Tag Archives: 5 stars

18 May 2018

All Summer Long by Hope Larson

Posted in Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Young Adult
Book Title:
All Summer long
Book Author:
Hope Larson
Book Illustrator:
Hope Larson
Publishing Date:
May 1st, 2018
Publisher:
Farrar Straus Giroux
Date Read:
May 16th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!
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Synopsis

A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel about summer and friendships, written and illustrated by the Eisner Award–winning and New York Times–bestselling Hope Larson.

Thirteen-year-old Bina has a long summer ahead of her. She and her best friend, Austin, usually do everything together, but he's off to soccer camp for a month, and he's been acting kind of weird lately anyway. So it's up to Bina to see how much fun she can have on her own. At first it's a lot of guitar playing, boredom, and bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, who enjoys music just as much as Bina. But then Austin comes home from camp, and he's acting even weirder than when he left. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story.

My Review

Hello, perfect summer read! I’m really loving all of the perfect-for-summer graphic novels that are popping up recently.  They’re really helping me to get into the mindset for summer (which I typically hate, by the way), with lazy days, friendships, … Continue reading →

5 stars
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17 May 2018

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

Posted in Graphic Novels, Memoir, Middle Grade, Reviews
Book Title:
Be Prepared
Book Author:
Vera Brosgol
Book Illustrator:
Vera Brosgol
Publishing Date:
April 24th, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
April 4th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!
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Synopsis

A gripping and hilarious middle-grade summer camp memoir from the author of Anya's Ghost.

All Vera wants to do is fit in—but that’s not easy for a Russian girl in the suburbs. Her friends live in fancy houses and their parents can afford to send them to the best summer camps. Vera’s single mother can’t afford that sort of luxury, but there's one summer camp in her price range—Russian summer camp.

Vera is sure she's found the one place she can fit in, but camp is far from what she imagined. And nothing could prepare her for all the "cool girl" drama, endless Russian history lessons, and outhouses straight out of nightmares!

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Cece Bell, and Victoria Jamieson, Vera Brosgol's Be Prepared is a funny and relatable middle-grade graphic novel about navigating your own culture, struggling to belong, and the value of true friendship.

My Review

Remember a few months back when I reviewed Vera Brosgol’s Anya’s Ghost?  I had so many awesome things to tell you guys about that book, including how freaking awesome it was and how I couldn’t get enough of it.  Well, … Continue reading →

5 stars
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28 Feb 2018

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Posted in Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Reviews, Young Adult
Book Title:
This One Summer
Book Author:
Mariko Tamaki
Book Illustrator:
Jillian Tamaki
Page Count:
320
Publishing Date:
May 6th, 2014
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
February 27th, 2018
Source:
Purchased
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Synopsis

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

In This One Summer two stellar creators redefine the teen graphic novel. Cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the team behind Skim, have collaborated on this gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teen age — a story of renewal and revelation.

My Review

This One Summer has been on my to be read list for a while now.  I finally bought it back in early November of 2017, but for whatever reason I just kept putting off reading it.  I either wasn’t in … Continue reading →

5 stars
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16 Feb 2018

Road to Eugenica by A.M. Rose – Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway!

Posted in Reviews, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Book Tour
Book Title:
Road to Eugenica
Book Author:
A.M. Rose
Book Series:
Eugenica Chronicles, #1
Publishing Date:
February 5th, 2018
Publisher:
Entangled Teen
Date Read:
February 14th, 2018
Source:
eARC from publisher via NetGalley - Thank you!
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Synopsis

Yesterday, Drea Smith couldn’t do anything spectacular—even walking and texting at the same time was a challenge. But today, she suddenly has more answers than Google, can speak and understand numerous languages, and she can fight. Like a boss.

Seriously cool.

Drea has no idea where her encyclopedic knowledge has come from, but she’ll take it when she discovers someone out there knows her secret and wants her badly. And that they’ve been searching for her since she was born.

Since she was created.

With the help of her best friend Dylan, who just wants to keep her safe, and Maddox, a mysterious new boy who is prepared to get her answers, Drea will have to push her new skills to their limit as she uncovers nothing is quite what it seems.

As she uncovers…Eugenica.

My Review

When I first heard of Road to Eugenica, read the synopsis, and checked out the cover, I never expected to love it as much as I did.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, the book has a pretty cover and … Continue reading →

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14 Feb 2018

Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha by Ian Lendler and Xanthe Bouma

Posted in Picture Books, Reviews
Book Title:
Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha
Book Author:
Ian Lendler
Book Illustrator:
Xanthe Bouma
Page Count:
40
Publishing Date:
January 23rd, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
February 11th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!
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Synopsis

In this charming and accessible picture book, Ian Lendler and Xanthe Bouma offer a heart-warming account of the childhood of the Buddha.

A spoiled young prince, Siddhartha got everything he ever asked for, until he asked for what couldn’t be given ­― happiness.

Join Little Sid as he sets off on a journey of discovery and encounters mysterious wise-folk, terrifying tigers, and one very annoying mouse.

With Lendler’s delightful prose and Bouma’s lyrical artwork, Little Sid weaves traditional Buddhist fables into a classic new tale of mindfulness, the meaning of life, and an awakening that is as profound today as it was 2,500 years ago.

My Review

This book, wow.  I loved it.  Absolutely loved it.  There’s so much about this book that is important, especially in today’s day and age.  It’s the kind of book that both children and adults can learn and benefit from, and … Continue reading →

5 stars
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09 Feb 2018

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Posted in Graphic Novels, Reviews, Young Adult
Book Tour
Book Title:
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Book Author:
Jen Wang
Book Illustrator:
Jen Wang
Page Count:
288
Publishing Date:
February 13th, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
January 31st, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!
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Synopsis

Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.

My Review

I love graphic novels, and when you combine a graphic novel with a fantasy/fairy tale theme, I find that it becomes something that I love so much I don’t even know how to put it into words!  There is so … Continue reading →

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04 Feb 2018

American Panda by Gloria Chao – Review, Favorite Quotes, and Giveaway!

Posted in Contemporary, Reviews, Young Adult
Book Tour
Book Title:
American Panda
Book Author:
Gloria Chao
Page Count:
322
Publishing Date:
February 6th, 2018
Publisher:
Simon Pulse
Date Read:
January 31st, 2018
Source:
eARC from publisher via NetGalley - Thank you!
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Synopsis

An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her germophobia and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth—that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

From debut author Gloria Chao comes a hilarious, heartfelt tale of how unlike the panda, life isn’t always so black and white.

My Review

From the very first chapter of this book, I knew for a fact that this was going to wind up being a 5 star read.  It’s been a while since a book has really captured my attention and made me … Continue reading →

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22 Nov 2017

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer

Posted in Fantasy, Reviews, Romance, Young Adult
Book Title:
Spindle Fire
Book Author:
Lexa Hillyer
Book Series:
Spindle Fire, #1
Page Count:
368
Publishing Date:
April 11th, 2017
Publisher:
HarperTeen
Date Read:
November 21st, 2017
Source:
ARC from Author
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Synopsis

A kingdom burns. A princess sleeps. This is no fairy tale.

It all started with the burning of the spindles.

No.

It all started with a curse…

Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and her voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close.

And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood—and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.

As the faerie queen and her army of Vultures prepare to march, Isabelle must race to find a prince who can awaken her sister with the kiss of true love and seal their two kingdoms in an alliance against the queen.

Isabelle crosses land and sea; unearthly, thorny vines rise up the palace walls; and whispers of revolt travel in the ashes on the wind. The kingdom falls to ruin under layers of snow. Meanwhile, Aurora wakes up in a strange and enchanted world, where a mysterious hunter may be the secret to her escape…or the reason for her to stay.

My Review

Spindle Fire was one of those books that drew me in right off the bat with its enchanted cover and a story that promises a new retelling of Sleeping Beauty – one of my all time favorite fairy tales. Look … Continue reading →

5 stars
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11 Nov 2017

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Posted in Fantasy, Reviews, Young Adult
Book Title:
Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Book Author:
Leigh Bardugo
Book Series:
DC Icons, #1
Page Count:
376
Publishing Date:
August 29th, 2017
Publisher:
Random House Children's Books
Date Read:
November 2nd, 2017
Source:
Purchased
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Synopsis

Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

My Review

I’m somehow getting incredibly lucky with all of the great books that I’ve been reading lately.  To be honest, I hadn’t expected this one to become one of my favorite books, mostly because I really didn’t know much about Wonder … Continue reading →

5 stars
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31 Oct 2017

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Posted in Fantasy, Reviews, Young Adult
Book Title:
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
Book Author:
Julie C. Dao
Book Series:
Rise of the Empress, #1
Page Count:
363
Publishing Date:
October 10th, 2017
Publisher:
Philomel Books
Date Read:
October 30th, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!
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Synopsis

An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress--and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.

My Review

Another 5 star review – I’m so excited to be coming across so many amazing books these past few weeks! Forest of a Thousand Lanterns was nothing like I was expecting, and I’m not even entirely sure what that was.  … Continue reading →

5 stars
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