Even better as an audiobook, read by Max Casella (Doogie Hauser's BFF, Racetrack in Newsies)! This just ascended to the heights where I hold Schooled Even better as an audiobook, read by Max Casella (Doogie Hauser's BFF, Racetrack in Newsies)! This just ascended to the heights where I hold Schooled and my beloved Born To Rock. ...more
Nowhere on the cover does this say that it's inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so let me be the one to tell you: IT'S A GENDER SWAPPED COUNT OF MNowhere on the cover does this say that it's inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so let me be the one to tell you: IT'S A GENDER SWAPPED COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO STORY! Love me some Count of Monte Cristo!
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*...more
I feel like I was living in this world for a week. I keep reaching for my phone to turn the audiobook back on and listen to more, and it's over! But tI feel like I was living in this world for a week. I keep reaching for my phone to turn the audiobook back on and listen to more, and it's over! But there will be more, soon? I hope?
I also felt slightly dumb for not realizing what was going on with one of the characters for a really long time. I was all, huh, I guess a lot of people have that name in this country. Classic Jessica!
But I do want props for immediately thinking, [redacted] seems sketchy as hell! Don't listen to them! Because I was right about that! ...more
Loved this story of an all Muslim girls' basketball team, and their first real season! And it's based on a true story! Loved this story of an all Muslim girls' basketball team, and their first real season! And it's based on a true story! ...more
Really fascinating worldbuilding, including a very clever magic system and a caste system that enraged me (as it was supposed to). I quickly grew to lReally fascinating worldbuilding, including a very clever magic system and a caste system that enraged me (as it was supposed to). I quickly grew to love Fie, and her useless Hawk boys. I hopped back and forth between the book and the audiobook, and I wasn't sure about the audiobook reader at first, but ended up really liking the voices she did. ...more
Probably my favorite of the Twisted Tales (so far). Of course I love Brave with every bit of my soul, and this was definitely an interesting way to twProbably my favorite of the Twisted Tales (so far). Of course I love Brave with every bit of my soul, and this was definitely an interesting way to twist that around. Excellent writing and fresh characters (that felt like they were part of the original) made it even better. ...more
The nearest thing I can compare this to is the movie Scream. It's both serious, terrifying, and sad, and also there's more than a little humor, more tThe nearest thing I can compare this to is the movie Scream. It's both serious, terrifying, and sad, and also there's more than a little humor, more than a few winks and nods to classic slasher flicks. Not as extreme as the Indian Lake trilogy, Tally felt like he might be Jade's younger cousin. ...more
Very, very cute follow up to So, This is Christmas. This one, which takes place immediately after, plunges Finley and Arthur back into life at their eVery, very cute follow up to So, This is Christmas. This one, which takes place immediately after, plunges Finley and Arthur back into life at their elite prep school, to navigate their newfound romance in front of an audience of their peers. But all is not well in Romanceland! Can they even make it to the Valentine's Day dance?!
Merged review:
Very, very cute follow up to So, This is Christmas. This one, which takes place immediately after, plunges Finley and Arthur back into life at their elite prep school, to navigate their newfound romance in front of an audience of their peers. But all is not well in Romanceland! Can they even make it to the Valentine's Day dance?!...more
Cute premise, cute ocean mammals, plenty of Beatles references, so everything you could want in a YA romance. There's even a sprinkle of magic! It tooCute premise, cute ocean mammals, plenty of Beatles references, so everything you could want in a YA romance. There's even a sprinkle of magic! It took me a while to warm to Prudence, but I got there in the end, although I have to say, she's quicker to forgive than I would have been. I was like, girl, HANG ON TO THAT ANGER. I guess I'm just a bit more ragey. ...more
Complicated? Yes. Set in space? Yes. Love story? Well, okay. I didn't care for one of the people in the love story, and was indifferent to the other. Complicated? Yes. Set in space? Yes. Love story? Well, okay. I didn't care for one of the people in the love story, and was indifferent to the other.
This really is one of those books where you're like, I'm not the audience for this. I really liked some aspects of the story, and every time my attention would wander, there would be some sort of insane sci fi movie twist to reel me back in! But other times I was like, That thing you mentioned in passing? That's what I want to hear about! That thing you keep going on and on about? I could not care less. A younger reader who wanted to read a romance about two boys in space will go nuts for this, though.
This should be required reading in high schools, by both students and faculty. The racist instagram account was horrible enough, but the mishandling oThis should be required reading in high schools, by both students and faculty. The racist instagram account was horrible enough, but the mishandling of the entire situation by the adults was INSANE. I mean, as much as I wanted to say to these boys, "What the HELL is wrong with you?" after things got going with the aftermath I wanted to literally find the adults involved (with a few small exceptions) and be like, "No, what the ACTUAL HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU AND WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?"
For someone who writes such ADULT books, he also does upper middle grade/young adult books so well! It's really an impressive skill! He's got the sameFor someone who writes such ADULT books, he also does upper middle grade/young adult books so well! It's really an impressive skill! He's got the same wacky Florida characters, yet the emotional growth of the main character, the situations they're in, etc, are all perfect for the age group.
This was a delightful mystery, set during the height of the pandemic, about a kid who just wants to be out on the water, not bothering anyone and not being bothered. Of course THAT'S not going to happen! ...more
Absolutely fantastic! Despite having fantastical elements, this book just felt so real. The heartache, the joys, the struggles with friends and familyAbsolutely fantastic! Despite having fantastical elements, this book just felt so real. The heartache, the joys, the struggles with friends and family, just high school LIFE, are portrayed perfectly. ...more
I love the Solo movie (I think Alden Ehrenreich is adorable as Han), loved the "heist movie" feel and the richness of the cThis is just what I wanted!
I love the Solo movie (I think Alden Ehrenreich is adorable as Han), loved the "heist movie" feel and the richness of the characters and setting. And the whole time I just kept thinking, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO QI'RA?! How did she end up with Crimson Dawn, and what was her deal?!
And Kate, of course, is a wonderful author to cover this. She does scrappy girls well, and she does scrappy Star Wars girls especially well. Qi'ra's bravado, her outer confidence, even while inside she's freaking out at things like having enough food to eat, having more than the bare minimum of clothing, having enough money to buy something just because. After the childhood that she had, after what happened when she and Han were separated, you can see how she makes choices so that she can live, but even so, so that she can be on top, where she's not being abused any more. It's heartbreaking, and you don't want her to be the villain, but you can see the reasoning behind it all the same.
Also, total props for a Raiders of the Lost Ark style ancient temple heist! Including an archaeology joke that had me rolling!...more
Family secrets galore! We've got werewolves, vampires, hidden communities, everything you could want! Sweet revenge on bullies! A passion for photograFamily secrets galore! We've got werewolves, vampires, hidden communities, everything you could want! Sweet revenge on bullies! A passion for photography! The joy of howling at the moon! I loved the theme of the importance of family, both biological and found, and how they shape your life. And I loved the dynamic art, the eyes especially, but also the way the wolves looked, running. ...more
The sequel to Bloodtide was even more gorgeous and weird and horrible. I liked this one a titch better, the story (The Legend of SigurdWow. Holy wow.
The sequel to Bloodtide was even more gorgeous and weird and horrible. I liked this one a titch better, the story (The Legend of Sigurd/Brunhild/Gudrun) was more familiar than the Saga of the Volsungs, and also, I loved Sigurd andn Bryony, and had a hard time connecting with the characters in the first one, because they were all so horrible! (I mean, I wanted someone to win, to drag London out of that absolute hellhole, but which one?!) And here you have a noble and beautiful and trusting hero in Sigurd, and a number of horrifying villains, and several noble ladies who are doing their best, but ultimately getting played by the very world they live in. Gorgeous. And so sad. And so, so weird. ...more