Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is which books top our wish lists (because every review blogger has one miles long, I’m sure).
So here’s a funny story. I was cleaning off the top of the dresser yesterday (It’s been a while, but let’s not talk about that.) and I totally struck gold. I found A BARNES & NOBLE GIFT CARD. Unused. For forty dollars!
Which of course translates into only one thing: book shopping!
My book wish list is ridiculously long and full of loads of books I am pining for, but here are the books which will be competing for purchase on my shiny new gift card. While some of the books I’m pining for most are still only available for pre-order, you’ll only see books already released on my list. I’ll save the pre-orders for another day. (Note: Sadly, basic math says I can’t buy all of these books with my gift card, so I’ll have to narrow it down from ten to the ones I want most up to the ceiling of my card. First world problems.)
Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury – I read a sample of the first few chapters of this book and definitely want to read the rest. In fact, I don’t know why I haven’t bought it already or at least tracked down a copy through the library.
The City of Ember (The First Book of Ember ) by Jeanne DuPrau – I know almost nothing about this series, except that one of my closest friends (and one of my only friends in real life who reads YA and admits to it) LOVES this book. And that, my friends, is good enough for me. I trust her. Even though she did not like Cry, the Beloved Country, which made me cry inside just a little bit.
Mindwar by Andrew Klavan – Strangely, I’ve only read the third book in this series, but I really enjoyed a lot of things about it. It gave me things I wanted from Ready Player One. I liked the characters, too.
The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey – I’ve been absolutely pining for this book since I read The Girl at Midnight. And it’s finally here! The Girl at Midnight definitely reminded me of Daughter of Smoke and Bone with its other-world and girl-out-of-her-world things it has going on. I loved the characters. Loved the story. Can’t wait for more.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh – this book hit my radar when Katherine Marsh released another book called The Door By the Staircase, which also sounds great. Jepp deals with issues of fate, and I find myself desperate to know how his quest resolves.
X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon – I forget where I first noticed this book. I think it might have been in a BuzzFeeds list or something. This is a novelized story about Malcom X, co-written by his daughter. Definitely interested in this one.
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz – I might be the only person who hasn’t read this book. At least, that’s what I think whenever I see it, like, everywhere on the interwebs. Every time I read a historical novel I tell myself I should read them more often. I love the idea of reading a story set in the early 1900s about a girl who dreams of being more than a hired girl. Looks awesome. Must read.
Starflight by Melissa Landers – I think I saw this one advertised on Facebook, and actually, I can’t recall reading any actual reviews of it. Reading the book description makes me think Firefly meets These Broken Stars, which sounds like a great pairing to me. (If I had you at Firefly, we should be friends.)
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab – I’m a huge fan of the type of fantasy-scape described in the marketing copy. Also– the copy claims this is perfect for fans of Holly Black, Maggie Stiefvater and Laini Taylor? That’s me! (Okay, confession: I need to read Holly Black. Haven’t yet. But I will. Hopefully soon. but Stiefvater and Taylor are pretty sure bets for me.) Also I read some cool stuff on Victoria Schwab’s twitter page. That might be where I first learned about this book, actually. So, yay Twitter.
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson – I saw this on several must-read-type Top Ten Tuesday posts, and the description made me laugh so hard I almost had tears. Yes, please! There is never enough furious happiness in my life.
Summertime flies. In our county, we’re just two weeks away from school starting up again. Already, back-to-school gear is everywhere in stores. It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over. I feel like only a few weeks ago school was ending. But alas.
This past month, I posted a couple of lists– one about underrated books and one about books that made me dream about new hobbies. In fact, one of my reviews (Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet) came from another blogger’s list of underrated books.
As far as reviews, it was a busy month! Here’s a quick note on each book I reviewed.
A middle grade historical novel about a girl who is forced to move to a Japanese internment camp in California in the 1940s. I thought this was a really moving story, and it walked the balance well between showing reality and preserving the innocence of young readers.
The follow-up to the popular Girl on a Wire, which I really wish I’d read first. Girl in the Shadows features a female magician who discovers she has real magic, and that a secret group is hunting her for it.
This was my nonfiction pick for July. You’ve probably seen some of the #IWishMyTeacherKnew posts on Twitter– this book is by the teacher who posted that first note and why she started doing the exercises with her classes to begin with. It’s a lot about how to build a supportive community environment within the classroom. It’s an excellent read for parents as well. I learned a lot reading it.
Jules moves from her NYC home to a Texas ranch with her mom, and both ladies are determined to learn how to care for the ranch themselves. This was a lot of fun to read.
A light sci-fi about a group of humans struggling for survival post-war with machines (which the machines won.) The heroine dies in the opening scene… but her clone rejoins the group. Is she a separate person, or does she get treated as a carbon copy replacement of her original?
This novel was just honored with the Christy Award. The story is a suspense/dystopian mash-up. A serial killer takes girls from the lowest caste. Guards must find him before he kills again.
Peace. Love. Order. Dome. Those are the rules Natalia lives under. But soon she learns that her leaders have kept dark secrets. What she uncovers may destroy the dome itself.
This was one of my favorites this month. In an era in which talent can be bought, a lowly laborer possesses a natural talent that leaders will stop at nothing to destroy. The son of a powerful leader believes controlling talent is wrong will have to risk his life to prove it. Great read. I loved the imagery that related to music.
A Chinese-American girl struggles to learn the meaning of friendship through the books she reads when her best school friend abandons her for a new girl. I loved the references to other stories and Anna totally had my heart.
Author Jeff Wheeler listed this book as one he was really excited about, and later I heard other bloggers talking about it. So I checked it out. And I’m so glad I did! This was more of a new adult story by the character’s ages. Definitely a great read for fans of Melissa Grey’s The Girl at Midnight or Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.
Conjoined twins wrestle with what it is to be normal, and how to pursue their very different dreams for college and a future. I liked a lot of things about this story. If you liked One by Sarah Crossan, check this one out.
Another of my favorites this month. Kenley Davidson is awesome. I loved the first book in the series, Traitor’s Masque, which is a retelling of Cinderella, and I loved this one, too. Goldheart is a retelling of Rumplestiltskin. I loved the way Davidson pulled the familiar tale into a completely fresh and new story.
Ever since her grandparents’ deaths, Anna has felt disconnected from her life and her friends. She becomes more and more focused on ending her life. Aliya notices Anna’s strange behavior and starts to worry, but she doesn’t want to overreact. Surely talented, put-together Anna can’t be thinking of suicide. This is a pretty dark read, but the story also offers hope.
Sneak Peek at August
Here are a few of the books you can expect to see reviewed here next month:
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme lists underrated books, or books with fewer than two thousand ratings on Goodreads. I’ve talked about a lot of these books before. Some are indie or small press novels. Others remain largely undiscovered for reasons I can’t quite figure. All are books I would happily pick up and read all over again.
You know when you find one of those books where the writing itself is as beautiful as the story? Glass Girl is like that to me. Big emotions, great characters, and a totally swoon-worthy romance. I’m no cowgirl, but I totally loved this Wyoming story.
This one took me by surprise. After reading the back cover copy, I wasn’t totally sure what I’d be getting into. Something about best friends and a cross-country trip? Reuniting with an estranged parent? It sounded a little Hallmark-y to me, in all honesty. Bischof won me over with her straightforward writing. She kept it real when it came to Riley’s relationship with his dad. I liked the way she set up the relationships – the history between Riley and his parents, and his developing relationship with the girl.
Seriously. If you have a girl in early teens and you’re looking for clean, funny books with a lot of heart, and you haven’t read anything by Stephanie Morrill, just stop now and fix that. I always laugh. I always cry. I always wish for another chapter. Good stuff. (Did I mention she has a historical mystery coming out next year?! I. Can’t. Wait!!!)
Every time I read historical fiction, I think I should read more of it because I enjoy it so much, especially when it’s as done as well as Christy Award-winning author Cathy Gohlke’s novels. This novel goes deep and paints the Civil War in stark detail. For history fans interested in a clean read, this is a must.
I love when authors tackle difficult subjects with poise and honesty, and that’s just what Carla Stewart does in her debut novel Chasing Lilacs. Twelve year-old Sammie faces her mother’s mental health issues and suicide during a time (the 1950s) when these things were hushed up. It’s a bit darker than some of my other selections here, but still a worthy read.
Okay, don’t read the Goodreads copy because it’s really confusing. This book is a continuation of Tyers’ Firebird series, so it’s probably best to start there. I read this one first, and I promise it’s not as confusing as Goodreads makes it sound. Wind Haworth was my favorite character. She’s a young diplomat trying to find her place in a very tense politically volatile situation. I really liked the marriage of politics and sci-fi in this novel.
This is a light, fun sci-fi story that I think would appeal to fans of Firefly. A quirky crew and a space mission. What’s not to like? Definitely worth checking this one out.
Update – sorry. It looks like this one is currently out of print!
I remember being really impressed with the fact that the characters don’t whine when they’re faced with really tough choices. (I mean, let’s face it. Whining can ruin a great story. Even Luke Skywalker’s whining got old, right?) I found the whole can-do attitude and the story itself really intriguing and refreshing.
I love fairy tales retold, so as soon as I saw this retelling of Cinderella, I was intrigued. This isn’t a classic Cinderella. Davidson’s heroine finds herself recruited to spy for an unknown Lord who promises, in exchange, the one thing she wants most: freedom from her step-mother’s domain. What will she do when completing her task requires her to betray the prince with whom she’s falling in love?
I read this book months ago and I still wake up thinking about it sometimes. I loved the story-within-a-story element to this novel. What is it about a boy with wings that I find so intriguing, too? Gah. I loved it. If you’re a fan of dystopian stories or steampunk, you definitely have to check this one out.
Have you read these books?
If you’ve read and enjoyed any of these books, help the author out. Take a few minutes and rate them on Goodreads and post a quick review! You don’t have to do anything fancy. Think of two things you liked and a book or genre that you found similarly enjoyable whose readers might also enjoy the book. Post, and you’re done!
Doing this really helps an author out. Amazon and other sites have goofy rules about what promotional tools authors can access based on the number of reviews posted for their work.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today, my spin on the topic is this: middle grade reads. As the parent of an enthusiastic middle grade reader, I’m always looking for books that will spark conversations, explore interesting ideas, or generate all those deep emotions as only a well-written book can. Here are the best of the middle grade books I’ve read in the last couple of years.
I loved the way the author used information about jellyfish in this story, but what was ultimately most powerful was Suzy’s voice. This story packed a big emotional punch, and I love that.
While I haven’t made it to posting this review yet, this is another must-read, in my humble blogger opinion. I completely identified with Anna’s struggle to connect with her friends and find peace in her identity.
Quirky characters were the big win for me in this novel. I mean, seriously?! A shape-shifting mouse? So cute. And the team of unlikely allies reminded me of the team of odd part-dragon characters helping Seraphina in Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman.
This was another unexpected find. When the author, who’d been a missionary to this part of the world, approached me with Escape from Sudan, the subject of the story definitely interested me. Books like this one are great ways to start conversations about world events and to introduce those ideas in ways appropriate for middle readers.
This is another tale with a powerful punch. In the wake of the hostage crisis in Iran, an Iranian-American girl navigates a suddenly hostile California town. She’s smart, funny and immediately goes for the heartstrings. I want this book in classrooms everywhere.
Too often simple kindness gets overlooked in our fast-paced modern world. In this story, Benny wrestles with being kind to others in the midst of troubling family circumstances: his father suffered an accident and may never be the same. I loved Benny from page one.
As part of a school history project, Deja discovers the truth about what changed the New York skyline on September 11, 2001, and the connection it has to her family. While this one got a little preachy– a side effect of the classroom setting for many of the book’s scenes– I really appreciated the honest but not graphic look at another big moment in US history.
I’m cheating a bit, since my review for this book won’t be posted until the middle of July. But seriously. Another great, really relevant book. A young girl is forced to leave her island town with her family to live in a Japanese Internment camp. The details are all gentle– it’s very middle grade level stuff– but it absolutely captures the message about how traumatic and wrong that moment in American history was.
I love the blend of noir and humor in this wacky mystery. This was one series that had both my daughter and me watching for release dates and rushing to the bookstore to get the copy of the latest release.
I had the pleasure of meeting this author on vacation a few months before her book came out. My grandmother’s death was a hugely significant loss in my life, so when she described her novel about a boy and his family rediscovering one another after his grandfather’s death, I was instantly intrigued. I’m super excited that I got to read it!
What are your favorite middle grade books?
You’ve read my list. Have you read any of them? What did you think? Which books top your favorites for middle grade literature? (Thing ages 8-12.) Leave a comment with your answer!
It’s summer time again, and here in FL, kids are already out of school. (We’ll be crying the second week of August when we have to go back and all you northerners have weeks left of summer fun.) We’ve got lots of things planned, including the obligatory beach days, and hopefully a bit of butterfly gardening. Plus, of course, lots of reading time.
Here’s a list of books you can expect to see reviewed on The Story Sanctuary over the next several weeks. Some of these have been on my list for quite some time, and I’m excited to have a chance to finally read them. I’ve been trying to work in more of the Christian young adult authors out there, so you’ll see a few listed here along with some big names flying off bookshelves in the general market. See one you’re excited about? Leave a comment!
When seventeen year-old Ella is accepted to a prestigious school, she’d prepared for the attention that comes of being the new girl. What she’s not prepared for is the relentless torment that comes at the hands of The Crowd. What will it take to make them stop? I think what I’m hoping for here is a cleaner version of Some Girls Are, in which the message that revenge is the solution to teen bullying left me unsatisfied. The description on Goodreads promises a journey of faith, so I’m also curious to see how that’s integrated into the story.
Apparently I’m going through a Depression-era literature binge. Fourteen year-old Amelia suddenly finds herself responsible for her siblings and the family gas station after her mother dies. Amelia will do whatever it takes to keep her family out of foster care, even if she has to convince a hobo to pose as her father.
Imagine a dystopian world in which the Library is the evil, oppressive force. Fascinating, right? History can only be accessed through the organization called The Great Library. Owning books is a crime. I’m stoked.
This one has actually been on my list for a long time. I love historical fiction, so I’m excited about the Depression-era setting. Millie journeys to break the cycle of abuse in her family, find love and reconcile her broken faith. Super keen to read this novel.
This is actually the sequel to Into the Free and the continuation of Millie’s story as she explores her new marriage and wrestles with some unresolved secrets from her past. Again, I’m looking forward to the historical setting and the strong spiritual themes of this novel.
Grayling and a team of magical misfits embark on a quest to save her mother from a spell which turns her into a tree. As Grayling earns her independence, she soon finds her former life at home too confining and sets out on another journey of her own. I love the oddness of the group who helps Grayling.
Maddie and her family set sail on a “death with dignity” cruise to honor her terminally ill Gram’s wishes. Losing my grandmothers was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through, so I knew as soon as I saw the blurb that I wanted to read this book.
I think this book had me at Ophelia Montague. As I read the description, the names really jumped out at me. If the story is as intriguing as its characters’ names, it’ll be one of my favorites this year.
I get chills when I read the description of this book. I remember watching the footage of the Twin Towers falling on September 11, 2001. As my daughter grows up, I imagine her experience to be a little bit like the characters in these books, exploring what this event means to our country without having been alive to witness the towers falling herself. I think we need strong narratives that explore these issues of who we are as a country and how that fits into our culture today.
I reviewed the first book in this series, which, at the time was called Bird Face (it’s now called 8 Notes to a Nobody) and really enjoyed the story about a girl who struggles to love how she looks and learn what it is to be a real friend. In this second book, Wendy uncovers a secret in the old photo album of a family friend with Alzheimer’s.
When I asked author Jeff Wheeler what inspired him to write The Queen’s Poisoner, he named this question: if a parent had to choose one of their children to die, whom would they pick? I was pretty intrigued by the story already, but that really got me. I loved The Scorpion Rules, another novel that explores a world in which children are kept as political prisoners. I’m definitely anticipating a great read here.
From the author of Funny in Farsi comes a 1970s novel about an Iranian girl struggling to find her place in a small American town while anti-Iran sentiments run high.
A quirky, fun read about a girl who discovers she’s been murdered. (Hilarious, right?) Along with other teen ghosts, Sarah has to make peace with her death and move on. Falling in love wasn’t supposed to be part of her afterlife.
The Goodreads description begins, “Middle school is the least of Kyne Goodrum’s problems. That is, it would be if he could take his dragon along.” Need I say more?
From Feiwel & Friends (I’ve loved everything I’ve read that they’ve published, so this is usually a sure bet for me) comes a novel about 200 supersmart teens engaged in one online competition where the stakes run as high as life and death. Looks like sort of a cerebral thriller, which I’m super excited about.
The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You by Lily Anderson
This smacks of Geek fandom, which I can’t get enough of, and the possibility of romance blossoming between determined rivals is another story I’m rarely tired of hearing.
Traitor’s Masque (Andari Chronicles #1) by Kenley Davidson
I first fell in love with Tosca Lee’s writing when I read her retelling of the story of Eve in her novel Havah. I wasn’t as big a fan of the series she wrote with Ted Dekker, but Lee’s writing is really amazing, and I’m definitely looking forward to more of her rich narrative and powerful characters in this tale.
Also to come…
Watch for my review of the latest book my mom made me read, which was awesome. I’ll post it on her birthday, May 11.
Looking for some new summer reads?
This week, I’m giving away three books. Simply follow me on Twitter and RT this post for a chance to win these books:
