Random Musings of a Bibliophile

Finding Someplace  by Denise Lewis Patrick tells the story of a girl experiencing and recovering from Hurricane Katrina. It is one of several books to come out in the past couple years that tell a similar story, but it is my favorite that I've read so far. Reesie is enjoying the days leading up to her 13th birthday, but as the day draws closer her beloved city of New Orleans seems to be under the growing threat of Hurricane Katrina. Her mother wants them to leave. Her father doesn't believe in leaving the city due to chances of a little high wind. However, he agrees that maybe Reesie should leave her party with her aunt and uncle for Baton Rouge. But then her parents decide to cancel her birthday party. As the storm draws ever closer, Reesie is increasing danger. Her mother, a nurse, and her father, a policeman, are both at work leaving Reesie alone. She goes to a neighbor's house to wait out the storm. But there is no waiting out the water when the levy breaks and the Ni...

Most Likely to Succeed is the final book in the Superlatives trilogy by Jennifer Echols. Though these books are not dependent on one another and you can read them individually, I think this one finishes out the themes and characters that all three books share very well. Kaye is a planner, and she has her entire life planned out. For those plans to happen she needs her senior year to follow a certain path. That path does not include breaking up with her long time boyfriend and falling for the school's bad boy, Sawyer. Kaye knows she needs to focus on her grades, her work as student government vice president, and her position as head cheerleader. But Kaye and her boyfriend, Aidan, have been growing apart. When she dares to challenge him in a student government meeting and they break-up, it becomes harder and harder for her to deny her growing attraction to Sawyer. Ever since his first day in town, Sawyer has been battling the reputation that preceded him. Sometimes that has mean...

Top Ten Tuesday  is a Meme hosted by  The Broke and the Bookish This Week's Topic:  Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters

Continuing in my celebration of my favorite heroines of all time, I want to spend some time focusing on the girls of MG Realistic Fiction. (I already talked about Anne Shirley in my original heroine post .) Enola Holmes from the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer: She's Sherlock's little sister and she manages to outwit him regularly and does awesome stuff for Victorian girls while she's at it. Juli from Flipped by Wendelin Van Drannen: Juli's journey in this book is just so real and heartwarming in so many ways. I love her heart and courage. Claudia from From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler  by E.L. Konigsburg: When you sit back and think about all the things Claudia accomplishes in this story, it is truly mind boggling. And every girl deserves the opportunity to imagine they are capable of getting away with something like this. Bridge, Tab, and Emily from Goodbye Stranger  by Rebecca Stead: These girls are from my most recent...

I've made no secret that I'm a huge fan of Rebecca Stead, and I firmly believe that her books get better and better with each release. Goodbye Stranger  has only confirmed that belief. Synopsis from Goodreads: Bridge is an accident survivor who's wondering why she's still alive.  Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture.  Tabitha sees through everybody's games--or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. Can it get them through seventh grade?  This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl--as a friend?  On Valentine's Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight? First and foremost this is a book about friendship and community. Bridge, Emily, and Tab have an excellent friendship. Each of them have different interests, passions, an...

Shadows of Sherwood  by Kekla Magoon is a fun new update to the Robin Hood legend in which the majority of the gang is made up of girls. And it's pretty great. Robyn Loxley likes to tinker with old tech and the best place to find that requires her to sneak out of her house in the middle of the night. On the Night of Shadows, one such excursion saves her life when Governor Crown sends the military police out to assassinate and/or remove from their homes any Parliament member who would speak against his rule. Spouses and children are included in his directive. On this night Robyn returns home to find her parents gone and blood in the kitchen. Her father has tried to prepare Robyn for just such an eventuality. As she goes on the run, she has a few clues to help her and picks up some friends along the way. But learning to trust other people and navigate the terrifying new world they find themselves in does not come easily for a loner such as Robyn. Robyn is independent and likes to...

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson caught my attention with the title and held it with the synopsis. This sounded like a great fit for me and the perfect read for the mood I was in at the time. While I have a few quibbles, it is a fun read that brought me much enjoyment. Verity Newton is newly arrived in New York City after being not so gently pushed out the door by her father. Her trip to the city was eventful as the train she was riding on was robbed by the infamous Masked Bandits. Then upon her arrival, she meets up with the equally troublesome Rebel Mechanics who are not so quietly rebelling against the against the Magisters who are the ruling class of British aristocracy in the American Colonies. The Rebel Mechanics are trying to prove that they can build even better machines that run on science and engineering. Verity procures a position as governess in the home of the a young Magister who has the guardianship of his nieces and nephew (the three children also happen to be the ...

Today I'm thrilled and excited to be hosting the cover reveal for Secrets of the Dragon Tomb  by Patrick Samphire. I've been looking forward to reading this book since I first heard about it, and I'm so happy it's release is that much closer. The cover is wonderful too. It's as unique as the book's concept and fits its synopsis so well. As a bonus, Patrick has answered some questions and given a little more information on the book. Without further ado: Mars in 1816 is a world of high society, deadly danger, and strange clockwork machines.  Twelve-year-old Edward Sullivan wants to become a spy like the ones he reads about in his favorite magazine, Thrilling Martian Tales, but he’s far too busy keeping his eccentric family from disaster. All of that is about to change. In the north, great dragon tombs hide marvels of Ancient Martian technology, and the villainous archaeologist Sir Titus Dane is determined to loot one.  When Sir Titus kidnaps Edwar...

It is time for the Quarterly Review Round-Up where I talk about the best of the best, the one's I couldn't finish, and the adult novels I'm reading that I don't review here. Plus there's a GIVEAWAY. The DNFs (links to my reasons why-if I shared them-on Goodreads): Book Scavenger  by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman Every Breath  by Ellie Marney The President's Daughter   by Ellen Emerson White A Rogue By Any Other Name  by Sarah MacLean Silver in the Blood  by Jessica Day George The War That Saved My Life  by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Adult Books (links to reviews on Goodreads): High Country Spring  by Genevieve Turner Uprooted  by Naomi Novik (see below) Suddenly One Summer  by Julie James Pure Magic  by Rachel Neumeier is a YA book that belongs in Best of Best but can't be included in the giveaway because it's not available on Book Depository. But you should really read it.) The Best of the Best (where the Giveaway comes in)...