Gail Carriger's Finishing School

This one is YA so it was for me reading (ha! Do I fit that "category" anymore?) and not school collection development.

Are the covers not fabulous? I just finished number 2 & 3.

Mystery? Check!
Victorian London (alternate reality one but still)? Check!
Humor? Check!

Not even the best example but the only one I stopped to mark. It's from W&W (read an e-arc on a Kindle ... so all I know is location 2357 of 3394, 69% of the way through the book) ...

"There was a moment of terror, wondering if the train would stop to find out who they were and why there were running on a normally vacant track. But the other train sped by, showing no interest whatsoever and no inclination to stop. it was mostly second class and clearly had its own problems to worry about.
If anyone saw Monique, a well-dressed woman of quality, dangling form the doorway, they apparently assumed everyone had problems in life and moved on."

Slight spoiler there. Sorry.

I really need to get a hold of copies of her other books to see if I like them as much. There are just too many books in the world to read and not enough time. See the author's website here.

What Are You Reading? Monday

Thoughts ... all reviews in limited weekly posts (like this one?) or lots of shorter posts throughout the week? I see pros/cons to both. Easier to search on separate posts. Slightly overwhelming on multiple posts. Though once school starts I won't have as much time to read. :/

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Picture
Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh ... Dog is back. And he gets to go on a fun adventure!

This could be a fun introduction to "writing" for little ones who don't quite have the letter formation/spelling/handwriting skills to express the stories their heads can create. They may not be able to write the word "train" but they can try drawing one. Practice expressing their stories whatever way they can express them will give them the confidence and skills to transfer over to writing when the time comes.

The book could also be used in a lesson with the kids who can already write. When Dog isn't quite sure what to draw in his new sketchbook? He gets some great advice.

Must go pre-order this one right now. :]


Oh, No! by Candace Fleming
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one begs to be read aloud to an audience who will delight in repeating the "Oh no!"s over and over. I can hear them already

Plus I love the illustrations. My favorite is ... I think it's a lemur? I'm no animal expert but her name is Loris.

Middle Grade
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am curious to read more of Zita's adventures.
And I like the friends she makes along the way.




The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel by Jeanne DuPrau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

SQUEAL! Got to see a preview of this one.

The good ... the graphic novel style? It's totally growing on me. The artwork in this one is COOL. Managed to totally convey the sense of place without giving everything away.

The not quite as good ... for the sake of space (I would guess) some parts of the story were abbreviated. Now, if you hadn't read the original you may not even notice it. But if you HAVE read it ... I kind of felt like it left the pacing and FEEL of the story a little wanting. Examples include how fast they decipher the clues in the note. Lizzie's friendship with Looper. (Is it just me or is it so quick here it's a little untoward?) Lina telling Doon about her grandmother.

To me? It's kind of like the difference between a movie and the book. Both are different art forms and have strengths and weaknesses. So your best bet? ENJOY BOTH.

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a beautiful little story. Very well written and very different from Clementine (which is the author's work I was previously most familiar with.

Just ... sad. So very sad along the way.



One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hmmm.
I thought this book was HILARIOUS in some places. I haven't read Everything on a Waffle but I have read some of her other books and she just does quirky and funny turns of phrase so well.

So ... rating for me? Four stars. I started taking some screen shots in Skitch (since you can't bookmark or make notes electronic advanced reading copies, which is how I was reading it) of the funniest lines. I was going to quote a couple of them here.

But there were so many! And having to retype everything ... no. I'll just say funny and share one. The scene where the two people are over having dinner and it is not going so well? Some of them start talking just to fill the silence. "Uncle Jack alone retained his savoir faire as if he were completely at home with people who would really be better off heavily sedated" (p 29 in the advance copy). And do NOT miss the town meeting which was, sadly, a "pastryless event" (p 118).

BUT ...
I really can't think of an elementary student to share this with. I've tried to share some of her books in our collection but haven't ever really found the student that connected with them. Who is the intended audience? The main character is twelve. Do middle school students like her writing? In terms of kid appeal a three.


The Classroom by Robin Mellom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked Trevor. The slightly nerdy total worrier is a bit overdone but that's OK. We like underdogs, don't we?

This book is set in seventh grade (which is the first year of middle school in this setting) and his best friend Libby decides they need to expand their friend horizons and hang out with other people. They will no longer be friend friends Oh. And they each have to get a date to the dance on the first day of school.

Molly? I was not quite as fond of Molly. Though you have to feel a little bad for her seeking attention like she does.

The doodles and stage directions (for some reason this is set up as a documentary ... which I don't really think was necessary but it wasn't a terrible choice, either) were kind of fun.

Wilson and Marty were two of my favorite characters.

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lots of imagination in this one. Fun little twists and turns and candy elements. Likable characters.

Just couldn't quite ever get over 1)kids breaking the rule DON'T TAKE CANDY FROM STRANGERS; 2)not quite getting Dart's role in the whole thing; and 3)the time travel explanation made my head hurt!

YA
The White City by John Claude Bemis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A nice finish to the trilogy. Some unexpected parts ... some for the good and others less so. Still. For a random pick off the shelves I'm satisfied!





Solitary by Alexander Gordon Smith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

OK. I'm starting to get annoyed now.

WILL ANYTHING EVER GO RIGHT?

And still a little grossed out. It's a morbid curiosity, for sure.


Death Sentence by Alexander Gordon Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I stayed up Way. Too. Late. last night reading (well ... let's be honest ... skimming parts of) this one.

Something about the story keeps me fascinated. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I want an at least semi-happy ending.

But there are still some gory scenes that I skip over. Ugh. And I'm still a bit frustrated--is it a spoiler if we already know there are at least two more books to say there is still NO CLOSURE?

Curious as to what this author is like in "real" life. This is one messed up story.

But you still keep rooting for the main characters. They made some BIG mistakes. But not to the point where they ever even remotely deserve what they are getting. You want the bad guys to pay for what they've done. In a court of law. Would a court of law ever be able to properly punish the warden? And ... the blacksuits? What about them?


Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

I'm going to have to think about this one and get back to you. I liked some things about it. I didn't like a lot of things about it.






Still Plugging Away

In Pictures and in Words: Teaching the Qualities of Good Writing Through Illustration Study by Katie Wood Ray

So interesting. Help teach little ones to WRITE by teaching them about illustration. Love it!




I See What You Mean: Visual Literacy K-8 by Steve Moline

Teaching kiddos to take their info and make it visual. I really do want to incorporate more of this but I have to think it through myself. I am a word person. Not a really a graph or timeline person. Maybe a diagram.






Choice Words by Peter H. Johnston

How we talk to kids. Yes! It matters.






Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Listening to the audiobook (cause COME ON IT'S WESLEY CRUSHER aka Wil Wheaton). Could do without some of the language in it but besides that ... COOL.








Next Up

Ascension
Ripper
The Last Echo
Haunting of Apartment 101
The Great Unexpected
however many Babymouse and Lunch Ladys I can get my hands on (almost done but not quite!)
perhaps a visit to B&N for some picture books?
Closer
Freefall



PS Can you tell I am excited? Get them here.

PSPS And a reminder!

Go here for more info on my presentation and here for all of the webinars. You will have to give them your email so sometimes (shh!) I just delete messages they send without reading them. And sometimes I read them and they offer useful information. It's up to you!

Creating Book Trailers with Elementary Students

If anyone is interested I just agreed to do this.
#eeeek #startthenervesnow #nobutreallyIdohaveacluewhatImtalkingaboutIDO

Apologies for the double posting two days in a row. That's what happens when you schedule posts ahead of time! And if the linked image doesn't work (which I'm guessing it might not but you can't tell in the preview ... but a comment from a lovely reader gave me an explanation that made more sense than anything I ever saw when googling) go here for more info on my presentation. Then here for more on the rest of their webinars. The Day of Learning stuff is free. Just a note ... they will send you plenty of emails for more free resources AND for the stuff they'd like it if you paid for ... but you can easily delete them if you are not interested. Shhhh! That's what I do. :]

Statistical Probability

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So nothing that has a British boy named Oliver could be not even at least a little interesting. British boys? Boys named Oliver? Automatic pluses.


Though the connection between the two? I didn't quite feel it. Hadley is pretty self-absorbed through most of it.



A fun read. Will watch for more from this author ... maybe the next one will hold up a little more.

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Also loved the Traitor in the Tunnel!

The Traitor and the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it. Even in the throes of stupid cedar fever and wanting to scratch my eyes out I loved it. Great characters. Great plot twists. Can't tell you about my favorite parts because they would be serious spoilers. :]

If you like period pieces at all then you have to read this series. Read 'em in order.

And ... more, please? Please? Was just talking to some kiddos at school today about how not all books need to be a series. But I want more!

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Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Well ... drat. I hate to say it but I did not like this one nearly as much as Birthmarked. (On a side note ... why has Goodreads lost all of my star ratings? I think that one would have been a four or five, even. Not this one.)



Felt very ... preached at through the entire story. That's my first impression. It's hard to write about why without giving away some major plot points of the story. Characters did not feel genuine to the traits and motivations from the first book without any good explanation for their changes. And again ... I just felt really preached at. There is a hot topic challenged in this book. I'm glad the author brought it up as we can't just ignore topics that cause differences of opinion. But please don't make me feel betrayed by a character I empathized with when she really seems to change her mind on said topic.



Perhaps that does not make any sense? Still working on review writing without spoiling.



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This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kenneth Oppel has done it again. Action and creepy intrigue and ambiance. Krake was an interesting character addition.

May have to pick this one up again sometime. There were beautiful turns of phrase I didn't stop and record.

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The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoying this series ... Raina, Han, and Amon all experience problems that made for some interesting twists.

I might have the page numbers mixed up ... reading on an e-reader often messes that up.

(p 67) "But it's not enough to know right from wrong. You need the strength to do what's right even when what you want most in the world is the wrong thing."

(p 81) "Rulers don't get to do the easy thing. You don't get to do what you want to do."

(p 212) "You should dress like who you aspire to be."

(p 215) "Killing is one way to handle a rival, but it also shows respect. It shows he's important enough to have a chat with. A better way is to humble him. Make him look a fool. Show him that the price for coming after you is his reputation."

(p 240) "The new dawn found ... [can't say who or it's a spoiler!] awake, exhausted, and completely empty of dreams."



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Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Finished on the plane today. OH MY GOODNESS IT WAS SO GOOD. Don't have any quotes jotted down because it was dark (read on my Nook ... hooray! Great for night flights, not so great for beach reads) and I was barely coherent (flying overnight will do that to you) but this was so good I couldn't put it down even though I was so sleepy.


I won't bother with a plot recap. Just ... READ THIS BOOK!



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A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a creepy story ripe with meaning. The writing was superb and in light of the situation behind the story the tone fits perfectly. I jotted down several quotes that I liked. These page numbers will not reflect the final hard copy as they are from an electronic preview. I just share them as example of some of the beautiful turns of phrase.



"Stories are the wildest things of all, the monster rumbled. Stories chase and bite and hunt." (p 45) That's why we love stories, right? Because they make us feel things.

“You’re as old as the land and you’ve never heard of sarcasm?” (p 59) Irony. Gets me every time.

"Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?" (p 61) Again, very similar to the earlier quote. The power of story is one way in which we all come together as authors and readers. We find things we have in common after reading a book!

"Belief is half of healing." (p 139) Most doctors would agree with this. And it definitely can be a big part of emotional healing and coming to peace with things that are happening, even if it doesn't end up changing the final outcome.

"Connor's grief was a physical thing, gripping him like a clamp, clenching him as tight as a muscle. He could barely breathe from the sheer effort of it, and he sank to the ground again, wishing it would just take him, once and for all." (p 200) This is just beautiful. WHY CAN'T I WRITE LIKE THIS?

"You do not write you life with words, the monster said. You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do." (p 202) Another case where I am jealous of this author's power with the written word. In this case his action of writing the book in honor of Ms. Dowd is the important thing. The rest of us ... well, what will we DO?





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The Dead by Charlie Higson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


All the time I've been reading this I've wondered what I was going to say about it when I was done. Do not get me wrong. I did enjoy the story. If I could give two and a half or two and three quarters I would. But if I have to round up or down I'm going to round down.



Word to the wise. This one gets gory.



Coming after reading Rot & Ruin where the zombies were treated with much more respect I have to say I didn't like that about this story. All the description of bashing and splashing and kicking and oozing. Ugh. In the Maberry book the hunters were very careful to remember that the zombies were once someone's family.



That said, there were some interesting characters. Jack and Ed. Jordan. Poor Liam. Greg was a little strange, as was Matt and the whole "new religion" thing. The interaction between the different factions. The struggle to keep going and feel some hope.



I'll definitely keep reading the series. I'd like to know what happens next. I just won't recommend it to younger readers. Or anyone who recently ate lunch.



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Young Adult and Adult Books I've Been Reading

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Still like the basic idea of the Prison that watches everything and the Realm outside stuck "in era" ... but honestly, I found this one harder to follow than Incarceron. Half of the time I couldn't tell who or what was actually doing the speaking. Which is strange. You'd think the second book would be easier to follow than the first.



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Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


OOOOH. Another superb zombie story. Maybe even four and a half. Yep. Four and a half. I read it for #bookaday so I was not careful about taking notes (who am I kidding ... I rarely am) but seriously. This was well written. Lots of description and action and word choice.



Can't wait to hear more from Benny Imura.



PS Good twist, too.



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The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I know they are utter rubbish but I can't help it ... I love the action fictional action tinged with bits and pieces of truth. Made me want to go back to the East Coast (was actually in DC for a week or so last summer for the first time in over 20 years). Been a Steve Berry fan since I picked up The Amber Room in an airport bookstore a couple years back.

Sort of reminded me of National Treasure set where it was.


Now curious to go read the two ebook stories. Neither are Cotton Malone stories ... but they do deal with two characters integral to this one I just finished.



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I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Egads. This is one of the strangest stories I have ever read, and this latest book is no exception. John Wayne Cleaver is a troubled, troubled young man. But this author manages to make the reader care about him.



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Where She Went by Gayle Forman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


While saying I "really" liked it might be a bit of a stretch ... I will say the author did a great job of extending a story that we didn't know had more to be told.

Kind of reminded me of Mockingjay in that I didn't always love some of the choices the author made in terms of the character ... when I was finished and sat back and thought ... yeah. That was the way it needed to go.



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Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm beginning to think I read too much paranormal/supernatural (what is the difference) fic. I need to branch out. It's like chocolate.



That said ...

1) FUNNY! Really, it was.

2) Can't say I would have caught it on my own but somewhere I heard the title and chapter headings were references to songs.

3) What is up with the offensive "whatever the Mormons worship" on page 172? God and Jesus Christ. Unnecessary dig, in my opinion.

4) Would not have recognized this quote, either. Which is kind of sad. "'Begin at the beginning,' I said, 'and go on until you come to the end. Then stop.'" (p 136 and apparently a reference to Alice in Wonderland)

5) Does have werewolves. But necromancers. That's a new one.





Obviously set up for a sequel.



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Afterlife by Claudia Gray

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ummmm ... still a good story. Just started to get bored near the end. Could be because I was at a conference and tired anyway.



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Hare Moon: An Original Forest of Hands and Teeth Story by Carrie Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Like many people ... I just wish there was more!



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The New World by Patrick Ness

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Loved getting Viola's backstory.



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The Last Summer Of The Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork


I liked this story. It was sad ... but it was hopeful. I'll go with hopeful any time.



The audiobook was very well done. Will have to check on the performer and see what else he has done.







The ending. Was a bit ... more open-ended than I usually prefer.



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Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Fun read for a spring break morning.

Three sisters (and three brothers, but you don't hear nearly as much from them) must apologize to their "Almighty" grandmother for an offense she will not name or the entire family will be cut out of her will.

And so they open their hearts to her.



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The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


OOOH! Just started and it is already so good. RY is a master writer!



Later ...


Now I'm done. And really. He is good. But why must it be so gross at the same time? I mean GROSS.

PS Am I the only one who didn't know Wendigo was another word for vampire? Pretty sure I'd heard the word before in other stories. Guess either I wasn't paying attention or this is a liberty RY took with his version.


"Now, a single wold will clear the woods for miles--but what is there that will chase a wolf away?" (p37) (BTW ... the descriptions of the scenes in the Canadian wilderness were beautiful. When they weren't gross.)



"The gray land was deceptively still. It kept its secrets. Something was following us." (p115)



"A word of advice, Will Henry. When a person of the female gender wants to show you something, run the other way. The odds are it is not something you wish to see." (p257)



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10 Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked this one for it's quiet ... quirkiness. There's a girl having sort of a hard time fitting in to high school. That happens. (The goat poop part is a little different but hey ... I actually taught at an agriciscience magnet school and if it happened there I am SURE it happens in more rural schools. And it does smell.) Her usual friends suddenly seem a little different. That happens. Family maybe a little embarrassing. Yeah. That happens. (She still loves them!) She starts to make new friends. With a little luck, that happens, too.



I need to learn to start reading these e-arcs from my Nook with paper and pencil in hand because I haven't figured out how to take notes on it. Or maybe I can't? Anyway. Suffice it to say the unexpected lovely turns of phrase one expects from Ms. O'Roark Dowell are in full force.





Don't really like the cover, though.



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Nation by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Oh, I did like this one! So maybe even a 4.5.





I listened to the audiobook. It was very well done. Love that I got to "hear" the story just like it was being told IN the story. Now I finally know what all the fuss was about.



Audiobooks do make it a little harder to go back and reread particular lines, though.



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Red Glove by Holly Black

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!



Cliffhanger.







How long until book three?



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Heist Society by Ally Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


FUN! I almost thought about giving it a five for the sheer fun of it. And then I didn't ... just 'cause this is not a book you read for beautiful imagery or necessarily literary turns of phrase and for some reason I am stingy with fives. But I really enjoyed it.



This is a book you read for hijinks!





I actually listened to it on CD in the car. The last couple of days I've found myself sitting in my car for as long as possible just because I so wanted to know what was going to happen. ;]



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