Mrs. Queen Takes the Train

January 13, 2016booknutgirls Leave a comment

by William Kuhn
First sentence: “Several years ago, on a dark afternoon in December, Her Magesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Her Other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, Defender of Faith, Duchess of Edinbugh, Countess of Merioneth, Baroness Greenwich, Duke of Lancaster, Lord of Mann, Duke of Normandy sat at her desk, frowning at a computer screen..”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Content: There’s a few f-bombs (maybe a half dozen?). But other than that, it’s pretty clean. It’s in the adult fiction section of the bookstore.

You would think, from the title and first sentence, that this is a story about Queen Elizabeth and you would be right. She is most definitely a character. However, I’m not entirely sure she’s the main character, or rather just a plot device. The basic plot is this: The Queen gets down one December day, and then goes missing. Six people — her lady in waiting, Lady Anne; her dresser, Shirley; her butler, William; a member of her security team, Luke; an employee at the Mews, the horse stables, Rebecca; and an employee of the shop where The Queen gets her cheese, Rajiv — all, for various reasons, go looking for her. It’s much less about The Queen and the reasons she left than it is about the politics of the royal household, and the lives of those looking for her.

Which isn’t to say it was bad. It wasn’t. But it wasn’t as good as I had hoped, either. The parts with The Queen out and wandering around, connecting anonymously with people were really intriguing and quite fun. The rest of it — the backstories, the drama, the relationship building — not so much. There were several times when I considered bailing on this — it just took way too long to get going — but I didn’t because it was for book group. I think I just wanted it to be more… fun. And much less drama-y.

I just wasn’t thrilled with it in the end.

We Should All Be Feminists

January 11, 2016booknutgirls 2 Comments

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
First sentence: “Okoloma was one of my greatest childhood friends.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Content: There’s really nothing objectionable; my 12 year old has read it. It’s in the sociology section of the bookstore.

I wasn’t going to write a review of this one, mostly because it’s so short and simple, but I decided I needed a record of having read it.

It’s basically an extended, written version of Adichie’s Ted Talk on the same subject, an exploration of the value of feminism. I read this over Christmas, after I heard a that Sweden gave this book out to every 16 year old in the country. I know I’m not really the target audience (neither are my girls, to whom I gave this book for Christmas) already self-identifying as a feminist, but I wanted to see what Adichie had to say.

And she had a lot to say, actually. A lot of it was directed toward African culture — it’s very male — but I think that it’s relevant even in America. The fact that women do experience sexism, the fact that men don’t notice gender, the fact that things are easier for men, and so on, is important. It’s important to have discussions about gender and equality, to raise boys so that they understand the value of women, to raise girls to speak their minds without fear. It’s important, to say, as Adichie writes, “Yes, there’s a problem with gender as it is today and we must fix it, we must do better.”

I may not be the target audience for this one, but it was definitely worth my time.

State of the TBR Pile: January 2016

January 10, 2016booknutgirls 1 Comment

I’ve had a slow start to the new year. I don’t know what it is; I’ve started more than a half-dozen books and tossed them aside, because they haven’t grabbed me. Even so, my TBR pile has grown with things that look interesting, at least. We’ll see if I can finish any of them.

50 Unbelievable Women and Their Fascinating (and True!) Stories by Saundra Mitchell
Young Hee and the Pullcho by Mark James Russell
Friday Barnes Girl Detective by R. A. Spratt
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
I am Princess X by Cherie Priest
Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate
His Right Hand by Mette Ivie Harrison
Beetle Boy by M. G. Leonard
A Tiny Piece of Sky by Shawn Stout
The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Driving Heat by Richard Castle
Radioactive by Winifred Conkling

What are you looking forward to reading this month?

Nimona

January 8, 2016booknutgirls 1 Comment

by Noelle Stevenson
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Content: There’s violence and some more mature content. I’d give it to a 5th grader if they asked, though. It’s in the teen graphic novel section of the bookstore.
I’ve been meaning to get to this one for ages, and being shorlisted for the Graphic Novels Cybils kind of gave me the push. That, and Alyssa over at Everead told me I wouldn’t regret buying it.

She’s right: I don’t regret it at all. It really is that good. (Well, I do regret it a little, because now I have to wait for a copy to come back in so I can put it on my recommends shelf.)

It’s hard to write about this one, though. Mostly because not knowing a whole lot is part of the fun. Know this: it’s a unique fantasy world, both high- and low-tech at the same time. It’s about heroes and villains and what it means to be both. It’s about sidekicks and friendship and Being True to Yourself.

What it’s not: Trite.

Nimona is a fantastic character, fully her own person, beating her own drum, and all the other cliches. Except this feels like the furthest things from a cliche there is. She’s incredibly compelling (though not always likable) to read about. Sir Blackheart, the villain to whom Nimona is sidekick, is also incredibly fascinating. As is Ambrosious, Sir Blackheart’s nemesis. There’s so much going on here that it’s hard to do it justice.

So, just do yourself a favor an read it. You won’t regret it.

Unicorn on a Roll

January 6, 2016booknutgirls 2 Comments

9781449470760 by Dana Simpson
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Content: There’s some difficult words for younger readers (and some concepts that will go over the heads of younger readers), but it’s really accessible at any age level. It’s in the middle grade graphic novel section at the bookstore.

I’ve seen this at the store for ages; I’ve even sold it to a couple of girls looking for a fun graphic novel. But it wasn’t until recently that I actually sat down to figure out what this was.

The basic premise is this: Phoebe, a girl, has a unicorn friend (whose name is Marigold Heavenly Nostrils — I KNOW, RIGHT?) who may or may not be real. (Sound familiar?) And, after I got past the initial “huh, this isn’t a graphic novel, it’s more a collection of comic strips” I fell in love. Oh. My. Gosh. It’s SO hilarious. Maybe it’s because I’m an adult and get jokes about 80s and 90s music (“My mom said a woman named Alanis ruined irony forever.”) but really. It’s just impossible not to love Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. They are perfect.

The 2015 Cybils EMGSF Panel: The Ones That Got Away

January 4, 2016booknutgirls 3 Comments

One of the best things about the Cybils is that we have to agree on a shortlist. Sometimes this comes easily — like it did for our panel this year — sometimes, not so much. Even so, there are always ones that we really like (both individually and collectively) that don’t quite make it on to the list.

Here are five books that I really loved but that didn’t make the cut:

Circus Mirandus

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

The Forgotten Sisters

The Hollow Boy

MiNRS

First Sunday Daughter Reviews: January 2016

January 3, 2016booknutgirls Leave a comment

We had a very happy Christmas around here. We were extravagantly lazy, ate WAY too much chocolate, played lots of games, and generally don’t want to go back to school on Tuesday.

The girls enjoyed their Christmas presents, but for the blog I thought I’d highlight the books they all got.

M wanted her favorite Bronte book (which she discovered while taking a class on the Brontes this past semester), The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and I got Pop Sonnets for her because she’s also discovered that she likes Shakespeare.

C asked for Candor, because I got rid of it a while back and it was one she really loved.

E got Welcome to Night Vale, because she adores the podcast.

A was a hard one to buy for, but we ultimately settled on D’Aulaires’s Norse Myths. We figure if Rick Riordan’s going there, we ought to brush up.

And K got Amulet 1 and 2. We own 3 and 6 and it was bugging her we didn’t have the whole series. So, we’re working on filling that out. We’ll get 4 and 5 before 7 comes out as well. It made her happy.

And I got all the teenage girls (well, A’s not a teenager, yet, but close enough) this one:

M pointed out that we’re not exactly the right demographic, already being feminists around here, but I thought it was a good reminder. It’s definitely one everyone should read.

And Hubby and I got books as well:

I’ll leave you to guess which one’s mine and which one’s his. (He also got the Terry Gilliam memoir for his birthday, which he thoroughly enjoyed.)

Here’s to a bookish New Year!

The 2015 Cybils Finalists Are Here!

January 1, 2016booknutgirls Leave a comment

And I had a fantastic time with my Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction panel. I don’t think I pulled my weight (the fall was busier than I expected), but the books were mostly good, the discussion was super easy, the other panelists were super smart and amazing, and I REALLY love our list.

Bayou Magic
by Jewell Parker Rhodes

In a simple but not simplistic story, 10-year-old Maddie visits her Grandmère in the Louisiana bayou in order to learn the magical traditions of her family. While there, she discovers how friendship and magic (and bonus mermaids!) can help with modern problems, and learns the importance of being connected to the land around her. Rhodes has created book with a lyrical mix of African, French and Creole traditions that has a huge heart and is full of magic and, ultimately, joy.

Melissa Fox, The Book Nut

Castle Hangnail
by Ursula Vernon

The titular castle of Castle Hangnail needs a new master, or it will risk being decommissioned, forcing all the resident minions to find new homes. When 12-year-old Molly comes knocking on the castle door, the minions (who expected a powerful dark magic user) are skeptical, but Molly is determined to convince them that she is wicked enough for the job (though she actually has a very good heart). Everything seems to be going well until an evil sorceress shows up claiming she is Castle Hangnail’s real intended master. Its illustrations, humor, messages of friendship and determination, and a host of memorable secondary characters (with a special nod to one minion–Pins, a voodoo doll with a talking goldfish) make Castle Hangnail an utterly enjoyable and charming place to spend your reading time!

Benda Tjaden, Log Cabin Library

Cuckoo Song
by Frances Hardinge

“Mummy, help me, please help me, everything’s strange and nothing’s right, and my mind feels as if it’s made up of pieces and some of them are missing…” When Triss wakes up from a mysterious accident, she is somehow not herself–she feels an overwhelming hunger that is only satisfied by eating the oddest things, dead leaves appear in her room, on her pillow, and in her hair; her little sister Pen rejects her completely. Triss/Not-Triss must put together the pieces of what turns out to be a larger puzzle, one that encompasses a family’s grief, betrayal, loyalty, and love. Set in post-World War I Great Britain, Hardinge’s Cuckoo Song is a beautifully written, deliciously dark fantasy for fans of historical fiction, horror, fairy tales, or family stories. We think that’s everyone.

Anamaria Anderson, Books Together

Mars Evacuees
by Sophia McDougall

Mars Evacuees– Blast off for Mars on this science fiction debut! In order to keep them safe from the ongoing human-alien warfare on Earth, Alice Dare and other kids from around the world are being shipped off to the red planet . But Mars is far from being a safe haven, and when all the adults vanish, Alice and her new friends set out to get help. Giant floating robot goldfish, unexpected alien encounters and a not-so friendly Martian landscape are just some of the challenges they will deal with along the way. This entertaining and smartly-written romp will make you want to buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Stephanie Whelan, Views From the Tesseract

The Dungeoneers
by John David Anderson

The Dungeoneers is a first-class adventure that reads like a role-playing game on the surface, while being booby-trapped with plot twists and laced with reflections on morality and loyalty. When Colm starts picking pockets to help his struggling family, they are horrified. But before he can be imprisoned, he’s rescued by a man impressed by his talents who whisks him off to study at legendary Tye Twodin’s School for Dungeoneers–professional treasure hunters and monster fighters. There Colm and his new teammates, the shy young mageling Quinn Frostfoot, tough-as-nails (unless she’s bleeding herself) barbarian-to-be Lena Proudfoot, and druid-in-training Serene (with her a pet spider named Mr. Tickletoes) have to master the skills of dungeoneering. Swordplay, spells and lock picking aren’t as challenging as navigating the social pitfalls of an extraordinary boarding school and figuring out who can be trusted…and that’s before the real adventuring begins!

Katy Kramp, alibrarymama

The Fog Diver
by Joel Ross

Set in a world where a deadly fog has taken over the planet, and people are forced to live in the skies, a quartet of ragtag orphans make a living off of what they can scavenge on Earth’s surface, even though it means sending their diver, Chess, down through the toxic mist while still tethered to their sky ship. Chess is in less danger than most, as he has a mysterious resistance to the effects of the fog, but the evil Lord Kodoc will stop at nothing to find out Chess’ secret.

When the four kids – Hazel (the daring captain), Swedish (the strong pilot), Bea (the cheery mechanic), and Chess (the secretive tetherboy) find out that the woman who raised them as family is dying from the Fog sickness, they decide to embark on an mission to save her life, and avoid the evil Lord Kodoc. Featuring air pirates, great characters, and a unique setting, The Fog Diver is a fantastic steampunk adventure with a sci-fi twist that will leave you wanting more.

Kristen Harvey, The Book Monsters

Wings of Fire Book Six: Moon Rising
by Tui T. Sutherland

The Wings of Fire series returns with new dragons and a brand new story arc! After years of war, the kingdoms of the dragons are at peace, and a school has been founded to gather together young dragons from all the different factions. One of these students is Moonwatcher, a young Nightwing who has the Nightwing powers of telepathy and prophecy, gifts that might help her and her new friends thwart the dangerous and deadly plots that threaten the fragile peace. These books, with their wide range of heroic young dragon characters,, are just full of kid appeal, and Moon Rising is one of the best of them. Strong messages of friendship, tolerance, and forgiveness are presented alongside adventures large and small in a way that will have readers clamoring for more.

Charlotte Taylor, Charlotte’s Library

Additionally, THREE of my nominations that made it through: The Blackthorn Key (YAY!), Baba Yaga (YAY!), and Ms. Marvel (YAY!). Click here to see what all the other (excellent) finalist lists are.

My Best-of 2015

December 31, 2015booknutgirls Leave a comment

2015 was a much better year for me than last year. I got new responsibilities at work that have been challenging and have made my life busier, but have also been a TON of fun. I didn’t read as much but what I read, overall, was better. Either that, or I was just in a mood to like more of what I read. I still need to work on upping my books by authors of color, but I did a better job of keeping track this year, so at least I have an accurate starting point. I’m quite pleased with my year and I’m looking forward to another good one in 2016.

By the Numbers:

Middle Grade Fiction: 70
YA Fiction: 46
Graphic Novels: 14
Non-Fiction: 16
Adult Fiction: 25
Number of those that were sci-fi/fantasy books, not counting graphic novels: 62
Number of those that were by authors of color: 22
Number of those that had prominent characters of color: 39
Number of those that were audio books: 15
Number of those that were rereads: 6

Grand Total: 171

Abandoned: more than I kept track of

And now this year’s awards:

Best Adult Fiction: Prayers for Sale
Best YA book: Trouble is a Friend of Mine
Best Middle Grade book: The Penderwicks in Spring
Best MG Speculative Fiction: Being a part of the Cybils EMGSF panel this year, I’m not at liberty to say. But the shortlist will be announced tomorrow!
Best Fantasy: Shadow Scale
Best Sci-Fi/Distopian: The Martian
Best Graphic Novel: Roller Girl and Ms. Marvel
Best Non-Fiction: Bad Feminist
Best MG/YA Non-Fiction: I Will Always Write Back
Best Romance: Kissing in America
Best Mystery: The House of Silk
Best Audiobook: You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)

And in other categories…

Cover love:

Don’t judge a book by its cover:

Best in-person book group book: Prayers for Sale

Best YAckers book: Uprooted

Favorite reread: A Room with a View

Aliens!: Mars Evacuees, Nomad, Armada, Magonia, Smek for President, Red Queen

The Hype is Right: All the Light We Cannot See

*Blush*: The Viscount Who Loved Me

Absolutely Gorgeous and Defies Categorization: The Marvels

Feminist and Proud: Bad Feminist, Uprooted, Prayers for Sale, How to be a Heroine, Ms. Marvel, The Bitch in the House, Bone Gap, The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate, Scarlett Undercover, Gabi a Girl in Pieces, The Boston Girl, Honor Girl, Roller Girl, The Forgotten Sisters, Glory O’Brein’s History of the Future

Difficult, but Powerful: Between the World and Me, Just Mercy

We Got Art: How to be Both, Big Magic, The Truth Commission

Twists FTW: The Blackthorn Key

History with a Side of Fiction: Stella by Starlight, Walk on Earth a Stranger, The Hired Girl, Beautiful Ruins, The Boston Girl, How to Be Both, Black Dove, White Raven

Okay, I Cried: Circus Mirandus

Unbelievable Debut: An Ember in the Ashes

I Adore a (Mythology and Fairy Tale) Retelling: Shadows of Sherwood, Baba Yaga’s Assistant, The Sword of Summer, The Wrath and the Dawn

Give it Up for Religion: The Porcupine of Truth, The Bishop’s Wife, Siddhartha, Scarlett Undercover

Snorting Milk Through My Nose: Dory and the Real True Friend

I Love Language: Between You & Me

I Also Love Food: Life from Scratch

Basketball Poetry is Awesome, Who Knew?: The Crossover

WTH Just Happened: The Library at Mount Char, The Nest, Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future

Finding Space in My Head: Siddhartha, The Joy of Living

I’ll Happily Grow Up with Mo: The Story of Diva and Flea

My 10-Year-Old Self Would Have Loved This: The Hunters of Chaos, Goodbye Stranger

Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic isn’t overdone (yet): Station Eleven, MiNRS, The Fog Diver, The Scorpion Rules

I Like Gaiman Better in Short Form: Trigger Warning

Not Out Yet, but Worth Watching For: Summerlost, To Catch a Cheat, The Memory of Light

Begs to be Read Aloud: Appleblossom the Possum

Where’s the Next One?: The Heart of Betrayal, The Winner’s Crime

Books I should have read AGES ago: Something Fresh, Cold Comfort Farm.

Awesome LGBTQ+: George, The Porcupine of Truth, Honor Girl, The Scorpion Rules, The Marvels

Woo-hoo, they’re back!: The Hollow Boy, The Odds of Getting Even, Switch, The Golden Specific, The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate, The Shadow Cabinet, Dragons Beware, The Forgotten Sisters, The Penderwicks in Spring

Waaaah, it’s OVER: Jinx’s Fire

Loved it, but can’t seem to sell it: The Bishop’s Wife, Confessions of an Imaginary Friend

Books I finished but didn’t feel the love for: Orbiting Jupiter (I couldn’t bring myself to write a review), My Brilliant Friend, Steve Jobs, The Thing About Jellyfish, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Fables for Our Time

Author everyone else loves that I discovered I liked: Anne Lamott (Small Victories)

“Best” Part of My Job (aka Author Events I Managed): Joelle Charbonneau, Middle Grade Mania (Steve A, Faith H, Greg T, Marcia W), Ridley Pearson, Judy Schachner, Bill Konigsburg, John Flannagan, Jacqueline Woodson, Penguin Teen on Tour (Ally Condie, Meg Wolitzer, Jandy Nelson), Geoff Rodkey, and Ally Carter.

What are some of your bests this year?

Monthly Wrap-Up: December 2015

December 30, 2015booknutgirls Leave a comment

Because of the Cybils, this month was a month of Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. I’m super happy with our shortlist and can’t wait to share it with you on January 1st! And tomorrow, I’ll have my best of the year post. It’s been a good year, overall.

With those two caveats, I’m going to skip my favorite for the month.

Middle Grade

Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head