The Book Life Tag!

 

Hey everyone! Let’s celebrate the return of my book blog posts with a bookish tag! I randomly found this on Books & Other Pursuits. They did this tag in April so it was a while ago but that’s okay. They’re not the creator of this so I can’t give them complete credit though. The point of this tag is to answer questions with places or characters from books. It’s pretty short and simple. Let’s get started!

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Who Would Your Parents Be?

This is a pretty basic answer but I’m going to say Molly and Arthur Weasley. They seem like they would be the best parents in the world (besides my own of course). Plus they’re gingers like me so that’s a plus.

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Who Would Be Your Sister?

Definitely Blue Sargent from the Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater. I just finished the fourth book The Raven King and I loved it! I’m absolutely in love with the series. Blue would definitely have to be my sister because she’s like me because she’s more of a follower. She’s also just a great person overall.

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Who Would Be Your Brother?

Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell definitely. He would be such a kind and humorous brother. He also works at Starbucks which of course would have its benefits.

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Who Would Be Your Pet?

This is going to be so repetitive but I’m going to say Chainsaw from the Raven Cycle series. He is such a loyal raven to Ronan and would definitely be there no matter what.

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Where Would You Live?

Green Gables from the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. The land is filled with so many trees and lots of places to roam. The actual house would be a wonderful place to explore and relax in.

This is the house that was owned by relatives of Montgomery. It’s the Green Gables house that the house in the Anne series is apparently based off of.

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Where Would You Go To School?

Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series of course!

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Who Would Be Your Best Friend? 

Liesel from the Book Thief by Markus Zusak. She’s just as into books as I am, she’s a badass and doesn’t always follow the rules. Liesel would be a great friend.

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Who Would Be Your Significant Other? *SPOILER?*

This is a tough one.. I’m going to say Gus from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Even though he dies (this shouldn’t be a spoiler but just in case…) he would be a fantastic boyfriend. He’s such a sweet guy and good-looking too!

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I tag anyone who wants to participate!

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That’s a wrap! Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more book tags!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

Book Traveling Thursday (#41)|Yellow

Hey everyone! It’s been months since I’ve posted. I guess this blog got pushed to the back burner. As a side note, on June 23rd, it was my blog’s 2 year anniversary. That’s definitely something to celebrate. Today I’m jumping back in with a Book Traveling Thursday! This wonderful weekly meme is hosted by Cátia @ The Girl Who Read Too Much. To find out more information, future themes and more, go to the meme’s Goodreads group here. Go check her out for a constant book blog. This week’s theme is:

Choose a book that has originally a yellow cover.

This should’ve been simple and straight forward but sadly it wasn’t. I finally settled on a book that I haven’t even read. That book is The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider. 

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Original Cover/Cover From My Country:

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Favorite Cover(s):

French

This book has two titles, the second one being Severed Heads, Broken Hearts. That’s what this apparently translates to.

Indonesian

Polish

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Least Favorite Cover(s):

NONE 😀

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That’s a wrap! I love the covers for this book! What is your favorite cover? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more blog posts!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😉

 

 

Top 5 Wednesday (#5)|Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Hey everyone! After being gone again, I’m back. I can’t promise that I’ll ever be 100% back but I won’t quit! Today is Wednesday and that means it’s time for another Top 5 Wednesday. This lovely weekly meme is hosted by the wonderful Sam @ Thoughts On Tomes and @gingerreadslainey. Both these ladies have fantastic YouTube video style book blogs. Go check them out for constant videos 😀 To find out more information, future topics and more, go visit the meme’s Goodreads group here. This week’s topic is:

March 8th – Favorite Science Fiction & Fantasy Books *BooktubeSFF Awards Crossover Topic!*
–In collaboration with the BooktubeSFF Awards, talk about your favorite science fiction and fantasy books of all time!

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5 Favorite Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books:

1. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by JK Rowling

This time, I decided to pick my favorite HP book instead of choosing the whole series. This edition’s cover is fantastic!

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2.The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This definitely has to be on here 🙂 Apparently it’s considered Sci-Fi. Not sure how I didn’t know that.

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3. The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

I love this series to bits so far!! I’m close to done with The Dream Thieves now 🙂

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4. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Still haven’t brought myself to read the conclusion to this series. From what I’ve heard, I’m making a good choice.

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5. The Warriors series by Erin Hunter

This series was so intense for me when I was a child and young teen.

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That’s a wrap! This topic definitely made me realize I need to dive into Fantasy and Sci-Fi more. I literally had to put a children’s fantasy book. What are your favorite fantasy and sci-fi books? Do you have any suggestions for me? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more T5W!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀 ❤

Top Ten Tuesday|Love

 

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Hey everyone! It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! This weekly meme was created by the wonderful people at The Broke And The Bookish. Go check them out for more information, topics and so much more! This week’s topic is:

Ten Books I Loved Less/More Than I Thought I Would (recently or all time) — or you could do something like books I liked more/less than everyone else

I have decided to do Ten Books I Loved More Than I Thought I Would

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Ten Books I Loved More Than I Thought I Would:

1. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

I’ve already cheated! This is seven books not one 😀

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2. The Raven Boys By Maggie Stiefvater

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3. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before By Jenny Han

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4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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5. None Of The Above by I.W. Gregorio

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6. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

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7. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

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8. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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9. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

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10. The Sky Is Everywhere By Jandy Nelson

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That’s a wrap! What books did you love more than you thought you would? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more Top Ten Tuesday!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

None Of The Above| Book Review

Hey everyone! I apologize for being so inactive lately. I’ll try to get into a solid schedule but there’s no guarantees. Yesterday I finished an incredible book called None Of The Above by I.W. Gregorio.

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“Love isn’t a choice. You fall for the person, not their chromosomes.”

Genre: Young Adult

# of pages: 352

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Author: I.W. Gregorio

Release Date: April 7th, 2015

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Summary:

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She’s a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she’s madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she’s decided that she’s ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin’s first time isn’t the perfect moment she’s planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy “parts.”

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin’s entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

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None of The Above is an incredible book! It’s the first book I’ve read that has an intersex main character. The author did a brilliant job with detail. Each character seemed so real. Kristen has had a crappy life but her friends are really what keeps her grounded. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a huge secret like that leaked. Not only is there a unique view on sexuality, there’s love, betrayal, forgiveness and so much more. I loved this book so much. It’s definitely worth the read. I wish there was a sequel. There’s some things that definitely feel unfinished. I.W. Gregorio definitely needs to write more books!

“The biggest difference between boy and girls is how people treat them” 

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That’s a wrap! Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more book reviews!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

Library Book Haul (#10)

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I blogged. I recently went to the library and decided to do another Library Book Haul. It’s the 10th one! You guys have really been enjoying these book hauls 😀 This book haul consists of three YA books and three YT (Young Teen) books. Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven would’ve been part of this haul but I started and almost finished it. A review will hopefully be coming your way soon!

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Library Book Haul:

*All Covers Are Linked To Goodreads*

1. If I Ever Get Out Of Here By Eric Gansworth (YA)

Lewis “Shoe” Blake is used to the joys and difficulties of life on the Tuscarora Indian reservation in 1975: the joking, the Fireball games, the snow blowing through his roof. What he’s not used to is white people being nice to him — people like George Haddonfield, whose family recently moved to town with the Air Force. As the boys connect through their mutual passion for music, especially the Beatles, Lewis has to lie more and more to hide the reality of his family’s poverty from George. He also has to deal with the vicious Evan Reininger, who makes Lewis the special target of his wrath. But when everyone else is on Evan’s side, how can he be defeated? And if George finds out the truth about Lewis’s home — will he still be his friend?

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2. None Of The Above By I.W. Gregorio (YA)

A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex… and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She’s a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she’s madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she’s decided that she’s ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin’s first time isn’t the perfect moment she’s planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy “parts.”

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin’s entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

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3. The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) By Maggie Stiefvater (YA)

(I recently read the first book and fell in love. The review will be up ASAP)

Ronan Lynch has secrets. Some he keeps from others. Some he keeps from himself.

One secret: Ronan can bring things out of his dreams.

And sometimes he’s not the only one who wants those things.

Ronan is one of the raven boys – a group of friends, practically brothers, searching for a dead king named Glendower, who they think is hidden somewhere in the hills by their elite private school, Aglionby Academy. The path to Glendower has long lived as an undercurrent beneath town. But now, like Ronan’s secrets, it is beginning to rise to the surface – changing everything in its wake.

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4. It Ain’t So Awful Falafel By Firoozeh Dumas (YT)

Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block . . . for the fourth time. California’s Newport Beach is her family’s latest perch, and she’s determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name—Cindy. It’s the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even mood rings and puka shell necklaces can’t distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home. A poignant yet lighthearted middle grade debut from the author of the best-selling Funny in Farsi. 

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5. Nothing But Trouble By Jacqueline Davies (YT)

Odawahaka has always been too small for Maggie’s big scientific ideas. Between her stuck-in-a-rut mom, her grumpy grandpop, and the lifetime supply of sludgy soda in the fridge, it’s hard for Maggie to imagine a change.

But when Lena moves in with her creative spirit and outrageous perspective, middle school takes off with a bang. Someone starts pulling the kind of pranks that send their rule-loving new principal into an uproar—complete with purple puffs of smoke, parachuting mice, and a scavenger hunt that leads to secret passageways. Suddenly the same-old football games, election for class president, and embarrassing stories feel almost exciting. And for the first time in her life, Maggie begins to wonder if there might be more to Odawahaka than she ever saw coming!

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6. Every Single Second By Tricia Springstubb (YT)

A single second. That’s all it takes to turn a world upside down.

Twelve-year-old Nella Sabatini’s life is changing too soon, too fast. Her best friend, Clem, doesn’t seem concerned; she’s busy figuring out the best way to spend the “leap second”—an extra second about to be added to the world’s official clock. The only person who might understand how Nella feels is Angela, but the two of them have gone from being “secret sisters” to not talking at all.

Then Angela’s idolized big brother makes a terrible, fatal mistake, one that tears apart their tight-knit community and plunges his family into a whirlwind of harsh publicity and judgment. In the midst of this controversy, Nella is faced with a series of startling revelations about her parents, friends, and neighborhood. As Angela’s situation becomes dangerous, Nella must choose whether to stand by or stand up. Her heart tries to tell her what to do, but can you always trust your heart? The clock ticks down, and in that extra second, past and present merge—the future will be up to her.

Tricia Springstubb’s extraordinary novel is about the shifting bonds of friendship and the unconditional love of family, the impact of class and racial divides on a neighborhood and a city, and a girl awakening to awareness of a world bigger and more complex than she’d ever imagined.

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That’s a wrap! What books seem appealing to you? Have you read any of them? Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more Library Book Hauls!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

Top 5 Wednesday (#3)|Polarizing Books

 

Hey everyone! It’s time for Top 5 Wednesday! Let me know whether or not you’re enjoying this weekly meme! Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by gingerreadslainey and Sam @ Thoughts On Tomes. Both of these lovely ladies have video blogs on YouTube. It’s definitely worth checking out! To find out more information, future topics and more, go visit the meme’s Goodreads group here. This week’s topic is:

These are books that people either tend to love or hate, with no in between. Pick some of your favorites that fall into this category.

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Top 5 Polarizing Books:

1. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

With this series, either you’re a Potterhead or not. To me, there’s no “partial fans”

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2. The Fault In Our Stars By John Green

Either you’re against the “romanticized and repetitive cancer theme” or you’re in love with Hazel and Gus’s tear jerking romance.

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3. Paper Towns by John Green

Some think the story is boring. Others get drawn into the adventure. To me, there’s no in between.

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4. Fans Of The Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa

Some are drawn into the crazy friendship. Others are thrown off by the inappropriate and strange themes. My recent review/rant will tell you where I stand on this.

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5. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I’m cheating the topic a bit by putting this book. I actually haven’t read it. Twilight came to mind anyway when I read this week’s topic. It’s definitely a book that you either deeply hate or a few enjoy. There’s no in between!

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That’s a wrap! Do you agree with my picks? What books would be/are on your list?

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more T5W!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

Top Ten Tuesday|Underrated

Hey everyone! It’s time to find out what underrated books I’ve read in the past! That’s the topic for Top Ten Tuesday today. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the wonderful people at The Broke and the Bookish! Go check them out for book reviews, Top Ten Tuesday’s information and so much more! This week’s topic is specifically:

Ten Underrated/Hidden Gem Books I’ve Read In The Past Year Or So (up to you if you want it to be those published in the past year or so or just ANY underrated book you’ve read recently)

I’m going to do underrated books that I’ve read both recently and in the past.

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Ten Underrated Books:

1. Laura Line by Crystal Allen

   

Rated on Goodreads: 3.91/5 stars

What I’d Rate It: 4.1/5 stars

Not a huge difference but it’s still underrated in my opinion.

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2. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Goodreads Rating: 3.45/5 stars

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

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3. Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Goodreads Rating: 3.35/5 stars

My Rating: 4/5 stars at least

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4. Everything,Everything by Nicola Yoon

Goodreads Rating:4.08/5 stars

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

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5. Openly Straight (#1) By Bill Konigsberg

Goodreads Rating: 3.97/5 stars

My Rating: 4.45/5 stars

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6. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Goodreads Rating: 3.83/5 stars

My Rating: 4.20/5 stars

Not a huge difference but still a jump in rating

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7. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Goodreads Rating: 3.85/5 stars

My Rating: 4.45/5 stars

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8. Highly Illogical Behavior By John Corey Whaley

Goodreads Rating: 4.06/5 stars

My Rating: 4.55/5 stars

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That’s a wrap! I was hoping to find ten books but I only managed to find eight. If these books look interesting, click on the book cover. It’ll take you straight to the book’s Goodreads page. What are some underrated books you’ve read? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more Top Ten Tuesday!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

Fans Of The Impossible Life Review/Rant

Hey everyone! I finished Fans Of The Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa a couple of days ago. Now it’s time for me to review/rant about it for you! Let me know your thoughts about this book!

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“They rolled up the maps of their bodies until they were two continents of interlocking roads and rivers and dreams, and she thought, ‘This is how I will learn to live again’.”  

Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary(?)

My Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Published: September 8th, 2015

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Summary:

Mira is starting over at Saint Francis Prep. She promised her parents she would at least try to pretend that she could act like a functioning human this time, not a girl who can’t get out of bed for days on end, who only feels awake when she’s with Sebby.

Jeremy is the painfully shy art nerd at Saint Francis who’s been in self-imposed isolation after an incident that ruined his last year of school. When he sees Sebby for the first time across the school lawn, it’s as if he’s been expecting this blond, lanky boy with mischief glinting in his eye.

Sebby, Mira’s gay best friend, is a boy who seems to carry sunlight around with him. Even as life in his foster home starts to take its toll, Sebby and Mira together craft a world of magic rituals and impromptu road trips, designed to fix the broken parts of their lives.

As Jeremy finds himself drawn into Sebby and Mira’s world, he begins to understand the secrets that they hide in order to protect themselves, to keep each other safe from those who don’t understand their quest to live for the impossible.

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“I know what you mean”, she said. “Families can seem so normal and boring from the inside that you don’t know you’re different until someone else makes you feel different.”

Fans Of The Impossible Life is a pretty good book! It has three friends who are pretty close. This book has great adventures and characters.  This review focuses a lot on the flaws.That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it. You definitely should at least try it out. I just decided to focus on the negative for this review.  I’m surprised that it has a 3.73/5 stars on Goodreads. People have some serious issues with it. I guess I do too.

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The Issues With The Book:

1. Three Different POVs

One of the reviewers on Goodreads brought up a good point about the POV. The book is told from three points of views. Sebby, Mira and Jeremy. Mira and Jeremy’s POVs made me feel pretty connected to the character. I agreed with the reviewer that Sebby’s point of view was “Jarring”. It was kind of confusing and strange to read.

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2. Misleading Synopsis

People are having issues with the synopsis. It claims that the book is about “a bisexual love triangle.” Sadly, that’s not at all what you find within the pages. It does address relatable and real life issues but no bisexual love triangle. I personally didn’t have an issue with it. The synopsis shouldn’t have misleading lines to get the reader to read it.

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3. Not Much Romance

If you’re looking for an adorable/steamy romance, you’re not getting that here. Like many reviewers on Goodreads said, there’s not much romance. What is there is “unhealthy” and “skewed” Nothing like the usual Young Adult Contemporary novels.

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4. Serious Issues That Were Shown As “Okay”

Hopefully this isn’t too much of a spoiler section. There’s a strange and inappropriate student-teacher relationship. A character who frequently steals and turns to drugs. Underaged drinking.  Forced sexual moments while either drunk or on drugs. It’s not okay. These are all serious issues that shouldn’t be messed with. An inappropriate relationship is wrong. Stealing and drug use is/can be illegal. Forcing someone to do sexual things is terrible and totally inappropriate. This was a major issue in the book.

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All of these complaints and issues make it seem like I hated this book. I actually enjoyed it a lot. Reading the reviews and thinking about the plot made me realize the flaws in this book. I still recommend reading it. It’s a great story about three friends and their adventures both in and out of school. There’s just some parts that are uncalled for, misleading and/or incorrect.

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That’s a wrap! Thanks for letting me rant a bit about this book. Reading through the reviews on Goodreads made me realize some huge issues with this book. What did you think about this book? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more book reviews/rants

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

Book Review|Are We There Yet-David Levithan

Hey everyone! It’s the beginning of the work week! I’m still in school and am on winter break. No stress for a bit. Today I am going to finally be doing a review of Are We There Yet By David Levithan. It’s not a well-known book but is still in the teen genre. Let me know if you’ve read the book or plan to after reading this review!

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“Although it is such a singular word, there are many variations of alone. There is the alone of an empty beach at twilight. There is the alone of an empty hotel room. There is the alone of being caught in a throng of people. There is the alone of missing a particular person. And there is the alone of being with a particular person and realizing you are still alone.”  

David Levithan

# of Pages: 215

Genre: Young Adult/Family

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Publication: March 13th, 2007

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A Bit of A Summary:

Are We There Yet is a story about two brothers named Danny and Elijah. Danny is 23 years old and has a job. He’s hardworking and successful. Elijah is 16 and still in High School. He’s penniless and has drug issues. They have a strained relationship. When their parents send them off on a trip to Italy, they’re forced to spend countless hours together. When Elijah meets Julia, Danny is cast off, and the brothers are separated once again. Julia’s unsure about her feelings and Danny is forced to make a decision. He can either honor his relationship with his brother or follow his heart. Read the book to find out what he chooses!

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Cons:

There are some using and mentions of drugs in this book. If that bugs you, steer clear. It’s overall plot is a bit dry. The story is told from a third person point of view. It’s interesting but doesn’t always do the story its justice. There isn’t much of a back story on any of the characters but you get to learn a bit about them.

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Overall:

Are We There Yet is a quick read. I enjoyed the setting and the descriptions of Italy and it’s attractions.  It’s not my favorite book but is definitely worth a try.

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That’s a wrap! What did you think about this style of book reviewing? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more book reviews!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀