2013 Classics Double Challenge

1/4 books
  For my last challenge of 2013, I will partake in the Classics Double Challenge hosted by One's Librarian Book Reviews. The object of this challenge is to read a classic (the term is used loosely to include fairy tales, mythologies, classics, any kind of original story) and couple it with a retelling (the original and the newer book have to relate in some way that you can define; it doesn't have to be a straight-forward retelling).

Examples:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series by Kenneth Oppel.
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein is a prequel series to Frankenstein.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane by April Lindner.
Jane is a retelling of Jane Eyre, set in a modern day.

 If you need some inspiration for retellings, the hostess has compiled a rather extensive list of retellings.  and for fairy tale retellings.  Also, during the Retell Me a Story celebration next month the hostess will be highlighting some newer retellings that have been released or are coming out soon.

Levels of Participation:

Small: You read 2 related books.
Medium: You read 4 books (2 sets of related books).
Large: You read 6 books (3 sets of related books).
Super Size: You read 8 books (4 sets of related books).

This reading challenge is hosted by One Librarian's Book Reviews. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

My Participation: Medium- 4 books (2 sets of related books). I may up it if I have time. 

Books Read for the Classics Double Challenge

1. Persuasion by Jane Austen/ For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diane Peterfreund
2. 
   

150+ Reading Challenge for 2013

100/270 books

Details/Rules:

1. The goal is to read 150 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.
2. Allowed are: Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts. What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible and comic books.
3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
5. Challenge begins January 1st, 2013 thru December 31, 2013. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime. 6. When you sign up under Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

Books Read in 2013 

italics = Reviewed

1. What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang (Hybrid Trilogy #1) (YA)
2. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (Children)
3. While He Was Away by Katie Schreck (YA)
4. Every Day by David Levithan (YA)
5. The Cove by Ron Rash (Adult)
6. The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger (Adult)
7. UnWholly (Unwind #2) by Neal Shusterman (YA)
8. The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress (YA)
9. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Adult)
10. Stray (Werecats #1) by Rachel Vincent (Adult)
11. Curses! Foiled Again! by Jane Yolen (YA/Graphic Novel)
12. One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo (Children/Picture Book)
13. Sleep like a tiger by Mary Logue (Children/Picture Book)
14. This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen (Children/Picture Book)
15. Extra Yarn by Marc Burnett (Children/Picture Book)
16. Hansel and Gretel by Anthony Browne (Children/Picture Book)
17. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon (Adult)
18. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (YA)
19. Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton (YA)
20. Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher (Adult)
21. Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand (YA)
22. Six Days Earlier by David Levithan (YA)
23. Shadowlands (Shadowlands #1) by Kate Brian (YA)
24. Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6) by Chloe Neill (Adult) 
25. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (YA)
26. Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand (Adult)
27. Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor (YA)
28. Vampire Knight Vol. 16 by Matsuri Hino (Manga)
29. Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt (YA)
30. Fool Moon (Dreseden Files #2) by Jim Butcher (Adult)
31. Scent of Magic (Avry #2) by Maria V. Snyder (Adult)
32. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Adult)
33. Sapphire Blue (Red Ruby Trilogy #2) by Kerstin Gier (YA)
34. The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeymay (YA)
35. Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally (YA)
36. Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane (Downside #1) (Adult)
37. Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter (Heist Society #3) *Review coming soon
38. Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo *Review coming soon
39. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2) *Review coming soon
40. Theodosia and the Serpent of Chaos by R. L. Lafevers (Childrens)
41. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger (Finishing School #1) *Review coming soon
42. Snowy White World to Save by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)
43. I'll Follow the Moon by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)
44. Gwynee fair and shining by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)
45. The Library Mouse by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)
46. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (Infernal Devices #3) *Review coming soon
47. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton *Review coming soon
48. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale (Adult)
49. Amelia Rules! When the Past is the Present by Jim Gownley Childrens/GN)
50. In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters (YA)
51. Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson (YA)
52. Amelia Rules! True Things (Adults Don't Want Kids to Know) by Jim Gownley (Childrens/Graphic Novel)
53. Crash by Lisa McMann (Visions #1) (YA)
54. The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin (Adult)
55. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Grishna #1) (YA)
56. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (Grishna #2) (YA)
57. Orleans by Sherri Smith (YA)
58. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes *Review coming soon 
59. The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter (Childrens)
60. Amelia Rules! The Meaning of Life and Other Stuff by Jim Gownley (Childrens/Graphic Novel)
61. Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke *Review coming soon
62. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Theresa Fowler *Review coming soon
63. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #7) *Review coming soon
64. Wonder Show by Hanah Barnaby *Review coming soon
65. Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff (YA)
66. Persuasion by Jane Austen (Adult)
67. The Rules of Disappearing by Ashley Eston (YA)
68. Tenderness by Robert Cormier (YA)
69. Magicalamity by Kate Saunders (Childrens)
70. Catherine by April Lindner *Review coming soon
71. Afterschool Charisma Vol. 7 by Kumiko Suekane (Manga)
72. The Loop by Shandy Lawson (Childrens/YA)
73. The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells *Review coming soon
74. Will and Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge (YA/Graphic Novel)
75. Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer *Review coming soon
76. Afterschool Charisma Vol. 7 by Kumiko Suekane (Manga)
77. Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer *Review coming soon
78. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight *Review coming soon
79. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diane Peterfreund (YA)
80. The Perfect Square by Michael Hall (Children/Picture Book)
81. Black Butler Vol. 9 by Yana Toboso (Manga)
82. Mind Games by Kiersten White *Review coming soon
83. Black Butler Vol. 10 by Yana Toboso (Manga)
84. Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming (Childrens/Picture Books)
85. Say Hello to Zorro! by Carter Goodrich (Childrens/Picture Books)
86. The Madness Underneath (Shades of London #2) by Maureen  Johnson *Review coming soon
87. Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman *Review coming soon
88. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #2) *Review coming soon
89. Black Butler Vol 11 by Yana Toboso *Review coming soon
90. Biblioburro by Jeanette Winter
91. Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (Childrens/Picture Book)
92. Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet (Childrens/Picture Book)
93. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher (YA)
94. The Lighthouse by Alison Moore *Review coming soon
95. Painted Hands by Jennifer Zobair *Review coming soon
96. Swirl by Swirl by Joyce Sidman (Childrens/Picture Books)
97. One by Kathryn Otoshi (Childrens/Picture Books)
98. Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick (Childrens/Picture Books)
99. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson *Review coming soon
100. Pivot Point by Kasie West *Review coming soon
101. Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassins #2) by Robin LaFevers *Review coming soon
102. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman *Review coming soon
103. 
     

2013 Ebook Challenge

23/50 books

  I was thrilled to complete this challenge last year and it helped me organize my reads much more efficiently. I hope the 2013 Ebook Challenge hosted by Workaday Reads will give me the same results!

Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013.
2. Anyone can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc.).
3. Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4. You can plan your books in advance or as you read them.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

1. Floppy disk - 5 ebooks
2. CD - 10 ebooks
3. DVD - 25 ebooks
4. Memory stick - 50 ebooks
5. Hard drive - 75 ebooks
6. Server - 100 ebooks
7. Human brain - 150 ebooks

At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews for that month. The linky will remain open for the remainder of the year, so if you forget, feel free go back and add them when you remember.
There will be a giveaway at the end of the year for everyone who achieves their goal level (or higher).

Goal for this challenge: 50 ebooks

Books Read for the 2013 Ebook Challenge

1. The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress
2. Curses! Foiled Again! by Jane Yolen
3. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yonavoff
4. Shadowlands by Kate Brian
5. Six Days Earlier by David Levithan
6. Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt
7. Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder 
8. The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman
9. Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
10. In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
11. Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson
12. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
13. Orleans by Sherri Smith
14. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
15. The Rules of Disappearing by Ashley Elston
16. The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells
17. The Loop by Shandy Lawson
18. Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer
19. Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer 
20. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diane Peterfreund
21. My Ex From Hell by Tellulah Darling
22. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
23. Painted Hands by Jennifer Zobair

2012 End of Year Book Survey

   I'm joining many other bloggers in taking Jamie of Perpetual Page Turner's survey. I've added some of my own questions and answered most of Jamie's questions. To participate in the survey, click here.

Total books read in 2012:  262 books. I exceeded my goal of reading 245 books this year. Yay!

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?  

Well, I completed 6 out of my 8 reading challenges, which isn't too bad but I still feel a bit guilty for not completing all of them.

 Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want):

Adult Fiction: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Adult Nonfiction: Quiet by Susan Cain

YA Paranormal: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

YA Realistic Fiction: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

YA Fantasy:  Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore and very closely followed by Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

YA Dystopian: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

YA Retelling: Tiger Lilly by Jodi Lynn Anderson

MG/Children Realistic: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Picture Book: Silent Music by James Rumford

Manga Series: Nana by Ai Yawaza

Graphic Novel: Drama by Raina Telgemeier *Review coming soon

 Book(s) You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  I started the year on a rocky start. I've had several books that left me wanting and really disappointed me. The most memorable are:

• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead- My biggest disappointment of the year. It eventually lead me to a reading slump for a few months.

• City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare- In my opinion, the worst book in the MI series thus far. I skimmed large chunks of it.

• Fracture by Megan Miranda- I was completely misled by the marketing of this book. 

• Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- I think it's one of those few books that would be better as a movie.  

  Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?  

• Storm by Brigid Kemmerer- A great paranormal series that I think could easily be enjoyed by both girls and guys. 

• Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry- I really thought this book would not be for me. It was filled with issues and a cliched romance, but the realistic characters won me over and I got sucked into the book. I finished it in a couple of days.

• Cinder by Marissa Meyer- I really wasn't sure how a science fiction fairy tale retelling would work, but this book went beyond my eexpectations. Really looking forward to reading its sequel.   

  Book you recommended to people most in 2012?  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

  Best series you discovered in 2012?

Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones, Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs, Everneath series by Brodi Ashton, and Elementals series by Brigid Kemmerer, Agency series by Y.S. Lee, Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander

Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

I'm not a big horror fan or books that feature serial killers, but I was absolutely enthralled by I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?  

I actually have two:

 Book that I wished had more spotlight in the YA realm: Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott- a very unique retelling of Cinderella featuring a very strong female protagonist.

Book(s) you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read: I have series not books that I can't believe I waited so long to read: The Lionness Quartet by Tamora Pierce and Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones.

Book(s) That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It?

I've had several moments that had me reeling while reading the manga series Nana by Ai Yawaza and I absolutely had to talk to someone about Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn when I finished it. Really excited to see what my bookclub thinks about the book.

 Books You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

I have lots of books that have appeared on other blogger's and best of lists from review journals that I read that I wish I had read, but unfortunately I ran out of time but these are my top priorities for 2013: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor, Everyday by David Levithan, The Diviners by Libba Bray, and Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater are just a few that I can think of on the top of my head.

 AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST.....

 Literary Crushes of 2012 (in no particular order): 

• Cricket Bell from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
  

• George Cooper from the Lionness Quartet series by Tamora Pierce
  

• Jem Carstairs from Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
  

• Lord Giddon from Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
  

• Michael Merrick from the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer

• Mr. Colin Hargreaves from the Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander 

• James Easton from Agency series by Y.S. Lee

• Lucian Kiggs from Seraphina by Rachel Hartmann

• Jack Caputo from Everneath by Brodi Ashton

• Perry from Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

• Korbyn from Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

• Gavrel Duval from Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers 

•  Shadow from Graffiti Moon by Cathy Crowley

• Charles Cornnick from Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs

• Garret Swopes from the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

Mini-reviews of Middle Eastern Reads

 I recently read a slew of Middle Eastern books on a variety of topics. I like how this reading challenge pushes me to read about countries that are beyond the U.S. and Europe. I hope to continue to read from a broader spectrum next year. 

Description: Samir, a Palestinian boy, is sent for surgery to an Israeli hospital where he has two otherworldly experiences, making friends with an Israeli boy, Yonatan, and playing a computer game together about a trip to Mars, during which Samir finds peace about his brother's death in the war.

Review: Samir and Yonatan is a compelling read. It is written by an Israeli author who writes about the budding friendship between two boys, a Palestinian and an Israeli. There are no definite sides of right and wrong given to the Palestianian-Israeli conflict. In fact most of the plot takes place in a some what neutral territory of a hospital in Israel. The author strives and succeeds in showing how not all people from both sides of the border are evil and that tolerance can be achieved. Though not the best written book, I really enjoyed the message and recommend it for younger readers.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some war disturbing images as well as scenes where tweens are experimenting with cigarettes. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.

If you like this book try: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valérie Zenatti, Enemy Territory by Sharon E. McKay

Description: Living in the midst of civil war in Beirut, Lebanon, Zeina and her brother face an evening of apprehension when their parents do not return from a visit to the other side of the city.

Review: Game for Swallows gives us a look into one ordinary day of war torn Lebanon in the 1980s. Zeina and her little brother are waiting in the foyer of their apartment for their parents to return from visiting their grandmother in West Beirut. Bombings and sniper fire intensify in their neighborhood, and their neighbors huddle with them in what is the safest location of their building. As the neighbors arrive, Zeina gives us back stories of her neighbors and how the war has touched their lives. As the shootings and bombings continue, many neighbors are planning contingency plans if their country's condition doesn't improve. While the drawings may remind some readers of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (which I highly recommend reading if you haven't already done so), I felt wanting more from the graphic novel. I would have liked more historical information in order to really feel all the emotions that the characters feel throughout the story. I also wanted to know more about these people too.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There are some war disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman and David Polonsky
 

Description: Set in the aftermath of Iran's fraudulent elections of 2009, Zahra's Paradise is the fictional story of the search for Mehdi, a young protestor who has vanished into an extrajudicial twilight zone. What's keeping his memory from being obliterated is not the law. It is the grit and guts of his mother, who refuses to surrender her son to fate, and the tenacity of his brother, a blogger, who fuses tradition and technology to explore and explode the void in which Mehdi has vanished.

Review: Zahra's Paradise was an eye opening reading experience. Part political criticism on the lack of citizen's rights to assemble and freedom of speech and part a harrowing struggle of a finding a loved one in the midst of chaos and riots of 2009. The artwork on these pages is stunning, showing the machinations of the corrupt government as well as traces of the beauty and poetry of Iranian life. An array of diverse and carefully drawn characters help and hinder the search for young Mehdi, everyone from a taxi driver to the daughter of a former disgraced general, a print shop owner to shady government officials. Small acts of heroism bring hope to this family, but they also bring consequences. I was really surprised to find out that this story is fictional and not nonfiction, which I had expected it to be.I would recommend this graphic novel to those interested in Iran and the Middle East.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is language, nudity, sex, and scenes of implied rape. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Students for a Democratic Society by Harvey Pekar

Death by Gaslight Wrap Up Reviews

  Today I'm wrapping up my Death by Gaslight reading challenge. This challenge has allowed to discover new a sub-genre of historical mysteries that I haven't ventured before in my reads. Through this challenge I discovered some wonderful series and great authors. Today I have mini-reviews of the second and third book of the highly entertaining Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander as well as Two Crafty Criminals, a middle grade book, by Philip Pullman. 

Description: London's social season is in full swing, and Victorian aristocracy is atwitter over a certain gentleman who claims to be the direct descendant of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Adding to their fascination with all things French, an audacious cat burglar is systematically stealing valuable items that once belonged to the ill--fated queen. But things take a dark turn. The owner of one of the pilfered treasures is found murdered after the theft is reported in the newspapers, and the mysterious thief develops a twisted obsession with Lady Emily Ashton. It takes all of Lady Emily's wit and perseverance to unmask her stalker and ferret out the murderer, while faced with a brewing scandal that threatens both her reputation and her romance with the dashing Colin Hargreaves.

Review:  Blending romance and historical mystery, the Lady Emily series is highly entertaining. Rich, young widow Lady Emily Ashton occasionally has tea with the queen, but she isn't your conventional Victorian lady. She may appear pretty and poised, but her preference for port and cigars, her devotion to both popular novels and classic Greek literature, her involvement in solving the mystery of her husband's death, and not to mention her flirtatious relationship with the debonaire Colin Hargreaves have made her the subject of plenty of gossip. Her forthright opinions stir up trouble and raises eyebrows once again when she becomes curious about the theft of several items once owned by Marie Antoinette and a new "gentleman" on the social scene, who claims to be an heir to the throne of France. Though Lady Emily is far from realistic, I adore her tenacity, wit, and charm. Alexander's witty treatment of the trivial pursuits of the aristocracy made me chuckle in several occasions. The mystery is engaging and had me guessing throughout the entire book. I also absolutely loved the banter and romance between Emily and handsome Colin Hargreaves. Readers looking for a light mystery with a good dose of romance should definitely try this series out.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: The book is relatively clean, however, there are mentions of the philandering Mr. Charles Berry. Recommended to teens and adults who enjoy historical mysteries.

If you like this book try: Fatal Waltz (Lady Emily #3) by Tasha Alexander, Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourne, Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson, Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry


Description: When her friend's husband is wrongfully accused of murder, Lady Emily searches for answers from London's glittering ballrooms to Vienna's sordid alleys.

Review: Lady Emily Ashton is back in her third episode of romantic suspense set in the Victorian world of mannerly gentlemen, conniving mothers, and scandals behind closed doors. Out of the three books I've read from this series so far, I felt A Fatal Waltz was much stronger. The murder mystery is much more serious as it could lead to the death of two highly important characters, including Lady Emily's love interest. In the last two books, we have seen Lady Emily be very confident in her skills but she is now constantly tested in this book as she meets Colin's past love interest and skillful partner, the worldly Kristiana von Lange. It was nice to see Emily's vulnerabilities shine through as well as travel to Vienna for some excitement. This is a captivating addition to this fun series and I really can't wait to see if Lady Emily and Colin take the next step in their relationship.

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: The book is relatively clean, however, there are mentions of the aristocrats who have an open marriage. Recommended to teens and adults who enjoy historical mysteries.

If you like this book try: Tears of Pearl (Lady Emily #4) by Tasha Alexander, Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourne, Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson, Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry


Description: Eleven-year-old Benny Kaminsky leads a rag-tag gang of neighborhood children as they use improbable disguises and crazy ruses while investigating such crimes as counterfeiting and stolen silver in 1894 London.

Review: Originally published as two separate stories in Britain, Two Crafty Criminals gives us two stories featuring the New Cut Gang, a group of young mischief-makers, rules the streets of late-19th-century London and solves mysteries. In the first case, "Thunderbolt" Dobney and the rest of the gang investigate a coin counterfeiting resurgence. Things get more serious when Thunderbolt's father is arrested, and it is up to the kids to clear his name and find the real criminal. The second story has them finding the crook who stole the gas-fitter's silver. This case intersects at many points with some of the more impish members' attempts to win a bet by setting up two of their neighbors. These two stories reminded me a lot of the old Scooby Doo cartoons. They are charming, fun, light, and wholesome. The focus is more on plot rather than character development. This would be a good choice for a classroom read-aloud.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 3 and up.


If you like this book try: Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding, Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger

The Thirteenth Tale

  Happy Holidays, readers! I hope you are enjoying the holidays with friends and family. In these last few days of December, I'm trying to wrap up some of my remaining reading challenges. I'm almost half way done! The Thirteenth Tale wraps up my Alex Award reading challenge this year.

Description: Margaret Lea works in her father's antiquarian bookshop where her fascination for the biographies of the long-dead has led her to write them herself. She gets a letter from one of the most famous authors of the day, the mysterious Vida Winter, whose popularity as a writer has been in no way diminished by her reclusiveness. Until now, Vida has toyed with journalists who interview her, creating outlandish life histories for herself - all of them invention. Now she is old and ailing, and at last she wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. Her letter to Margaret is a summons.Somewhat anxiously, the equally reclusive Margaret travels to Yorkshire to meet her subject - and Vida starts to tell her tale. It is one of Gothic strangeness featuring the March family; her mother, the beautiful and willful Isabelle, who had a powerful hold on her father and brother, and the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline.Margaret, herself a twin, is doubly intrigued. But as a biographer she deals in fact not fiction, and she doesn't entirely trust Vida's account. She goes to check up on the family, visit their old home and piece together the story in her own way. What she discovers on her journey to the truth is for Margaret a chilling experience that will transform her life.

Review:  The Thirteenth Tale pays homage to the great Gothic writers, particularly Charlotte Bronte and Daphne Du Maurier, while weaving a wholly original story of its own. The story at first seems very familiar as a plain girl gets wrapped up in a dark, haunted ruin of a house, which guards family secrets that are not hers and that she must discover at her peril. Along this bleak journey, she also learns secrets about her own family.
  Margaret Lea is a London bookseller's daughter and a bibliophile. An introvert, she has lived vicariously through the written world. Her world revolves around what knows through her books. Books are her solace, friends, and adventures she can safely go on without any dangers. She enjoys books where the truth is written out in black and white terms and where the unjust are punished in the end. She also has an interest in siblings and has written an obscure biography that suggests deep understanding of siblings.
  It is Margaret's fascination with siblings that attracts the attention of the famous and now aging author Vida Winter, who finally wishes to tell her own, long-hidden, life story. Facing imminent death and feeling an unexplainable connection to Margaret, Miss Winter begins to spin a haunting, suspenseful tale of an old English estate, a devastating fire, twin girls, a governess, and a ghost. As Margaret carefully records Vida's tale, she ponders her own family secrets.
   The Thirteenth Tale immediately grabbed my attention right away. I felt a kinship with Margaret's love of books and I was swept away with the story that Ms. Winter spun. All throughout the story with a story, I wondered which bits were true. I  had no problems distinguishing between the two narrators as their voices were so different, but the transition from one to the other felt smooth. I loved the connections with some of my favorite books, but I was delightfully surprised that the connections were not a complete retelling of the story but showed how books can touch our lives in so many different ways. The book's pace was steady and there were plenty of twists and cliffhangers that kept me turning the pages. I was sad when the story concluded, but I think it could be enjoyed even more the second time you read it. The Thirteenth Tale is truly a book lover's book that celebrates reading and storytelling.

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution:  There are hints of sex and incest in the book, but nothing graphic or explicit. Recommended for teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Ten Great Steampunk Novels (you might not have heard of) by M.K. Hobson

 I'm delighted to be part of the Warlock's Curse blog tour which is hosted by CBB Book Promotions. Ms. Hobson's debut novel, The Native Star—the first book in her Veneficas Americana series—was nominated for a Nebula award in 2010. She lives in the first city in the United States incorporated west of the Rockies. Her favorite writers are Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, Booth Tarkington, Gore Vidal, and William S. Burroughs. The Warlock’s Curse is her third novel. Ms.Hobson is here today to give us her recommendations for ten great steampunk novels we may have not heard before! To make browsing easier for you, I've included book covers from Goodreads and linked the titles to Amazon.

M.K. Hobson's Ten Great Steampunk Novels (you might not have heard of)

With Christmas coming up, I bet many readers of Books In The Spotlight will find gift certificates for books in their stockings. Well, the readers who have been nice, anyway. And those who have been naughty surely have better ways of getting their hands on books than waiting for some fat man in a red suit to slide down the chimney with a gift certificate. So however you get your hands on them, here’s a list of ten great steampunk books you might want to check out in 2013!

Ironskin by Tina Connolly: The elevator pitch for this one—a “steampunk Jane Eyre with fairies”—really doesn’t do justice to this compelling, lyrical tale. Whether you’re a fan of steampunk or Charlotte Bronte, you’ll like this one.









Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine: A powerful tale set under the big top of the magical Circus Tresaulti. It’s simply chock-a-block with beautiful imagery, such as the mechanical wings which lay at the center of a epic power struggle between two fascinatingly damaged characters.









 Heart of Iron by Ekaterina Sedia: This book as intelligent as it is gripping, set in a in a Russia where the Decembrists' rebellion was successful and the Trans-Siberian railroad was completed before 1854. A prime example of steampunk set outside the by-now-somewhat-yawn-worthy streets and alleyways of “foggy London.”








What Lies Beneath the Clock Tower by Margaret Killjoy: A devilishly delightful “choose your own adventure” steampunk novel with colonialist gnomes, indigenous goblins, and no small amount of political consciousness. This one is as intriguing as it is enjoyable.








 The Falling Machine by Andrew P. Mayer: This “steampunk superhero” book takes place in a Victorian New York powered by the discovery of Fortified Steam, a substance that allows ordinary men to wield extraordinary abilities. Super fun, with a strong heroine.







 God Save the Queen by Kate Locke: I like to take my steampunk with a large helping of magic, and there are plenty of magical creatures in this one. I especially like what Locke does with her goblins.








The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming: I am cheating a bit, because I can’t classify this one as purely steampunk, but I think it will hold a lot of appeal to readers who like steampunk. And it has a beautiful love story, which I think everyone likes.







New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear: I don’t think there’s anything Elizabeth Bear *can’t* write—and steampunk is no exception. In this collection of interlocked short stories, hard-boiled sleuth Abigail Irene Garrett contends with Spanish vampires, blood sorcery, and dirigibles in an colonial Victorian America where the Revolutionary War never happened..






The Women of Nell Gwynne’s by Kage Baker: This isn’t really unknown, as it was nominated for several awards, but it’s a novella, so it may have slipped under the radar. The titular women of Nell Gwynne’s not only work at the most exclusive brothel in London—they are also secret agents.







 All Men of Genius by Lev A.C. Rosen: I started this list with a “steampunk Jane Eyre” so it seems only appropriate to end it with a “steampunk Twelfth Night.” I generally go for darker fodder, but this one was sweet and light and fun.








 Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today and giving us new authors and books to discover, Ms. Hobson!

THE YEAR IS 1910. Eighteen-year-old Will Edwards has landed a prestigious apprenticeship at Detroit’s Tesla Industries, the most advanced scientific research center in the United States. It’s a plum prize for a young man who dreams of a career in the new science of Otherwhere Engineering.
But his father doesn’t want him to go. And he won’t tell him why.

Determined to get there by any means necessary, Will finds unexpected support along the way. His old friend Jenny Hansen—daughter of a San Francisco timber baron—is eager to help him for reasons of her own. And so is his estranged brother Ben, who he hasn’t seen in over ten years.

But running away turns out to be the easy part. On the first full moon after his eighteenth birthday, Will is stricken by a powerful magic—a devastating curse laid upon his ancestors by the malevolent sangrimancer Aebedel Cowdray. Will must find a way to control the magic that possesses him—or the vengeful warlock’s spirit will destroy everything and everyone he loves.

 Readers, if you would like to know more about Ms. Hobson be sure to check out the links below:

• Book Website
• Amazon Book Page 
• Amazon Author Page 
• M.K. Hobson's blog  
• M.K. Hobson's Facebook page
• M.K. Hobon's on Goodreads
• Twitter  

Why We Broke Up

    I don't know about you but I love songs of heartbreak much more than your ordinary happy songs. Songs of heartbreak seem to be more genuine and contain a wide range of emotion while happy songs just seem so ephemeral. Does this make me weird? Probably. Cynical? Well, I prefer a realist. Daniel Handler's Printz nominated book Why We Broke Up is a book of heartache. Full with the ups and downs of a relationship, a wild ride that anyone and everyone has experienced. 

Description (from the Publisher): I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.
Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

Review: The romance between Min Green and Ed Slaterton lasted just over a month. No one, from the novel and I would argue even the reader, sees why these two are together. Ed is the gorgeous, popular, basketball-jock who is a complete jerk. Min is an outspoken, outsider, and romantic-movie buff with frizzy hair. Ed just wants a good time, where Min lives in her romantic, fantasy world. Told from Min's point of view, each memento thrown in a box tells the story of their relationship and why they broke up.
  In her stream of conscious and dear john letter, Handler frames Min and Ed's lives with sharp clarity that it leaps off the page. We see these characters in front of us, feel their initial excitement when they first meet one another and shake our heads in disappointment with the first sign that they are breaking apart. Each ordinary object explained by Min's searing honesty, passion, and hind-sight 20/20 enlightenment and vividly illustrated by Kalman, becomes extraordinary. For instance in Ed's eyes a thrift-store cookbook is just, well, a cookbook, bur for Min it is a spur of the moment dinner party for an aging imaginary film star and her idol. It takes skill for a writer to pull off a stream of consciousness writing technique, but Handler does it very well. Min's narration comes across naturally and not forced. There were many times where I felt Min was sitting next to me and I was listening to her story instead of just reading it. As each object is thrown into the box for Ed, we like Min feel cathartic and powerful. Funny, poignant, smart, and sad, any one who has experienced heartbreak of any kind will relate to this book.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, underage drinking, and reference to sex. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman, An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Manga Monday: Vampire Knight Vol. 15

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Vampire Knight is one of my favorite manga series. Getting each new volume of the manga is like watching a new episode of your favorite TV show. Unfortunately, the plot of the manga can be confusing at times, especially when the volumes have a long break between them and the publishers don't write a really good summary of the series as a recap for its readers.

Description: With Kaname missing, Yuki must now step in as acting head of her clan to maintain the fragile peace between the human and vampire societies. Will she be able to regain the trust of the vampire aristocrats, much less Aido?

Review: Volume 15 of Vampire Knight immediately picks up where volume 14 ended. Kaname has murdered two pureblood vampire aristocrats for mysterious reasons and now he is nowhere to be found. The Vampire Hunter society has arrested Yuki in hopes of finding out information about Kaname. Yuki, like the rest of us, has no idea what Kaname intends to do nor does she have any clue about his whereabouts.
I found this volume to be a bit confusing, but I did enjoy watching Yuki stand up on her own two feet. With Kaname absent, she now has to take the responsibility in leading the vampires, tame their frantic aristocrats, and reinstate the peace alliance between vampires, vampire hunters, and humans. Yuki struggles on how to lead her people. She is not a natural leader nor charismatic, but her compassion and her human experiences give her an edge. Unlike Kaname who has ruled with an iron fist, Yuki gives her followers an option and they almost always obey because they know she is right. As her first move as leader, Yuki wants to rebuild a school where Day and Night Classes once again take place. Though the idea of recreating a school may seem an odd move at first, it does reassure the vampires that an organized, structured framework can once again be placed.
  Hino once again teases the readers about the ambiguous relationship between Yuki and Zero, who were once best friends and had the potential to become much more. Though Zero claims to not want anything to do with Yuki, he is always found in her periphery. His hatred of vampires is tangible and understandable given his dark past. He is deteriorating quickly, which he can't hide from Yuki. Similarly, Yuki tries to hold on to her humanity and suppresses her urge to drink from humans in order to be a role model of how she would like her vampires to behave, but Zero knows how difficult it is for her.
  With the exception of the last few panels featuring Yuki and Zero, I was a bit disappointed with Hino's artwork. There was quite a lot of shading and quite a few panels broken within one another. It was a bit hard  trying to figure out what was happening. Also there were quite a few new characters mentioned in this volume that I'm pretty sure weren't there before and I'm really hoping their introduction would be made clearer in the next volume.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some violence and mild language. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Vampire Knight Volume 16 by Matsuri Hino, Black Bird series by Kanoko Sakurakouji, Millennium Snow series by Bisco Hatori

Lola and the Boy Next Door

  While good romantic comedies may be hard to find these days in the theaters, there are plenty of great YA romance stories to leave you happy. It took me a awhile to read Lola and the Boy Next Door not because of any hesitation about the book, but rather it was hard to find. It never stayed on the shelf at the library long enough for me to read it, which is almost always a great sign of a good book.

Description: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket—a gifted inventor—steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Review: Lola, a junior in high school and an aspiring costume designer, lives with her two fathers in San Francisco. Armed with outlandish outfits, sequins, and wigs, she refuses to wear the same outfit twice. Her constant change of costume has annoyed some readers, but I found it to be endearing and a metaphor of how Lola is trying to find her own personality. Currently she dreams of a future with her older boyfriend, Max who is 22, as he pursues his rock-and-roll career. As we all know, life isn't always how we planned it to be and Lola's seems to be falling apart little by little. Her parents don't like Max and don't feel that dating an older guy is right for her, but that doesn't stop Lola and Max to take their relationship to higher levels. There were several times in the story where I wondered why Max stayed with Lola as he could have very easily have gotten women of his own age and whether or not Lola was using Max to rebel against her parents. Max seemed an alright guy, but I wasn't crazy about him. He comes and goes in the story as he pleases.
 Things dramatically shift when Cricket Bell (yes, Cricket is his real name and Bell is of the Alexander Graham Bell fame), Lola's first love who broke her heart two years earlier and left without a goodbye, moves back next door. The return of Cricket has Lola wondering what happened two years ago. As the two rekindle their friendship and perhaps more, Lola is left to make a decision. Does she go on living a life she fabricated herself or can she go back to her original idea and create something better with torn fabrics?
  Perkins has a knack in creating characters full of life. While Lola is your unconventional heroine and we may not always agree with her decisions, we do sympathize with her. Her shaken certainties and the obstacles that are thrown in her path give her maturity and depth. The focus of self-discovery or in the case of Lola, being comfortable in your own skin, is what makes her happy ending more fulfilling for herself and the reader. Cricket Bell is an adorable character who has own share of quirks and awkwardness. He never really fits into any category and that suits his personality just fine. Though not a hero without his own share of shortcomings, I couldn't help but smile every time he appeared on the page. Snappy dialogue, a great ensemble of characters (including a bonus treat of seeing Anna and St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss), Lola and the Boy Next Door leaves us with a contented sigh and a smile on our face once we finish the book. i definitely recommend this book to readers looking for a romance or a light book with some depth. I can't wait to read Perkins' next book, Isla and the Happily Ever After, which is slated to be released Summer 2013.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, scene of underage drinking and drug use, and sex is implied. Recommended for strong Grade 8 readers and up.

If you like this book try: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, Past Perfect by Leila Sales, Catching Jordan by Miranda Keneally