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Showing posts from November, 2015

The Unnaturalists

The Unnaturalists is a YA alt-Victorian steampunk novel by Tiffany Trent. Fascinated with her father’s work in the Museum of Unnatural History, Vespa Nyx enjoys spending her days cataloging the Unnatural creatures of their world. Yet her unusual hobby is growing less and less socially acceptable as she nears seventeen and is expected to be a respectable young lady with marriage prospects. Just when Vespa is beginning to sullenly accept her tedious fate, strange accidents begin to happen at the museum and she finds herself running into a young Tinker boy that believes she has a role to play in the future of New London – as a witch. But witchcraft is the worst possible violation in New London and punishable by death… As a fan of steampunk, I was very excited to read The Unnaturalists and had been wanting to for quite some time. Tiffany Trent excellently presents a fleshed out alternative world with magical creatures, various cultures and even a legend of how New London came

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me is a YA contemporary novel by Meredith Zeitlin. Growing up as a single child, raised by her dad in New York, Zona has never felt she was lacking anything. Since her mom died before she could remember her, the loss has never truly hurt – though she knows it has never left her dad. She has her close-knit friends, her new position as features editor at the high school paper and enjoys a trust-based, roommate type of relationship with her journalist father. When her dad tells her they are moving to Greece for six months for him to cover their economic crisis, Zona is upset for two reasons. One, she does not want to leave all she knows and loves in New York. Two, she knows that his work is not the only reason her dad is taking her to Greece. That is where her mother’s family lives. Her big family. Her big family that returned her father’s many letters and has never attempted to contact her in her entire teenage life. The big, Greek family she has no in

Info on a Literary Magazine and Writing Workshops!

As you lovely bibliophiles know, I am taking college courses now. It has left me with less time than ever to read and review books. Sometimes it really depresses me, but I know that it will pay off with time and that someday I will be reading more once again! In the meantime, this week there is sadly no new review! However, I do have some book industry related news and information to share that you'll hopefully be interested in! Firstly, author Jody Rawley's new YA Kindle novel Rapunzel in Control an international literary quarterly called Adelaide Magazine. This was a huge honor, as they rarely spotlight a YA *or* Kindle book! To see his excerpt click here . To browse the literary magazine for other interesting reading, explore here: http://adelaidemagazine.org/contributors.html Secondly, there is a Odyssey Writing Workshop starting three new online writing classes and a webinar in January 2016! The application deadline are in December, so you'll need to get to it

The Dead House

The Dead House is a YA contemporary psychological thriller by debut author Dawn Kurtagich. Two decades ago there was a fire at Elmbridge High, leaving dead and missing students. So much was unknown at the time, though fascination and mystery surround the now abandoned, condemned former boarding school. Then a diary is found among the rubble. It is not that of Carly Johnson, a primary focus in the initial investigation – a student who vanished without a trace. Instead it was written by Kaitlyn Johnson. Who is she? How is she related to Carly? Did she truly exist? This new information reopens the case – and an examination of the diary alongside gathered psychiatric reports, video footage, text message and emails creates a far more disturbing account than anyone expected… The Dead House is CREEPY. It’s been a while since I read a book that left me a bit unsettled each time I put it down to go to bed, go about my daily tasks, etc. But this one did it. Uh huh. CREEPY.