We’re into the first week of October, friends! October is my favorite month, if I haven’t said that already. The leaves are starting to change colors here in Michigan and I love it. Plus, the weather is getting cooler and I’m so happy about that. I did a lot of reading this week, too! For the week of 10/3, I finished 8 books! And I’m knocking the books off my Net Galley review list, which feels great! I just have to avoid the temptation to request too many more.
I haven’t made too much headway for the Supernaturalathon yet, but there’s still plenty of time! I also may have bought quite a few books yesterday just because. Comics, actually. I can’t wait to read them, though!
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 10/3
On Thin Ice by Michael Northrop (10/3)
This follows the story of Ked, a boy who’s bullied at school because of his humped back. His dad is also struggling to make ends meet. So, he decides to fix up a bike and sell it to help him out. While doing this, he also starts to make friends again. A great middle grade book, I definitely wasn’t the target audience for this. But I can see how it would appeal to young middle schoolers. If you have someone interested in building and mechanics, this would be a great book for them! (3 stars).
All the Things We Never Knew by Liara Tamani (10/3)
After meeting on the basketball court, Carli and Rex felt pulled toward each other. Being together felt like destiny. But their relationship isn’t as easy as they first thought. Both Rex and Carli have secrets, secrets that could destroy them if they let it. Even though I’m not a fan of the insta-love trope, this was still a good read. Carli and Rex are both well-developed. The relationship felt like a real teenage relationship, which I commend Tamani for. I think a lot of teens will relate to this, even if it didn’t quite resonate with me (3 stars).
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam (10/4)
Artist Amal has been wrongfully convicted in a neighborhood altercation. Now, he finds himself in jail, his future completely upended. But how can he change it? Yusef Salaam is one of the Exonerated Five, and much of this story is based on his own experience. Told in verse, the entire book is gut-wrenching and hard hitting. Even the book design lends itself to the story. This is one of those books that everyone should read (5 stars).
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (10/6)
Following the discovery of the real Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose is having difficulty finding a grip on reality. With Thomas Cresswell, she flees London to take a class at one of the best schools for forensic medicine. But she hasn’t quite escaped a murderer–now, Vlad the Impaler is hunting those around the school. I almost liked this one better than the first; we’re drawn into Audrey Rose’s story, plus we get to see more of Thomas Cresswell. The setting of the novel also adds to the creepy nature of the story, and the narrator of the audiobook is becoming one of my favorites! (4 stars).
Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater (10/7)
I already wrote a full review for this graphic novel, but I’ll briefly summarize here! As I said before, the art is probably my favorite thing about this book. It draws you into the story and really brings to life these plant-like creatures found in the swamp. I’m living for these YA adaptations of comic stories because they are fantastic! (4 stars).
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (10/8)
The tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff is the biggest maritime tragedy of all-time, costing the lives of almost 9,000 people. This book follows the story of four different refugees that find themselves on the ship before it sinks. I hadn’t heard of this event before reading this book, and the short snippets from each character really give a sense of what happened leading up to and during the tragedy. Sepetys is considered one of the masters of YA historical fiction, and it’s definitely easy to see why (4 stars).
Odessa by Jonathan Hill (10/9)
Another book I already wrote a review for! Like Swamp Thing, the art is probably one of my favorite things about this graphic novel. It draws the reader into this post-apocalyptic world almost right away. I’m also a fan of monochromatic graphic novels, just because it just brings another element to the art. There are some absolutely gorgeous panels in this book, and I can’t wait to see the final copy (4 stars).
Horns by Joe Hill (10/9)
When Ig Parrish wakes up with horns on his head, he can’t remember what he did the night before. And now, people are confessing their darkest secrets to him, randomly. And they don’t seem to notice the horns, really. This leads to Ig learning more about the death of his ex-girlfriend, which he’s still a prime suspect for. Honestly, I’ve seen the movie for this and I barely remember it. There were sections of this book that lagged for me, mostly the flashbacks. I think I would have liked it better if it mostly stayed in the present. But, it’s a great Halloween read if you’re looking for that! (3 stars).
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