More Complications

Aren't there always? Of course, Whatever After is not complicated for me!  I love this series and was thrilled to see the second Super Special Abby in Oz.  I see that it listed as Whatever after 13.5 on goodreads.  The first Super Special was Abby in Wonderland.  The Super Specials seem to be books, whereas the "regular" Whatever After books are fairy tale-based and while the regular WA books feature Abby and her brother traveling into a story, it seems that the Super Specials feature Abby heading into fiction with her friends.
That is not complicated for me either, I love both kinds!
BUT what is complicated is the whole Wizard of Oz thing...I know it is a book, but I am thinking of the movie.  And I know that because of TWOOZ, Judy will indeed, as Frank said, never be forgotten BUT she was so abused as a child actress.  Not just by her mother but also by that rotten Louie B. and so it is hard. 
I guess I am thankful for Oz because it can serve as a gateway to finding out more about Judy.  But it pains me to think of her time at MGM. 
So the book was great!  It is just Oz that is complicated. 

Light My Fire

Nothing to See Here was just excellent.  So real and so surreal.  I didn't want it to end!  Unexpected and hilarious and painful, just like real life!

Serafinas

There are a couple of books about a gal named Serafina.  The one I read for work was Serafina and the Black Cloak.  It's the first in a series.  There's also a Dragon Born Serafina.  I didn't read any in that series.  And then there is this Serafina.  And I haven't read any of those.
For a few years now I have been told by friends, "Have you read Serafina? It is so good!  You have to read it!" and these friends are friends who read YA and Children's lit and so now I have no idea if they meant any of these Serafinas or another Serafina altogether. 
All I can say is, I really liked Serafina and the Black Cloak.  I loved the Vanderbilt stuff, I loved the animal stuff, I loved the whole temptation of the Black Cloak and the question that Serafina asked herself.  She was wondering if she was "good" or "bad" and did the "bad" people even know that they were doing bad things, did all "bad" people think they were doing "good."
Anyway, I will read the next one! 

I WANTED to like it.

But Inkling was just too long and too odd or sad or something for me.  While I really loved The Nest.  Really.  Really REALLY loved it.  But this was just too weird.  Now the thing is, I didn't like Flora and Ulysses because I listened to it and I thought, "THIS won the Newbery?  This is 1954!"  So maybe that is the case with this one!

Never Would Have Thought

that I would enjoy a book like Slam.  First of all, I seriously don't often enjoy books set in England.  Not a fan.  Second, I have heard of Tony Hawk, but really don't about him at all and he doesn't have a big role in the book, but if one knows Tony Hawk, it would make this book more of a no-brainer to read.  But I really, really liked Slam! A lot!  And I would recommend it for sure!  Nick Hornby is a popular writer for adults.  This was his first YA book.  He has written books that have been made into really popular movies like About a Boy and High Fidelity.  There aren't too many books written from the POV of  a teen father and this one is so good.  It's not the amazing First Part Last, but really, what is?  But it is really, really, really good!
Here is something else I need to add!  This book is set in Islington, which is in London, and Islington was also mentioned in Becoming (Mrs. Obama visited there!)!

Snow White Again!

And this was so good!  Seeing Red is the twelfth book in the Whatever After series and Mlynowski is still going super strong.  This was hilarious and it made me think about the very first one, when I feel in love with this series!

Someday David Levithan Will Like Me!

When I get down to 105 lbs., maybe?  Maybe?  Or 100?  Not sure!  Someday is the third in the Every Day series.
The thing about this book is that given my history with Levithan, I feel like when I give one of his books a bad review it is because of my personal feelings instead of the book.  But honestly, I have enjoyed so many of his books.  I guess that is why it bothers me that he hates fat people.  The thing with this book is that it just isn't good.  I mean, at least for me.  It was rambling and I don't know...it just didn't cut it for me.  I do expect a lot from him because he is a great writer and so many of his books are just heart tugging and inspiring.  But not this one. 

Different and Good!

Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park was a very good read and one that I will recommend for sure.  I like magical realism and it works really well here.  I liked learning about Korean mythology for the first time ever.  The story is about a normal kid from Upstate NY who happens to meet Chumong, a dude from Korean Mythology. 

So while the adults get it...

I don't think that tweens will get that when the Upside-Down Magic kids talk about magic fluidity, they are drawing a subtle comparison to gender fluidity, this won't be weird or preachy for them.  I really liked it, actually.  Weather or Not is the fifth in the series and is still as fresh and the first!

OMG - SPOILER

In this case stands for Oh My Goth.  And I knew nothing about it when I downloaded it for a listen.  While it had a lot of dark themes-- another filicide attempt in this one (that is the spoiler) it was still a lighter read.  Can that be true?  Maybe I just feel that way because death doesn't scare me.  Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of sadness in this book, but the main characters are endearing. 

So Glad

I am not a huge fan of the books of Rebecca Stead.  I know she is a good writer, she just is not my kind of writer.  And I have enjoyed books by Wendy Mass, but they have all been on the just-a-wee-bit-too-long side for me.   And so I was not even going to read Bob, but man, I am so glad that I did.  I ended up loving this very sweet story.  Magical, indeed.  I loved it.  I don't know if it is Newbery stuff, but I really did love it.

As Wayne Spence said, "Some people are lifters and some people are leaners."

I know I am good leaner, unfortunately.  I hope sometimes I can be a lifter...but....
The Lifters didn't do it for me.  I don't know if maybe I am in a book slump, or an attitude slump!  I would give Dave Eggers another try though.  I am just not too much of a fantasy type person and well, while I guess this is more magical realism than fantasy, it was just a little too fantasy for me, without being exceptional, so I couldn't really get into it.  I would give Eggers another read though, because the parts of the book that weren't magical were great, I thought.  The real-life stuff. 

Yeah...

The Careful Undressing of Love was pretty good.  It was good, yes, but it didn't suck me in or "wow" me.  Still, I can see that it was well written.  It was just that the ending was super rushed, it seemed to me.  I also have to say I don't really understand the title.  But still, it was pretty good.  And I would read another book by Corey Ann Haydu for sure. 

Colors

was a fantastic movie.  The Astonishing Color of After?  Well, it just didn't work for me.  I think it was the writing style, maybe?  Just too descriptive and flowery for my personal taste.  I guess I also didn't get all of the drama there was about Leigh not getting to know her grandparents.  A lot of people don't get to know their grandparents, for a lot of different reasons.  But this seemed to be SUCH a huge point of contention.  Not to say it shouldn't be a point of contention-- everyone would love to have a close family.  Yes, that is ideal.  But for it to be SUCH a big deal...well...
I did appreciate the mention of the good uses of electroconvulsive therapy, which is so often misunderstood.  I have a dear friend who found this to be the only cure for her depression.  And I know it does work for some.  Most times when it is demonized, it is because people get it confused with a lobotomy and think of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or they don't realize how different it is now, from when it was first used.  Not to say that others wouldn't like it, but I had a hard time finishing it. 

Newbery

Jewell Parker Rhodes should have won the Newbery for Towers Falling.  She should win it next year for Ghost Boys.  This book is incredible.  JPR is one of the most talented writers to which I have ever been exposed.  Incredible.  Moving, honest, sadly "ripped from the headlines."  Creative, sad, hopeful.  Real. 

Are Hurricane Children a Thing?

I need to google that.  Hang on.  Not that I can see from a quick google.  But It is early/late and I am tired so I will look again another day. 
Hurricane Child was a beautiful book.  About all kinds of love.  It was a love story on so many levels.  Kheryn Callender is an author I need to learn more about because this book was beautiful. 

Too Wild

I did love The Wild Robot.  But for me, it would have been a great stand-alone.  The Wild Robot Escapes is the sequel and I hope that will be it.  But for people who really enjoy a lot of descriptive action scenes, this might be much more enjoyable.  At first I really liked it but then it just seemed to go overboard with the action scenes.

Ah...the Teeth

The 1,000 Year Old Boy is a really, really good book.  I found it funny and it kept me wanting to read.  I never thought about the teeth being a consideration when one lives 1,000 years.  But think about it...that's a lot of wear and tear on the choppers.  Would you want to live 1,000 years?  We will live 1,000 years.  We will live more than 1,000 years!  We will live for eternity because of Jesus and all, but I am thinking that teeth won't be something about which we will need to worry!  

I can recommend this book for sure.  

One Wish

Man.  As You Wish was really, really good!  I really loved this book.  Eldon describes himself as a jerk in the book and his friends and ex-girlfriend even make mention of his self-centered nature, but I have to say that I didn't find him to be an unlikable guy at all. 
The whole book takes place in Madison where there is a Wishing Cave and everyone gets one wish when they turn 18.  Eldon is about to turn 18 and has no idea what his wish should be and is even suspicious that the whole wish thing is a bad thing and only leads to ruin.  Indeed, in the examples he shares, one can totally see why he would draw this conclusion!  Can you imagine a town like this? 
I mean, I have often lamented the fact that teens are supposed to know what they want to do when they are 18 and graduating high school and heading to careers or college or military service.  And 18 seems so young.  Can you imagine getting to (having to) make a wish that could impact your whole future.  And indeed, it IS their whole future.  People don't leave Madison.  They stay in town and live out their lives before them, some of whom have had their wishes impact their lives in HUGE ways.  So much to think about here.
I was surprised that Chelsea Sedoti also wrote The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett which I really didn't like very much at all, mostly because I found the main character so awful.  But I really, really, really liked this book so much! 

Whatever After for Older?

The Wishing Spell is the first book in the Land of Stories series and it has been around for a while, but I am finally getting to it and glad that I did.    Chris Colfer  is the author and he is a guy of many talents.  I have never seen Glee, but I know it was very popular.   I just realized he wrote Stranger than Fanfiction which I really loved!  I guess I am not surprised that I really enjoyed this one as well and look forward to reading the next!