Building the Book PIle #283

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

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Happy Sunday Fam! As you can probably tell, I didn't get anything done that I had planned to this past week. I should have finished a few books and reviewed them but we were just way to busy this week for me to have any time to read and relax. We had to run errands all week, on Wednesday I finally finished my wing tattoos on my back (ouch but yay!!), Thursday I did some chores and finally took some time to sit down with a book but I needed more time and it was already 9pm... and then Friday I had holiday things.... Don't get me wrong it was a great week, but it was VERY busy and I was happy for a relaxing weekend. 

I got to read, and finish up some chores I had been putting off. I got my car back from the mechanic - it was there for over a month, I had it dropped off because it was broken and my mechanic couldn't get to it until last week. I AM SO HAPPY to be a two car household again.

Oh also I got an early Christmas gift from the hubs, and decided to share my experience:

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee (almost Peppermint Cocoa time now...) via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog! 
   More coming soon.

Coming up on the Blog

Sorry that most of these reviews did not make it up last week. Almost all of them are ready to go for this week now :)

Early Reader Reviews: A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel (Adult)
Early Reader Review:  The Math Kids: The Prime-Time Burglars by David Cole (MG)
Recent Reads: Misfits (Royal Academy Rebels #1) by Jen Calonita (MG) 
 Blog Tour: The Circus Thief by Alane Adams (Youth)
Recent Reads: The Paradise Beach Mysteries - Whitehaven Beach by Cathy Maisano (MG)

Books Received this Week 

 

Julius Zebra Entangled with the Egyptians by Gary Northfield from Librarything Early Readers and Candlewick Press. 

The Circus Thief by Alane Adams from the publisher for a blog tour.  

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of December 2- December 9
December 2018: TBR Pile 

Recent Reads: Rosa Parks - The Woman Who Ignited a Movement by Hourly History (Non-Fiction)- 4 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Rosa Parks: The Woman Who Ignited a Movement

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Rosa Parks: The Woman Who Ignited a Movement
Series: Hourly History
Publisher:  Hourly History 
Publication Date:  May 16, 2017

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Rosa Parks was a quiet, dignified African-American woman who, in a world of injustice, decided to politely defy a racist policy. In doing so, she ignited a fire in the soul of a community whose “cup of endurance” would permit not even one more comparatively small injustice. Her case resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott wherein some 40,000 African-Americans crippled the Montgomery transportation industry with their non-violent protest of the racist policy that mandated Parks to give up her seat for white riders. But, as an unknown black minister was who elected to lead the boycott protest, one Martin Luther King, Jr., noted, it wasn’t just the bus policy the African-American community was protesting, it was over 100 years of horrific injustice heaped upon a community whose founders had been forcibly brought to the United States. 

Review: 
I am happy to say that this Hourly History was about a hour of reading and I learned a great deal about Rosa Parks and the movements that I did not know. This short book has a lot of information packed into it and covers a good amount of the lead up to Rosa Parks and why she decided to take action. 

Going into this book, I did not know too much about Rosa Parks. Everyone has probably heard the name and knows what she did, she decided not to give up a seat on a bus, but I had no idea what took place after that action or what lead up to it. This book covers a part of American history that I have not covered in a very long time and it was a wonderful refresher. 

The book was very well written and I think younger readers as well as adults could both learn something from it and utilize it as a resource. There is no age group indicated online that I can locate, but I think this would be a beneficial read for all ages and it is concise enough for all reading types. A great book, I look forward to follow it up with others in the Hourly History series when I am able.

December 2018 - TBR Pile

THE BOOKS
Finishing up a course and starting another...but here is the TBR.

    

 

  

What do you want to read this month?
Have you read any of these yet? 
If so, let me know what you thought! 

Building the Book Pile #282

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

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Woooooo - Long week huh?! Last week was exhausting for me. I am trying to wrap things up at my current job to help them and finish my class, and shop for the holidays. So much going on! 

This week is my final week of my first class - I have a final that is due by  Sunday the 9th, fingers-crossed I do alright. I have been maintaining a pretty good grade but if I pass with an A I get to buy myself a gift (gotta have incentives!)

It is super cold here in Vermont right now and the past week brought us more snow, sleet and ice - it has been a very wet winter so far and we already have snow on the ground and it doesn't look like we will get warm enough to melt anything any time soon. Since the weather is not the greatest... I have been back on World of Warcraft... I know, I know, I have so many things to do, but it is a good stress-reliever!

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee (almost Peppermint Cocoa time now...) via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog! 
  

Coming up on the Blog

December 2018: TBR Pile
Early Reader Review:  The Math Kids: The Prime-Time Burglars by David Cole (MG)
Recent Reads: The Paradise Beach Mysteries - Whitehaven Beach by Cathy Maisano (MG)
Recent Reads: Misfits (Royal Academy Rebels #1) by Jen Calonita (MG) 
Recent Reads: Rosa Parks - The Woman Who Ignited a Movement by Hourly History (Non-Fiction)

 

Books Received this Week

 

Book Love by Debbie Tung from Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas and Sydney Hanson from Netgalley and  Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Muddy: The Raccoon Who Stole Dishes by Griffin Ondaatje from Netgalley and NorthSouth Books in exchange for an honest review.
The Math Kids: The Prime-Time Burglars by David Cole from Netgalley and Common Deer Press in exchange for an honest review.
   
Have you missed anything lately?

Week of November 25 -December 1
Early Reader Review: Chilly da Vinci by Jarrett Rutland (Youth)- 3 stars
Recent Reads: Art Boss by Kayla Cagan (YA)  - DNF
Blog Tour w/ Excerpt and Giveaway! - The Royal Order of Fighting Dragons by Dan Elish (YA)
Monthly Re-cap: November 2018

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Monthly Re-Cap: November 2018

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

  Happy Last Day of November! I hope that your Thanksgiving (if you are in the U.S.) was family filled and wonderful and that you are all SO EXCITED for the holiday season... you know I am...

My fake tree has been up since the day after Halloween, and I started wrapping gifts around that time too. I get that shopping done early!!! that way I can enjoy all the festivities and fun things in the month of December.

In November, I was still in my first class (I am one week until done 😳). I actually got a good amount of reading done too. We saw Bohemian Rhapsody in theater and I saw the new Grinch movie in October before it came out in November (perks of working for a college).

I accepted a new position at the college as well... starting in mid-December I will be a part of the business school Career Development Office.

It was a crazy month of things, and I am exited about all that December holds!

How was your November?

~~Books I Read in November ~~
             

~~~Stopped Reading (DNF) 🙁~~~


How did I do on my November TBR? 
I finished 2 / 2 books.

~~Links to Some Reviews~~
Astronomy for Kids by Bruce Betts (Non-Fiction) - 5 stars
Sweet Dreaming by Julia Rawlinson (Youth)  - 3 stars
That Night by Amy Giles (YA) - 4 stars
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: I Know Exactly What You Are by Julia Kregenow (Youth) - 5 stars
One Snowy Day by Diana Murray (Youth) -4 stars
30-Minute Cooking for Two: Healthy Dishes Without All the Fuss by Taylor Ellingson (Cookbook) - 4 stars
Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little (YA) - 3 stars
How Do You Say Good Night? by Catalina Echeverri (Youth) - 3 stars

~~Reviews Up This Month From Previous Re-Caps~~
Watersnakes by Antonio Sandoval (GN) - 2 starsNo Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells (Mystic Cafe #1) by Rose Pressey (Adult)- 3 stars
If I Had A Gryphon by Vikki VanSickle (Youth)- 5 stars

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri (Youth)- 5 stars
Chilly da Vinci by Jarrett Rutland (Youth) -3 stars


~~Coming Soon~~ 
Muddy: The Raccoon Who Stole Dishes by Griffin Ondaatje (Youth) 
Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas (Youth)
Book Love by Debbie Tung (GN)

Blog Tour: Excerpt and Giveaway! The Royal Order of Fighting Dragons by Dan Elish

About the Book

Born to... Fight?

Ike Rupert Hollingsberry is haunted by the past because complete strangers won’t let him forget that his famous father died on the set of The Fighting Dragons, a cult favorite that still has people talking. But when he’s attacked by a large locust, like the one that killed his dad, Ike is helped by the geekiest nerd of all, Elmira Hand. Killing the giant locust is only the beginning of the surprises in store for Ike as he is whisked away from New York City to an isolated Florida compound to assume his role as the next in line to lead the Royal Order of Fighting Dragons—that are NOT supposed to exist—and learns his dad’s death was a cover-up for a far greater purpose…  

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for THE ROYAL ORDER OF FIGHTING DRAGONS

"…a fast-paced, entertaining story with appealing characters, a healthy dose of action, and a dash of humor." ―Publishers Weekly

Scenes from THE ROYAL ORDER OF FIGHTING DRAGONS

And suddenly there they were, four statuesque dragons. Like any child, Ike had grown up seeing pictures of dragons in storybooks, giant scaly lizards with large, sloping backs, wings, and an extra wide mouth. And that description was largely true. But what the creators of The Fighting Dragons had added were the colors. Instead of plain greens and browns, these dragons’ skin was a rich blend of light lavenders, dark maroons, sea-greens, pale oranges, pinks, yellows, and blues. Even so, the creatures looked so real it was hard to believe they were no more than artistic creations of a TV studio. One by one, the beasts flapped their wings and breathed fire for the camera. Ike had always found it amusing how each had been named for a different English Park.

Dartmoor.

Loch Lomond.

Northumberland.

Snowdonia.

Then suddenly, there was Ike’s father again, climbing onto Dartmoor, the largest of them all, a beautiful, terrifying creature with a silver body, golden wings, and a red stripe down the middle of his forehead. As the music grew, they soared into the sky. With a gentle tug on the reins, Ike’s dad moved Dartmoor in a slow arc around the boat. It was a beautiful day, only a single cloud in the blue sky. Even though his father’s flight was with wires, computers, and green screens in a TV studio, he was thrilled. His dad’s bright smile filled the screen. This was the kind of day where nothing could possibly go wrong.

But then it did.

Ike had heard that it had happened fast, but he still wasn’t prepared for just how soon and quickly the giant locust thundered into view. It was a great black flying thing, fully twenty feet long with round yellow eyes. On its hard forehead, between its two swooping antennae, was a small blue splotch. Not wasting a second, the mighty locust dove straight for Ike’s father, who reacted immediately, pulling sharply on the reins. Dartmoor craned his neck in preparation. But when the dragon opened his mouth to deliver the death shot … there was no fire. Not a spark. Not even a wisp of smoke.

Ike gasped.

And the locust was still coming strong. If Ike’s dad was worried, he didn’t show it. Quickly, he reached to his waist and pulled a sword out of its sheath. Without a second’s hesitation, he parried for the locust’s body.

“Yes!” Ike shouted.

His father’s sword found its mark, plunging deep into the bug’s midsection. But unfortunately, the locust’s stinger was already rocketing forward. In its dying gasp, the giant insect caught Ike’s dad in the chest and pierced his armor. It happened just that fast. One second, Ike’s dad seemed to be in control of a perilous situation, the next he was mortally wounded, clawing at Dartmoor’s left wing, trying desperately to stay on. As the locust fell out of the sky, Dartmoor contorted himself, frantically trying to catch Ike’s father with his teeth. But Cameron Rupert Hollingsberry was unable to hang on and he fell, holding his sword, looking up to the sky.

Teary eyed, Ike watched his father fall down, down, down …

But then he heard it, the last thing he expected.

“Ikey,” his father called.

What? Had his father called his name?

But wait. There was more, but the words had gotten lost in the wind.

Copyright © 2018 by Dan Elish

About the Author

Dan Elish is the author of nine novels, including The School for the Insanely Gifted, The Worldwide Dessert Contest, and Born Too Short: Confessions of an 8th Grade Basket Case (Simon & Schuster), which was named a New York Public Library "Book for the Teenage" and a "Young Adult Choice for the International Reading Association.”

Dan co-wrote the book for the Broadway musical 13with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, which premiered on Broadway in 2008 and is slated to be a movie by CBS Films. Dan is also a TV writer who has worked on shows such as Cyberchase (PBS) and Jo-Jo’s Circus (Disney). Dan has received fellowships and scholarships to the Bread Loaf and Sewanee Writers’ Conferences and is represented by Matt Bialer at Greenburger Associates. He lives in New York with his wife and children.  

PHOTO CONTENT FROM DAN ELISH

Find the Author

WEBSITE/ GOODREADS /FACEBOOK/ INSTAGRAM

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of THE ROYAL ORDER OF FIGHTING DRAGONS by Dan Elish.

1 Winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

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