YA Review: Arc of a Scythe
Thunderhead
Oh, Neal Shusterman. Your books are so morbid but so, so good! Scythe and Thunderhead are YA, but if you like dystopian literature, I think any age would enjoy these. But given the content, I would definitely say 7th or 8th grade and up!
Scythe and its sequel, Thunderhead, are a YA dystopian series about a society in which the Cloud (yup, that Cloud) has taken over and perfected society. People live forever . . . until they are chosen to be gleaned (ie, killed) by a Scythe, to keep population numbers under control.
Death. So much death.
I know.
The REAL story is about Citra and Rowan, two teens chosen to train to be scythes, and how they interpret their new roles in society. And what can go wrong in a situation like this.
Y’all, these books are real dark, but really good. Walking around the house with my nose in them good. It’s an interesting concept, and even though they’re YA, they made me think about the way society often solves problems, and the problems that go along with a disconnected leader and all-consuming power.
If you like dystopian stories, I highly recommend these. The third and final book, The Toll, is coming in November 2019, and I cannot wait to see how the series ends!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Where the Crawdads Sing
“I wasn’t aware that words could hold so much. I didn’t know a sentence could be so full.”
That quote from Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing basically describes how I felt after finishing this book. Because the book, while extremely entertaining, is absolutely full of words and sentences that are meaningful. The story is bursting with emotions, feelings, and depth of character, not to mention the storyline, which I am still thinking about. This is Owens’ first fictional novel, and it’s kind of unbelievable. (And I’m extremely jealous, in the best possible way!)
I won’t go into detail on the plot, because I really want you to discover it for yourself as you read. It’s about Kya, known as the Marsh Girl, and how she survives essentially alone in the marshes of North Carolina, and how that affects her interactions with other people. Oh, and there’s also a murder plot thrown in, and it’s a good one.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a deeply emotional, incredibly well-written story about a girl who is a survivor, a creator, and an explorer, even if she doesn’t really leave her immediate surroundings. Truly a wonderful story, and I wish I could read it for the first time again. And I feel the need to go visit North Carolina immediately . . .
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
[Top]Blog Tour: Vacation for Dexter!
Lindsay Ward has done it again! Her Dexter series is so cute, and Vacation for Dexter is no exception. In this third book, out April 16th, Dexter and his owner are going on vacation! The only problem? They have to fly on an airplane, and Dexter is scared. He has to learn how to be brave on the plane, and that at the end of the flight is a really fun family vacation.
This is a great book for all kids, and especially kids (or adults, ahem, like me) who have some anxiety about traveling or flying. It shows that it’s ok to be afraid, but that you can be brave too! And who doesn’t want to be brave and get an awesome beach vacation at the end of it? And snacks. Snacks are definitely essential on airplanes.
My 7-year-old and I love the Dexter books, and this one is just as good as the first two!
[Top]National Siblings Day!
Happy National Siblings Day! I don’t have a sibling, but I love watching the sibling relationship my two boys have. (Well, sometimes I don’t love watching them annoy each other on purpose, but that’s just part of it!) In honor of Siblings Day, Blue Slip Media sent me the sequel one of my favorite picture books, I Am Famous, about fabulous Kiely and her paparazzi family. In I Used to Be Famous, Kiely isn’t quite the paparazzi darling she once was due to the arrival of her baby sister, Abby. Kiely has to figure out how to share the spotlight instead of stealing it all for herself.
This is such a sweet book, and it’s perfect for younger kids and new moms of two (or more)! It’s a fun way to show how there’s enough love and attention to go around for all siblings, and sharing the attention is ok. I hope Becky Cattie and Tara Luebbe have another one planned in this series!
What My Kids Are Reading: April 5, 2019
Well, I haven’t done one of these posts in awhile! Life has been so busy, and while my kids have definitely been reading, they go through books at home and school too quickly for me to keep track of. But I finally nailed down a few they’ve been loving lately, and I wanted to share them with you!
Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures 10: Showdown at the Alamo
When my 2nd grader had his own Flat Stanley project to complete over Spring Break, he started reading as many Flat Stanley books as he could. (He even got mad when it looked like Stanley wasn’t quite flat in one of the pictures-“He’s supposed to be FLAT! Why isn’t he flat here?”) So when we visited the Alamo, I had to pick this one up! We don’t find a lot of kids’ books set in San Antonio, and this is a really fun one! If you have an early reader or a kid who just loves Flat Stanley, this is another great book in the series.
Lost in the Antarctic: The Doomed Voyage of the Endurance
Lost in the Amazon: A Battle for Survival in the Heart of the Rainforest
My 4th grader loves, loves, loves historical fiction and literary non-fiction. He’s already read all of the I Survived books, so when he started the LOST series by Tod Olson, he was immediately hooked. (When Blue Slip Media sent Lost in the Antarctic before it’s publication date, he grabbed it right out of the package, said I was so cool, and then I didn’t see the book again until he finished it. At least I can still impress my kids?) These books are so good for older readers. They’re extremely entertaining and informative. What kid doesn’t like learning more about history and the world in a way that doesn’t involve a textbook?! I highly recommend the LOST series for kids about 10 and up who like exciting adventure stories!
Secret Agents Jack and Max Stalwart: The Fate of the Irish Treasure
Both of my kids love the Jack & Max Stalwart series, and this book is no different! (Can you sense a theme here of what my kids love? History, world information, adventure . . . ) Ireland is one of my favorite places, so I was really excited to see this book when it came out in March! Through the brothers going on perilous adventure, kids will learn about Dublin, The Book of Kells, Trinity College, and more about Ireland in this book. This is a brilliant series, especially for kids who have trouble focusing on slower books, and it’s great for a lot of ages!
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