We Were Liars by e. lockhart

Heather sent me a copy of We Were Liars and simply said, "Read it now, before it gets too hyped up or spoiled for you. DEAR. Drop everything and read. It."

When she does that, I know she's serious. Even though I had minimal interest in We Were Liars at the time, I did as commanded and was rewarded heartily by a kickass plot, elegant writing, and a book that left me pleasantly surprised and pondering. 

And I'm not going to tell you anything else because I refuse to spoil. 

READ IT!

What? You want a synopsis at least? Ok, ok. 

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

Pub. Date: May 2014
Publisher: Delacorte
Format: E-book
ASIN: B00FPOSDGY 
Source: Gift! 

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

First, I kind of hate this cover. But at least her head isn't cut off completely, and I can vouch for the content between the covers. 

I first read Libba Bray earlier this year when I picked up The Diviners for Jazz Age January. I was completely sucked into that big ole tome (500+ pages), and it prompted me to pick up A Great and Terrible Beauty, one of the books that's been on my TBR the longest. 

I borrowed a blurb from Goodreads because ALL the complications. 

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. One night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma into her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. 

I found much of what I loved from The Diviners carried over into this book. There's a rollicking sense of adventure, plenty of the otherworldly, and a strong, if conflicted, heroine. There was a fair amount of brattiness, selfishness, and bitchery among the girls. That rang pretty true to me and my teenage experiences, but as an adult it was still enough to make me think, "Enough already," at times. 

Brattiness aside, I enjoyed this book and I definitely plan to continue with the series. While I'm not a big series reader, I now find myself embroiled in not one, but two of Libba Bray's fantastical concoctions, and I have a feeling I'm in good hands. 

Pub. Date: December 2003
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Format: Trade Paperback
ISBN: 0689875347 
Source: Bought it!

Jazz Age January: The Diviners by Libba Bray

When I heard about Jazz Age January, hosted by Leah from Books Speak Volumes, I knew I had to get in on the action! I am a huuuuuge fan of American Modernist literature (which includes and exceeds the Jazz Age), and I've read a whole bunch of books from that period. It took me some time to decide what to read because I wasn't really in the mood for a classic since I have several of those in the mix right now.

And then in walked The Diviners, by Libba Bray! A perfect solution to my Jazz Age problem, this book is about a group of young people (teens and early 20s) from various walks of life in 1920s New York City. They all have special abilities, and there's a great evil stirring in the city. The Pentacle Killer is taking lives on a regular basis, and these unlikely heroes may be the only ones to stop him.

I am a little skittish when it comes to YA with a paranormal bent, but this book was a big winner. At 500 pages, there was plenty of room to create vivid characterization, and the story was intricately woven and really really interesting. And Bray's writing is totally Jake! 1920s slang. I can hardly stop myself.

So, about these characters. The protagonist is Evie O'Neill, a party girl flapper from Ohio who is exiled to NYC to live with her uncle. He happens to run "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies," a pet name for his museum of folklore and the occult. Uncle Will keeps Evie on a loose chain at first, and of course, she finds trouble. She also finds a colorful cast of friends and acquaintances: a street smart pickpocket, a Ziegfield Follies girl, a numbers runner for a neighborhood kingpin, and plenty of others. But what really sets Evie apart, is her ability to hold an object and see the person's life experiences. It's a handy talent when you're investigating a murder.

I loved getting to know all of the characters, even when some weren't terribly likable. Their various interests and abilities really helped even this book out. Not all of the characters are acquainted with one another, so we do have some parallel story lines that overlap, but this is not a case of the dueling narrators. The book is told from a 3rd person omniscient point-of-view, and I was SO GLAD there was no narrator switching. I hate that!

As I started reading, I thought I might have a problem with some of the 1920s slang and dialogue because it is EVERYWHERE. But ultimately, I got used to it, and the setting itself is very much a character in this book. It's dripping with the feeling of the 1920s. I loved that. 

A few other short thoughts:

• This book was full of thrills and chills, as the antagonist is a really nasty, evil guy. While I didn't start hearing things go bump in the night, I was definitely on the edge of my seat. 
• The Diviners is the first in a series of books, and while I need another series like a hole in my head, I'm game for this one. If all of the books are this much fun to read and this well-written, it should be a heck of a ride.

I don't often visit websites for books I read, but the Diviners series site is a lot of fun. There are playlists of songs the author listened to while writing, a wicked trailer, and this video...a tour of creepy NYC locations that helped inspire this book.



Pub. Date: September 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: E-book
ISBN: 9780316126106
Source: Gifted to me from a friend!

Jazz Age January: The Diviners by Libba Bray

When I heard about Jazz Age January, hosted by Leah from Books Speak Volumes, I knew I had to get in on the action! I am a huuuuuge fan of American Modernist literature (which includes and exceeds the Jazz Age), and I've read a whole bunch of books from that period. It took me some time to decide what to read because I wasn't really in the mood for a classic since I have several of those in the mix right now.

And then in walked The Diviners, by Libba Bray! A perfect solution to my Jazz Age problem, this book is about a group of young people (teens and early 20s) from various walks of life in 1920s New York City. They all have special abilities, and there's a great evil stirring in the city. The Pentacle Killer is taking lives on a regular basis, and these unlikely heroes may be the only ones to stop him.

I am a little skittish when it comes to YA with a paranormal bent, but this book was a big winner. At 500 pages, there was plenty of room to create vivid characterization, and the story was intricately woven and really really interesting. And Bray's writing is totally Jake! 1920s slang. I can hardly stop myself.

So, about these characters. The protagonist is Evie O'Neill, a party girl flapper from Ohio who is exiled to NYC to live with her uncle. He happens to run "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies," a pet name for his museum of folklore and the occult. Uncle Will keeps Evie on a loose chain at first, and of course, she finds trouble. She also finds a colorful cast of friends and acquaintances: a street smart pickpocket, a Ziegfield Follies girl, a numbers runner for a neighborhood kingpin, and plenty of others. But what really sets Evie apart, is her ability to hold an object and see the person's life experiences. It's a handy talent when you're investigating a murder.

I loved getting to know all of the characters, even when some weren't terribly likable. Their various interests and abilities really helped even this book out. Not all of the characters are acquainted with one another, so we do have some parallel story lines that overlap, but this is not a case of the dueling narrators. The book is told from a 3rd person omniscient point-of-view, and I was SO GLAD there was no narrator switching. I hate that!

As I started reading, I thought I might have a problem with some of the 1920s slang and dialogue because it is EVERYWHERE. But ultimately, I got used to it, and the setting itself is very much a character in this book. It's dripping with the feeling of the 1920s. I loved that. 

A few other short thoughts:

• This book was full of thrills and chills, as the antagonist is a really nasty, evil guy. While I didn't start hearing things go bump in the night, I was definitely on the edge of my seat. 
• The Diviners is the first in a series of books, and while I need another series like a hole in my head, I'm game for this one. If all of the books are this much fun to read and this well-written, it should be a heck of a ride.

I don't often visit websites for books I read, but the Diviners series site is a lot of fun. There are playlists of songs the author listened to while writing, a wicked trailer, and this video...a tour of creepy NYC locations that helped inspire this book.



Pub. Date: September 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: E-book
ISBN: 9780316126106
Source: Gifted to me from a friend!

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I wanted to start the year off right, with a review of a stunning book. 

I knew I had to finish the Chaos Walking trilogy before year's end. In short, because it deserves to be finished because it's amazing. There are all kinds of things I could say about this series, and I will gush appropriately as we go through this review, but this is what you need to know:

Reading this series was an EXPERIENCE unlike any reading experience I've had. It was more immersive, more emotionally involving, and more tangible than any other reading I can remember. I laughed, cried, and cheered. Quite literally. 

In this final installment, Monsters of Men, Todd and Viola as well as the Mayor and Mistress Coyle, are fighting a war. They're fighting for their lives. They're fighting for what their world will be. 

The first book in this series was frenetic in pace. It was almost painful because the reading experience was damn near breathless. The second book was a little slower, but heavier on character development...a good thing! But this final book was a great marriage of both. A frenetic pace but with additional, wonderful character development and plenty of surprises.

Ness has written one of the greatest villains of all time in the Mayor. He's ruthless, lonely, empty, vindictive, stealthy. We have innocent antiheroes in Wilf and Lee. Stunningly real, flawed, wonderful protagonists in Todd and Viola. I loved them all, and I spent the last 100 pages of the book sobbing, gasping, and generally hanging onto my seat. 

What a satisfying book. What a heart-rending, beautiful series. One of the best I've ever read. 

Pub. Date: September 2011
Publisher: Candlewick
Format: E-book
ISBN: 9780763656652
Source: Bought it!

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I wanted to start the year off right, with a review of a stunning book. 

I knew I had to finish the Chaos Walking trilogy before year's end. In short, because it deserves to be finished because it's amazing. There are all kinds of things I could say about this series, and I will gush appropriately as we go through this review, but this is what you need to know:

Reading this series was an EXPERIENCE unlike any reading experience I've had. It was more immersive, more emotionally involving, and more tangible than any other reading I can remember. I laughed, cried, and cheered. Quite literally. 

In this final installment, Monsters of Men, Todd and Viola as well as the Mayor and Mistress Coyle, are fighting a war. They're fighting for their lives. They're fighting for what their world will be. 

The first book in this series was frenetic in pace. It was almost painful because the reading experience was damn near breathless. The second book was a little slower, but heavier on character development...a good thing! But this final book was a great marriage of both. A frenetic pace but with additional, wonderful character development and plenty of surprises.

Ness has written one of the greatest villains of all time in the Mayor. He's ruthless, lonely, empty, vindictive, stealthy. We have innocent antiheroes in Wilf and Lee. Stunningly real, flawed, wonderful protagonists in Todd and Viola. I loved them all, and I spent the last 100 pages of the book sobbing, gasping, and generally hanging onto my seat. 

What a satisfying book. What a heart-rending, beautiful series. One of the best I've ever read. 

Pub. Date: September 2011
Publisher: Candlewick
Format: E-book
ISBN: 9780763656652
Source: Bought it!

Will and Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge

Willhemena Huckstep, or Will, is afraid of the dark. She's a high-schooler who jumps at shadows and dreads the idea of a blackout. She lost her parents in a car accident, and she lives with her aunt who runs her deceased grandparents' antique store. Will loves old things, and she loves building quirky lamps to drive away the darkness. She values her creative group of friends: Autumn, Noel, and Reese. She longs for a simple, more unplugged existence, until hurricane Whitney comes along and plunges the group into darkness and she has to face her own past. 

The description makes this one sound somewhat darker and more dramatic than it really is. The whole of the characters are upbeat and fun. 

My favorite part of this book was the illustration style. Will is consistently followed along by sandy, shadowy figures representing her anxiety about her past and the loss of her parents. The whole book is packed full of high-contrast illustrations that really brought the simple plot and cartoony characters to life. 

Like my previous review of Peanut, this is not the most developed plot. It's targeted to a middle-grade to young adult audience, and it's fitting to that age group. After reading and enjoying Will and Whit, I am curious to try Laura Lee Gulledge's other graphic novel, Paige By Page, which was nominated for both Eisner and Harvey Awards. 

Pub. Date: May 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Format: Graphic Novel

ISBN: 9781419705465

Source: Library

Will and Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge

Willhemena Huckstep, or Will, is afraid of the dark. She's a high-schooler who jumps at shadows and dreads the idea of a blackout. She lost her parents in a car accident, and she lives with her aunt who runs her deceased grandparents' antique store. Will loves old things, and she loves building quirky lamps to drive away the darkness. She values her creative group of friends: Autumn, Noel, and Reese. She longs for a simple, more unplugged existence, until hurricane Whitney comes along and plunges the group into darkness and she has to face her own past. 

The description makes this one sound somewhat darker and more dramatic than it really is. The whole of the characters are upbeat and fun. 

My favorite part of this book was the illustration style. Will is consistently followed along by sandy, shadowy figures representing her anxiety about her past and the loss of her parents. The whole book is packed full of high-contrast illustrations that really brought the simple plot and cartoony characters to life. 

Like my previous review of Peanut, this is not the most developed plot. It's targeted to a middle-grade to young adult audience, and it's fitting to that age group. After reading and enjoying Will and Whit, I am curious to try Laura Lee Gulledge's other graphic novel, Paige By Page, which was nominated for both Eisner and Harvey Awards. 

Pub. Date: May 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Format: Graphic Novel

ISBN: 9781419705465

Source: Library

Peanut by Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe

I often try to use Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon to read at least one graphic novel. It's a genre I really love, but I don't read as many of them as I'd like because a) they're expensive and b) my library doesn't have a great stock. 

I happened to pick up Peanut, by Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe, when I was browsing for my potentials pile, and this turned out to be a delight. It's not a gn I'd ever heard of, but I'm definitely glad I picked it up. 

Sadie has changed high schools A LOT, and it's pure torture. So during this latest move, she decides on the BRILLIANT plan to fake a peanut allergy. It will make her unique and give her something to talk to people about. And the real kicker? It works! But as you can imagine, she soon begins to realize how inconvenient it is to have to remember to fake a peanut allergy. Her anal-retentive homeroom teacher wants her to turn in her EpiPen to the school nurse, her mom almost catches her wearing an allergy alert bracelet, and her friends FREAK OUT when she almost eats a chip cooked in peanut oil. 

While a peanut is a fairly innocuous thing, the peanut becomes the center of Sadie's life! But at least she has a new group of friends, and a boyfriend, and a supportive mom. Right? Nothing can go wrong! 

This was a really cute, funny book. And what a premise. Who knew that damn peanut could cause such problems! lol  It's a simple plot with simple characters, but I was charmed by it, and also by Paul Hoppe's artwork.

His style is just the clean, contemporary look that I like with little pops of color and expressive characters. While this graphic novel is certainly not the deepest you'll read, it's great fun and a good way to spend an hour. 

And when I was looking up the publication info to drop in below, I found out this is targeted to the 11-14 age group. No wonder it was a little lighter on the content side! Definitely worth picking up from the 'brary or adding to your kiddo's bookshelves (and sneaking a peek on a rainy afternoon). 

Have you read any graphic novels lately that you would recommend? 

Pub. Date: December 2012

Publisher: Random House Children's

Format: Graphic Novel

ISBN: 9780375865909

Source: Library

Peanut by Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe

I often try to use Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon to read at least one graphic novel. It's a genre I really love, but I don't read as many of them as I'd like because a) they're expensive and b) my library doesn't have a great stock. 

I happened to pick up Peanut, by Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe, when I was browsing for my potentials pile, and this turned out to be a delight. It's not a gn I'd ever heard of, but I'm definitely glad I picked it up. 

Sadie has changed high schools A LOT, and it's pure torture. So during this latest move, she decides on the BRILLIANT plan to fake a peanut allergy. It will make her unique and give her something to talk to people about. And the real kicker? It works! But as you can imagine, she soon begins to realize how inconvenient it is to have to remember to fake a peanut allergy. Her anal-retentive homeroom teacher wants her to turn in her EpiPen to the school nurse, her mom almost catches her wearing an allergy alert bracelet, and her friends FREAK OUT when she almost eats a chip cooked in peanut oil. 

While a peanut is a fairly innocuous thing, the peanut becomes the center of Sadie's life! But at least she has a new group of friends, and a boyfriend, and a supportive mom. Right? Nothing can go wrong! 

This was a really cute, funny book. And what a premise. Who knew that damn peanut could cause such problems! lol  It's a simple plot with simple characters, but I was charmed by it, and also by Paul Hoppe's artwork.

His style is just the clean, contemporary look that I like with little pops of color and expressive characters. While this graphic novel is certainly not the deepest you'll read, it's great fun and a good way to spend an hour. 

And when I was looking up the publication info to drop in below, I found out this is targeted to the 11-14 age group. No wonder it was a little lighter on the content side! Definitely worth picking up from the 'brary or adding to your kiddo's bookshelves (and sneaking a peek on a rainy afternoon). 

Have you read any graphic novels lately that you would recommend? 

Pub. Date: December 2012

Publisher: Random House Children's

Format: Graphic Novel

ISBN: 9780375865909

Source: Library

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

This is a middle book in a series. Doing my damnedest not to spoil anything. I couldn't respect my own self in the morning if I ruined anything for you. 

First, let's just get this out of the way...

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. 

That good. It was all-caps good. So yeah, this is the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy, and the first one nearly broke my heart. I can't say I've ever read a book that so thoroughly put me on the edge of my seat. To the point that I almost wanted to hide behind my hands at times. A lot of the time actually. I loved the characters almost immediately and I was so afraid for them.

In this book, there's still plenty to be afraid of, but it's not the insanely frenetic pace of the first book. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of action, intrigue, and plot movement, but it didn't make me hide behind my hands. Ness himself said in an interview that he wanted to write a book about flight, a book about tyranny, and a book about war, and this is one of the best books about tyranny ever. 

There were times that I thought to myself, "So that's how Hitler would've swayed a society into something soooo not good for them." There's one mangy character in this book that is so very convincing, so very e-vil, he's just fascinating. 

Our protagonists, Todd and Viola, are still awesome. Todd is a bonehead sometimes, but what teenage boy isn't? And Viola is one tough cookie. They both show themselves to be fallible but heroic in this book. Potential leaders of their society. 

So you notice this post is awfully light on plot points. That's that no spoilers thing I mentioned. I'm ok with it. If you haven't gotten in on this series yet, there's no time like the present! I'm taking a brain break before I whip out Monsters of Men, but it won't be long before I can no longer wait to dive into the last book. 

Pub. Date: October 2010
Publisher: Candlewick
Format: E-book
ISBN:9780763652173
Source: Bought it!

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

This is a middle book in a series. Doing my damnedest not to spoil anything. I couldn't respect my own self in the morning if I ruined anything for you. 

First, let's just get this out of the way...

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. 

That good. It was all-caps good. So yeah, this is the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy, and the first one nearly broke my heart. I can't say I've ever read a book that so thoroughly put me on the edge of my seat. To the point that I almost wanted to hide behind my hands at times. A lot of the time actually. I loved the characters almost immediately and I was so afraid for them.

In this book, there's still plenty to be afraid of, but it's not the insanely frenetic pace of the first book. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of action, intrigue, and plot movement, but it didn't make me hide behind my hands. Ness himself said in an interview that he wanted to write a book about flight, a book about tyranny, and a book about war, and this is one of the best books about tyranny ever. 

There were times that I thought to myself, "So that's how Hitler would've swayed a society into something soooo not good for them." There's one mangy character in this book that is so very convincing, so very e-vil, he's just fascinating. 

Our protagonists, Todd and Viola, are still awesome. Todd is a bonehead sometimes, but what teenage boy isn't? And Viola is one tough cookie. They both show themselves to be fallible but heroic in this book. Potential leaders of their society. 

So you notice this post is awfully light on plot points. That's that no spoilers thing I mentioned. I'm ok with it. If you haven't gotten in on this series yet, there's no time like the present! I'm taking a brain break before I whip out Monsters of Men, but it won't be long before I can no longer wait to dive into the last book. 

Pub. Date: October 2010
Publisher: Candlewick
Format: E-book
ISBN:9780763652173
Source: Bought it!

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

"Another world is colliding with this one," said the toad. "All the monsters are coming back."

"Why?" said Tiffany.

"There's no one to stop them."

There was silence for a moment.

Then Tiffany said, "There's me."

Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. (adapted from Goodreads)

The Wee Free Men is my first experience with Terry Pratchett and the famous, and seemingly endless, Discworld series. The Tiffany Aching books are a sort of series within a series--four books (#30, #32, #35, and #38) within Discworld.  


This was such a lovely, magical, funny, wonderful book. I started reading it at night while I was getting Greyson settled down to the sleep and I quickly got settled on the Chalk with characters like Granny Aching, Tiffany's tough-as-nails grandmother who keeps peace on the Chalk. The Wee Free Men clan were quite funny and a wonderful band of sidekicks as Tiffany traverses a dreamy, sometimes nightmarish, landscape. 

This book is apparently meant for a young audience (middle-grade to YA maybe?), but I certainly enjoyed it for its adventure and the old-world feeling of magic. It's one of those books you'll probably like if you're into Harry Potter or Neil Gaiman.

When I posted on Facebook that I'd read this book, a good friend of mine from college and a now-colleague wrote, "Wonderful book. Outstanding. The Tiffany Aching series should be required reading for every 16-year old female in the US." 

And I'm inclined to agree. Part of what makes this book (and the rest of the series, apparently) so great, is that Tiffany is remarkably ordinary. While she's a witch-to-be, most of what being a witch requires is a sense of responsibility, a keen eye for detail, and a determination to do what needs to be done. It's a stunning lesson in responsibility and integrity. Without being too preachy. Tiffany is industrious and resourceful and awesome. 

There was a great deal of humor in this book, but there were also moments that gave me goosebumps with their truth and heart. Such a nice mix, all in one shortish volume.

I'm very much looking forward to the next books in the Tiffany Aching series within Discworld:

• A Hat Full of Sky (#32)
• Wintersmith (#35)
• I Shall Wear Midnight

If you're looking for a quick, fun read that still feels significant, pick this one up. 

Pub. Date: May 2004

Publisher: HarperCollins

Format: E-book

ISBN: 9780060012380

Source: Gifted to me

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

"Another world is colliding with this one," said the toad. "All the monsters are coming back."

"Why?" said Tiffany.

"There's no one to stop them."

There was silence for a moment.

Then Tiffany said, "There's me."

Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. (adapted from Goodreads)

The Wee Free Men is my first experience with Terry Pratchett and the famous, and seemingly endless, Discworld series. The Tiffany Aching books are a sort of series within a series--four books (#30, #32, #35, and #38) within Discworld.  


This was such a lovely, magical, funny, wonderful book. I started reading it at night while I was getting Greyson settled down to the sleep and I quickly got settled on the Chalk with characters like Granny Aching, Tiffany's tough-as-nails grandmother who keeps peace on the Chalk. The Wee Free Men clan were quite funny and a wonderful band of sidekicks as Tiffany traverses a dreamy, sometimes nightmarish, landscape. 

This book is apparently meant for a young audience (middle-grade to YA maybe?), but I certainly enjoyed it for its adventure and the old-world feeling of magic. It's one of those books you'll probably like if you're into Harry Potter or Neil Gaiman.

When I posted on Facebook that I'd read this book, a good friend of mine from college and a now-colleague wrote, "Wonderful book. Outstanding. The Tiffany Aching series should be required reading for every 16-year old female in the US." 

And I'm inclined to agree. Part of what makes this book (and the rest of the series, apparently) so great, is that Tiffany is remarkably ordinary. While she's a witch-to-be, most of what being a witch requires is a sense of responsibility, a keen eye for detail, and a determination to do what needs to be done. It's a stunning lesson in responsibility and integrity. Without being too preachy. Tiffany is industrious and resourceful and awesome. 

There was a great deal of humor in this book, but there were also moments that gave me goosebumps with their truth and heart. Such a nice mix, all in one shortish volume.

I'm very much looking forward to the next books in the Tiffany Aching series within Discworld:

• A Hat Full of Sky (#32)
• Wintersmith (#35)
• I Shall Wear Midnight

If you're looking for a quick, fun read that still feels significant, pick this one up. 

Pub. Date: May 2004

Publisher: HarperCollins

Format: E-book

ISBN: 9780060012380

Source: Gifted to me

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang, is one of my very favorite graphic novels of all-time. I would venture to say that it's one of the best of the medium, right up there with Maus or Persepolis. It's written for a young adult audience, but it's no less nuanced and it doesn't shy away from confronting our ideas of Otherness. As you can imagine, based on my praise for this book, I was pretty tickled to find out that Yang has a new set of books coming out on September 10th. Boxers and Saints. While these volumes are being sold separately, they should most definitely be read together. They are well-done on their own, but they are stellar in their pairing and I'm totally comfortable saying that they have surpassed American Born Chinese, as my favorite of Yang's work.

The books present parallel stories of Chinese children during the Boxer Rebellion -- a boy who sides with the Boxers and a girl who converts to Christianity. I was not at all familiar with the Boxer Rebellion, but as I came across unfamiliar terms in the books, and the more Googling I did, the more familiar I became. In short, the rebellion was an anti-foreign, pro-nationalist movement aimed squarely at foreign imperialism and Christianity. It also erupted against a backdrop of drought and economic crisis. 

What's so touching about this book is seeing the event unfold from opposing sides. As with any economic, political, and cultural turmoil, there is blame on both sides. Each opposing force sees righteousness in his or her own cause but they lose objectivity.  

A spread from Boxers where the men "become" gods. 

In Boxers, a young boy named Little Bao becomes enamored of a new man in town who begins training his brothers and townsfolk in the martial arts and in the particulars of battle. Meanwhile, as foreigners and Christian missionaries move through the area, negative feelings begin to stew. In short, he becomes a part of the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists. A key player in the rebellion. They believe that they are possessed by gods when they enter battle and nothing can stop them.

A spread from Saints when Vibiana has a vision of Joan of Arc.

On the flip-side, in Saints, a young girl without a proper name--only called Four Girl--is mistreated by her family and finds solace with Christian missionaries. She chooses the name Vibiana from among the saints and she begins to have visions of Joan of Arc. Slowly she finds her place among Christians though she constantly wonders if her faith is strong enough that she would die for it...like Joan. 

Yang is a master of employing visual and narrative techniques that bring the characters and their struggles to life. It was a heartbreaking set of books in that it shows the disturbing results of extremism. I gulped these books down in two days, and they are definitely volumes I will re-read. Even though I received an ARC for review, I've already pre-ordered my "keeper" set to add to my shelves. 

Pub. Date: September 2013

Publisher: First Second Books

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781596439245

Source: I received an e-galley of these books in exchange for an honest review. 

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang, is one of my very favorite graphic novels of all-time. I would venture to say that it's one of the best of the medium, right up there with Maus or Persepolis. It's written for a young adult audience, but it's no less nuanced and it doesn't shy away from confronting our ideas of Otherness. As you can imagine, based on my praise for this book, I was pretty tickled to find out that Yang has a new set of books coming out on September 10th. Boxers and Saints. While these volumes are being sold separately, they should most definitely be read together. They are well-done on their own, but they are stellar in their pairing and I'm totally comfortable saying that they have surpassed American Born Chinese, as my favorite of Yang's work.

The books present parallel stories of Chinese children during the Boxer Rebellion -- a boy who sides with the Boxers and a girl who converts to Christianity. I was not at all familiar with the Boxer Rebellion, but as I came across unfamiliar terms in the books, and the more Googling I did, the more familiar I became. In short, the rebellion was an anti-foreign, pro-nationalist movement aimed squarely at foreign imperialism and Christianity. It also erupted against a backdrop of drought and economic crisis. 

What's so touching about this book is seeing the event unfold from opposing sides. As with any economic, political, and cultural turmoil, there is blame on both sides. Each opposing force sees righteousness in his or her own cause but they lose objectivity.  

A spread from Boxers where the men "become" gods. 

In Boxers, a young boy named Little Bao becomes enamored of a new man in town who begins training his brothers and townsfolk in the martial arts and in the particulars of battle. Meanwhile, as foreigners and Christian missionaries move through the area, negative feelings begin to stew. In short, he becomes a part of the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists. A key player in the rebellion. They believe that they are possessed by gods when they enter battle and nothing can stop them.

A spread from Saints when Vibiana has a vision of Joan of Arc.

On the flip-side, in Saints, a young girl without a proper name--only called Four Girl--is mistreated by her family and finds solace with Christian missionaries. She chooses the name Vibiana from among the saints and she begins to have visions of Joan of Arc. Slowly she finds her place among Christians though she constantly wonders if her faith is strong enough that she would die for it...like Joan. 

Yang is a master of employing visual and narrative techniques that bring the characters and their struggles to life. It was a heartbreaking set of books in that it shows the disturbing results of extremism. I gulped these books down in two days, and they are definitely volumes I will re-read. Even though I received an ARC for review, I've already pre-ordered my "keeper" set to add to my shelves. 

Pub. Date: September 2013

Publisher: First Second Books

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781596439245

Source: I received an e-galley of these books in exchange for an honest review. 

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Last year, 'round Halloween time, Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake, seemed to pop up on must-read lists all over the blogosphere. I was underemployed at the time, so I had plenty of time on my hands, and even though I enter into a reading relationship with YA hesitantly, I LOVED IT. 

I was super excited to  find out there's a second (and final) book in this duology, and I picked up Girl of Nightmares for the BookTube-a-Thon, since I figured it would be a really involving book and a breakneck-fast read. I was so right! So so, right! Go me! 

Blurb from Goodreads:
It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears. Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

So, yeah, I cut out the spoilery parts in the blurb above. No spoilers here. Don't wanna spoil this goodness. 

Anyway, if you read my review (or any review) of Anna Dressed in Blood, you'll find that the first book was quite gory and splatter-yucky and full of the killings. While it was firmly grounded in the horror genre, this book seems more like an adventure quest. I saw this same sentiment in another online review, though I can't remember which review it was, but I heartily agree. That's not to say there isn't some gory horror in this book, too, but it's much less than the first novel. The main focus of this book is the quest for Anna, and I found it just as fun, fast-paced, and satisfying as the first book. 

What really impressed me about Anna Dressed in Blood, and what I continued to appreciate in this closing volume, was the main cast of characters. It's nice to have the story told from a male perspective, and Cas is a wonderfully conflicted character. He's not a superhero, though he does have some kickass skills with an athame (dagger). I also enjoyed getting to know more about his sidekicks, Carmel (high school popular girl princess) and Thomas (grandson of a voodoo master and mind reader). 

There's also a nice mythology introduced in this novel. Cas is the keeper of that ghost-killin' dagger I mention a few seconds ago, and knowing how it was forged, by whom, and why added a lot of meaningful meat to this novel. 

This is a fun one. Git it!

Kendare Blake also has a new novel coming out in September called Antigoddess. It's the first in a series, but I'm not sure how long the series will be. I quite liked that the Anna books ended after two installments. Not everything needs to be drawn out.

Pub. Date: August 2012
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associations
Format: E-book
ISBN: 9780765328663
Source: A buddy shared her copy.

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Last year, 'round Halloween time, Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake, seemed to pop up on must-read lists all over the blogosphere. I was underemployed at the time, so I had plenty of time on my hands, and even though I enter into a reading relationship with YA hesitantly, I LOVED IT. 

I was super excited to  find out there's a second (and final) book in this duology, and I picked up Girl of Nightmares for the BookTube-a-Thon, since I figured it would be a really involving book and a breakneck-fast read. I was so right! So so, right! Go me! 

Blurb from Goodreads:
It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears. Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

So, yeah, I cut out the spoilery parts in the blurb above. No spoilers here. Don't wanna spoil this goodness. 

Anyway, if you read my review (or any review) of Anna Dressed in Blood, you'll find that the first book was quite gory and splatter-yucky and full of the killings. While it was firmly grounded in the horror genre, this book seems more like an adventure quest. I saw this same sentiment in another online review, though I can't remember which review it was, but I heartily agree. That's not to say there isn't some gory horror in this book, too, but it's much less than the first novel. The main focus of this book is the quest for Anna, and I found it just as fun, fast-paced, and satisfying as the first book. 

What really impressed me about Anna Dressed in Blood, and what I continued to appreciate in this closing volume, was the main cast of characters. It's nice to have the story told from a male perspective, and Cas is a wonderfully conflicted character. He's not a superhero, though he does have some kickass skills with an athame (dagger). I also enjoyed getting to know more about his sidekicks, Carmel (high school popular girl princess) and Thomas (grandson of a voodoo master and mind reader). 

There's also a nice mythology introduced in this novel. Cas is the keeper of that ghost-killin' dagger I mention a few seconds ago, and knowing how it was forged, by whom, and why added a lot of meaningful meat to this novel. 

This is a fun one. Git it!

Kendare Blake also has a new novel coming out in September called Antigoddess. It's the first in a series, but I'm not sure how long the series will be. I quite liked that the Anna books ended after two installments. Not everything needs to be drawn out.

Pub. Date: August 2012
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associations
Format: E-book
ISBN: 9780765328663
Source: A buddy shared her copy.