Trust me, you are not the only one. There are lots of reasons to not be the biggest fan of the holiday. Personally, when I was in high school, I actively dreaded the day. For many reasons, I never really dated in my teens. I struggled a lot with my mental health. I wasn’t quite sure of my sexuality. And on top of it all, I went to a very small school and was very unpopular, so no one even wanted to date me. It was a sore spot on a regular day. On Valentine’s Day, it became an active wound. When I started seeing how based in consumerism the holiday is, my dislike turned to active hatred. If you feel like I did back then (some mix of unlovable and alone), first of all, you’re not alone and you are so so worthy of love, in whatever form fits you. Secondly, you might desperately want something NOT love-related during this frankly unpleasant period. Or you might want some examples of love that aren’t horrifically painful and awful. If either is the case, I’ve got you covered. Continue reading “If You Hate Valentine’s Day…”
Let’s start the new year by looking back at 2023! Last year Brianna recommended 27 books, but there were three that you all loved. Below are the top three books that were checked out in 2023. Here’s to 2024 and many more excellent books! Continue reading “Selector’s Selection: Top 3 in 2023”
You knew it was a pretty good blog post because it told you so in the title. It was right there at the top. Still, the title of a blog post would usually be something more along the lines of Top Fifteen Dog Breed and Drink Pairings! (number 1 is, of course, Keeshond and Masala Chai) Or is it More Environmentally Friendly to Zorb to Work? (important scientists are still searching for the answer to this one). How then could a blog post be so self-assured that it was “pretty good” if it didn’t even follow commonly accepted practices of blog posting? For that matter how could a blog post be self-assured? It doesn’t even have a self, it’s just ones and zeroes on a server somewhere.
Well, blog posts are like any form of writing, they have a narrative and therefore a narrator and sometimes a Narrator! A Narrator here means an active and eccentric or otherwise unusual voice that is often humorous in its absurdity. Most books and writing tell you what happens with possibly some nice simile or metaphor thrown in here and there. But more unusual forms of narration will happily insert their own voice, use mixed media, or might even outright lie to you. xopoɥʇɹoun ʎllɐǝɹ ʇǝƃ uɐɔ ʎǝɥʇ sǝɯᴉʇǝɯoS. By now it should be apparent that I love finding stories told in unique ways but here’s the thing, it’s hard to categorize them because they can be any genre. So, outside of lists people make, it can be hard to find them. You’ve peaked ahead, haven’t you? You can see there’s going to be a list of books with unusual narration. Well, let’s get to it then shall we? Continue reading “This Was a Pretty Good Blog Post”
They would have very diverse tastes. I can’t be the only one who is still obsessed with Baldur’s Gate 3. Since its release in August, there hasn’t been a week that’s gone by that I haven’t at least thought about the Dungeons and Dragons-inspired RPG. The companions are by far my favorite part of the incredibly detailed game. Larian Studios did a fantastic job creating characters who seem truly alive. Each of them has their own complex background, emotions, thoughts, and opinions. Getting to know them throughout the adventure is truly a pleasure. Given who I am, it wasn’t long into my second playthrough that I began considering what types of books they would all enjoy. Before I share my thoughts, a quick disclaimer. I’m going to try and avoid any major spoilers in these recommendations. However, I did consider some of their backstories in my thoughts. I would say there’s nothing past what you would get in ten hours of playtime. For this reason, we’re only going to discuss the first 4 companions you get at the very beginning of the game. If you are incredibly averse to any spoilers whatsoever, you may want to avoid reading my reasoning. If not, let’s begin with…
Lae’zel
“And I Darken” by Kiersten White
Continue reading “If the Companions from Baldur’s Gate 3 Were Readers…”
When the nights are long and cold, there are few things better than cozying up with a good book, and with the holiday season upon us, I have some festive (or not) recommendations to while away the dark winter days.
If you want that adventure vibe, give Winter, White and Wicked by Shannon Dittemore a try. Orphaned Sylvi has chipped out a niche for herself on Layce, an island cursed by eternal winter. She takes comfort in the solitude of the roads and the favor of Winter, a spirit who has protected her since she was a child. When her best friend, Lenore, runs off with the rebels, Sylvi must make a haul too late in the season for a smuggler she wouldn’t normally work with. To save her friend, Sylvi will have to choose: safety, anonymity, and the favor of Winter or the future of the island that she calls home.
Continue reading “Season’s Readings”
Looking for a great read? Then look no further! Here’s another round of 5-star reads from local teens! Pick one (or all of them) up at your library!
“Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley
Reader: Kate
5/5 Stars ★★★★★
Why did you like or dislike this book? It was very educational and I loved learning about Ojibwe culture and traditions. I loved the community aspect and how everyone took care of each other, especially the women and elders. However, I was expecting a mystery book, and I was a little disappointed in that aspect and felt like there were many unanswered questions. But, if you go into it looking for a story about a girl’s relationship with her heritage, community, and grief, it will exceed your expectations. Overall, an incredible and heartwarming book. Continue reading “More 5 Star Reads ★★★★★”
Because at this point there is the new Netflix anime series, the live-action movie, the video game, and the original graphic novel/manga. All of which vary a bit in their details. Whatever your Scott flavor I’ve got you covered for Pilgrim-like content. Continue reading “If You Enjoyed Scott Pilgrim(s)”
When everyone is reading, talking and BookToking about the same book you might find yourself asking. Is it worth the hype? Every book has its readers, but it can be lonely when a popular book doesn’t hit you the same way it does for everyone else. Don’t worry we’re here for you! You can share your hot takes and ALL your feels with us by filling out our Teen Book Reviews form. Who knows we may feature your review in an upcoming blog.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
What It’s About: Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, but the commanding general (her mother) has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become dragon riders. But when your body is weak, if the training doesn’t kill you, the dragons will. And the other candidates would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise.
Worth the Hype: Ugh, no. The promise of a military academy is poorly executed. Yarros just methodically checked off a list of tropes in a very predictable manner: Love Triangle, Enemies to Lovers (for five minutes and then it’s Instalove), Spicy, Dark-haired and Tattooed Bad Boy, Overly Powered Heroine, Probably Corrupt Organization, Big Secret, etc. It’s tedious and rather than being a fantasy novel with a romantic subplot, this is a young adult romance with jarring modern language that happens to have dragons.
Be Aware: This has teen characters, but is definitely an adult book with adult themes. The second book, Iron Flame, came out November 7th.
Continue reading “Is It Worth the Hype? Volume One”
“Will you catch me?”
“I’ll try.”
What’s the story?
“M Is for Monster” is one of the innumerable adaptations of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I wonder how Mary Shelley would feel about her book being taken apart and put back together so many times? That question aside, this adaptation earns its place. Full disclosure reader, I have never read the original Frankenstein in its entirety, but I’d also say the gist of the story permeates our pop culture just as much as Star Wars or The Wizard of Oz. In this version Maura is brought back to life by her sister Frances, except she doesn’t feel like Maura, she doesn’t feel like anyone. Frances promises to take Maura apart and try again if it doesn’t work out, but Maura knows she wants to keep being even if she doesn’t know entirely what that means. Maura discovers that she can still communicate with the ghost of her former self through reflections, but that also cements the knowledge that she is something different and from then on she thinks of herself as M. From there the story centers around how long M can/will pretend that she is Maura and this is also where we really go off the track from the original storyline. In spite of what the title would have you believe M is not a monster, the townsfolk are not afraid of her (quite the opposite), and she does not commit monstrous acts. Continue reading “Book Review: M Is for Monster”
I really can’t even begin to tell you how relieved I am that fall is here! This is my favorite time of year to curl up with a blanket and a book, and my geriatric pug agrees wholeheartedly. Her preference is for me to spend as much time as possible on the couch snuggling her, and who am I to argue? If you need some books to accompany your own pet snuggles this month, check out these new titles! This will be my last blog for a little while, so enjoy and I’ll see you again next year with some winter releases!
“The Blackwoods” by Brandy Colbert
Cousins Hollis and Ardith Blackwood loved their great-grandmother dearly—and so did the rest of the country. Blossom “Bebe” Blackwood was a wildly popular Black actress, and now that she’s passed, her great-granddaughters have to navigate grieving while in the spotlight. Ardith has always loved the limelight, starring in television since childhood and dreaming of following in Blossom’s footsteps. But now that her beloved Bebe is gone, Ardith has lost her mentor and confidante, and the pressures of fame and everyone’s expectations begin to feel like too much. Hollis on the other hand, is content to live life quietly, with as much privacy as a famous Hollywood family can afford. So when personal secrets start appearing in the press, she’s left unsure of who to trust and where to turn. This is told from three different perspectives, that of Ardith and Hollis and of a young Blossom in the 1940s, struggling to make it in Hollywood. Sure to please fans of celebrity novels, this book also offers an insightful and complex look at sexism, addiction and racism. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: October 2023”
