Ponderings of a Bibliophile

  Title: All Your Twisted Secrets Author: Diana Urban Genre: Thriller Age Group: Young Adult All Your Twisted Secrets is about six high school students who are invited to what they think is a scholarship dinner and are locked in a room with a bomb, a syringe of poison, and an hour to decide who to kill--otherwise they all die.  There are plot-driven books. And there are character-driven books. I'd say that this is a little bit of both. Each character is designed to fit a certain stereotype, but it becomes clear as you learn more about them that they are so much more. That added to their realistic reactions make them feel like real people. Which I loved. The plot was fast-paced and suspenseful with a twist I never saw coming at the end (I guess there's a reason they call it a thriller!). This is a nerve-racking read, but in a really good way--eight out of ten stars. People who like thrillers, plot twists, action, and suspense: this book is for you. 

  Title: Suggested Reading Author: Dave Connis Genre: Realistic Fiction Age Group: Young Adult Suggested Reading is about Clara Evans, a seventeen-year-old girl who loves books more than anything. Naturally, she's devastated when she discovers that a lot of her favorite books are considered prohibited media at her school. Determined to fight back, Clara starts an underground library out of her locker. Will she be able to keep it from the strict principal? When I first found heard about this book, I had this weird feeling that it would be good. And boy, was I right. First, there's no romance. Yep, you read correctly: a YA book without romance! Maybe there's hope for humanity after all. Second, there's a lot of references. I caught slight nods to Disney's Moana, A Series of Unfortunate Events , 1984 , and The Hunger Games , which made it a fun read. Despite this book's amazingness, I do have one complaint. One of Clara's favorite books (that I wanted to put on...

  Author: Lemony Snicket Genre: Fiction Age Group: Middle Grade Number of Books: 13     Book #1: The Bad Beginning     Book #2: The Reptile Room     Book #3: The Wide Window     Book #4: The Miserable Mill     Book #5: The Austere Academy     Book #6: The Ersatz Elevator     Book #7: The Vile Village     Book #8: The Hostile Hospital     Book #9: The Carnivorous Carnival     Book #10: The Slippery Slope     Book #11: The Grim Grotto     Book #12: The Penultimate Peril     Book #13: The End A Series of Unfortunate Events is... well, exactly like it sounds. The first book begins with the Baudelaire orphans being told their parents died in a fire and only gets worse from there. Each book gets progressively darker as the Baudelaire orphans try to escape from the evil Count Olaf, who is set on stealing the fortune left to them by their parents.  Overall,...

  Title: Fish in a Tree Author: Linda Mullaly Hunt Genre: Realistic Fiction Age Group: Young Adult Fish in a Tree  is about a twelve-year-old girl named Ally who can't read. Afraid that people will make fun of her if they find out, Ally becomes the "bad kid" and deliberately gets sent to the principal's office to avoid reading out loud.  She has things pretty much figured out until she meets her long-term substitute teacher who's determined to help her. For another great read, check on Linda Mullaly Hunt's other book, One For the Murphys . It's really good. Title: The Girl Who Drank the Moon Author: Kelly Barnhill Genre: High Fantasy Age Group: Middle Grade If you like magic, dragons, and great world building, this book is for you! It follows the story of Luna, who was abandoned in the forest as a baby and found and raised by a witch. When the witch feeds her moonlight instead of starlight, Luna becomes a witch herself.  If you're one for fantasy world...

       Everyone has read something that made them want to rip a page out, burn it, and stomp on its ashes. Triggers are different for each individual; for instance, some people hate the Chosen One trope while others live for it. Here are a few of my least favorite things to read about: 1. The Copy-and-Paste Protagonist     Every book needs a protagonist, so can we PLEASE SHOW A LITTLE ORIGINALITY? Let's take a look at the standard protagonist:     - She's not like other girls . Even though it's never specified why. She's just not like them. Which is kind of insulting, because what's wrong with other girls? Honestly, I'd dissolve into a puddle of relief if I found a YA book with the first sentence: "Hi, I'm _____, and I'm just like other girls."     - She thinks she's ugly, but everyone else is constantly remarking how beautiful she is . Seriously, authors. We need some average-looking people in these books. I don't want to read about be...

  I know, I know. Percy Jackson and the Olympians/The Heroes of Olympus is the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Greek mythology. Seriously, though, these are some of the best books I've ever read. These are the package deal: great characters, humor, and education!  Thanks for writing these, Rick Riordan. Circe by Madeline Miller is essential when it comes to Greek mythology. While Circe is seen by a villain by those who told her story, it's easy to see the reasons behind her actions after reading this book.  Circe doesn't shy away from heavy topics, so consider that before picking up the book.  I have read the Iliad, and I have to confess: it's pretty boring and kind of hard to understand. And Achilles is presented as a big bully, so it's hard to root for him during the Trojan War. This is a retelling of the Iliad, only not boring and amazingly written. And it's told in Patroclus's point of view, which is refreshing. (If you haven't r...

      Hi, people. Welcome to Bibliophile! This blog is a source of all things books: reviews, recommendations, rankings, lists, and more.  Just to be clear, I own none of the pictures displayed on this blog.