The real July pt. 2!!!

This is Where the World Ends by Amy Zhang

2.5 stars, 13+

Mehhhhh I wanted to like this but I think the writing just really confused me. It's told in a now vs. flashback style but they're both told in first person from different characters? So yeah. . . I liked the plotline, super awesome cover ( I know, I know, don't judge a book by it's cover) but anyways, recommended to fans of realistic fiction

The Left-Handed Fate by Kate Milford

3.5 stars, all ages!

Ohhh I love Kate Milford so much!!! Sidenote: There's going to be a sequel to Greenglass House!!!! *squeals* Super sweet story, action filled, AND THERE'S ILLUSTRATIONS BY ELIZA WHEELER!!!!! I LOVE ELIZA WHEELER!!! Definitely recommended to everyone!

This Impossible Light by Lily Meyers

3 stars, 12+ for more YA feel

Ahhh I love poetry form stories!!! This Impossible Light is about a girl with an eating disorder, and the poetry tells it seamlessly, though I've always had a weakness for story poems. I loved this, beautiful cover as well, and would definitely recommend it to all of y'all peeps

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

1 star, 12+

A Snow White retelling + cyber drones technology stuff. . .  ehhh not my thing. It wasn't a bad book necessarily (see the one star rating) I just really didn't like it, and found it rather boring, I guess in comparison to the Lunar Chronicles which I looooooooove, I thought that the plotline was rather slow then got really rushed in some places, and I didn't really get the whole 'stitching' thing? Recommended for sci-fi crossover lovers!

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

2 stars, 12+

About a girl descended from this super powerful witch but doesn't have any power. I found the beginning rather annoying, mostly because the main character spent most of her time fuming over her prejudiced ideas of other races (eg. faeiries, kelts, etc) but it got a lot better in the end, minimal romance, mostly long distance crushing, not much to the plotline but the ending really threw me for a loop and now I really actually want to read the next book! Recommended to fantasy lovers! 

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

4 stars, 12+ 

Woahhhh this has got to be one of my favorite fairytale retellings ever!!! Again, it's a Snow White retelling, hehe, I liked this one a whole lot better than Stitching Snow, but that's just a personal preference, I loved the characters, pretty good writing, the ending wrapped up pretty nicely but I think there's a sequel, recommended to all! 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

5 STARS, 14+ because it's an adult book

AHHHHHHH OH MY GOSH THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS EVER!!!! A tale of magic and mystique, everything is so mysterious and so. . . circus-y!! The writing is amazing, and the story is told in four points of view: two from Celia and Marco who are illusionists in a secretive 'game' that they've been trained for (they fall in love, but they just kiss and that's about it— if you want to skip that part, don't read the last two pages of Part 3) one POV from Bailey (this part is told from the future, and one POV from the elusive 'you', and actually now that I think about it, there are a lot of POVs from other characters, but they're easy to keep track of. Each part of the story is told with minimal details ( or if there are details, they're more often clues.) To be honest, it's like a giant puzzle and at the end, everything falls togther into perfection! I recommend this to all, Admins, I think you should read this too!

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

1 star, 13+

Ehhhh beautiful cover, but I didn't really like this. The author's British, so there was a fair amount of British references and slang that I didn't get but anyways, didn't really like the plotline. It says it's told in three parts, but it's more like one giant part. Basically the story goes like this: mother is mad at grandmother for abandoning her as a baby, grandmother has alzheimer's and has forgotten a bunch of stuff, daughter is inspired by grandmother to break household rules. So basically, the mother spends the entire book yelling at the grandmother who promptly forgets arguing and in the midst of all of this the daughter goes off and sneaks out to parties and dates and such. I do not recommend reading this.

The Art Book (It's a DK book)

3 stars, all ages

I found this very informative and very well researched, but I don't really like art histoy, so I was pretty bored reading this. It's actually a very good book, and I recommend it whole-heartedly to anyone who likes art history, although, it's rather long, and also, rather heavy.

~~~

Thanks for thinking of me, September. I'll look for The Night Circus at the library.

Admin

Land of Stories: An Author's Odyssey by Chris Colfer

Land of Stories: Worlds Collide by Chris Colfer. I finished that today.

I then bought Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon and finished it in the same day.

Wow, it's so cool how you guys go all out and write reviews and things! Land of Stories I won't review because since it's the last book I can't say anything non-spoiler-y without talking about the whole series in general. Then there's Everything, Everything, which requires a lot of explanation to describe. And I'm lazy :P

The Boggart by Susan Cooper **** suggested age rating: 10+ for mild language, insults, etc.

I set my expectations very low, in fact, I debated even picking The Boggart up just to try, so I was stunned when I found my nighttime reading drawing later and later because I just HAD to get to the next chapter. It's a simple story: a magical creature from Scotland accidentally gets transported to Canada, where it brings mischeif upon main characters Emily, Jessup, and their family. The writing style was also very simple, giving just enough description without lingering over details. And then there were the characters. Emily and Jessup are a little cliche as far as heroes go, but their conversations, reactions, and interests are so realistic that it's okay to forgive the few cliches (practical older sister who likes books and rather annoying younger brother who likes computers). The story wrote from the point of veiw of the Boggart himself a few times, and those were my favorite parts of the story. For a mischievious creature who likes ice cream and big messes, his stories were so full of emotion. Except, the emotion was shown, not told. This book never just said: "the Boggart was sad," instead, the emotions just flow from the writing and tensity, and they are much more powerful that way. 

In summary, this is a book that will surprise you in many ways. It is simple, but brilliant. I recommend it for all readers! 

Haha, Owlgirl, I just read Everything, Everything too! I didn't like it as much as her other novel, though. I'm not big on romance, it just was a little too overloaded with it for me.

I read The Sun is Also a Star fairly recently, also by Nicola Yoon. I really admired the way she put POVs for almsot every character, giving
insight into everyone's lives and really highlighting the struggles of
the world. I especially loved Irene's story - it was sweet and tied
everything together.

I also read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. It was summer reading, so I didn't expect it to be great, but it was beautiful. It could get depressing at times, but it was . . . I can't even describe it. So full of raw emotion, so realistic, so wonderful. As a warning, though: it has swearing, drinking, smoking, and homosexuality, so if you're not good with any of that, it's not the best choice for you.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

This book is so unique....I've never read anything like it before. The world is so enchanting and mysterious, sometimes light and sometimes very dark, and it pulled me in like it pulls the characters in the book. And the author has a lovely prose too. Plus the main character has some sort of synesthesia I believe (although it's a fictional world so she doesn't think of it that way) so there's a lot of beautiful color-related descriptions, not just tied to visual cues, but feelings and sounds. Age recommendation: 13+ (for readers who already read YA).

Here's a synopsis:

A legendary competition. An unbreakable bond between two sisters.

Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

Abhorsen by Garth Nyx.

The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan. Finished July 24. I'm rereading this one so that I can read the next one.....

The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan. Finished yesterday, late at night by the light of a flashlight XD. IT WAS REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, I enjoyed the first book although I wasn't totally in love with it (although I did like it more the second time I read it, I read it more carefully) and now I like the second book even more!!!!! It's really funny and engaging, and Apollo gets really developed. His perspective is so funny. Also, on a side note, it's really refreshing how much diversity there is! Three cheers for Uncle Rick! I just really loved this book. And towards the end, they got a prophecy of course, and also there was mentions of all the old characters, the Seven, and Reyna, and Grover.....all going to be in the third book!!!!!!!! I'm SO excited!!!!!!!!!!!

Across the Wall by Garth Nyx, which turned out to be a collection of short stories. I would rate it 9.5/10 and for those aged 13+ for the violence/gore and adult content.

Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques and The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye. I've read both several times before.

Wow, I haven't been on this thread in forever...

--The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan (a reread. It's still as amazing as the day I first discovered it.) 

--The Sea of Monsters (okay, I might be doing an all-out reread where I'm rereading all of Rick Riordan's books that I've read. And trust me, I've read most of them. I think it's the shortest one of all the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series)

Both of those were yesterday. I've started on the Titan's Curse, but life is getting in the way (as usual...), so I haven't had much time to read it today. Hopefully I'll have better luck on the weekend! 

@Owlgirl

RIGHT? RIGHT? IS THERE A RELEASE DATE FOR THE NEXT ONE YET? IT WAS SO AMAZING!! I haven't had a chance to reread it yet, but I definitely should as soon as I get to the 'Trials of Apollo' stage in my massive reread. I especially loved when they were in the...you know, the...well, I don't want to give any spoilers to people who haven't read it, so I'm just going to say 'blue' and 'madness' and hope you understand me, and when they met J and E, and what's-her-name (The net and trap lady. Brittany? B-something? I'll get it...eventually...) kind of reminded me of Neith in the Kane Chronicles. Only, less deranged. Slightly less deranged. Are any of the gods and goddesses not deranged? AND THE PROPHECY! The prophecy was awesome! I hope they make it to Camp Jupiter...ALSO MAGNUS CHASE AND THE SHIP OF THE DEAD COMES OUT OCTOBER THIRD! MARK YOUR CALENDARS, PEOPLE!!! 

Uh...sorry for the massive storm of fanpersoning. I hope you understood some of that.

-Nianad  

Flight volume 2 and Six Feet Over It by Jennifer Longo.

July Pt. 3~ 

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

2.5 stars, 12+ for mild romance and mild violence

Mehhhhh. . . sounded interesting enough, but got too involved with drama-y romance and ball gowns and family stuff and such for my tastes. Anywho, the premise!: A girl lives in Regency London (1800) with her aunt and uncle who are trying to marry her off, but finds out that she has magical powers to kill demons who are infiltrating society. Expect ots of balls, courts, drama, and other stuff if you plan on rading this. Recommended for anyone who likes historical/fantasy hybrids. 

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

5 stars, 14+ for language, smoking, alcohol

Wowwww! I don't usually read classics (or like them for that matter) but I really loved this! I won't go into too many plot details, but this is a realistic fiction (which honestly, I didn't feel had a super defined plotline) and it moves so well and all. . . I loved it! It's a really good classic to be honest; coming from me, that's a lot— I almost fell asleep reading Jane Austen (Sorry, Austenites!) and like Anne of Green Gables and such. I definitely recommend it, but most y'all will probably read it in high school anyways!

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

3 stars, 13+ for violence and mild romance

If you can get through the first 70 or so pages, it's actually a really good book! It's a fantasy-dystopia hybrid with a pretty cool world where everyone has a current gift which is like a magical power (it made me think of Savvy!) Anyways, the novel's about these two warring tribes and etc. I won't summarize too much. The onlly problem I had with this book was writing style— POVs were too spaced out— like Cyra would have a hundred pages and then Akos would have a chapter, then back to Cyra. . . (Those are the main characters; forgot to mention that earlier.) Also, Cyra's POV was in first and Akos's was in third; I think that's mostly because the author feels more comfortable writing in first for a female POV but it was just little things I didn't like. Recommended for fans of fantasy and sci-fi. 

March 1917 by Will Englund

3 stars, appropriate for all ages, but has a more adult book feel

A really good non-fiction about the fall of the tsar in Russia and President Wilson's decision to enter the US in the first World War. Excellently researched, well written, just slow. . . and kinda hard to read, but I think that's just because I don't read enough non-fic; also, it only covers one month in like 400 pages so. . . anyhow, it's really detailed, and really good, even if I didn't like it. Recommended to anyone who likes non-fic or is interested in the time period.

@Admins, I think you'd like this one too!

Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson

2.5 stars, 13+ for language and mild romance

@Owlgirl, I remember you saying that this book isn't for everyone and yeahhhh this just wasn't my thing. Midnight at the Electric is told in three parts from three POVs: Adri, in 2065 , who's one of the lucky few that gets to live on Mars, Catherine, who lives during the Dust Bowl and has a secret crush on her family's farm hand, and Lenore, who's trying to make peace with her brother's death during WW II. The stories are all interwoven and fall into place in the end, but I found it a bit slow at the beginning, then kinda rushed near the end. I liked Catherine's POV the best, Adri's the least, Lenore's was somewhere in the middle. I think I might have liked it better had the characters developed more, but it was pretty good! Recommended for fans of historical fic./ sci-fi

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

5 stars, 13+ for language and mild romance 

My favorite retelling. EVER!!!! Writing was great, plotline was engaging, characters were good— I loved it all! A Study in Charlotte features a gender-bent Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Dr. Watson— Charlotte Holmes and James Watson, respectively, and actually scratch the retelling part. It's more of a fractured. . . classic? POV is Watson's, who's a student at a Connecticut prep school dreaming of solving mysteries with his classmate and destined "partner in crime"— after all, they are Homes and Watson. But when a student turns up dead holding a copy of The Adventures of Sherlock and Holmes, they become the prime suspects as it becomes apparent that someone is trying to frame the famed pair. Loved, loved LOVED this! Recommended to all! 

Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente

3 stars, 14+ just because it's an adult book

I guess it was good? Just kind of hard to read? Generally, I adore Catherynne M. Valente, but Radiance just didn't "click" with me? If that makes any sense? Radiance is about a vanished filmmaker who attempted to document the missing city of Adonis, Venus. It's told from some very cool mediums: flashbacks, scripts, newspaper clippings, interviews, and just one first person POV. Cool? Yes! Confusing? Definitely! I never really did get the ending— and didn't figure who's POV it was until halfway through the novel. It had a super awesome world though; think vintage filmmaking and interplanetary travel in the 1930's! Recommended for anyone who likes sci-fi. 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

5 stars, 13+ for violence; it's a murder mystery after all

Oooooooohhhhh! This was really good, just REALLY SCARY TBH. ..  Honestly, maybe I shouldn't have read this at 11:00 at night but ohh well. . . The premise: Ten strangers are invited to a mysterious island where they are accused for murders that seem accidental. . . but soon enough, the guests begin to die off, and it becomes apparent that the murderer is ONE OF THEM. . . DUN DUN DUN. . .! First rate murder mystery, amazing writing, pretty quick read. Also downright terrifying, so I'd recommend it be read in broad daylight if you're a scardey cat like me! Definitely recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery. 

Grendel's Guide to Love and War by A.E Kaplan

4 stars, 13+ for language? and romance centric plot

I never thought I'd like this one, actually. The summary is kind of decieving— it's a lot more than that, plus, it's hilarious. Probably one of my favorite romance centric YA's! The premise: Tom Grendel is living a spectacularly normal life until the Rothgars move in, including Rex Rothgar, who's determined to ruin Tom's life, and Willow Rothgar, who Tom probably has a giant crush on. But Rex's catstrophically loud parties are a problem for Tom's dad, who's suffering from PTSD after serving in the army. AFter Tom's father leave on a business trip, Tom and his best friend Ed decide to put a stop to the parties once and for all, igniting an epic prank war. Sweet, sassy, loved this! Recommended to fans of realistic fic.

Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire

2 stars, 10+

This book is marketed as YA, I honestly have no idea why— it's a middle grade for sure. Anywho, the premise: Elena is a peasant girl living in rural Russia and Ekaterina is a wealthy girl travelling to St. Petersburg to meet the Tsar and his nephew. When Ekaterina's train stops at Elena's village, the two girls are accidentally switched, each on their way to a grand adventure. Cute idea and all, but Egg and Spoon just wasn't my cup of tea. I suppose I was misled over the whole YA-middle-grade business, but maybe that's why I didn't like it? Recommended for all, especially younger readers. 

Thanks for the rec., September. I'll look for March at the library. I've read Nicholas and Alexandra, a great book about the last czar of Russia and his family. There are so many good stories in history, and I love reading and learning about them!

Admin

Your list looks really good! I think I'll try some of those. Also I'm an Austenite :-P I'm reading Emma right now and it is so witty! 

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine **** suggested age rating: All Ages :)

This book was so fun and elegantly crafted that it really soared. The main character, Elodie, is so realistic! She wants to be an actress and is seeking a suitable apprenticeship in the city of Two Castles. However, she isn't successful at her endevors to gain a free apprenticeship , and becomes aquainted with a detective dragon and an ogre, neither of whom appear to be especially trustworthy friends, if indeed she can call them friends. This story is full of heart, adventure, deducing and inducing, and rediscovering your dreams. Elodie is a spunky and hopeful main character who is truly a delight to adventure through.

Everard's Ride by Diane Wynn Jones **** suggested age rating: 11+ for rather glossed-over violence, murder, and injury, sweet and classic love, and  mention if suicide. 

I was so surprised! I loved Howls Moving Castle by the same author, but I wasn't expecting this short book to be nearly as good. It seemed like a classical coming of age tale with an element of  the  surreal and ghosytly, but it quickly took a turn for adventure. Alex and Cecilia can't stand their father's obsession with consorting with and being thought of as high society, and they absolutely hate going to the stuffy parties at their sworn enemies, the Courcys. One day, a mysterious outlaw and possible murderer with an odd, obsolete manner shows up at their fsrmhouse, a chain reaction changed both their fortune and connection with the Courcys.