The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Goodreads Synopsis:    Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

My Thoughts:

-    This is a good read for the Halloween season!

-    I liked the whole post vampire apocalypse concept. 

-    Some of the chapters were flashbacks or back story on other characters. It was a little confusing. It took a couple paragraphs to figure out what and who I was reading about.

-    This is a pretty violent book. I wouldn't recommend it for younger teens.

-    I don't know what to think of Tana. She was kind of unpredictable. I didn't know what she was going to do next. Her actions didn't seem to coincide with her motives. 

-    I didn't like Aiden for the moment I met him. What a loser!

-    I don't know how I feel about Gavriel. There were times when I didn't like him, but then there were times when he was awesome.

-    There wasn't really much of a plot. It was just about this girl in a vampire filled world trying to figure things out after a horrific event. I wanted more out of the story. The 'villain" didn't even appear til the end.

-    Overall, I liked this book, but it left a few things to be desired.

Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began

Goodreads Says:    Acclaimed as a quiet triumph and a brutally moving work of art, the first volume of Art Spieglman's Maus introduced readers to Vladek Spiegleman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and his son, a cartoonist trying to come to terms with his father, his father's terrifying story, and History itself. Its form, the cartoon (the Nazis are cats, the Jews mice), succeeds perfectly in shocking us out of any lingering sense of familiararity with the events described, approaching, as it does, the unspeakable through the diminutive.

This second volume, subtitled And Here My Troubles Began, moves us from the barracks of Auschwitz to the bungalows of the Catskills. Genuinely tragic and comic by turns, it attains a complexity of theme and a precision of thought new to comics and rare in any medium. Maus ties together two powerful stories: Vladek's harrowing tale of survival against all odds, delineating the paradox of daily life in the death camps, and the author's account of his tortured relationship with his aging father. At every level this is the ultimate survivor's tale - and that too of the children who somehow survive even the survivors.

My Thoughts:

-    This really puts things into perspective. I've never read a story so real and honest about the Jews during WWII.

-    What happened to a lot of Vladek's family and friends is so sad. What happened to Vladek and Anja was sad. This was a sad book.

-    I think I'd rather die than live in Auschiwitz. 

-    I'm surprised the Jews didn't die of fright. It would be awful to live in a constant state of fear. 

-    Unlike the first book, I felt like the illustrations were fitting for this story. 

-    The relationship between Art and his dad was funny and sad all at the same time. I enjoyed seeing the modern day happenings of Vladek's life.

-    I'm really glad the author included a real photo of his dad in one of the panels.

-    The ending was good. It was peaceful. 

First Maus Book

(cover is linked to my thoughts)

Anne of Avonlea

Goodreads Synopsis:    At sixteen Anne is grown up...almost. Her gray eyes shine like evening stars, but her red hair is still as peppery as her temper. In the years since she arrived at Green Gables as a freckle-faced orphan, she has earned the love of the people of Avonlea and a reputation for getting into scrapes. But when Anne begins her job a the new schoolteacher, the real test of her character begins. Along with teaching the three Rs, she is learning how complicated life can be when she meddles in someone else's romance, finds two orphans at Green Gables, and wonders about the strange behaviour of the very handsome Gilbert Blythe. As Anne enters womanhood, her adventures touch the heart and the funny bone.




My Thoughts:

-    This book picks up right after Anne of Green Gables ends. I enjoyed continuing the story.

-    You'd think the people of Avonlea would get really fat with all the cakes and puddings they eat. Food is a big part of these books. I feel like Anne is always making a cake for something.

-    Davy is hilarious. His reasoning and shenanigans just crack me up. Of course, Anne got herself into some trouble as well, and that always puts a smile on my face.

-    While reading this, I noticed my surroundings a lot more. I stopped to look at how beautiful the weather was and how lovely the trees are. Books do funny things to me.

-    Oh Anne, when will you realize that Gilbert is the only one for you! How can you be so oblivious?

-    I loved the Echo Lodge people and those parts of the story. 

-    This was a lovely book! I just can't get enough of the people of Avonlea. 

Previous Anne of Green Gables Book

(Click on the cover to see my thoughts)

I'm never getting this book!

Dear person who has the 5th book of Amulet checked out:

There are 4 people on hold for this book, and you were supposed to return it on September 18. I have read the first 4 books in the series, and so has my husband and daughter. We are eagerly waiting to read the 5th book! It is mean and cruel for you to keep us waiting like this! Please return the book to the library ASAP!! 

Sincerely,

An eager reader



Dear Provo Library:

There are 4 people on hold for the 5th book in the Amulet series, and the one and only copy has not been returned! Why don't you buy some more!? Please!

Sincerely,

A loyal patron

Amulet: The Last Coucil

From Goodreads:    Kazu Kibuishi's thrilling, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series continues!

Emily and her friends think they'll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn't right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in crippling fear. Emily is escorted to the Academy where she's expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Council, the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, a terrible secret is slowly uncovered--a secret that, if left buried, means certain destruction of everything Emily fights for.

My Thoughts:

-    This series would make a cool TV show. 

-    There were a lot of similarities with Studio Ghibli's Castle in the Sky.

-    I thought I had some things figured out, but I was wrong! I love a good surprise in a story.

-    Again, LOVE the illustrations. The scenery is amazing, some of my favorite in any graphic novel. 

Previous Amulet Books

(covers are linked)

  

Amulet: The Cloud Searchers

Goodreads Says:    AN IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY WITH DANGER AT EVERY TURN...

Emily, Navin, and their crew of resistance fighters charter an airship and set off in search of the lost city of Cielis. There they hope to find help from the Guardian Council's powerful Stonekeepers. It's a mission that Alledia's survival depends on, and time is running out--Emily's got to find Cielis before the Elf King finds her.

My Thoughts:

-    I can't get over how amazing the illustrations are! The environments are amazing. I especially love the library.

-    The bar scenario was bit like a scene from Star Wars. I also noticed a bit of Castle in the Sky and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

-    There are some interesting new developments in this volume. The story is getting more interesting.

-    It is hard to know who to trust. There are so many uncertainties. I love it!

Previous Amulet Books

(covers are linked)

 

Fan Art Friday: The Graveyard Book

Happy October everyone! To kickoff the Halloween festivities, I thought I'd showcase Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book today.

My favorite are the last two.

Which is your favorite?

If you are interested in knowing who the artists are, the pictures are linked.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse

From Goodreads:    Emily and Navin's mother is still in a coma from the arachnopod's poison. There's only one place to find help; Kanalis, the bustling beautiful city of waterfalls. But when Em, her brother, and Miskit and the rest of the robotic crew aboard the walking house reach the city, they quickly realize that seeking help is looking for trouble, dangerous trouble.

The Elf King's son, Trellis, is still after them, but this time he's accompanied by a mysterious and dangerous guard, Luger. Then an equally mysterious fox, Leon Redbeard, steps in to help. This new fox friend offers to take Em, the stonekeeper, on the perilous trip up Demon's Head Mountain to find the antidote she needs. Miskit is suspicious, Navin is worried about being left behind, and Emily is in the toughest spot of all. She's got to let loose the power of the amulet--without losing herself.

My Thoughts:

-    Compelling story with great characters and great villains! One of the best graphic novels I've read!

-    I like the evil twist on elves.

-    The illustrations are beautiful. The pictures are so vibrant and awesome. The architecture is awesome! Props to the designers!

-    I love the fox guy! He is so cool! 

-    I loved getting to know the main characters better. 

-    The illustrations depict movement and action perfectly! It was almost like watching a show. Well done! 

-    This was an amazing volume in the series, and I can't wait to read more!

Previous Amulet Book

(covers are linked)

Amulet: The Stonekeeper

Goodreads Says:    Graphic novel star Kazu Kibuishi creates a world of terrible, man-eating demons, a mechanical rabbit, a giant robot---and two ordinary children on a life-or-death mission.

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.
Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

My Thoughts:

-    The illustrations are fantastic! I love the vibrant pictures and characters.

-    The story wastes no time getting into things.

-    The story is engaging and adventurous.

-    The environments are awesome.

-    I can't wait to read the rest of the series! 

The Swan Kingdom

Goodreads Synopsis:    A new voice in fantasy weaves a rich, entrancing tale of a girl with powerful healing gifts —- and the courage to use them to save her ailing kingdom.

Shadows fall across the beautiful, lush kingdom after the queen is attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger, a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land. But Alexandra has more gifts than she realizes as she confronts magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces, and is unflinchingly brave as she struggles to reclaim what is rightfully hers. Fantasy lovers will be held in thrall by this tale full of visual detail, peppered with a formidable destructive force and sweetened with familial and romantic love.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a unique story. I enjoyed it. 

-    I liked how the 4 siblings worked together in the beginning. I have 3 older brothers as well.

-    The style and the way the story was told was different. I liked it for the most part, but sometimes it got a little slow.

-    I forgot the title of the fairy tale, but this is a retelling of the siblings turned into swans and a sister must make clothes for them to change them back. 

-    This is one of those books where I liked it, but I don't know what to say about it. It was a nice story.