Top Ten Tuesday-Favorite Leading Ladies 2/24/15

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is all about the leading ladies. Hermione, Jacky Faber, and Cammie Morgan will always be at the top of my favorites list, but I have also discovered many new amazing leading ladies. In no particular order, I give you my list:

1. June Iparis-Not only is she a genius, she is a total fighting machine!

2. Cassie-She’s a natural-born profiler and the FBI needs her help!

3. Glory O’Brien-Glory is a freedom-fighter and feminist extraordinaire!

4. Darla Edmunds-Let’s be real, Alex would have been dead before the middle of book one if not for Darla. She is smart and practical and knows all about mechanics.

5. Valkyrie Cain-This girl takes to the world of ancient magic like a fish to water!

6. Jennifer Strange-Jennifer doesn’t need magic to run her magical agency and manage all the weird magicians. Also, she has the best pet and car!

7. Alina Starkov-Humble orphan? Pfft. This girl has a DESTINY!

8. Ava-You don’t want to mess with a firebug or her friends. She’ll burn you alive!

9. Sybella-One of Mortain’s assassins, Sybella is skilled in both the arts of death and seduction. The story of her past is devastating, but she is a survivor!

10. Theo-She’s a tough cookie to actually like, but you have to admire her strength!

11. Josie Moraine-She’s the daughter of a prostitute who wants a better life for herself. I love this gal!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Mondays with Megan-Staycation Reading! 2/23/15

Happy Monday, friends. I still feel like I am neglecting this poor little blog, but I am certainly not neglecting my reading! This brutal winter weather is a perfect excuse to read and binge watch Supernatural. If you aren’t already a fan, I highly recommend checking out some demon slaying action with the Winchesters. These guys are dreamy! You don’t meet Cas until Season 4, but he’s my favorite!

Sam, Dean and Cas.

Anyway. That’s my current obsession. I am currently rationing Season 7. I may have also mentioned before that I am reading my way through the Adult Graphic Novel collection at work. As I am newly responsible for maintaining this collection I feel obligated to really get to know it. So far it has been a lot fun.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

hosted by Book Journey and Teach Mentor Texts

Finished:

• Crossover by Kwame Alexander-♥♥♥♥♥. This 2015 Newbery Winner SIZZLES. A heartfelt novel in verse about brothers and fathers and basketball. Loved it.
• The Walking Dead 21: All Out War, Part 2 by Ron Kirkman-♥♥♥♥. Rick and crew have a final showdown with the villain Negan.
• The Walking Dead 22: A New Beginning by Ron Kirkman-♥♥♥♥♥. The survivors face many changes. Don’t get too comfy though because an insanely disturbing new twist is revealed!
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkin-♥♥♥♥♥. This debut thriller is being compared to Gone Girl. I never read that one, but I devoured this one in a day. I love unreliable narrators! This one lives up to the hype.
• Zahra’s Paradise by Amir-♥♥♥♥. Set in the aftermath of the highly contested 2009 Iranian presidential elections, this graphic novel tells the story of one young protester who has disappeared, seemingly without a trace. Fact and fiction blend in this engrossing book. Many times I set it aside to search out more information.
• Lock In by John Scalzi-♥♥♥♥. This Alex Award winner is fascinating and disturbing. An excellent choice for science fiction fans and fans of Ready Player One and James Dashner’s Morality Doctrine series.

Current Audio: (I didn’t do much driving or walking the dog this week!)

I will finish Wild Rover No More in this week!

Currently Reading: (I am once again all over the place, picking up and putting down a number of books)

On Deck:

Before I sign off, one quick question. Have you played Superfight, the card game? Is it worth the investment? Good for teens? Thanks!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Top Ten Tuesday-Bookish Problems-2/17/15

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish is all about book lovers’ problems. We all have them. We can all relate. In the grand scheme of things, bookish problems may be among the best kind to have!

1. My current #1 bookish problem? Not feeling passionate about a book. Last week I devoured The Retribution of Mara Dyer. This week, meh. I want a book hangover!

2. Having too many choices. It seems silly, but it’s true!

3. The never-ending TBR list.

4. The opposite of problem #1 is this-being so wrapped up in a book that sleep is not an option.

5. Those times when my friends do not share the same book passion as me. Awkward.

6. Nobody pays me to read.

7. Spoilers. I will confess, I occasionally seek them out and almost always regret it. I feel enraged when I accidentally encounter spoilers.

8. I may have a reputation as a nerd in some circles. Pfft.

I think that about covers it. So many books, not enough time and space.

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Mondays with Megan-2014 Cybils Awards Announced-2/16/15

Good morning, friends! As you may recall, I was a Cybils Awards Round 2 Judge for the 2014 Young Adult Fiction. It was such a fun experience full of great reads and lively discussions. I hope to have the opportunity to participate again in the future. The hard work is finished and winners have been announced. You can see the complete list of 2014 Cybils Awards Winners here. My group selected Pointe by Brandy Colbert as our winner! Here’s what we had to say:

Pointe
by Brandy Colbert
Putnam Juvenile
Nominated by: Kelly Jensen

Pointe is a remarkable debut from Brandy Colbert with an excellent, compelling story. Colbert isn’t afraid of having her characters face murky, sticky, really difficult situations, and she doesn’t shy away from the darkest parts of life. The issues the characters face are real, honest, and messy. There aren’t any soft-balled conclusions or answers here, either, which is refreshing.

Full of deeply flawed characters, the novel is a standout largely because of how Colbert draws her protagonist Theo. Theo’s voice is wholly authentic. She’s smart and motivated but also a teenager and marked by the traumatic events of her past. Her slow realization that she’s more affected by her past than she realizes is authentic, raw, and very compelling. The fact that the other characters who inhabit Theo’s world are also fully-realized helps make this story memorable and offers plenty of appeal for teens.

 

  It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

 hosted by Book Journey and Teach Mentor Texts

Finished:

• Geek Girl by Holly Smale-♥♥♥ 1/2. Cute series opener about a geeky girl turned model. I had a few qualms with the handling of a stalker issue and some over-the-top stereotypes. Still, a fun read.
• An Age of License by Lucy Knisley-♥♥♥♥. A graphic travelogue and journal of the best-selling cartoonist’s 2011 European journey. Full of romance and food, fans of Relish will enjoy this new offering.
• The Tale of One Bad Rat by Brian Talbot-♥♥♥♥. From 1991, this graphic novel explores the world of sexual abuse victims and teen runaways. The life and works of Beatrix Potter are artfully woven in as well. Both sad and lovely.
• The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin-♥♥♥♥♥. The final, thrilling chapter of the Mara Dyer trilogy. All is revealed…eventually!

Current Audio: (still)

Currently Reading: (More like casually hanging out with a bunch of books. I can’t seem to commit to one right now)

Since I am not really sure what really want to be reading right now I will continue to work my way through the library’s graphic novel collection. I need a slump buster, for sure!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Top Ten Tuesday-Romance Novels, Likes and Dislikes 2/10/15

It’s that time of year when romance is everywhere, so it’s only fitting that The Broke and the Bookish have asked us to weigh in on what we like or dislike about romance novels.

Let’s start with the dislikes so we can end on a positive note.

1. Love Triangles. For the most part, love triangles drive me nuts.

2. Romances that actually interfere with a bigger plot. Guess what? Not every book needs a romance. Sometimes its ok to just be a science fiction book.

3. Inappropriate romances. Teachers and students, brothers and sisters…blah.

4. Cheaters, stalkers, vapid girls…why bother looking for book covers?

Happy thoughts time!

5. Humor/sass/banter. I sass and banter ALL the time!

6. Quirky characters.

7. LGBT characters.

8. Road Trip Romances.

9. Sweet Guys.

10. Paranormal Romance. I do love a paranormal/fantasy romance…

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Mondays with Megan- Death by Chocolate, A Visit to Grandpa’s Cheese Barn, and a Bit of Light Reading 2/9/14

Good Afternoon Dear Reader! Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings.

In case you missed it, last week I held a Death by Chocolate program that drew about 40 teens. I love doing this program. There is quite a bit of prep work that goes into it, but it’s worth it. I played Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as the backdrop for all of the day’s events. I had a buffet table set with crock pots of melted chocolate and a variety of things to be covered in said melted chocolate-marshmallows, graham crackers, pretzels, vanilla wafers, and bananas. I also printed up some Valentine’s Day BINGO cards and used M&Ms and markers. I am always amazed by how much everyone loves to play BINGO. Winners got mini candy bars. I had a worksheet with pictures of cross sections of well-known chocolate bars and challenged participants to identify as many as possible. I also had some chocolate covered insects on hand and dared them to be brave enough to eat one. I had 12 daring souls chewing on meal worms and crickets (gag)! Oh, and just because I could, I whipped up mini chocolate chip pancakes. We had so much fun!

I had a very busy weekend that included a stop at Grandpa’s Cheese Barn. I still can’t believe that this was my first time there! It’s like a little slice of heaven in the middle of Ohio! I only had time for some graphic novels over the weekend, but I am ahead of schedule on my new goal, so I am not fretting my current novel dry spell.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Be sure to stop by Book Journey and Teach Mentor Texts for more reading lists.

Finished:

• The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins-♥♥♥♥♥. Weird and clever and unusual. Amazing black and white illustrations.
• One Plus One by Jojo Moyes-♥♥♥♥. I’m a sucker for a good road trip story. Especially one with quirky characters!
• Mortal Coil by Derek Landy-♥♥♥♥♥. Book 5 in the Skulduggery Pleasant series is very long and very dark and super amazing!
• Revival vol. 1-3 by Tim Seeley-♥♥♥♥. Give this to your Walking Dead fans! In a small town in Wisconsin the dead won’t stay dead.

Current Audio:

• The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith-I didn’t even know there was going to be a sequel to Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter!
• Wild Rover No More by L.A. Meyer-the final chapter in the Jacky Faber saga.

Currently Reading (though not very committed to them and will be willing to abandon if something better comes along):

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Waiting on Wednesday 2/4/15

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige, March 31, 2015

From Goodreads

***May contain spoilers for Dorothy Must Die***

“In this dark, high-octane sequel to the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die, Amy Gumm must do everything in her power to kill Dorothy and free Oz.

To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and then Dorothy must die….

But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy’s only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she’s only just scratched the surface of Oz’s past—and that Kansas, the home she couldn’t wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust—and who is really Wicked?“

I love this Oz retelling and can’t wait for the story to pick up where it left off.

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Top Ten Tuesday-2015 Award Winners That I Have Not Read 2/3/15

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the Broke and the Bookish, is all about books we haven’t read. So, in honor of yesterday’s ALA Youth Media Awards announcements, here are the top ten winners that I still need to read:

1. Newbery Winner, Crossover by Kwame Alexander.

2. Printz Honor Winner, And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard.

3. Printz Honor Winner, This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki.

4. The Schneider Family Book Award Winner, Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin.

5. The Coretta Scott King Award Young Adult Winner, How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon.

6. Alex Award Winner, Lock In by Jon Scalzi.

7. Alex Award Winner, Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia.

8. Alex Award Winner, Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle.

9. Alex Award Winner, Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng.

10. Alex Award Winner, Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta.

I have my work cut out for me!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Mondays With Megan-Groundhog Day, Youth Media Awards Day, Snow Day! 2/2/15

Hi Everyone! Happy snowy Monday. My 2015 got off to a very rocky start and I hardly blogged at all. Well, it’s a new month and a new opportunity to get back into the routine. And what a day to start! There is so much happening today! Here in Northeast Ohio most schools are closed today-lucky ducks, enjoy your snow day! I am here at the library and it is eerily quiet. It’s going to be a long day! As for the rodents’ predictions for spring…our local groundhog, Buckeye Chuck is calling for an early spring! His pal, Punxsutawney Phil, disagrees. Though I hear Staten Island Chuck is also predicting an early spring, so, *fingers crossed*

Most importantly, the American Library Association announced this year’s Youth Media Awards.

I am so excited that I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson won this year’s Prinz Award! This was one of my absolute favorites from last year. The Prinz Honor Award went to the strange and delightful Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. (I am congratulating myself for having read both of these in 2014).

“The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association.”

The Morris Award went to Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero. I read this one too, but I still can’t talk about my thoughts until after the Cybils have been awarded…stay tuned. The Morris Honor Award went to The Story of Owen by E.K. Johnston. *runs to shelf, snatches up copy*

“The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.”

And once again, I have read NONE of the Alex Award Winner…sigh.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr

Bellweather Rhapsody, by Kate Racculia

Bingo’s Run, by James A. Levine

Confessions, by Kanae Minato, translated by Stephen Snyder

Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng

Lock In, by John Scalzi

The Martian, by Andy Weir

The Terrorist’s Son: A Story of Choice, by Zak Ebrahim with Jeff Giles

Those Who Wish Me Dead, by Michael Koryta

Wolf in White Van, by John Darnielle

I have my work cut out for me! Good thing I am on a roll with my reading (canceling cable has helped!)

Finished: (I took 4 days off last week and spent most of my time reading!)

• Funny Girl by Nick Hornby-♥♥♥1/2. It’s been a while since I have read a Nick Hornby novel. Clever and witty.
• Fairest by Marissa Meyer-♥♥♥♥♥. Give me Winter!!
• Battling Boy by Paul Pope-♥♥♥♥. YA graphic novel full of gods and monsters.
• Ghosted, vol. 1 by Joshua Williamson-♥♥♥♥. A graphic novel for the Supernatural fans. A motley crew of characters set out to steal a ghost.
• American Vampire, vol. 5 by Scott Snyder-♥♥♥♥. Volume 5 moves the story forward, while looking back on Pearl’s past.
• American Vampire, vol. 6 by Scott Snyder-♥♥♥♥. A collection of “lost stories”.
• Half a King by Joe Abercrombie-♥♥♥. My first high fantasy since A Dance with Dragons.
• All the Rage by Courtney Summers-♥♥♥♥♥♥. AMAZING. Grab it up when it comes out!

Current Audio:

Currently Reading:

What are you reading?

Happy Reading!

~Megan