting increasingly toward e-books during this time, and even more recently, toward audiobooks. While I've never been an avid audiobook listener, I decided this week to try listening to <i>Perfect, </i>as it was the only format I had available. As I soon discovered, <i>Perfect</i> is the perfect book to listen to (haha).<br />
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Ellen Hopkins has a distinctive verse style, and there is a rhythm to her writing that made me feel at times that I was listening to spoken word poetry, not just recited lines. Each chapter was like a mini podcast episode in each of the characters' lives, and I truly felt like I was inside their minds, listening to their inner monologues, hearing their words as they were meant to be imparted. I’ve read other Ellen Hopkins’ novels before, but listening added a whole new dimension to the story and a newfound appreciation for the structure of her writing.<br />
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Onto the actual plot of the story: <i>Perfect</i> provides windows into the interconnected and messy lives of Cara, Kendra, Sean, and Andre--four ordinary yet intricate individuals. The unglamorized description of their teenage experiences--fractured families, distorted body images, complicated relationships, obstacles in expressing love and identity, tragedies, and manipulation--share struggles so often glossed over in YA fiction. Each chapter is spent in the mind of one of the four protagonists, and for that time at least, you understand on some level their motivations, rationale, and desires, whether they be right or wrong. Their experiences are certainly not universal, but there is something inextricably real about their lives, something about their imperfections that makes them relatable nevertheless.<br />
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I really enjoyed listening to <i>Perfect</i>, and it was the reality and humanness of the characters that made this novel stand out to me. I would highly recommend it to fans of books like <i>Dig</i> (A.S. King) and <i>Speak </i>(Laurie Halse Anderson). One last note: <i>Perfect</i> is the companion novel of <i>Impulse</i>, and while I have not read the latter, <i>Perfect </i>seems to stand on its own.<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
Amy</div>
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Find <i>Perfect </i>in the <a href="https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=65611370&currentIndex=1&view=allCopiesDetailsTab">Monroe County Library System</a> (Overdrive <a href="https://libraryweb.overdrive.com/media/536789">here</a>), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9917945-perfect">Goodreads</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perfect-ellen-hopkins/1101010781?ean=9781416983255">Barnes & Noble</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-by-Hopkins-Ellen-Hardcover/dp/B00OVLKQNA/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=perfect+ellen+hopkins&qid=1588195350&sr=8-5">Amazon</a>. </div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-29731161164045863032020-04-23T21:37:00.000-04:002020-04-23T21:38:22.493-04:00Giddyup for a Great ReadHello everyone! I hope that you are all staying safe in this difficult time. There really is no better time to escape into the pages of a book if you are longing to leave your house... no need to social distance from your favorite book character! Luckily, I have just the suggestions for you if you are looking for a great read.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ghetto Cowboy by [G. Neri, Jesse Joshua Watson]" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51eeJHTJplL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture courtesy of Amazon.com</td></tr>
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<i>Ghetto Cowboy, </i>by G. Neri and illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson, has everything that you could possibly want in a book. A strong and cheeky protagonist? Check. A budding father-son relationship that you will always root for? Check. A wise old man always willing to provide food? Check. A bunch of horses? You bet. Neri's tale has got something special with its narrator. Cole is strong willed, with just enough sass to breath life into his character. You root for Cole as he navigates a difficult situation and attempts to form a relationship with a parent that he never knew. The twelve year old boy, with all of the triumph and the flaws, slowly learning and maturing to wisdom beyond his years is wonderful to trace.<br />
The setting of a horse farm in the city is unexpected, with the flare of wild west welcome in an urban area. Neri breaths life into the scene, painting a masterful picture of a stable in a city and horses in the streets. Of course, Neri doesn't have to rely solely on his words to paint a picture. There are absolutely gorgeous illustrations sprinkled throughout the book, which are a special treat to look at and bring the story to life. Personally, my favorite is the one where Cole is meeting the horse for the first time.<br />
Neri also provided valuable social commentary in his work, using the book to show the difficulties faced by a young boy growing up with a single, working parent. Cole faces adversity with grace and grows through the opportunities provided to him.<br />
I cannot recommend <i>Ghetto Cowboy </i>highly enough. It is filled to the brim and overflowing with heart. If you are looking for a book the will use words to utterly transport you and provide you with amazing characters, look no further. In fact, here is a handy amazon link if you want to go out and buy it right now (because, dear reader, have I every led you astray?).<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ghetto-Cowboy-G-Neri-ebook/dp/B005CJAGB2/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Ghetto+cowboy&qid=1587691855&sr=8-5">https://www.amazon.com/Ghetto-Cowboy-G-Neri-ebook/dp/B005CJAGB2/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Ghetto+cowboy&qid=1587691855&sr=8-5</a><br />
Stay safe everyone and take some time to read a good book as you wait for summer weather and an end to quarantine.<br />
LauraLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471021377653975716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-71571932263396884882020-04-17T17:41:00.000-04:002020-04-17T17:41:52.286-04:00Friday Fun Post: A TBF Book Close to My HeartHello everyone! I love the topic of today's post, because I could really go on and on about the books that have made a significant impact on my life, especially growing up.<br />
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The books that have shaped me fundamentally are very distinct in my mind from the rest. They have a special place in my heart as well as my bookshelf, and also a special title--I refer to them as the "books of my childhood" (a little dramatic but they truly are). These were the books that I owned when I started to love reading in second and third grade, the ones that made me fall in love with reading even more. These were the books I read and reread so much that they are imprinted in my mind today, and to me, they have immeasurable value.<br />
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If I had to award the title of "<i>The </i>Book of my Childhood," it would honestly be a tie. But one of the victors would be <i>Song of the Wanderer</i> (Book Two of <i>The Unicorn Chronicles</i>) by Bruce Coville, a TBF alum (and if you're wondering, the other is <i>From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</i> by E. L. Konigsburg, another fine novel).<br />
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(As a slight aside, you might be wondering: Why Book Two? To answer, I had an interesting habit when I was younger of reading book series out of order, and <i>The Unicorn Chronicles </i>was one of them. If you're starting this series today, Book One is <i>Into the Land of the Unicorns.</i>)<br />
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I remember being completely captivated by <i>Song of the Wanderer</i>--it was one of the first proper fantasy novels I ever read, and the rich descriptions of magic, mythical creatures, and adventures created a world I longed to be a part of. I still remember bits and pieces of the plot, but more than that, the novel evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and memories of that time. Looking at the creased cover, I remember sprawling on the basement floor, a slight chill in the air, opening to the first chapter where Cara meets with the Queen. Flipping through the now delicate pages, I remember carrying it with me everywhere I went--at home, at school--and the day the first page of the table of contents flew out after being worn through many, many page turns.<br />
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I loved <i>Song of the Wanderer </i>so much, I went to the Children's Book Festival sometime afterward to meet Bruce Coville myself. I remember stopping him awkwardly as he passed in the hallway, but he took the time to sign my copy and take a photo with me. "Follow the unicorn path!" he wrote, and I certainly hope I have.<br />
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This all occurred eight or nine years ago, but <i>Song of the Wanderer </i>still has great personal significance. Like my other "books of my childhood," I will never forget it, as I firmly believe it is imprinted somewhere in the fabric of who I am. These novels sparked my love of reading and writing, and that is truly fundamental to my identity.<br />
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-AmyAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-50451557070304752082020-04-10T21:29:00.004-04:002020-04-10T21:30:36.350-04:00TBF Book that Holds My Heart<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/28954189-scythe" itemprop="image" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1)" id="coverImage" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456172676l/28954189.jpg" style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 99, 93); margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 150px;" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;">Book cover courtesy of<i> Goodreads</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black;"> Hi TBF readers! I hope that you are all staying healthy and reading some fantastic books! I have a suggestion that is particularly close to my heart today. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been going to Teen Book Fest for years now. Unfortunately, I had not read this author’s books when he attended in both 2014 and 2015 (I am still crying over this). It took me a couple of years after to read Neal Shusterman’s incredible work. The book that I keep coming back to, years after I read it is Shusterman’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scythe</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which I will forever assert to be one of the most creative and all around incredible books that I have read. The concept itself is chilling and fascinating. A society where death has been conquered but there is a group employed in controlling the population by taking life. A society ruled by a computer and controlled by a computer. The world building is phenomenal and Shusterman has this fantastic grasp on human psychology so he is able to sell this horrifying idea as realistic. The characters that Shusterman creates are neither sinners nor saints, but incredibly vibrant, sympathetic, and three dimensional. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think that Shusterman’s story was one of the things that prompted me to become interested in psychology and philosophy, philosophy being one of my intended majors in college. It asked questions about what it meant to be human, what it meant to be alive, and what it meant to struggle with ethical questions. Citra and Rowan did not come up with perfect answers. Neither did Scythe Faraday. They all had different approaches, different ideas of right and wrong, different things that they placed importance on that colored their decisions. The third book of the trilogy was recently published and I loved that Shusterman did not decide to conduct an easy ending, where everything falls into place perfectly. Shusterman has never failed to make this incredibly alien world have a toll of truth. One of the more powerful treasures of this book is this: “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My greatest wish for humanity is not for peace or comfort or joy. It is that we all still die a little inside every time we witness the death of another. For only the pain of empathy will keep us human. There’s no version of God that can help us if we ever lose that.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” These are the types of questions that Shusterman struggles with. In a world where death has been conquered, what makes these people human? In a world where killing is a venerated profession, how can a sense of morality remain in society? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shusterman’s story has never failed to make me think, question, consider. It is my favorite thing about his writing. I love that he forces the reader to grapple with these questions of life. Shusterman doesn’t offer easy answers, but he does ask fascinating questions. I think that the questions of human society and dilemmas of life and death perhaps are resonating even more during this pandemic. Because, despite all of the horror that Shusterman invented in society, he always gave a message of hope: “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope in the shadow of fear is the world's most powerful motivator.” The powerful message of hope in the stories of Shusterman make them so compelling. This book series has been absolutely life changing for me and was one of experiences that helped me to realize my love of philosophy and psychology. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TBF authors are all incredible! Neal Shusterman has had a special impact on my life, and it is so amazing that he was in Rochester just five short years ago. I only hope that he decided to return to TBF sometime in the near future and I will get a chance to meet him in person.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stay safe and healthy in this trying time! Read a couple of wonderful TBF books and take heart-- just as story heroes and heroines are able to get through anything, as a society, we will get through this and TBF will eventually happen!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy reading!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura</span></span></span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471021377653975716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-20819198439028458512020-04-08T17:18:00.000-04:002020-04-08T17:18:41.612-04:00Book Review: Saving Marty by Paul GriffinHello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Although I've been home for the past few weeks, I've definitely taken advantage of Overdrive to read some amazing books lately. This week, I will be sharing with you <i>Saving Marty</i> by Paul Griffin.<br />
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<i>Eleven-year-old Lorenzo Ventura knows heroes are rare--like his father, who died in the war, or his friend Paloma Lee, who fearlessly pursues her dream of being a famous musician. Renzo would never describe himself as a hero, but his chance comes when he adopts Marty, a runt piglet.<br /><br />Marty is extraordinary--he thinks he's a dog and acts like one too--and his bond with Renzo is truly one of a kind. At first, the family farm seems like the perfect home for Marty, but as he approaches 350 pounds, it becomes harder for Renzo to convince his mom that a giant pig makes a good pet. So when Marty causes a dangerous (and expensive) accident, Renzo knows Marty's time is up. He'd do anything and everything for his best friend, but will everything be enough to save Marty?<br /><br />Paul Griffin masterfully melds the heartrending and the hopeful in this unforgettable story about the power of friendship . . . and the unsung heroes all around us.</i><br />
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Reading <i>Saving Marty</i> (and also <i>Greenglass House </i>from my last review) reminded me what I've always loved about middle-grade novels--how the complexity of life is portrayed through relative simplicity. The plotline, characters, and writing are easy to follow, but the world they collectively create and the messages they impart are full of meaning. The friendship between Lorenzo and Marty, the lovable housepig, is central to the story, and Marty's presence helps Lorenzo work through obstacles in his life, specifically, trying to understand a father that he never knew. </div>
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I especially love the characters--Lorenzo, Lorenzo's mom, Double Pop, Paloma, and of course, Marty--who each possess distinctive personalities, as well as the dynamic among them as they experience triumphs and hardships together. All of the secondary characters are multidimensional as well--there are no archetypes; each person, whether overall "good" or "bad," has a heart, and motivations behind their actions that bring humanity into their characters. </div>
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I also love the role of music in this novel as something that ties Paloma and Lorenzo together and also provides Lorenzo a link to his father, and there are pages of sheet music shattered throughout the novel of the songs they play. All of these elements create a story that is more than just the friendship between a boy and his pig, but a larger series of events and personal growth catalyzed by Marty's presence as Lorenzo learns lessons about acceptance, heroism, and selflessness. Life is imperfect and endings can be bittersweet, and <i>Saving Marty </i>portrays all of these ups and downs. </div>
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-Amy </div>
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Find <i>Saving Marty </i>in the <a href="https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1111935469&currentIndex=0&view=allCopiesDetailsTab">Monroe County Library System</a> (Overdrive <a href="https://libraryweb.overdrive.com/media/3088375">here</a>), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33877154-saving-marty">Goodreads</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saving-marty-paul-griffin/1125424103?ean=9780399539084">Barnes & Noble</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Marty-Paul-Griffin-ebook/dp/B01MT59XPP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=saving+marty&qid=1586378849&s=books&sr=1-1">Amazon</a>. </div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-37622673580543244132020-04-01T22:34:00.000-04:002020-04-01T22:35:07.460-04:00Your Next Favorite Social Distancing Read<span style="color: white;">Hi everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">It's been a crazy past couple of weeks in Rochester and around the globe. Social distancing and staying home has become the theme of the month. Libraries have closed (truly a terrifying development). It is in times like this that we all need a good book to transport us to another world for a couple of hours. Well, I've got the perfect suggestion of a book that accomplishes just that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Book jacket summary: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #990000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Will the princess save the beast?</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">no way </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Of Curses and Kisses (St. Rosettas Academy Book 1) by [Menon, Sandhya]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/512MtX7DdeL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Cover courtesy of Amazon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;"><i>Of Curses and Kisses</i>, by Sandhya Menon (the brilliant author of <i>When Dimple Met Rishi</i>) is exactly the sort of comforting book that we've been craving right now. It evokes the sensation of being wrapped in a warm blanket and offers a portal into another world, full of romance and mystery. If you are a student missing being in school, this is the perfect story set at a boarding school to give you the vicarious learning experience. Although, this school has archery taught by an Olympic athlete and is populated by students from the nobility, so it's not quite the run of the mill high school experience. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">In all seriousness though, this book is so much fun to read. Princess Jaya is a strong willed, clever, and determined female protagonist. Menon makes her incredibly three dimensional, as she struggles with her own desires and the rules that her family has laid out for her. Grey is an absolute delight of a character, taciturn and morose, but with the perfect amount of gruff kindness. You really just want to give him a hug. The dynamic between Jaya and Grey is fantastic, with Jaya's plot to make Grey fall in love with her transforming into a genuine spark. You know what they say about best laid plans... </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">The secondary cast of characters is just as strong, with Daphne Elizabeth in particular standing out as someone that you just really would want to be friends with. Menon's plot is fresh and inspired, a unique take on a classic fairy tale. I can assure you, you've never heard a beauty and the beast story like this before. The importance of myth as an old curse plays out is intriguing: you really want to know how the curse can finally be broken. If you are a fan of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, you'd like <i>Of Curses and Kisses</i>, as Jaya has Elizabeth Bennet's indomitable spark and Grey is quite like the standoffish Mr. Darcy. Their love story unfolds, shaken by past assumptions and a family rivalry, but it is something that you can't help but root for.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">I would highly suggest that you get this book immediately and dedicate a couple of at home hours to it. This books is guaranteed to make you smile in these trying times. In fact, here's the link to Amazon if you want to buy it now:</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Curses-Kisses-Sandhya-Menon-ebook/dp/B07THQF5WQ"><span style="color: white;">https://www.amazon.com/Curses-Kisses-Sandhya-Menon-ebook/dp/B07THQF5WQ</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Also, check out if Overdrive has it if you wanted to read an excerpt before you decide that you need a forever copy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Stay healthy and stay cheery: reading books is the best cure for social distancing blues. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Laura</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471021377653975716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-30183764203811682872020-03-27T18:56:00.000-04:002020-03-27T18:56:47.636-04:00Friday Fun Post: Dear Netflix...Dear Netflix,<br />
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I have a proposition for you :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOO1CW9lWzvSb2YvVw-aOLS2ViVr9vCGyq7t5djvxYpomlZoUwmK5gvMLcegs9eSn63wrTflxz4qhOvs9QtcmTKVPaibSKHUgu7Kut1qME9LjZyWz3pVEmJJRhbdxtnObDgfzzsjk45jU/s1600/furyborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOO1CW9lWzvSb2YvVw-aOLS2ViVr9vCGyq7t5djvxYpomlZoUwmK5gvMLcegs9eSn63wrTflxz4qhOvs9QtcmTKVPaibSKHUgu7Kut1qME9LjZyWz3pVEmJJRhbdxtnObDgfzzsjk45jU/s200/furyborn.jpg" width="133" /></a>After reading Claire Legrand’s fantasy novel, <i>Furyborn</i>, two years ago and hearing her describe it at TBF 2018 as being <i>Game-of-Thrones</i>-esque “but without the gratuitous violence against women,” I knew that <i>Furyborn </i>would be perfect as a TV series.<br />
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First of all, the pacing and structure of <i>Furyborn </i>would translate beautifully on screen. It’s action-packed, not conversation-heavy, and filled with details that bring the world to life even from the page. I would especially love to see Rielle’s trials depicted--the magic, the dresses--because I know the emotions and tension would be even more visceral and captivating. And I would be equally excited to see Eliana's riveting journey and discoveries.<br />
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<i>Furyborn </i>also has such a unique premise and timeline. Rielle and Eliana’s stories take place 1,000 years apart, and there are so many possibilities surrounding the depiction of these two perspectives. Alternating episodes between Rielle and Eliana’s worlds is one such possibility, and another (the one I prefer) would be combining both perspectives into each episode with breaks in between. I loved Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation of<i> Little Women </i>and her use of a fluid timeline, and I definitely think something similar would work for <i>Furyborn</i>.<br />
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Overall, there's so much material to work with in <i>Furyborn</i>, and also so much potential to expand on the novel as well. And while I don't have too many suggestions for the characters, I would love to see a diverse and inclusive cast, and if we could support lesser-known actors and actresses, that would be amazing too!<br />
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Best regards,<br />
Amy Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-26618104794250523672020-03-25T12:00:00.000-04:002020-03-25T12:00:01.634-04:00Book Review: Love & Other Carnivorous Plants by Florence Gonsalves<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJboUSidIBEBYrX6UQ6wRO5w9VxZJbyAT43vYKmIxX6IgraoWNUiUsPHPR2V75EgPzx3fmlgeuRGsLikKDNAe7IK2opHn4_Py00u_fgwM3Ulj3vf8-j-UHF8P4vdkw_0uF7qaJVPUpXs/s1600/31681354._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJboUSidIBEBYrX6UQ6wRO5w9VxZJbyAT43vYKmIxX6IgraoWNUiUsPHPR2V75EgPzx3fmlgeuRGsLikKDNAe7IK2opHn4_Py00u_fgwM3Ulj3vf8-j-UHF8P4vdkw_0uF7qaJVPUpXs/s400/31681354._SY475_.jpg" width="263" /></a>Hey all! While you're stuck inside these next few months there are plenty of great TBF books you should check out, and I'd recommend starting with <i>Love and Other Carnivorous Plants </i>by Florence Gonsalves. Here's a little summary:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #660000; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: white;">Freshman year at Harvard was the most anticlimactic year of Danny's life. She's failing pre-med and drifting apart from her best friend. One by one, Danny is losing all the underpinnings of her identity. When she finds herself attracted to an older, edgy girl who she met in rehab for an eating disorder, she finally feels like she might be finding a new sense of self. But when tragedy strikes, her self-destructive tendencies come back to haunt her as she struggles to discover who that self really is.</span></i></span><br />
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I did not know I would love this book as much as I did in the end. Firstly, the characters were really enjoyable to read about and I was rooting for them all throughout. Danny felt authentic and real, and that isn't just from the great queer and mental health representation in this novel. If I was to describe her in one word it would absolutely be a "mess," which is much better then it sounds. Her sometimes stupid decisions and self hatred make her feel even more real, and create an even better character as you watch her go on the journey to becoming the best version of herself. The love interest is also wonderful to read and the whole romantic subplot added a bit of lightness to this darker novel.<br />
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Another thing I loved about this book is the setting - not as many YA novels are set at colleges and I always am so excited to find those that are. As I head to college in the coming years I find stories about them extremely interesting, and with this one being set at Harvard I loved reading those little elements of it. The writing of this book is also incredible, Gonsalves finds the perfect balance between beautiful prose and young dialoge, with lines that feel lyrical and that deeply resonated with me, while not compromising realistic dialogue and having a nineteen year old narrator actually sound nineteen years old.<br />
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But the real reason you should read it is just for it's incredible authentic story, with characters that felt like real people one could know, and a story that is all to real and is told in such a beautiful and incredible way. To me, this book reminded me of two past books I've read and loved, <i>American Panda</i> and<i> Girl in Pieces, </i>yet it is also so different than anything I've ever read. I will say - this isn't really a light fluffy novel, but through the characters and their explorations of their selves and the world around them - I guarantee you'll love it.<br />
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-Claire<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31681354-love-other-carnivorous-plants?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ghtgjl47V4&rank=1" target="_blank">goodreads</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/1?book_id=31681354&source=compareprices" target="_blank">amazon</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/3?book_id=31681354&source=compareprices" target="_blank">barnes and noble</a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309913868089245601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-29145895064404582092020-03-18T16:28:00.000-04:002020-03-18T16:28:31.500-04:00Book Review: Greenglass House by Kate Milford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. This week I read <i>Greenglass House</i>, a middle-grade novel by Kate Milford, and I can't wait to share it with you!<br />
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<i>It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.</i><br />
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<i>Greenglass House</i> is a whimsical, heartwarming, and altogether enthralling novel. It's a story about mysterious guests, shared and unknown history, personal growth, and a house that draws people together--acquaintances and strangers alike.<br />
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I have to start by pulling some quotes from the novel: “The flashlight’s beam pierced the pool of shadow, which flickered and melted into butter-gold,” “Milo turned and saw only the stained-glass window and the snowy night beyond, tinged in shades of pale, pale greens: celery and celadon and tones like old bottle glass.”...Isn't it just beautiful? Milford’s writing is so melodic and descriptive it's almost poetic, and at the same time it's sharp, creating a cozy yet mysterious atmosphere. This novel as a whole is full of detail, from the storytelling revealing the backgrounds of each of the guests to the game Milo and Meddy play that guides them through their investigations and brings Milo self-acceptance as he reflects upon his identity.<br />
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And I love this novel especially for its unconventional elements and unexpected plot twists. There’s so much more than meets the eye in the Greenglass House, and that goes for its people too. An adventure of sleuthing, secrets, and storytelling unfolds as Milo and Meddy inch closer and closer to the underlying "wrongness."<br />
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I absolutely adore the writing, characters, and stories in <i>Greenglass House</i>, and I highly recommend it to fans of <i>The Mysterious Benedict Society</i>.<br />
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Until next time, </div>
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Amy<br />
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Find <i>Greenglass House </i>in the <a href="https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=513071462&currentIndex=0&view=allCopiesDetailsTab">Monroe County Library System</a> (Overdrive <a href="https://libraryweb.overdrive.com/libraryweb-fairport/content/media/1546589">here</a>), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18222716-greenglass-house">Goodreads</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/greenglass-house-kate-milford/1116226311?ean=9780544540286">Barnes & Noble</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Greenglass-House-Kate-Milford/dp/0544052706/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=greenglass+house&qid=1584555500&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>. </div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-51116347039427327212020-03-13T12:00:00.000-04:002020-03-13T12:00:05.747-04:00Friday Fun Post: If You Like This...Read That!Hey all, here for another Friday post; this week I'll be recommending a few TBF books based off of some of my favorite books (and a movie!) to try and find your perfect new read!<br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/04/The_Unwanteds_book_cover.jpg/220px-The_Unwanteds_book_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the unwanteds cover"" border="0" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="320" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/04/The_Unwanteds_book_cover.jpg/220px-The_Unwanteds_book_cover.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="212" /></a>if you like the <i>Percy Jackson </i>series by Rick Riordan, read<i> the Unwanteds</i> by Lisa McMann<br />
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<i>The Unwanteds </i><span style="background-color: #882222; color: seashell; font-family: "cardo"; font-size: 15.4px;">is an absolutely magical middle-grade fantasy series that is incredible. The world-building and characters are so strong and her writing style is so captivating and meaningful, while still fun and humorous. </span><span style="background-color: #882222; color: white; font-family: "cardo"; font-size: 15.4px;">This novel emphasizes the need for creativity in life, an incredible message of celebrating individual talents, interests and difference: a great thing for younger readers to grow up with. And right alongside that is a fun, yet dark and compelling fantasy tale.</span><span style="background-color: #882222; color: seashell; font-family: "cardo"; font-size: 15.4px;"> Alongside <i>Percy Jackson </i>and<i> Harry Potter</i>, this was another one of my favorites when I was younger and I bet it would be yours too! </span><br />
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<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463790854l/28763240._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="At the Edge of the Universe" border="0" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463790854l/28763240._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a> If you like <i>Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe</i> by Benjamin Alire Saenz, read <i>At the Edge of the Universe</i> by Shaun David Hutchinson<br />
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When I first read Aristotle and Dante I immediately fell in love with it and its characters, and after reading it I fell in love with this novel too. Similar to Saenz, <span style="background-color: #882222; color: seashell; font-family: "cardo"; font-size: 15.4px;">Hutchinson's books are beautiful and meaningful while still realistic with characters and stories that stick with you, as well as having incredible own voices for LGBTQ representation. There are deep human connections, realistic stories and characters, and writing that captivates you. I 100% would reccomend this (or any of Hutchinson's novels) to just about anyone.</span><br />
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If you like the movie<i> the T</i><i>ruman Show</i> read <i>Reality Boy</i> by A.S. King or <i>Life in a Fishbowl </i>by Len Vlahos There are two books this year with premises similar to the classic film about a boy trapped in a reality tv show about his life, and both are incredible! Both explore the characters extremely well leaving you rooting for the protagonist and captivated by the incredible writing. <i>Reality Boy</i> does feel a bit darker to me in some areas, but I guarantee you'll like either if this premise interests you at all! Or if you just want an incredible read unlike most other books out there.<br />
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Have a great rest of March!</div>
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-Claire</div>
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Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309913868089245601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-14439616816750951382020-03-11T22:28:00.001-04:002020-03-11T22:29:48.327-04:00Wednesday Book Review: Sawkill Girls<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Hello TBF enthusiasts! Spring is coming… I can feel it in the air. However, while we eagerly wait for the last vestiges of winter to leave us, there is no better activity to pass the time than to read a couple fantastic books. Lucky for you, I have just the suggestion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;">Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep.<br /><br />He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;">Who are the Sawkill Girls?</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;">Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Weighed down by tragedy and hungry for love she’s sure she’ll never find.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;">Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Aching with grief and dreaming of vanished girls. Maybe she’s broken—or maybe everyone else is.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;">Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Words like silk and eyes like knives, a heart made of secrets and a mouth full of lies.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;">Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;">Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.</span></span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Photo courtesy of <i>Goodreads</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine a world where girls are disappearing and there is a horrible legend haunting the town. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawkill Girls</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Claire Legrand, invents this creative and creepy world, where the reader is kept on the edge of their seat, wondering what exactly is happening to the girls that go missing. I should confess right here: I am not usually a fan of the horror genre. No </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IT </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for me. However, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawkill Girls </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was the perfect dash of creepy without being too horrifying. The mystery that permeates the plot is really quite enjoyable to read, as it offers crumbs of clues to the reader, but holds out on the big reveal. I loved the characters that Legrand crafted in this novel-- they really made the story. All three main characters are deep and face their struggles in a remarkably human way. Zoey’s biting wit, Marion’s resilient personality, and Val’s conflicted nature really shine throughout the story. The dynamic that these three girls create is incredibly memorable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Really, though, the true mark of brilliance in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawkill Girls</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was its social commentary. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawkill Girls</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> took on a lot of the sexism that permeates society, pointing out the lack of power that women have felt throughout the ages, and challenging the idea that women are powerless with three incredibly powerful main characters that do not need a man to come and save them. Legrand includes multiple moments where the girls reflect on how their gender has affected the way that society treats them and the decide to stand up for themselves. There is an interesting element in the book as well of girls being ordered what to do by men separated from the situation: Legrand take this on with grace and wit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawkill Girls </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is an excellent feminist read, particularly with Friday the 13th coming up. I highly suggest that you grab a couple from your local library and then talk with Legrand about it at Tenn Book Fest. I remember her from a couple of years back (back when she was promoting </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawkill Girls </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">before it came out) and she is incredibly nice!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Happy reading!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Laura</span></span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471021377653975716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-45075152897925888562020-03-06T17:14:00.000-05:002020-03-06T17:14:13.265-05:00Friday Fun Post: If You Like This...Read That!Hi everyone! It's hard to believe it's already March, and TBF is only a little more than two months away! There are a ton of books to read until then, and today I've included a few of my top suggestions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fhQhSpGHI_NewQfw9h7mWtHBi54li4urWbq_K1nsGr-6d3-drfH4Xt2K3tH9a389HB4NjGq6BAzGPhWdnGbTXikmkk84_xTer-JHweYL1Fs-eO01TtvH4HzjZs3IYkPRbp-QdYsosNej/s1600/9781492656623_p0_v2_s600x595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="396" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fhQhSpGHI_NewQfw9h7mWtHBi54li4urWbq_K1nsGr-6d3-drfH4Xt2K3tH9a389HB4NjGq6BAzGPhWdnGbTXikmkk84_xTer-JHweYL1Fs-eO01TtvH4HzjZs3IYkPRbp-QdYsosNej/s200/9781492656623_p0_v2_s600x595.jpg" width="132" /></a>If you liked <i>An Ember in the Ashes</i>, read <i>Furyborn</i>!<br />
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I will admit, I read and reviewed <i>Furyborn</i> last year when the author, Claire Legrand, first came to TBF, but I still remember thinking how it seemed to mesh together all my favorite YA fantasy novels. <i>Furyborn </i>is the story of Rielle and Eliana, two women inextricably linked despite the millennium separating them. Rielle's story of magic and trials reminds me of <i>Red Queen </i>and <i>Shadow and Bone</i>, but it is Eliana's story that I want to highlight today. Hers especially is full of grit and sacrifice, and reminded me so much of <i>An Ember in the Ashes </i>by Sabaa Tahir. Both include once-glorious empires that have since been corrupted, an underworld of insurgents, and a fight for survival. Both have bold, gritty female leads who fight for their families and then for something greater…a fight against forces more sinister than they ever imagined…<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhMwCkPxiZKn5DLO_W-YChEGrcxcbcAo1cni90J7upBdXf7yEH7QqqBjDEwus7qfBJF99CJHL-MmklQ0fE9Jn61QsUE_IdTcjcCWyklATplLbsix38WfemRCON7Xgwa-_8lv4E4wfFXST/s1600/dig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhMwCkPxiZKn5DLO_W-YChEGrcxcbcAo1cni90J7upBdXf7yEH7QqqBjDEwus7qfBJF99CJHL-MmklQ0fE9Jn61QsUE_IdTcjcCWyklATplLbsix38WfemRCON7Xgwa-_8lv4E4wfFXST/s200/dig.jpg" width="133" /></a>If you liked <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i>, read <i>Dig</i>!<br />
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A.S. King's <i>Dig </i>is truly unlike any other novel I've read, but there are definitely elements that I can identity in other novels like <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> by Stephen Chbosky. Both portray teenage life in an unapologetic light--stripping away the rose-tinted lens over our experiences and sharing the unfiltered difficulties, the moments of happiness, and the hard realities. While each focuses on their respective protagonists, there is an emphasis in both novels on the flaws of society and the circumstances that can determine the advantages/disadvantages one has in the world. If you want to read about the raw experiences of teenagers with an underlying twist, I would strongly recommend <i>Dig</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8e8MzWROG5YRVMltpIFxZozCKa5NgDftdNLUST7fpi0gkva73GHF26CyZjXHEQF8WBSRHTViV4Fp15d62nnb1DDNThM02Jh3JNch_dS-d87NOnuh6mbb-z3p7un7-XmYufmT3tKddpPj/s1600/spinthedawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8e8MzWROG5YRVMltpIFxZozCKa5NgDftdNLUST7fpi0gkva73GHF26CyZjXHEQF8WBSRHTViV4Fp15d62nnb1DDNThM02Jh3JNch_dS-d87NOnuh6mbb-z3p7un7-XmYufmT3tKddpPj/s200/spinthedawn.jpg" width="132" /></a>And if you liked <i>The Wrath and the Dawn</i>, read <i>Spin the Dawn</i>!<br />
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These books share more than just a key word in their titles! <i>Spin the Dawn</i>, by Elizabeth Lim, and <i>The Wrath and the Dawn</i>, by Renée Ahdieh (a TBF alum!), both incorporate vivid imagery of sights and sounds, legends and myths, and journeys that test their protagonists' wills and determination. Both stories' protagonists find themselves willingly in an endeavor that could mean life or death, and both discover so much more about themselves, the land, and the people around them. Maia's journey to become a master tailor and Shahrzad's journey to seek retribution are full of twists and turns, secrets and unimaginable truths. <i>Spin the Dawn </i>is truly a magical read, and I hope you decide to check it out!<br />
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There are so many amazing authors coming this year, and I encourage you to look through their novels even if you don't recognize many of them. Read some synopses, check out some books...I am positive there is something that you'll love.<br />
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Until next time!<br />
Amy<br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-65640918414733643542020-03-04T12:00:00.000-05:002020-03-04T12:00:08.558-05:00Book Review: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew SmithHey all, happy March! This month I read a book I have had on my list for a long long time, Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. Teen Book Fest is only two and a half months away and if you're looking for some great reads by TBF authors, this is a good one to start with! However I would say this book is meant for slightly older teens, and might not be the best fit for younger middle-grade<br />
readers.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba interweaves the story of his Polish legacy with the story of how he and his best friend , Robby, brought about the end of humanity and the rise of an army of unstoppable, six-foot tall praying mantises in small-town Iowa.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To make matters worse, Austin's hormones are totally oblivious; they don't care that the world is in utter chaos: Austin is in love with his girlfriend, Shann, but remains confused about his sexual orientation. He's stewing in a self-professed constant state of maximum horniness, directed at both Robby and Shann. Ultimately, it's up to Austin to save the world and propagate the species in this sci-fright journey of survival, sex, and the complex realities of the human condition.</span></span></div>
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A Goodreads review described this novel, saying: "You won't find a YA book out there like this one," a review that instantly intrigued me. And after reading it I am happy to confirm I have never read a book like this.</div>
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This book is the perfect mix between contemporary YA fiction and horror, which is not a sentence I think I've ever said. <i>Grasshopper Jungle</i> is, to put it simply weird - and thats exactly why I loved it. The humor in the relationships between characters and in Smith's writing is very strong, and honestly who is not at least a little intrigued by a story about saving the world from six-foot grasshoppers. But at the same time, the contemporary element is what keeps you invested. The main character, Austin, is hilarious and despite making many dumb decisions, was extremely relatable and his internal struggle that carries the book just felt so real, and I loved it. I have never seen a love triangle with a boy choosing between his girlfriend and his best friend and that made this book stand out even more. In reality this is a book is about growing up and feeling lost, which really made it hit hard for me. Not everyone can relate to saving the world from horrific insects, but as humans we all spend our lives trying to feel a little less alone, which Smith captures perfectly.</div>
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Smith's books are funny and weird, yet heartbreaking and real, with remarkable characters often with LGBTQ representation. Smith's writing style, just like his books, is unique and quirky in its own way, and I can not wait for Rochester to be able to meet him and experience his ridiculous wit in person. But before May comes around I would definitely recommend checking out Grasshopper Jungle for yourself.</div>
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-Claire</div>
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find the book here!</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079719-grasshopper-jungle?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=DaIVb587R9&rank=1" target="_blank">goodreads</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/buy_buttons/12/follow?book_id=18079719&ref=x_gr_w_bb_glide_sin&tag=x_gr_w_bb_glide_sin-20" target="_blank">amazon</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/3?book_id=18079719&source=compareprices" target="_blank"> barnes and noble</a></div>
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or check it out at your local library!</div>
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Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309913868089245601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-88458376623284938552020-02-28T21:17:00.003-05:002020-02-28T21:17:40.312-05:00If You Like This... Book Suggestions!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Hello everyone! February is winding down and we get a bonus leap day, which doesn’t happen too often. Perhaps you are looking to spend that day curled up by a roaring fire reading a great new book. Let me offer some suggestions:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are a fan of </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harry Potter</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (and who isn’t?) then you should try </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Unwanteds </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Lisa McMann</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I fell in love with </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Unwanteds </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">series from the first couple of sentences. It has fantastic characters that have the same three dimensional qualities that define the Harry Potter crew. I mean, Hermione is the perfect fictional best friend. Alex, from the </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unwanteds,</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is crafted with the same type of masterful strokes. What really makes </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Unwanteds </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">such a phenomenal series is the incredible world building that permeates every nook and cranny of Quill and Artime. The bleak grey of Quill is juxtaposed delightfully with the creative energy of Artime. And the book is positively filled with magic! The different types of magic displayed by the people of Artime kept me on the edge of my seat. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harry Potter</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, for me, was an instant favorite of mine because it offered such a vivid world to inhabit and it filled me with wonder. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Unwanteds </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is filled with the same type of wonder and I absolutely would recommend it.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture Courtesy of Amazon.com</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you loved </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To All The Boys I Loved Before</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, then you should try </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dimple Met Rishi</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Sandhya Menon</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To All The Boys I Loved Before </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was such a cute read! It had everything, with Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship growing from standoffish to sweet. They really gave you a relationship to root for. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dimple Met Rishi </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was very similar in this, giving the reader a relationship that they will always cheer for. Dimple and Rishi immediately disliked each other. Their parents had arranged their marriage without their input, causing some serious tension between Dimple and Rishi when they first met. They are forced to put aside their differences because they are partners in a computer science camp competition, which they want to win. It is so much fun watching their romance blossom. Dimple is very serious, while Rishi is a definite romantic, causing the cute dynamic of opposites attract. The result? Multiple sparks fly when their personalities clash but they bring out different sides in each other. Trust me: if you like cute romances, you will love </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dimple Met Rishi</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="When Dimple Met Rishi (Dimple and Rishi, #1)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475687488l/28458598.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture Courtesy of Goodreads</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you loved </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lunar Chronicles</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, then you should give </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Claire Legrand</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a try</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is quite the wild ride and it certainly is a wonderful journey. The story follows two women trying to fulfill their destinies as either the Sun Queen or the Blood Queen. Rielle’s journey to learn to accept her role as queen is reminiscent of Cinder’s own struggle with leadership. Eliana’s fiery personality recall’s Cinder’s compelling spunk. Like later books in </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lunar Chronicle</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is told by multiple characters’ perspectives. This is hard to pull off, but wonderful when successfully done. I can assure you, Legrand uses the two narrators beautifully. Both books are set in beautifully crafted worlds, although </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is more of another universe than a dystopian. Don’t worry, though-- Legrand is an absolute master at crafting this universe, both the past and the future version. Like </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cinder</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">also has a dash of romance that keeps the reader entranced, hoping that their favorite pairings will work out. Personally, I am a big fan of Audric. Trust me-- </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is worth a read! If you love spunky heroines, mesmerizing world building, and an entrancing plot, then </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is the book for you! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Furyborn (Empirium, #1)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1512678373l/34323570.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture Courtesy of Goodreads</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I hope that one of these books has piqued your interest-- they are all worthy reads! There are only two and a half months until TBF (it’s so exciting) so it's time to start reading all of these fantastic TBF books. Have a great leap day and happy reading!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">-Laura</span></span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471021377653975716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-49884909664313846492020-02-26T15:56:00.000-05:002020-02-26T15:56:07.953-05:00Book Review: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi everyone! Last week I was on February break, which meant I had the chance to start a book that's been on my TBR list for a while--Elizabeth Lim's <i>Spin the Dawn</i>. What was intended to be 15 minutes of reading quickly turned into the rest of the day, and so I can't wait to share with you this spellbinding novel!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gxofAmw3lvSE6vMRYcZ-_sIB5JDLiglVKPFWVeJldudLO6EB8q_-02qnESn8p4wkoLJgIP_OA5ZbNSrya3Cr2FoSixJdJze4t3hnFFk7lJ12WZdTCJ0BD9kuGv2H_jkFrCki5r0J3lZr/s1600/spinthedawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gxofAmw3lvSE6vMRYcZ-_sIB5JDLiglVKPFWVeJldudLO6EB8q_-02qnESn8p4wkoLJgIP_OA5ZbNSrya3Cr2FoSixJdJze4t3hnFFk7lJ12WZdTCJ0BD9kuGv2H_jkFrCki5r0J3lZr/s320/spinthedawn.jpg" width="212" /></a><i>On the fringes of the Great Spice Road, Maia Tamarin works as a seamstress in her father's shop. She dreams of becoming the best tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. </i><br />
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<i>When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as his son and travels to the Summer Palace in his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to save her family and achieve her dream of becoming the imperial tailor. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.</i><br />
<i><br />Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the unwelcome attention of the court enchanter, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.</i><br />
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<i>And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be: from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.</i><br />
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<i>Spin the Dawn</i> manages to fit so much into its 387 pages. From the very beginning, we are swept into Maia's life at her father's shop, into a world that suddenly expands in possibilities with the arrival of an imperial official. Maia soon finds herself in a competition of skill...and guile, and then another, even more thrilling quest spanning the entire continent.<br />
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I love the world and atmosphere created by this novel. It's an adventure told from Maia’s perspective as she experiences it, but at the same time there's also a sense that she is recounting the events as well, bringing a fairy-tale-esque quality to the story. Descriptions of the magic, the dressmaking, and journey are rich in detail, and the world--the land, culture, and institutions--incorporates elements of real history while having its own. Lim seamlessly weaves in bits and pieces of various legends and fables (some of which you might be able to tell from the synopsis, others more subtle) while creating her own unique plotline.<br />
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I especially loved reading Maia's quest for the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars, and how each task tested her will and changed her. And the novel is set up perfectly for its sequel, <i>Unravel the Dusk</i>, which is coming out this July. I can’t wait to read the next stage of Maia's journey, and crossing my fingers that we learn more about some of the secondary characters...Lady Sarnai, Emperor Khanujin, even Edan. And I have a feeling that there is a lot more history to unravel...<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
Amy<br />
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P.S. Isn't the cover stunning?<br />
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Find <i>Spin the Dawn </i>in the <a href="https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1576263794&currentIndex=0&view=allCopiesDetailsTab">Monroe County Library System</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spin-the-dawn-elizabeth-lim/1129805624?ean=9780525646990#/">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spin-Dawn-Blood-Stars-Book-ebook/dp/B07K5YP21D/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=spin+the+dawn&qid=1582748539&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47907309-spin-the-dawn">Goodreads</a>. </div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-25872082218605183112020-02-21T12:00:00.000-05:002020-02-21T12:00:03.595-05:00Three TBF Authors I Can't Wait to Meet<br />
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Hey all! After posting my first review last week, I am even more excited for TBF this year on May 16th at RIT! While all of the authors coming this year are so exciting, here are the top three authors I am so excited to meet and whose books I love and/or I can't wait to read.<br />
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<b>1) Lisa McMann</b><br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51uPnvIIyHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the unwanteds lisa mcmann" border="0" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="320" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51uPnvIIyHL.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="214" /></a><br />I just posted my review of the first book of McMann's <i>Unwanteds </i>series last week which I loved both when I read it as a kid and when I reread it this year. This is an absolutely magical middle-grade fantasy series that is incredible and I would love to meet the author who created it. Her world-building, characters are so strong and her writing style is so captivating and meaningful, while still fun and humorous. McMann's works are so imaginative and heartwarming and I bet she is just as fun in real life as her books are!<br />
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<a href="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9781481449649_p0_v1_s550x406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for we are the ants" border="0" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="320" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9781481449649_p0_v1_s550x406.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="211" /></a><br /><b>2) Shaun David Hutchinson</b><br />
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I have been meaning to read one of Shaun David Hutchinson's books for years and after seeing that he is coming to TBF this year it was the push to actually get to one of his incredible books! First on my list is <i>We Are the Ants</i>, closely followed by <i>At the Edge of the Universe,</i> both of which I have heard wonderful things about. Hutchinson's books are beautiful and meaningful while still realistic with characters and stories that stick with you, as well as having incredible own voices for LGBTQ representation. After watching a clip of Hutchinson speak it is clear he is an incredible individual and speaker and I am very excited to have the opportunity to meet him this year!<br />
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<b>3) Andrew Smith</b><br />
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I've heard stellar things about Andrew Smith's books forever and after seeing that he is coming to Rochester this year, I added his books to my list very quickly, with my eyes set on starting with <i>Grasshopper Jungle. </i>A Goodreads review described this novel, saying: "You won't find a YA book out there like this one," a review that instantly intrigues me. Smith's books are funny and weird, yet heartbreaking and real, with remarkable characters often with LGBTQ representation. Smith's writing style, just like his books, is unique and quirky in its own way, and I can not wait to be able to meet him and experience his ridiculous wit in person.<br />
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Overall, I know this is going to be an incredible year for TBF with so many incredible authors coming, who have written absolutely incredible books. Stay tuned for another review next Wednesday!<br />
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-Claire<br />
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<br />Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309913868089245601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-64317402028125744742020-02-14T17:22:00.000-05:002020-02-14T17:22:03.022-05:00Friday Fun Post: Top 3 TBF Authors I Can't Wait to MeetHi everyone! If you've been keeping up with the TBF website or their social media, you've probably seen the exciting author reveals for TBF 2020. Some familiar names are on the list, and so many new ones as well. Personally, I'm looking forward to meeting all of them, but my top three are Lisa McMann, Elizabeth Lim, and Stephanie MacKendrick!<br />
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<b>Lisa McMann (<i>The Unwanteds</i>)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQef2yey-HhwzyTb4f-Csun2bQIXPPD9W0VKcU8OJVwDVvOeuhV9mp-ziTDt3k9vStwKyNxZyEmAaisQamzAYYF7DxMa-LYnInvd7ylPouVg-yzoC0mafCw__2QHA2eUbEx5RMjCT7WuC/s1600/the+unwanteds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQef2yey-HhwzyTb4f-Csun2bQIXPPD9W0VKcU8OJVwDVvOeuhV9mp-ziTDt3k9vStwKyNxZyEmAaisQamzAYYF7DxMa-LYnInvd7ylPouVg-yzoC0mafCw__2QHA2eUbEx5RMjCT7WuC/s200/the+unwanteds.jpg" width="131" /></a>McMann's <i>The Unwanteds </i>was one of the most memorable series I read during middle school. It was a time when I was exploring different genres and literary styles, and it was one of those books that transitioned me from middle grade to YA. I still remember which shelf the novels were located on in the school library, and while a lot of the details of the plot escape me today, I still remember falling in love with the world of Artimé, the magic and creativity, and the characters. I look forward to picking up where I left off, and I can't wait to meet McMann in person at TBF!<br />
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<b>Elizabeth Lim (<i>Spin the Dawn)</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4GUdlgzwlaMUipzqBWaurUvlSysvWfXDFIINtDkAD1z-vboXCSnyZNl7Zra_ccJ7dJKPIm5aJet8cZ8QoeUvQ4Pd2ycKTy4hdH52tp8LqmJyqgO6APEFfiJD5F0KDcMPK9fTjR4BzZLU/s1600/spin+the+dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4GUdlgzwlaMUipzqBWaurUvlSysvWfXDFIINtDkAD1z-vboXCSnyZNl7Zra_ccJ7dJKPIm5aJet8cZ8QoeUvQ4Pd2ycKTy4hdH52tp8LqmJyqgO6APEFfiJD5F0KDcMPK9fTjR4BzZLU/s200/spin+the+dawn.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="132" /></a>Lim is a new author for me, and while I haven't read her novel, <i>Spin the Dawn </i>(it's on my desk right now!), it instantly caught my eye. With its incorporation of magic, myths, and allusions to Ancient China, it struck me as an intriguing fantasy read. I love when authors tie in elements of their cultures into their writing, especially stories and legends they've grown up with; not only does it add a fascinating layer of complexity, but it contributes to greater representation in fiction as well.<br />
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On top of that, Elizabeth Lim just seems like someone I would love to have a conversation with. From her author profile, she loves music and has pursued music composition professionally, and I would love to talk with her and learn more about her decision to ultimately pursue writing!<br />
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<b>Stephanie MacKendrick (<i>In Good Hands)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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MacKendrick is the author of the upcoming novel <i>In Good Hands</i>, which shares the stories of several female politicians and the pathway to politics. Besides fiction, I love reading memoirs and similar novels because I love real-world, empowering stories, and I believe <i>In Good Hands </i>will fulfill that well. I also recently took a government course and went on a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with various agencies and Congressional staff, and <i>In Good Hands</i> seems like another way to connect politics with my everyday life.<br />
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Lastly, MacKendrick has an interesting perspective as a former journalist who is now focused on women's career advancement and nonprofit leadership, and I would love to hear more about her background and current work. <i>In Good Hands </i>comes out in April, and I can't wait to read it and meet her at TBF!<br />
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I hope you're as excited as I am for the authors coming to TBF 2020! There are so many more I haven't mentioned, so I encourage you to look at the list <a href="https://www.teenbookfest.org/authors/">here</a>! Counting down the days!<br />
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-AmyAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-915588196136176352020-02-12T12:00:00.000-05:002020-02-12T12:00:11.078-05:00Book Review: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann<br />
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<span style="color: white;">Hey all! Another new year, and that means another year of TBF! To start off the year of book reviews and blog posts I reread a book I remember loving when I was younger, which is <i>The Unwanteds, </i>the first book in the hit fantasy middle grade series by Lisa McMann. Here's a summary:</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><i>When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Un</i><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>wanteds are set for elimination.</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/04/The_Unwanteds_book_cover.jpg/220px-The_Unwanteds_book_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called Artimé. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-62752a6f-7fff-aead-786f-307d949c3b08"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most incredible part of this book to me, is the immensely strong, riveting, and just breathtaking world-building that fills this book. The descriptions of magic and its system, the creatures and unique world and places, all just screamed originality which I loved. This book has a strong storyline regarding creativity which is so very present in this book which despite being described as "the Hunger Games meets Harry Potter," is like nothing else I ever read as a kid. The concept itself, almost reminiscent of the dystopian books that filled the early 2010s, stands out from the typical teenagers take down the government type of story. Despite the story being aimed for younger audiences, McMann did not shy away from darkness and heavier topics, something I know attracted me as a child and that I appreciated again on my reread. And with that concept came another thing I loved: McMann's characters.</span></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-62752a6f-7fff-aead-786f-307d949c3b08"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our main group of characters were easy to quickly become attached to and root for throughout the story and the rest of the series, but each with their own unique qualities, as well as interesting, humorous, or emotional interactions between them. And despite not remembering the rest of the series as it has been several years since I read them, I do remember the wonderful character development that occurs over the series, making the characters and McMann's writing even better. Besides our young heroes, come two of the best parts of the story: Mr. Today, who plays the role of the the older wise mentor, but is also just brilliant and good intentioned, easily winning your heart over, and Simber, an alive giant winged cheetah statue who is unexpectedly a large player in the story, as well as in tying it all together, and in further showing the diverse imagination of McMann and how fun, magical, and unique this story is.</span></span></span></div>
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This novel emphasizes the need for creativity in life, an incredible message of celebrating individual talents, interests and difference: a great thing for younger readers to grow up with. And right alongside that is a fun, yet dark and compelling fantasy tale.</div>
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<span style="color: white;">See you next time,</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Claire</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>check the book out here!</b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unwanteds-Lisa-McMann/dp/1442407697" target="_blank">amazon</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unwanteds-lisa-mcmann/1100398513" target="_blank">barnes and noble</a> (or your local library!)</span></div>
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Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309913868089245601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-86173579610934524112020-02-07T21:45:00.000-05:002020-02-07T21:45:31.573-05:00Three TBF Authors That I Can’t Wait to Meet<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hey, everyone! It’s so exciting to be back and so exciting to be talking about one of my favorite subjects once again! This year’s TBF has a bunch of powerhouse guest authors and let me tell you, I am already dreaming about getting to meet them. However, there are three authors that I am particularly thrilled to meet…</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sandhya Menon, author of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dimple Met Rishi</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay, so let me give a full confession. I read </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dimple Met Rishi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on my phone in a day (I usually go for paper books, it takes a great book to hold my attention on the small screen of my phone). And that book caused me to fall in love. The romance between Dimple and Rishi is just so adorable. Their initial dislike, made so much more awkward by the fact that they are matched by their parents to be married, makes the story thrilling. And the melting of their initial dislike… it’s so adorable. I can’t wait to meet the author behind this genius book. And not only is she an incredible author, she's "mom" to an adorable dog and cat! I’m so excited to ask her how she breathed life into such a wonderful relationship as that of Dimple and Rishi and if her pets are ever going to make a cameo!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Claire Legrand, author of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So… I already met Claire Legrand back in the olden days of 2018. It might be cheating slightly to include her on this list, but I do it for good reason. I can personally attest that Clarie Legrand is an incredibly cool and incredibly kind person. I got to be the author assistant for Roshani Chokshi that year (best job ever, absolutely life changing, by the way) and she was partnered with Clarie Legrand. I can honestly say that Claire Legrand has a phenomenal sense of humor. And, since 2018, I have gotten a chance to read </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which is such an entrancing book. In fact, I might have to beg her to tell me the ending of that series because I have been on the edge of my seat with the wait. The way that the stories of Eliana and Rielle are woven together is truly amazing. The time travel and the romance and the magic make the book shine. I’ve also had the pleasure of reading </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawkill Girls</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (stay tuned for my thoughts on that) and, while it is completely different from </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furyborn</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, it is bone chilling and phenomenal. Speaking as someone who generally avoids horror books like the plague, Clarie Legrand truly has the perfect dose of spooky threaded in the plot. I am so excited to get to see Claire Legrand again and, this time, beg her to let me in on what happens to Rielle and Eliana.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ryan La Sala, author of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reverie</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have not gotten the chance to read </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reverie </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">yet but I am looking forward to it. The dreamlike writing sounds fantastic. And the different places and times that the plot moves into seems quite riveting. Ryan La Sala himself says that the book is about what happens when a person gets lost in their head. As a compulsive dreamer, I can’t wait to see how he handles the peculiar world of the mind. One of my favorite classics is </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sound and The Fury </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">because of its stream of consciousness narration, and it seems that this book might (in an incredibly different way) take a look at the consciousness. I'm so excited! And I have to say, he seems like a cool author. I certainly enjoyed reading his interview about </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reverie</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I can’t wait for May! TBF 2020 is coming quickly!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Stay warm this February (if possible in snowy Rochester)!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Until next time!</span></span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471021377653975716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-62001483205258702372020-02-05T17:49:00.000-05:002020-02-05T17:49:54.773-05:00Book Review: Dig by A.S. King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi everyone! I hope the new year has been treating you well. I’m so excited to start off the blogging season for TBF 2020! I recently read <i>Dig</i>, A.S. King’s latest novel, and I can’t wait to share it with you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><i>The Shoveler, The Freak, CanIHelpYou?, Loretta the Flea-Circus Ring Mistress, and First-Class Malcolm. These are the five teenagers lost in the Hemmings family's maze of tangled secrets. Only a generation removed from being Pennsylvania potato farmers, Gottfried and Marla Hemmings managed to trade digging spuds for developing subdivisions and now sit atop a million-dollar bank account--wealth they've declined to pass on to their adult children or their teenage grandchildren. "Because we want them to thrive," Marla always says. What does thriving look like? Like carrying a snow shovel everywhere. Like selling weed at the Arby's Drive-Thru window. Like first-class tickets to Jamaica between cancer treatments. Like a flea-circus in a trailer park. Like the GPS coordinates to a mound of dirt in a New Jersey forest.<br /><br />As the rot just beneath the surface of the Hemmings' suburban respectability begins to spread, the estranged grandchildren gradually find their ways back to one another, just in time to uncover the terrible cost of maintaining the family name.</i><div>
<br /><i>Dig </i>is an inquiring, thought-provoking novel, uncomfortable but important. Through the raw, unfiltered lives of the grandchildren, <i>Dig</i> tells the story of decay spreading across a family tree, of senseless injustices disguised as love and good intentions, and of racism and prejudice seeping into lives and relationships. It confronts us with the price of success and survival, and questions our values and the tunnels we ourselves are running through. It is the story of five teenagers, told in each of their distinct voices, as they try to piece together fragmented worlds and questions without clear answers.<br /><br />This is definitely a novel in which the plotlines are cast out early on and reeled in slowly as the story progresses. It can be confusing at first, but I promise that the pieces will fit together and the tangled yet disconnected relationships will begin to make sense. What ultimately drew me to <i>Dig</i> the most was the storytelling. The writing is incredible--sharp, humorous yet profound, marked with offhand comments packed with meaning. This novel explores the bitter side of generational divide--the repercussions of older generations' attempts to mold those younger into their idea of respectability--and the systems of wealth, race, privilege, and indifference that run concurrently with mainstream society. It shows us how each person is haunted, albeit by different things, how familiar people can be strangers, physically and ideologically, and how we have the capability to be different--be better--than those who came before us. <div>
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I would strongly recommend <i>Dig</i> to anyone, and moreover, I would encourage you to read it twice. It is a story full of twists, layers, and hard truths, and I hope you take the time to check it out!</div>
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- Amy </div>
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Find <i>Dig </i>in the <a href="https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1476858770&currentIndex=0&view=allCopiesDetailsTab">Monroe County Library System</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dig-a-s-king/1128996975?ean=9781101994917#/">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dig-S-King/dp/1101994916/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GZ4EO5466PPE&keywords=dig+by+a.s.+king&qid=1580939375&sprefix=dig+by+a%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40714769-dig">Goodreads</a>. </div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-70818760381922037632019-09-18T06:32:00.000-04:002019-09-18T06:32:42.982-04:00Book Review: The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys Hi everyone! Summer went by so quickly for me but I still managed to squeeze in a book before I was swept away by senior year. I’m so excited to share with you <i>The Fountains of Silence</i> by Ruta Sepetys.<br />
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<i>Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming guise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of a Texas oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.<br /><br />Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love, repercussions of war, and the hidden violence of silence--inspired by the true post-war struggles of Spain.</i><br />
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Sepety's style of writing is just beautiful. It flows right from the beginning and builds with intensity, with every line feeling deliberate while still progressing naturally overall. And this writing style is what makes this novel distinct from other fiction- rather than having a very structured series of events, this novel ebbs and flows through different circumstances and perspectives, bringing a sense of authenticity to the story. <br />
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And although the story isn't dramatized, in each written snapshot there is striking intensity and a sense of finality- of “this is the norm." And this novel also brings with it a powerful feeling of "this was real"- that profound sense in historical fiction that can’t really be created by any other genre. <i>The Fountains of Silence</i> explores life in Spain following the Spanish Civil War through multiple lenses, providing a glimpse into a history often glossed over.<br />
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First is Daniel, travelling to Madrid from a wealthy American family. Through him, we see snapshots of 1950s America- the social circles, conformity, and conservatism- and also fascist Spain as an outsider. He tries to understand the complexities of a world and culture he feels somewhat connected to through his Spanish heritage but in reality is still worlds away. And most us of are like Daniel, seeing tragedies, horrors, and injustice secondhand, and being unable to truly understand another’s circumstances when they are so unlike our own, which is what I think makes this novel so compelling.<br />
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The world that Daniel is glimpsing is Ana’s reality. Her work in an American hotel in Madrid with the exuberant displays of wealth and power is a sharp juxtaposition to her circumstances at home, yet she can’t help but dream. And through her we see many other characters who complete the story: Julia, Rafa, Fuga, and Puri, who each respond in their own ways to lives overshadowed by fear and silence. <br />
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Ruta Sepetys has been referred to as a “cross over” author whose books are read by both young adults and adults, and this could certainly be the case with <i>The Fountains of Silence</i>. The style of writing is more solemn and mature, and the plot is more slow-build than action-packed, but her ability to fill the story with underlying tension, vivid imagery, and meaningful characters makes this a novel everyone would enjoy. <br />
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If you like historical fiction, or if you want to try something new like I did, check out <i>The Fountains of Silence </i>when it comes out on October 1st. You can find it on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43220998-the-fountains-of-silence">Goodreads</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fountains-of-silence-ruta-sepetys/1130400688?ean=9780593116708#/">Barnes & Noble</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fountains-Silence-Ruta-Sepetys/dp/0399160310/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+fountains+of+silence&qid=1568798842&s=gateway&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>.<br />
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-AmyAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-52258921752320355612019-09-04T12:00:00.000-04:002019-09-04T12:00:04.489-04:00Book Review: The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Hey all! Today (or rather the day I'm posting this) is my first day back to school, meaning summer has officially ended. Summer seems to have flown by yet again this year, and as I was thinking back on the summer I remembered this incredible book I read last year that I still feel did not get enough praise.<br />
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<i>A "mesmerizing, poetic exploration of family, friendship, love and loss" - The New York Times Book Review. </i><br />
<i>Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend Samantha. But it's senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal's not who he thought he was, who is he? This humor-infused, warmly human look at universal questions of belonging is a triumph.</i><br />
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<i>The Inexplicable Logic of my Life </i>was Sáenz's highly anticipated next novel after the wildly successful <i>Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. </i>And as much as I loved Ari and Dante, I think I am one of the few who loved this novel even more. Sal and I are at similar points of life right now as I approach the end of high school in these next two years and begin to step out into an unknown territory.<br />
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Like many of Sáenz's novels this book is character driven which is exactly the reason I adore them so strongly. His characters are always so well developed and so strong, allowing me to feel as if I know them even if their story is nothing like my own. Unlike his more well known novel, this novel does not focus on a romantic relationship, but rather on the relationships between families and friends. The main friendship in this story between Sal and Samantha reminded me so much of my own best friend as we are also a boy and girl pair and I saw so much of us in them. Which is exactly why I love his novels so much, because of how real, personable and memorable every single part is.<br />
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This book is so beautiful, as are the words inside and it has impacted me so strongly that I can remember how it made me feel even a year later. It is a book focused on changes and real people yet is still so enjoyable to read, and I recommend it to just about anyone looking to read a book that will make them think and feel something.<br />
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Have a great September!<br />
-Claire<br />
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check the book out here!<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544586506/ref=x_gr_w_glide_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0544586506&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank">amazon</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-inexplicable-logic-of-my-life-benjamin-alire-s-enz/1124464203;jsessionid=A80D27B5D92D04D7F2BD0BA0C77097C9.prodny_store02-atgap01?ean=9780544586505&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc#/" target="_blank">barnes and noble</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23447923-the-inexplicable-logic-of-my-life" target="_blank">goodreads</a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309913868089245601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-6985406246474476342019-08-07T11:33:00.000-04:002019-08-07T11:33:20.466-04:00Book Review: Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer Hello everyone and happy summer! I’ve been super busy lately, but (of course) I made time to read some new books. And I can't wait to share with you <i>Not Even Bones</i>, a dark and action-packed novel by Rebecca Schaeffer.<br />
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<i>Dexter meets This Savage Song in this dark fantasy about a girl who sells magical body parts on the black market — until she’s betrayed.<br /><br />Nita doesn’t murder supernatural beings and sell their body parts on the internet—her mother does that. Nita just dissects the bodies after they’ve been “acquired.” But when her mom brings home a live specimen, Nita decides she wants out — dissecting living people is a step too far.<br /><br />But when she tries to save her mother’s victim, she ends up sold on the black market in his place — because Nita herself is a supernatural being. Now Nita is on the other side of the bars, and there is no line she won’t cross to escape and make sure no one can ever capture her again. </i></div>
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<i><br />Nita did a good deed, and it cost her everything. Now she’s going to do a lot of bad deeds to get it all back.</i><br />
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I initially picked up this book for its interesting and unusual synopsis, but its compelling plot soon captured me entirely. <i>Not Even Bones </i>is a fast-paced novel full of action and conflict as the protagonist struggles for freedom while reconciling her conscience with her circumstances and needs. And this novel isn’t just about Nita and her misfortunes (or adventures- depends on how you look at it), it delves deeper into morally gray territory with the underlying theme of morals and their meaning and importance to different individuals. This was unexpected for me at least, but <i>Not Even Bones </i>ended up being a novel that I could really reflect upon and dissect (pun intended) with all the parallelism and connections that gave me those ah-ha moments after I was done reading. </div>
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The world portrayed in this novel, as well as Nita's relationship with this environment, is also complex and unique. The genre is magical realism- Nita’s world resembles our own, just with the addition of supernatural beings. And while at first it might seem like she lives in a dark, unfamiliar world, the black markets, trafficking, and cartels are as much a part of our world today as they are of hers- only, unlike in our society, this underworld is very much present and visible in her life. Nita finds herself in situations that stretch and test her abilities and personality but her grit and determination ultimately push her through. In all, this novel shows us the ugliness underlying the world but also a girl who tries to overcome the darkness yet accept her role in it at the same time.<br />
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Overall, <i>Not Even Bones </i>is an unexpected and engaging novel. There are plot twists within plot twists- ones that like a magician’s sleight of hand diverted my attention while the other snuck up on me. The tables are turned multiple times, and the line between enemy and ally is so fluid that the characters you like, hate, and grudgingly admire would be better represented by a messy Venn diagram than anything else. And the ending- oh the story's only just begun...<br />
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As a disclaimer, there are some graphic and possibly disturbing scenes of violence in this novel. But overall, if you like stories with humor, action, charm, morally gray characters, and a touch of madness, <i>Not Even Bones</i> is the book for you!<br />
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Have a relaxing rest of your summer!<br />
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-Amy<br />
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Find <i>Not Even Bones </i>in the <a href="https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1328711773&currentIndex=0&view=allCopiesDetailsTab">Monroe County Library System</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34324484-not-even-bones">Goodreads</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-even-bones-rebecca-schaeffer/1127659344#/">Barnes & Noble</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Not-Even-Bones-Market-Monsters/dp/1328863549">Amazon</a>. </div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16615571975823087200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662812935171495309.post-65007624995675833842019-07-24T12:00:00.000-04:002019-07-24T12:00:05.828-04:00Book Review: Sometime After Midnight by L. Philips<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510686668l/32855079._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sometime After Midnight" border="0" height="400" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510686668l/32855079._SY475_.jpg" width="263" /></a>Hey everyone, happy summer! Hope everyone is enjoying their time off and reading some good books along the way. A few weekends ago I sat down and read <i>Sometime After Midnight</i> by L. Philips in about two sittings and absolutely adored it! Here's a summary:<br />
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<span id="freeText12261421599670918641" style="color: white; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>In a dingy Los Angeles club late one night, Cameron and Nate meet and find they have much more in common than their love of an obscure indie band. But when Nate learns that Cameron is the heir to a record label, the very one that destroyed his father's life, he runs away as fast as he can. The only evidence of their brief but intense connection is a blurry photo Cameron snaps of Nate's Sharpie-decorated Chuck Taylors as he flees. </i></span><br />
<i><span style="color: white;">Considering that Cameron is a real life Prince Charming--he's handsome, famous, and rich--it's only fitting that he sets out to find the owner of the Sharpied shoes. Cameron's twin sister, a model and socialite, posts the picture of Nate's shoes on Instagram to her legions of fans with the caption, "Anyone know the gorgeous owner of these shoes? My hottie brother is looking for him." The internet just about breaks with the news of a modern fairy tale and the two become entwined in each other's lives in this sparkling story about the power of music, the demons that haunt us, and the flutterings of first real love.</span></i><br />
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<font-family: 14px="" font-size:="" georgia="" merriweather="" quot="" serif="">I am always a HUGE fan of modern retellings of old stories, and so when I read the summary for a queer Cinderella about music, I was instantly hooked. This book is character driven and L. Philips does it perfectly, with well developed, fleshed out, realistic characters that keep you rooting for them. And while this book has several typical YA romance tropes, the author does them so well that they make the book even better. </font-family:>I went in, expecting this to be a coming out novel, as most queer YA books are, and was so pleasantly surprised to see both characters perfectly comfortable in their identities and surrounded by supportive family and friends. But while I loved the slow-burn romance, believable chemistry, and wonderful romantic and platonic relationships between the characters, I also loved that the book touched on some heavier topics as well.<br />
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The discussions of mental health, suicide, and the often harsh realities of the music industry in regards to Nate's dad were so important, so well written, and added so much to the novel. Philips does an incredible job of slowly building the information the reader knows about the past, continuing to leave you intrigued, concerned, and invested up until the very end. And even with a nice, rom-com ending to wrap up the story, it isn't perfect, and there is still some uncertainty left, and I really liked that she didn't just wrap it up in a bow and finish the book off. <br />
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<font-family: 14px="" font-size:="" georgia="" merriweather="" quot="" serif="">And of course, I have to mention, I LOVED all of the music in this novel. The discussions of music, the subplots about touring with bands, the writing of music, all of it was incredible and I loved it. </font-family:>In the end, I loved this book and its perfect balance of wholesomeness and reality, and I would 100% recommend it, especially this summer when you have a little extra time to read it all together.<br />
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See you all next month!<br />
-Claire<br />
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find the book here!<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sometime-After-Midnight-L-Philips/dp/0425291634" target="_blank">amazon</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sometime-after-midnight-l-philips/1127142529" target="_blank">barnes and noble</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32855079-sometime-after-midnight?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">goodreads</a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309913868089245601noreply@blogger.com0