Dinasoaur - To the Stars!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on my TBR for the Fall

Hello! I’m surprising myself here by participating in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday. Top Ten Tuesday, as you may know, is a weekly meme by the lovely The Broke and the Bookish. This week, I am listing and discussing my top ten books on my TBR for fall.

Let’s begin.

10. The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness

I want to read more Patrick Ness books in general. But, I am ready to read these longer books, too, for the season. What I know about this book series is that it has a journey aspect, society, and hearing thoughts. A boy, his dog together. Then, a girl appears.

9. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

This one is on my to-buy list for next month. I have a good feeling about Adam Silvera in general. Sometimes, when authors talk, I feel like a connection to them as writers. They Both Die At the End deals with life and death. I don’t know how much you know about me, but my birthday is in October. And…I tend to reflect on my life every year (mostly beating myself up). Perhaps this book will help me cope better.

8. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

I read this book ages ago, and then somehow lost my copy. So, I am hoping to get a copy of it again (and its sequel) soon. When I do get them in the mail, I want to read them around Halloween for thriller-y vibes. It was a dark story, but I like the characters. In fact, I still remember Cas and Anna. I think of them often.

7. Shiver by Maggie Steifvater

Look, I know she has a release this fall. But, I am unsure if it relies on cultural appropriation. In order to support art that is not damaging to the image of other cultures, I am holding off on buying that book. Also, I am not sure if I’d be interested in that book anyway. Shiver has to do with werewolves and kissing, which, admittedly, are not things I can really relate to. However, I think Steifvater has more license and authority on those things (more than about another culture, at least).

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Hmm. That one and the next one on the list are reminiscent of Halloween vibes, too. For some reason, I am under the impression that this book is kind of slow paced, so I’m intimidated by it quite a bit to be honest.

5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Give me all the circus-y books to read in the fall.

4. The Novice by Taran Matharu

Adventure and demon-y creatures make this trilogy sound so intriguing for the fall season. I hear these books are easy to get through. For whatever reason, I have in my head that these books are also echoes of Pokemon and/or Digimon, about which I know very little. Perhaps I’ll be cool after I read this book.

3. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The movie converted me into a fan of the books, which is strange, because this rarely happens. I want to read this trilogy soon to embrace the eerie nature of time loops but also the fantastic ways of Miss Peregrine.

2. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne M. Valente

It is a series of five (five? I think?) children’s stories revolving around a girl who goes to a place called Fairyland (I know! You’d have never guessed this from the title). The story reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman time. I am going to start with this one, perhaps. Granted, I do have other options that are also appropriate for the fall time.

Discussion: Blogging with Mental Illness

This is the PITS. I have been having a rough time for at least three months. Today, I decided to share my experience with blogging as someone who has mental illness. As such, I am considering making a change in how I approach this. I guess I’m gesturing at this site. Some of this discussion may resonate with you, I hope. But, some of it won’t. I hope you just…listen.

Let’s begin.

Routine Rush

When I joined the book blogging community a year ago, I noticed that there are certain types of posts that people shared. Lists. Lots of lists. My problem is not so much that the lists were “bad.” But, they did not work for me, because I am not reading as rapidly as some people in the community do. This results in me listing the same books, week after week. And, after a while, it just gets less fun.

Instead, it feels like a routine (not in a nice way). I don’t read as much as others, and I am pressuring myself even more to keep up.

Not only was it just a series of lists for books, but I also fell into a trap where I had created these “sections” of my blog to streamline navigation. Like, it’s a blog. Not a map. The fun of it, to me, is to see a life unfold, to enjoy fan-girl moments and analysis, and enthusiasm.

Consistency Woes

This was another issue I had with the blog. I pressured myself to post every day of the week, for weeks at a time. Nothing I’m saying is ground-breaking news. I’m sure people can live without my lists for a day or two per week.

Maybe even more.

I have to be careful not to turn this into something my OCD will flip against me (that sentence failed on so many levels).

Running Away

I don’t like talking about how sick I am on here for fear of sounding “out of it.” But, as someone who has had depersonalization all her life, I have a hard time being “present.” For the past five years, I have been in therapy. Granted, it took me a long time to open up about this (and the manic episodes were pretty embarrassing too). It’s scary to be here mentally and I honestly don’t know how I always just…stop being myself and pray that if I dream of someone else, I could somehow become them.

Does this make any sense?

Anyway, blogging shouldn’t be all that I do. Neither does reading sound like something I want to throw my whole life into. I want to see what makes me feel at peace. In order to do that, I need to step away from following this dance of posting, commenting, and then depersonalize my way through the day, hoping to become a different person.

Maybe I can write about my findings, or try to capture my moments of clarity.

I don’t know. But I am definitely in need of learning new things to become a more comfortable person.

And the search continues

What is ahead is lots of soul searching and experimenting with what works for me as a blogger. My intention is not to insult anyone who is okay with the routine posts, or the reading all the time. It just isn’t working for me. We’ll see what I find worth discussing on here between the books I do manage to finish.

Love and light.

Book Review: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

I’m sure you have been seeing Mackenzie Lee’s The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue around the internet. For a while there, I was hesitant to read it. But, as soon as I started reading it, I realized that this is one of the coolest books I had read in a long time.

Let’s begin.

Revisiting historical contexts

Essentially, the story is about a trio (two siblings, and their friend who is a person of color) in the 1800s. Monty and his sister Felicity along with Percy are on a grand tour. Basically, it’s a last hurrah before moving to “adulthood.”

The really cool part of the story is the combination of the setting in contrast with the perspectives offered in the story. Monty is an able bodied bisexual man who is wealthy. Throughout the story, Felicity and Percy seem to slap him with the reality of their existence within the society he once assumed was tough on him.

I just love how Mackenzie Lee addresses privilege and perspective. Part of me is kind of afraid that this book will be dismissed as fluff. It is not that at all (to me, anyway).

Because, yes, the story is fun and loose in terms of its following of a grand plot, but the point is the way it is highlighting differences between Monty’s experience and that of Felicity and Percy.

subverting social expectations

I don’t want to spoil the book (I won’t), but all I can say is that the trio definitely subverts the expectations of their time. For once, Felicity is interested in things frowned upon for women. She is certainly more in charge of her two companions than one would assume.

Percy, a person of color with a health condition very close to something I experience, is faced with a destiny secluded from everyone else. He is also addressed in such awful ways. I was afraid for him, definitely. I think you would, too.

Through it all, these three people go on an adventure that no one really expects for them to have. I mean, the tour was scheduled in such an air-tight way. There was a mentor figure with them, and there was a route planned.

But, no. they drift. And, I know this may frustrate some people. But, what drove me most was how relevant this story set in the 1800s even now in 2017.

morality and growth

Obviously, the story is frank in its addresses of sexuality (Monty is bisexual in a time of strong queer-phobia). In many ways, the story is about an arc of growth for the three main characters. It is about deciding on conforming or not. And, if not, figuring out how they’ll exist as people.

What I truly love is that what the society presents as “morally sound” is strongly critiqued and questioned. There is a lot of exploration of familial physical abuse, and, to a lesser extent, emotional abuse. It certainly colors the way Monty behaves, as well as acts as incentive for him to think he is “ruined.” Certainly, it is a notion that echoes with me as someone who experienced abuse from within family.

and i guess

I suppose, if we were to go on a superficial note here, the book is just funny, and witty. It has charming characters who are worth the investment of your time and energy. I have not met someone quite like Felicity. Some people say that she’s like Hermione, but I think she’s a bit more of a pioneer.

Read this book. It’s definitely up there on my list of favorites. So good.

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Books I Want To Read Sans Synopsis

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday. This is a meme based on topics posted on a wonderful Goodreads group. Every week, we get fun prompts to help us come up with a list of book-related items. Today, I am talking about my top 5 books that I plan to read with no synopsis. Let’s begin.

5. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I know so little about this series of books (is it a trilogy? I know book 3 was postponed). Something about space and artificial intelligence are somehow related to the story, but the characters change from the first two books. Other than that, I do not know much, and I certainly like it better that way. It is pretty hyped, but I am going in blind.

4. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Friendships that rule! And, something about witches that can tell that truth all the time or perhaps they can discern when someone is being honest? Another really hyped story right here, and I am very excited to join fandoms and flail with everyone, but, in order to do that, I am not learning more than this about the synopsis.

3. Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Emma Watson wanted to play the main character from this series in an adaptation of it. A queen is involved. Also: I got the first two books in the ugly paperback editions with the final one as a beautiful hardcover. I would love to keep up the ignorance I have in regards to the synopsis.

2. Gail Carriger’s Soulless (and following series, spin offs)

Yes, I know that I have been mentioning Carriger quite a bit lately, but the truth is I am so curious about her work (and have gathered a lot of it). So, all I know about this series is that it is steampunk and involves vampires, werewolves and some other species I am not really sure about. To me, the covers are intriguing and the author seems fascinating to me (and inspiring).

1. Brandon Sanderson’s stuff (except for Alcatraz books and Rithmatist)

Basically, I have been gathering Sanderson’s stuff for a while (I have stopped for now, so I don’t have Rithmatist or Alcatraz books). Lots of ground to cover, and I don’t really know much about the stories. What’s interesting was that nothing can prepare me for how this man writes. He creates these complex and real worlds, with complicated character relationships. And, I say this after reading just one book: I don’t need a synopsis for his work.

Your Turn:

If you have any books or writers you’d recommend for me to read (without checking out the synopsis), please share them in the comment section. I’d love to discover new authors (new to me, or debut authors, too). Have a bad-ass Wednesday!

Week 2 of September, 2017: To Be Read Goals

I’m still spiraling in this really bad mental state in September. It is frustrating to see myself lose interest in everything. However, I know I have to keep on trying and fighting. So, while I know these TBRs (to be read goals rather) may sound repetitive, keep in mind that I truly am attempting to get a grip on this gross feeling.

Let’s begin.

sequel

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder is on my sequels to read this week. I don’t know why I hesitate to pick up anything to read, but this series is quick and interesting. Perhaps it’ll be a good pick me up this week.

I’m still considering reading The Elite by Kiera Cass (but unsure if I’m up to it).

Finale

I may venture into The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May. Not quite sure if I’d be up to it, but it’s on the pile near my bed. It’d be nice to finish this trilogy.

series starters

Also, if I have the chance, I may try out some steampunk novel. I have a couple of options.

Hope you’re having a good weekend.

The 100 Mid-Season Reflections: Season 2

As you may have gathered by now, I am working my way through The 100. This show is a complicated grappling with human morality and ethics, wrapped under the guise of a cute cast and a seemingly familiar premise. Humans had to leave Earth, live in space, because of radiation. Years later, they can return after they send in a 100 of their criminals to test life on the “ground.”

Everything has Changed

I just cannot get over how much people changed this season! Clarke and Bellamy hugged when they saw each other. I’m with Octavia: no one could have seen this coming.

With the arrival of the “adults” on the ground, we are now seeing how one would traditionally approach the conflicts from the first season. The Grounders are mad, especially because someone killed them off (I’m not looking at you, Clarke and Finn, or anything like that).

Speaking of which: FINN! What happened to good ol’ sweet Finn? Through him, the concept of loss and trauma take on a new depiction. I like the parallels between him and Lincoln so far.

The strain between him and the rest of the surviving group is so, so palpable. I am so curious to see how it will unfold, how the show will unpack that guilt. Also: will Finn recover from his actions early in this season?

Jaha vs. Abby vs. Kane

Ah, the Chancellor position continues to be very confusing. It’s riveting to watch this position of power and leadership held by different people. In doing so, we get to see various takes on what truly matters for the people of the sky, and the methods they choose to go about it.

Mount Weather

Ultimately these folks are the catalyst for the conflict thus far. The way they are divisive even when they seem to be peace-keepers. I am trying not to completely be like Monty, but my suspicions were prickly from the very moment we are introduced to Mount Weather.

The question is: how will the conflict be resolved? And, what happens to these people’s survival? It’s like the constant natural selection process is unfolding even with people lying and deceiving just so they can survive.

My hope is that Jasper and the gang are able to hold their own rescue mission. This is mainly because I love Jasper and I want to see him try to grasp his own sense of agency and control. But, if it doesn’t happen, I’d understand that it’s hard to do this for someone with so much turmoil (I mean, for me, I can relate to that struggle).

Your Turn:

Have you watched any episodes of The 100? Who are your favorite characters? Any theories on what will happen next? Watch out for spoilers (not for me. I like spoilers. But, other people might not appreciate them).

See you in the comments

Book Tag: The Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt Tag 2.0

It’s been a while since I have done a book tag, so I thought now would be a good time for one. Luckily, the wonderful Adrianna from Perpetual Pages posted this video of the Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt Tag 2.0. This updated version is by Maddie and Bee.

Maddie’s Challenges for Bee:

1. Red as the secondary color

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2. A book you read pre-release

The last arc I recall reading (parts of) is Uprooted by Naomi Novak. I didn’t like it. And, then, I read a finished copy (also didn’t like it).

3. Contains mixed media

Probably Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff qualifies for this answer.

4. Best friends as protagonists

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare is about parabati who fall in love (among other things happening in the story as well). So, that one.

5. A buddy-read book

I don’t normally buddy-read books, because I am very slow as a reader. The last thing I did read with someone else was The Lies of Locke Lamora with the sweetest pal, Annemieke.

6. One I haven’t read

So many. I’ll go with Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye.

7. Typography cover

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black has really interesting typography. I like that cover, because it is very eerie looking.

8. Author surname beginning with D

All the Susan Dennard books I have: Truthwitch might be the most hyped of them.

9. Second book in a series

Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima is certainly one that comes to mind.

10. POC protagonist

I’m guessing, the heroes in An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir are people of color.

Bee’s Challenges for Maddie:

1. Boy on the cover

Unhinged by A.G. Howard

2. Question in the title

Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling is a book I passed on to my mom.

3. A sticker you can’t peal off (eg. promotional ones)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green has this sticker announcing that my copy is a signed copy.

4. A titles that six words or more

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is quite the mouthful.

5. An alliterative title (where all the words start with the same letter)

6. 2 books where the titles rhyme

Splintered and Cinder are pretty close to a nice rhyme, in my humble opinion.

7. Flowers on the cover

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

8. An author who shares your initials

Not on my shelves, but I did once read some Douglas Adams books (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy).

9. A book you want a friend to read

Oh, I don’t know if you have read A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. You should give it a shot.

10. A book with three or more colors on the cover

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi is colorful and beautiful. (Oh, I am positively squealing for the companion novel coming out in November, because yes).

The Netflix Chronicles: Atypical Show Season 1 Review

For the Netflix Chronicles, I am reviewing season 1 of the show Atypical. This series centers around an eighteen year old boy on the autism spectrum. His name is Sam, and he is looking for romance (and boobs).

Neuro-divergence and its implications

From the moment I heard of this show, I knew it could either resonate really well with me, or break my heart. As someone who is not neuro-typical, I am coming to grips with a lot of the struggles Sam has. My family is trying not to be too isolated because of me, because I am so weird.

In a way, watching the family members deal with shame, pressure, and downright annoyance with Sam (just as an atypical teen), offered some solace to me. It often feels like other friends who are neuro-divergent too are not “as sick” or “as weird” as me, who somehow seem to be able to maintain friendships, conversations, and a sense of normalcy much better than I ever could.

But…

Ultimately, the story shows the wonders of a mind that is not the typical “normal” one. And, I don’t mean this in an erasing manner. Look, being neurodivergent is hard and scary, and lonely. But, it has its perks. Sam, with his genuine interest in nature, in his sincere communication and no-bullshit commentary on social norms, is a treasure.

While I don’t know if my own mental issues make me that cool, I think the show has definitely highlighted the beauty of having a kid with autism. Yes, there are challenges. But, no, it is not all bad and there are beautiful gems of connection and learning, and in re-wiring very old fashioned approaches to parenting and relating.

Because, I admit it, there is a lot of sheltering that goes on with parents of neurodivergent kids. I say this as one of those “kids” (I’m thirty, so…when does one stop being a kid anyway?).

for more

Autistic Person Review of Atypical

Netflix Atypical Review: The Aspie World

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Classes to Take with YA Characters

Hello! It is time for another Top 5 Wednesday. This is a group in Goodreads, where we get weekly topics for us to list books in relation to the prompt. This week, we are talking about the Top 5 Classes To Take with YA Characters. I’m so excited about this one. Let’s begin.

5. Tactical Maneuvers with (Queen) Elisa (Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson)

The more I think of the first book in this trilogy, the more impressed of Elisa I become. This young girl knows her people’s history, faith, and politics so well. Being in her head can be frustrating because I tend to feel overwhelmed by her her process. However, the more I put myself in her shoes, the more I understand why she takes her time in deciding what needs to be done next on her journey to the throne.

4. Tricks and Thievery with the Dregs (Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo)

An intensive course with multiple instructors, this experience will change your life. I’m not sure if you’ll function the same ever again once you witness Inej explain acrobats and shadowing in relation to thievery. She can teach a whole history seminar on her origins and culture. Likewise, Nina can do an exploration of the Ravkan culture and history.

Meanwhile, Matthias can offer an alternate point of view on Ravkan culture in relation to his own background. I mean, he can also talk about physical strength, but I feel like he can do an extremely impressive class on the wrongness of his training and the injustices toward Ravkan culture.
Kaz Brekker will try to teach a few tips on how to scheme. Jasper discusses basic pistol fighting tips. Wylan demonstrates demolition tips with high notes of musical genius.

3. Rune Drawing with Clary Fairchild (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare)

Clary’s still as a rune-creator can translate beautifully to a mundane (or downworlder) audience. Even better, she can introduce her techniques for using steeles to create such perfect runes.

Also: I want a whole class where Clary and Simon introduce basics of band-naming.

2. Piracy and (Dirty) Fighting/Dueling with Alucard Emery and Delilah Bard (A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab)

Um, it’d be hard to follow along, I admit, but it is still worth attending! Alucard and Lila have a lot of banter while fighting/practicing magic. They can discuss tips for magic use in duels. In addition, a nice long list of tips for new pirates (and thieves) would be really lovely.

1. Story-telling and Stalling with Shahrazad (Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh)

Well…she’d be really good at it. If you’ve read my post from yesterday, you’d have gathered that I am frustrated with this duology (Have yet to read the second part of the series). Shahrazad is a good story-teller. Long-winded, but sometimes, that’s necessary.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Slow-Paced Books That I Plan to Revisit

Top Ten Tuesday is here, and that means it’s time for another list. This week, I am discussing the top ten slow-paced books that I struggle(d) to read. Some of these books, I want to give them another try. Perhaps I will write more on why I want to do that. I marked those books with an asterisk * to denote that I will be revisiting them at some point and won’t unhaul them.

*10. The girl of fire and thorns by rae carson

At first, I was trying to follow a slow moving plot in the story. I don’t really read a lot of political intrigue, so I think this series will take some getting used to. I was annoyed by how Elisa was repeatedly presented as a food-loving girl, which is fine. But, it gets kind of redundant. I keep comparing this portrayal with someone like Nina Zenik, who is a bit more well-rounded as a person (at least her portrayal didn’t reduce her to simplistic stereotypes).

Still, I think it was nice to see Elisa grow in book 1, and now I need to keep going and read the rest of the series.

9. breaking dawn by stephanie meyer

Oh my goodness, this was so freaking boring. I struggled to finish it, and when I was done, I regretted ever having read those books. A vampire baby? Imprint? No, thanks. Also, the story dragged on and on. The things that made Bella relatable were suddenly taken away; she was transformed into a completely strange person with wind chimes for vocal cords.

No thanks.

8. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

An oversimplified discussion of appearances and plastic surgery. It strongly reminds me of Twilight in its approach towards issues traditionally linked to women. Where is the exploration of the human psyche in congruence with living a seemingly utopian society?

(Not rereading this at all. So much dislike for it)

7. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

At the height of the dystopian craze, this book series was released. I had given it a try, just to see what the hype was about. Big mistake. A group of boys living in a simulated arena. Lots of running in mazes. Girl shows up.

Betrayals and a sense of flight or fight aren’t fully explored. I spent my entire reading experience bored, even though all these “shocking” things were happening. Mainly, the cause of this boredom was a sense of disconnect from the characters. Also: there is this zombie element presented in the story. I didn’t like that.

*6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa is one of the most dull characters I had ever encountered. For a long time in the book, I was not sure how old she was because of the monotonous way she presented herself to the world. Even Po, who is meant to be a charming person, is equally as flat. I am giving this series another shot. I don’t know why. But, I feel like perhaps I was just not in the right mood for it?

5. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Actually, this first book was not as bad as some may say it was. However, Allegiant is so bad. Let’s not talk about that ending, either, because it made me so angry.

4. The iron daughter by julie kagawa

Nope. A character who is whining the whole time here, too, and not for reasons that are compelling. Fairies and tricksters have such potential. But, not this series. Totally was not for me at all.

3. The sisterhood of traveling pants by ann brashers

A paper thin group of friends who mostly talk about boys for four (ugh, five) books.

*2. The wrath and the dawn by renee ahdieh

Shahrazad and Khalid’s story was so dull that I didn’t even bother reading the next book in the duology. The misunderstood tyrant trope falls flat in Khalid’s back-story. Why can’t we have a bad person, just be bad, without being “cursed”? I may keep on reading, though, because I am starting to get curious about the ending of the story. Maybe Shahrazad can grow on me a bit more.

Deep breaths.

*1. the narnia books by c.s. lewis

Oh man, those books are frustrating and overly descriptive. In addition, the author is so driven to get his biblical messages across, that it feels forced and aggressive. While I do like the characters, the pacing is exhausting.

Sigh.

I still think these books have such a high value. To me, they certainly drove me to reconnect with my faith.

Your Turn

Did you DNF or dislike a book because of its pacing lately? Share in the comments, so I know what to avoid! Save us from boring plot-lines.

10. The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness

9. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

8. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

7. Shiver by Maggie Steifvater

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

4. The Novice by Taran Matharu

3. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne M. Valente

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

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Routine Rush

Consistency Woes

Running Away

And the search continues

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Revisiting historical contexts

subverting social expectations

morality and growth

and i guess

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5. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

4. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

3. Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

2. Gail Carriger’s Soulless (and following series, spin offs)

1. Brandon Sanderson’s stuff (except for Alcatraz books and Rithmatist)

Your Turn:

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sequel

Finale

series starters

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Everything has Changed

Jaha vs. Abby vs. Kane

Mount Weather

Your Turn:

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Maddie’s Challenges for Bee:

1. Red as the secondary color

2. A book you read pre-release

3. Contains mixed media

4. Best friends as protagonists

5. A buddy-read book

6. One I haven’t read

7. Typography cover

8. Author surname beginning with D

9. Second book in a series

10. POC protagonist

Bee’s Challenges for Maddie:

1. Boy on the cover

2. Question in the title

3. A sticker you can’t peal off (eg. promotional ones)

4. A titles that six words or more

5. An alliterative title (where all the words start with the same letter)

6. 2 books where the titles rhyme

7. Flowers on the cover

8. An author who shares your initials

9. A book you want a friend to read

10. A book with three or more colors on the cover

Share this:

Neuro-divergence and its implications

But…

for more

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5. Tactical Maneuvers with (Queen) Elisa (Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson)

4. Tricks and Thievery with the Dregs (Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo)

3. Rune Drawing with Clary Fairchild (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare)

2. Piracy and (Dirty) Fighting/Dueling with Alucard Emery and Delilah Bard (A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab)

1. Story-telling and Stalling with Shahrazad (Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh)

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*10. The girl of fire and thorns by rae carson

9. breaking dawn by stephanie meyer

8. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

7. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

*6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

5. Divergent by Veronica Roth

4. The iron daughter by julie kagawa

3. The sisterhood of traveling pants by ann brashers

*2. The wrath and the dawn by renee ahdieh

*1. the narnia books by c.s. lewis