The Bone Charmer by Breeana Shields

The Bone Charmer by Breeana Shields
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Number of Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}: In Saskia’s world, bones are the source of all power. They tell the future, reveal the past, and expose secrets in the present. Each village has a designated seer who performs readings for the townsfolk, and in Midwood, the Bone Charmer is Saskia’s mother.

On the day of her kenning—a special bone reading that determines the apprenticeships of all seventeen-year-olds—Saskia’s worst fears come true. She receives an assignment to train as a Bone Charmer, like her mother, and even worse, a match-making reading that pairs her with Bram—a boy who has suspicious tattoos that hint of violence.

Saskia knows her mother saw multiple paths for her, yet chose one she knew Saskia wouldn’t want. Their argument leads to a fracture in one of the bones. Broken bones are always bad luck, but this particular set of bones have been infused with extra magic, and so the break has devastating consequences—Saskia’s future has split as well. Now she will live her two potential paths simultaneously. Only one future can survive. And Saskia’s life is in danger in both.

She thinks: Split story line? Sign me up!

Saskia is a force to be reckoned with in both plots after the unfortunate mishap with the bones at her kenning. I loved how fierce she was, but, let's be real, she had some seriously dumb moments, too. Which is fine by me because nobody is perfect. I just wanted to reach in a slap her a couple of times. That's all.

I'm also completely on #TeamBram ONE MILLION PERCENT. Mysterious tattoos? Dark, brooding male? Yes, please. Where can I get my own? [Don't worry, honey. I still love you, too!] And, then, when you learn the origin of his tattoos...oh my stars! I'm swooning at just the thought. God B.l.e.s.s.

Ahem.

And, just when you think your heart can't possibly take it anymore...the story lines merge. And, then, the end comes. And, then, you cry. Because it's bittersweet. And, it hurts. And, you need more. But you have to wait until May 2020, and, honestly, that's too far away.

Breeana Shields, you are a master at manipulating my feelings with your words. Thank you.

The Cruel Prince & The Wicked King by Holly Black [a two-in-one review]

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Number of Pages: 370 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}: Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

She thinks: I was conflicted about reading this book. I actually checked it out twice from the library before I attempted to read it again, for a third time. Thank goodness for audiobooks!

I was driven to read it from all the fandom posts that kept popping up on my Instagram and Pinterest feeds...and I'm sooooooo glad I did.

Holy wow.

I was not expecting any of that. It's dark. It's real. It doesn't hold back. This is definitely not a fluffy little piece of lit. It's raw, and I liked it.

Jude and Cardan are the best. Their "Screw You/Screw Me" relationship is fantastically built. No insta-love here. And, the familial dynamic. And, the betrayals happening almost every time you turn the page. I just never knew what to expect. I thought I'd have it figured out, but then - BAM! Guess again, Cassie. Guess. Again.

I got about a third of the way through the book before I begged a friend of mine to read it because I seriously needed someone to talk with about my feelings (and, to fangirl with, too, obviously).

---

The Wicked King by Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Number of Pages: 322 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads, edited for spoilers}: You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation about the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

She thinks: Um...where's the next book?? I need it now. Like, now now. You can't just end it like that. I need to know what is going to happen with my babies, Jude and Cardan. I need to know who's going to be the one to cave. Gah! Gimme. Gimme. Gimme.

What I immensely love about these characters is that they are seriously flawed. They're not perfect. They don't act perfect. And, they don't pretend to be perfect. They trick each other. Betray each other. Deny each other. And, all in a Fae world where they, technically, can't tell a lie. Well, the Fae can't at least. Humans, that's another story.

So. much. drama.

My heart is just breaking as I remember all my favorite scenes from this book. To be fair, I'm also feeling indignant, too, because Jude needs to get with the program and figure her stuff out. Seriously. Remember who you are!

Suffice it to say, this is another collection I'll be adding to personal library as I definitely intend to reread them.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: November 20, 2018
Number of Pages: 288 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}: Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

She thinks: This book. Just...ugh!

Five Feet Apart is what my friend and I would call a Cassie Book. It focuses on real people with real problems and will give you all the feels. And, it did. My heart ached for Stella and Will. Their struggles. Their wants. Their determination. I was not prepared for the end, but it makes sense so I appreciate the honesty.

Lord, just typing all that made me verklempt.

Right. Okay. Breathe.

I did, however, struggle with two parts of this book.

One:: I definitely realized that first person present narrative is not  my favorite POV. I can do without that. The segues are just too awkward.

Two:: What was the point of the character Poe? He's called Stella's best friend, but she hardly has any interactions with him. He's very much a plot device (in the worst way, especially given what happens), and I wish we had gotten more from their friendship.

That being said, I really did enjoy reading it. I loved the diversity and perspective of life with CF. I hope it holds true to real experiences.

If you loved Red Band Society and/or Fault in Our Stars, this is for you!

What I've Been Reading: French Inspired

In April, I found myself gravitating towards books that had somewhat of an obvious French overtone. One annoyingly so; the other subtlety.

Did I finish them both? Yes.

Did I enjoy them both? Of course.

Will I read their sequels? You bet!

So, now, it's time for Twitter-style reviews.

Les Mis set in space. Slow build. Lots of feelings. Loved picking out who was which character. Chatellus forever!

Reminds me of the Jacobite Rising. This is the sequel and is all about rebuilding. Love the realistic portrayal.

Have you read any French inspired books recently? Mine just happened to both be YA. Big surprise, right?

She Reads to Tiny Humans {v.4}

About five or so years ago, I stumbled across my first interactive picture book - Press Here by Hervé Tullet, and I fell in love. I was teaching at the time and read it to my PreK kiddos, and they were mesmerized by it. Right then, I knew I had found a hit - picture books that engage children on a whole new level. Not only are they listening to a story and following a plot, but now they have become part of the narrative...and that utilizes a whole new way of thinking. And, I'm all about building those synapses in the brain!

Nowadays, you can find a lot more interactive picture books. Some are great...and some are not. For me, the ones that aren't great feel a little forced, like they're trying to fit in and cash in on this trend.

I want to share with you my favorite ones though that I think hit the mark every single time I read them at story time or with my own child. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Row One: Tap the Magic Tree // Hi-Five Animals // Count the Monkeys

Row Two: Pet This Book // The Croaky Pokey // Play This Book // Plant the Tiny Seed

The Cerulean by Amy Ewing

The Cerulean by Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
Number of Pages: 496 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}:
Sera has always felt as if she didn’t belong among her people, the Cerulean. She is curious about everything and can’t stop questioning her three mothers, her best friend, Leela, and even the High Priestess. Sera has longed for the day when the tether that connects her City Above the Sky to the earthly world below finally severs and sends the Cerulean to a new planet.

But when Sera is chosen as the sacrifice to break the tether, she doesn’t know what to feel. To save her City, Sera must throw herself from its edge and end her own life. But something goes wrong and she survives the fall, landing in a place called Kaolin. She has heard tales about the humans there, and soon learns that the dangers her mothers warned her of are real. If Sera has any hope to return to her City, she’ll have to find the magic within herself to survive.

She thinks: I wanted to like this book. God, did I want to like it.

The first 68 pages were...good. Not great, but there was a lot of world building going on. So, I can be patient. And, I was. And, it got better. I felt invested in Sera and her story line. The City Above the Sky and the Cerulean people were fascinating.

But theeeennnn, I got to page 72, and I had to learn a whole other world from the perspective of t.w.o. new characters. Not one, but TWO! Who does that?

Leo can be summed up as an ASS. He knows nothing but thinks he does. Big surprise there. [insert eye roll here]

Agnes is a woe-is-me-because-I'm-different type of character. I don't have time for that. I get it, but let's move on to the actual plot.

Speaking of plot, nothing happened. I got all the way to page 150 on so before I realized only one thing had happened - Sera had sacrificed herself and been found alive. ...that's it...

Like, what?

I wanted so much more for this book. There's a utopia of sapphic polyamorous people. How cool - albeit a little cult-ish at times. But, to each their own. I'm not here to judge your lifestyle. You do you.

So, the more bored I became (by about page 95 - not even page 100!!), the more I wanted to know what others thought. I popped on GoodReads to read some reviews, and boy, do people have FEELINGS about this book. And...I get what they see and take issue with in the book. If I finished the book, I might feel the same way.

As it is, I tried to skim the rest of the book to see what happened, but I just couldn't. I said Adios! to it and haven't regretted it. Just...pass on this one. Unless you need help falling asleep.

What I've Been Reading: Grishaverse Edition

Oh, the Grishaverse. Where do I start?

In the wrong book series, that's where! [insert face palm here]

I was in a reading slump and kept seeing all these fandom posts about Six of Crows. So, naturally, I picked it up and started reading...well, devouring it, really. Little did I know it was part of a whole world!

Luckily, I didn't spoil anything for myself by reading that series first. BUT - oh man! Talk about a roller coaster of emotions.

So, now, Twitter-style reviews in 140 characters or less!

First, there's the "Shadow and Bone" series, which is coming to Netflix!

Alina discovers she has powers. Tries to save her country. Is duped by multiple people. Eventually gets it right...sort of. Mal is dumb.

Then, there's Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, which will also be part of the Netflix series.

Kaz. Inej. Jesper. Nina. Matthias. Wylan. Heists. Rescues. Scheming. Swoons. Heartbreak. Justice. #squadgoals #nuffsaid #micdrop

And, finally (as of right now), King of Scars.

Nikolai + Zoya, my loves. Weird in between places. Nina sees dead people. Everyone has scars. #whatwasthatending?!

I'm sure it will come as no surprise that I now own a.l.l. of these titles. Happy Birthday to me! [Thanks, Mom!] And, I eagerly await the sequel to King of Scars. If I could have it now, please, that'd be great. In the meantime, I'll placate myself with other novels!

Hollywood vs. Books: To All the Boys I've Love Before

Dear Readers,

I have a confession to make.

I think I may have found a book that I enjoyed the movie of more than I did the actual book.

Le gasp!

Yep, you read that right. I liked the movie To All the Boys I've Loved Before more than the book.

source :: April Magazine

Of course, there were elements missing from the movie (as always), but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with it.

In general, I loved the book. At least, I remember somewhat liking the book. I think? It's been f.i.v.e. years since I read it. Where did the time go?! But, I digress...according to my review, I liked it...more or less.

At the time I read it, my biggest problem with the book was the way the characters were written. Their speech patterns and dialogue made them seem so much younger than the age they are said to be. And, while I could go on and on about this, I won't. I'll save you my soapbox moment.

BUT! I think the movie did a great job addressing what had bothered me so much about the novel. Which is probably why I liked it more than the book. So, I'm here to say that you should watch the movie, if you haven't already, because Lara Jean and Peter are just...swoooonnnnnn!

Okay. Maybe I'll read the other books now, too. I have to know what happens, and I'm not going to wait for the movies! That's just as painful as waiting for books in a series to be released!!

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

I have chosen today of all the days to post my review of Merci Suárez. I have waited until today because at some point during these 24 hours I will find out if I'm on the next Newbery Committee.

Yep, that's right. Little ole me was nominated to stand for election for the Newbery Committee. I don't know how I got so lucky or so blessed, but it was an honor just to be nominated. I could go on and on about receiving THE CALL, but I'll save that story for another day.

Today, I'm going to share with you my thoughts on Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, since it won the Newbery Award this year, and hope against all hope that I'm chosen to be part of such a prestigious committee.

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Number of Pages: 355 pages
Genre: Middle Grade
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}:
Merci Suárez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don’t have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci’s school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna’s jealousy. Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci’s grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately — forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she’s left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school.

She thinks: Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Do I need to say more? I mean, I probably should. But just know that this book is a winner. Well, obviously, because it won the Newbery Award this year, but that's not the point I'm trying to make. The point is that Merci Suárez is relatable on a multitude of levels, across generations, and everything in between.

Let me start off by saying, I've experienced bits of Merci's story myself.

One
I've been the new kid in a private school where everyone else has known each other since Kindergarten. And, let me tell you, it sucks to be new. There's so many dynamics to sift through and personalities to learn, and you don't realize you did it...until you sit down to write this blog post. Although, I have to give credit to the author for making Merci a part of the "group". She's not an outsider, like you might expect. Everyone is friendly...enough...with each other. But, Edna. Oh man. We've all had an Edna in our life.

Two
I've had the same eye struggles Merci describes - trying to focus so your eye doesn't wander off and potentially freak people out. There is nothing more embarrassing than being 17 and having someone ask what you're looking at because you're tired and your eye has decided that the side of a building is cool to look at. So, when I started reading this book, I got all the feels. I immediately felt connected Merci, and I'm in my thirties! Way to go, Meg Medina; roping all the generations in!

Three
Merci has a bike she loves to ride and is saving up to buy a new one. Now, while I never bought myself a bike, reading this story reminded me of the summers we used to ride around the neighborhood. It made me nostalgic. Like, almost nostalgic enough to want to buy a bike and ride around the neighborhood with my kid. But...then I remembered how uncomfortable those bike seats are, and I put a pin in that idea to save it for a rainy day. But those were some good times!

These are just parts of the story that resonated with me on a personal level. I'm sure there are other readers out there that connect with this book in other ways. And, that's what I loved about it. The story is great, and there's something in it for everyone - no matter their age, race, gender, family life, etc. So, kudos to you Newbery Committee 2019 for selecting Merci Suárez Changes Gears. It gets my Librarian stamp of approval, and I will for sure be recommending it to all my kiddos.

She Reads to Tiny Humans {v.3}

Picture books are pretty much one of the best things that exist in this world. They have about 31% more rare words than a typical conversation. They have incredible illustrations. They are versatile. You can read them to a room full of three year olds or cuddled up with your little one. And you can find one to cover just about any topic, more or less.

My favorite picture book (and board book) is Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton.

If you are my friend and are having a baby, I will give you this book because it will grow with your child. And, let me tell you how.

Your infant will love the colors. It's monochromatic with all its shades of blue, but then, POP! Here's some brightness. They will also love the repetitive nature of the story.

Your toddler will still love the colors and the repetitive nature. BUT, they'll learn counting skills and the pacing of the story. They'll probably also like the surprise towards the end!

Your preschooler will love and know everything I've already mentioned and will now likely be able to read it to you on their own. If not completely, I'm pretty sure they'll know when to say GO! and SHH! and LOOK! and STOP!

Your school age kiddo who is learning to read will love this book because it has a lot of sight words, words that are difficult to sound out and are best to have memorized so they can be recognized at a glance.

See how it grows?
Now you know you need it!