77 Saturday – Mockingjay

 

In conjunction with AusYABloggers, who have an awesome new Saturday prompt meme thingy going on over on their blog, I bring you 77 Saturday!

Seventy-Seven Saturday Rules:

1. Pick up a book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
2. Turn to page 77
3. Find a snippet, sentence or paragraph you like.
4. Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram and link back to us (AusYABloggers) and use #77Saturday

 

Title: Mockingjay (10th anniversary edition is what is photographed)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Released: 24 August 2010
Publisher: Scholastic
Add it to your Goodreads

 

“So, it’d be easy for you? Using that on people?” I ask.
“I didn’t say that.” Gale drops the bow to his side. “But if I’d had a weapon that could’ve stopped what I saw happen in Twelve… if I’d had a weapon that could have kept you out of the arena… I’d have used it.”
“Me too,” I admit. But I don’t know what to tell him about the aftermath of killing a person. About how they never leave you.

 

Admittedly, this is a scene I had forgotten about in the books, as it’s been years since I’ve read it. The feelings, however, remain the same. I remember Katniss and Gale being shown the weapons created by Beetee, and their reactions, but this passage is so powerful to me. And foreshadowing, really.

 

What about you? Grab the book closest to you, or whatever you might be reading, turn to page 77, and share a passage with me! Or over on the AusYABloggers page.

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77 Saturday – Catching Fire

In conjunction with AusYABloggers, who have an awesome new Saturday prompt meme thingy going on over on their blog, I bring you 77 Saturday!

Seventy-Seven Saturday Rules:

1. Pick up a book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
2. Turn to page 77
3. Find a snippet, sentence or paragraph you like.
4. Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram and link back to us (AusYABloggers) and use #77Saturday

 

Title: Catching Fire (10th anniversary edition is what is photographed)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Released: 01 September 2009
Publisher: Scholastic
Add it to your Goodreads 

Well, I’ve learned one thing today. This place is not a larger version of District 12. Our fence is unguarded and rarely charged. Our Peacekeepers are unwelcome but less brutal. Our hardships evoke more fatigue than fury. Here in 11, they suffer more acutely and feel more desperation. President Snow is right. A spark could be enough to set them ablaze.

 

It took me a moment to remember this part of the book, but I remember it clearly now. This is the first point, I think (forgive my memory) that it really feels like everything could change. That there could be hope for the districts of Panem to actually revolt against the tyrannical leader that is President Snow.

NB: I thought I’d keep going with my special editions of The Hunger Games series. I hope book 3 comes before next Saturday so I can continue on!

 

A Little Bit Different – Review

Synopsis

A Little Bit Different is a light and fun story depicting the journey from ignorance to acceptance and celebration.

Meet the ploofers. The ploofers have been practicing something special that they all want to do at the exact same time—but wait! What’s that? One of them does something different! When one little ploofer goes against the usual flow of things, the rest of them turn their backs on him. But all it takes is for one person to recognize the beauty in being different to spark a change in attitude of everyone.

With simple, yet striking, illustrations and a cutaway cover design that adds tactile interest, A Little Bit Different is a joyful reading experience for both you and your child, providing the opportunity to spark more meaningful discussions about people’s differences and how we accept and value them.

 

I was approved for an eARC copy of A Little Bit Different from Net Galley. This in no way impacted my views.

 

This children’s picture book is so very adorable. I’m not exactly sure what the purpose of the Ploofers are, but they’re easy to look at and enjoy, and I found the art style was so simplistic and wonderful.

At first, the Ploofers reject the colourful ploof that Shoof emits. But then one ploofer sees the colours and is amazed by it.

This story shows a very lovely way that different doesn’t have to be bad or ‘wrong’, but it can be different and still be enjoyable.

I think this will be a lovely picture book for young children to read and enjoy.

4/5 stars

 

A Little Bit Different by Claire Alexander is out now.

Add it to your Goodreads

 

International Lesbian Day – Book Recommendations

Today, the 8th of October is International Lesbian Day! So I thought I would celebrate with a selection of a few books featuring some of my favourite fictional lesbians. This is by no means a comprehensive list of all of my favourite fictional lesbians, but it’s a nice little selection.

 

Let’s take a moment of silence for the non-canon lesbians (Luna Lovegood, looking at you, girl). *pauses*

 

So this recommendation would absolutely not be a recommendations list if I didn’t recommend one of my all-time favourite books: Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough.

It is no secret that Amelia Westlake is probably my all-time favourite #LoveOzYA book, but it’s also easily one of my top 10 favourite books of all time. I literally recommend it at every single chance I get. Erin herself is queer, too, which makes this doubly awesome, as I am all about that #OwnVoices representation.

 

Next up on my recommendations list is Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno. This book is awesome because it not only has a lesbian main character, but she’s also a twin (this is one of my favourite things) but there is also magic. Georgina’s entire family has magic. And this story, whilst short, is so powerful and amazing, and I love it so much.
I don’t know if Katrina is queer or not.

 

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi is one of my favourite books of this year. It features two lesbian main characters, and Aminah herself is queer, too.

Sana and Rachel were so fun to read, and so likeable, and this was just a complete joy to read – especially with all of the ups and downs the story had. It felt very real to me.

 

Second to last is These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling and y’all should know by now that this book is everything to me. I am so hecking excited for the next book in the series – gosh, I hope it’s a series. There’s a sequel being written at least. Isabel is also queer, and the dedication to her wife at the start of the book makes me swoon.

I am SO here for lesbian and queer witches. And there are so many awesome queer characters in this book that accompany the lesbian main character.

 

And last, but by no means least Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins.

LESBIAN. PRINCESS.

I will never be able to get over saying this. BUT A FREAKING LESBIAN PRINCESS. MY HEART.

No one will ever know just how much this means to me. It’s just. Growing up there was just compulsive heterosexuality at every single angle I looked at. This is the first time I’ve read a lesbian princess who is just so human. And I love Princess Flora so much. She needs her own 1,000 page novel, please.

I also don’t know if Rachel is queer, but this story is amazing. And I know Flora is technically not the main character, Millie is, but this is just too important to me to pass up.

 

So, there you have it!

 

Please, please, please recommend me books with your favourite lesbian main characters. I need all of the lesbians in my life!

 

Forget Me Not – Review

Goodreads Synopsis

A girl with Tourette syndrome starts a new school and tries to hide her quirks in this debut middle-grade novel in verse.

Astronomy-loving Calliope June has Tourette syndrome, so she sometimes makes faces or noises that she doesn’t mean to make. When she and her mother move yet again, she tries to hide her TS. But it isn’t long before the kids at her new school realize she’s different. Only Calli’s neighbor, who is also the popular student body president, sees her as she truly is—an interesting person and a good friend. But is he brave enough to take their friendship public?

As Calli navigates school, she must also face her mother’s new relationship and the fact that she might be moving, again, just as she starts to make friends and finally accept her differences.

Book Content Warnings: parental neglect (ish?), forcing a child to hide their Tourette’s syndrome, bullying.

Representation: Main female character has Tourette’s syndrome. Main male character is Asian.

77 Saturday – The Hunger Games

In conjunction with AusYABloggers, who have an awesome new Saturday prompt meme thingy going on over on their blog, I bring you 77 Saturday!

Seventy-Seven Saturday Rules:

1. Pick up a book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
2. Turn to page 77
3. Find a snippet, sentence or paragraph you like.
4. Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram and link back to us (AusYABloggers) and use #77Saturday

 

Title: The Hunger Games (10th anniversary edition is what is photographed)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Released: 14 September 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
Add it to your Goodreads

A few hours later, I am dressed in what will either be the most sensational or the deadliest costume in the opening ceremonies. I’m in a simple black unitard that covers me from ankle to neck. Shiny leather boots lace up to my knees. But it’s the fluttering cape made of streams of orange, yellow and red and the matching headpiece that define this costume. Cinna plans to set them on fire just before our chariot rolls into the streets.

This scene, in both the book and the movie, were phenomenal to witness. I remember envisioning this exactly how the movie played it out and it was just awesome. I really need to reread this book series and soon!

 

What about you? Grab the book closest to you, or whatever you might be reading, turn to page 77, and share a passage with me! Or over on the AusYABloggers page.

 

Friend or Fiction – Reivew

Goodreads Synopsis

Jade’s life hasn’t exactly been normal lately, especially since her dad’s cancer diagnosis. Jade wishes her family could leave their no-name town in Colorado already–everybody else does sooner rather than later, including every best friend Jade’s ever had. So she makes one up. In the pages of her notebook, she writes all about Zoe–the most amazing best friend anyone could dream of.

But when pretend Zoe appears in real life thanks to a magical experiment gone right, Jade isn’t so sure if she likes sharing her imaginary friend with the real world. To keep her best friend (and even make some new ones), Jade learns how to cope with jealousy, that friends should let friends be true to themselves, and that maybe the perfect best friend doesn’t exist after all.

 

Book content warnings: parent with cancer.