Top Ten Tuesday – Books That Take Place at a School

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 Back to School, so I will be listing Books That Take Place at a School. Here’s my list:

1. Tradition by Brendan Kiely

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2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

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3. S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

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4. The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

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5. Positively Izzy by Terri Libenson

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6. Morning Glories, Vol. 1 by Nick Spencer, Joe Eisma, and Rodin Esquejo

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7. How to Be a Supervillain by Michael Fry

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8. Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

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9. The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross

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10. Giant Days, Vol. 1 by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Whitney Cogar

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(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein

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Title: Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein
Author: Linda Bailey, Júlia Sardà
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The inspiring story of the girl behind one of the greatest novels — and monsters — ever, perfectly timed for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein. For fans for picture book biographies such as I Dissent or She Persisted.

How does a story begin? Sometimes it begins with a dream, and a dreamer. Mary is one such dreamer, a little girl who learns to read by tracing the letters on her mother’s tombstone and whose only escape from her strict father and overbearing stepmother is through the stories she reads and imagines. Unhappy at home, she seeks independence, and at the age of seventeen runs away with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, another dreamer. She travels to Europe and surrounds herself with more poets and writers, including Lord Byron and John Polidori. On a stormy summer evening, Byron suggests a contest to see who can create the best ghost story. After nine months of daydreaming, 21-year-old Mary Shelley’s terrifying tale is published, a novel that goes on to become the most enduring monster story ever — and one of the most popular legends of all time.

A riveting and atmospheric picture book about the young woman who wrote one of the greatest horror novels ever written and one of the first works of science fiction, Mary, Who Wrote Frankenstein is an exploration of the process of artistic inspiration that will galvanize readers and writers of all ages.

Review:

I have never read Frankenstein. I tried to read it a few years ago, but I couldn’t get into it. However, I loved this book.

I didn’t realize that Mary Shelley was so young when she wrote the novel. She was only 18 years old! The story was born from a challenge given to a few friends on a trip. They were tasked with writing a ghost story, and Mary’s was so good that it is still talked about more than a century later!

The art in this book was very cool. The illustrations looked like patchwork. The colours were very dark, which suits the subject matter.

This children’s story about Mary Shelley’s life is great. It has inspired me to try reading Frankenstein again.

What to read next:

  • Frankenstein by Marry Wollstonecraft Shelley35031085.jpg

  • She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger34608694.jpg

Have you read Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein? What did you think of it?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – August 27

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:

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This weekend I finished Beauty and Bernice by Nancy Viau.

What I’m currently reading:

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I’m currently reading Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant.

What I’m reading next:

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Next I will be reading The Unbinding of Mary Reade by Miriam McNamara.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Jill’s Weekly Wrap-Up – August 26

Here’s my weekly wrap up!

Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

I did 7 weekly blogging memes:

I also posted my unboxing of the June Litjoy box:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Sundays in Bed With… Quid Pro Quo

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 reading Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Quid Pro Quo is a high-stakes, fast-moving legal thriller about real people, and funny ones at that. Cyril MacIntyre’s mother is an ex-street kid who dragged her son to all her law-school classes, then proceeded to get kidnapped. That aside, Cyril’s life isn’t too different from that of other thirteen-year-olds. He has all the usual adolescent issues to deal with: parent problems, self-esteem problems, skin and hair problems, and girl problems. But he has legal problems too. And he’s got to solve them if he wants to save his mother’s life.

Quid Pro Quo won the Arthur Ellis Award and the cbc Young Canada Reads 2009 award. It has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar Allan Poe and the Ann Connor Brimer. This 2018 edition has been updated with a new cover.

What book are you in bed with today?

Review: The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles, #1)

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Title: The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles, #1)
Author: Laurie Forest
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Purchased
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining.

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of misfits…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to hate and fear.

Review:

I really enjoyed this story!

It may just be me, but I found a lot of similarities between this book and Harry Potter. There weren’t direct references, but there were a few things that reminded me of the series. For example, Elloren doesn’t know much about the rest of the magical world that she enters when she goes to university, just like Harry didn’t know about the magical world before he went to Hogwarts. They even have a teacher who is a Snake Elf, who teaches their science class. He reminded me so much of Snape. I loved the similarities between this book and Harry Potter, since that is one of my favourite series!

Elloren developed as a character throughout the story, as she learned more about the world around her. At the beginning, she was very naive because she was inexperienced. She had never been around different races or species, so she didn’t know what they were like. She took it on herself to try to learn the truth, rather than just follow everyone else’s beliefs.

I thought I figured out the ending, but it turns out I was wrong! I’m curious to see how the story continues in the next book.

What to read next:

  • Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy) by Leigh Bardugo
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  • The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross
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Have you read The Black Witch? What did you think of it?

Stacking the Shelves – August 25

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 books from Penguin Random House Canada this week:

  • The Exes’ Revenge by Jo Jakeman
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  • Tell Me You’re Mine by Elizabeth Norebäck
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I also bought one book from Indigo:

  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
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What books did you get this week?

Review: The Prince and the Dressmaker

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Title: The Prince and the Dressmaker
Author: Jen Wang
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Publisher: First Second
Source: Library
Release Date: February 13, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.

Review:

I’m so glad I finally read this graphic novel! I saw everyone raving about it in the spring, and it definitely lived up to the hype!

This is an important story about being yourself. Sebastian and Frances have a unique relationship. Frances puts her own dreams on hold to support Sebastian’s nightly activities of dressing up as Lady Crystallia. They both have to protect his secret identity, but it can only last for so long.

One of the most fascinating things about graphic novels for me is the art. I always wonder how the artists create the story through the different panels. At the end of this story, there are a few pages where Jen Wang talks about her process. I loved reading about this, because it is so different from the work that I do. I would love to make a graphic novel one day, just to see how the entire process works.

I highly recommend this book! It was great!

What to read next:

  • In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang
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  • Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Whitney Cogar
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Have you read The Prince and the Dressmaker? What did you think of it?

 

First Lines Friday – August 24

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:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. Never was this truth more plain than during the recent attacks at Netherfield Park, in which a household of eighteen was slaughtered and consumed by a horde of the living dead.”

Do you recognize these first lines?

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And the book is… Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith.

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Goodreads synopsis:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

I love this book!

Have you read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? What did you think of it?

Review: The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3)

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Title: The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Library
Release Date: February 25, 2000
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Dear Reader,

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted; but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and this one may be the worst of them all. If you haven’t got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair. I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Review:

This book is one of my favourites in the series.

I’ve always been a book nerd, so I loved the grammar elements in the story. Their Aunt Josephine is obsessed with grammar, so she is always correcting other people’s language. She is also afraid of everything, from answering the phone to turning a doorknob. She is quite extreme but it makes the story funny.

Even thought I knew how the story ended, I loved reading about the puzzle the kids had to solve at the end. After this book, the puzzles the children have to solve become more complicated.

I can’t wait to continue rereading the series!

What to read next:

  • The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4) by Lemony Snicket
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  • The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles #1) by Tony DiTerlizzi, and Holly Black
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Have you read The Wide Window? What did you think of it?