Books Read: May 2011
Better late than never, right? I plan on catching up and writing several posts this week, including doing my June books list and writing about my experiences at ALA in New Orleans, which includes stalking authors, hustling for ARCs, being late for all my committee meetings, trying to shell shrimp surreptitiously (say that three times fast!), drinking too much, meeting new people, and spending far too much time on shuttles and standing in lines.
**49. A Sword in Her Hand, by Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem. YA Historical Fiction. 3 stars.
50. Brain Camp, by Susan Kim. Juv Graphic Novel. 3 stars.
**51. Sister Mischief, by Laura Goode. YA Fiction. 5 stars. Read ARC.
52. Ghostopolis, by Doug TenNepal. YA Graphic Novel. 4 stars.
53. Eona (DragonEye Reborn, Book Two), by Allison Goodman. YA Fantasy. 4 stars.
54. Mob Rules (Underworld Cycle, Book One), by Cameron Haley. Urban Fantasy. 3 stars.
55. Smile, by Rania Telgemeier. Juv Graphic Novel. 4 stars.
56. Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange, Book Three), by Lesley Livingston. YA Urban Fantasy. 3 stars.
57. Divergent (Divergent, Book One), by Veronica Roth. YA Dystopia. 4 stars. Review here (Goodreads).
58. Slog’s Dad, by David Almond and Dave McKean. Juv Graphic Novel. 3 stars.
59. The Dragon’s Path (Dagger and the Coin, Book One), by Daniel Abraham. Fantasy. 4 stars. Review here (Goodreads).
60. Across the Universe (Across the Universe, Book One), by Beth Revis. YA Science Fiction/Dystopia. 3.5 stars. Review here (Goodreads -- Spoilers).
61. Aftertime (Aftertime, Book One), by Sophie Littlefield. Dystopia. 3.5 stars. Review here (Goodreads).
**62. The Secret Prince (Knightely Academy, Book Two), by Violet Haberdasher. Juv Fantasy. 3 stars. Read ARC.
63. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor. YA Urban Fantasy. 5 stars. Review here (Goodreads). Read ARC.
**Booklist reviews
Best book I read this month: There is no contest. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. OMG, you guys have to read this. My thoughts on it are here. But I am giving the just-created runner-up category to Sister Mischief by Laura Goode, because in any other month it would have won, for its humor, honesty, intelligence, and stereotype-defying characters. (Sister Mischief also gets a special prize for being a book I thought I would hate, hate, hate, but turned out to love, aka the Before I Fall prize.)
Worst book I read this month: I didn’t hate anything with fiery passion, but The Secret Prince had far too many ridiculous plot contrivances to keep the story running and is derivative of Harry Potter (without magic), and not in a way that rises above the comparison. But it’s still a likable, uncomplicated read, and it has some fun moments and definite kid appeal, so even though it’s my worst book this month, it’s not terrible. It’s middle-of-the-pack, really.
**49. A Sword in Her Hand, by Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem. YA Historical Fiction. 3 stars.
50. Brain Camp, by Susan Kim. Juv Graphic Novel. 3 stars.
**51. Sister Mischief, by Laura Goode. YA Fiction. 5 stars. Read ARC.
52. Ghostopolis, by Doug TenNepal. YA Graphic Novel. 4 stars.
53. Eona (DragonEye Reborn, Book Two), by Allison Goodman. YA Fantasy. 4 stars.
54. Mob Rules (Underworld Cycle, Book One), by Cameron Haley. Urban Fantasy. 3 stars.
55. Smile, by Rania Telgemeier. Juv Graphic Novel. 4 stars.
56. Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange, Book Three), by Lesley Livingston. YA Urban Fantasy. 3 stars.
57. Divergent (Divergent, Book One), by Veronica Roth. YA Dystopia. 4 stars. Review here (Goodreads).
58. Slog’s Dad, by David Almond and Dave McKean. Juv Graphic Novel. 3 stars.
59. The Dragon’s Path (Dagger and the Coin, Book One), by Daniel Abraham. Fantasy. 4 stars. Review here (Goodreads).
60. Across the Universe (Across the Universe, Book One), by Beth Revis. YA Science Fiction/Dystopia. 3.5 stars. Review here (Goodreads -- Spoilers).
61. Aftertime (Aftertime, Book One), by Sophie Littlefield. Dystopia. 3.5 stars. Review here (Goodreads).
**62. The Secret Prince (Knightely Academy, Book Two), by Violet Haberdasher. Juv Fantasy. 3 stars. Read ARC.
63. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor. YA Urban Fantasy. 5 stars. Review here (Goodreads). Read ARC.
**Booklist reviews
Best book I read this month: There is no contest. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. OMG, you guys have to read this. My thoughts on it are here. But I am giving the just-created runner-up category to Sister Mischief by Laura Goode, because in any other month it would have won, for its humor, honesty, intelligence, and stereotype-defying characters. (Sister Mischief also gets a special prize for being a book I thought I would hate, hate, hate, but turned out to love, aka the Before I Fall prize.)
Worst book I read this month: I didn’t hate anything with fiery passion, but The Secret Prince had far too many ridiculous plot contrivances to keep the story running and is derivative of Harry Potter (without magic), and not in a way that rises above the comparison. But it’s still a likable, uncomplicated read, and it has some fun moments and definite kid appeal, so even though it’s my worst book this month, it’s not terrible. It’s middle-of-the-pack, really.