Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison

from goodreads

5 stars

This year we decided to give Miss G quite a few books for Christmas. Man, picking them out was so hard to do. My husband and I had a limited time to be out together getting gifts and by the time we got to the bookstore Mr. S was done. I mean for a kid who usually makes no noise and is chill, he was starting to fuss a bit and we knew we had about 10 minutes before total meltdown. There are so many cool looking books out right now that it was hard to choose. You need to pick a book that is not too easy but not so long or difficult otherwise they will get frustrated. You need to make sure it is about something they are interested in, but that you wouldn't mind reading aloud to them with out going insane.

In the end I went with some classic children's stories. You can't go wrong with books that have stood the test of time, right?

Synopsis

Rapunzel is living an idyllic life up in her tower. When a young man climbs her tower and steals a flower from her she decides to leave and get it back and protect Witch.

My Thoughts

I think the majority of the world would agree that Harry Potter is one of the best if not the best kids series of all time. Well, this new Tyme series by Megan Morrison is going to give Harry Potter a run for its money. Morrison has created a well thought through, rich world.

I love how this is not just a retelling of the same old story. Morrison puts her own twist on things as she tells the story of a girl who has lived in a tower, who has been loved by witch. You see from her perspective how witch wasn't the evil person everyone thinks she is. You see how Rapunzel truly loved her, she knew no different. You see how the world is so much bigger than Rapunzel's tower. The land of Tyme is truly interconnected.

Rapunzel and the character Jack were the perfect combination. Witty dialogue, they could be silly but also serious when necessary. The dimensions of these characters were amazing.

I like how Morrison takes care of possible plot holes. For example. Rapunzel had a ton of hair. Hair is heavy. How would she be able to walk around through the woods with all that hair and not get it all messed up and crazy. Well Morrison had a great answer that made sense. So smart. There were some other things like that were taken care of easily and believably. See, what I mean about a well thought out world. I also loved the acorns. Read the book and you will see what I mean.

This is a book of adventure, discovery, resourcefulness, trickery and ultimately love. This is a fantastic debut to what is sure to be a fantastic series. My words cannot do justice to how great these books are. Don't let the childish cover fool you. This is a book that any YA reader or adult would love. Pick it up. Read it. You will not be disappointed.

The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth by Katherine Woodfine

from goodreads

4 stars

Man, Have I been busy! The past two weeks have just been a whirl and my list of books to blog about is getting looooong!

What have I been doing? Well nothing super interesting but very productive. I have been going through the kids toys. We have been bursting at the seams and I decided that enough is enough. I took all the toys from the play room and we went through them all and decided what to keep and what not to keep. We threw out broken toys, got rid of dvds they don't watch anymore. Now when I go down to the play room it is actually pleasant. We are going through the rest of the house now looking for missing pieces or other toys that they are done with. What has been really nice is the kids have willingly parted with things. I did not give them an ultimatum or quota. I just said we have too much, just keep what you absolutely love to play with.

I invited my friends/acquaintances to do the same thing and they are going to drop off toys at my house this week and Saturday we are going to have a toy swap. I am setting my house up like a toy store and they can come and take whatever they like. The stuff left over is going to the thrift store. It's kind of exciting.

I also took a few days out last week and went up to my parents house and helped go through the rest of their stuff. My parents are in a retirement home now, due to health reasons. They still had some stuff left in their basement (we are renting their house to a friend of the family's). So my sister, who lives close by, and I tackled what was left over, the majority having already been gone through. Two van loads and a trailer later and the stuff is gone. That was nice to see!

Now I am not saying I am minimalist, but I will say that there is such a thing as too much stuff. Why spend your time and energy on the mountains of stuff you have when you could spend it on yourself, your family and other things you enjoy. That is my mission this year, to really get rid of the things that don't bring us joy and to simplify. Just think of how much time I will have to read then! All of it guilt free too.

Synopsis

This is the second of a series of mystery novels. Sophie and Lil are on the case as they hunt down a missing jewel that has a mysterious and ominous past. Their search brings them close to the ominous Baron.

My Thoughts

This was a great sequel to an awesome debut novel. This book had everything, suspense, murder, intrigue, misdirection and fun.

There were two separate story lines for a lot of the book and I loved how the author brought them together in a natural way that did not seem contrived or stretching at all.

Once again this book allowed us a glimpse into history and society of a bygone era but did so in a way that was engaging. History is fun to learn when it is part of a great narrative.

This book some more mature themes. It talked about arranged marriages, marriages of girls to much older men, the use of murder to quiet people. So for that I would say it would be a book that would be better suited for 12 and up.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series. This is definitely a series that will so be worth the read.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

from goodreads

4 stars

I can't believe it is already past the half-way mark of September. Seriously, where did the time go. Since school has started I am starting to get into a bit of a familiar groove. Having two little ones at home is a nice change, though I do miss my older ones. During the day I only have one child coming with me with demands and desires instead of three. (The baby doesn't count, while he likes to eat he isn't super demanding.)

Now I just need to get into the groove of doing things for me again. Get into my schedule. I am looking forward to that!

Synopsis

Jacob loved hearing the stories behind his grandfather's pictures but that is what they were to him, stories. When his grandfather is horrifically killed Jacob decides to go to the orphanage, on an island off the welsh coast, where is grandfather grew up to find out more about him. What he finds is not what he expects.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure I would. The cover made me think it might be more creepy or more of a horror genre, which I am not into, but it wasn't and I was able to really get into the story.

The story was simplistic but there was a depth to it. You didn't get lost in details but there was a depth in character and story line that I liked.

I loved the concept that the author used of taking old pictures and then putting a story around them. Some of the photos were incredible and even though they didn't seem that they were connected Riggs was able to do it in such a clever interesting way that made complete sense.

Jacob's father was an interesting character, definitely an anti-hero. He was a good juxtaposition against Jacob.

The time loop thing was a bit wonky. I got confused by it a little bit. But I'm sure, if you are into time loops and know a lot about them it would make complete sense.

There are two more books in the series and I am excited to read them... I will have to stick them into my never ending to read list!

The Crown by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

4 stars

This week was fun. We went to Centre Island in Toronto. They have a small amusement park there that the girls had a blast at. We had a blast at it too. We went the day after the long weekend so it was not super crowded. A lot of rides barely had any line ups. And most of the rides were nestled amongst trees so the shade was super duper fantastic. My pale skin thanked it.

When we started feeling a bit hot we walked over to the beach and cooled off with a short swim and then went right back to the fun. While at the beach we saw people riding these really awesome bikes. They looked like mini golf carts and could have two people pedalling or four people pedalling. And what I thought was just a big basket in the front was actually a seat for young children. So my whole big family of six would have been able to fit in it! I think I know what we will be doing next year, riding around Centre Island in style!!

Synopsis

This is the concluding instalment of the Selection Series. Princess Eadlyn makes her choice.

My Thoughts

I did not like the book that came before this. The main character Eadlyn was really unlikeable and I didn't like how America was portrayed, I felt she had changed too much. So I was reading this book purely to know how it wrapped up, not because I really cared about the characters. But man, was I pleasantly surprised.

This was a very satisfying end to the series. Eadlyn came across in a way more likeable way. You actually are cheering her on and are hoping good things for her.

I liked the different twists and how Eadlyn did things her way. She did things I totally thought her parents would have done before her and I am still at a loss to why things hadn't changed as much between book three and four.

I wished I had reread book four because I forgot who some of the characters were and it took a bit of time to play catch up.

This, as with the other books in the series, is the perfect summer fluff reading. It is romance with a little political intrigue thrown in. If you are looking for more action and girl power read a different dystopian. This series is perfect in its simplicity and romance. It doesn't pretend to be more than what it is which means you can read and not think too hard about it and that type of book is definitely needed.

Matched Series by AllyCondie

from goodreads

3 stars

The end of school is two weeks away. Lately I have been researching different programs at our library, different books to keep the girls entertained and figuring out my own summer reading list. What I am discovering is there is so much choice. Everything looks good, and it is hard to pare things down. I want to read everything now, which would be an awesome super power, but is not a realistic option. Trying to find the perfect summer read, or the next great book for the kids is a hard undertaking. I have to be careful not to build up my expectations too much or else it will be a let down. Oh the horror of too many books and too little time!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Synopsis

Cassia lives in a society that seems perfect. But when a glitch happens she realizes that there are limits to what she can do, what she can learn, and who she can love. The fabric of her society starts to unravel as she tries to figure things out and save/be with the person she loves.

My Thoughts

This was a pretty average series. The premise had a lot of potential and seemed interesting, but I don't think it lived up to its hype. It had parts that I liked and parts that just seemed meh. The first book did have a Giver vibe. Condie gave us a detailed society with things really thought out.

As the series progressed the story went in directions I wasn't expecting. I found the last two books to be such a contrast from the first book that it was hard to make the leap at first. I found that it dealt with too many abstracts. I wish I knew more about who lived on the fringes. It was confusing to know how they fit into the society. Not all of them were hiding from the society but, they weren't part of it either. It was confusing. I think it would have been helpful to have a map of the country as well. They talked about different provinces and cities, but it was hard to picture.

I found Cassia and Ky's relationship to be a bit hard to believe at first. She talked about her best friend Xander and how she was glad she was matched with him. But when she starts to think that Ky was an option all of the sudden he is all she wants. How could she fall so fast and so deeply? It seemed that Ky was always on the fringe of her radar. How could they be so intense? It just didn't seem believable.

While I liked how the series ended, and I liked it wasn't like all the other dystopians with lots of guns and violence, by the end I was reading just to finish it. I really didn't care about the characters and the society. I just found it dull. All the references to art work and poems and how those things were commodities got confusing and abstract.

This series would be good for getting your feet wet in YA dystopians but it was not my favourite series. It was just a bit dull for my liking.

The Siren by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

4 stars

The expression "when it rains it pours" definitely describes my life the past week. It seemed that if one more thing was thrown at me I was going to go crazy. I had to have extra appointments, and those needed to be squeezed in around Miss G's spooky tea birthday party and a day off school. My hip started acting up which meant walking sucked and since walking sucked I didn't get done all I wanted to in Miss G's new room. This week is looking up a bit but I feel so behind and I don't have time to fall behind.

What got me through this? Having some good things to read. Thank goodness for books. They truly are an escape and sunshine on our rainy days. Now it is time to breath easy, get caught up and continue to read.

Synopsis

Kahlen was rescued in a drowning accident and became one of the ocean's sirens. These girls are beautiful but their voice is deadly. They must serve the ocean for a hundred years, luring ships for the ocean to consume. When they aren't doing that they live their lives how they please, but they cannot talk to regular humans.

Kahlen is almost done her time when she falls in love with a mortal. Will she be able to risk it all for love?

My Thoughts
This was a really interesting take on the whole idea of sirens and the ocean, the inter-connectivity of people and the strength of love.

Kahlen was an interesting character in the fact that the deaths that her voice caused on the ocean affected her so much, where as the others were more immune. It is kind of a morbid thought. The ocean needing to feed and the way it does that is through drowning victims. The premise, I grant you, is a bit weird, yet it worked.

I liked the story. I liked how Kahlen made things worked. I liked how the siren's were there for each other. I liked how this wasn't just a sappy romance but showed how people really can feel connections and work around perceived obstacles. I liked how it showed the power that love really can be.

This book is nothing like Cass's Selection series. This has a deeper feel to it and a bit of a darker tone. It is still a great book "fluff" book. One you can read without making your brain work too much. But the characters were more real and relatable, it was not silly, it was just a great story to be a part of.

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

from goodreads

2 stars

What a dusty few days it has been. On the weekend my husband did the finishing touches to the new office space so that means moving time. I have been moving desks, and shelving in. And then I have to go through the old office stuff. Our old office became a dumping ground over the last few months. Why try to keep it tidy when you are going to be moving stuff? Right? Well now it has come to pay the price for our uncaring. We have to go through papers and random items and sweep up spilled sparkles and finally make a decision and consolidate our filing system. Fun, fun, fun. Hopefully that will all get done so that on Saturday we can paint the walls the shade of green Miss G has requested and then move her stuff in.

I know that I will feel an immense sense of accomplishment when it finally all gets done, but it is getting to that point that seems a hopeless task. Oh well, on piece of recycling at a time. I'll get there. And then I will take a much deserved reading holiday!

Synopsis

This is the next installment of Red Queen Series. This finds Mare Barrow and Cal in league with the rebels. They travel around the kingdom trying to find the other anomalies like Mare, red blooded but with silver capabilities. As they search they feel the crunch of time as the newly crowned King Maven seeks to thwart and capture them at every turn.

My Thoughts

Well, as you can see from my rating, I was far from amused with this book. After reading Red Queen last year I was eagerly awaiting the next story. I was kind of disappointed.

Yes, there was action and we got to learn more about the rebels and what happened to Mare's brother. But the story itself I found boring and repetitive. Like super repetitive. Like so super repetitive. Do you get the idea that it was repetitive?

I also find her mixed feelings about Maven hard to understand. While reading the first book I totally thought that she and Cal were the love interests and I really didn't think that she and Maven had that much of a connection, not really. So when she goes on about her feelings for him and how mixed they are and she saves notes from him, it was really hard to wrap my brain around, because I feel she has a stronger connection with Cal. That could be just me. But if there were teams, I would totally be team Cal.

The story was slow. The ending a bit too quick. I will still read the next book when it comes out. I care about the supporting cast of characters, not so much Mare. I think this was a bridging book that had to happen to get the story where it needed to be for the next book, that is my hope anyway. But it was definitely a let down after Red Queen and I wouldn't blame readers for not wanting to continue.

Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

from goodreads

4 stars

I started the year with a reading bang. It seemed I was constantly reading and finishing books so fast. Now the slow down has come. I am getting busy with other projects around the house, or reading aloud to Miss P more and going to lots of appointments.

Sometimes reading is like that. It goes through ebbs and flows. And really, that is life. You have moments where you are so busy if one more things falls on your lap you will burst! And then, you have moments where you can just laze around and be chill.

I am love that things do change and that there are times and seasons for things. I am also grateful that I can renew my library books online, for those times when I am slow.

Synopsis

The Legend trilogy is written in two voices. One is that of Day, the Republic's number one criminal, who is really a 17 year old boy trying to survive and help out his family. The other voice is that of June, the prodigy of the system who follows without question until her brother dies and she is faced with new information. Throw in a war, disease, rebels and romance and you get one pretty cool dystopian series.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this series. The characters seemed well thought out and well rounded. They didn't seem to have complete hero complexes that you often see in YA dystopian books. The characters admitted when they couldn't do something and accepted the help that was around them. They really leaned on others which was refreshing to see.

I really enjoyed the switching between voices of Day and June. It was neat to get two different perspectives. It made the story a bit more rounded and helped with the flow. You gained a deeper sense of the society they found themselves in.

I also liked how the series ended. Ending are such a hard thing to get right and I think Lu did an excellent job of making the story feel complete and you feel like the characters are going to be alright. 

There were times that I found the story not as engaging, or some of the interactions a bit weird or not in keeping with the characters and story. But on the whole this was a great dystopian. Definitely one that you should read if you haven't yet.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

from goodreads

3.5 stars

When it rains it pours. I don't know what it is but no matter how well I usually manage my holds in the library system there seems to come a time when I am deluged in books. Now being deluged in books isn't really that much of problem, unless you have to have them read in a certain amount of time or be doomed to be put to the end of the list! Of course this usually happens at the most inconvenient time, such as, a big project due, trying to get work done around the house, or some other life event.

Right now I am in the middle of that deluge. And of course I am in the middle of some house projects so trying to find the balance of needing to get these books read and organizing my house is pretty tricky, and I will admit I probably pick reading over organizing more than I should, but I know I will get through it. Both things will get done. Especially after I finish just one more chapter.

Synopsis

Enter a magical realm where people have super human gifts, or graces. Katsa is one of those. She has two different coloured eyes which means she has a grace. Her grace haunts her and is dangerous, she is a lean mean can kill/mame machine.

When she is sent a mission to save a man from prison her life changes unexpectedly. She learns more about her gift, and more about a secret that could poison the seven kingdoms of the realm.

My Thoughts

This was a great fantasy. This is the perfect book to start on your fantasy journey. It wasn't too weird and it was just fantastical enough. Some fantasy books are extreme and throw every mythical creature at you. This book just dealt with differing powers and no elves or fairies, so it was great. (Nothing against elves or fairies they just can be a bit hard core for the novice fantasy reader).

I liked that the characters were real, dealing with real issues. The adventure was believable and the outcomes didn't seem overly contrived.

This book did suffer from some first time author, not blunders, but issues. There were bits in the story that just seemed too jumpy or went from one extreme to the other. An example was, Katsa realized something about Prince Po, and while it may have been a bit upsetting she totally freaked out and I didn't get where this extreme anger came from. She seemed fine one minute and then was totally hating on him the next. It was hard to wrap my brain around. Another thing that was a bit weird was the climax of the story. It seemed almost too short and everything got wrapped up a little too neatly. I know that is better than a long drawn out story, but it almost seemed too quick.

All in all, I did enjoy the story. I really liked the world that Cashore created. There were some really neat ideas and dealt with some pretty cool moral dilemmas.

There are two more books in the series which I hope to get to at some point soon. From what I understand they are stand alone books that are set in the same realm. They focus on different characters but there are appearances from familiar characters from other books. I definitely recommend this book.

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

from goodreads

3 stars

Well, March Break is starting to come to an end. There has been much reading, youtube watching, pig making and scrounging up acceptable snacks. I have enjoyed sleeping in a bit, and not worrying about making lunch. Also it has been a great week because I have had no appointments! No bundling up three kids to sit in a cramped waiting room for me. I call that a win.

But this March Break has made me realize how much I need to make sure I have lots of activities and things planned for the summer. Time to get serious on pinterest and become the awesomest mom ever for the summer! ;)

Synopsis

This is the story of Gretchen, a 17 year old girl who in entrenched in the Nazi Party. She looks up to Hitler as a father figure and even calls him Uncle Dolf. Yet, after meeting Daniel Cohen a reporter and a Jew, everything she thought she new as certain is called into question, and she starts to question whether her father's death was really a tragic accident or murder.

My Thoughts

This was a well researched and rather accurate portrayal of Munich in the early 1930s. She wove the mystery in a way that was able to highlight events and philosophies. It was a really good approach.

What I found week was the narrative. Since Blankman was trying to fit so much history into the book (trying to fit the entire Nazi philosophy in one book is very tricky because it encompasses so much) the narrative really suffered.

There were many times where the timeline of the story was not accurate and this caused some confusion and awkwardness. An example of this was when Gretchen was going to a country house with Geli. She tells her brother that they are going to leave the next morning. Then you turn the page and she spends the whole next day helping her mom clean the house and doesn't really leave for the country house for another two days. While it wasn't major and didn't destroy the plot it was still kind of frustrating. There were other times when the timeline just didn't add up.

I also found things to be a bit repetitive, and seriously, how many times did Reinhard have to catch them. Like really?

In the end it was a mediocre story that strung together historical facts. I did not find it that intriguing, the characters that engaging or the romance that sizzling. Perhaps if I hadn't studied this period extensively in university I would have enjoyed discovering this time and the events a bit more and it would have been a bit more interesting. I do appreciate the obvious research that went into it. It is nice when a historical fiction is well researched.

There is a sequel to this book. I am not sure yet if I will bother with it or not. Perhaps once my to read book has been whittled down a bit more.

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

from goodreads

4 stars

I cannot believe it is March already. While time sometimes seems to be going slowly, the days just fly past.

On Sunday I watched the Oscars with one of my book club friends. It was so much fun. I don't know what it is about award shows but I love watching them. I don't care about the dresses, or the speeches, or about the celebrity of it, really. Perhaps I like seeing people who have worked hard at their craft be celebrated and in awe and humbled by their achievement.

While watching it we were excited about seeing the film Mad Max: Fury Road win so many Oscars. When you think of the Oscars you think of more artsy and make you have to think movies receiving attention. No matter what type of movie is made, every one on them are working hard to do their best for it.

Do you like watching award shows?

Synopsis

I am taking the synopsis from goodreads as it is better than anything I could come up with to capture the fun and intensity of this book.

The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life!

When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can will and Maren reach Will's father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

My Thoughts

This is my first Kenneth Oppel book. I am definitely going to have to check more of his stuff out.

I love the idea of this monstrously long train full of secrets, deceptions, mythical creatures, different kinds of people with different stories. It was really cool to see the people from the caboose all the way up to the engine.

I love that there is a sense of normalcy, that things are familiar, but, there is enough fantasy to let your imagination go. It is a dark and mysterious story, it can be intense at times, but it is fun. Because of all the different aspects of the book you really can't pigeon hole it into a certain genre. There is history, adventure, mystery and fantasy. It is all delightfully mishmashed together.

I would love to see what happens to Will and Maren after their adventure on The Boundless. I think they would lead really interesting lives.

This is definitely a book that I would recommend for ages 13+. It does deal with some nefarious characters that might not be the best for younger audiences.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like in an alternate reality? Would you be the same type of person you are or would you be someone completely different.

Some of my favourite episodes of sci-fi shows have been when they put characters in an alternate reality. I think my favourites are from Stargate SG-1. Hilarity often ensues, but it gets you thinking.

I think using alternate realities or rethinking history is such a cool genre. There is enough the same that you feel comfortable and know what's going on. But, the changes are so quirky that you want to know what is going on and how it will end.

I guess there could be some purists who live for historical accuracy and don't want the timelines messed with. And for those who are the purists, well they don't have to read these books. But for those who want some fun, or often think what if this genre of book is great!

Synopsis

It is a tale of clankers vs darwinist machines.

Prince Aleksander is running away from the Austro-Hungarian Empire after his father, the Grand Duke, and his mother die. Deryn is a girl undercover as a boy in the British Air Force.

Their paths cross on the eve of World War I in this really fun and fantastic adventure series.

My Thoughts

This is the first steampunk book that I have ever read. It is not my favourite genre, but I would read another one.

I thought this was a really cool alternate reality. There was enough the same that it was believable but enough different to make for a really cool science-fiction.

I thought it was neat how the Darwinist airships were a living thing. What a neat idea. It was cool to see how all the systems had to work together for it to work.

As for the story itself, it didn't keep me riveted. The story was good enough but it wasn't something that left me in awe of the originality of the ideas. I think it was because this was a set up book for the rest of the series. There is so much in this world that is different that you do need to set things up for the next book so everyone gets this world. Also, there was a lot of back and forth between Aleksander's story line and Deryn's story line so that did disrupt the flow. All that being said I am looking forward to the next book.

I think this book would be great for 10 and up. Also, while good for both boys and girls, if you have a boy that doesn't want to read, this might be a good book to change his mind with.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

from goodreads

4 stars

So, this post was supposed to be done on Christmas Eve and totally wasn't. It seemed to be a pretty crammed day and I didn't even touch a computer until today. Our weekend didn't go as planned to do an unforeseen family circumstance, so it changed our Christmas plans slightly.

While I didn't get as much reading done as I would have liked I had a great Christmas and I am looking forward to a great New Year of reading and other fun things. The next big project is renovating part of our basement to become our new office and then our old office will become a bedroom for Miss G. We'll see how that goes.

I will do my best to do my regular Thursday post tomorrow. It might be a bit tight as we are going to watch Star Wars tomorrow morning! Very excited. But, if for some reason I don't get around to it, have a very Happy New Year!

Synopsis

This is the conclusion of the Lunar Chronicles Cinder and her friends infiltrate Luna in the hopes of bringing down the evil Queen Levana. This chapter of the Lunar Chronicles is loosely based off of Snow White.

My Thoughts

When it comes to an end of a series, especially one as fun and awesome as the Lunar Chronicles, either you will feel satisfied or you won't. There have been many endings where you are left feeling a bit jipped really and you feel a bit disappointed, or a lot disappointed. This was not the case at all with Winter. While it was not my favourite book of the series, I felt satisfied with how it ended. Everything got wrapped up in a way that made sense and stayed true to the series. It had romance, adventure, battles, deception, humour, the perfect blend of sci-fi and fairy tales. It was great!

The book is long. It is double the length of previous installments. The length came in part because of multiple/simultaneous story lines that caused some repetitiveness. It was helpful to help keep everything straight, but it did add to the length of the book. And we get it. Princess Winter is beautiful...you don't need to beat us over the head with it!

I found the last battle a bit drawn out and melodramatic. And, the fight was really intense and then just seemed to end which felt a bit anti-climatic.

I appreciated how well thought out the society of Luna was. It was interesting to learn of the different sectors and how things are labeled and what people do. This helped the characters become memorable and real.

My one other beef has nothing to do with the story it is more of the construction of the book. I get that 800+ pages is a lot of pages and that using normal paper would cause it to be super thick, but, the pages were almost too flimsy and I found it quite difficult sometimes to turn the pages as the paper would sometimes stick/turn together. I am not sure what they could do differently, but it was bit frustrating.

All in all, if you liked the rest of the series you will like Winter. While it is a bit more serious in tone there is still a playfulness that sets this series apart from all other dystopians. While it won't leave you in breathless awe it will not leave you disappointed. Now I think I will have to find the time and reread the series... I think I have my summer planned out!

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

from goodreads

4 stars

One of my book club friends is in a total reading slump. Even some of her go to authors haven't helped. How frustrating that must be.

I, on the other hand, seem to be on a reading high. Lately I have been reading some awesome books. The book I just finished yesterday I read in a day. I couldn't put it down. Poor Miss P probably felt neglected. Thank goodness for Peppa Pig compilations.

My fear now is that this high won't last and I will soon be in a slump! hopefully that won't happen, but you just never know.

Synopsis

Rose, a young American pilot, is caught by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbruck.

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it is a companion/continuation of Code Name Verity, it could be its own stand alone book. You would not have to read Code Name Verity to understand the story.

I have read quite a lot about this time period and studied it in university. Yet, whenever I read a new book about this era it amazes me just how much more there was to WW II. It was all encompassing war and it seems that the Nazis were scattered in what they were trying to achieve. Instead of being focused on one way of achieving their goals they were spread all over the place trying tons of different things. I don't know if anyone could learn everything that went down back then in a life time. It overwhelms me.

Telling the story using "the rabbits" was an interesting angle. I know people know of the experimentation done in Auschwitz but I did not know about the experimentation in Ravensbruck. What horrible things to have happened to these women.

The cast of characters allowed for the portrayal of the various types of prisoners in the camps. Some of the situations or relationships were, perhaps, a bit contrived but it did allow for a broad overview of the camp and all the facets that went with it.  I would not call this the definitive work on Ravensbruck but it is definitely a great jumping off point to delve and gain an interest in this subject.

I like how this book was able to go beyond the war and showed the Nuremberg trials, and other tribunals, that went on to hold those people who did such gross things to humanity to account. That is one thing I think I would like to research more myself.

One character that I appreciated being included was Anna. She was a german prisoner who actually used to work at Ravensbruck and administered sedatives to the rabbits. Her character shows that there is a big grey area when it comes to the war. Some were all about inflicting pain and horror onto others. Some were merely trying to figure out how to survive themselves. Her character throws a wrench in the simplistic view of good and evil that is sometimes caste up on the German people when discussing this era of their history. It was not an all or nothing scenario.

Whenever I read stories like this, set in concentration camps, I always wonder to myself, what type of prisoner would I be? I would like to think I would be noble, and decent. But then, part of me things I might be like those prisoners who were kind of crazy and would grab food wherever they could and fight over a sock. For those who were able to keep part of their humanity I totally salute them.

This was a great and heart wrenching read. I think it was done very well. It was not over the top graphic, but it also didn't try to downplay the horrors. That is a balance that is hard to perfect, yet Wein did so. Definitely a must read.

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

from goodreads

5 stars

Summer is over and autumn has definitely settled in. I think autumn is one of my favourite seasons to read in. I obviously enjoy reading anytime of year, but there is something about autumn where you can curl up in your favourite chair with a cup of herbal tea and cozy socks that makes reading a pure joy.

My favourite place to read is in my love seat that is in front our big bay window. I get a lovely view of the tree lined street I live on and in the fall it is beautiful with brilliant oranges and yellows. So beautiful.

Synopsis

(I am stealing the synopsis from goodreads because it is just so good.)

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair's department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villains to justice...

My Thoughts

This book was simply a delight. I was drawn to it because of its gorgeous cover. And this book had everything great heroes, horribly mean villains, deception, street urchins, kidnapping, treason and more.

The backdrop which is almost a character to itself is the Sinclair department store that is about to open. The store is the biggest and fanciest store in all of London. It is full of dark stair cases, opulent show rooms and more. I would love to go there and walk around.

I love the characters. Sophie, who is an orphan, who is used to living more comfortably but is determined to make it. Lilian, who is from a well off family but wants to be an actress. And then a great cast of supporting characters. While the characters were young, young teens, there actions were appropriate. Sometimes books or t.v. shows who have young characters are not realistic in what they have them do (I'm speaking to you Arthur). This book was completely believable, especially given the time the book was set in (pre world war one).

While there were times in the mystery that seemed rather obvious it was still a fun and I would say sophisticated mystery and story. For those who are a bit sensitive there is a drugging, a shooting and an intentional murder. Though it is not gory and doesn't go into detail, it still happens.

I think this is the perfect book for your budding detective. I would recommend it for 11 and up. This is the first book in what is to be a series. I am really looking forward to the next installment.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

3 stars

I seem to be the type of reader that once I start a series I want to see it through to completion even if some of the books are sub par. There is a feeling of being incomplete that just irks me. I need to know what happens. The worst is when you have to wait for the next to be published. Sometimes it is nicer discovering a series once most of the books are already out. Then you can go through the series at your own pace without having to wait for the next ones.

Right now there are a few books that I'm waiting to be published. Since I have such a long list of other books I want to get through I don't feel the impatience I might ordinarily feel while waiting. Now I just need to make sure I remember the plot line once they are finally out!

Synopsis

This is a continuation of The Selection series. Fast forward 20 years in the future and it is now Maxim's and America's daughter Eadlyn's turn to be part of the selection.

My Thoughts

This was okay. While this series is in no way high brow and adventure packed there was something about the original series that sucked me in. I definitely considered it to be my guilty pleasure read. This addition to the series did not suck me in at all.

I found it really hard to like the main character, Eadlyn. I found her whiney and rather clueless. You would think with parents like America and Maxim she would be way more down to earth, but nope. She seemed to use her "power" to threaten people instead of help. I also didn't like how America seemed to change into being more in line with royal thinking instead of being her usual rebellious self. I know that as you grow older you tend not to rebel as much but I would still expect some boundaries to be pushed.

I also found it weird that America and Maxim's kids didn't know more about their parents story and their selection experience. You would have thought it was common knowledge.

I think it would have been nice if there was a book that bridged the two series. I would have liked to know more about how they dealt with the rebels and made change in their kingdom.

So this book was definitely not as fun to read as the others but it hasn't prevented me from wanting to read the next one when it comes out.

The Lost Island of Tamarind Nadia Aguiar

from goodreads

4 stars

Well summer is definitely winding down. The weather this week has been cooler, summer outings are becoming less frequent, and the back to school craziness has begun. The kids are also beginning to be a bit restless. I think they are ready to go back to school and make some awesome scholarly discoveries there.

I am also looking forward to the change in season reading wise. I seem to change the types of books I read with the seasons. Summer I prefer something light and fun. Winter I prefer to read more heavy books (literally and figuratively). Not that I am a purist in that regard. It just seems to be how things work out.

My to read in 2015 list is starting to dwindle down. I only have 12 left and three of those are book club reads. I have been reading a lot of books not on the list but I am excited to have made such a significant dent in books I have wanted to read for a long time and now am finally getting to. I am not sure if I will make a list for 2016. Maybe I will, I don't know. Do you ever make lists for a year or do you just read whatever seems to tickle your fancy in the moment?

Synopsis

Maya lives on a boat with her marine biologist parents and her brother Simon and little sister Penny. Maya desperately wants to be a normal teenager, go to a normal school and have friends instead of being on a boat floating around the Caribbean. When a storm comes and settles Maya and her siblings on a strange island Maya has the adventure of her life as she tries to figure out the islands secrets and find her parents again.

My Thoughts

This is one of those book that I just picked up on a whim at the library. The cover kind of intrigued me and I thought why not. I am so glad that I picked it up.

This is a great adventure story. The characters are believable and I even liked them. The island was a great mix of reality and whimsy. The adventures and predicaments the children found themselves in seemed plausible and not so utterly fantastic. It was just a great story.

At first when I found out that Penny, who is like a year old, was going with them on the adventure I was like, man, how are they going to deal with this in a realistic way? Sometimes authors add these elements but then the story goes in a direction where the kids seem almost forgotten and neglected making it not very realistic to life. This author got it bang on. Penny was always part of the mix, was not lost or forgotten and the author showed how they had to deal with the realities of diaper changing and food foraging for her. It was thought out and I really appreciated that.

I think of the older kids and tweens in the crowd who read this will love the sense of adventure, will love the different locations through the island, and will love how the kids are truly the heros and are not just waiting for the adults to come around and save them.

The only thing that prevented me from giving it a full five stars is the flat ending. Not all the questions were answered and it just felt incomplete. Also it was hard for me to figure out if the island was really primitive or had industries. Also, I relied on the map in the front of the book a lot, sometimes things weren't located where I thought they would be on the map and the story and the map didn't always make sense when it came to the distance or sense of things.

There is a second book that I think I will take out and read at some point. Perhaps some of my questions will be answered then.

This book would be great for kids 10 and up. It is just a great adventure.

The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

from goodreads

2.5 stars

I really love goodreads.com. I love the fact that I can see what my friends are reading. I love that I can keep track of books I want to read, even though every time I go on I seem to add a billion! I love their reading challenge. I love being able to see what others think of books and with the ratings it helps to gauge whether the book is worth the time to read or not.

Yet, that rating system can be a bit of a bad thing, especially when it comes to YA books. It seems that most of the people who rate YA books either a) rate it before the book is even out. Like seriously? The book hasn't been published but people are all ready giving it a 5 star rating because of their anticipation??? Crazibus! or b) are so super enthusiastic about it that I believe they give an inflated rating. It seems with YA readers (of a certain age, that age being young) that there is no grey area when it comes to a series. Either they love it full tilt to the end or they don't, and most of them love it! And you know what, there is nothing wrong with readers being super excited about a series or about reading in general. It's great! I just wished they didn't saturate the ratings so I could get a more realistic view of a book. Oh well.

***spoiler alert*** while I will do my very best not to have spoilers I may inadvertantly give something away. If you have not read this series yet and don't want anything revealed you may want to wait to read this review. 

Synopsis

Thomas wakes up in a dark elevator. He doesn't remember anything. Thus starts this sci-fi ride within a maze and then beyond.

My Thoughts

I read this series because of the hype, especially the added hype around the movies. I especially wanted to see what my teenage niece was so excited about. 

While the idea behind the series is really cool and thought provoking, I found myself being utterly bored while reading the books. While I guess there were some exciting bits in them they were surrounded by boring dialogue and characters that I really didn't care for at all. Perhaps if I were more of a brooding teenager I would have appreciated the teen attitude and recklessness. Alas, I am a 32 year old mother and I found the macho vibrato so ridiculous.

In the first book I was definitely disliking the not answering of questions. Thomas just arrived there obviously needing some answers to where the heck he was and all he got was "you don't need to know right now" or "we'll tell you later", yet later never seemed to happen and when would he need to know? And then the people got mad when he explored or tested some boundary he shouldn't have. It's like hello!? maybe answer his questions and then he would not have done that!

I did like the slang that the gladers made up. It definitely helped this rowdy bunch of boys not swear, otherwise swearing would have been littered throughout this series, and I really detest swearing for swearing sake in books.

In the second and third book I did not like Thomas' anger towards Teresa. I felt that the intensity of the anger was really not warranted. It was also weird in the last books how close he was to his two friends from the glade considering he only knew them for like a week or so. How did he become all chummy and leadery with them. Wouldn't of these other people have other friends in the group? It was just weird.

This series I think would be good for teens that usually don't feel like reading. There is not a bunch of flowery mumbo jumbo in it and there are some cool fight scenes. But, if you are looking for a completed, relatively well thought out and understandable world (sort of like the one created in the Hunger Games) you aren't going to find it. There were too many holes and things happening that I just didn't get. I guess I had too many questions that weren't answered.

So all in all, this was a series that just wasn't for me. I only read the second and third book because I held hope it would get better and I wanted to see how the writer was actually going to wrap it all up. (I was satisfied with the ending though I know many weren't). While the concept was good, the execution, for me, was not excellent.

The author does have some other series that look interesting. I may give them a try, but I think I need to wait before I do.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

from goodreads

4 stars

Today is the last day of school! YAY!!!!! I have been done with making lunches and for that matter any form of food for the past three weeks. And now the end is here and I am so glad.

It is funny how something as simple as making lunches can really wear on you. But, in today's world it is more than just slapping a few things together, throwing it in a bag and saying here you go. A lot more thought has to go into it.

Lunches have to be peanut free and litter free. As well, they have to have variety, be healthy and be something that the kids will eat. Also at our school they have a balanced day format so that means that the kids eat twice. So then you have to decide what goes in the first break pouch and what goes in the second break one. So for each lunch for each child a lot of thought and care has to go into each one. After a while it gets to you.

So now I am looking forward to my two month respite of having to make prepared lunches. I think PB&J sandwiches will be on the menu for most of the summer because the kids can make those themselves. Maybe I will have them make me my lunch for a change. Now, there's a thought.

Synopsis

Cassie Hobbes has a special talent. She looks at someone and know exactly what type of person they are. It is so second nature she can't help it. She is then contacted by the FBI to be part of a talent development group. This group works on cold cases, but they become much more real.

My Thoughts

This was a really fun and enjoyable read. My book club friend summed it up the best way. She said "it's Criminal Minds meets Nancy Drew with a bit of the Scooby gang thrown in." It is a great blend of the dark side of humanity and the lighter side of being a teen. Some of the romantic feelings seemed a bit contrived or forced. But other than that I enjoyed the characters and found them to be relatively believable.

This book did have a bit of a feel of the "set up" book, where you were getting through the necessary facts so the rest of the series can flow. So this story wasn't as deep as it might have been. But it was still enjoyable and it has set up what I think will be a really neat series.

The main character was a real hard one to figure out. She seemed sort of flat yet interesting. I know those are kind of polar opposites but it's the way it is. I found her hard to picture at times. Perhaps more description would have helped. Yet the dialogue she had was great. She stood up for herself without seeming to pushy or rash. It was nice seeing a young female heroine who didn't feel she had to do everything herself or have a death wish. Strong but a team player, I liked it.

The rest of the characters were rather steerotypical, the physically aware and attractive girl who liked to stir the pot, the quieter nerdy girl who could spout out stats like nobody's business, the quiet and aloof boy, and the boy of many layers. Though they seem like characters that could be in any YA fiction their certain mesh worked and helped carry the story along.

While this is not going to win a pulitzer it was still an engaging, fun, twist and turn mystery ride. I am looking forward to reading the next installment soon. The third book in the series is due out sometime this year.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

from goodreads

4 stars

I am so ready for summer vacation. I think I have hit my threshold for making lunches. Well I think I have hit my threshold for making dinners too. I am just done. Making menus week in and week out is very stressful. You need to make sure that the food is healthy and that everyone will eat it. It also has to fit into the time schedules, some nights get busy earlier than others. And right now, I don't feel like doing prep work or anything. I just want the food to magically appear. I think if I could have some magical power it would be that. With a snap of my fingers a healthy delicious meal would just appear. Now that would be awesome.

Synopsis

Enter a world divided into Silvers and Reds. Silvers are an elite life form, their blood is silver and they have special capabilities. They rule the roost. The reds are subserviant slaves. Their lives have little meaning to the silvers except for their man power.

When Mare becomes a servant in the royal court, she realizes that despite her red blood she has special powers too. When found out she becomes a pawn in the King's arsenal, but also a secret help to the red rebellion.

My Thoughts

I really did enjoy this book. With the YA genre, you never know what you are going to get, is it going to be too sappy or too predictable, or too ridiculous. This book was great. It kept me on my toes. It had a lot of twists and turns. I thought it was going a certain way and then it totally changed.

I did find the main character to be a bit obtuse. Seriously how blind and naive can you be! There was definitely some head smacking at some points.

The author has quite a few neat ideas. The different colour of blood is very interesting. It makes it so no one can hide who they truly are. The different Silver Houses with their different powers was also really cool.

The revelation at the end, totally called it at the beginning.

Some negative things I have heard about this book is that it is similar to other books. I have never read the ones that the commenters were talking about so I don't know if it is or not. However, I still really enjoyed this book.

This is the first of a trilogy and I am looking forward to how this all plays out. Now I just have to wait for the next one to be published. Let the count down begin.