Book Review #2 – Princess, Sciences, and Rainbow Fish

I am Princess XI am Princess X By Cherie Priest

I will admit that this is one of my first rereads of 2020. Instead of listening to the audiobook, I read the hardcover edition. I am still keeping this rating at five out of five stars on Goodreads, but I strongly recommend that you listen to the audiobook instead of reading it.

This is also another mystery story, but this one focuses on the mystery of a dead friend. When May finds a webcomic on a character that she created with her best friend Libby, she starts to believe that her friend was not killed. Through easter egg clues and search around Seattle, she finds her best friend and the man who kept her all this time.

I really don’t have any complaints. I loved this story the first time, and I love reading it again. However, I will admit that listening to the audio the first time, kind of ruined the graphic novel piece of the story the second time around. I felt as though the audiobook just made the comic piece so much more magical. The only main issue that I had with the story the first time was that I wished we got to see how Libby ended the comic with their new friends. The book is wonderful and the audiobook performance is spectacular. I am not joking if you need to read a book this year, pick this one up.

The half life of Marie CurieThe Half-Life of Marie Curie By Lauren Gunderson

I will admit that this was my first audiobook of 2020. I wanted to read this in December of 2019, but I chose the listen to holiday music instead. I gave this book/ performance a five out of five stars on Goodreads.

I do not know where to begin. I just loved this performance. In reality, it is the play done in an audiobook format, and I love it. I love how you get to listen to music or the ocean waves and it makes you feel like you are there with the characters. It made me sad that I was not able to afford to go and see this play in New York. The ending of this play made me wish that I was able to talk to others about this because it was so blunt. I just wished that I was able to talk to someone and cry at the same time. I will forwarn people that there are some language and violence in the book, but in all the performance is amazing and it made me do some research on our famous female scientist.

In the end, I do recommend this audio to everyone. It is such a fun short read.

The Rainbow FishThe Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

If you are not an America, let me tell you how essential this book is to us. This book is told in every preschool to kindergarten classrooms (3 – 5 years old). Who doesn’t love a story about how sharing can bring happiness in our life through a fish with beautiful shiny scales.

The reality is that I chose this book to help me complete a challenge for the Book Quest Vol. 1 because I was not sure if I would be able to get the other book that I wanted to read in time. The challenge that this book would complete is that it was published in a foreign language.

I really loved this book, and it brought back so many nostalgic memories for me. It was fun talking to the librarian about this book and we really connected through this story.

I do recommend this story for those who are parents to share this with their children. It is a beautiful book, not just in the story, but in illustration as well. It will easily become a favorite in your home as well.

That completes this second book review of 2020. I am hoping that I will continue to share with you all the wonderful books that I will read throughout 2020.

Until next time,

Super Bookworm.

January 2020 TBR

I am determined to succeed this year on all my 2020 Goals. This month I will be hopefully reading four books, two of them being audiobooks, I am also hoping to participate in the Bout of Books Readathon. I will give more into that readathon with a different post, but if you want to join, click on the link and join in with the fun.  With that, I am going to start with my January TBR reading list.

In the past, I tend to make a huge list of books I would like to read for the month. I am starting to realize that it is not healthy or conducive for me to make these big lists and not complete them. Originally, when I make these lists, I do not intend to complete them. I want to try a different approach. My monthly TBR’s are not a readathon, and should not be treated as such. I want to try something different and see if that will work. This year, I would love to try smaller lists. Hopefully, with a smaller list, I can feel a bit more accomplished and I will not burn out around march to June and again from August to Novemberish.

So here are the four books that I am planning on reading in January, and what 2020 goals they will help me complete. I will be providing Goodread links so that you can read the summaries from there. Goodreads can also provide you links on ways to get the books if they interest you and you can read these books with me.

  1. Winterwood by Shae Ernshaw – This is the Owlcrate book for November. I have started this book last month, but I am hooked and I would love to finish it. Does it complete any of my goals for 2020? Yes. The first one, reading 12 books this year. And that is the only goal it will be completing.
  2. A Heart so Fierce and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer – A small claimer, this book will not be out until January 7th. I do love the book that came before it, A Curse so Dark and Lonely and I just wanted to continue on with the series. I am hoping that I will be able to complete this book within January and maybe February. The last book took me six months to read. This book will only be completing the first goal of 2020, reading 12 books.
  3. The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson – I have been wanting to read this book since November. I just couldn’t bring myself to turn on the Audible app in December because I wanted to listen to Christmas music before it was too late. I am hoping that I will be able to do it this month. This audiobook is only one hour and 20 minutes long. For me, that is 1.5 days of commute listening. This book will complete goal 1 (read 12 books),  and goal 7 (read one audiobook a month).
  4. I am Princess X by Cherie Priest – I loved this book years ago, and I cannot wait to reread this book. I never realized that this audiobook is seven hours long. I guess I was so engrossed in the story, that all I could remember was the book being too short and I was sad that it ended. I ended up getting the hard copy of the book when I found out that they had to adapt the graphic novel parts of the book. I am very excited to be doing both. This completes three of my 2020 goals. It completes goals 1, 5 and 7 (read 12 books, reread a book, and read 1 audiobook a month).

This completes my January TBR. What books are you planning on reading for the month of January?

Until next time,

Super Bookworm

The Ruler of Books Book Tag

I kind of wanted to split up my posts with a little book tag. I have been seeing this tag all over booktube and it sounds like so much fun. The tag was created by Ariel Bissette. You can click on the link, and check out that video if you want to before you continue on reading my answers for the book tag.

If you were the Ruler of Books…
1/ What book would you make everyone read?

I spent some time thinking about this and decided that the world could use some feel good books, especially feel good books with some compassion. I was not able to narrow it down to one book but three. I would love the world to read Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Out of my Mind by Shannon M. Draper and Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Each book focuses on a child who is a little different from the rest and how affecting and expanding their world can affect and expand others.
2/ What would you abolish in book construction?

It might not be abolished, but I would like the ability to get dusk jackets of a book. I know that some readers out there in the community cannot stand having different book covers for a series, especially if it is midway of a series. They would like some form of commitment and the covers to all look uniform. (It does make a difference when you are organizing your shelf). I am saying that we should have the ability to buy new dusk jackets and decide which cover we want, even if it is an ebook.
3/ What author would you commission to write you any book?

I am also not sure which author I would choose to commission to write a book. However, after much thought, I believe I would love to read another Cherie Priest book. I truly enjoyed her writing in I Am Princess X, and wish to read more of her works.
4/ What book would you demote to the library basement to make room for new books?

I have several books that I would demote to the library basement to make room for new books. Let’s face it, why waste all that perfectly good space? To name a few I would love to demote Geek Charming by Robin Palmer and Perfectly Dateless by Kristin Billerbeck. Geek Charming was not at all charming. I was not even able to finish the book. I found our main character to conceited and annoying. For Perfectly Dateless it was the lack of self-determination. I loved who our character was at the beginning of the book. She was determined to be a scientist while her parents wanted her to be a pastor’s wife. However, by the end of the book, she was starting to agree with her parents and thought that their life plan for her was the best option for her life. I was so upset at the end of the book that I decided to never finished the series.
5/ What cover artist would you commission to make a mural?

I know that this person is an author, but he does do artwork for children’s book. I also imagine that he also design the cover of his books as well. The person that I am talking about is David Weisner. I love his artwork, especially in his book Tuesday. His artwork is both breath-taking and fun.
6/ What characters face would you put on a coin?

I know that this might be a cheap shot, but I don’t want any characters to be presented on a coin. To do so, I believe that we will not be representing everyone (whether it’s religion, ethnicity, or gender). I believe that it is best to put places, ideal (peace), or objects that are representative of everything. For example, lets put a spiderweb on a coin to represent the stories of Anansi and the people of West Africa.
7/ What book would you award the “Ruler of Books” 2016 Prize to?

First of all, I am going to be keeping the “Ruler of Book” award to books that I have read in 2016. In addition, I know that this will be a bit early. We are not done with 2016 and have several more months and books to complete before it is 2017. However, at this point in time, I believe that the winner of the “Ruler of Book 2016” goes to More Than This by Patrick Ness. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was one of my best reads duringng the Booktubeathon.

2016 Book Recommendations

I would like to thank Iamabloggertoo for making a comment in my about my page asking for some book recommendations. I have about 20 books that I would love to recommend in four different categories.

Series – Because one is just not enough. 

  1. 80 AD Series by Aiki Flinthart – I absolutely love this series. When I got it, I got it for free on Barnes and Nobel as an ebook for free. The Whole Series. That was way back in 2013, I and it is still free today! Amazon also has the series (5), but you have to pay 99 cents for the last few books in the series. This series is about two present day teenagers who gets transported back in time (80 AD) through a video game to save the universe through different quests. The series is super fun and the characters are amazing!
  2. The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen – What is better than a quest to save two worlds? How about a quest with some of your favorite classic authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Jules Vern?
  3. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann – This book is a little bit complicated to summarize. However, the book does have an amazing magic system that I complete love. This books looks at a society where creativity is rejected and being creative will place you as an unwanted (automatic death). However, we follow some young Unwanteds as they discover that they will not die but are given a chance to live and to learn magic through their art. 
  4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians & Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan – I personally love the Blood of Olympus over the Percy Jackson series, however it would benefit you to read the Percy Jackson Series before the Blood of Olympus. Both series takes you on amazing journey of the demigods who help save the world using Greek and Roman mythology.

Young Adult Stand Alones – Sometimes you just need to visit a world once as an adult.

  1. I am Princess X by Cherie Priest – This book is part story part graphic novel. However, I heard it through audible so I cannot tell you anything about the graphic picture, but I can tell you that this story is amazing. It is about two best friends finding each other after a horrific event occurred.
  2. Finding Audrey by Sphie Kinsella – This is about a 14 year old’s over coming her anxiety.
  3. Aramda and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – It is interesting since both books received interesting ratings. I myself prefer Armada over Ready Player One, but both are good books to read. If you are a fan of the 80 these two books are for you to geek out on. Armada looks at a young hero saving the world through video games while Ready Player One is about a young man who goes through different challenges to receive an inheritance.
  4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – This was an amazing book, and part of it was the Harry Potter reference through Simon Snow. The book is about Cath a freshman in college learning about life and growing up.
  5. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – Another book that deals with anxiety and depression as well as the growth in friendship and growing up through the mind of a freshman boy.
  6. The Help by Kathryn Stockett -Looking at the life of one young woman through the 1950’s and dealing with racism as she writes a book inspired by her favorite person.
  7. I Killed the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora – If you are a fan of To Kill A Mockingbird, than you will love this book. If not, I have heard that this book is so-so. This book looks at three teenagers as they try to bring back the hype on an old classic that they will have to read for school.

Middle Grade Stand Alones –  Don’t discredit this genre. Sometimes you just need to visit a world once as a kid.

  1. Fish in A Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt – This is a cute book about an 11 year old girl with Dyslexia trying to get by in school.
  2. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper – This books looks at a 10 year old with Cerebral Palsy and trying to get by in school.
  3. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine – This books take a look at a 10 year old girl with autism having to deal with loss and finding closure after the tragic death of her brother. I will have to put a trigger warning on this book since the brother died from a school shooting.
  4. Ungifted by Gordon Korman – This hilarious book looks at Max a 13 year old boy who seems to be gifted in getting into trouble. When he accidentally destroyed the school’s gym with a stick and a bronze statue he realize that he is in a lot of trouble with the district, but they somehow lost him when they shipped him to a school filled with gifted geniuses.
  5. The Angel Tree by Daphine Bendis-Grab – This books looks at friendship and community when four kids work together to solve the mystery of who is behind their town’s greatest tradition.
  6. Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass – I actually recommended this book to my sister’s elementary school librarian, and she sadly had to turn the book down because it was not in hardback. UGH! Though I am recommending this book now. This book focuses on three middle schoolers as they grow and learn from one another while waiting for a solar eclipse. This book is amazing and I know that I am not doing it any justice, so please just pick up this book and read it!

Graphic Novels – A fast quick read with pictures, what is better than that?

  1. In Real Life by Cory Doctorow – This book is amazing as it looks behind the art of video games and the economic industry of gaming, through both the high school girl who plays the game and the young boy in China working in the industry. Both lives are changed with the two meet.
  2. Amulet Series by Kazu Kibuishi- Looks at a family who gets transported into an alternative reality and how they not only try to survive the new land but also save both their new reality as well as their old one.
  3. The Woods by James Tynion IV – This is an interesting series about a whole entire high school being transported onto another planet into a distant galaxy.
  4. Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley – This graphic novel looks into the life of an aspiring chef who wants to own her own restaurant. When she is given the chance to change her life through some magic wishing mushrooms, she learns of the consequences that life offers.

I do hope that this list is helpful in being able to pick out some great reads for the new year. See you next time. Happy reading!

Bookish Academy Awards 2015!

Last year I did a tag awarding all the good books that I have read. You may check out the previous post here.  It was so much fun, I thought that a great way to look back and the multitudes of books that I have read, I will be doing the same thing. This time I am only focusing on books that I have read during the year 2015. There are 15 categories and the bonus challenge of not using the same book twice. So let us begin.

  1. Best Actor (Best Male Protagonist): I am giving this award to Mathew from Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern. Mathew was a great lead, who always tries to do his best. I loved seeing how he grew and tries to over come his OCD.
  2. Best Actress (Best Female Protagonist): This award is going to Celena Sardothien from Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Mass. I enjoyed seeing her strength and playing out all the different odd for her advantage. Even with all the negativity, Celena is still positive and holds onto light and good that is still in her world.
  3. Best Cinematography (Best Plot Twist): This is going to Daughter Of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. If I even gave you an inkling of what the plot twist is I would be spoiling the book. Trust me. It is good and gets you hooked onto the rest of the series.
  4. Best Costume Design (Best Book Cover): I have two books for this category. The first is The Undertaking of Lily Chen by Danica Novgordoff. The cover was so beautiful that it alone made me want to read the book. However, the story itself, as well as the artwork inside was not what I expected. Let’s just say that I regretted that I judged this book by its cover. The second book that is getting this award is Soundless by Richelle Mead. The book was good. I gave it three out of five stars. he cover is amazing and give it this epic feel.
  5. Best Supporting Actress (Best Female Sidekick): I am giving this award to Keisha from Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt. She is a very supporting friend who helps our character grow.
  6. Best Supporting Actor (Best Male Sidekick): I have to give this award to Jack the talking sword from Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. I love Jack. He is so funny, but at the same time is supportive to Magnus and guides him through his battles. Personally Jack is the inspiration for the desire of wanting a flying, talking sword. I don’t know how I am going to us it, but I want one.
  7. Best Original Screenplay (Most Unique Plot/World): If you have been reading my blog for the past year, especially since July, I believe that you have already guessed which book earned this award. This world was amazing and my favorite part of it was its unique magic system of art being magic. It almost replaced my desire for going to Hogwarts, since its magic system is something that I could work with. The book that has won this award is The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann.
  8. Best Adapted Screenplay (Best Book-to-Movie Adaptation): I have only watch one book to film adaptation this year, in which I have read the book. So the automatic award goes to Mocking Jay Part 2.
  9. Best Animated Feature (A book that would work well in animated format): I am giving this award to a graphic novel. I know that most people would feel like it is already done in animated format and most of the work would be done, but I still feel like there is so much potential in this series that I would love to see in either on the big screen or on television/computer. It is the story line that is intriguing and I feel that it would be great to the switch. I would love for the artwork to stay consistent between the two formats. In the end, I do believe that the switch would work well. The series that I have chosen for this award is The Amulet by Kazu Kbuishi.
  10. Best Director (A writer you discovered for the first time): This book has become my new obsession since I finished reading it as an audiobook. I have never heard of this author until I saw this book on audible. Trust me this book is amazing. Part of me wished that I actually read the book and not listen to it. The author that is receiving this award is Cherie Priest with her book I am Princess X.
  11. Best Visual Effects (Best Action in a Book): I do not know if I gave this book an award last year, but I did reread it in 2015. I am giving this book the award for its epic battle scene. I not giving the award for just its bloods and guts during the battle, but for the symbolism that happens throughout the battle. The book that won this award is The Valley of Silence (The Circle Trilogy #3) by Nora Roberts.
  12. Best Musical Score (Best Music in a book-to-movie adaptation): I will admit that the musical score in Mocking Jay Part 2 is amazing however, not amazing enough to give it another award. I am giving this award to a book that is completely inspired by an 80’s soundtrack. Let’s just say that I am a little upset that I could not download the soundtrack as an album anywhere, but I could recreate it (let’s be real, that takes up to much time and effort). Armadby Ernest Cline, won this award for some pretty awesome music that goes not only great with video games but with the book as well. I was listening to 80’s music for a few months, which was annoying my sisters.
  13. Best Short Film(Best Novella or Short Book): Rick Riordan wins again. Are we at all surprised by that? No? Good. I am giving this award to his Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicle crossover novella series. They were fun and adventurous. Long enough to get the story and enjoy it, but short enough that you still want more.
  14. Best Picture (Best Stand-Alone): I am giving this particular book this award because I was not only obsess with this book but upset that it was a stand a lone. I am still wanting more. That, in and of itself is a good reason to give this award to The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black.
  15. Best Documentary (Best Historical Fiction or Non-Fiction): Again, I am putting up another reread. However I realize that I lacked a lot of historical fiction and non fiction books. This particular book is a shoe in for this award. Not only was the writing amazing, but the story itself is beautiful and its meaning amazing. The winner of the Best Documentary goes to To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

That is it everyone. That is the Bookish Academy Awards for 2015. I do hope that your new year is going great and that you are having a lot of fun with friends and family. I hope to see you later.

Happy reading!

12 Days of Christmas Book Tag

12 days of christmas book tag artworkOkay. I know that I should be getting some book reviews done, but I saw this book tag and I had to do it. I want to thank Xingsings for posting this.

 

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

The partridge stood alone in the pear tree. What is your favourite stand alone?

What is with people needing to know your favorite book, let alone stand alones? I do not have one favorite. I have many! For now, I will have to say I am Princess X by Cherie Priest. There are so many things that I love about this book, one is the created online graphic novel. Because I read the book as an audio, I was not able to see the drawing for the graphic novel. I can tell you that the dual story line is wonderful and they align beautifully. It gave the book a magical realism feel to it.


ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: TWO TURTLE DOVES.

Love is in the air! Who is your one true pairing?

I do not have an OTP (One True Pair). I am too busy enjoying the adventure to be thinking about who should go with who.


ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: THREE FRENCH HENS.

In the spirit of threes, what is the best trilogy you have read?

I have not finished reading the trilogy, and I will get to that, but for now, the best trilogy that I have read is The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. The book is very poetically written, and it is wonderful to read and listen to.


ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: FOUR CALLING BIRDS.

Since series usually consist of four or more books, what is your favourite series?

Aside from Harry Potter, I would have to say the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series by James A. Owen. If you have not read the book, you need to. It is a great experience. I am finishing up the last book right now.


ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: FIVE GOLDEN RINGS.

One ring to rule them all! Who is your Favorite Villain/Antagonist?

This one is a bit hard. I feel like if I tell you the true villain/antagonist in this series, I would give out spoilers. However, I do really love who is driving the plot force in this series. The series that I have chosen is the Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi.


ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: SIX GEESE A-LAYING.

Creation is a beautiful thing. What is your favourite world/world-building?

Shocking news everyone we can move on from Harry Potter. There is a new world that I would love to be a part of. I would love to be in the world of Artime (The Unwanteds by Lisa McMcann), preferably not in a time of war (Can we make preferences?). I love their magic system and would love to go there just to study magic.


ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: SEVEN SWANS A SWIMMING.

Who needs seven swans when all it takes is one good animal sidekick? Who’s your favourite animal sidekick?

I have three favorite sidekicks and only one of them is an animal. They all share in their humor and quirkiness that I love and adore. These sidekicks are Jack the talking sword from Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan, Tummeler the talking badger from Here there be Dragons by James A. Owen and Bryan from 80 A.D series by Aiki Flinthart.


ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING.

Milk is so 18th century. Which book or series takes beverages/food to a whole new level? 

Surprisingly I will not be putting Harry Potter here. I am not really into their foods, candy or otherwise. It never seemed that good to try. However, with that stated, there is one book that does take food to a whole new level. Again, I will not be having any of its food, but you cannot beat Wishing Mushrooms from Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley and Nathan Fairbairn. Just write your wish on a piece of paper and eat a mushroom, how hard can that be?


ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: NINE LADIES DANCING.

Dancing is just one skill of a Lady! Who is your favourite kickass female lead?

So I have two leading kickass femals that I believe fit this role. The first one is Hazel from The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black. I love how Hazel defies standards and is able to succeed in protecting her people. The other leading lady is May from I am Princess X by Cherie Priest. We really do not get a lot of May action in the beginning of the book. However, I choose for her to be a kickass female lead because she does faces her fear and her kidnapper to finally escape from her horrors.


ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: TEN LORDS A LEAPING.

How about your favourite leading lad?

With all the books that I have read this year, I can truely say that the only leading male that I have enjoyed was Alex Stowe. I love how humble and forgiving. He is an amazing leader and magician for only being 14. Of course you see the stress getting to him, but his love for his friends and family makes him easily relateable and loveable.


ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: ELEVEN PIPES PIPING.

What is your favourite book or bookish thing with musical influence? (It can be about music, reference music a lot etc.)

There are two books that I feel like that will fit with this category. The first one is This Song Will Save You Life by Leila Sales. This book focus on a girl self development through music.  The other book that I have read that fits this category is Armada by Ernest Cline. I just love how music inspires and helps our main character focus. I also love the 80’s mix that he has created. I do wish that I could buy the music mix, or be able to download all of the songs as a book companion.


ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: 12 DRUMMERS DRUMMING.

Drum roll please…what is your favourite read of this year?

I have had so many books that I have enjoyed reading this year. However, I am going to go with the first book that I loved and actually shared with people who I personally interact with, beyond the land of the internet. That book is I Killed the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora.  This book has an amazing synopsis, on the hardback books. It made the book interesting and mysterious, which was good because the book did not disappoint.


I TAG* – 

I will tag anyone who wants to do this post. I know that the holiday season can be a bit busy and it should be spent with family and friends. So enjoy your holiday season and I will see you next time. Happy reading and happy holidays from Super Bookworm.