Thursday, October 31, 2019

Cover vs Cover: American Panda by Gloria Chao

This week's pick is...

American Panda VS.  American Panda
Original                           Redesign
Both covers fit the genre and the book perfectly. The title treatment in the original is more interesting. It looks adorable and unique. The font in the redesign's title looks typical, but it does match the author's newer book. The rainbow wall in the redesign wins though! I love the pops of color! I also think the redesign carries a more college aesthetic. The MC is 17, but she's a freshman in college. The redesign feels like it could be on a college campus, or she's studying in a coffee house, but she still appears her age.
Final Verdict: Redesign
What do you think? Give me your thoughts on which cover is the best!

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday: Rick by Alex Gino

Waiting on Wednesday (or Can't Wait Wednesday) is a weekly meme, hosted by Wishful Endings, where we talk about the books we're waiting (a bit impatiently) for!

This week I am waiting for...

Rick


From the award-winning author of George, the story of a boy named Rick who needs to explore his own identity apart from his jerk of a best friend.

Rick's never questioned much. He's gone along with his best friend Jeff even when Jeff's acted like a bully and a jerk. He's let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn't given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out.

But now Rick's gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school's Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that ... understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones.

As they did in their groundbreaking novel George, in Rick, award-winning author Alex Gino explores what it means to search for your own place in the world ... and all the steps you and the people around you need to take in order to get where you need to be.
Release Date: April 21st, 2020




Why am I waiting?
I read George last month and loved it. Not only is this a companion to George, but it has ace rep!
What book are you waiting for this week?

Monday, October 28, 2019

REVIEW: Rebel by Marie Lu


42288081. sy475 Respect the Legend. Idolize the Prodigy. Celebrate the Champion. But never underestimate the Rebel.

With unmatched suspense and her signature cinematic storytelling, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Marie Lu plunges readers back into the unforgettable world of Legend for a truly grand finale.

Eden Wing has been living in his brother’s shadow for years. Even though he’s a top student at his academy in Ross City, Antarctica, and a brilliant inventor, most people know him only as Daniel Wing’s little brother.

A decade ago, Daniel was known as Day, the boy from the streets who led a revolution that saved the Republic of America. But Day is no longer the same young man who was once a national hero. These days he’d rather hide out from the world and leave his past behind. All that matters to him now is keeping Eden safe―even if that also means giving up June, the great love of Daniel’s life.

As the two brothers struggle to accept who they’ve each become since their time in the Republic, a new danger creeps into the distance that’s grown between them. Eden soon finds himself drawn so far into Ross City’s dark side, even his legendary brother can’t save him. At least not on his own . . .





MY THOUGHTS
I was both excited and wary of the release of this book. I was excited because I loved the original Legend series, but I was wary because spin-offs always make me nervous. Yes, there is that excitement to see the characters you once adored return, but every book needs conflict, so there's also a risk that the characters who were safe in the original series will be safe no more. There is also the chance that the spin-off will be completely unnecessary. This book had the second problem.

This book takes place 10 years after the end of the Legend series. Eden and Daniel (Day) have been living in Antarctica, living in the Level system which is known as one of the best systems in place around the world. But the system has its flaws. Eden spends his time at University, but he occasionally sneaks to the Undercity, where those with the lowest Levels lives. He sees firsthand how difficult it is for those in the Undercity to raise their Levels and in joining an illegal drone race, he becomes caught up in a man's uprising.

This book follows the dual POV layout of the original trilogy. Instead of the POVs being from Day and June, we get Daniel (Day) and his little brother, Eden. I liked that the perspectives were from a pair of siblings rather than a couple. But, I couldn't connect with their perspectives. Eden is an okay character, but he didn't feel dimensional enough to me. I couldn't connect with him at all and I was completely disinterested in him. I wanted to connect with his story. I wanted this to be a great spin-off about Eden, but he just read like a flat character. He has a best friend/love interest, but she felt even less dimensional. Since the plot is mainly Eden's story, it's strange that Daniel had so many chapters. Daniel's chapters were mainly focused on his memories (them coming back to him) and June. Like Eden, his character development did not feel as strong as it was in the original trilogy.

The plot of this book really lost my interest. I think it could have been interesting, some of the elements reminded me of Black Mirror, but it did not read like a unique sci-fi read. It actually read more like an action movie at points, but without any fear, because I never worried about the characters. I knew they were going to make it out and I always felt disconnected from the emotions of the characters. The plot was also incredibly rushed, but at the same time, I felt like nothing was happening. Part of my disappointment comes from the fact that this book was completely unnecessary. The plot didn't do anything new or add anything to the character development. I think people wanted this book because of the loose ends after Champion about whether June and Day were going to get together, but I felt like that was answered in Life After Legend. [highlight to vie spoiler] Yes, that was open-ended too, but it had an optimistic feel and I knew in my heart they were going to be together. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I don't need to see a marriage proposal to know they will be together. I can imagine that myself and seeing it in this book, it did not give me the feels I expected. [end of spoiler]

IN CONCLUSION
I know this review is not-so-positive, but I'm very disappointed. This was one of my most highly anticipated books this year. I preordered it once it was available to preorder! But, the characters were flat, and it was just not a necessary addition to the series. The writing was not what I expected from Marie Lu, and I honestly wonder if the editing process was rushed because the publisher was desperate to get this book released as soon as possible. I still love the Legend series, but this did not feel like it was as developed as the original series. So, my wariness for spin-offs will continue.

I hereby give this book
2.5 Stars
Meaning: I almost liked it, but not quite

Sunday, October 27, 2019

New Releases in YA! (October 29th-31st)

Every week I list all (or almost all) of the YA books (and the occasional MG) that are coming out within that week!
There's not much coming out this week, but here's what you get to look forward to:
P.S. Click on the book's cover for the Goodreads page!


Did I miss any books?
What books, if any, do you plan to read?

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Short and Simple Reviews: Strings, The Torn Wing, and Redeemed


This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.
Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)
Today I have various short reviews for books on my Backlist 2019 challenge!
StringsSometimes the strings that tie us down are the same strings that set us free.

Sixteen-year-old Pia has always lived in a mysterious facility where mechanical strings control her existence. She plays apprentice to her father, Gio, in performing nanotech designs for the Company, and she soon suspects there are diabolical human forces behind the manufactured reality of her world.

Though her childhood memories and the origins of the strings remain strangely elusive, she begins to find solace with the introduction of two unlikely friends: daring, irrational Sofia, and calm, tender Marco.

As the truths of the past and present unravel together, Pia must find a way to free herself from her strings and escape the facility before facing the wrath of the unstable head of security, Mr. Davis. But to gain her freedom, she must navigate the dangers posed by Davis and by her suspicious new friends to find the real identity of the puppeteer.

If Pia can succeed in revealing the secrets of the Company, she may very well find the independence she so desperately seeks. But in her controlled world nothing is as it seems, and the closer she gets to the truth, the graver the consequences.
  Goodreads / Amazon 


Review
This book has a really unique idea and the premise is what carried me through the book. The main character cannot remember a time in her life where she did not have strings, where those above didn't have the ability to control her. It just sets up an interesting, but terrifying idea. There is definitely some dark stuff in this book and it is difficult to read at times. The pacing is slow at the beginning and I had to take a break because it was taking me a while to read it and I wanted to make sure it wasn't a reading slump. Still, this is a very unique book. I hereby give this book

I hereby give this book
3 Stars
Meaning: I liked it





The Torn Wing (The Faerie Ring, #2)London 1872 -

A bloody escape, a deadly threat, a shocking revelation...

As an orphan who stole the Queen's ring - only to find the ring was a reservoir that held a truce between the world of Faerie and the British Court - Tiki’s greatest fear suddenly becomes all too real: the fey have returned to London seeking revenge. As war escalates in the Otherworld, Queen Victoria’s youngest son, Prince Leopold, is attacked. In order to protect her family and those she loves, Tiki needs to know the meaning of an fáinne sí, the birthmark that winds around her wrist. But will she be brave enough to face the truth?

  
  Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository



Review
This is the sequel to The Faerie Ring and while I liked that book (I originally gave it four stars), it's been seven years since I've read it. I don't remember anything about that book anymore. This book was fairly easy to get into despite my memory loss, as it rarely referred to the last book's events. There were certainly a lot of surprises in this book, and the story is great, but I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to. I felt like I was reading this book because I thought I had to, rather than because I really wanted to. To be honest, I don't have any strong feelings towards this book, positive or negative. But having no feelings towards a book isn't a good reason to keep reading, so I think I'm going to give up on this series. The book ended on a big note, but I don't feel that curiosity, that need, to keep on going.
 I hereby give this book
3 Stars
Meaning: I liked it




Redeemed
Jonah’s new twin must time travel and face off against his siblings’ worst enemy in order to save the future—and his family—in the eighth and final book of the New York Times bestselling The Missing series, which Kirkus Reviews calls “plenty of fun and great for history teachers as well.”

After traveling through history multiple times and finding out his original identity, Jonah thought he’d fixed everything. But some of his actions left unexpected consequences. His parents—and many other adults—are still stuck as teenagers. And now Jonah has a new sibling, an identical twin brother named Jordan.

As odd as all this is for Jonah, it’s beyond confusing for Jordan. How does everyone in his family have memories of Jonah when he doesn’t? How can his annoying kid sister Katherine speak so expertly about time travel—and have people from the future treating her with respect? A few rash moves by Jordan send them all into the future—and into danger. What if he’s also the only one who can get them back to safety, once and for all?



Review
NOTE: Spoilers if you have not read Revealed
So, this is the last book in the Missing series! I thought that Revealed ended pretty well, so I found it odd that there was one more book. What's even stranger is the fact that this is not from Jonah's POV. At the end of Revealed Jonah comes home after saving time to find that three dimensions have merged and he now has a twin brother, Jordan, who had been raised in another dimension. This book is from Jordan's POV. I'll be honest, I did not like Jordan's narration. I can understand where he is coming from, he has no idea who Jonah is (and Jonah seems to be wise and better at everything), has no knowledge of time travel, and is scared for his parents, but this made him an annoying character at points. As a reader, we know what Jonah went through so it's annoying to have it repeated and it's tiring to read from the perspective of someone who is perpetually confused. The book itself was even confusing because things went so quickly or were explained so strangely that I had to reread parts to see what happened. Also, since Jordan knew nothing about time travel, he kept making stupid decisions. Another reason why I had difficulty getting into this book was that there was a large focus on Second and his background. This brought up some interesting things, but it has been a while since I read the book Second was featured in so some parts did not have as much of an impact on me. The book did end on a nice note, but overall, this was my least favorite in the series, although this is a great time travel series.
 I hereby give this book
3 Stars
Meaning: I liked it

Friday, October 25, 2019

Cover Lust: The Arrival of Someday by Jen Malone

Cover Lust is something that I do every other week where I feature a book cover that I absolutely love!
The Arrival of Someday


In this heartfelt and emotionally candid contemporary YA, author Jen Malone delves into the life of a teen whose world is brought to an abrupt halt when she learns she’s in dire need of an organ transplant.
Hard-charging and irrepressible eighteen-year-old Amelia Linehan could see a roller derby opponent a mile away—and that’s while crouched down, bent over skates, and zooming around a track at the speed of light. They don’t call her Rolldemort for nothing! What she couldn’t see coming, however, was the unexpected flare-up of a rare liver disorder she was born with. But now it’s the only thing she—and everyone around her—can think about.

With no guarantee of a viable organ transplant, everything Amelia’s been sure of—like her college plans, the mural she’d been commissioned to paint, or the possibility of one day falling in love—has become a huge question mark, threatening to drag her down into a sea of what-ifs she’s desperate to avoid.

Then a friend from the past shows up. With Will, it’s easy to forget about what’s lurking underneath the lightness of their time together. It’s easy to feel alive when all signs point elsewhere. On the other hand, with the odds decidedly not in her favor, Amelia knows this feeling couldn’t last forever. But what can?
Designer credit: Jessie Gang
Artist credit: Sophia Drevenstam and Molly Jacques


Why did I pick this cover? 
I love wearing striped knee-high socks, so I was automatically drawn to this cover because of the socks. I also love the typography. It becomes extra special after reading the book as the MC spends her time creating chalk art. 
What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments!

Sunday, October 20, 2019

New Releases in YA! (October 22nd-28th)

Every week I list all (or almost all) of the YA books (and the occasional MG) that are coming out within that week!
There's not much coming out this week, but here's what you get to look forward:
P.S. Click on the book's cover for the Goodreads page!


Did I miss any books?
What books, if any, do you plan to read?

Friday, October 18, 2019

REVIEW: Living Violet by Jaime Reed



Living Violet (The Cambion Chronicles, #1)
He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .

Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.

But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it.



MY THOUGHTS
This just wasn't my kind of book. I kind of knew that after reading the synopsis, but I decided to give this book a chance for three reasons. 1. The book has a high average rating and very positive reviews. 2. The MC is biracial and that is so rarely seen in paranormal YA (even rarer at the time of this book's publication) 3. I owned copies of the entire series. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this book.

Samara, or Sam, is a bit suspicious of her coworker, Caleb. He has a revolving door of ladies and when Sam catches him making up with a customer in the shelves, she's not surprised. But then the woman turns up dead. She wants to get to the bottom of this and she ends up sort-of going on a date with Caleb. When more women turn up dead and Sam starts noticing how oddly women act around Caleb, she starts finding up that there is more going on.

I downloaded this ebook in 2012. In 2012, I was still devouring YA paranormal. I don't read much in YA paranormal anymore, and if I do, I am looking for unique ideas. Maybe with some spookiness, and I am not so much interested in the romance. This book starts with the plotline that I've seen so many times, in which the main girl meets a guy who is secretly a paranormal being. As I said, so many things about the synopsis were off-putting to me. I don't like it when a synopsis makes it clear that a boy is changing a girl's life. It bothers me when it pays certain attention to the guy's eyes and how women are so attracted to him. "From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him". Caleb's eye color turns out to be violet and, yeah, that's in the title, but I hate seeing violet eyes in books. For some reason, it's so common in paranormal YA and it's always used as a symbol for a character being special.

I will say that while the general premise (girl meets secret paranormal boy) is not new, there are new ideas here. The paranormal entity is this book is not one I've seen much of in YA and I do think Reed did a new take on it. But, not much seemed to happen in this book. Eventually, the plot picked up near the climax of the book, but looking back at the book now, not a whole lot happened. There is the progression of Caleb and Sam's relationship, and Sam figuring out Caleb's abilities, but most of the book felt like filler. For instance, both Sam and Caleb work at a bookstore and the bookstore employees meet every so often to pick a staff pick. Staff members summarize a (fictional) book and give their opinions on it so everyone can vote. We see two of these meetings and there was no reason for it. I'm not kidding, we hear full plot summaries for books that don't even exist. The only reason we see these sessions is because the author wanted to make fun of Twilight. One of the staff loves a YA paranormal book similar to Twilight, which Sam makes fun of. I don't like Twilight, but it didn't sit well with me that this was put into the book. I think it was supposed to be funny that Sam hates this Twilight-esque book when she is involved with a paranormal boy, but it didn't come across as funny to me. It also bothered me that she makes fun of adults who read YA books.

Sam was an okay character. She does have some witty lines, but sometimes it rubbed me the wrong way. Like her sarcastic comments at the adults liking YA, or the fact that she used the word "retarded". She is a strong character in spirit, standing up for others at times. I also like how the book tried to showcase her family life and her interactions with her family. Sometimes I feel like parents get pushed around in YA paranormal. Sam is shown as a bit special and different, though. She's not as susceptible to Caleb's charms. This is explained that it's because she is closed off and is a virgin.

I wasn't really a big fan of the romance. I'm really picky about romance in books and I don't really go for romance in books anymore. The romance in this book made me cringe. I admit it was sweet at times, but the romance was very quick. Sam went from being annoyed with Caleb, to liking Caleb very quickly. I love hate-to-love romances, but it has to be a slow one. I also don't like lust-based romances and because of Caleb's abilities, there was more lust involved in the storyline. I mentioned how I don't like books featuring love interests that every other girl wants. In other books it makes me sick because it shows girls as only wanting a boyfriend and competing with eachother. Thankfully, this book didn't do that. It did not read as very toxic examples as girls and it's explained that the "attraction" is due to Caleb's abilities, not any uber-hotness. Still, I thought it was odd that every girl would be interested (besides Sam).

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this wasn't my cup of tea. I should have known that before reading it, but I was hopeful. There wasn't anything really new in YA paranormal to me, the romance made me cringe, and not enough happened in the story. I think there are people who may enjoy this series, as evident from the ratings, but it was disappointing for me. I won't be continuing the series.

I hereby give this book
2 Stars
Meaning: It was okay

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Cover vs Cover: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This week's pick is...

Little White Lies (Debutantes, #1) VS.  Little White Lies (Debutantes, Book One)
Original                           Redesign
 I'm not real wild about either cover. I understand what they were going for with the redesign. This book is about debutantes, so I think it was trying to make that more clear, but the light colors makes me think of light contemporary, not mystery/thriller. I see that the girls are holding things behind their backs, but I don't remember enough of the book to understand the meaning behind that, which means someone who has yet to read the book certainly wouldn't. The original looks more like a mystery/thriller cover. The shattering roses look strange to me, but I think it catches someone's eye more than the redesign.
Final Verdict: Original
What do you think? Give me your thoughts on which cover is the best!

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday: The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Waiting on Wednesday (or Can't Wait Wednesday) is a weekly meme, hosted by Wishful Endings, where we talk about the books we're waiting (a bit impatiently) for!

This week I am waiting for...


The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3)
He will be destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, comes the highly anticipated and jaw-dropping finale to The Folk of the Air trilogy.
Release Date: October 15th, 2019


Why am I waiting?
I know this is a super popular series, but I finally got around to starting the series last month! Now I'm with everything else waiting for this book!
What book are you waiting for this week?

Monday, October 14, 2019

REVIEW: Crossed by Eliza Crewe



Crossed (Soul Eaters, #3)War is here.

Full-scale war has erupted between the Crusaders and demons and even Chi has to admit isn’t going well. Like any sensible rat, Meda’s eager to abandon the sinking ship but, unfortunately, her friends aren't nearly as pragmatic. Instead, Meda’s forced to try to keep them all alive until the dust settles.

As the Crusaders take more and more drastic measures, the tables turn and Meda suddenly finds herself in the role of voice of sanity. No one is more horrified than she is. When old enemies reappear as new allies and old friends become new enemies Meda has to decide—again—whose side she’s really on.

And then the Crusaders decide that Meda should go to Hell. Literally.

Can’t a monster ever catch a break? 

NOTICE: This is the third book of a series. See my review for book one here and my review for book two here.

MY THOUGHTS
I remember loving the previous books in the series. For some reason, it took me four years to get to this book. I was worried that my memory would fail me (as my memory can be terrible) and I would find that my tastes have changed. Thankfully, I didn't have any issues getting into this book. This book didn't get a full five stars like the last two books, but I can still say this is a great series.

War has broken out between the Crusaders and the demons, and the demons are winning. Countless Crusaders are dying and they're getting desperate. While Meda would love to leave and take her friends with her, her friends' loyalty to the Crusaders prevents her from doing that. The Crusaders, though, have a plan for Meda (one she definitely doesn't agree with) and worse still, Jo seems to be willing to do anything. Now, Meda will have to literally go to Hell.

Meda has such a strong voice in this book, and in the whole series. She is certainly different than other MCs. Her way of thinking is so different than what is considered "normal". She has a morbid sense of humor, she relishes in killing, and doesn't feel bad about thinking for herself. At the same time, she has loyalty towards her friends, especially Jo. While I don't remember everything from the last two books, I can tell that Meda has changed a lot since book one. She has very different feelings towards humans, yet she still feels very Meda.

While book two focused a lot of Meda, Jo felt like a stand-out character in this book. It's difficult to explain what Jo does without spoiling things, but in Jo's desperation to help the Crusaders, she undergoes a personality change. Again, since my memories are vague on details in the last books, I don't know how much her personality changed, but enough that it makes it difficult. Friendship is such a big deal in this book, and in the whole series. Very rarely do I see YA book focus on friendship rather than romance and this book does such a great job of it. As odd and dark as the story gets, Jo and Meda's friendship feels real. I also like how they don't take crap from each other and understand each other's sense of humor.

The ending of the book did confuse me. I wasn't really sure how things were resolved. Maybe that's because I didn't quite understand how the demons worked, that information must have been lost from my memory. I did like how the climactic moment, while about saving/destroying the world, was also about Jo and Meda.

IN CONCLUSION

Overall, this is a fantastic series! I wish I would've read this final book earlier when things were still fresh in my mind, but I'm glad I picked up the series in the first place! The series has really interesting ideas and really interesting characters, with morid humor, but I overall loved the focus on friendship!


I hereby give this book
4 Stars!
Meaning: I really liked this book!

Sunday, October 13, 2019

New Releases in YA! (October 15th-21st)

Every week I list all (or almost all) of the YA books (and the occasional MG) that are coming out within that week!
There's not much coming out this week, but here's what you get to look forward:
P.S. Click on the book's cover for the Goodreads page!


Did I miss any books?
What books, if any, do you plan to read?

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Short and Simple Reviews: The One and Only Ivan, Planet Earth is Blue, and Sadie

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.
Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)


The One and Only Ivan
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.
  Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository


Review
I listened to this book fully on audiobook and, while I missed out on the wonderful illustrations, I absolutely loved this book. The audiobook was wonderfully narrated and through the narration, I could clearly tell how wonderfully written the book is. It gave a voice to Ivan. I loved hearing about his love for painting, and I loved hearing his story, even though it was heart-wrenching at times. This is not the happiest of stories, but I loved all the animals at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade (and Julie), and I felt such a connection to them. This is the first book I've read by Katherine Applegate alone (I've previously read Eve & Adam , which she wrote with her husband, Michael Grant). I own Crenshaw and Wishtree and they have definitely moved up on my TBR list. Overall, this was a fantastic book, and I recommend it to all ages.
 I hereby give this book
5 Stars
Meaning: A new favorite!




Planet Earth Is Blue
A heartrending and hopeful debut novel about a nonverbal girl and her passion for space
exploration, for fans of See You in the Cosmos, Mockingbird, and The Thing About Jellyfish.

Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger--it's the first time a teacher is going into space, and kids across America will watch the event on live TV in their classrooms. Nova and her big sister, Bridget, share a love of astronomy and the space program. They planned to watch the launch together. But Bridget has disappeared, and Nova is in a new foster home.

While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal, Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is, and all that she can't express. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova's new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget. But every day, she's counting down to the launch, and to the moment when she'll see Bridget again. Because Bridget said, "No matter what, I'll be there. I promise."

To decode the list and find the Big One, June and Indigo enlist the help of some new friends in Red Bank and turn the town upside down in their search. But the most surprising mystery of all may be what brought June to Red Bank in the first place—and what is most valuable to her in the end.

  
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Review
This is such a wonderfully written book, but also a very hard book to read. I've never read a book that takes place during the Challenger tragedy. Reading this book, it hurt to see Nova counting down to the Challenger launch because we all know now what happened to Challenger and I did not want Nova's heart to break. This book does have so much more to it. There's the fact that the main character is autistic and nonverbal, something I've never seen in MG/YA, but I was glad to see it because we need the representation! The copy I had included a note that mentioned that the author wanted to show a positive foster home. That was one of the few happy things about this book. Nova and her older sister have been in not-so-great foster homes, but now Nova is in a foster home by herself. Her foster family does their best to include Nova and they don't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. Besides her sister, they are some of the first people to recognize that just because she doesn't speak, doesn't mean that she's not smart. I also loved Nova and her classmates. This book overall is a heartwrenching read, but you do get those bittersweet moments. 
I hereby give this book
4 Stars
Meaning: It was amazing!


Sadie

A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial―like podcast following the clues she's left behind. And an ending you won't be able to stop talking about.

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.

But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.

When West McCray―a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America―overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late.

Courtney Summers has written the breakout book of her career. Sadie is propulsive and harrowing and will keep you riveted until the last page. 



Review
When this book first came out, I kind of ignored the hype, but now that I've gotten a chance to read it, I'm glad that I picked it up. This is not an easy story, it discusses a lot of difficult subjects, but it discusses subjects that aren't always discussed. Namely, this book focuses on a missing girl, but it's more than a story about a missing girl, and the girl is not just "another runaway". Sadie's story is intertwined with a podcast that is trying to find out what happened to Sadie. This was such an interesting narrative style and it worked perfectly for the book. The ending is very open-ended, but that also worked with this particular story. We don't always get answers and don't always find out what happened. Overall, this was a great book and fantastically written.
 I hereby give this book
4 Stars
Meaning: It was amazing!