Eliza and her Monsters Review

Eliza and her Monsters

Author: Francesca Zappia

Publisher: HarperCollins

Synopsis:

    Eliza Mirk has a very big secret: she is LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of Monstrous Sea, a comic with millions of fans. She essentially lives online and can't imagine that a life offline would be better. 

    When Wallace, one of Monstrous Sea's biggest fanfiction writers, transfers to her school, the two become reluctant friends. Eliza doesn't feel comfortable sharing her true identity with anyone (only her family knows, and they don't exactly know how popular Monstrous Sea is), and when her secret is finally revealed, every relationship she's ever built falls apart, along with Monstrous Sea. Can Eliza find a way to fix it?

My thoughts:

    I absolutely loved this story! I thought it was insane how popular Eliza's story was! I wish my writing was that popular! :) 

    At the beginning of the story, it seemed strange that Eliza would want to keep her identity secret, but after it's revealed to the general public, it makes perfect sense: the Internet is cruel. 

    I related to Eliza in a way, especially how she felt about her work, because I'm a writer. However, since I can't draw at all, I admire her talents! 

    I thought it was really cool that the author included bits of Monstrous Sea throughout the book and now I wish it was a real story so I could read it!

    Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!!

Books Read on Vacation

    

    I recently went on vacation and that's why I've been kind of MIA on this blog. There was no Wifi and bad reception up there, so I wasn't posting on this blog at all.

    Anyway, being my usual bookworm self, I brought 15 books on vacation (they wouldn't all fit in the original bag I had 😂). After reading 8 of them (don't judge, I was quite busy up there!) I decided to do a blog post about which ones I read. Without farther ado, here they are:

Daughters of the Sea: Hannah, by Kathryn Lasky

Hannah wants to be normal but she can see the outline of scales on her legs, she gets seasick if she's away from the sea, and she knows a sea change is coming (upper middle grade).

Matilda Bone, by Karen Cushman

Orphaned Matilda is sent to work for a bonesetter in this novel set in medieval England. Matilda is very religious and could never imagine herself doing chores or helping patients (middle grade).

The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw

Because Moql is half human and half Moorfolk and can't shape shift, the Folk sent her to be the "child" of two humans, switching her for their real child and making Moql forget that she was Folk. As Moql grows up, she realizes how horrible the Folk have been to her human parents, and sets out to find their real child (middle grade).

Blood Rose Rebellion, by Rosalyn Eves

In a society where the upper class has magic, noble-born Anna is born without it and even accidentally breaks spells (YA).

My Lady Jane, by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

We all know the real story of Lady Jane Grey: she was queen of England for nine days then was beheaded. But what if she, along with her cousin, King Edward VI, survived? The authors completely rewrote their story (YA).

Across the Universe, by Beth Revis

Amy and her parents are just a few of the many cryo-frozen passengers on the ship Godspeed, which is heading to a new planet. It will take the ship 300 years to travel from Earth to the new planet. Except -- Amy is woken up 50 years early. Who tried to murder her? (YA)

Eliza and her Monsters, by Francesca Zappia

Eliza Mirk is the anonymous creator of Monstrous Sea, a comic with millions of fans. When a new boy named Wallace arrives at school, he turns out to be one of Monstrous Sea's biggest fanfiction writers. When Eliza's secret is revealed to the whole world, her relationship with everyone -- including Wallace -- is ruined. Will she ever be able to recover? (YA)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares

4 friends are spending the summer apart for the first time ever. After finding a pair of pants that somehow fits all 4 of them, they dub them "the Traveling Pants" and promise to mail them to each other over the summer to remind them of each other. (YA)

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? 

Middle Grade Books to Read This Summer

    Do you or someone you know like to read middle grade novels? Are you looking for a middle grade novel that takes place during the summer to read while you're at the pool or on vacation? Look no further, for I have created a list!

Glory Be, by Augusta Scattergood
Historical fiction novel about eleven year old Glory, who is growing up in a town in Mississippi in 1964 and dealing with segregation after her town closes the public pool rather than integrate it.

The Hidden Summer, by Gin Phillips
Realistic fiction novel about two best friends who hide out in an abandoned golf course because their mothers had a fight and won't let them see each other.

Sure Signs of Crazy, by Karen Harrington
Realistic fiction novel about twelve year old Sarah Nelson, whose mother left her when she was two because she was mentally ill. She sets out to find out if she will end up the same way. Along the way, instead of a "typical boring Sarah Nelson summer" she realizes she might have an extraordinary summer.

Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo 
Classic novel about a girl named Opal who finds a dog she names Winn-Dixie. The book is about how he changed her life.

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
Fantasy novel about Percy Jackson, who discovers that the Greek gods are real and his father was one, and that he needs to go on a quest to stop the gods from having a war and destroying the world.

Every Soul A Star, by Wendy Mass
Realistic fiction coming-of-age story, told through the perspective of 3 young teenagers who all end up at the Moon Shadow campground to witness a total eclipse of the sun.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon Review

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Author: Kelly Barnhill

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Synopsis:

    Every year on the same day, the people of the Protectorate sacrifice a baby to the Witch who lives in the swamp, because otherwise the Witch will come and torture the entire nation. In reality however, the Witch, Xan, does take the babies, but she finds good homes for them in the Free Cities. Along the way, to keep the babies healthy, she feeds them starlight. But one year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight and the baby becomes imbued with magic. So Xan decides she must raise the baby, who she names Luna, on her own.

    But as Luna's thirteenth birthday draws nearer, her magic starts to show itself -- and some of it has negative effects. Meanwhile a man whose child will be sacrificed sets out to kill the Witch and free his people from sacrificing babies, and a volcano ticks closer to the day it will erupt... 

My thoughts:

    I thought this book started out a little slow and got a little bit boring in the middle, but I really liked the plotline of this story. There was a lot of mystery surrounding magic and wizards and what had happened in the past, so I think it would be cool if there was another book where that was expanded on. I also think that another reason this book was cool was because it showed the power of a mother's love. I think a lot of people take that for granted, but it shows what a mother will endure for her child. I also thought it was cool that it told the story through a lot of different perspectives so you actually knew what the "evil people" or whatever you want to call them were thinking.

    Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars.

Popular & Great Dystopian Reads

Does you or someone you know like to read dystopian novels? Are you looking for a good one to read now or to add to your TBR? Then look at this list below!

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
The nation of Panem (North America in the future) holds The Hunger Games, a fight to the death competition between 24 teenagers, aired on live TV. Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place and becomes a tribute in the 74th annual Hunger Games.

Divergent, by Veronica Roth
Chicago in the future is divided into 4 factions. You choose which one you want to be in for the rest of your life when you are 16. Tris Prior must learn quickly the ways of the Dauntless, who value fearlessness, after switching from Abnegation, which values selflessness.

Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard
In a world divided by the color of your blood (red and silver), the Silvers have magical abilities and the Reds are basically slaves. Mare Barrow must learn how to survive after she realizes she has abilities, but her blood is red.

The Selection, by Kiera Cass
Futuristic North America holds a competition where 35 girls compete for the hand of the prince. America Singer, one of the contestants, is entered but doesn't want to be there at all.

Fish in a Tree Review

Fish in a Tree

Author: Lynda Mullay Hunt

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Synopsis:

    Ally Nickerson has gotten all the way to sixth grade without anybody -- kids, teachers, or parents -- finding out she can't read. She hasn't tried to find any help because after all, how can you help dumb?
    Ally's new teacher sees through Ally's "stupid" facade, and gets her to stay after school for help, while simultaneously shedding light on her gifts. When Ally makes two new friends that aren't "normal" either, she starts learning how to stand up to the bullies that have been making fun of her.

My thoughts:

    This book was a quick read that I thought would be good for younger readers, but older readers could definitely do it to! I found it amazing that Ally was so good at pretending that no one realized she couldn't read until her teacher in sixth grade. That was one of the only things that I thought was unrealistic. Other than that, I thought the characters were super cool (except the bullies) and I really liked Ally's teacher!

    Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

#bookwormproblems

Hey, no one ever said being a bookworm was easy.

When you're at a bookstore but don't have enough money to buy everything you want.
Or even worse, when you have no money.

When you just want to finish that book but your life gets in the way.
Especially when you have other books that are required reading.

 When you realize books aren't waterproof.
Reading while walking just isn't possible when it's raining.

When you're accused of being "antisocial."
Because being on your phone isn't antisocial either.

When you just want to read that one book, but it hasn't been released yet.
I think we've all felt the pain and suspense.

"So many books, so little time"
Or the opposite: "not enough books to satisfy my cravings."

When you stay up late or all night trying to finish a book.
You'll be regretting that decision the next morning when you can barely function. Or not. Hey, you proved that one person who said you couldn't finish the book by tomorrow wrong!

"Why can't that character be real?"
"Why can't I live in that world?"

When you forgot your library card at home.
"That's okay, I just memorized the barcode."


What are your #bookwormproblems? Share below in the comments!

Holding Up the Universe Review

Holding Up the Universe

Author: Jennifer Niven

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

    Everyone judges Libby Strout because she was once known as "America's Fattest Teen." After being homeschooled for several years, she has finally decided to go back to public school. She starts her junior year of high school, just wishing she could be normal. But of course, that's not going to happen.

    Jack Masselin is the opposite of Libby: he's popular and full of swagger, but he too has a secret: he doesn't recognize people's faces. Not even his family's. However, he has managed to get by without anyone noticing this.

    After an awful game where Libby ends up humiliated and punches Jack in the face, they are both sent to group counseling and community service. At first, Libby and Jack would rather be anywhere but there, but as they get to know each other, that might change.

My thoughts:

    I enjoyed this book because not only were the characters super cool, but it was also interesting learning about prosopagnosia (what Jack has, where you can't recognize faces), which I had never heard of before. I also haven't read a lot of books where one of the main issues of condemning/bullying people because they are overweight, so I learned a lot about that too. I think it is totally wrong that some people will tell people who are overweight that they aren't wanted or that they are disgusting. I get that you are entitled to your opinion, but that doesn't mean you should tell people that!!

    Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

How to Plan a TBR

    It's July 1st, and that means that readers everywhere will be planning out their July TBRs. So how exactly do you do that? Here are the top 5 ways I would recommend finding books for your TBR:


Mental Lists.
Chances are when you see a book you want to read you store it away in your brain somewhere. Try racking your brains and think of books you've always wanted to read. Or if you do have a list, look at that.


Websites.
I use lists on Goodreads to find books I want to read. It's free and you don't actually need an account to look at the lists. There are also a lot of other book blogs that I'm sure have lists.


Word of the Mouth.
Most people like to talk about good books they've read. If you've heard of a book you think you'd like, add it to your TBR. Likewise, if you've read a good book and you think someone you know would like it too, let them know! 


Social Media.
Social media is also a great way to find new books. A lot of people will post about books they thought were really good. If you think you'd like them too, add them to your TBR!


Authors You've Read Before.
If you've read a book and enjoyed it, see if the author has written any more. If it looks good, add them to your TBR.


    What books do you have on your TBR? Maybe I can get a recommendation!


    

Our Chemical Hearts Review

Our Chemical Hearts

Author: Krystal Sutherland

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

    Henry Page has never fallen in love. He's just never met "the one."
    When Grace Town, a new girl, who walks with a cane and wears oversized men's clothing, walks in ten minutes late to their drama class, there is no tug at his soul. He simply continues with class.
    When he and Grace become the editors of the school newspaper, he is instantly drawn to her. As they end up spending more and more time together, Henry realizes this relationship is (to quote Taylor Swift) going to be forever or going to go down in flames.

My thoughts:

    I thought that overall the plotline was okay and the writing style was good, but I didn't really like the characters. Grace seemed manipulative and uncaring (at least about Henry), and Henry himself seemed naive and didn't see any of Grace's flaws. And the only reason Henry noticed Grace was because she was mysterious. I feel like in a lot of YA the problem that makes the romance fall apart is the fact that one of the people wasn't in love with the other as a person, just an idea that they had of the person in their head. This was true in this book.
    I did find it interesting to read about Grace's different view of the world however.
    Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.