Cover2CoverBlog

Feb 25, 2016

Recent Reads: This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
Publisher: First Second
Publication Date: May 6, 2014

Format: Hardback
Source: Library

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

In This One Summer two stellar creators redefine the teen graphic novel. Cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the team behind Skim, have collaborated on this gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teen age—a story of renewal and revelation.

Review:
I saw this book at the library and since I am participating in the 2016 Graphic Novel Challenge again, i figured I would grab it and see what it is about. The cover of my edition was plastered with awards, it was a 2015 Caldecott Honor Book and a 2015 Michael L. Printz Honor Book... so it couldn't be too bad.

In this Young Adult graphic novel you follow a young girl names Rose - she does to the same lake house every year, but this summer is different - her parents are fighting all the time, her mother is not participating in anything, her father is frustrated, but luckily she has a friend there - Windy.

Windy and Rose go about their summer but run into so many other dramatic events along the way and the story is about all these dramas and being a teen trying to get through the summer.

I felt like while the characters read as very young, that the problems they were facing are truths and that young teens today deal with a lot more issues than even I encounters and MUCH more than their parents. They are growing up and this graphic showcases that.

The images were great vivid and detailed and the message of the story was deeper than I imagined when I picked it up. Did I love it, not really, but I do think it is a captivating graphic novel for YA readers.

Feb 24, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: March 8, 2016

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17608898-the-killing-jar?from_search=true&search_version=service

Goodreads Synopsis:

Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

Why I Am Waiting:
I really liked the Infernal Devices series and the first three books of the Mortal Instruments series -- while I wasn't ready to delve into the remaining 3 books of that series I would love to jump back into this world :)

Feb 23, 2016

Recent Reads: Curio by Evangeline Denmark

Source: From BookLook Bloggers and Blink in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Curio by Evangeline Denmark
Series: Curio #1
Publisher: Blink
Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Format: Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Grey Haward has always detested the Chemists, the magicians-come-scientists who rule her small western town. But she has always followed the rules, taking the potion the Chemists ration out that helps the town’s people survive. A potion that Grey suspects she—like her grandfather and father—may not actually need.

By working at her grandfather’s repair shop, sorting the small gears and dusting the curio cabinet inside, Grey has tried to stay unnoticed—or as unnoticed as a tall, strong girl can in a town of diminutive, underdeveloped citizens. Then her best friend, Whit, is caught by the Chemists’ enforcers after trying to protect Grey one night, and after seeing the extent of his punishment, suddenly taking risks seems the only decision she can make.

But with the risk comes the reality that the Chemists know her family’s secret, and the Chemists soon decide to use her for their own purposes. Panicked, Grey retreats to the only safe place she knows—her grandfather’s shop. There, however, a larger secret confronts her when her touch unlocks the old curio cabinet in the corner and reveals a world where porcelain and clockwork people are real. There, she could find the key that may save Whit’s life and also end the Chemists’ dark rule forever.

Review:
First off, I love this cover, it is beautiful and the synopsis is wonderful as well. I knew that this book was going to be crazy detailed and there are multiple worlds we, as readers, get to experience. I also heard a lot about this book, on blogs, vlogs, the internet in general and I have to say that it was mixed reviews. So how do you know if this book is really for you? - Well, if you like steampunk, dolls, world building, a strong female lead, and a bunch of craziness - I think you will enjoy this one. If you don't like those things - probably not.

The best part about this book is the world building, in the first part you get wrapped up in this horrific society where Chemists run everything. They are the law and you have to follow their rules - no touching the opposite sex, go to work, home before dark, take your ration - which is your only way of survival in this new world otherwise you starve to death. Then as the story progresses you and Grey are thrust into another world, completely different. This world is made of dolls and tinker toys and magic and mystery and Grey has to find someone and then get back out into her world to save it from the evil Chemists.

The book was crazy detailed and the worlds were captivating and interesting, sometimes a bit on the strange side, but it seems like in the end it will all work together well. I am not sure how the author decided to go from Chemists and a dystopian society to one with play-things as living beings, but it was something new that I have never read before, so props for that.

Grey is our main character and from the very beginning she is strong-willed and you can tell she is not a fan of the Chemists and how her world works. She is determined to help her family and all the people she knows but we follow her as she learns more about herself, these two worlds, and the magic that permeates then both.

This was a really fun read and I very much enjoyed it. I don't want to give too much away but I cannot wait to see where the next book leads us.

Feb 22, 2016

Early Reader Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures by Landry Walker and Matthew Manning

Source: From Netgalley and IDW Publishing in exchange for an honest review, this in no way alters my opinion or review.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures, Volume 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures
Series: Amazing Adventures Volume 1
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Publication Date: March 1, 2016

Format: Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

This new all-ages series of Amazing Adventures draws inspiration from the hit Nickelodean cartoon in exciting new ways, by a wide range of today's best writers and artists! Collects issues #1-4.

Review:
Any time I see TMNT anything I want to be involved. I loved them growing up and had the original action figures and loved the show and movies and the re-booting has been pretty entertaining. I have never followed any of the comics but I was interested to see what this one would bring.

Amazing Adventures Volume 1 had me a bit lost, I haven't watched the new Nickelodeon series or anything so that may have been my own fault, but even as issues 1-4 this seemed to jump into a bigger story that I have missed. There are a number of stories included in this volume and they are all very entertaining and enjoyable but I couldn't help but feel as if I had missed a lot of information.

Either way the characters are their normal funny selves, there are wonderful TMNT villains and loads of newer characters I was not familiar with but happy to see added. The various artists did a great job with the storylines and characters and I did enjoy reading it... I jest felt like I needed more background to really love it.

Feb 21, 2016

Building the Book Pile #175

Welcome to Building the Book Pile! A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people!

AHHHH this week was so long.

Tuesday, my foster puppy, Clark, was adopted. I was so happy for him to be in a forever home but so sad to see him go - he was adorable.

We are still dealing with a damp basement and bought a bunch of things to help with water flow away from the house, so we have been working on that and

I was reading a lot but feel like I am getting nowhere - I hate that feeling.

So it has been a long week. Work is pretty chill - the calm before the storm. I will be really busy this week coordinating various events.

How was your week? Read anything good?

I hope that all of YOU had a wonderful week!

Giveaways on Cover2CoverBlog!

http://cover2coverblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/blog-blast-thirst-blood-of-my-blood-by.html

Coming up on the Blog...

Early Reader Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures #1 by Landry Q. Walker and Matthew K. Manning (GN)
Recent Reads: Curio by Evangeline Denmark (YA)
Waiting on Wednesday
Recent Reads: This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki (GN, YA)
Early Reader Review: Grumpy Cat Volume 1 by Ben McCool (GN)