Pumpkinheads

My Thoughts:

-    When I saw that Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks had made a book together, I was SO excited! I love both these authors, and I knew anything they did would be good. It didn't disappoint. 

-    Combine Rainbow Rowell's fab characters and wonderful friendships with Faith Erin Hicks's colorful and fun illustrations and you have a mix for magic. Add everything wonderful about fall, and you have Pumpkinheads. 

-    The story was very simple, and I really enjoyed it, I did. I just wanted a little bit more. I also wanted to know more about that hilarious goat. 

-    I loved the characters. I love the contrast between Deja's outgoing spontaneousness and Josiah's stick to the rules shyness. 

-    This is the perfect book for fall! The food, the pumpkins, the corn mazes, etc. This book has it all, and I loved it. 

-    I really hope there is another book in the works because I want to know more about Deja and Josiah as they go off to college. I can just imagine the shenanigans. If there isn't another Pumpkinhead book, then I hope these two authors collaborate again in the near future.

The Nameless City

From Goodreads:    Every nation that invades the City gives it a new name. But before long, new invaders arrive and the City changes hands once again. The natives don't let themselves get caught up in the unending wars. To them, their home is the Nameless City, and those who try to name it are forever outsiders.

Kaidu is one such outsider. He's a Dao born and bred--a member of the latest occupying nation. Rat is a native of the Nameless City. At first, she hates Kai for everything he stands for, but his love of his new home may be the one thing that can bring these two unlikely friends together. Let's hope so, because the fate of the Nameless City rests in their hands.

My Thoughts:

-    The story starts off a little slow, but it picks up, and I really enjoyed it in the end.

-    The characters are really great! They have a bit of mystery to them at first, and as Kaidu and Rat get to know each other, the reader also gets to know these characters. It was really fun.

-    I love that this is a story of two unlikely friends that end up working together to help save the city.

-    The culture is really neat because the city has been conquered so many times, that different cultures have mixed to create an amazing city.

-    The illustrations and environment are great! I really liked the artwork.

-    I thought this was a stand alone, but there is another book coming out. I'm excited to see what happens!

Friends with Boys

Goodreads Synopsis:    After years of homeschooling, Maggie is starting high school. It's pretty terrifying.

Maggie's big brothers are there to watch her back, but ever since Mom left it just hasn't been the same. 

Besides her brothers, Maggie's never had any real friends before. Lucy and Alistair don't have lots of friends either. But they eat lunch with her at school and bring her along on their small-town adventures.

Missing mothers...distant brothers...high school...new friends... It's a lot to deal with. But there's just one more thing.

MAGGIE IS HAUNTED.

My Thoughts:

-    The illustrations are awesome! I really love the art style! It is one of my favorites!

-    The characters were really fun and relateable. I remember going through some of these situations and feelings in school.

-    I wanted more story about Maggie's mom. Why did she leave? What happened to her?

-    I liked the dynamic between Maggie and her brothers. I can relate!

-    I usually blow through graphic novels pretty fast, but I really wanted to savor this one. It was good!