Month: March 2020

Books

My Bookshelves

The Bookish Librarian

I wanted to post these photos on my Bookstagram but I didn’t feel like that 1080px by 1080px square would do them justice. I had just watched an Instagram live video by @yaallegiance and was positively ogling her wall to wall bookshelves! While my bedroom is quite big, it would take a lot of heavy moving to be able to even get my bookshelves next to each other. Also, I have built in cubby holes which house a lot of my books, and they’re deep enough for me to double-shelve my books, if need be. I’d rather not have to, though, which is why I just re-arranged my bookshelves (yet again!) so that most of the books’ spines are visible with a glance.

So, without further ado….drum roll, please….

 

ARC Reviews, Fantasy, Graphic, YA Fiction

Zatanna and the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody

The Bookish Librarian

Grades 9 – 12

Zatanna & the House of Secrets

Zatanna lives with her father who is a magician in the House of Secrets, which is filled with puzzles, trap doors and mythical creatures. One day she stands up to a bully in school, and things start to change. She rushes home to tell her father, but it appears he has gone missing within the House of Secrets’ four walls.
Thanks to SLJ for a review copy of this book.
Read-alikes

Millennial Read-Alikes

The Bookish Librarian

The Misadventures of Awkward Black GirlIf you’re like me, stuck in your house because of COVID-19, (and I think most of the world is at this point), you’re looking for things to keep you busy. Right now, I am a librarian working from home, but also looking for ways to help patrons (and blog readers) stay sane. I hope you are enjoying these new blog posts that have gone a little off the norm for me, but I figured I’d try something different since everything has turned on its head.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae and Ctrl, Alt, Delete: How I Grew Up Online by Emma Gannon are two books that I think millennials like me will love. I read both of them, and they were major trips down memory lane for me. Ctrl, Alt; Delete: How I Grew Up OnlineThey discuss dial up internet, AOL Instant Messenger, nudges on MSN and the early days of catfishing.  I get a thrill whenever I read something and think to myself, OMG I remember that! Or, I forgot all about that until just now! I felt I could relate to these authors on a personal level. As I read about how Emma Gannon’s parents were clueless about internet safety, I pictured myself in the chilly basement where the desktop computer was and thought, yeah, I could have gotten into so much trouble down there unsupervised.

If you’re a millennial who spent their days on the early internet, got kicked off when your parents needed to make a phone call and were a girl who wrote your name like this: ~*~*~*Michelle*~*~* I highly recommend these books.

ARC Reviews, Children, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

Nanea: The Spirit of Aloha by

The Bookish Librarian

Grades 3 – 5

Nanea: The Spirit of Aloha

Nanea is a young girl living in Hawaii in the 1940s, when Peal Harbor was attacked by the Japanese, the event that initiated the United States in the Second World War. Her father works at the naval base that was attacked, and she has to deal with the fact that some of the members of her family and friends are missing after the act of war. She relies on her spirit of aloha to get her through the tough times that lie ahead.

Thanks to SLJ for a review copy of this book.

ARC Reviews, Fantasy, Graphic, YA Fiction

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

The Bookish Librarian

Grades 9 – 12

Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1)

Wonder Woman starts out as Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Diana is trying to prove herself a warrior, but when she finally gets the chance, she blows it and instead breaks Amazon law to save a mortal, Alia. Diana and Alia become allies and face various enemies – both mortal and divine, but they must be careful or they’ll destroy everything they’re tying to save in the process.

Thanks to SLJ for a review copy of this book.

ARC Reviews, Children, Graphic, Middle Grade Fiction

Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot

The Bookish Librarian

Grades 3 – 5

Black Canary: Ignite

Dinah Lance has a plan. She wants to join the Gotham City Junior Police Academy and follow in her dad’s footsteps by solving crimes and saving the world. However, a mysterious creature keeps getting in the way of Dinah’s goals and intimidates her friends and family. Can she evade this threat and reach her goals?

Thanks to SLJ for a review copy of this book.