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 Characters That Remind Me of Myself. Here’s my list:
1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling)
2. Lily Moscovitz (The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot)
3. Lena Kaligaris (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares)
4. Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen)
5. Bess Marvin (Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene)
6. Betty Cooper (Betty and Veronica by Adam Hughes)
7. Aria Montgomery (Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard)
8. Gertrude Yorkes (Runaways, Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka)
9. Violet Beaudelaire (The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket)
10. Batgirl (Batgirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee)
Title: Mya’s Strategy to Save the World Author: Tanya Lloyd Kyi Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: April 30, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Mya Parsons could save the world and organize her family, if only she had her own cell phone. A Dork Diaries for today’s socially conscious young readers.
Mya Parsons runs her school’s social justice club with her best friend, Cleo. Her lifelong desire is to work for the United Nations and change the world, and then bask in all the ensuing adulation. Her more immediate desire is to get a phone, preferably one like Cleo’s, with a leopard-print case to match. When her distracted dad and her long-distance mom (temporarily in Myanmar taking care of Mya’s grandmother) both say no, no way, and possibly never, Mya launches a campaign to prove herself reliable and deserving. She advertises her babysitting services, takes on more responsibility around the house, and attempts to supervise her sister’s skateboarding lessons. Her efforts leave her ego bruised and the kitchen slightly scorched. She’s no closer to touch-screen victory, let alone the Nobel Peace Prize she deserves. But all that changes after an accident leaves Mya to take charge–an experience which helps her realize how much she’s grown, with or without access to proper communications.
Review:
I really enjoyed this book! Mya has an easygoing, simple way of narrating, which made the story a quick read.
Mya is a great character. She has a good heart, but she also has flaws. Her dream is to work in the United Nations, so she spends a lot of her time researching social justice issues throughout the world. Her mother is in Myanmar during the story, so she has a close relation to things that are happening there. At the same time, Mya doesn’t always treat everyone fairly. She could be selfish at times, such as when she didn’t want to help her dad with chores when he was swamped with work. This balance of good qualities and flaws made her a realistic character.
I loved the way that Mya was very tuned into what was happening in the world. It is important for kids to know what problems people in different parts of the world are facing in their daily lives, and how it can affect themselves. For example, she found out that children have to mine cobalt in Africa, which is then used to make cell phones. That made her rethink her priorities.
I think Mya is a relatable character. This story was a lot of fun to read!
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
The Becket List: A Blackberry Farm Story by Adele Griffin, LeUyen Pham
Best Babysitters Ever by Caroline Cala
Have you read Mya’s Strategy to Save the World? What did you think of it?
This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!
What I just finished:
This weekend I finished Mya’s Strategy to Save the World by Tanya Lloyd Kyi.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1) by Maya Motayne.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.
This Sunday I’m reading Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1) by Maya Motayne.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Set in a Latinx-inspired world, a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed.
To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.
As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.
After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.
But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.
Title: Carmilla Author: Kim Turrisi Genre: Young Adult Publisher: Kids Can Press Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: May 7, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
An adaptation of Shaftesbury’s award-winning, groundbreaking queer vampire web series of the same name, Carmilla mixes the camp of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the snark of Veronica Mars, and the mysterious atmosphere of Welcome to Nightvale. Newly escaped from the stifling boredom of a small town, college freshman Laura is ready to make the most of her first year at Silas University. But when her roommate, Betty, vanishes and a sarcastic, nocturnal philosophy student named Carmilla moves into Betty’s side of the room, Laura decides to play detective. Turns out Betty isn’t the first girl to go missing ? she’s just the first girl not to come back. All over campus, girls have been vanishing, and they are completely changed when (or if) they return. Even more disturbing are the strange dreams they recount: smothering darkness, and a strange pale figure haunting their rooms. Dreams that Laura is starting to have herself. As Laura closes in on the answers, tensions rise with Carmilla. Is this just a roommate relationship that isn’t working out, or does Carmilla know more than she’s letting on about the disappearances? What will Laura do if it turns out her roommate isn’t just selfish and insensitive, but completely inhuman? And what will she do with the feelings she’s starting to have for Carmilla? Produced by Shaftesbury, and available on the YouTube channel KindaTV, Carmilla is a global sensation. A scripted transmedia series that puts a modern spin on the cult-classic gothic vampire novella by Joseph Sheridan LeFanu, Carmilla has generated over 71 million views and 245 million minutes of watch time across three seasons since its launch in 2014. It has been translated into more than 20 languages and also been made into a feature film. Author Kim Turrisi brings her trademark humor and sensitivity to an adaptation that offers a deep dive for existing fans and a portal for new fans around the world.
Review:
I read Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu years ago when I was in university. I loved the book! I was always fascinated with it because it is a vampire story that came out years before Dracula. Carmilla was the original vampire story.
This story was a fun adaptation. I haven’t read a vampire story in years! There were some serious parts, but many things were quite funny. In particular, the frat boys were funny. They insisted on “protecting” the girls from whoever was kidnapping the other students, but they always showed up when they weren’t wanted.
This story is also an adaptation of a Canadian movie. It didn’t read like an adaptation of a movie. I’ve read other books that were written after a movie, and they weren’t as well written. They often sound like the closed captions that would go with the movie. This book was like an original story.
I really enjoyed this story. I’m going to watch the movie version next!
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 received two of my preorders from Indigo:
Nocturna by Maya Motayne
Broken Throne (Red Queen #4.5) by Victoria Aveyard
I received four books from Simon and Schuster Canada:
Fatal Inheritance by Rachel Rhys
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
The Daughter’s Tale by Armando Lucas Correa
I was approved for an ARC on NetGalley from Penguin Random House Canada:
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
I was approved for an ARC on NetGalley from Page Street Publishing:
Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada,Simon and Schuster Canada and Page Street Publishingfor these books!
Title: Defy Me (Shatter Me #5) Author: Tahereh Mafi Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction Publisher: HarperTeen Source: Purchased Format: Hardcover Release Date: April 2, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?
Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.
Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.
Review:
This book definitely lived up to my expectations! It was fast paced, and I flew through it. It felt short because I read it so quickly.
I can’t say much about the plot without giving away spoilers for this book or the other ones. This one had more of a scientific theme, with time spent in laboratories with medical tests and operations being conducted. There were some horrifying science experiments being conducted, including one on a newly discovered character, Emmaline. That one was disturbing and difficult to read.
As I was reading this book, I kept thinking of the first book in the series, Shatter Me, and how much has changed since then. Juliette and Warner have grown so much throughout the series. There have also been lots of new characters introduced, including some new ones in this book. There were some parts of this book that echoed the first one, with some characters being kept in a prison/asylum, like how Juliette was imprisoned in Shatter Me.
Now that I’m caught up on the series, I’ll have to wait a long time for the next one.
What to read next:
Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin
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:
“OMG, Mom’s gone insane. Not normal Mum-insane. Serious insane.”
Do you recognize these first lines?
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And the book is… Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella.
Goodreads synopsis:
Audrey can’t leave the house. she can’t even take off her dark glasses inside the house.
Then her brother’s friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again – well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she’d thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.
Have you read Finding Audrey? What did you think of it?
