Literally Lenny: wrap up

Book Count: 10

Pages Count: 2,034

Star Count: 38/50

Adulthood is a Myth and Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen

Both of these were graphic novels with little shorts of how Adulting is hard (impossible), and oh my gosh is Sarah Anderson SPOT ON. This was fantastic. I'm dying laughing. The amount I can relate to this is unnerving. I can’t say more good things about this. You’ll just have to read it yourself to believe me.

The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe

DNF

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus. Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz.

I really wanted to like this one since I love reading WWII historical fiction. Unfortunately, this one was seriously lacking. It felt like it was very childish, and there was no emotion in the writing regardless of it being set in Auschwitz.

I just feel that it did no justice to the survivors and victims of Auschwitz. I understand that it was historical fiction, but reading the story, which just seemed childish & carefree, allowed me to forget where they actually were...which almost seemed to me like they were playing Auschwitz off like it was "no big deal."

I will say that there were some really great one-liner quotes in there, which just shows me that the writer is completely capable of writing a fantastic story. This was just unfortunately NOT it.

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

DNF

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods in the middle of a downpour, with a woman sitting inside—a woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind, but since then, she’s been suffering from short term memory loss, which is driving her mad. The only thing she can’t forget is that woman and the terrible nagging guilt. Or the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her.

I could not POSSIBLY continue with this. Oh my dear lord. This was painful to read. Where was that even going? I got MORE than halfway through and literally NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. You're just here watching a woman lose her mind and it's driving ME mad. I'm done. I tried, but I can't. I'm so frustrated.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

THIS WAS SO GOOD. WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO READ THIS?! I'm starting to realize though that everything Marissa Meyer writes turns to gold. I have yet to find a book by her that I don't love.

Cinder, a cyborg under her step-mother’s control, is the best mechanic in all of New Beijing. When the Royal Prince hires her to fix his droid, an unlikely friendship forms between the two. But when Cinder is captured for scientific tests, she finds out who she really is -- and that might cost her everything she now knows and loves.

This was exactly what I wanted from the book. There wasn’t TOO much action, there wasn’t too much lovey dovey-ness, and it wasn’t TOO sci-fi. It was a perfect balance of everything I love in a book. However, I couldn't help but pull comparisons to TOG though? Long lost princess/queen? Hm?

Ever The Hunted by Erin Summerill

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.

It was fast paced enough to keep me interested and the storyline was beautiful.

This was significantly better than I had expected, considering I heard pretty mixed reviews on it, but I'm really glad I gave it a go.

I gave it 4 stars only because it didn’t blow me away. That being said though, I still cannot wait to read the next book. Definitely a series worth reading.

Ms. Marvel: Volumes 1-3 by Willow G. Wilson

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman?

Reasons to read this series:

Diversity - hell yeah.

It’s freaking hilarious

The graphics are epic

It’s bloody adorable

You need it in your life even if you don’t know that yet.

All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

Nicolette (Nic) has a really dark past. When her brother calls her for help, she must leave her perfect life behind in Philly and return to Cooley Ridge, North Carolina. But when Nic returns, she’s reminded of her best friend’s kidnapping that happened 10 years ago. Within hours of her return, secrets begin to rise to the surface and everything Nic once knew is about to be flipped upside down.

Another really great mind bender. I thought the timeline of this was really fantastic, regardless of how much it confused me at first. You got to see how the story developed backwards instead of forwards...what an interesting concept. Not to mention the actual mystery was really gripping! And then when you find out what REALLY happened, it's like 'HOLY CRAP I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.' Yeah. Really good.

Anyways. Only reason I gave it 4 stars was because the whole backwards time thing threw me off in the beginning and it took me a while to get used to it (but once I did I really enjoyed it!)

12:00 PM No comments

Book Count: 8

Pages Count: 2,469

Star Count: 30/40

Artemis by Andy Weir

Artemis follows a muslim girl who has been living on the moon since age 6. However, now at 17, she finds herself living the life of a smuggler and completely isolated from her family. An opportunity to come into significant money is dropped at her feet, and she pounces. Little does she know that this will put not only her but the entire community on the moon at danger.

Andy Weir did not disappoint, but he didn't WOW me with this one either. Unfortunately, I think any book written following The Martian has no chance. True to Andy Weir's writing, it made me laugh out loud SEVERAL times. He manages to combine sci-fi, science, and comedy in one. And, let's be honest, he's one of the only people to successfully do it...or even attempt it for that matter.

Either way, a great read! I would of course recommend The Martian over Artemis, but if you already read & loved The Martian, give this one a go!

Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace: he has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You'd like to get to know Grace better. But it's difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are never apart. Some might call this true love. But why are there bars on one of the bedroom windows?

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I have been on a major mystery-thriller kick this month (as you will see with the following books). This one was up there in one of my favorites. It was JUST messed up enough and scarily realistic. You feel so much for the main character because you know as well as she does that there is no way out, and he's made sure of that.

I highly recommend this if you're looking for a good thriller.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

This one was a MIND BENDER. This was my favorite of the mystery-thrillers I read this month.

Anne and Marco have a 6-month old baby. Their neighbors don't like babies, so they leave the baby alone in her crib as the pop over next door for a dinner party. But when Anne and Marco return, the baby is gone.

This will leave you LITERALLY on the edge of your seat and make you freak the FUDGE OUT. I cannot recommend me enough, so just trust me and pick this one up. You will NOT REGRET IT.

All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

DNF

Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars.

At the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the ability to perform unusual miracles. And at the heart of this family are three cousins longing to change its future. They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never quite what you expect.

I tried to get into this, and I just couldn't. Maybe it's because it's magical realism and I just cannot wrap my head around that genre, or maybe it was just the writing. Either way, I couldn't get into it and I'm quite disappointed. I heard a lot of people quite liked it, so maybe if you're really into magical realism, give this one a go!

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

A teenage boy, Will, just saw his brother shot, and now he's out for revenge. But first, he needs to take the elevator - an elevator full of ghosts from his past. And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.

I loved this one not only because of how drastically different it was from anything else, but also because of the diversity it brought to the YA genre. I cannot stress enough how important it is for the world to read these stories. We all need more perspectives on life because then maybe we would understand and accept people more. And we need a little more love in this world.

Rengades by Marissa Meyer

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

I FREAKING LOVED THIS. One of my favorite reads of 2017, honestly. It's superheroes + dystopia + diversity to the max. If you love Marissa Meyer or just fantasy/sci-fi in general you need to read this because I promise you'll love it.

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena

Karen and Tom are happy in their home in Upstate New York. That is until Karen gets into a near-fatal car accident that leaves her with no memory of what happened. The cops say it appears she was running away from something...but what?

Karen returns home with Tom, determined to heal and move on with her life. Then she realizes something’s been moved. Something’s not quite right. Someone’s been in her house. And the police won't stop asking questions.

When I read mystery-thrillers, they have to have a "sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat" plot and a completely shocking ending, and this one delivered!

I only gave it 4 stars because it was quite prolonger and I felt the writer could've presented the solution to the mystery much earlier. Regardless, it was a mind bender and a total thriller. Highly recommend this if you're looking for a fun mystery-thriller!

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

I was really hoping that this would be on par with The Gold Seer Trilogy (Walk on Earth A Stranger) which as you guys probably know is one of my favorite series. I've heard really fantastic things about this series, but I've noticed that they're usually from people who haven't read Walk On Earth A Stranger yet. So unfortunately, this really did not meet my expectations.

As a result, this was very lack luster to me. There wasn't enough adventure, not enough character development, and strange conflicts and resolutions. It was still a fun story, but it felt too short and like it was missing a massive chunk of the plot.

1:44 PM No comments

Book Count: 5

Pages Count: 1,708

Star Count: 19/25

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Farway is the top of his class in the year 2354 until he fails his final time-travelling exam and is kicked out of school. As his future collapses, Far is desperate to resurrect it, so he joins a black market operation travelling through time with his friends.

The plot and setting of this was epic and really intriguing, but it definitely could’ve been pulled off a lot better. The entire story was just dragged on forever and it felt just too much. I felt like there were a lot of parts that we unnecessary and didn’t add much substance to the overall story or character development.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Vivian Carter is fed up with her sexist, small-town Texas high school that thinks the football team can do no wrong. To fight back, Vivian creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. The zine stirs the pot in the small-town high school and creates a kick-ass girl revolution.

This is another important book for young women to read. Girls today need to know that just because women degradation is normal and very prevalent, does not mean that it is by any means acceptable. Women need to know that they have a voice and that they can change the world if they set their minds to it. Women are not weak, and men are not stronger.

The book overall was really well written and very realistic for young feminists. It wasn’t just about feminism, but also about discovering who you are, and learning that you deserve the best in life.

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Fabiola and her mother move to America from Haiti. Fabiola is American born, but her mother is not. When her mother is detained at JFK airport, Fabiola has no choice but to continue to Detroit to be with her family. While in Detroit, her mother remains detained in an immigration camp and Fabiola becomes desperate. Fabiola becomes involved with a drug case that traces much closer to home than she had ever anticipated.

A wonderful look into the life of immigrants and the struggles they face even after entering this country. This was a really difficult book to read because of how real it was. This girl and her mother just want freedom in America, and instead America becomes more of a prison. Fabiola is forced into doing anything she can to free her mother. Little does Fabiola know that she is just digging an even bigger whole into her new life.

This is a must read regardless of your heritage. This book is REAL and it would do the world better if everyone could see lives from different (and diverse) perspectives.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Justyce McAllister comes from a poor family but was given a chance when he was enrolled in a prestigious school and accepted into Yale. Regardless of his education and respectable upbringing, him and his best friend were caught in the path of a bullet from an off-duty cop.

I am not going to lie, this was NOT what I was expecting at all from this. But that being said, I’m not sure WHAT I was expecting either. But can we just agree that EVERY SINGLE CHILD should read this book? If more kids read books like this, maybe there’d be less misunderstanding and strife in this world. We could show them the difference between right and wrong through books. And we should start with THIS book.

My reasoning for giving this book 4 stars is simply because I wanted more. I hate to relate it to THUG (The Hate You Give) because you really can’t, but I just loved how invested I became in Starr’s life, and I didn’t feel that for Justyce. Maybe because it was so short, or that it was difficult for me to relate to a black male. I’m not sure. I just wish I could have become more engrossed with the story that I was. That is my own personal opinion and I do not on any circumstances want anyone to NOT consider this book just because of a 4 star rating. Everyone needs to read this. Everyone needs to understand how today’s society is affecting children! And children need more books that they can relate to.

Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson

Leah Westfall and her friends have become rich in the California Territory, thanks to Lee’s magical ability to sense precious gold. But their fortune has made them a target, and when a dangerous billionaire sets out to destroy them, Lee and her friends decide they’ve had enough—they will fight back with all their power and talents.

The third and final book of The Gold Seer Trilogy, but probably my least favorite of the entire series. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a wonderful book (4 stars worth!) full of the characters I love, but it just didn’t deliver like the others had. And when the story comes to an end, it didn’t tie enough loose ends for me and I was left unsatisfied.

3:00 PM No comments

Book Count: 8

Pages Count: 2,450

Star Count: 28/40

The Reason You're Alive by Matthew Quick

Another solid quick read from Matthew Quick about a Vietnam vet living in modern day and dealing with the societal changes. There was not much plot to this book, but it didn’t need it i realized in the end. The crotchety old man teaches you to not take everything for granted, that yes, he may have a black and white view on society, but he’s more accepting of this world than most people.

The Secret History of Us by Jessi Kirby

Olivia loses several years of her memory after a tragic accident and in turn loses who she really is. I really like the approach the author took for this book, in that instead of focusing on the potential drama-filled road she could have ventured down, she focused more on the main character finding her way back to who she really is, regardless of who she was at the time of the accident. And what really threw me was the massive cliff hanger she left you on at the end - you’re left not really knowing what happens with Olivia, but then again not having your typical happy ending story is quite refreshing.

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

A cute read about two high school students who are lost and are struggling to be themselves in society. When they befriend each other, an unusual friendship begins. I didn’t love this book, mostly because it just didn’t seem to go anywhere. I get that Kit protected David and that David helped Kit deal with her tragedy, but that just wasn’t enough plot for me. I will however give major kudos to the author for including an autistic boy in the story. Not only is autism never addressed in YA, but it’s rarely seen from a first person perspective.

The Walls by Hollie Overton

A woman who made the wrong choices in her teenage years is paying for them later in life, until she meets the guy who can turn everything around; or upside down.

A really heartbreaking yet empowering book about female strength and resilience, and just an overall thrilled, this book left me on the edge of my seat always. This book was fantastic. Not at all what I was expecting.

Be aware that this book does involve domestic abuse (physical abuse that is) and is very cringe-worthy and hard to read at points. But the ending is just fantastic. I wouldn’t say that justice is served, considering the circumstances, but it was more than satisfying. I highly recommend you read this if you’re into thrillers or murder-mysteries.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

This was better than I was expecting. It’s a very hyped book and I have been putting it off for a very long time. The main character is very sweet and naive (in the cute way, because you know she’s learning...she’s not just a ditz.) I LOVE that this series isn’t based off of just one relationship. I like that it is more about seeing Lara-Jean grow as a person, rather than be based around what boy she falls in love with and their relationship as a whole. It’s refreshing and I really enjoy seeing inside her head because it just reminds me of myself when I was that age…*cringe*

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

I freaking LOVED this book. I saw that there’s a lot of people who don’t like this book, and I guess if you’re super duper Outlander fans, I get it? But for someone who has hidden away from Outlander for so long, I’m absolutely OBSESSED with this. It’s the perfect combination on nerd and sci-fi. It’s epic and exciting and unpredictable plus, historical fiction on the side? Yes, please.

Not gonna lie though, her personal life (like with her father and everything) seems a WEE far fetched...and her mother’s story doesn’t add up either...if you read this book, you will understand what i’m babbling on about.

Either way, I demand you go read this. It’s one of my favorite reads of the entire year and I’m SOOO freaking excited for Sparks of Light.

London Belongs to Me by Jacquelyn Middleton

DNF

(Did Not Finish)

Here’s an unpopular opinion because I know SO many people who absolutely loved and devoured this book...but I was not one of them. I couldn’t finish this one...I loved the concept because if there’s two things I love it’s London and Doctor Who. It was too much...It was almost as if the author was trying too hard to be overly obsessed with London and Doctor Who. It just didn’t seem natural coming from someone who IS genuinely in love with both.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

The Breakfast Club modernized into a murder mystery. This was a good quick read for me...there wasn’t much substance to it and the main characters were quite flawed and bothersome but it was still overall enjoyable.

I also unfortunately was able to guess the murderer from the very beginning (which never happens) and it kinda ruined the story for me. It was creepy, but mostly just annoying high school kids who were completely messed up in their own ways.

12:00 PM No comments