Category Archives: Lists

September Update: Five Ways You Can Help

Lists, News and Fun, , , , ,

BirthdayIf you know me on social media, you probably saw that it was my birthday this month, and that Hurricane Irma dropped in uninvited and altered all my plans. One of the hazards of having a September birthday in Florida.

At any rate, we survived the storm, and I’m back to work, and hoping to actually celebrate my birthday soon, but all of this got me started thinking. What if instead of a hundred comments on Facebook saying happy birthday, I could ask for something equally free and simple, but much more meaningful? What if you could support me in a way that costs you nothing more than a few seconds of time but makes a difference for the whole year?

So I came up with a list of ideas which I’m now wishing I posted earlier in the month, before my actual birthday. Note to self for next year. Here are some free, easy ways you can support The Story Sanctuary and me as a writer, blogger, book reviewer, or friend.

1. Subscribe to The Story Sanctuary. You’ll get my posts as emails, which means you’ll never miss an update. It also helps me gain access to the best current releases in young adult and middle grade. It only takes a second and you can do it by entering your email address in the field in the sidebar.

2. Like my Facebook Page. Mostly this just makes me feel loved. 🙂 I’m not a huge Facebook girl, but I like to post what I’m reading, calls for recommendations on what to read next, or random silly bookish things I come across in my travels across the interweb. Here’s the link to my page.

3. Follow me on Pinterest. I love the way Pinterest organizes links into cool visual lists. There, you’ll find lists of my reviews organized by genre or subject (I have a board for books about mermaids) and a lot of other great bookish fun. I have a board for bookshelves and one for bookish gift ideas. Christmas is coming, y’all. Find all my boards here to follow me.

4. Add my book, Reviews Wanted, on Goodreads. Hop over to my book on Goodreads. Mark it as “Want to Read.” Leave a quick review and rating if you’ve read it. Bonus points if you add it to a list on Goodreads Listopia.

5. Use my Amazon Affiliate links when you want to purchase a book. These are the links and buttons in each review post that take you to Amazon’s site. If you plan to buy the book, use the link, and a small percent of the purchase will support my blog. Right now I’m earning about $30 per year through these links, which is basically covers shipping costs of giveaways and a few of the books I buy for review.

Fun fact: If you click one of my Amazon links and then browse for or buy other stuff while on Amazon, those orders will help support me, too. So click away!

Side note: Leaving reviews on sites like Amazon and Goodreads is a huge help to authors and helps their books gain better visibility and more readers. If you’ve read Reviews Wanted, please take a minute and post a review on Amazon or Goodreads. It’s a huge help.

If you haven’t read my book and are interested in doing so, leave me a comment! I can send out some review copies and would be happy to do so. It’s a quick read at about 50 pages and offers lots of tips and suggestions for authors on how to connect with bloggers like me. You don’t have to be an author to read the book and leave a review, and it’s another great way to support The Story Sanctuary.

If you want to get crazy, you can check out all my social media sites by clicking the icons in the sidebar or at the top of the page.

Thanks for reading and for supporting what I do. My goal is to provide detailed reviews of teen and preteen books to help readers, parents, and educators determine when a book is right for them. I couldn’t do it without you!

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April AVA Reading Challenge Update Part 2

Lists, News and Fun, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , ,

This month I’m participating in the AVA Readathon Challenge with Bookshelves and Paperbacks. I listed the ARCs (advance release copies) of books I’m planning to read this month in an earlier post, and last week, I posted an update on what I’d read so far. This week I read a few more from the list, so I’m posting another quick update.

Here’s an updated list from the one I posted at the beginning of the challenge:

Note: I originally included Between the Lies by Cathy MacPhail by mistake, since it doesn’t come out until September 2017. I’ve replaced it with Shadow and Thorn by Kenley Davidson which came out in March and I haven’t managed to read yet. Also, you can see I’ve greyed out the covers of the books I read and talked about at my last update. Here are my reviews for Defy the Stars and Letters to the Lost.

What I Read This Week

Unblemished by Sara Ella
I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from this story. Thomas Nelson books have been hit or miss with me lately. The voice in this novel totally rocks. It’s different– much more immediate-felling than typical first-person narrative, but it gives El’s character a real punch and made the story a lot of fun to read.

The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia
I had put this one off because I worried it’d play too much to the typical good-girl-meets-bad-boy romance. Right from the beginning, though, I found Frankie to be deep and fascinating and love the stuff about street racing and the play between the two communities of the Heights and the Downs. All in all, I’m super glad I finally got this one read!

Up Next: The Falconer by Elizabeth May, which I’m super excited about, since Krysti at YA and Wine said she really liked it!

What about you?

Have you read a book lately from someone’s recommendation? How was it? Have you recommended a book to a friend recently? How did that work out?

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April AVA Readathon Challenge Update

Lists, News and Fun, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, ,

This month I’m participating in the AVA Readathon Challenge with Bookshelves and Paperbacks. I listed the ARCs (advance release copies) of books I’m planning to read this month. Some have been lingering in my to-be-read stack for far too long. Others were a bit of a cheat because they come out this month, so I wanted to read them anyway.

Here’s the list I posted at the beginning of the month:

Note: I don’t know why Between the Lies ended up on this list, since it doesn’t come out until September. Probably I got it mixed up with something else, though now I can’t remember what. So that one is last on my list for now.

What I’ve Read So Far

Racial Profiling: Everyday Inequality
This is a basic breakdown of what racial profiling is and the areas in our society in which it’s still having a profound impact on our lives. While it’s a pretty charged and political topic, I felt like the author worked very hard to make this a really informative look with a lot of statistics and historical context. I think it was a great read for me, though I want to go back and look at a few passages again because sometimes the statistics were a bit overwhelming to me.

Letters to the Lost
I met Brigid Kemmerer at ApollyCon in March and recognized the cover of her book. I thought I’d requested the ARC already via NetGalley, but apparently I did not! So I sent off my pretty-please-can-I-review-this request and sure enough, Bloomsbury sent me a copy. Yay! Gotta say– this is one of the best angsty (but clean, apart from a bit of language) romances I’ve read in a LONG time. I loved it.

Defy the Stars
I’d been meaning to read some Claudia Gray since hearing buzz about A Thousand Pieces of You. The characters were fantastic and the plot took me some interesting directions. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, but overall, the characters and story world still make this one a win for me.

Next on my list?
Up next is Kami Garcia’s The Lovely Reckless. I’m still hoping to work through my list by the end of the month, even though I’m running a little bit behind. I hope to have a bit more time this weekend and next for some catch-up reading.

What are you reading?

How about you? What book have you been meaning to read, but haven’t gotten around to cracking open just yet? What book has you cranking through pages right now? Leave a comment to let me know. I would love to commiserate over impossibly long TBR lists and celebrate finding a great read with you.

March 2017 Monthly Wrap-Up

Lists, News and Fun, ,

This month’s big to-do was ApollyCon, which I had the pleasure of attending for the first time as a volunteer. If you’re unfamiliar with the event, ApollyCon is sponsored by Jennifer Armentrout and 1001 Dark Nights and is a huge, two day book-signing extravaganza.

Out of the over 70 authors, there were really only a handful that I’ve read before, since many write new adult, which I don’t get much chance to read. (I’ve got my hands full with young adult and middle grade as it is!) This might sound like I had fewer reasons to attend ApollyCon, but actually, I have to say two things. First, it was about an hour from my house, so not much expense there! And second, y’all, I got to spend a lot of time chatting with YA authors, who are some of my favorite people. You just about can’t beat that! I even won an ARC for a Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill (who unfortunately wasn’t able to make it to the event). Here’s a pic of the book and my nifty ApollyCon Tote:

The final night featured an after-party with optional costumes, so I was able to show off the gorgeous Steampunk Book Fairy costume my mom made me for my birthday last year, with updated author cameos to match the authors I connected with during the weekend. You can see them in the image below.

Top: Beth Revis (who told me a great story about her dad, who is a lumberjack, sitting down at work reading a copy of her debut novel with a girly cover of pink silhouettes about to kiss. She was so fun!)

Upper Middle: Jessica Khoury (whose doodles are fantastic. Also her Twitter is hilarious. If you’re not following her, you’re missing some very funny stuff.)

Lower Left: Kami Garcia (who made it so easy to talk to her and recommended a bunch of other authors. She talked about book bloggers and told some funny stories. I also got to share with her how much it meant to me to be at YallFest, where I’d first seen her on a panel that really encouraged me at a difficult time. So that was great!)

Lower Middle: Mary Lindsey/Marissa Clarke (Even though I hadn’t read any of her books– yet– she was happy to chat and asked me a lot about what I’m writing and how that process was going. She had a lot of really encouraging things to say to me, which meant a lot.)

Lower Right: Trish Doller (I probably spent the most time talking with her. I’m sure I was ridiculously chatty from being nervous and kind of overwhelmed by the size of the event, but she was really great and shared some things about the project she’s working on and her upcoming release, In a Perfect World, which sounds right up my alley. She also listened to and encouraged me with my own writing, which means so much to me. She’s a fellow Floridian, so I hope to catch her at another signing or bookish event or something again.)

In terms of reviews, here’s what you missed.

March 2017 Reviews

The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I’d been especially excited about this book because I LOVE Stephanie Morrill’s writing. And this one is no exception! I loved the story, the characters totally hooked me, and the setting (1920s Chicago) was a blast. A must-read for historical fiction and mystery fans.

See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I love seeing kids interested in science portrayed in books, so I was eager to check this book out. The story took a whole different turn than I expected. It’s more about the possibility of alien life rather than engineering or rockets, but the characters, their relationships and the unusual format of the story made this one a great read for me. Definitely one for middle grade lovers.

The Giant Smugglers by Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I don’t read a lot of adventure stories in middle grade, but this book proved it’s not because I don’t enjoy them. This reminded me a little bit of the 90s movie Iron Giant. Great read for middle grade-lovers looking for straight-up adventure.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Oh. My. Goodness. I know I didn’t forget how much I loved Chokshi’s debut but I MUST have forgotten how much I loved her debut. I’m always nervous to read a second book by an author whose first book I loved, but this one was truly amazing. I loved the characters. The story world was totally engrossing, and the quest kept me biting my nails all the way through! If you love fantasy with a classic fairytale feel, you absolutely need to read this book.

Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was a lucky find for me. I loved the gentle, sweet girl at the heart of this story. I rooted for her every step of her journey as she tries to figure out her place in her family, her spiritual community, and her school community. Fantastic. Shy kids need this book. (Okay, not *just* shy kids, but I definitely found that element especially resonated with me.)

Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I loved this book. It’s probably one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read. It’s really five stories that connect to form one larger whole. Every time I switched to a new story, I was sure I wasn’t going to like the characters, and every time, the author proved me wrong and made me fall in love all over again. I am a huge fan and I want Parker Peevyhouse on my auto-buy list. If you love books that explore a moral question, get yourself a copy of this one.

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I was worried that this would be a tough read for me. I’ve been in kind of a raw place, and I’d seen so many reviewers talk about how they wept through this whole book. It was definitely an emotional read, but I loved the relationships the characters had with one another. I loved the honor paid to the grief process. So important and so often not acknowledged. Keep the tissues handy when you start this one.

A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was a fun read. Sort of Groundhog Day meets Mean Girls? I’m not sure that’s exactly right, but it hit a lot of great notes for me. If you’re in need of a more lighthearted contemporary read with some romance, this is the book for you.

Dawn on the Road by Lea Waterhouse

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

My favorite thing about this book was the way the author described the trip on the motorcycle so you actually felt like you were riding along with the characters. I liked Dawn’s interest in photography and the way the author used that to drive the story forward. It’s also got a strong Christian message, which makes it a bit of a rarity these days. A good pick for readers interested in a story about a road trip with a strong spiritual component.

The Methuselah Project by Rick Barry

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I cheated and reviewed this one because I wanted to. It’s not YA, but it’s a really fun read. I’m a huge sucker for anything to do with World War II. If you’re familiar with the story and you know me, you probably could have predicted that I’d love Roger Greene, a war prisoner who sticks to what he believes is right no matter what. If you’re a fan of Bodie and Brock Thoene’s The Zion Covenant, you definitely want to check this book out.

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Coming next month, I’ll be participating in the ARC Reading Challenge with Bookshelves and Paperbacks! It’s kinda self-explanatory. You make an effort to get through some of the ARCs (Advance Release Copies) you have stacked in low-traffic areas of your house. Not that I do this. Nope.

I’m hoping this challenge will help me get back on track so I’m not scrambling to get reviews done the day or two before I’ve got them in my schedule. I used to be weeks ahead, back in the glorious past, and I want to be there again. So bring it, ARC Reading Challenge!

Here is my list for the challenge…


What about you?

Read anything interesting during the month of March that you want to recommend? Looking forward to anything special from your reading this this month? Leave a comment below and tell me all about it!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top YA Books Coming in Spring 2017

Lists, Middle Grade 8-12, Young Adult/Teen 12-18,

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s theme: books coming out in spring 2017 I can’t wait to read. Here’s my list…

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett – April 4, 2017

A teen spin on You’ve Got Mail? Sign me up! Film geeks who’ve been happily chatting it up online end up in the same town– only she can’t stand him. She doesn’t know it’s him she’s been pouring her heart out to via the web, but eventually, she starts to feel, well, something. Is it worth trading in her perfect online romance for an imperfect reality?

It Started with Goodbye by Christina June – May 9, 2017

A girl with an online graphic design business who uncovers secrets in her house? Yes, please. Also, I’m totally intrigued by the feisty step-abuela-slash-fairy-godmother. Sounds like a story with a unique protagonist that explores blended family relationships.

 

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi – March 28, 2017

Since I read Chokshi’s debut The Star-Touched Queen, I’ve been desperate to read more. She called this book more a sister than a sequel, so it’s totally fair to read it without reading The Star-Touched Queen first. (Though I’m not sure why you would want to, since the first was SO good.)

Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan – March 14, 2017

I saw this book on Aisha Saeed’s blog listed as a must-read, and lo, I was able to get my very own review copy! It’s a little more serious than It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel, but I love Amina’s relationships with her family and her tender heart. This is a perfect story to encourage a shy kid.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor – March 28, 2017

I fell in love with Taylor’s writing in the opening pages of her debut novel, Daughter of Smoke and Bone. This story– about the aftermath of a war between gods and men– promises to have the same sort of fascinating twist on myth, tortured heroes, strong heroine and heartbreaking, gorgeous storytelling as the other series. I. Can’t. Wait.

Gem and Dixie by Sara Zarr – April 4, 2017

If you love sister books, you need to check this one out. Two sisters grow up in an unstable home where they can only count on each other realize they may have to sever their relationship in order to survive. Zarr has an amazing ability to write characters so that you feel like you’re sitting inside them. This is a must-read for contemporary YA fans looking for an emotional story.

A Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh – May 16, 2017

Samurai, bandits, assassins, politics, and secrets. This looks absolutely delicious. When a girl promised in marriage to raise her family’s fortune journeys to meet her future husband, she’s attacked by bandits sent to kill her. She disguises herself as a boy and infiltrates their ranks, only to learn terrible secrets which make her question everything she’s ever known.

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray – April 4, 2017

A girl desperate to save her planet from a robot army finds help in an unlikely place: an advanced prototype whose programming commands him to obey her. As they work together, she begins to think maybe there’s more to him and his loyalty than programming. Definitely looks like a brain-bendy, action-packed sci-fi adventure.

Hit the Ground Running by Mark Burley – April 25, 2017

A suspenseful novel featuring a parkour expert? Yup! When Eric’s family goes missing, he teams up with unlikely new friends to uncover dangerous secrets.

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus – May 30, 2017

The Breakfast Club plus a murder. Five strangers walk into detention. Only four walk out alive. So, who did it? The brain? The beauty? The criminal? The athlete? They all have something to hide. I can’t wait to read this!

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – February 28, 2017

Okay, technically I’m cheating since this came out the last day of February and that isn’t really spring. But, seriously. I’ve heard nothing but praise for this daring, timely novel about a girl who witnesses the shooting of an unarmed boy.

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner – March 7, 2017

A simple text kills his three best friends. As if that’s not horrible enough, Blake learns he’ll be under a criminal investigation. When his best friend’s grandmother asks him to spend a day with her saying goodbye to her grandson, he hesitates. But as he begins to try to help others deal with their grief, he begins to find his own path toward healing.

Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2017

Lists, News and Fun, , , ,

I feel like I always start these posts with some surprised exclamation like, OMG, how is it MARCH ALREADY?!

But we’ll move past that and get to the good stuff! First… book mail. I got so many books this month from participation in Irish Banana Blog Tours, a Disney blog tour, Children’s Literature, and directly from Bloomsbury. It was like Christmas all over again! (And if you know my family, you know we just finished celebrating Christmas like four weeks ago, so it’s like the magic continues…)

So here’s my book stash for February 2017:

Have you entered the giveaway for a chance to win TWENTY books?

Also– here’s something you do NOT want to miss. To celebrate the release of Beauty & the Beast: Lost in a Book, I’m hosting a giveaway for an incredible prize pack. One winner will receive TWENTY books, y’all. Here’s the prize pack.

Click the image to visit my blog post and scroll down to find the entry form. So far, there aren’t a lot of entries, so your chances of winning are pretty good.

February 2017 Reviews Revisited

In terms of reviews, here’s what you may have missed…

Wanted by Betsy Schow

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I’m a huge fan of fairytale characters re-imagined, so this story about Robin Hood’s daughter was a pretty sure bet for me. I loved the way the tales got a bit twisted as the story went on. Fun! Great pick for Ever After High or School of Good and Evil fans.

Above: Broken Sky Chronicles 2 by Jason Chabot

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Really fascinating fantasy tale. This is book two in the series, so I’d recommend starting with book one. I had a hard time following some of the events and wonder how much of that was because I was missing the backstory from the earlier book.

The Blue Moon Narthex by N J Donner

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Looking for an action-packed story featuring a male protagonist for readers 8-12? You want this one. Trust me.

Nowhere Near You by Leah Thomas

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I almost fell out of my chair when I learned there was going to be more to Ollie and Moritz’s story which began with Because You’ll Never Meet Me. SO. GOOD. I forgot how much I love those boys.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This is one of my recent favorites. I LOVED Jade and the window into her art, her family, and her struggles in her community. Well done. Check out the post where Renee Watson shared her list of favorite poems about loving life, too.

Denton Little’s Still Not Dead by Lance Rubin

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I snagged a review copy of this book after hearing Lance Rubin speak on a panel at YALLFest in Charleston last November. He’s hilarious, but also shared a lot about what it’s like to write about best friends. The book is also super funny, and definitely a great testament to friendship.

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This one pretty much had me at its description of an often overlooked moment in US history. I wasn’t crazy about the POV chosen for the historical parts of the story, but overall– it’s powerfully told. A great read if you’re looking for something that explores history and race relations or if you’re looking for an unusual mystery tale.

When You Never Said Goodbye by Meg Kearney

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This is the story of an adopted girl now in college who decides to find her birth mother. It’s inspired by the author’s own journey. I loved the poetry and the relationships between Liz and her siblings.

The Fearless Traveler’s Guide to Wicked Places by Peter Begler

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

If you like wacky, otherworldly adventures, this is a must-read. I loved the main character, Nell, and the commentary from her little brother made me laugh out loud.

Book Burners by Max Gladstone, Margaret Dunlap, Mur Lafferty, and Brian Francis Slattery

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

So I got mixed up– this isn’t YA, it’s adult fiction, which I didn’t realize when I agreed to review it. Nonetheless, I found the story really kept me turning pages. It’s told in short episodes (each one is like 50 pages) which can be purchased individually or as a whopping nearly 800 page paperback. You can read the first episode free here.

Liked by Kari Kampakis

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I picked up this non-fiction title because my daughter is nearing the age where she’ll leap into the social media frenzy. I wanted some guidelines and wisdom as a parent and also a resource for her on how to behave in a godly, responsible way in the wilds of cyberspace. This book is exactly what I needed.

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This one had me at Jennifer Donnelly, one of my favorite authors. It reads like a deleted scene from the movie (okay, more than a scene, because obviously there’s a whole book plot that happens) which begins after the Beast gives Belle the library and ends in the library again, ready to resume the familiar story. Great stuff. Also– you can win a copy of this plus NINETEEN other books if you enter the giveaway on my post before 3/10/17.

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