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sarahscupofcoffee
I am a young adult reader. This is, admittedly, the first graphic novel that I have ever read. I am not disappointed. I originally didn't like graphic novels because I would end up paying $12-$15 for one and then read it in one night. I also didn't think that graphic novels had much depth to them.
This book proved me wrong.
Well, I finished it in an hour and a half, so I read it in a night. But there was some serious depth to this novel! Anya is an amazing, relatable character. She's an immigrant from Russia with a name that most Americans cannot pronounce, she is dying to lose weight to fit in with kids she goes to school with, and she struggles in school. Totally relatable.
She is grumbling through some upsetting memories and distractedly falls into a well. At the bottom of the well, she meets Emily. Emily is a 90 year-old-ghost that befriends Anya. I'll stop there because of spoilers, but there are some plot twists and endearing moments.
I loved the artwork and the theme of the story. I didn't know graphic novels could do that. The elements of literature still apply: setting, plot, characters, theme... and Anya's Ghost scored high in each category. We could visually see the setting, which was beautifully detailed. The plot was intense and page-turny in nature. All the characters I felt I could relate to in some way, each different and dynamic. There are various themes that readers could get out it. I saw the element of control in the theme.
If you end up reading it, what theme can you spot?
This book proved me wrong.
Well, I finished it in an hour and a half, so I read it in a night. But there was some serious depth to this novel! Anya is an amazing, relatable character. She's an immigrant from Russia with a name that most Americans cannot pronounce, she is dying to lose weight to fit in with kids she goes to school with, and she struggles in school. Totally relatable.
She is grumbling through some upsetting memories and distractedly falls into a well. At the bottom of the well, she meets Emily. Emily is a 90 year-old-ghost that befriends Anya. I'll stop there because of spoilers, but there are some plot twists and endearing moments.
I loved the artwork and the theme of the story. I didn't know graphic novels could do that. The elements of literature still apply: setting, plot, characters, theme... and Anya's Ghost scored high in each category. We could visually see the setting, which was beautifully detailed. The plot was intense and page-turny in nature. All the characters I felt I could relate to in some way, each different and dynamic. There are various themes that readers could get out it. I saw the element of control in the theme.
If you end up reading it, what theme can you spot?
Read this review and other young adult book reviews at sarahthebooknerd.home.blog!
I started another book before my Uppercase box came in, which contained this book. I would usually finish reading the book I was on before moving onto my Uppercase book, but I couldn't resist. The premise of magical libraries hooked me. The book itself is beautiful, with raised features on the slick cover and a wonderfully drawn map on the inside. I flipped the book to the back to read the testimonials. They refer to the library at Hogwarts, "wry" humor, and a Gothic heartbeat; all of which intrigue me. I stopped my current read and let myself slip under Rogerson's grip. I read about 150 pages that first night.
The writing was amazing. Rogerson has some serious imagery skills, as I was able to picture everything extremely clearly. The character descriptions were great, settings were well developed (which is huge considering how expansive Elisabeth's world is), and action scenes were riveting. She has amazing descriptive skill.
The plot is incredible! She claimed in her Uppercase video that this was her second book. She had a two-book contract signed, both being stand-alones. She had difficulty coming up with an idea for the second one. It doesn't show... at all. The plot is twisty and the characterization is unreal. It seems as though she had these characters bouncing around in her head for years. Bravo!
Let's quickly talk about the ending. No spoilers, I promise. So, this world is full of demons, spells, grimoires, and other magical ideas. The ending defies all that we've learned from Rogerson about her world and leaves something to consider. She tied up every lose end I could think of, while creating an ending that leaves us readers thinking. I couldn't have imagined a better ending than what she has given us.
Altogether, this book is amazing. It's long, but it's worth the read. I absolutely loved it.
I started another book before my Uppercase box came in, which contained this book. I would usually finish reading the book I was on before moving onto my Uppercase book, but I couldn't resist. The premise of magical libraries hooked me. The book itself is beautiful, with raised features on the slick cover and a wonderfully drawn map on the inside. I flipped the book to the back to read the testimonials. They refer to the library at Hogwarts, "wry" humor, and a Gothic heartbeat; all of which intrigue me. I stopped my current read and let myself slip under Rogerson's grip. I read about 150 pages that first night.
The writing was amazing. Rogerson has some serious imagery skills, as I was able to picture everything extremely clearly. The character descriptions were great, settings were well developed (which is huge considering how expansive Elisabeth's world is), and action scenes were riveting. She has amazing descriptive skill.
The plot is incredible! She claimed in her Uppercase video that this was her second book. She had a two-book contract signed, both being stand-alones. She had difficulty coming up with an idea for the second one. It doesn't show... at all. The plot is twisty and the characterization is unreal. It seems as though she had these characters bouncing around in her head for years. Bravo!
Let's quickly talk about the ending. No spoilers, I promise. So, this world is full of demons, spells, grimoires, and other magical ideas. The ending defies all that we've learned from Rogerson about her world and leaves something to consider. She tied up every lose end I could think of, while creating an ending that leaves us readers thinking. I couldn't have imagined a better ending than what she has given us.
Altogether, this book is amazing. It's long, but it's worth the read. I absolutely loved it.
Read this review and others at sarahthebooknerd.home.blog!
Words on Bathroom Walls is a collection of journal entries Adam writes to his therapist. Adam is schizophrenic and has been accepted into an experimental drug trial. Adam transfers to a new school, Catholic school specifically, and has been gifted the ability to stay a normal teen. Nobody knows about his condition and he tries to have a normal life. His hallucinations, or imaginary friends, are kept at bay because of the drug. This allows him to fall in love and try to live a life that he's always wanted.
Of course, all good stories have problems. There are kinks in the plan and major plot twists happen. Yes, the plotting was stellar. Yes, the characterization was on point. Yes, the settings were extremely well developed. The themes were clear and impactful. However, Walton created a genuine masterpiece that goes beyond elements of literature.
I write notes on post-its as I read, figuring out what I want to say in my review. Usually, I fill out one post-it note with half-assed phrases to remind myself of what I want to say--two if the book is really good (or really bad). I filled out five post-its while going through this book, and judging by the 5-star review it wasn't because it was bad.
I also wanted to mention that I have this other thing I do when I read: I look at the last page. I know, I know--Bad Sarah! I like to peek at the last few sentences of a novel before I read it so I can figure out how it fits in, like a puzzle piece. The words that stuck out to me in on the last page were "Jesus Loves You. Don't Be a Homo." I had to laugh.
With that being said, this book is set in a Catholic K-12 school. This book also has multiple sex scenes... some of which are in said school. Walton also uses humor to her advantage throughout this book, which may be offensive to Catholics. FYI.
Let's start with the themes. As mentioned before, they were well thought out and excellently put together. I learned a lot about schizophrenia. I thought this book was about general awareness, but it's not. It's about showing people that schizophrenics aren't always violent and that there's nothing to be afraid of. There's a scene in here that compares schizophrenia to cancer, which is enlightening.
I loved the similes (comparison of two things using like or as) in this book. They're hilarious and accurate. Many authors use cliched similes -- not Julia Walton. Hers are original and will have you laughing out loud in the middle of a silent library... no, just me?
Another thing I loved about this book is the Harry Potter references. Not from the movies, but from the books! I was delighted when I read the first HP reference on page 8. Yes, the book starts with a reference and the book ends with a reference... in the last chapter Adam quotes Dumbledore. This is a quote that was bouncing in the back of my head throughout the entire book. My father has recited this quote to me from time to time and it sticks: "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" AH! When I read that line, I started to cry because I desperately wanted Adam to use that quote to find some peace.
So, I mentioned that I love this book, right? There are a few things that I'm not a huge fan of. These are personal opinions, so I didn't let them affect the five star rating, but they're worth mentioning.
I don't like the title. I don't think it's fitting. I understand, vaguely, why "Words on Bathroom Walls" is its title, but it's not powerful enough to defend it. It also kind of bugs me that there are multiple sex scenes that are explained in... not like GoT graphic, but enough detail to picture everything, but she won't use many curse words. She drops a few here and there, but when someone curses in an angry fashion, they become "choice" words or the like.
So, anyway, amazing book. Love it to death. I would highly recommend this book to those whom are not easily offended by religious jokes and sexual content. Great read that offers a lot of insight and knowledge on a mental illness that often incites fear.
Great job Julia!
Words on Bathroom Walls is a collection of journal entries Adam writes to his therapist. Adam is schizophrenic and has been accepted into an experimental drug trial. Adam transfers to a new school, Catholic school specifically, and has been gifted the ability to stay a normal teen. Nobody knows about his condition and he tries to have a normal life. His hallucinations, or imaginary friends, are kept at bay because of the drug. This allows him to fall in love and try to live a life that he's always wanted.
Of course, all good stories have problems. There are kinks in the plan and major plot twists happen. Yes, the plotting was stellar. Yes, the characterization was on point. Yes, the settings were extremely well developed. The themes were clear and impactful. However, Walton created a genuine masterpiece that goes beyond elements of literature.
I write notes on post-its as I read, figuring out what I want to say in my review. Usually, I fill out one post-it note with half-assed phrases to remind myself of what I want to say--two if the book is really good (or really bad). I filled out five post-its while going through this book, and judging by the 5-star review it wasn't because it was bad.
I also wanted to mention that I have this other thing I do when I read: I look at the last page. I know, I know--Bad Sarah! I like to peek at the last few sentences of a novel before I read it so I can figure out how it fits in, like a puzzle piece. The words that stuck out to me in on the last page were "Jesus Loves You. Don't Be a Homo." I had to laugh.
With that being said, this book is set in a Catholic K-12 school. This book also has multiple sex scenes... some of which are in said school. Walton also uses humor to her advantage throughout this book, which may be offensive to Catholics. FYI.
Let's start with the themes. As mentioned before, they were well thought out and excellently put together. I learned a lot about schizophrenia. I thought this book was about general awareness, but it's not. It's about showing people that schizophrenics aren't always violent and that there's nothing to be afraid of. There's a scene in here that compares schizophrenia to cancer, which is enlightening.
I loved the similes (comparison of two things using like or as) in this book. They're hilarious and accurate. Many authors use cliched similes -- not Julia Walton. Hers are original and will have you laughing out loud in the middle of a silent library... no, just me?
Another thing I loved about this book is the Harry Potter references. Not from the movies, but from the books! I was delighted when I read the first HP reference on page 8. Yes, the book starts with a reference and the book ends with a reference... in the last chapter Adam quotes Dumbledore. This is a quote that was bouncing in the back of my head throughout the entire book. My father has recited this quote to me from time to time and it sticks: "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" AH! When I read that line, I started to cry because I desperately wanted Adam to use that quote to find some peace.
So, I mentioned that I love this book, right? There are a few things that I'm not a huge fan of. These are personal opinions, so I didn't let them affect the five star rating, but they're worth mentioning.
I don't like the title. I don't think it's fitting. I understand, vaguely, why "Words on Bathroom Walls" is its title, but it's not powerful enough to defend it. It also kind of bugs me that there are multiple sex scenes that are explained in... not like GoT graphic, but enough detail to picture everything, but she won't use many curse words. She drops a few here and there, but when someone curses in an angry fashion, they become "choice" words or the like.
So, anyway, amazing book. Love it to death. I would highly recommend this book to those whom are not easily offended by religious jokes and sexual content. Great read that offers a lot of insight and knowledge on a mental illness that often incites fear.
Great job Julia!
I'm not even sure where to start with this review. I just put down the book and my hands are vibrating. I guess I should start by saying that "After the Fire" is not my typical book. I read YA fiction. I picked up this book because the cover looked enticing and it was signed by the author. When I started reading it, it became clear to me that Hill's book is not YA. Despite the fact that it's out of my genre, I absolutely loved it.
I loved his descriptive style. He doesn't treat the reader like they're stupid, which is an amazing concept. He gives us just the right amount of description to form the scene in our mind's eye, but leaves enough room for us to draw our own conclusions.
The plot is twisted and gut-wrenching in the best way possible. It's so dense that I had to take small pauses between chapters to fully understand and make connections between plot points. Speaking of chapters, the way he set up this book is incredible.
Hill has the book divided into "Before" and "After" chapters, but they're not in a row. Time jumps between present and past in an artful way. I usually hate books that jump in this fashion, but he knows what he's doing. He gives you enough information to understand where in the timeline you jumped into.
The majority of this book is set actively inside of a therapy session, with our main character unleashing her traumatic event to a professional. Books like this usually bore me because they're too much talking and not enough showing. His "Before" and "After" chapters retell what happens to her so she doesn't have to say it to us, but she still communicates the events to her therapist while we're living it as readers. It's pure genius.
I absolutely loved this book and I would read others by Will Hill. Definitely recommend it, even if it's outside of your typical genre.
I loved his descriptive style. He doesn't treat the reader like they're stupid, which is an amazing concept. He gives us just the right amount of description to form the scene in our mind's eye, but leaves enough room for us to draw our own conclusions.
The plot is twisted and gut-wrenching in the best way possible. It's so dense that I had to take small pauses between chapters to fully understand and make connections between plot points. Speaking of chapters, the way he set up this book is incredible.
Hill has the book divided into "Before" and "After" chapters, but they're not in a row. Time jumps between present and past in an artful way. I usually hate books that jump in this fashion, but he knows what he's doing. He gives you enough information to understand where in the timeline you jumped into.
The majority of this book is set actively inside of a therapy session, with our main character unleashing her traumatic event to a professional. Books like this usually bore me because they're too much talking and not enough showing. His "Before" and "After" chapters retell what happens to her so she doesn't have to say it to us, but she still communicates the events to her therapist while we're living it as readers. It's pure genius.
I absolutely loved this book and I would read others by Will Hill. Definitely recommend it, even if it's outside of your typical genre.
Before we get into the nitty gritty of the story itself, let's talk about the presentation. Maybe it's because I'm not a graphic novel girl, but as soon as I opened Pumpkinheads, the fan blew the glorious smell straight into my face. Oh. My. God. [Insert Janis laugh here.] I immediately brought the book up to my nose and inhaled as deeply as I could. I've never smelled such a scent come from a book before... I think it's all the colored ink?
Anyway, in addition to the smell, it's a beautiful book. It definitely puts you into the fall mood. The cover is gorgeous (as is all of the artwork throughout) with a raised title. You open the front cover and find a map of the pumpkin patch. It's amazing. I was juiced to read this when I initially pre-ordered it, but that excitement multiplied the minute I held it in my hands.
The only reason I pre-ordered and read this book is because of Rainbow Rowell. I'm a die-hard fan of hers and will read anything she writes. As before mentioned, I am not a graphic novel fan--just a Rainbow one. So, I didn't really know what to expect. The two big things I love about Rainbow's writing are her pop-culture references and her humor. You will not be disappointed. Even in graphic novel form, she's hilarious. The artwork is full of humorous signs and references that you have to hunt for.
To be honest, I was really disappointed by the start of her plot. Boy sees pretty girl. Boy never talks referenced pretty girl, but makes a friend instead. Boy continues to not talk to pretty girl (for 3 YEARS, by the way). The book is about these friends going on a wild goose chase to locate this pretty girl for the boy to talk to. It was a pretty weak plot, in my opinion. However, it gets better! It's a Rainbow book, so we'll have authentic plot twists. There are lots of those that deepen the plot.
My favorite thing about this book is the subtext. There is so much about this story that goes unsaid; you see it in the artwork. You see the looks one friend gives another. You see aspects of the book that are never talked about, but are huge parts of the story. It's amazing. Bravo! Oh, and I like that it has chapters.
There was one question I had throughout the entire book. What the hell is succotash? I looked it up. Just in case you're wondering, it's a dish that consists of corn, lima beans, okra, green or red peppers, and tomatoes. Who knew?
Anyway, in addition to the smell, it's a beautiful book. It definitely puts you into the fall mood. The cover is gorgeous (as is all of the artwork throughout) with a raised title. You open the front cover and find a map of the pumpkin patch. It's amazing. I was juiced to read this when I initially pre-ordered it, but that excitement multiplied the minute I held it in my hands.
The only reason I pre-ordered and read this book is because of Rainbow Rowell. I'm a die-hard fan of hers and will read anything she writes. As before mentioned, I am not a graphic novel fan--just a Rainbow one. So, I didn't really know what to expect. The two big things I love about Rainbow's writing are her pop-culture references and her humor. You will not be disappointed. Even in graphic novel form, she's hilarious. The artwork is full of humorous signs and references that you have to hunt for.
To be honest, I was really disappointed by the start of her plot. Boy sees pretty girl. Boy never talks referenced pretty girl, but makes a friend instead. Boy continues to not talk to pretty girl (for 3 YEARS, by the way). The book is about these friends going on a wild goose chase to locate this pretty girl for the boy to talk to. It was a pretty weak plot, in my opinion. However, it gets better! It's a Rainbow book, so we'll have authentic plot twists. There are lots of those that deepen the plot.
My favorite thing about this book is the subtext. There is so much about this story that goes unsaid; you see it in the artwork. You see the looks one friend gives another. You see aspects of the book that are never talked about, but are huge parts of the story. It's amazing. Bravo! Oh, and I like that it has chapters.
There was one question I had throughout the entire book. What the hell is succotash? I looked it up. Just in case you're wondering, it's a dish that consists of corn, lima beans, okra, green or red peppers, and tomatoes. Who knew?
This was a re-read. I read this book for the first time when it first came out and I absolutely loved it. When I heard the sequel was on the way... I had to put it on my immediate TBR. The second time around, I found a lot of things I didn't really like.
I understand why it has a satire feel for the Harry Potter series (from Fangirl... read it!), but it annoyed me this time around. I understand it, though. Rainbow did her best to spin it in a completely different direction though compared to the introduction in Fangirl. The Insidious Humdrum has an amazing story attached to it. The characters branch off of their intended counterparts. She tries.
Plus, Watford is incredibly different from Hogwarts. The setting is darker and it has a different type of leader. Now, I feel like I'm defending this book from being compared, but she did such a good job at branching because she knew she had to.
One of the other things I didn't really like about this book was the writing style. It kills me to say that because Rainbow is an amazing author with an amazing style. It took me much too long to read this book because I couldn't get sucked in. It felt like she was catching me up on the past happenings rather than showing me the now... through the whole book. I get that we're being plopped in Simon's last year on campus. I also understand that it needed to be that way because in Fangirl, **mild spoiler** the last book that Cath's writing is based off of is supposed to be coming out and she's racing against the clock to finish it. I get that. I just felt like I missed out on so much action.
However, I loved the plot. The story was deep and intense. The ending. WOW. It tied up all loose ends and it was beautiful. That ending scene (where the climax happens anyway) is one of my favorite scenes in young adult literature because of how powerful it was. I will have that image burned into my brain for years.
I also love how magic works in this book. I'm not going to spoil it because it's one of my favorite aspects of this book, but the relationship between Normals (non-magic folk) and magic gives me goosebumps.
The entire time I was reading it, I felt like I was inside of Cath's head. I loved reading this book because I could pick out phrases and quotes I recognized from Fangirl. I could just imagine Levi sitting next to her on her dorm bed, listening to her read as I read. It was a magical book for many different reasons.
I understand why it has a satire feel for the Harry Potter series (from Fangirl... read it!), but it annoyed me this time around. I understand it, though. Rainbow did her best to spin it in a completely different direction though compared to the introduction in Fangirl. The Insidious Humdrum has an amazing story attached to it. The characters branch off of their intended counterparts. She tries.
Plus, Watford is incredibly different from Hogwarts. The setting is darker and it has a different type of leader. Now, I feel like I'm defending this book from being compared, but she did such a good job at branching because she knew she had to.
One of the other things I didn't really like about this book was the writing style. It kills me to say that because Rainbow is an amazing author with an amazing style. It took me much too long to read this book because I couldn't get sucked in. It felt like she was catching me up on the past happenings rather than showing me the now... through the whole book. I get that we're being plopped in Simon's last year on campus. I also understand that it needed to be that way because in Fangirl, **mild spoiler** the last book that Cath's writing is based off of is supposed to be coming out and she's racing against the clock to finish it. I get that. I just felt like I missed out on so much action.
However, I loved the plot. The story was deep and intense. The ending. WOW. It tied up all loose ends and it was beautiful. That ending scene (where the climax happens anyway) is one of my favorite scenes in young adult literature because of how powerful it was. I will have that image burned into my brain for years.
I also love how magic works in this book. I'm not going to spoil it because it's one of my favorite aspects of this book, but the relationship between Normals (non-magic folk) and magic gives me goosebumps.
The entire time I was reading it, I felt like I was inside of Cath's head. I loved reading this book because I could pick out phrases and quotes I recognized from Fangirl. I could just imagine Levi sitting next to her on her dorm bed, listening to her read as I read. It was a magical book for many different reasons.
When I figured out what the second book was titled, I laughed out loud. My boyfriend thought I was crazy. I explained that the first book is titled Carry On and that this new book coming out (pre-ordered of course) is titled Wayward Son. Rainbow is amazing with pop culture references and her title doesn't disappoint. My other first impression of this book is how small it was. It's tiny compared to the first one, and loaded with dialogue. It was an easy read.
I read it in a weekend.
I didn't really think the back-of-the-book description really told us what this book was going to be about. Yes, it's a road trip. The entire book really is set on the road, but it's more than that. Baz gets a chance at discovering who he could be if things were different. Penny and Agatha realize some of their biggest faults as people and magicians. Simon figures out how to use his new-founded fault to the best of his ability. We meet new characters and new creatures. It's a well rounded sequel.
There were moments that were really slow, but I whipped through pages without knowing how much I was reading at other parts. The sequel wasn't as tell-y as the first one was. It was descriptive and it sucked me in more than Carry On did.
Really, that's all there is to say. It was good and it's a must-read if you read the first one. The ending sets up for a third book, too.
I read it in a weekend.
I didn't really think the back-of-the-book description really told us what this book was going to be about. Yes, it's a road trip. The entire book really is set on the road, but it's more than that. Baz gets a chance at discovering who he could be if things were different. Penny and Agatha realize some of their biggest faults as people and magicians. Simon figures out how to use his new-founded fault to the best of his ability. We meet new characters and new creatures. It's a well rounded sequel.
There were moments that were really slow, but I whipped through pages without knowing how much I was reading at other parts. The sequel wasn't as tell-y as the first one was. It was descriptive and it sucked me in more than Carry On did.
Really, that's all there is to say. It was good and it's a must-read if you read the first one. The ending sets up for a third book, too.
Read this review and other young adult (and mid-grade I guess) books at sarahthebooknerd.home.blog!
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh is about a pair of sisters facing life by themselves. DiDi is the older sister and a hair stylist. She ended up winning a baking competition, making her a millionaire. She used part of that money to move her sister and herself to the North Shore of Long Island, so GiGi could attend seventh grade at a fancy school that deserved her intellect. GiGi is a twelve year old girl, whom faces many typical twelve-year-old-girl things: making new friends, experiencing the toils of her first crush, and crippling family secrets.
My first impressions of this book weren't the best, if I'm being honest. I'm reading this as a favor to a friend; I will be posting bits of this review as a guest post on her blog, as well. I didn't want to pay full price for a book that I was sure I wouldn't enjoy. (pst... I'm one of those judge-the-book-by-its-cover-and-title readers.) So, I went on eBay and found this copy for two dollars.
I opened it up when it arrived and found it was a signed copy! It was well-loved before I bought it, so the dust jacket is dirty and there's a pesky Goodwill sticker on the spine. However, I screamed and ran through the house, announcing how I scored a signed copy of a book for two whole dollars. My boyfriend didn't appreciate it with rolling of the eyes and a sideways smile.
Anyway, I'm not usually a mid-grade reader. There is a huge difference between mid-grade books and young adult books, which I can get into in a future blog post. However, I was hooked on The Truth About Twinkie Pie from the first chapter. It's a great first chapter. It shows us who GiGi is, what she wanted, and the writing is incredible.
Not only did the first chapter hook me, but Kat Yeh did an amazing job with her debut novel as she integrated various recipes into the story. The recipes are not written as typical, linear recipes. They're short, sweet, to the point, but loaded with humor and personality. The best part about the recipes is that they are folded (see what I did there?) into the plot! Each recipe corresponds with what is happening in the story--and each recipe seems easy to prepare, as well. So easy, actually, that kids would be able to make most of them!
I wanted to make each one as I came across it just for sentimental value. That's how amazingly connected they are with the characters! I am planning on trying out one of the recipes and posting about my experience, so stay tuned for that!
The characters resonated with me because they are easy to relate to. GiGi is a spitefire and DiDi has a certain charm that's difficult to capture in writing. One of the reasons I don't like mid-grade fiction much is because the authors "dumb down" the language and the content. Kat Yeh didn't do that. Yes, the language is easy for audience she targeted to understand, but it was satisfying to read as an adult, too.
The content was real. She talked about real issues, such as jealousy, grief, relationships, problems with friendships, and struggles with parents. Young kiddos can relate to this, but adults would be able to relate to this book, too.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie reminds me a lot of a younger version of Looking for Alaska by John Green. Green talks about real-life things and poses serious questions for his readers to ponder. He ends the novel with an introspective essay that was assigned. Yeh talks about real-life things and poses serious questions for her readers to ponder. She ends the novel with an introspective poem that was assigned.
If you want to buddy-read (as an adult) a book with your child (or any child), I suggest trying this book. The Truth About Twinkie Pie would be an amazing book to read with your kid because of the recipes you could make with them and it won't bore you to tears while reading it. Plus, it'll give you a good opportunity to discuss some real topics with your kiddo that might not come up as naturally without a prompt.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh was published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on January 27, 2015.
Kat Yeh (http://katyeh.com/HOME.html) is a children's author. She wrote three picture books and two novels (including this one). The Way to Bea was published in 2017 and is her second novel.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh is about a pair of sisters facing life by themselves. DiDi is the older sister and a hair stylist. She ended up winning a baking competition, making her a millionaire. She used part of that money to move her sister and herself to the North Shore of Long Island, so GiGi could attend seventh grade at a fancy school that deserved her intellect. GiGi is a twelve year old girl, whom faces many typical twelve-year-old-girl things: making new friends, experiencing the toils of her first crush, and crippling family secrets.
My first impressions of this book weren't the best, if I'm being honest. I'm reading this as a favor to a friend; I will be posting bits of this review as a guest post on her blog, as well. I didn't want to pay full price for a book that I was sure I wouldn't enjoy. (pst... I'm one of those judge-the-book-by-its-cover-and-title readers.) So, I went on eBay and found this copy for two dollars.
I opened it up when it arrived and found it was a signed copy! It was well-loved before I bought it, so the dust jacket is dirty and there's a pesky Goodwill sticker on the spine. However, I screamed and ran through the house, announcing how I scored a signed copy of a book for two whole dollars. My boyfriend didn't appreciate it with rolling of the eyes and a sideways smile.
Anyway, I'm not usually a mid-grade reader. There is a huge difference between mid-grade books and young adult books, which I can get into in a future blog post. However, I was hooked on The Truth About Twinkie Pie from the first chapter. It's a great first chapter. It shows us who GiGi is, what she wanted, and the writing is incredible.
Not only did the first chapter hook me, but Kat Yeh did an amazing job with her debut novel as she integrated various recipes into the story. The recipes are not written as typical, linear recipes. They're short, sweet, to the point, but loaded with humor and personality. The best part about the recipes is that they are folded (see what I did there?) into the plot! Each recipe corresponds with what is happening in the story--and each recipe seems easy to prepare, as well. So easy, actually, that kids would be able to make most of them!
I wanted to make each one as I came across it just for sentimental value. That's how amazingly connected they are with the characters! I am planning on trying out one of the recipes and posting about my experience, so stay tuned for that!
The characters resonated with me because they are easy to relate to. GiGi is a spitefire and DiDi has a certain charm that's difficult to capture in writing. One of the reasons I don't like mid-grade fiction much is because the authors "dumb down" the language and the content. Kat Yeh didn't do that. Yes, the language is easy for audience she targeted to understand, but it was satisfying to read as an adult, too.
The content was real. She talked about real issues, such as jealousy, grief, relationships, problems with friendships, and struggles with parents. Young kiddos can relate to this, but adults would be able to relate to this book, too.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie reminds me a lot of a younger version of Looking for Alaska by John Green. Green talks about real-life things and poses serious questions for his readers to ponder. He ends the novel with an introspective essay that was assigned. Yeh talks about real-life things and poses serious questions for her readers to ponder. She ends the novel with an introspective poem that was assigned.
If you want to buddy-read (as an adult) a book with your child (or any child), I suggest trying this book. The Truth About Twinkie Pie would be an amazing book to read with your kid because of the recipes you could make with them and it won't bore you to tears while reading it. Plus, it'll give you a good opportunity to discuss some real topics with your kiddo that might not come up as naturally without a prompt.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh was published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on January 27, 2015.
Kat Yeh (http://katyeh.com/HOME.html) is a children's author. She wrote three picture books and two novels (including this one). The Way to Bea was published in 2017 and is her second novel.
Read this review and other young adult book reviews at sarahthebooknerd.home.blog!
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig is a haunting retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. With beautifully written, yet gruesome scenes lurking around every corner, it will be sure to satisfy any young adult horror itch you may have.
Annaleigh soon becomes the second-oldest when four of her sisters suffer tragic deaths. The Thaumas family becomes the subject of horrid rumors: they are cursed by the Gods and all of the Thaumas girls will suffer horrid deaths.
As the girls fall into a state of loneliness, as very few guests turn for their parties, they become desperate. The girls sneak out to balls each night in other places, places that have no idea who they are. They become intoxicated with the dancing and the elegance that they get to bask in.
When they are assaulted by visions, ghosts, monsters, and further tragedies, Annaleigh takes the reigns.
I was thrilled to acquire this book. I've heard so much about it on social media and figured it would be the perfect book to read during the last week of October. To begin with, the cover is gorgeous and I love books with raised titles.
The story inside is just as gorgeous, although I wouldn't call it a fairy tale. Many testimonials claim that it's like stepping into a fairy tale. It's gruesome, detailed, and intense. It's magical, but in a dark way. There are twisted scenes and Craig explores some heavy topics.
I don't like gore. I can't handle scary movies with guts and blood spewing out of orifices. If this type of thing bugs you, too... be aware that you're going to be cringing and making embarrassing faces while reading this book. There are many times when I muttered, "Hot Damn," to myself. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, though! I actually liked that about the book, even though it's not my cup of tea.
The plot was amazing. Twists. Turns. Expected endings turn into unexpected ones. Better yet, it was believable! There are some supernatural and otherworldly things that happen in this book. Think gods and ghosts, but you're right there in the thick of it with the characters. You don't question it while you're reading it.
I did, however, have a problem with one aspect of the book, which is why it's not a five-star-novel, in my opinion. I won't get too spoilery here, but one of the characters is a god. I don't believe this character should be. In my opinion, that specific choice was cliched and made the plot tie up too neatly; like, Craig only made this character a god to make plotting easier on herself. It may sound harsh and feel free to disagree with me, as always!
Generally, I loved this book! I would read it again because the characters were beautifully created (with one exception - although, I love this character's arc!) and the world was easy to picture. She did a great job with her debut novel and I am anxiously awaiting her next book.
As a bonus, I decided to read The Twelve Dancing Princesses by The Grimm Brothers. I wanted to see where the inspiration came from. I remember watching The Barbie version when I was little, but I figured the original would be different.
There are quite a few similarities between the two stories, but they're more like shout-outs. The stories are very different from each other. If you'd like to read the original story, click here! There's even an audio version (8 whole minutes long!).
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig was published by Delacorte on August 6th 2019.
Erin A. Craig is a young adult author, publishing House of Salt and Sorrows as her debut title. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Design and Production. Craig served as a behind the scenes wizard in many spooky productions and wanted to continue the genre, converting her passion from theatrics to ink.