Can a common girl save a prince trapped in the Tower of London?
April. England. 1483. The king is dead. Long live the king.
Nell Gould is the daughter of the royal butcher, a commoner, but she has been raised as the playmate of King Edward and Queen Elizabeth’s royal children: Princess Cecily, Princess Bess, Prince Dickon, and Prince Ned, heir apparent and Nell’s best and closest friend. They think alike, her and Ned, preferring books and jousts to finery and gossip and the sparkle of the court. But when King Edward dies, Prince Ned is imprisoned in the Tower of London by his scheming uncle, the evil Richard III–and Nell with him. Can they escape? Is Nell the key?
Based on the real royal scandal of the Princes in the Tower, DAUGHTER OF THE WHITE ROSE covers a shocking episode in medieval history that has captured the imagination for 530 years. A story of murder, betrayal, resilience, and growing up, this girl-led medieval middle-grade novel will make a perfect companion to CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY and THE MAD WOLF’S DAUGHTER.
My Review
It’s been a long time since I read CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY, but I can definitely see why this book is compared to that one. Though DAUGHTER OF THE WHITE ROSE isn’t told in diary entries, it has the feel of someone recording a memoir. At first I thought that only the beginning might be that way since the first chapter is about Nell’s birth, but it’s a style that stays through the whole story.
I liked that the story followed Nell and her connection to the royal family. I also liked that though there are some dark moments, Nell doesn’t witness things, like murder, directly in front of her. I liked her character, too. She’s smart and determined, and won’t allow herself to be pressed into a mold based on anyone else’s expectations for her. I also loved that she was so inspired by other female writers.
Romance/Sexual Content One kiss between a boy and girl. At one point, Nell learns that the king has a mistress.
Spiritual Content Nell considers becoming a nun. At one point she spends a lot of time in prayer.
Violent Content Brief descriptions of death or murder.
Drug Content Adults drink wine socially.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog. I received a free copy of DAUGHTER OF THE WHITE ROSE in exchange for my honest review.
I know it’s already almost March, but it’s been a rough go these last few months. I was kind of on a roll there with my lists and if-we-were-having-coffee posts, and then life threw me a pretty big curveball.
So here it is, in all its belated glory. Let me know if you read any of the books on this list, completed the survey on your own blog, or want to talk about your favorites from last year.
**2020 READING STATS**
Number Of Books You Read: 140 Number of Re-Reads: 3 Genre You Read The Most From: YA Fantasy
1. Best Book You Read In 2020?
Ooooh, this is tough. I’m going to break this into age groups.
I felt like THE LOST CITY read a little too much like a guidebook to the story world or that the world building sometimes dominated the story. So, I wasn’t expecting that, and I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the story had been more prominent.
I enjoyed CINDERELLA IS DEAD. I thought the concept for the story was really awesome, I think I just got too wrapped up in the hype. Maybe would have appreciated it more if I’d just read if fresh, no expectations?
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
THE MONSTER OF MARNMOUTH VALLEY by CJ Greene kind of shattered all my expectations. I loved the characters and found myself “just one more chapter”-ing my way through the whole thing!
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
5. Best series you started in 2020? Best Sequel of 2019? And Best Series Ender of 2020?
Normally I’m horrible about series, but looking over my reading from last year, I actually conquered more series than I thought, including some really big ones.
I love this series with all my heart. It reminds me so much of THE SCORPIO RACES, but for a slightly younger audience. And the relationships between generations are incredible. It’s a fabulous series.
I feel like that’s such a predictable choice, and yet, I think it’s deserved. This book was the one I needed to finish out the year. I longed for it because I wanted more of Elias and Laia’s story, but dreaded it because I knew not everyone would make it out alive, and I knew that was going to be heartbreaking.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?
I have to list two: Elizabeth Acevedo and Kiersten White.
Both have been writing books for a while, and I have owned books by both for a while. With Acevedo, I read WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH, and was just blown away by how immersive and unique and beautiful the story is.
For some reason I requested THE CAMELOT BETRAYAL on Netgalley. I think I was just gambling to see if I would even be able to get a copy of a book by an author as big as Kiersten White is. When I realized it was a sequel, I decided to read the first book in the series first, and I immediately fell in love with the gender-flipped Merlin/King Arthur story. LOVE!
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
WHERE DREAMS DESCEND by Janella Angeles. I felt completely swept away by this story. The magic, the romance, the danger. I dove in, and just couldn’t stop reading.
9. Book You Read In 2020 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2020?
I started following Bowties and Books on YouTube early last year, and I love the reviews, and updates, and more than that, I feel like I learn a lot from their takes on bookish world issues. From diversity representation to bookish drama, they always bring wise perspective that I deeply appreciate.
I want to expand my BookTube subscription list, so if you have any suggestions, please share them!
2. Favorite post you wrote in 2020?
My favorite post might be the one that is a list of 26 Asian-Inspired Fantasy books by Asian authors. Initially it was meant to be a reading list to help us get through another delay in the release of the movie Mulan, but after all the conflicts over the movie, maybe it’s really better as an alternative reading list.
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2020?
I love lots of things about this photo. The Jane Austen quote. The colorful book spines. The diversity that the titles represent. The fact that I have all these books somehow, and that many of them came from independent bookstores or through review opportunities from blogging.
I’ve been kicking around this idea of doing a weekly community library in our neighborhood. Maybe load up a book cart or two and wheel them outside. Let the neighborhood kids pick through and borrow what they want and return things when they’re done. It’s still a dream at this point, but I’m hopeful, and this photo is at least partly what inspired me.
What are your best bookish thoughts about 2020?
Did you post a 2020 Bookish Survey? If so, please share the link in the comments! Also tell me if you read any of my favorite books, or which favorites you discovered last year that must be on my reading list.
Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live under an iron set of rules: No travel without a permit. No criticism of the government. No absences from Communist meetings. Wear red. Hang pictures of the Great Leader. Don’t trust your neighbors. Don’t speak your mind. You are being watched.
But war is coming, war between North and South Korea, between the Soviets and the Americans. War causes chaos–and war is the perfect time to escape. The plan is simple: Sora and her family will walk hundreds of miles to the South Korean city of Busan from their tiny mountain village. They just need to avoid napalm, frostbite, border guards, and enemy soldiers.
But they can’t. And when an incendiary bombing changes everything, Sora and her little brother Young will have to get to Busan on their own. Can a twelve-year-old girl and her eight-year-old brother survive three hundred miles of war zone in winter?
My Review
As I started to read BROTHER’S KEEPER, I worried about how dark it would be. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle it. And I won’t lie, some scenes were hard because they were so heartbreaking.
What I loved, though, was Sora’s resourcefulness and her will to survive. I loved her love for books and stories and the hope she continually kindled inside of her that she would see her family again.
BROTHER’S KEEPER doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of war. But through the struggles and bitter coldness of winter, the love between Sora and her brother and their hope for the future shine so brightly. I’m so glad I read this book.
Representation All named characters are North or South Korean.
Profanity/Crude Language Content None.
Romance/Sexual Content None.
Spiritual Content Sora and her family are Christians. They’ve been forbidden to practice their faith but have a Bible hidden in their home.
Violent Content Some descriptions of civilians, including children being shot or bombed. One very brief scene shows domestic violence. In one scene, two children fall through the ice into a freezing river and die.
Drug Content Some mentions of adults drinking alcohol.
Note: I received a free copy of BROTHER’S KEEPER in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.
In the eerie town of ‘Allows, some people get to be magical sorceresses, while other people have their spirits trapped in the mall for all ghastly eternity.
Then there’s twelve-year-old goblin-witch Beetle, who’s caught in between. She’d rather skip being homeschooled completely and spend time with her best friend, Blob Glost. But the mall is getting boring, and B.G. is cursed to haunt it, tethered there by some unseen force. And now Beetle’s old best friend, Kat, is back in town for a sorcery apprenticeship with her Aunt Hollowbone. Kat is everything Beetle wants to be: beautiful, cool, great at magic, and kind of famous online. Beetle’s quickly being left in the dust.
But Kat’s mentor has set her own vile scheme in motion. If Blob Ghost doesn’t escape the mall soon, their afterlife might be coming to a very sticky end. Now, Beetle has less than a week to rescue her best ghost, encourage Kat to stand up for herself, and confront the magic she’s been avoiding for far too long. And hopefully ride a broom without crashing.
My Review
Graphic novels are still a pretty new thing for me, but most of the ones I’ve read have been really cool, and Beetle and the Hollowbones is no exception. I really enjoyed Beetle– she’s awkward and quirky, loyal and brave. I didn’t realize reading it that she was supposed to be twelve, and I thought she seemed a lot older than that– maybe fifteen or sixteen, is what I had guessed?
The story world reminded me a little bit of The Nightmare Before Christmas, where things are all sort of dark and populated with sticky or undead magical creatures, and Halloween seems perpetually just around the corner.
I enjoyed Beetle’s journey to save her best blob pal and the sparks that reuniting with her childhood best friend caused. Beetle’s expressions and reactions to things often had me giggling.
All in all, I thought Beetle and the Hollowbones was a really entertaining and totally fun read. I’m so glad I was finally able to read it.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 10 up.
Representation The story is populated with magical and undead creatures. Beetle has a crush on another girl.
Profanity/Crude Language Content None.
Romance/Sexual Content Kiss between two girls.
Spiritual Content Most characters have or are learning magic. Undead characters must bind their soul to an object, like a heart, to stay alive.
Violent Content One scene shows some depictions of verbal and physical cruelty toward a child.
Drug Content None.
Note: I received a free copy of BEETLE AND THE HOLLOWBONES in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.
Limerick Comics offers original limericks on a wide range of history and science topics, each with an informational panel of surprising facts, presented in entertaining comics.
Young readers age 8 and up are invited to linger on each page to enjoy the humor, ponder inferences, and view the evocative details of each illustrated panel.
Topics include bats, an Egyptian king, a famous trapeze artist, and more.
“For young readers and parents alike, this collection of factoid limericks will be a great introduction to poetry while delivering interesting knowledge and good laughs.”–Booklife
“Both amusing and instructive, with broad appeal and excellent illustrations.”–Kirkus Reviews
My Review
This book is only about 35 pages or so, which means it’s a pretty quick read. I like that it pairs a silly or fun limerick with a short informative note about the topic of the poem. For example, there’s a poem about bats followed by a few sentences giving some information about different types of bats.
The poems are placed on graphic panels, one line per image, so that it sort of shows a mini-comic-story. The informative paragraph immediately follows, printed over a colored background. I think I might have preferred to have the informative part as black text on a plain white page so that it would be easier to read, but I was able to read everything okay as it was printed.
This seems like it’d make a nice choice for reluctant readers, or those who tend to avoid nonfiction. The poem kind of sparks interest in a topic and then the facts about the topic give a few key bits of information, making it a bit more educational.
All in all, I thought this was a pretty fun book and a very quick read.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 8 to 10.
Representation Poems cover various topics and people. One talks about the Native American Mohawk tribe. Another covers an Egyptian ruler.
Profanity/Crude Language Content None.
Romance/Sexual Content None.
Spiritual Content None.
Violent Content None.
Drug Content None.
Note: I received a free copy of LIMERICK COMICS in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.
Stuttering Darby is never perfect enough for her mother. Justin’s been silent since his dad died. Naz is struggling to learn English. But after they meet at summer camp, mysterious calliope music from an abandoned warehouse grants them power to communicate without words. When they sneak inside, the dark, empty space bursts into a magical carnival. They’re greeted by the ghost of Leroy Usher, who asks for their help convincing his family to restore the carnival to its former glory. In return, he promises to teach the kids how to find their voices.
As Darby, Justin, and Naz are swept off on a series of midnight adventures via Mr. Usher’s carnival rides, they discover they’re capable of more than they ever imagined. With each challenge, their confidence in communicating – and in themselves – grows. Meanwhile, they scheme to persuade the Usher family to revive the carnival. But when Darby’s bunkmates trick her into starring in the camp talent show, her budding confidence falters. Can she risk being less than perfect by performing in the show and speaking up to Mr. Usher’s resistant son? If not, she’ll put the carnival in danger and sabotage her most important quest: to believe in herself, stutter and all.
My Review
The story follows all three kids– Darby, Justin, and Naz, showing scenes in each point of view. The bulk of the story takes place at a summer camp called Camp Inch, where each of them face the thing they’re most afraid of.
They also each discover a connection with each other, and those friendships help give them the confidence to confront bigger fears. Naz, Justin, and Darby also learn a lot about family relationships as they learn about Mr. Usher’s family and the relationships between him and his children, all of whom are adults now.
I thought the story was sweet and the characters’ stories moving. I liked the background of the summer camp and how their experiences at camp tied together with the Usher family and the fate of the carnival.
Readers who enjoy summer camp stories or tales with a whimsical feel to them will like this one. If you enjoyed FOREVERLAND or THE GIRLS OF FIREFLY CABIN, definitely add SUMMER OF L.U.C.K. to your reading list.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.
Representation Naz is French and Morroccan. Darby stutters. Justin is selectively mute.
Profanity/Crude Language Content None.
Romance/Sexual Content None.
Spiritual Content Naz, Justin, and Darby are visited by the presence of a man who has died but can’t find peace until he achieves a goal. They have a sort of magical experience, seeing the carnival the way it once was and interacting with carnival rides that shouldn’t work anymore.
Violent Content None.
Drug Content None.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog. I received a free copy of SUMMER OF L.U.C.K. in exchange for my honest review.
