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Showing posts from June, 2016

Good LGBT+ Books (Pride Month 2016)

Happy Pride Month, everyone! (That is, if you are in the United States.) Yes, that's right: in the US, it is pride month. Yesterday, it was officially one year since gay marriage was legalized in the United States, making it one year and one day today. In celebration of this, I have formed this post: a post on some good LGBT+ books. I have also made a list of LGBT+ books that I have not read but look good, so you may check that out, too. (Note: I apologize for all of these list posts and such - "filler posts", as I sometimes call them. Don't worry, for next Monday there should be a book review up on the blog; can't do it this Friday because that'll be our monthly reflection. If you have any suggestions for posts, feel free to tell me. I am always looking for post ideas!)

Julia's Summer TBR List 2016

Hello, everyone! So, as of last Monday, it is officially summer, no matter when you got off from school. (Although by now I would imagine that you are on your break.) With summer vacation comes more time, and lots of opportunity to get books read! (There will also be more time for blogging. Thank you, summer!) I am very excited to get reading this summer, and below is my complete list of books that I want to read this summer. Feel free to read "with me" by picking up some of these books this summer! Unfortunately, I know that I won't get to read them all. Notes: If you don't like the books listed below, check out another list of summer books: "Books to Look For: Summer 2016" . Also, they are not in a particular order, and I have no idea what order I will read them in.

Book Review: The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes

Title: The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes Author:  Anna McPartlin Genre: Realistic Fiction Rating: 4 out of 5 Reviewer: Julia I can't believe how amazingly wonderful this book is. I can't believe that I put off reading it for so long. (I've had the book sitting with my other TBR books for at least a year now.) This book is beautiful and so well written, and it snagged at my heart, bringing a few tears to my eyes.

Book Discussion: Rumble

Okay, maybe I'm cheating a bit because this "discussion" is not actually a real discussion. It's just a record of my imaginary discussion with some people who wrote about Rumble on Goodreads. I had originally went to Goodreads to look at some other reviews of Rumble . While I was there, I happened to stumble upon the comments, where I was surprised with some people's thoughts on the book. Many of them had lots to say on the book's topics, such as depression/suicide, the LGBT+ community, anxiety, family issues, religion, and so forth. And while I do not have a Goodreads account, I still have a lot to say myself. So, without further ado, I shall begin. Note: the dialogue below are not actual quotes. They are just lines that I wrote that show a general thought by some readers of Rumble. Also, this post contains spoilers.  If you would like to read my book review on  Rumble instead, click here .

Would You Rather Book Tag

Hello everyone! So, this is my first book tag (yay!). I actually wasn't personally tagged, but I happened to find this tag on two of my favorite book blogs ( Honest Book Talk and Leslie's Library ), and both of them said that they tag anyone who would like to do it, so here I am! This looks like a really fun tag and I'm glad for this one to be my first one! Without further ado, let's begin!

Books to Look For: Summer 2016

Okay, while we all already have a really long TBR list of books that are already published, when new books come out, we just have to read them! Below you'll find a list that includes both books I am personally interested in and books that I think the majority of teens will like. So take a look: you might just find something! Just to let you know, the books are placed in no particular order. And, yes, I did add the pictures of the covers, because I know that those can be helpful (even if we aren't supposed to be judging books by their covers.)

Book Review: Cast of Criminals

Title: Cast of Criminals Author: Franklin W. Dixon Genre: Mystery Rating: 2 out of 5 Reviewer: Julia In this mystery novel, the Hardy brothers, Joe and Frank, are helping out with the local play when suspicious events begin to occur. The mysterious happenings involve Frank's girlfriend, Callie, and her stolen "costume" tiara. Despite the danger surrounding them, the play must go on, even if Callie's life is in danger. Hopefully she won't have the same fate as her character in the play...

Book Review: Rumble

Title: Rumble Author: Ellen Hopkins Genre: Realistic Fiction (in free verse!) Rating: 3.75/4 out of 5 Reviewer: Julia *Note: this book contains some ideas that may be upsetting to certain audiences. Topics such as suicide and depression are mentioned, and, while I did not believe this myself, some readers might find parts too depressing.  Where should I start this review? How should I do it? How will I do it? All of the above were thoughts of mine when I started writing this review. I was under a lot of pressure, not only because I was writing it two hours until it was due to be published, but also because I feel that it's important. Beginnings are special. And difficult. That's how Matthew "Matt" Turner, the narrator and main character of this book by Ellen Hopkins, felt (also at a beginning - the beginning of the book). How could he start his life again after what had happened? Would he be able to move on and face more beginnings as he continued to gro