This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
I was approved for a book on NetGalley from Harlequin:
The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica
I was approved for two books on NetGalley from Simon and Schuster Canada:
Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey
The House by the Sea by Santa Montefiore
I was approved for a book on NetGalley from Tor Teen:
Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson
Thank you Harlequin, Simon and Schuster Canada, and Tor Teen for these books!
Title: Boy-Crazy Stacey (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #7) Author: Gale Galligan, Ann M. Martin Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel Publisher: Graphix Source: Borrowed from a friend Format: Paperback Release Date: September 3, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Stacey and Mary Anne are baby-sitting for the Pike family for two weeks at the New Jersey shore. Things are great in Sea City: There’s a gorgeous house right on the beach, a boardwalk, plenty of sun and sand… and the cutest boy Stacey has ever seen!
Mary Anne thinks that Stacey should leave Scott alone and focus on the Pike kids, but Stacey’s in love. Looking for reasons to hang around his lifeguard stand takes up all of her time, which means Mary Anne has to do the job of two baby-sitters. Mary Anne doesn’t like it one bit! How can she tell Stacey that Scott just isn’t interested without ruining their friendship and breaking Stacey’s heart?
Review:
The babysitters are much more grown up in this story. Stacey and Mary Anne go on a family vacation with the Pike family and their eight children. While they’re away, Stacey meets two boys she really likes. She falls for them, and even has her heart broken. It was an exciting two weeks for them.
I wish the other characters were more prominent in this story. They appeared briefly at the beginning, but then the story followed Stacey and Mary Anne on their trip. They sent postcards to the other babysitters, but their replies were never shown. I would have liked to see what they were all doing during their vacation.
This was another great graphic novel adaptation of the Babysitters Club!
What to read next:
Boy-Crazy Stacey (The Babysitters Club #8) by Ann M. Martin
Have you read Boy-Crazy Stacey? What did you think of it?
This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.
Here are my first lines:
“The journalist arrived before the coffin did. They gathered at the gate overnight and by dawn they were a crowd. By nine o’clock they were a swarm.”
Do you recognize these first lines?
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And the book is… Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend.
Goodreads synopsis:
A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world – but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination
Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks–and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart – an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests – or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.
Have you read Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow? What did you think of it?
Title: Zaha Hadid (Little People, Big Dreams) Author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 1, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Part of the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, Zaha Hadid tells the inspiring true story of the visionary Iraqi-British architect.
Zaha Hadid grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, surrounded by music. She was a curious and confident child, who designed her own modernist bedroom at nine years old. As a young woman studying at University in Beirut, she was described as the most outstanding pupil the teacher had ever met. With her spectacular vision and belief in the power of architecture, she founded her own firm and designed some of the most outstanding buildings in the world—including the London 2012 Olympic Aquatic Centre. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the architect’s life.
Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.
This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.
Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!
Review:
I only learned who Zaha Hadid was after she died, but she was a fascinating person. She was a trailblazer in architecture, and she was the first woman to do many things in her field. She worked hard her entire life and created her own success.
I’m so glad this is a children’s book about an inspiring woman. It’s important for children to see that you can do anything if you work hard. Zaha was often the only woman and the only Muslim in the room, but she didn’t let anything stop her.
I really liked this new children’s book.
Thank you Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Marie Curie (Little People, Big Dreams) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Amelia Earhart (Little People, Big Dreams) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Have you read Zaha Hadid? What did you think of it?
TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.
My pick this week is Her Secret Son by Hannah Mary McKinnon.
Goodreads Synopsis:
How far would you go to protect the ones you love…when they may not be yours to protect?
When Josh’s longtime partner, Grace, dies in a tragic accident, he is left with a mess of grief—and full custody of her seven-year-old son, Logan. While not his biological father, Josh has been a dad to Logan in every way that counts, and with Grace gone, Logan needs him more than ever.
Wanting to do right by Logan, Josh begins the process of becoming his legal guardian—something that seems suddenly urgent, though Grace always brushed it off as an unnecessary formality. But now, as Josh struggles to find the paperwork associated with Logan’s birth, he begins to wonder whether there were more troubling reasons for Grace’s reluctance to make their family official.
As he digs deeper into the past of the woman he loved, Josh soon finds that there are many dark secrets to uncover, and that the truth about where Logan came from is much more sinister than he could have imagined…
Tightly paced and brimming with tension, Her Secret Son is a heartbreakingly honest portrait of a family on the edge of disaster and a father desperate to hold on to the boy who changed his life.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Title: The Dark Lord Clementine Author: Sarah Jean Horwitz Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 1, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The new face of big evil is a little . . . small.
Dastardly deeds aren’t exactly the first things that come to mind when one hears the name “Clementine,” but as the sole heir of the infamous Dark Lord Elithor, twelve-year-old Clementine Morcerous has been groomed since birth to be the best (worst?) Evil Overlord she can be. But everything changes the day the Dark Lord Elithor is cursed by a mysterious rival.
Now, Clementine must not only search for a way to break the curse, but also take on the full responsibilities of the Dark Lord. As Clementine forms her first friendships, discovers more about her own magic than she ever dared to explore, and is called upon to break her father’s code of good and evil, she starts to question the very life she’s been fighting for. What if the Dark Lord Clementine doesn’t want to be dark after all?
Review:
This story was a great dark, middle grade fantasy.
There were multiple characters followed in this story, though it was mostly about Clementine. There were a couple of adults who were featured, such as Darka, a unicorn hunter. Each part was in third-person, which showed what the characters were doing and their motivations. I loved that there were adult characters in this book too, not just kids.
One of the main themes in this story was that everyone makes mistakes. That doesn’t mean they need to be punished for it forever. I think all of the characters made some kind of mistake, and they each reacted to them differently. Some wanted revenge, like Darka, and others punished people for it, like the Dark Lord. In the end, everyone makes mistakes and it doesn’t mean they are a bad person.
I really enjoyed this story.
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to Read Next:
The Wingsnatchers (Carmer and Grit #1) by Sarah Jean Horwits
The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire
About the Author:
Sarah Jean Horwitz is the author of the middle grade fantasy series CARMER AND GRIT and the upcoming THE DARK LORD CLEMENTINE. Sarah grew up next door to a cemetery and down the street from an abandoned fairytale theme park, which probably explains a lot. She currently lives near Boston, MA.
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for letting me participate in this blog tour.
This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.
The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey by Various Authors. The expected publication date is November 12, 2019.
Goodreads Synopsis:
This anthology features stories based on the movie Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Halrey Quinn) Harley Quinn, Black Canary, the Huntress Renee Montoya and Cassandra Cain.
Set after the events of Suicide Squad, the film follows Harley Quinn as she joins forces with Black Canary, the Huntress, and Renee Montoya to save Cassandra Cain from Gotham City crime lord Black Mask. This book will spotlight stories featuring each of these badass Ladies of DC.
Title: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me Author: Mariko Tamaki, Rosemary Valero-O’Connell Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel Publisher: First Second Books Source: Library Format: Ebook Release Date: May 7, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley’s dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There’s just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend.
Reeling from her latest break up, Freddy’s best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it’s really Laura Dean that’s the problem. Maybe it’s Freddy, who is rapidly losing her friends, including Doodle, who needs her now more than ever. Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnists like Anna Vice to help her through being a teenager in love.
Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell bring to life a sweet and spirited tale of young love that asks us to consider what happens when we ditch the toxic relationships we crave to embrace the healthy ones we need.
Review:
This book was a break up story, rather than a love story. Laura Dean kept breaking up with Frederica, but Fred still loved her. Every time Laura decided she wanted to be with Fred, Fred would accept her. However, when Fred spent all her time thinking about Laura, she was neglecting her friends when they needed her most.
There were some tough issues that were in this book. Fred was in an unhealthy relationship, but it was difficult for her to get out of it. It was obvious from the beginning that Laura wasn’t a great person, but Fred loved her. I kept rooting for Fred to figure it out and move on. There was also another character who had an abortion. This could be a trigger warning for some readers.
I loved the art in this book. The images were in black, white, and some light pink. It was a simple design to go with this heavy story.
This was a great story!
What to read next:
This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki
Kiss Number 8 by Colleen A.F. Venable, Ellen T. Crenshaw
Have you read Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me? What did you think of it?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Book Titles With Numbers in Them. As an added challenge, I decided to choose books that have the numbers from 1 to 10. Here’s my list:
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
3. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
4. The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
5. Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mike Daughtry, Tobias Iaconis
6. Six Goodbyes We Never Said by Candace Ganger
7. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Title: Cupid’s Match (Cupid’s Match #1) Author: Lauren Palphreyman Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Wattpad Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 1, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
He’s mythologically hot, a little bit wicked, and almost 100% immortal. And he’ll hit you right in the heart . . .
“Miss Black, we have a big problem.”
Lila Black doesn’t believe in matchmaking, let alone soul mates. So then why is she constantly being hassled by the Cupids Matchmaking Service? But this gilded, cherub-bedecked dating agency isn’t exactly what it seems . . . and it’s about to turn Lila’s entire world upside down.
It turns out that Cupids Matchmaking is the real deal. As in, it’s run by actual cupids—who don’t look at all like they do in the paintings—and they have a serious problem with Lila’s “match.” Because this guy shouldn’t be in the system. He shouldn’t have a match. And while he’s irresistibly hot, he’s also incredibly dangerous. Because Lila’s true love match is Cupid. The original bad boy of love. And he wants her.
Now Lila’s once-normal teenaged world has exploded into a mythological nightmare overrun by crime-lord sirens, wrathful cupid hit men, magic arrows that cause no end of trouble, and a mischievous, not-so-angelic love god she can’t seem to stop herself from falling for . . .
Adored by 50 million readers on Wattpad, Lauren Palphreyman’s smash-hit book is now in print for the first time.
Review:
This story was a cute combination of mythology and a contemporary romance.
The world building of the Cupid matchmaking service became very developed by the end of the story. The beginning was more contemporary, as the characters were introduced. There were some other mythological figures who made an appearance by the end, which I loved.
There were a lot of cheesy references in the first half of the book. The names of places in the town Forever Falls included the Love Shack and Romeo’s. There was a street named after Juliet, to go along with Romeo. I also found it a little confusing that all of the Cupids had names that started with “C.” It made it easier to tell who was a Cupid, but I kept getting the names mixed up.
Despite the sickly sweet references, this was a fun story!
Thank you Wattpad Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Valentine’s Day (Cupid’s Match #2) by Lauren Palphreyman
Have you read Cupid’s Match? What did you think of it?
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