Wraithborn, Vol. 1 by Joe Benítez & Marcia Chen

Wednesday, June 28, 2017
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Title: Wraithborn
Series: Wraithborn, Vol. 1
Author: Joe Benítez, Marcia Chen 
Illustrator: Joe Benítez
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Benitez Productions 
Date: November 2016
Length: x pages
This book was free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
He was trained from birth to inherit a mythical power. She is the timid teenage girl to whom it was bestowed instead. Together only they can stop an ancient evil from rising and enslaving all humankind. An epic urban fantasy from the creator of Lady Mechanika! Collects all 6 issues of the "Redux" edition of Wraithborn.
Description from Goodreads
Awkward girl is accidentally given mystical powers and must become a ninja and help save the world? Yes, please, sign me up.

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Lady Mechanika, Vol.1: the Mystery of Mechanical Corpse by Joe Benítez

Wednesday, May 24, 2017
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Title: Lady Mechanika, Vol.1: the Mystery of Mechanical Corpse
Series: Lady Mechanika
Author & Illustrator: Joe Benítez
Genre: Steampunk, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Benítez Productions
Date: November 2015
Length: 152 pages
This book was free form NetGalley in Exchange for an honest review
Discover a beautifully illustrated steampunk world of airships, monsters, and one courageous but haunted heroine...
The tabloids dubbed her "Lady Mechanika," the sole survivor of a mad scientist's horrific experiments which left her with mechanical limbs. Having no memory of her captivity or her former life, Lady Mechanika eventually built a new life for herself as an adventurer and private investigator, using her unique abilities to solve cases the proper authorities couldn't or wouldn't handle. But she never stopped searching for the answers to her own past. 
Set in a fictionalized steampunk Victorian England, a time when magic and superstition clashed with new scientific discoveries and inventions, Lady Mechanika chronicles a young woman's obsessive search for her identity as she investigates other mysteries involving science and the supernatural. 
This volume collects the entire first Lady Mechanika mini-series The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse, including its prequel chapter The Demon of Satan's Alley, plus a complete cover art gallery.
Description from Goodreads
Airships, corsets, mechanical limbs, cyborg nightmares, and a mysterious heroine with a sense of humor. Lady Mechanika is an intriguing story that's beautifully illustrated and packed full of everything that makes steampunk fun.
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Wishlist Wednesday: Giving it another shot

Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Featuring books that I really want to read but haven't actually made it to my embarrassingly large TBR pile yet. Join me the first Wednesday of the month to see how bad an influence the book blogging community has been.
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I enjoyed the first two InCryptid books, and while the third wasn't bad, I lost interest in the series. But  book 5 picks back up with my favorite ninja ballroom dancer, so I might give this another go. Is it bad that I'm skipping book 4?

Seanan McGuire Chaos Choreography InCryptid
Author: Seanan Mcguire
Release Date: March 1, 2016

Verity Price is back on the West Coast and getting back into the swing of the family business: cryptozoology. She’s rescuing cryptids from bad situations, protecting them from monster-hunters, and generally risking life and limb for the greater good, with her ex-Covenant partner/husband, Dominic, by her side. Her ballroom dance career is behind her—or so she thinks. When Verity gets the call from the producers of Dance or Die, the reality show she almost won several years before, she finds the lure impossible to resist, and she and Dominic are off to L.A. for one last shot at the big time.


Of course, nothing is that simple. When two contestants turn up dead, Verity will need every ally she can find with the investigation, without blowing her cover…

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Dream Magic by Joshua Khan

Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Title: Dream Magic
Series: Shadow Magic, book 2
Author: Joshua Khan
Genre: Middle Grades, Fantasy
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date: April 11, 2017
Length: x pages
This book was free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
A fabulously exciting sequel to the fantasy adventure SHADOW MAGIC. 
People throughout Gehenna are disappearing, even the feared executioner Tyburn. Many of the nobles believe the kidnappings to be the work of the northern trolls, raiding south for the winter, and when Baron Sable and others head off to fight them, Castle Gloom is left guarded by only the squires.
Lily is struggling with her growing necromantic powers. The castle fills with ghosts, drawn like moths to a flame by the brightness of her magic. Zombies roam the country, some left over from those raised in SHADOW MAGIC, others awakened by Lily. Families are troubled by the returning dead, so Lily tries to incorporate them into day-to-day life, much to the resentment of the living.
Then Lily is attacked in her own castle by a mysterious sorcerer known as Dreamweaver, a young man determined to conquer Gehenna using jewel-spiders, strange crystalline creatures whose bite doesn’t kill, but sends victims to sleep. Lily soon discovers that Dreamweaver is harvesting dreams to fuel his magic.
Lily enters the realm of sleep known as the Dream Time, in an attempt to awaken all the captive dreamers. Instead she finds herself trapped within a dream, one where her family is still alive. With the help of Thorn and the ever loyal Hades, she must somehow overcome the evil Dreamweaver by using his own magic against him – and reclaim her kingdom.
Description from Goodreads
The world of Dream Magic is like a junior version of Game of Thrones set in Halloween Town. Replace dragons with zombies and Lily would be Khaleesi fighting to save her kingdom with magic and possibly a political marriage.

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Letter 44, Vol. 1: Escape Velocity by Charles Soule

Wednesday, April 5, 2017
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Title: Letter 44, Vol. 1: Escape Velocity
Author: Charles Soule
Illustrator: Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Publisher: Oni Press, March 29, 2017*
Length: 144 pages
*The NetGalley publication date differs from the Goodreads date of 2014.
This book was free through NetGalley in return for an honest review
On Inauguration Day, newly elected President Stephen Blades hoped to tackle the most critical issues facing the nation: war, the economy, and a failing health care system. But in a letter penned by the outgoing President, Blades learns the truth that redefines "critical": seven years ago, NASA discovered alien presence in the asteroid belt, and kept it a secret from the world. A stealth mission crewed by nine astronauts was sent to make contact, and they’re getting close - assuming they survive the long journey to reach their destination. 
Today, President-elect Blades has become the most powerful man on the planet. This planet.
Description from Goodreads
Part political thriller, part science fiction adventure, part alien invasion story, Letter 44 rockets forward from page 1!
If you'd just been elected President of the United States, you certainly wouldn't believe it if the outgoing President left you a letter stating he had started two foreign wars and driven the economy into the ground to fast track weapons development for an alien invasion. Neither did Stephen Blades. But that's just the start of this fast paced and tense political science fiction graphic novel. For the last half of the book I was literally curled over my computer scrolling through the e-galley as quickly as I could. It was great! And while current president numbers are off by one, starting this book right after the inauguration meant I was starting it almost simultaneously to the events of the book. It definitely gave the story a surreal feel.

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Sick Days & Comfort Reads

Sunday, March 26, 2017
Hello World, it's me again. Sorry I've been MIA, but I've just survived a really rough two weeks. Computer goes down and to the shop, husband has to go out of town, Kid 1 gets strep and refuses fever reducer so I have to check him every hour/ give cold baths/ ice packs in bed, husband comes back but has to immediately go back to work. We just keep telling each other that next week is Spring Break and we can make it. Kid 1 gets better and can go to school on Thursday, that night he had a recital, then we have dinner at dad's. Dad gets really sick over the weekend and we take turns letting out his super old blind and deaf dog. We make it to Monday and take kids to the zoo. Kid 2 has a melt down every few feet. Weird, because she loves the the zoo. She pulls herself together but is totally worn out and I end up carrying her for the last 20 minutes. Fast forward to 1:30 a.m. and I hear Kid 2 crying. Poor pumpkin has grandpa's stomach flu. Over the next two days Kid 1 and I both get sick and my poor husband is taking care of everyone and doing lots of laundry for the kids. Thankfully he never gets sick. I finally went outside for the first time today and felt like a mole man: blinking stupidly at the sunshine, thinking, "So this is the surface world."


During the time that I was staying up late with sick kids or being sick myself, I had a hard time reading. I read Q-Ship Chameleon (the latest sequel to the Castle Federation series) and while I enjoyed it I had difficulty concentrating due to general exhaustion. I didn't want to read new things, so I turned to comfort reads. I read some Jennifer Crusie books because they always make me laugh (even though they are formulaic), Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews because all of her books are great and this one makes me laugh. I would have read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix but I had to stick to kindle books so I could read in the dark. And the kindle was much lighter, which made a difference once I got sick too. But now I really want to read Order of the Phoenix because it's my favorite.


This got me thinking about Comfort Reads. What makes us re-read a book over and over? I tend to turn to them when I need to rest my brain, need cheering up, or to just get out of a rut. Which is odd because you would think that re-reading a book for the umpteenth time would contribute to the rut, but it always helps me get out of one. I realized while writing this that my comfort reads tend to be action-y mysteries with a strong dose of humor. It seems a strange thing to just now notice after so many years of reading.

So the question is, do you have comfort reads? What books do you turn to and what do they do for you? Have you noticed similarities in your comfort reads like I did? 
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Cover vs. Cover: The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Wednesday, March 22, 2017


This month's matchup features Elizabeth May's The Falconer. Instead of two covers, I'm featuring four because they were so different and highlighted different elements of the story. It's the US vs the UK, Italy, and Spain.

US Cover                                                                               Italian Cover

UK Cover                                                                               Spanish Cover
She's a stunner. She's a liar. She's a murderer. She's a Falconer. Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.

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Robot Zombie Frankenstein! by Annette Simon

Tuesday, March 21, 2017
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Title: Robot Zombie Frankenstein!
Series: Robot and Robot, book #1
Author & Illustrator: Annette Simon
Genre: Children's Books, Picture Book, Pre K - Gr 1
Publisher: Candlewick
Date: April 24, 2012
Length: 40 pages
I got this book from the library
Perfect for high-energy story times, this cumulative tale is a madcap mash-up featuring robots, shapes in motley amalgamation, and . . . pie!
Squares, rectangles, ovals, triangles, and other colorful shapes are sorted and arranged into - two robots! But why stop there? Shape by shape, costume by costume, Robot and Robot play a game of oneupmanship that zips, zooms, and whirrs from friendly to hilariously out of control in nanoseconds. Robot Zombie? How about Robot Zombie Frankenstein? Can you handle Robot Zombie Frankenstein Pirate? What could be next? Where will it all stop? When the race makes a surprise (and delicious) turn, Robot and Robot are happy to be plain old robots - and buddies - onceagain.
Description from Goodreads
Robots, Zombies, Frankensteins, OH MY! But that's just the beginning. There are disguises, space invaders, and pie! This fun and fast-paced story was a treat! My kids loved this exuberant and silly book. I was surprised how frequently they picked it up, explored the pictures, retold the story, or made up a completely new one.

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Goldie Vance, Vol.1 by Hope Larson

Saturday, March 18, 2017
Graphic Novel Middle grades older elementary student comic book mystery girl detective
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Title: Goldie Vance
Series: Goldie Vance, Volume 1
Author: Hope Larson
Illustrator: 
Genre: Graphic Novel, Mystery, Middle Grades
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Date: October 11, 2016
Length: 112 pages
This book was free from NetGalley in Exchange for an honest review
Move over Nancy, Harriet, & Veronica. There's a new sleuth on the block!
Sixteen-year-old Marigold “Goldie” Vance lives at a Florida resort with her dad, who manages the place. Her mom, who divorced her dad years ago, works as a live mermaid at a club downtown. Goldie has an insatiable curiosity, which explains her dream to one day become the hotel’s in-house detective. When Charles, the current detective, encounters a case he can’t crack, he agrees to mentor Goldie in exchange for her help solving the mystery. Eisner Award-winning writer Hope Larson (A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel) and artist Brittney Williams (Patsy Walker, A.K.A Hellcat!) present the newest gal sleuth on the block with Goldie Vance, an exciting, whodunnit adventure.
Description from Goodreads
If you take Nancy Drew, reimagine her as a biracial gear head, amp up the sass, and replace Ned with Diane, then you have pint size dynamo Goldie Vance.

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The Life After by Joshua Hale Fialkov

Wednesday, March 15, 2017
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Title: The Life After, Vol. 1
Series: The Life After
Author: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Illustrator: Gabo
Genre: Graphic Novels, Religion and Philosophy
Publisher: Oni Press
Date: March 22, 2017
Length: 160 pages
Free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Jude's life is nothing special. It seems like every day is just a repeat of the last one, until one day, he meets a woman and can suddenly see into her past -- revealing that he is actually in Purgatory for suicides. Now that he's awake, he and the legendary Ernest Hemingway are on the path to change things in the afterlife for the better. Of course, that might not sit very well with the bigwigs down below or up above. Can just a few people change the course of billions of souls?
Goodreads Description
Trigger Warning: this book contains physical assault, still birth, people committing suicide

The best way to describe this comic is as if you took the medieval system of order for the afterlife, turned it into a bureaucracy, and had the guys from Office Space trying to take down the unjust system. The story was interesting, a bit depressing, occasionally funny, with a lot  "What the ABSOLUTE F*** just happened?!" thrown in.

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Come On In, America: The United States in World War I by Linda Barrett Osborne

Tuesday, March 14, 2017
WWI Linda Barrett Osborne African American's at war Women's Rights history
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Title: Come On In, America: The United States in World War I
Author: Linda Barrett Osborne
Genre: Middle Grades Non Fiction, Military History
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Date: March 14, 2017
Length: 176 pages
Free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and joined World War I. German submarine attacks on American ships in March 1917 were the overt motive for declaring war, but the underlying reasons were far more complex. Even after the United States officially joined, Americans were divided on whether they should be a part of it. Americans were told they were fighting a war for democracy, but with racial segregation rampant in the United States, new laws against dissent and espionage being passed, and bankers and industrial leaders gaining increased influence and power, what did democracy mean? Come On In, America explores not only how and why the UnitedStates joined World War I, but also the events—at home and overseas—that changed the course of American history.
Description from Goodreads
This book was great! Where was it in 2014 when all of my students were writing about WW1 because of the centenary? It's absolutely perfect for a school library, and a good pick for budding history buffs.

What I liked

Covers different aspects of the war: Barrett Osborne provides information regarding the front lines, the home front, the roles of women and African Americans, weapons used, whether or not the US was actually neutral, and much more. Information on propaganda was mixed throughout the book. I really like that it covers violations of civil rights and the impact of the Espionage and Sedition Acts. It's a fairly detailed overview of the war for a 176 page book.
Good attempt at showing the viewpoints of the different sides involved: By presenting the point of view of other countries, Barrett Osborne gives a balanced and well rounded history lesson for middle school readers.

African Americans and Women: While there is only one chapter for each of the these topics, they are not ignored through the rest of the book. It's always been difficult to find quality age appropriate material on African Americans and women's life/rights/roles during this time period.

Pictures & propaganda posters: While I wish that there were more propaganda posters included, this book does use some great images that help readers connect with the time period.

Rating: 5

This isn't a book that most families or kids will pick up for leisure reading, but it is an excellent book for libraries or teachers to pick up to support their curriculum. Middle Schoolers interested in military history, or this topic in general, will find this a great selection. I also recommend that any homeschooling family covering WW1get this book up from their local library. This is a great resource and tries to give a well rounded view of events and points of view in under 200 pages.
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Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Saturday, March 11, 2017
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Title: Geekerella
Author: Ashley Poston
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance, Fairytale Retelling
Publisher: Quirk Books
Date: April 4, 2017
Length: 320 pages
This book was free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?
Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.
Description from Goodreads
I'm a pretty big geek, and I'm proud of it. My office is decorated with comic book figurines, posters, HP and Star Wars lego mini figs, Mighty Muggs, and assorted pop culture and literary paraphernalia. I frequently have comic book or manga debates with students and teachers and I have been known to say, "That's not cannon!" when watching film versions or reboots of some of my favorite fandoms.
When my sister was little she was a huge Trekkie (let's not get into a Trekkie vs. Trekker fight) and I would take her to the convention when it came to town. If I couldn't go, I'd buy tickets and my mom would take her. In fact, while not considered a geek, my mom loved Star Trek and Star Wars. I remember staying up late when I was little and watching reruns of the classic series with her. She introduced me to Star Wars and was so excited that I was old enough to see Return of the Jedi when it was first released in theaters. I've got those sentimental ties to a TV show that make it so much more important to me, just as Elle has in this book. And for me, that made this book enjoyable and relatable.

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Inkling Cooks: Dessert For Two by Christina Lane

Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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Title: Dessert For Two
Author: Christina Lane
Genre: Cookbook
Publisher: Countryman Press
Date: February 3, 2015
Length: 230 pages
My dad gave me this book for my birthday
Who doesn't love towering three-layer cakes with mounds of fluffy buttercream? Who can resist four dozen cookies fresh from the oven? Wouldn't you love to stick your spoon into a large bowl of banana pudding? What about the leftovers? Dessert recipes typically serve eight to ten people. Finding the willpower to resist extra slices of cake can be difficult; the battle between leftover cookies and a healthy breakfast is over before it started. Until now. Dessert for Two takes well-loved desserts and scales them down to make only two servings. Cakes are baked in small pans and ramekins. Pies are baked in small pie pans or muffin cups. Cookie recipes are scaled down to make 1 dozen or fewer. Your favorite bars: brownies, blondes, and marshmallow cereal treats are baked in a bread loaf pan - which happily serves two when cut down the middle. Newly married couples (and empty-nesters) will be particularly enthralled with this miniature dessert guide. To everyone who lives alone: have your own personal-sized cake and eat it, too. 
Description from Goodreads
My son is a ridiculously picky eater and putting together school lunches for him is very stressful. In order to keep my son from getting bored, I'll alternate his sweet and savory snacks during the week. Typically this means I make two desserts over the weekend, package up what I need for lunches, and then give the rest to coworkers on Monday. (This prevents my husband from snacking when he gets home and ruining his dinner and making me angry.) I first ran across Lane's blog when I found her 1 Dozen Cut-Out Sugar Cookies recipe on Pinterest (they're also in the book). This isn't my favorite sugar cookie recipe ever, but I love that it makes a small batch of tasty cookies, the dough doesn't go in and out of the fridge 50 times, I don't have loads of leftover icing, and it's easy. And that's the great thing about this cookbook, I can easily try out different desserts without using loads of ingredients and making huge messes. If the kids don't like it, I'm not stuck with 24 cupcakes or an entire cake they don't want.

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Max by Sarah Cohen-Scali

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
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Title: Max
Author: Sarah Cohen-Scali
Genre: Historical Fiction, YA
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Date: March 7, 2017
Length: 432 pages
This book was free from NetGalley in Exchange for an honest review
Nazi Germany. 1936. 
In the Lebensborn program, carefully selected German women are recruited by the Nazis to give birth to new members of the Aryan race. Inside one of these women is Max, literally counting the minutes until he is born and he can fulfill his destiny as the perfect Aryan specimen.
Max is taken away from his birth mother soon after he enters the world. Raised under the ideology and direction of the Nazi Party, he grows up without any family, without any affection or tenderness, and he soon becomes the mascot of the program. That is until he meets Lukas, a young Jewish boy whom he knows he is meant to despise. Instead, the friendship that blossoms changes Max’s world forever.
Translated from the original French, Sarah Cohen-Scali brings the details of the Lebensborn program to light in this haunting and heartbreaking novel.
Description from
I had initially been very excited about this book. I've read a bit about the Lebensborn program and I thought this would be a great, but painful, read. WW2 books are very popular with older elementary and middle school students. I was hoping that Max would be a more challenging and thought provoking book for my YA readers. Unfortunately I really struggled with this book. I forced myself to finish it because I felt obligated to at least write a review for NetGalley. I'm glad I finished, but it was hard. Even though this was a tough book for me, I think this could be a very successful group reading book.

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Why We March: Signs of Protest and Hope --Voices from the Women's March by Artisan Press

Saturday, March 4, 2017
Title: Why We March: Signs of Protest and Hope --Voices from the Women's March
Genre: Coffee Table Book, Current Events, Politics
Publisher: Artisan Press
Date: March 7, 2017
Length: 264 pages
This book was free from NetGalley in Exchange for an honest review
On January 21, 2017, over 5 million people in 673 cities around the globe gathered in solidarity for the Women’s March, carrying signs that shone with unwavering hope and determination and demanded the protection of women’s rights, opposed the newly inaugurated U.S. president, and championed equality and justice for all. Why We March presents more than 300 of the most powerful, uplifting, clever, and creative signs from these marches. “Nasty Women Unite.” “Make America Think Again.” “Build Bridges, Not Walls.” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fundamental Rights.” “Love Trumps Hate.” “A Woman’s Place Is in the Resistance.” These images--featuring messages about reproductive rights and cabinet picks, immigration and police violence, climate change and feminism--together paint a striking portrait of resistance, despair, humor, and most of all, hope. This book will serve as a rallying cry for this burgeoning movement, and a valuable and timely encapsulation of an unprecedented moment in political history. All royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
Description from Goodreads
Political and protest signs have gotten more clever and pointed in recent years. I remember reading the news coverage and thinking that I would love to see a collection of the signs from the Women's March. When I received an email from NetGalley informing me about Why We March I thought it was awfully soon for something like this to have been put together but jumped at the chance to read it.

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Wishlist Wednesday: Authors that I love and Han Solo!

Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Featuring books that I really want to read but haven't actually made it to my embarrassingly large TBR pile yet.
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I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love Star Wars. My mom and I always had a soft spot in our heart for everyone's favorite scoundrel - Han Solo. So he's getting a comic book written by Marjorie Liu? Just take my money now!

Author: Marjorie Liu
Release Date: January 3, 2017

Everyone's favorite scoundrel goes Solo! Han is given a top-secret undercover mission for the Rebellion: rescuing several informants and spies! His cover for the assignment? Only the biggest and most infamous starship race in the galaxy, the Dragon Void! A tournament he has dreamt of winning his entire life. With a chance of glory, can Han keep his mind on the mission? Or is failing Leia worse than losing? If that wasn't enough, there's also the small matter of finding a traitor within the Rebellion. As the Dragon Void heats up, can a certain Wookiee pal lend a hand in the mole hunt? Place your bets for the ultimate space race! Our money's on Han and the Millennium Falcon - after all, it's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs!

Amazon Summary

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Wrap Up: February 2017

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

My baby book blog has survived its first month, yeah! I thought it would be a bit more stressful generating content, but I'm having fun. Who would have thought writing a book review would be easier then creating a funny tweet or trying to stage a pretty Instagram shot? A 140 characters should be easier...


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The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

Saturday, February 25, 2017
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Title: The Paper Magician
Series: The Paper Magician Trilogy, book 1
Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Publisher: 47North
Date: September 2014
Length: 224 pages /  Audio Book 7 hours 25 minutes
Free through Kindle Unlimited Subscription
Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic… forever.
Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined — animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic.
An Excisioner — a practitioner of dark, flesh magic — invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man. 
Description from Goodreads
HOW DID I MISS THIS BOOK?! I'm so upset, it's so great, so many students would love it, and I MISSED IT! I've even contacted some upper school librarian friends to tell them to consider this book for their collection. It might seem impossible for a book to be a light hearted Gothic story, but The Paper Magician pulls it off. I enjoyed this story so much and I just want to share it with all of my kids. I think there's a lot here that will appeal. My Kindle Unlimited download also included the audiobook version (which is fantastic, btw). I was so into this book that I played the audiobook in the car while I was ferrying my children all over creation. It even made me want to jog so that I could listen to the audiobook. (But let's be honest, jogging most definitely didn't happen.)

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Wonder Woman: Her Greatest Battles

Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Title: Wonder Woman: Her Greatest Battles
Author: Various
Illustrator: Various
Genre: Graphic Novels, Superheroes
Publisher: DC Comic on February 14, 2017
Length: 166 pages
Free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Just in time for the blockbuster hit of 2017, Wonder Woman! Gal Gadot brings the Amazonian to life on the big screen while some of the best talents in comics bring her to life on the page. This collection brings together the biggest and greatest battles and moments in Wonder Woman's history as a DC Comics superhero, spanning over seven decades!
Goodreads
The collection focuses on battles that highlight her characteristics and values: hope, the power of the mind, defending the innocent, peace, etc. While this might sound a bit preachy or dull, the issues chosen also have a healthy dose of humor and, of course, LOTS of action.

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Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song by Gary Golio

Tuesday, February 21, 2017
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Title: Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song
Author: Gary Golio
Illustrator: Charlotte Riley-Webb
Genre: Children's Non Fiction, Picture Book
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Date: February 1, 2017
Length: 40 pages
This book was free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This picture book for older readers tells the story of how the racism protest song "Strange Fruit" came into being in 1939. This is also the story of two outsiders - Billie Holiday, a young black woman raised in poverty, and Abel Meeropol, the son of Jewish immigrants - whose combined talents created a truly unforgettable song.
Description from Goodreads
Several years ago I purchased the song "Strange Fruit" without knowing anything about it. I don't listen to it a lot, but I have loaned it to high school teachers to use in class. It' a haunting and beautiful song about horrible and terrifying crime that was normalized in the South at that time. I jumped at the chance to read this book, I had high hopes for it as a fit in the school library. Unfortunately it fell short of my expectations.

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Love-a-thon Mini Challenge #1 - Mad Libs

Saturday, February 18, 2017
Once upon a time, in a far away space port, there lived a smart spy. He lived alone in a cosmetics store, where he had grown up with the deceased owner. He had beautiful ears, and he was known for his shiny red mascara, the only thing he had left of his parents.
Alas, the Viscount of the country became jealous and wanted to own this mascara. So, he
became a wanted person and had to flee into the forest to find a place to hide. After twirling around for hours, hungry and tired, he stumbled upon a restaurant. An old lady appeared, offering him shelter from the bitter cold.  She looked at him with embarrassment and said: "I will protect you, but I need your help first. Years ago I lost something precious and I want it back. You need to climb into the sky and get my ukulele back. Here is a magical chicken wing, throw it into the earth, sprinkle with water and it will sprout a beanstalk. You have 62 days to return before the stalk withers." 

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Let the Love-A-Thon Begin!

An Introduction to You and Your Blog

1. My name is Jennifer, but I normally comment as Inkling because there are so many Jennifers out there. (I even have a cousin named Jennifer.) I'm blogging from Arkansas, USA.

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City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

Friday, February 17, 2017
Title: City of Saints & Thieves
Author: Natalie C. Anderson
Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Realistic Fiction
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Date: January 24, 2017
Length: 432 pages
Free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Gone Girl in this enthralling YA murder mystery set in Kenya.               In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.
With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.
Description from Goodreads
Who's the good guy, who's the bad guy, and who's the bad guy you can live with?

Tina is a 16 year old so full of love for her family that she has devoted her life to revenge. She hid her sister in a gated school, joined a gang, and became the best thief in Sangui City. She hones herself into an instrument of destruction in order to utterly ruin her mother's murderer, with little care for the other innocents that will get caught up in his downfall.

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It's a challenge & a book club (with Patricia McKillip!!!) - Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge 2017

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Honestly, I hadn't really planned on signing up for another challenge, but the Flights of Fantasy Challenge (hosted by Alexa Loves Books and Hello, Chelly) was also going to double as a book club. I'm not always a fan of book club selections, BUT it would be a fantasy book club, so I kept reading. And then I saw the book listed for April/June:  Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip.  I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I immediately signed up. I don't even know what the rest of the book club books are, but I've signed up. I'm aiming for fantasy books this year. Since Urban and Paranormal Fantasy count for this challenge I think I'll easily meet my goal.

I'm so excited about the Alphabet of Thorn discussion - can't wait! (I'm just gonna keep fangirling for a few more minutes)
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Cover vs. Cover: P.S. I like you by Kasie West

Wednesday, February 15, 2017


In our first monthly matchup between book covers, the US and Indonesian covers of Katie West's "P.S. I Like You" duke it out!



"While spacing out in chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk and added a message to her. Intrigue!"  - Goodreads

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Winter 2017 Comment Challenge: MARCH edition


I'm a K-12 librarian and I review, recommend, and talk about books every day. The reason I started blogging was to continue doing this with a different audience and hopefully connect readers to books they enjoy. I love book discussions but I find it difficult to get them started through comments. I always feel that my comments or first thoughts seem canned. So I'm forcing myself to up my game and enter the March Comment Challenge. The challenge is hosted by Lonnie at FLYLēF and Alicia at A Kernel of Nonsense. Instead of hopping around several blogs, participants are assigned a partner for this challenge. I like that it makes you get to know a specific blogger and their style. I'm hoping this will help me get into the groove of better online engagement. 

 It's a pretty simple, straight forward event so I can just focus on my challenge partner and not jump through a lot of hoops. Sometimes that's fun, sometimes I don't have time and just need easy.

 If you're looking for a way to engage other bloggers and readers I think this might be a fun and easy challenge for you to try. (They even have a giveaway). The challenge starts March 1st, so you still have time to signup.
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Moletown by Torben Kuhlmann

Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Title: Moletown
Author & Illustrator: Torben Kuhlmann
Genre: Wordless Picture Book
Publisher: NorthSouth
Date: October 2015
Length: 32 pages
My kids picked it out at the library
Torben Kulhmann's stunningly illustrated, nearly wordless tale offers a fascinating window into an imaginary, yet hauntingly familiar world under our feet, where a mole suddenly recognizes the precarious balance between progress and preservation. Kulhmann's open ended text encourages thoughtful exploration into possible solutions, and his delightful endpapers depict a montage of solutions that could very well save the moles' world and ours.
Description from Goodreads
Moletown is a whimsical take on the growth of a city. From the first settler to the development of industry and beyond, children will enjoy exploring the illustrations in this almost wordless picture book.

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Space Carrier Avalon by Glynn Stewart

Saturday, February 11, 2017
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Title: Space Carrier Avalon
Series: Castle Federation, book 1
Author: Glynn Stewart
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Publisher: Faolan's Pen Publishing, Inc.
Date: June 14, 2015
Length: 343 pages

This book was free through my Kindle Unlimited subscription
THE FLEET'S OLD LADY - OUT FOR ONE LAST DANCE 
Avalon was the flagship of the Castle Federation in the last war, now twenty years past. The first of the deep space carriers, no other warship in the fleet holds as many honors or has recorded as many kills.
No other warship in the fleet is as old. 
Accepting the inevitable, the Federation Space Navy has decided to refit her and send her on a tour of the frontier, showing the flag to their allies and enemies as a reminder of her glory – and then decommission her for good.
But Avalon has been a backwater posting for ten years – and has problems a mere refit can’t fix. The systems along her planned tour have been seeing pirates for the first time in decades, and there are rumblings of Commonwealth scouting ships all along the border.
It may be Avalon’s final tour – but it looks to be anything but quiet!
Description from Goodreads
This is a self published book and it does have some issues that a copy editor could have caught, but it is generally a good space opera. With A LOT of characters. Like, a lot, but the book follows three: Our hero Kyle Roberts; Michelle Williams a talented pilot who was assaulted and betrayed; and Michael Stanford, a natural leader who had his career abruptly sidelined when he and two admirals' daughters 'borrowed' a shuttle.

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