Gemina

Goodreads Synopsis:    Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

My Thoughts:

-    I was blown away by Illuminae, and Gemina was just as good.

-    The format of these pages are beautiful. The book is a work of art. I love that Marie Lu was commissioned to do some artwork for this.

-    I really like the characters. Nik and Hanna are so much fun. They can kick-a, banter, and stick it to the man. They are also flawed teens, which I really appreciate. Human flaws are what make us humans. It made the characters more relateable. I also loved Ella, she cracked me up, but I could have done with a little less swearing from her. 

-    The story was great! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved how they handled the science and theoretical science. Not everyone can pull this concept off! 

-    Throughout the book, I was wondering when Kady and Ezra were going to make an appearance. They did towards the end, but I would love to see more of Kady and Hanna working together.

-    I am loving this series! 

Previous Book:

The Matchlock Gun

Goodreads Says:    A Newbery Medal Winner

In 1756, New York State was still a British colony, and the French and the Indians were constant threats to Edward and his family. When his father was called away to watch for a raid from the north, only Edward was left to protect Mama and little Trudy. His father had shown him how to use the huge matchlock gun, an old Spanish gun that was twice as long as he was, but would Edward be able to handle it if trouble actually came? This classic, first published in 1941, has an updated, kid-friendly format that includes the original black-and-white illustrations.

My Thoughts:

-    I can't believe I'm saying this about a Newbery Award Winner, but it was too short. I wanted more.

-    The writing and story were good. I actually liked this one. It felt like a small portion of a larger story though.

-    It reminded me of Old Yeller in a lot of ways, but there was no dog. 

-    I really liked that the gun had a story of its own. It wasn't just a prop in the story, it was almost a character. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Created by The Broke and The Bookish in June 2010 and moved to The Artsy Reader Girl in Jan 2018

First Ten Books I Reviewed

Wow! I actually have reviews on Goodreads from before I started blogging! 
My first reviews are so awful! Ha!

 
 
 
 
 

Call it Courage

From Goodreads:    A boy tries to overcome his fear of the sea in this treasured classic and winner of the Newbery Medal.

Maftu was afraid of the sea. It had taken his mother when he was a baby, and it seemed to him that the sea gods sought vengeance at having been cheated of Mafatu. So, though he was the son of the Great Chief of Hikueru, a race of Polynesians who worshipped courage, and he was named Stout Heart, he feared and avoided tha sea, till everyone branded him a coward. When he could no longer bear their taunts and jibes, he determined to conquer that fear or be conquered-- so he went off in his canoe, alone except for his little dog and pet albatross. A storm gave him his first challenge. Then days on a desert island found him resourceful beyond his own expectation. This is the story of how his courage grew and how he finally returned home. This is a legend. It happened many years ago, but even today the people of Hikueru sing this story and tell it over their evening fires.

My Thoughts:

-    I am doing really well with my Newbery goal this month! I'm proud of me!

-    This book definitely shows its age, but it wasn't as bad as previous Newbery books. The writing was more enjoyable. Most of the story was kinda slow though.

-    I liked Maftu's journey in finding his courage. It didn't come all at once. He had to face a few things before we tackled his biggest fear.

-    I loved that Maftu wasn't completely alone. He had his dog.

-    I'm hoping the 40s had better books than the 30s

Top Ten Tuesday: Rainy Day Reads

Created by The Broke and The Bookish in June 2010 and moved to The Artsy Reader Girl in Jan 2018

Rainy Day Reads

What is considered a rainy day read? I'm going to go with books that leave me smiling at the end, and books that cheer me up when I'm feeling down.

 
 
 
 
 

Illuminae

Goodreads Synopsis:    This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

My Thoughts:

-    When I was first introduced to this book, I was blown away with the cover and the format. I knew I needed to read it. For some reason, I thought this was a crime book told through case files, interviews, etc. I had no idea it would be a thrilling sci-fi. 

-    I loved this book. It is truly a work of art. I can't even imagine how long it took the authors to come up with some of the pages. 

-    The story is a thrill ride, and I loved every moment. I had no idea what was going to happen next, and I couldn't even guess. The ending is awesome!

-    I haven't had a book hangover like this in a long time! I can't wait to read the sequel! 

Daniel Boone

Goodreads Says:    "Awarded the John Newbery Medal 'for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children' in 1940" James Daugherty has dipped his pen and his brush into our nation's most dynamic character whose life adventures are more exciting than the shadowy legend his name brings to mind. Daniel Boone was a farmer who couldn't stay put. Something was always pulling him westward into new and mysterious lands, and when this pull got so strong that he could no longer ignore it, and his wife and children could not persuade him to stay, he just went, with his toes pointing into the West and his eyes glued to the hills. The rugged sweep which has always distinguished Mr. Daugherty's illustrations and painting distinguishes his epic prose here as well, and makes for perfect portrayal of the vigorous character of Daniel Boone. It is interesting to recall that among the first book illustrations which Mr. Daugherty ever did were his interpretations of this same character for Stewart Edward White's "Daniel Boone".

My Thoughts:

-    Thank goodness this was really short. I was so bored.

-    Since the book is old, the natives were not portrayed in a very. . .kind? distinguished? proper? manner. I understand that the story was told from a certain perspective, but I'm glad people are getting better at how they portray other people. 

-    The illustrations were weird. I couldn't figure out what was going on in a few of them.

-    I learned a little bit about Daniel Boone, but I'm wondering why this guy was so great.

-    Hooray for another Newbery book read! 

March Stats

Books Read:  6

  

  

Pages Read:  1,493

1 Star:  0

2 Stars:  1

3 Stars:  3

4 Stars:  1

5 Stars:  1

My reading has become a pitiful shadow of what it used to be, and it makes me sad. Darn knitting has taken over my life! I vow to do better, especially for summer reading!

Goal Progress:

I am 19 books behind schedule on Goodreads!! *sob* I am farther behind than last month. (20/160)

One of the books I read last month was from my nightstand! Yay! BUT. . . I added 4 more. *hangs head*

I finished a Newbery Award Winner!! Yay me! (1/20)

As far as re-reads go, I haven't read any yet. The Secret Garden was a re-read, but I read the new pretty edition, so it didn't come off my shelf, so I'm not counting it. (0/20)

I checked off 4 more books on my Pioneer Book Reading Challenge! Woo! (11/44)