Title: Beware the Kitten Holy
Author and Artists: Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Faith Hicks, Shannon Watters, Brooke Allen
Series/Standalone: Lumberjanes Vol. 1 (Issues 1-4)
Genre: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy
Pages: 128
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Year Published: 2015
Format: Graphic Novel (Library Copy)
"At Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's camp for hard-core lady-types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together... And they're not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here."
My Rating: 5/5
This is a great graphic novel. It features so many badass young women who are each unique but is building each other up instead of tearing each other down. I also loved the use of a camp setting with these girls, and the director of the camp really made me smile throughout the story. I can't wait to see where this story goes, and how our characters grow. The relationships between characters will hopefully deepen and the mystery will continue.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Prodigy
Author: Marie Lu
Series/Standalone: Legend Series (Book #2)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance
Pages: 371
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook
"Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother in an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots- a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?"
My Rating: 4/5
I think that this book was a serious improvement on the first installment. I loved the audiobook and the narrators chosen for the two main characters. This story really follows the idea of betrayal and what you believe in in the world. Not only to mention the idea that most are morally grey. I really enjoyed the different settings as well as the diverse points of view in this series. I can't wait to continue this series and see where it takes our characters in a different kind of revolution than expected.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I was totally prepared to give up on this series based on the use of romance in the first installment but this book just really made me wonder about the world and the characters. I'm curious about where everyone will end up and how the colonies became the way they are. I'm really interested to see how June and Day manage to get through his announcement and how she will find out about his illness.
Characters:
Day: I liked his story arch more near the end of this novel, mostly because of his super intense emotions that he felt for June. It seemed like his love for her was being forced, it just didn't seem natural at all. It was unfortunate. But the more I read, the more I was ok with how the character's relationship developed. I was disappointed in the way he handled his situation with Tess.
June: I still think that she's a total badass, but I just couldn't relate to how she didn't understand what it was like to poor. It was like she just opened her mouth and shouted repeatedly "I was rich. I'm rich. RICH!" After she saw how the colonies were, I think that it really opened her eyes, that the grass is rarely greener, if anything it's about the same.
Thomas: His character changes was also something I wasn't ready for. The idea that he was gay and wasn't able to show his love for Metais was heartbreaking. But then seeing that he was ordered to kill his potential lover, damn it hit hard. I'm curious to see if he comes into play again after Day and June switched sides.
Tess: Man that friendzone was pretty rough.
Kaede: I was surprised how upset I was that she died. She gave up everything to save the Patriots and the Republic. To give the people another chance at life.
Razor: He was suspicious but I didn't expect him to be working in conjunction with the Senate. After hearing this though, many of my feelings of suspicion were justified.
Anden: I'm wondering what is going to happen during his reign. Will his affection for June ruin his chance of ruling without feel, or will he turn against the people if she rejects him.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The City of Ember
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Series/Standalone: Book of Ember (Book #1)
Genre: Middle Grade, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 270
Publisher: Yearling Books
Year Published: 2003
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "When the city of Ember was just built and not yet inhabited, the chief builder and the assistant builder, both of them weary, sat down to speak of the future."
Citizen of Ember shall be assigned work at twelve years of age...
Lina Mayfleet desperately wants to be a messenger. Instead, she draws the dreaded job of Pipeworks labourer, which means she'll be working in damp tunnels deep underground.
Doon Harrow draws messenger- and asks Lina to trade! Doon wants to be underground. That's where the generator is, and Doon has ideas about how to fix it. For as long as anyone can remember, the great lights of Ember have kept the endless darkness at bay. But now the lights are beginning to flicker..."
My Rating: 3.25/5
This is a story that I had read in middle school and had thought about on and off throughout the years. After seeing a copy of this book and the second one in a used bookshop I thought that it was a good time to pick up the series and continue it. But before I could do that I needed to reread where it all started. I really enjoyed the stories interesting setting and the use of darkness throughout. I also appreciated the use of grief and loss throughout the story. I'm excited to continue this series and see where the author takes our characters.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This is such a popular story from my middle school, and I appreciate it overall. I think that this is one of the first dystopian books I ever read, and it is an easy read that I would suggest for those in middle school, but it is enjoyable for older readers as well. I can't wait to see how the author takes our characters above ground.
Characters:
Doon:I think that his need to become a hero is interesting and makes me wonder how he will cope in a new area where no one knows him. And where his finding the exit might be something negative rather than positive.
Lina: I wonder how running in the great outdoors will affect her. And how losing her grandmother so suddenly might have a backlash.
The Mayor: What a guy? I can understand how he did what he did when he believed that there was no hope.
Grandma: Hurts my heart.
Looper: I'd like to think that this wouldn't be a likely trait that people would develop but I wouldn't be surprised if many people took advantage of the system.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult,
Pages: 525
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year Published: 2007
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line: "From his perch behind the clock, Hugo could see everything."
"Orphan clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery."
My Rating: 3/5
I think that this story has a really interesting idea, and the format is unique for the story. The illustrations really help to tell the story, almost to the point that this book would make a very interesting movie or short film. I do think that I wouldn't have continued reading this story if it weren't for the illustrations, I'm not sure I would have continued the story. It left some questions, unanswered and others left unsatisfactory.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: A Court of Frost and Starlight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series/Standalone: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series (Book #3.1)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, New Adult
Pages: 229
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Year Published: 2017
Format: Hardcover Physical Copy (Own it)
First Line: "The first snow of winter had begun whipping through Velaris an hour earlier."
"Hope warms the coldest night.
Feryre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.
Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated-- scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court."
My Rating: 3.75/5
This is an odd way to explain this rating but this book just didn't seem necessary. I was glad to see the characters again and get a glimpse into their lives after the war, but I don't think it was needed to read the upcoming books. It did help me look forward to reading the next instalments, but I'm nervous about where the storyline will go just based on this instalment alone.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Confluence
Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrator: Takeshi Obata
Series: Death Note (Vol #2)
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Pages: 197
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Year Published: 2005
Format: Library Copy
"Light thinks he's put an end to his troubles with the FBI- by using the Death Note to kill off the FBI agents working the case in Japan! But one of the agents has a fiancee who used to work in the Bureau, and now she's uncovered information that could lead to Light's capture. To make matters worse, L has emerged from the shadows to work directly with the task force headed by Light's father. With people pursuing him from every direction, will Light get caught in the conflux?"
My Rating: 3.75/5
I was so glad to see how the story continued and to see L in person. I was excited to see how the illustrator and author worked together to bring the story to life. I also enjoyed the different perspectives we got in this book. I enjoyed the progression of character development, and can't wait to read more in the next instalment.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Scythe
Author: Neal Shusterman
Series/Standalone: Arc of a Scythe (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 435
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "We must, by law, keep a record of the innocents we kill."
"Thou shalt kill.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life- and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe- a role that neither wants. These teens must master the 'art' of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own."
My Rating: 3.5/5
I always thought that I had a similar taste to that of Puruse Project on booktube, but the more I read the more I find that my enjoyment of certain books and her enjoyment of these same books just does not line up. I think that the concept in this novel is interesting and what really holds the story together. The characters are interesting and I'm sure to have a background that we will learn more about in the coming books, that being said, I wasn't a huge fan of some of the plot points in the story. I also found with such a vast world to write in that the characters could have been more diverse (at least in sexuality, if you could live forever you might experiment at least a little). Overall I enjoyed the story, and by the end was reading rather quickly. I plan to continue the series and hope to post more reviews for this author's work soon.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I've heard so many amazing things about this book on booktube, but I wonder how much of that is due to paid promotion with other publishers. I think that this is definitely for some people but I did have some issues here and there. During the first plot twist, while I was surprised I didn't feel as heartbroken as I think I was supposed to. I also have been getting very annoyed with unnecessary love interests. All that being said, I am still really interested in the world and the way things are run. I also loved the format with the journal entries in between.
Characters:
Citra: I liked her character but I didn't love her. I think that she was stubborn in a good way and willing to stand up for the right thing. I can't wait to see how her granted immunity will work out for Rowan.
Rowan: I think that his experience is important to note. It was shocking to see that someone who was so into "gleaning" had made their way into this society and was in control of such a vast group. It broke my heart to see him lose Volta and those around him.
Scythe Farraday: I liked the way that he gleaned and did it based on past statistics but in some sense that was slightly less compassionate than others.
Scythe Currie: Her method made the most sense to me. After an eternity of living there must be a time where you feel like you are done and ready to move on with your life.
Scythe Goddard: He was a scary reality. That if this happened there might not be a way to weed out the people who are killers and take joy in taking lives. His methods were frightening, to say the least.
Xenocrates: I'm curious about his past, as well as how he chose Goddard as a Scythe and allowed him to be ordained into this world.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "The way he once did."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
