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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I bought this on my own for my book club!
Book Series: The Archieved 1-2.5
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: August 14, 2018
Genre: YA Paranormal
Recommended Age: 15+ (language, some gore, some violence, some mature scenes involving what can be seen as sex)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 704
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.
Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost, Da's death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself may crumble and fall.
Review: I felt, overall, that this was a great book. The character development was amazing and the world building was very well done. I loved the writing and I felt that, if you’re a horror fan and/or a ghost fan, then this is a good book/series for you. The book is made up of two books and a short story. The first book went very well done, the pacing was really good, and it was the superior of the two books.
However, I felt that the pacing in the second book was so slow and both books took awhile to get into. The beginnings are the weak points of this book and sometimes the world building is overdone to the point of making the book extremely tedious for the reader. I had issues with the second book of this book. The book was very disjointed and I feel like a lot of the elements I liked in the first book was not present in the second. The second tended to focus more on the high school life of this girl rather than the supernatural aspect of it.
Verdict: It’s a bit tedious, but it’s worth the read if you’re a Schwab fan.
Book Series: The Archieved 1-2.5
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: August 14, 2018
Genre: YA Paranormal
Recommended Age: 15+ (language, some gore, some violence, some mature scenes involving what can be seen as sex)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 704
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.
Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost, Da's death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself may crumble and fall.
Review: I felt, overall, that this was a great book. The character development was amazing and the world building was very well done. I loved the writing and I felt that, if you’re a horror fan and/or a ghost fan, then this is a good book/series for you. The book is made up of two books and a short story. The first book went very well done, the pacing was really good, and it was the superior of the two books.
However, I felt that the pacing in the second book was so slow and both books took awhile to get into. The beginnings are the weak points of this book and sometimes the world building is overdone to the point of making the book extremely tedious for the reader. I had issues with the second book of this book. The book was very disjointed and I feel like a lot of the elements I liked in the first book was not present in the second. The second tended to focus more on the high school life of this girl rather than the supernatural aspect of it.
Verdict: It’s a bit tedious, but it’s worth the read if you’re a Schwab fan.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own!
Book Series: Three Dark Crowns 2
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (sex, violence, revenge, fighting your siblings for a crown #justgirlythings)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 464
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?
With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.
In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.
Review: I felt that this book was a great filler between books 1 and 3. The book explained a lot more about the relationships after the events of book 1 and it set up a lot of items for book 3 and beyond. The character development is phenomenal and the world building is marvelous. The writing was also superb, it was like reading poetry it was so beautiful.
However, I felt like this book was hard to get into. After the amped up events in book 1 I feel like we slowed it down from 80mph to 30mph in order to explain everything and set up. I really struggled with the pacing and with all of the characters (they just confuse me, but that’s a me problem not a book problem).
Verdict: Read this to get amped up for book 3 and 4! The things set up in this book make the domino effect in book 3 worth it.
Book Series: Three Dark Crowns 2
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (sex, violence, revenge, fighting your siblings for a crown #justgirlythings)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 464
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?
With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.
In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.
Review: I felt that this book was a great filler between books 1 and 3. The book explained a lot more about the relationships after the events of book 1 and it set up a lot of items for book 3 and beyond. The character development is phenomenal and the world building is marvelous. The writing was also superb, it was like reading poetry it was so beautiful.
However, I felt like this book was hard to get into. After the amped up events in book 1 I feel like we slowed it down from 80mph to 30mph in order to explain everything and set up. I really struggled with the pacing and with all of the characters (they just confuse me, but that’s a me problem not a book problem).
Verdict: Read this to get amped up for book 3 and 4! The things set up in this book make the domino effect in book 3 worth it.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own!
Book Series: Three Dark Crowns 3
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, sex, revenge, plotting your sisters deaths #justgirlythings)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 464
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.
Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn.
Jules, too, is in a strange place—in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can’t imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine’s doorstep.
This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed—or expected.
Review: Holy crap this book was INTENSE! I felt like I was on a roller coaster the whole time! I loved every moment of this book and I’m definitely rooting for all of the girls for different reasons. I felt that the world building continued to be amazing, the writing was as satisfying as always, and the character development was amazing. I’m anxious for the last book in this series!
However, I did feel that the pacing was, again, a little slow for me but it was greatly improved from the last book!
Verdict: Definitely recommend this series!
Book Series: Three Dark Crowns 3
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, sex, revenge, plotting your sisters deaths #justgirlythings)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 464
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.
Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn.
Jules, too, is in a strange place—in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can’t imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine’s doorstep.
This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed—or expected.
Review: Holy crap this book was INTENSE! I felt like I was on a roller coaster the whole time! I loved every moment of this book and I’m definitely rooting for all of the girls for different reasons. I felt that the world building continued to be amazing, the writing was as satisfying as always, and the character development was amazing. I’m anxious for the last book in this series!
However, I did feel that the pacing was, again, a little slow for me but it was greatly improved from the last book!
Verdict: Definitely recommend this series!
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own!
Book Series: Three Dark Crowns 0.5
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (birth, abuse, baby queens slaying, oracle queen predicting the future, violence)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 232
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Uncover the sisters’ origins, dive deep into the catastrophic reign of the Oracle Queen, and reveal layers of Fennbirn’s past, hidden until now.
The Young Queens
Get a glimpse of triplet queens Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Katharine during a short period of time when they protected and loved one another. From birth until their claiming ceremonies, this is the story of the three sisters’ lives…before they were at stake.
The Oracle Queen
Everyone knows the legend of Elsabet, the Oracle Queen. The one who went mad. The one who orchestrated a senseless, horrific slaying of three entire houses. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who could foresee the future…just not her own downfall.
Review: I loved this book of short stories. I felt that it answered a lot of questions I had in the series about the oracle queen and I loved reading about the baby queens! I’d love to see if Kendare would write a full prequel about the oracle queen in this book and/or about the baby queens in the full series, as both were very intriguing. This book served its purpose: it gave me voluntary information about the books without being a necessary read for the rest of the series.
However, I think it was too short (I’m nitpicking, I’m loving this series). Please make these full blown prequels!
Verdict: Need these in a full novel.
Book Series: Three Dark Crowns 0.5
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (birth, abuse, baby queens slaying, oracle queen predicting the future, violence)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 232
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Uncover the sisters’ origins, dive deep into the catastrophic reign of the Oracle Queen, and reveal layers of Fennbirn’s past, hidden until now.
The Young Queens
Get a glimpse of triplet queens Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Katharine during a short period of time when they protected and loved one another. From birth until their claiming ceremonies, this is the story of the three sisters’ lives…before they were at stake.
The Oracle Queen
Everyone knows the legend of Elsabet, the Oracle Queen. The one who went mad. The one who orchestrated a senseless, horrific slaying of three entire houses. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who could foresee the future…just not her own downfall.
Review: I loved this book of short stories. I felt that it answered a lot of questions I had in the series about the oracle queen and I loved reading about the baby queens! I’d love to see if Kendare would write a full prequel about the oracle queen in this book and/or about the baby queens in the full series, as both were very intriguing. This book served its purpose: it gave me voluntary information about the books without being a necessary read for the rest of the series.
However, I think it was too short (I’m nitpicking, I’m loving this series). Please make these full blown prequels!
Verdict: Need these in a full novel.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own (in a book box)!
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: March 19, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, death, grief)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 480
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Robin of Locksley is dead.
Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley andMarian’s fiancé.
Who is there to stop them?
Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero: Robin Hood.
Review: This book was everything I wanted in a Robin Hood retelling, especially from Maid Marian’s point of view. We almost never get to hear anything from her point of view and she’s always been the Peach character of the Robin Hood tales. I loved that this book was very focused on her and I feel like this book did well by her and Robin. It showed a strong female from the get go, someone who had already discovered who they were with Robin, but then someone who had to discover who they were after Robin, which is something that I feel anyone who’s dealt with a huge loss can relate to. The character development was spot on, I wish I had more info on the band of merry men, but for what we had it was adequate. The writing was amazingly well done and the world building was great as well. I also feel that the pacing was very spot on.
My only complaint about this book is that I feel like the ending was not satisfactory. I expected something entirely different from what I got. I’m not saying that the ending was bad, it was good, but I feel like the turn of events was a bit too tied up perfectly and I would have preferred a messier ending. Also, not a fan of the big cliché at the end, but that’s a spoiler.
Verdict: Meagan did well by Robin Hood in this Marian centric retelling.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: March 19, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, death, grief)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 480
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Robin of Locksley is dead.
Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley andMarian’s fiancé.
Who is there to stop them?
Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero: Robin Hood.
Review: This book was everything I wanted in a Robin Hood retelling, especially from Maid Marian’s point of view. We almost never get to hear anything from her point of view and she’s always been the Peach character of the Robin Hood tales. I loved that this book was very focused on her and I feel like this book did well by her and Robin. It showed a strong female from the get go, someone who had already discovered who they were with Robin, but then someone who had to discover who they were after Robin, which is something that I feel anyone who’s dealt with a huge loss can relate to. The character development was spot on, I wish I had more info on the band of merry men, but for what we had it was adequate. The writing was amazingly well done and the world building was great as well. I also feel that the pacing was very spot on.
My only complaint about this book is that I feel like the ending was not satisfactory. I expected something entirely different from what I got. I’m not saying that the ending was bad, it was good, but I feel like the turn of events was a bit too tied up perfectly and I would have preferred a messier ending. Also, not a fan of the big cliché at the end, but that’s a spoiler.
Verdict: Meagan did well by Robin Hood in this Marian centric retelling.
Disclaimer: I received this particular copy from Cody!
Book Series: Harry Potter 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: July 2, 1998
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (little gore, some scary moments, one small sexual innuendo, and snakes)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 341
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -- or something -- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?
Review: After all this time, I still love my favorite book of the series. I loved how the story just flows beautifully from book 1 and, when rereading this book, you can really pick up on all of the little cues that JK put in there. The book is full of great moments that didn’t make it to the film and it’s definitely worth the read. The character development is amazing, the pacing is great, and the writing is amazing, as always.
My only, ONLY, issue is that I feel like the book spent too long setting up the final moments of the book. Like, we have 300 pages of set up and then 5 pages of exposition. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but I would have liked it to be a bit more in the end.
Verdict: Harry Potter OP
Book Series: Harry Potter 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: July 2, 1998
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (little gore, some scary moments, one small sexual innuendo, and snakes)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 341
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -- or something -- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?
Review: After all this time, I still love my favorite book of the series. I loved how the story just flows beautifully from book 1 and, when rereading this book, you can really pick up on all of the little cues that JK put in there. The book is full of great moments that didn’t make it to the film and it’s definitely worth the read. The character development is amazing, the pacing is great, and the writing is amazing, as always.
My only, ONLY, issue is that I feel like the book spent too long setting up the final moments of the book. Like, we have 300 pages of set up and then 5 pages of exposition. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but I would have liked it to be a bit more in the end.
Verdict: Harry Potter OP
Disclaimer: I bought this book!
Book Series: Harry Potter 3
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: July 8, 1999
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (some slight gore and a little violence, alludes and mentions of depression, and Professor Lupin represents the unfair treatment of people infected with AIDS, so this might start some conversation with younger ones)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 435
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts is full of new dangers. A convicted murderer, Sirius Black, has broken out of Azkaban prison, and it seems he's after Harry. Now Hogwarts is being patrolled by the dementors, the Azkaban guards who are hunting Sirius. But Harry can't imagine that Sirius or, for that matter, the evil Lord Voldemort could be more frightening than the dementors themselves, who have the terrible power to fill anyone they come across with aching loneliness and despair. Meanwhile, life continues as usual at Hogwarts. A top-of-the-line broom takes Harry's success at Quidditch, the sport of the Wizarding world, to new heights. A cute fourth-year student catches his eye. And he becomes close with the new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, who was a childhood friend of his father. Yet despite the relative safety of life at Hogwarts and the best efforts of the dementors, the threat of Sirius Black grows ever closer. But if Harry has learned anything from his education in wizardry, it is that things are often not what they seem. Tragic revelations, heartwarming surprises, and high-stakes magical adventures await the boy wizard in this funny and poignant third installment of the beloved series.
Review: While the formula is the same, the magical feeling I get when reading this series isn’t. I love seeing Harry and catching onto all the little things in the book. I loved reading about the prophecies, as most of them come into play later in the books. I loved seeing the character development, it was just as strong as ever (maybe except for Ron? Poor thing was injured 90% of this book). I love the writing, I love the book so much.
My only complaint is that it wasn’t until the very end of the book that things started to get solved and righted. There was a lot of exposition (which definitely pays off at the end of the series) but not a lot of action and adventure. The time travel bit always gets me too. JK definitely opened a Pandora’s Box with it and she did good to shut it down in this book. Time travel is always hard to write and with there being three major theories with three different methods of time travel, you’ll always be upsetting someone.
Verdict: Bow to the hippogriff.
Book Series: Harry Potter 3
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: July 8, 1999
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (some slight gore and a little violence, alludes and mentions of depression, and Professor Lupin represents the unfair treatment of people infected with AIDS, so this might start some conversation with younger ones)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 435
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts is full of new dangers. A convicted murderer, Sirius Black, has broken out of Azkaban prison, and it seems he's after Harry. Now Hogwarts is being patrolled by the dementors, the Azkaban guards who are hunting Sirius. But Harry can't imagine that Sirius or, for that matter, the evil Lord Voldemort could be more frightening than the dementors themselves, who have the terrible power to fill anyone they come across with aching loneliness and despair. Meanwhile, life continues as usual at Hogwarts. A top-of-the-line broom takes Harry's success at Quidditch, the sport of the Wizarding world, to new heights. A cute fourth-year student catches his eye. And he becomes close with the new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, who was a childhood friend of his father. Yet despite the relative safety of life at Hogwarts and the best efforts of the dementors, the threat of Sirius Black grows ever closer. But if Harry has learned anything from his education in wizardry, it is that things are often not what they seem. Tragic revelations, heartwarming surprises, and high-stakes magical adventures await the boy wizard in this funny and poignant third installment of the beloved series.
Review: While the formula is the same, the magical feeling I get when reading this series isn’t. I love seeing Harry and catching onto all the little things in the book. I loved reading about the prophecies, as most of them come into play later in the books. I loved seeing the character development, it was just as strong as ever (maybe except for Ron? Poor thing was injured 90% of this book). I love the writing, I love the book so much.
My only complaint is that it wasn’t until the very end of the book that things started to get solved and righted. There was a lot of exposition (which definitely pays off at the end of the series) but not a lot of action and adventure. The time travel bit always gets me too. JK definitely opened a Pandora’s Box with it and she did good to shut it down in this book. Time travel is always hard to write and with there being three major theories with three different methods of time travel, you’ll always be upsetting someone.
Verdict: Bow to the hippogriff.
Disclaimer: I was given this book by Algonquin Young Readers! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (mental illness TW, drug addiction TW, parent abandonment, child protective services, and finding out who you are)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 288
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Fig, a sixth grader, wants more than anything to see the world as her father does. The once-renowned pianist, who hasn’t composed a song in years and has unpredictable good and bad days, is something of a mystery to Fig. Though she’s a science and math nerd, she tries taking an art class just to be closer to him, to experience life the way an artist does. But then Fig’s dad shows up at school, disoriented and desperately searching for Fig. Not only has the class not brought Fig closer to understanding him, it has brought social services to their door.
Diving into books about Van Gogh to understand the madness of artists, calling on her best friend for advice, and turning to a new neighbor for support, Fig continues to try everything she can think of to understand her father, to save him from himself, and to find space in her life to discover who she is even as the walls are falling down around her.
Nicole Melleby’s Hurricane Season is a stunning novel about a girl struggling to be a kid as pressing adult concerns weigh on her. It’s also about taking risks and facing danger, about love and art, and about coming of age and coming out. And more than anything else, it is a story of the healing power of love—and the limits of that power.
Review: This book was so beautiful. I loved the realistic approach to this story. The thing that really gets me in a lot of books is that when a child is in trouble or in crisis, especially a younger one, adults don’t tend to act as how they would realistically and things happen in the criminal justice system that never realistically would. This book took a very realistic approach to it and the author didn’t write the process as overly scary. Trust me, it’s frightening enough without the author using myths and falsehoods to make it more traumatic. I loved how the character was questioning her sexuality and how the book tackled real issues like drug addiction and bipolar disorder. The book was well written and the story flowed really well.
However, I worry that there was a lot going on in the book. I don’t doubt that all of that doesn’t happen in a child’s life, it can and it does unfortunately, but I fear that throwing so much to younger readers who are just entering into more adult topics might make the book seem like too much to fully grasp. I think that, mostly because of the length of the book, that there wasn’t a lot of time devoted to all of the problems and solutions in this book. I think it would have been better longer rather than shorter.
Verdict: Prepare thy tissues!
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (mental illness TW, drug addiction TW, parent abandonment, child protective services, and finding out who you are)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 288
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Fig, a sixth grader, wants more than anything to see the world as her father does. The once-renowned pianist, who hasn’t composed a song in years and has unpredictable good and bad days, is something of a mystery to Fig. Though she’s a science and math nerd, she tries taking an art class just to be closer to him, to experience life the way an artist does. But then Fig’s dad shows up at school, disoriented and desperately searching for Fig. Not only has the class not brought Fig closer to understanding him, it has brought social services to their door.
Diving into books about Van Gogh to understand the madness of artists, calling on her best friend for advice, and turning to a new neighbor for support, Fig continues to try everything she can think of to understand her father, to save him from himself, and to find space in her life to discover who she is even as the walls are falling down around her.
Nicole Melleby’s Hurricane Season is a stunning novel about a girl struggling to be a kid as pressing adult concerns weigh on her. It’s also about taking risks and facing danger, about love and art, and about coming of age and coming out. And more than anything else, it is a story of the healing power of love—and the limits of that power.
Review: This book was so beautiful. I loved the realistic approach to this story. The thing that really gets me in a lot of books is that when a child is in trouble or in crisis, especially a younger one, adults don’t tend to act as how they would realistically and things happen in the criminal justice system that never realistically would. This book took a very realistic approach to it and the author didn’t write the process as overly scary. Trust me, it’s frightening enough without the author using myths and falsehoods to make it more traumatic. I loved how the character was questioning her sexuality and how the book tackled real issues like drug addiction and bipolar disorder. The book was well written and the story flowed really well.
However, I worry that there was a lot going on in the book. I don’t doubt that all of that doesn’t happen in a child’s life, it can and it does unfortunately, but I fear that throwing so much to younger readers who are just entering into more adult topics might make the book seem like too much to fully grasp. I think that, mostly because of the length of the book, that there wasn’t a lot of time devoted to all of the problems and solutions in this book. I think it would have been better longer rather than shorter.
Verdict: Prepare thy tissues!
Disclaimer: I received this book from Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (OCD rep, mental illness, death of family member, family feud)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 410
Amazon Link
Synopsis: "You can’t keep two people who are meant to be together apart for long...”
Lennon Davis doesn’t believe in much, but she does believe in the security of the number five. If she flicks the bedroom light switch five times, maybe her new L.A. school won’t suck. But that doesn’t feel right, so she flicks the switch again. And again. Ten more flicks of the switch and maybe her new step family will accept her. Twenty-five more flicks and maybe she won’t cause any more of her loved ones to die. Fifty times more and then she can finally go to sleep.
Kyler Benton witnesses this pattern of lights from the safety of his treehouse in the yard next door. It is only there, hidden from the unwanted stares of his peers, that Kyler can fill his notebooks with lyrics that reveal the true scars of the boy behind the oversized hoodies and caustic humor. But Kyler finds that descriptions of blonde hair, sad eyes, and tapping fingers are beginning to fill the pages of his notebooks. Lennon, the lonely girl next door his father has warned him about, infiltrates his mind. Even though he has enough to deal with without Lennon’s rumored tragic past in his life, Kyler can’t help but want to know the truth about his new muse.
Review: Love this book so much! It gives, from what I know about OCD, a fairly accurate portrayal of the illness (I would love to see OCD reviewers weigh in on this). This book was really raw and it tackled an issue that can be helpful for kids, teens, and adults of any age. The character development was great, the world building was well done, and the writing was spot on.
However, I do feel like the pacing was a bit slow for my taste and the book felt like it should have ended earlier. It just felt like things were a bit wrapped up, but then continued a bit longer than what I felt was necessary. I also thought that we didn’t need the book to have a Romeo and Juliet style family feud. I think the book could have worked well if we just saw these two characters grow together.
Verdict: Definitely a must read for anyone who experiences loss or anyone who feels overwhelmed.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (OCD rep, mental illness, death of family member, family feud)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 410
Amazon Link
Synopsis: "You can’t keep two people who are meant to be together apart for long...”
Lennon Davis doesn’t believe in much, but she does believe in the security of the number five. If she flicks the bedroom light switch five times, maybe her new L.A. school won’t suck. But that doesn’t feel right, so she flicks the switch again. And again. Ten more flicks of the switch and maybe her new step family will accept her. Twenty-five more flicks and maybe she won’t cause any more of her loved ones to die. Fifty times more and then she can finally go to sleep.
Kyler Benton witnesses this pattern of lights from the safety of his treehouse in the yard next door. It is only there, hidden from the unwanted stares of his peers, that Kyler can fill his notebooks with lyrics that reveal the true scars of the boy behind the oversized hoodies and caustic humor. But Kyler finds that descriptions of blonde hair, sad eyes, and tapping fingers are beginning to fill the pages of his notebooks. Lennon, the lonely girl next door his father has warned him about, infiltrates his mind. Even though he has enough to deal with without Lennon’s rumored tragic past in his life, Kyler can’t help but want to know the truth about his new muse.
Review: Love this book so much! It gives, from what I know about OCD, a fairly accurate portrayal of the illness (I would love to see OCD reviewers weigh in on this). This book was really raw and it tackled an issue that can be helpful for kids, teens, and adults of any age. The character development was great, the world building was well done, and the writing was spot on.
However, I do feel like the pacing was a bit slow for my taste and the book felt like it should have ended earlier. It just felt like things were a bit wrapped up, but then continued a bit longer than what I felt was necessary. I also thought that we didn’t need the book to have a Romeo and Juliet style family feud. I think the book could have worked well if we just saw these two characters grow together.
Verdict: Definitely a must read for anyone who experiences loss or anyone who feels overwhelmed.
Disclaimer: I received this book from Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (TW for 9/11, it’s talked about A LOT so please be careful if you were affected by it, 9/11 Syndrome, blackmail, jokes, and hope)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.
Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.
Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.
Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers?
Review: This book discusses some really heavy topics in, what I think, is very personable and open way. This book takes place from the perspective of Abbi, who became an internet sensation when she was photographed on her first birthday and was dubbed Baby Hope. I loved how the author mixed in a real and tragic event and spun her own universe off of it. The moments that talked about the event were very well done and sensitive, but the core of the novel was healing and, like in the title, hope. I felt that the characters were expertly crafted, the story was funny and touching, and the feels ughhh. I also liked that the book really talked about 9/11 Syndrome. That’s something that not a lot of people talk about/think about. Funding is quickly evaporating to help thousands of those affected by the syndrome get the treatment they need and if legislation doesn’t pass to move more money into the fund, then a lot of sick people, a lot of those who helped find survivors and ran into the face of danger to rescue people, will be without aid.
My only complaint is that the mystery portion of the story is kind of weird, like the events that fall into place all seem a bit to coincidental to be true. Some of the sentences repeat and there is a bit of a repetition problem in the book. Also, a bit off-putting, were some of the quips and little jokes about 9/11. It’s really insensitive since some readers would have lost parents or family members on that day and it’s something they live with, either with 9/11 syndrome or with coping through the loss of an absent family member or parent. Laughter can be the best medicine, but some things are really off-limits in terms of jokes. Also, I don’t like that Abbi left her disease to progress over the summer to tell her parents. That’s not a message you want to send to young ones. And I didn’t like how there was a bit of Stockholm syndrome in the mix with the blackmailing of Abbi by Noah.
Verdict: It’s raw and emotional and pretty good, but there are some off-putting things about it. So please self care if you were affected by 9/11.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (TW for 9/11, it’s talked about A LOT so please be careful if you were affected by it, 9/11 Syndrome, blackmail, jokes, and hope)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.
Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.
Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.
Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers?
Review: This book discusses some really heavy topics in, what I think, is very personable and open way. This book takes place from the perspective of Abbi, who became an internet sensation when she was photographed on her first birthday and was dubbed Baby Hope. I loved how the author mixed in a real and tragic event and spun her own universe off of it. The moments that talked about the event were very well done and sensitive, but the core of the novel was healing and, like in the title, hope. I felt that the characters were expertly crafted, the story was funny and touching, and the feels ughhh. I also liked that the book really talked about 9/11 Syndrome. That’s something that not a lot of people talk about/think about. Funding is quickly evaporating to help thousands of those affected by the syndrome get the treatment they need and if legislation doesn’t pass to move more money into the fund, then a lot of sick people, a lot of those who helped find survivors and ran into the face of danger to rescue people, will be without aid.
My only complaint is that the mystery portion of the story is kind of weird, like the events that fall into place all seem a bit to coincidental to be true. Some of the sentences repeat and there is a bit of a repetition problem in the book. Also, a bit off-putting, were some of the quips and little jokes about 9/11. It’s really insensitive since some readers would have lost parents or family members on that day and it’s something they live with, either with 9/11 syndrome or with coping through the loss of an absent family member or parent. Laughter can be the best medicine, but some things are really off-limits in terms of jokes. Also, I don’t like that Abbi left her disease to progress over the summer to tell her parents. That’s not a message you want to send to young ones. And I didn’t like how there was a bit of Stockholm syndrome in the mix with the blackmailing of Abbi by Noah.
Verdict: It’s raw and emotional and pretty good, but there are some off-putting things about it. So please self care if you were affected by 9/11.