Graphic Novel Review of Monstress Vol.2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu

Read for: Graphic Novel Challenge

Review of Vol. 1: Awakening

Synopsis: "The Eisner-nominated MONSTRESS is back! Maika, Kippa, and Ren journey to Thyria in search of answers to her past... and discover a new, terrible, threat. Collects MONSTRESS #7-12"

My Review: I understand that is not a very good synopsis, but honestly I don't really know how to describe this one because I am not even really sure what is going on. There is a bit of a gap in the timeline from the previous issues and I am not sure how the characters got here or what the plan is, I am just along for the ride. I do really enjoy most of the characters, and as I said before the art is absolutely amazing!! I will continue this series, if only for the artwork and Kippa and Ren are favorite characters, but in all honesty the storyline really isn't making sense to me yet. 

My Rating: As I said, this is a rather confusing storyline to follow and I am rather lost, but I do enjoy the elements of the story, just not the story as a whole.  I highly recommend this for the art though, the illustrations are so detailed and absolutely stunning!  I give this one a rating of Three Paws.

Bedtime Story: Dear Teacher by Amy Husband

Read for: Children's Book Challenge

Synopsis: "This hilarious collection of letters from Michael to his new teacher comes packed with alligators, pirates and rocket-ships, and much, much more. Can Michael's imagination save him from the first day of school?"

My Review: There comes a time when kids will start to dread going back to school and this fun book shows the creativity Michael has to avoid going to school on the first day. I like how this is written in letter format between the new teacher and Michael. Each letter gets a little more creative and is full of illustrations of the adventures Michael comes up with. I think a lot of kids will enjoy this book though the kids who don't like school are probably too old to be picking up a picture book.

My Rating: This was such a fun and unique book and a great one to read if a kid is having some anxiety about returning to school. We had a lot of laughs with this book and I am sure it will be re-read again.  We give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Early Reader Review of Summer Treasure by Margaret McNamara

Read for: Early Reader Challenge

Synopsis: "A Robin Hill School first-grader gets a summertime surprise in this sunny Ready-to-Read!Since it's summer, instead of attending Robin Hill School, Hannah gets to do other fun things, like go to the beach with her family. Imagine her surprise when she sees her teacher, Mrs. Connor! In a bathing suit! Turns out, teachers don't live at school--and they are just as friendly outside of the classroom. Together, Mrs. Connor and Hannah look for treasure on the beach and share a beautiful summer day."

My Review: This is such a fun book to read during summer vacation, it has silly elements and fun things to do during the school break. It has simple words and sentences and will be a story that young beginning readers will enjoy. Munchkin really enjoyed this book since it surprised him the first time he saw a teacher at the grocery store.

My Rating: This was such a fun book to read during summer vacation and Munchkin really enjoyed it.  Young readers will think it is great and will be able to connect with the story.  We give it a rating of Four Paws.

Audio Book Review of American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Read for: Audio Book Challenge/ BTAFest

Synopsis: "The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?"

My Review: I picked this book up because Ibi Zoboi is going to be at the BTA Fest this fall and even though this is pretty far outside my normal comfort zone I wanted to give it a try. It was interesting and it seemed pretty authentic, at least as far as I can tell not having lived in the inner city or been to Haiti or having even a slightly similar background. The characters were all very interesting and well developed. I was a little put off by the vast amounts of cursing, I don't mind some (heck I am pretty bad about it myself) but this book really took it to an extreme. It was interesting to read about some of the Haiti traditions and beliefs tucked in throughout the story. I was left hanging a little bit, the conclusion got a little rushed and I am not entirely sure as to what happened. I am glad I read it and I can see lovers of YA contemporary really enjoying this one. If you can get the audio book, I highly recommend it; the narrator, Robin Miles, did a fantastic job with all the accents.

My Rating: As I have said before, contemporary is not my genre and especially those without much or any romance.  With that said this book certainly has a story to tell and a message behind the story.  While it may not have been the book for me, I can still appreciate it.  For me it was a Three Paw book but I believe that it will rate much higher for those who prefer the genre.

It's Not Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
Dory's Story by Random House Disney (Early Reader)
What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada (Bedtime Story)
Northern Exposure by Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon (After Dark Series Review)
Southern Comfort by Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon (After Dark Series Review)
Eastern Ambitions by Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon (After Dark Series Review)
Western Ties by Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon (After Dark Series Review)

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Captive Prince
American Street
The Kingmaking
Berenstain Bears Around the World
It Came in the Mail
Berenstain Bears Gone Fishin'
This Book Will Not Be Fun
Everyone's an Aliebn when Ur an Aliebn Too

Currently Reading:

Scythe by Neal Shusterman - Print - on page 265 of 435
Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop - All formats - 28%
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee - Print - on page 37 of 513




 Books to be Read Soon:

Songlines
When Dimple Met Rishi
Done Dirt Cheap
Truthwitch
Dragon Teeth

Pages Read/ Time Listened
131:35 Hours Listened (8:35 listened this week)
37,480 Pages Read (1,202 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently TBR
Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
Samurai Rising by Pamela Turner
Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Saga Vol. 7 by Brian K. Vaughan
Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton
Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
How to Tame a Willful Wife by Christy English
New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson
The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Finding Wonders by Jeannine Atkins
World Mythology in Bite Sized Chunks by Mark Daniels
Eliza and Her Monster by Francesca Zappia
Turning Pointe by Katherine Locke
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Windwitch by Susan Dennard
Done Dirt Cheap by Sarah Nicole Lemon
Frogkisser by Garth Nix
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
Princess Leia: Royal Rebel by Calliope Glass
Northern Exposure by Jayne Rylon & Mari Carr
Southern Comfort by Jayne Rylon & Mari Carr
Eastern Ambitions by Jayne Rylon & Mari Carr
Western Ties by Jayne Rylon & Mari Carr
American Street by Ibi Zoboi
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth
Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
The Misfits by James Howe
Totally Joe by James Howe
Addie on the Inside by James Howe
Also Known as Elvis by James Howe
Viking Warrior Rebel by Asa Maria Bradley
New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns
Puss Without Boots by Shari L. Tapscott
Monstress Vol. 2 by Marjorie M. Liu
Everyone is an Aliebn when ur are an Aliebn too by Jomny Sun
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Saints Blood by Sebastien de Castell
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman



Books Read From My Shelves




Interesting Tidbits on the Web:



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I am honestly a little surprised with how much I read last week (and yesterday - it was a holiday here in RI).  I ended up really getting into The Kingmaking, even though it was a large dense read, I didn't want to put it down but that worked out well for my Tome Topple Readathon!  I am also a little surprised at how much I was able to read with everything going on at home this last week.  On Monday night last week our lovely dog Niko got himself sprayed by a skunk and bolted into the house, EVERYTHING stunk! I spent all week washing every piece of fabric in our house, including all the clothes in the dressers, closets and all the upholstery.  Even the walls needed to be scrubbed where he rubbed against them.  Finally on Saturday I managed to get the house smelling good again and was finishing the last of the laundry when we discovered our dishwasher was leaking through the floor into the basement and on to one of my bookshelves!! So yup it was a good thing that I had an extra day off yesterday because I was so busy all last week and weekend that I needed the day to get back to school shopping done and the last of the birthday party prep done!

YIKES! I need a break big time!! Anyway, there are only a few days left in the Tome Topple and I am trying to finish a second tome, we will see how it goes. I have been doing really good with updating on Instagram, and have been doing good keeping up with photo challenges so far too!

Hope your week last week went better than mine and I hope we all have good weeks this week!