Book Reviews 2017 Part I

Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. I read for fun, I read to enlighten, and I read to escape. Reading helps me out as a librarian because it allows me to give honest reader's advisory. The more I've read, the easier it is to suggest books to different patrons! But reading also helps me as a writer. It inspires and teaches me.

So, what have I been reading lately? Let me show you!

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Powerful. Beautiful. Breathtaking.

Taylor was abandoned by her mother as a child at a Seven-Eleven along the Jellicoe Road. The Jellicoe School is the only home she can remember. While she is well looked after, she is left wanting more. More from the Cadet she tried to run away with three years ago, more from Hannah, a school mentor that has taken her under her wing, and more from the mother that abandoned her so many years ago. Who was her mother? Why did she run? And why does Taylor always dream of a beautiful boy sitting in a tree, asking her all of the questions she wishes Hannah or Jonah would ask?

This is a powerful story of how traditions and customs are built and blindly followed, unconditional love, and enduring faith. It's a story of finding yourself and never losing hope. It's about knowing that those we love are always looking out for us even after they die.

This book was suggested to me a while ago by a coworker for a homework assignment, and, I’m not going to lie. I was kind of put off by the first chapter. It starts off with a territory war between three different gangs. I felt like it just wasn’t going to be my type of book. But I felt like I had to stick with it because the coworker that suggested it is a really good friend of mine and I respect her a lot.

So I stuck it out, and I’m glad I did! Don’t be put off by all of the things you don’t know at first. Everything gets explained, and in the best ways possible. I love this book.

Warning: There are sex scenes. They aren’t explicit. There are very difficult topics including drug use, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and suicide. However, they are all handled in a very sensitive manner and they give such a resounding depth to the novel. 

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Haunting. Powerful. Raw.

Lada is the daughter of the Prince of Wallachia, a country, in a world where women are only good for child bearing and marrying for the good of their countries. But Lada is not beautiful, demure, and submissive. She is wickedly clever, brave, and savage. She is the exact opposite of her younger brother, Radu. Lada was raised by her nursemaid to challenge the patriarchy of her society and anyone who stands in her way. She is the very daughter of Wallachia herself and she will stop at nothing to claim her father’s throne. When her father abandons them to the Ottoman Empire’s Sultan as collateral for his treacherous acts, the last thing Lada expects is for her and her brother to fall in love the Sultan’s son, Mehmed. Nothing can hold her prisoner for long, nor keep her from her one true desire, returning Wallachia--not even her own heart.

This is another novel that was suggested to me by a friend (different than the one who suggested Jellicoe Road). It also took me a minute to really get into this novel as well—but again, I’m glad I stuck with it! The main character, Lada, is a total B.A. who shows little fear. As a natural coward, it was hard to relate to her at first. It also took me a while to get into the narration style. White writes in short, concise thoughts and observations. There’s little room for flowery world building-but I do promise that by the end of the novel, you will come to love Lada and cheer her on. You also have the same desire to return to Wallachia.

Warning: This novel deals with a lot of sensitive topics as well. Lada faces a lot of hardships as a woman in a male-dominated world, including rape. Her brother Radu also faces a lot of hardships for his sexual orientation, but I feel like the author does a good job of being sensitive about the subject matter.

I feel like I’m not doing this novel justice and my one paragraph summary barely scratches the surface of what happens in the book. If you like kingdom/medieval fantasy, strong, intelligent female leads, and novels that introspectively question the traditions and customs of their society—you’re going to love this book!



CatStronauts: Mission Moon by Drew Brockington

Hilarious. Inventive. Cats.

When the world is faced with an energy crisis, it's up to the World's Best Scientist and the CatStronauts to save the day! But how you say? By stopping the use of toasters and light bulbs? Only using electricity every other Tuesday? Only using batteries?? No! Of course not! The solution is to fly a rocket to the moon, setup a solar battery that will always be charged by the sun, and beam the energy back to earth using a mega microwave, of course! But the CatStronauts only have 56 days, 16 hours, 37 minutes, and 12 seconds to recharge Earth's energy levels... Will they complete their mission in time, or will all the creatures on Earth be forced to live without electricity forevermore?

You'll just have to read to find out!

This is a great read for anyone who loves adventure, outer space, cats or simply wants a good comic that will make them laugh like crazy.

Kilala Princess by Rika Tanaka

Fun. Quick. Sweet.

Kilala Princess is a Manga series about a girl who loves the Disney Princesses and dreams of one day becoming a princess herself. One day on her way home from school she stumbles upon a sleeping boy who won't wake up, so she kisses him, just like Prince Philip kisses Sleeping Beauty. As he awakens, a whole tale unfolds about how he's a Prince searching for the 7th Princess to save his country. It is rumored that the 7th Princess will be revealed when all 7 of the jewels on the Prince's tiara are returned. In order to get them, they have to visit 6 of the original Disney Princesses and rescue them!

It was a quick, fun read. Super cute! (I wish there was more to the series!)


Just out of curiosity, what are some of the things you've been reading lately?