Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
I was first introduced to Donnelly's work seven years ago, by a student I had at the time. Since then, I have read several of her books, and have yet to be disappointed. This was no different.
I bought this back in the summer, probably around my birthday, when I was still in my reading slump, but when I saw this was a TAYSHAS nominee, I knew I needed to get started. It made the list, and I have now earned two ducks.
I wasn't sure, even though I KNOW I read the book jacket, what exactly this was going to be about, which is silly, as it is fairly straightforward. This book tells the story of one of Cinderella's stepsisters. This picks up where the prince and grand duke are searching for the girl who can fit the glass slipper. We see the one sister, Octavia, cut off her heel in an effort to fit the shoe, as well as the other sister, Isabelle, cut off her toes. Isabelle is the one telling this story.
As predicted, after Cinderella, or Ella marries the prince and moves into the castle, the stepsisters and their mother are more or less destitute. Sure, they still have their home, but that is it. Eventually, they don't even have that. A couple of incidents make Isabelle want to be pretty, and the fairy queen is willing to comply. All Isabelle has to do is find the pieces of her heart. Too bad Isabelle doesn't really know what those are.
What I like is that this book shows that there are always two sides of a story. We are raised believing one thing about the evil stepsisters, but what if what we have been told our whole lives is wrong? This book lets the reader see a potential other side.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Monday, December 23, 2019
TAYSHAS 2020 #5
Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett
I actually finished this two days ago, but kept forgetting to blog it. Whoops.
Like most (all) of Bennett's books, this was a fluff read. No matter, as it was still good. This follows Birdie and Daniel, who met in a diner and had sex in the back of Daniel's car the day they met. Yeah. Birdie has lived a little bit of a sheltered life on Bainbridge Island because her recently deceased grandmother was afraid she would end up like her mother. Birdie has narcolepsy and other weird sleeping habits, so she takes a job working the graveyard shift at a hotel. What really lights her fire though are mysteries. She loves solving them. So when she discovers that Daniel works the same shift at the same hotel (which is all kinds of awkward since she ran away from him after that first sexual encounter) and has a mystery he'd like help solving, she's all in.
What ensues is a lot of clues and stalking and flirting. It's actually quite cute. The ending, while not predictable, was not surprising. Again, a cute story.
I actually finished this two days ago, but kept forgetting to blog it. Whoops.
Like most (all) of Bennett's books, this was a fluff read. No matter, as it was still good. This follows Birdie and Daniel, who met in a diner and had sex in the back of Daniel's car the day they met. Yeah. Birdie has lived a little bit of a sheltered life on Bainbridge Island because her recently deceased grandmother was afraid she would end up like her mother. Birdie has narcolepsy and other weird sleeping habits, so she takes a job working the graveyard shift at a hotel. What really lights her fire though are mysteries. She loves solving them. So when she discovers that Daniel works the same shift at the same hotel (which is all kinds of awkward since she ran away from him after that first sexual encounter) and has a mystery he'd like help solving, she's all in.
What ensues is a lot of clues and stalking and flirting. It's actually quite cute. The ending, while not predictable, was not surprising. Again, a cute story.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
TAYSHAS 2020 #4
Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by Davod Elliott
I am a fan of Joan of Arc. Her story is interesting and sad. When I was in Montmartre this past July, I had the opportunity to pray and light a candle in the little nave dedicated to Joan in the St. Pierre de Montmartre chapel. It was a beautiful opportunity to pay tribute to someone I hold in high esteem.
When I saw that this was a nominee for the TAYSHAS list, I was so excited and couldn't wait to read this. Unfortunately, I haven't been reading as much this year, so it took a bit longer for me to get around to this than I would have liked, but I did get to it.
This book tells the story of Joan of Arc through poetry, and some of the poems are shape poems. The shapes are things that are relevant in the life of the Maid of Orleans. Some of the poems are told by those objects, and some are told by people involved in her efforts in the 100 Years' War. It follows what I have read previously, so I would argue that it is fairly historically accurate.
I am a fan of Joan of Arc. Her story is interesting and sad. When I was in Montmartre this past July, I had the opportunity to pray and light a candle in the little nave dedicated to Joan in the St. Pierre de Montmartre chapel. It was a beautiful opportunity to pay tribute to someone I hold in high esteem.
When I saw that this was a nominee for the TAYSHAS list, I was so excited and couldn't wait to read this. Unfortunately, I haven't been reading as much this year, so it took a bit longer for me to get around to this than I would have liked, but I did get to it.
This book tells the story of Joan of Arc through poetry, and some of the poems are shape poems. The shapes are things that are relevant in the life of the Maid of Orleans. Some of the poems are told by those objects, and some are told by people involved in her efforts in the 100 Years' War. It follows what I have read previously, so I would argue that it is fairly historically accurate.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
The Final Installment?
The Merciless IV: Last Rites by Danielle Vega
It's no secret that I picked up my first books by Vega a few years ago when I was trying to read more books than I had the year before it. I won't say I fell in love with them, but I am definitely intrigued by her writing. So, as new installments in this series have popped up, I have read them and put them in my classroom. That, in and of itself is amusing, as the pentagram on the front of these books makes my students wonder about me--ha!
At any rate, I have read and liked all of the books in this series--some more than others--and am often left with more questions than answers. This time was no different. And, as far as I am concerned, this was the best book in the series, hands down.
This is told in two different timelines--Before and After. Before and After...you think you know what it is referencing, but you really don't until the last twenty or so pages (if even that many). To say there's a twist at the end is an understatement, and I honestly wouldn't rule out a fifth book, just sayin'.
This one is about Berkley, who happens to find herself in a mental facility because she had a breakdown after her best friend kills herself. Oddly enough, her roommate is Sophia, from the first two books. Berkley is doing everything she can to get out of the facility, and Sophia seems resigned to the fact that she will never leave it herself. But then the story flips to After, when Berkley is in Cambria, Italy visiting two of her friends while they are in an art program. She meets this guy, and weird things start happening to her. Weird things like strangers referring to her as the devil. She's in a town that is known for sacrificing a woman who later became St. Lucia.
So much happens in this book that you don't want to put it down--I didn't, at least. I highly recommend this book series, and I hear it has been made into a series on Netflix. I'll be checking it out, of course.
It's no secret that I picked up my first books by Vega a few years ago when I was trying to read more books than I had the year before it. I won't say I fell in love with them, but I am definitely intrigued by her writing. So, as new installments in this series have popped up, I have read them and put them in my classroom. That, in and of itself is amusing, as the pentagram on the front of these books makes my students wonder about me--ha!
At any rate, I have read and liked all of the books in this series--some more than others--and am often left with more questions than answers. This time was no different. And, as far as I am concerned, this was the best book in the series, hands down.
This is told in two different timelines--Before and After. Before and After...you think you know what it is referencing, but you really don't until the last twenty or so pages (if even that many). To say there's a twist at the end is an understatement, and I honestly wouldn't rule out a fifth book, just sayin'.
This one is about Berkley, who happens to find herself in a mental facility because she had a breakdown after her best friend kills herself. Oddly enough, her roommate is Sophia, from the first two books. Berkley is doing everything she can to get out of the facility, and Sophia seems resigned to the fact that she will never leave it herself. But then the story flips to After, when Berkley is in Cambria, Italy visiting two of her friends while they are in an art program. She meets this guy, and weird things start happening to her. Weird things like strangers referring to her as the devil. She's in a town that is known for sacrificing a woman who later became St. Lucia.
So much happens in this book that you don't want to put it down--I didn't, at least. I highly recommend this book series, and I hear it has been made into a series on Netflix. I'll be checking it out, of course.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
What Is A Lie?
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Ben J. Pasek, and Justin Paul
It's the first day of Evan Hansen's senior year of high school. He's a bit of a nobody, has anxiety issues, and sees a therapist. He's starting out the year with a cast on his arm because he fell from a tree and broke it. He has a crush on a girl named Zoe, whose brother is a social outcast. Evan has a couple of encounters with Zoe's brother, Connor, that day, and Connor signs Evan's cast.
A couple of days later, Evan discovers that Connor has killed himself, and his parents believe that Connor wrote his suicide note to Evan. As it turns out, the letter in question was written by Evan himself, as an exercise assigned by his therapist. Since Connor's parents are convinced that the letter was written by Connor, Evan thinks the best thing he can do for these grieving parents is to play along.
Over the course of several weeks, Evan lives this lie. He has created memories of himself and Connor to convince everyone of their friendship. He fakes emails. He has dinner with Connor's family, and he feels more comfortable with them than his own mother. To some degree, Evan feels guilty lying to everyone, so it makes you wonder how long this charade will last.
I can see why this is a popular theatre production, as the story was definitely worth reading.
It's the first day of Evan Hansen's senior year of high school. He's a bit of a nobody, has anxiety issues, and sees a therapist. He's starting out the year with a cast on his arm because he fell from a tree and broke it. He has a crush on a girl named Zoe, whose brother is a social outcast. Evan has a couple of encounters with Zoe's brother, Connor, that day, and Connor signs Evan's cast.
A couple of days later, Evan discovers that Connor has killed himself, and his parents believe that Connor wrote his suicide note to Evan. As it turns out, the letter in question was written by Evan himself, as an exercise assigned by his therapist. Since Connor's parents are convinced that the letter was written by Connor, Evan thinks the best thing he can do for these grieving parents is to play along.
Over the course of several weeks, Evan lives this lie. He has created memories of himself and Connor to convince everyone of their friendship. He fakes emails. He has dinner with Connor's family, and he feels more comfortable with them than his own mother. To some degree, Evan feels guilty lying to everyone, so it makes you wonder how long this charade will last.
I can see why this is a popular theatre production, as the story was definitely worth reading.
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