I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays (if you celebrate, otherwise I hope you enjoyed your December). We were low-key as usual. Christmas Eve was spent making gingerbread ninjas (recipe here if you're looking for a soft and chewy gingerbread cookie). A friend read A Seymour Christmas earlier this month and gifted me ninja cookie cutters (they are featured in the book). On the big day, we stayed home and watched Home Alone. Made a fire. Relaxed. Instead of the traditional big dinner we had lasagna, garlic bread, and salad--I think this might be a new tradition. So easy, so yummy.
1. The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Oh how I love a fantasy novel set in a non-European world. The book started strong, then took a bit of a Memoirs of a Geisha turn in the middle, which was unexpected and not my favorite, but I enjoyed the world, the magic system, and the characters, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price...
When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother, Fox, from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.
In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha―one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice.
2. The Greenglass House by Kate Milford
I just adored this middle grade mystery novel. And I wish I could visit this house in real life. I want to see all the stained glass and the layout, not to mention the grounds. While I figured out who the villain was pretty early on, there was a twist that took me by surprise at the end. I can't remember the last book I read where I didn't see the twist coming.
It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.
3. Sam & Isla's Last Hurrah by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
I've been reading a lot of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, both separately and together. Their books touch on tough teenage problems, but are such easy reads--and easy reads are what I've been craving lately. This book has another location I'd love to visit in real life, the grandmother's NYC apartment.
Siblings Sam and Ilsa Kehlmann have spent most of their high school years throwing parties for their friends--and now they've prepared their final blowout, just before graduation.
The rules are simple: each twin gets to invite three guests, and the other twin doesn't know who's coming until the partiers show up at the door. With Sam and Ilsa, the sibling revelry is always tempered with a large dose of sibling rivalry, and tonight is no exception.
One night. One apartment. Eight people. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, we all know the answer is plenty. But plenty also goes right, as well...in rather surprising ways.
4. Every Day series by David Levithan
Told you I was enjoying Levithan's work. This young adult series blew me away. When I picked up the first book, I had my doubts--a boy who wakes up in a different body every day?--but it was masterfully written. Thankfully the library had the whole series available so I could devour it.
Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
5. Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi
I'm not much of a short story reader and when I do read short stories I'm typically not a fan of slice-of-life stories. But this collection contained a number of authors I enjoy (Reynolds, Watson, Colbert) so I gave it go, and I'm glad that I did because it introduced me to a whole slew of other authors I now need to read.
Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson.
Black is…three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds.
Black is…Nic Stone’s high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of.
Black is…two girls kissing in Justina Ireland’s story set in Maryland.
Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be Black enough.
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