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.