I haven't posted an IMWAYR post in quite awhile. But since I am once again attempting a winter break book-a-day, I thought I'd recap my reading so far. I've been in quite a reading rut, I think that between Thanksgiving and winter break, I only read picture books, not one complete novel to be found. Thankfully, having time to travel and rest over the last week has brought me back to my usual reading habits!
YA Books
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads. A different take on the usual dystopian novel. Water has become extremely scarce, and therefore, extremely valuable. Lynn and her mother have lived alone for her entire 16 years, their main goal for survival is keeping their water supply safe from others. This is the book that brought me out of my reading rut...it's fantastic! I'm really looking forward to anything this author writes in the future!
Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson
I think someone recommended this on their blog, so I checked it out as a quick, Christmas-themed, read. It's a collection of 3 short stories that have intertwining characters and events. I enjoyed reading the first story and getting a glimpse of a character, then reading the next two to see how their story fit in with the others.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
This book starts out with a seemingly perfect-for-each-other family spending an unexpected snow day together. Quickly, things turn to tragedy and Mia is fighting for her life. It kind of reminded me of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, which I also loved. There is a sequel to this book, Where She Went, which I have requested at the library and will hopefully be reading soon.
Absent by Katie Williams
I would actually kind-of put this book in a category with the above book, and the Lauren Oliver book. Paige has recently died as a result of falling off the roof of school during physics class. She and her fellow ghosts, two other kids who also died at school, are bound to the school grounds. As she listens to her fellow classmates deal with her death, she starts hearing awful rumors about herself and sets out to set the record straight. This was a really short book and I loved it!
Middle Grade Books
The Wells Bequest by Polly Shulman
I loved this companion book to The Grimm Legacy. The whole premise is so intriguing - a mysterious library in the middle of New York City where guests can borrow objects from history - including magical items from fairy tales and science-fiction. I think I'm going to do a blog post about this one later this week.
The Hidden Summer by Gin Phillips
Nell and Lydia have been best friends for ages. However, their mothers do not get along, and Lydia's mom has forbidden her to see Nell all summer. Nell comes up with a plan for them to be able to spend the long summer days together because she can't bear to be in her house with her unpredictable mother. This is a book where I felt like nothing much happened, but it was beautifully written. Here's an example from the beginning where Nell describes her mother:
"I am an expert when it comes to reading my mother, but that doesn't mean I don't make mistakes. The trick is to tell when she's in a carnivore mood or a herbivore mood. (Carnivores have sharp teeth for biting. You shouldn't get too close. But herbivores never attack.)" p. 8
I really felt bad for Nell and wanted everything to change for her in this book. But as she says at the beginning, "Don't go thinking that this story will end with my mother coming to her senses and realizing her mistakes and begging me to forgive her." p. 16
Picture Book
LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
I read this one to my sweet little niece...she's not quite 1, so I don't know what she thought of it. But I think it's cute!
Currently Reading
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Possible Reads This Week
HAPPY WINTER-BREAK READING!
