Top Ten Tuesday: Covers with Gowns I Want to Wear

Hi there!

I skipped out on my Top Ten post last Tuesday because life got kind of busy and I kind of forgot about it! Oh well! It’s to be expected because the end of the school year is always a busy and exhausting time.  But I’m back this week! Yay!

For those of you who arent’ familiar with it, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Every week they post a theme and we create a list surrounding that theme. This week the theme is Favorite Book Covers of Books I’ve Read. I have such a hard time choosing on favorite covers because I like to many different types of covers for so many varied reasons.  So, instead of picking favorites, this week I’m choosing based on Book Covers with Gowns I Want to Wear.

1. Entwined by Heather Dixon

So gorgeous!!

2. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

I love the breezy flow to this one. I do prefer the dress on the cover of Endlessly, but I haven’t read it yet so it doesn’t count.

3. The Luxe series books by Anna Godberson

I’m sure it would be insanely heavy but just standing it in for an hour would make me happy.

4. The Selection by Kiera Cass

I do love this one’s fluff, but to be honest I prefer the one on the cover to The Elite…but I haven’t read that one yet.

5. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

WANT.

6. Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

A slinky little one!

7.  Vixen by Jillian Larkin

I must add that I completely disliked this book. But I can’t help but love that gown!!!

8. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

I love the way it flows and it’s purely fairy tale style.

9. Matched by Ally Condie

It’s just so green and soft looking!

10. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Its Victorian!!!

Aren’t they all so beautiful?! I would love to wear them! There are TONS of other gorgeous gowns on book covers that I also love but I haven’t read them yet or else they’d be on this list.

Are there any dresses on book covers that you just wish you could wear? Which of these are your favorites?

Waiting on Wednesday: Not a Drop to Drink

Hi there!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This week I am really excited about a book that sounds like Little House on the Prairie meets The Maze Runner- Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis.

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water. Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn’t leave at all. Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

So?! I’m totally right aren’t I?  Not a Drop to Drink sounds like a Maze Runner/Little House mash-up! This sound like it could be a super post apocalyptic creepy read but the story itself sounds so strange and interesting I think I could deal with the potential creep factor. This one won’t be released until September 10, so I still have a few more months to wait. I must be patient!

So, what do you think? What are you waiting for this week?

Fun and Bright: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Hi there everyone!

For years my students and other book bloggers told me that I need to read Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy. And for years I planned on it but kept getting distracted. Well, that is no longer the case. I have finally read Paranormalcy and now I’m trying to get my hands on the second book Supernaturally!

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

I now know why everyone wanted me to read this book! It was so much fun! White has written an easy-going and bright paranormal mystery, which is so refreshing! So often supernatural fiction can have a dark and heavy feel, but Paranormalcy is the complete opposite!

Evie, the main character, is likable and relatively normal…for a girl who “bags and tags” vampires and other supernatural creatures! She is insecure, boy crazy, lonely and longing for more, and is obsessed with her favorite teen TV drama….she is a lot like I was in my early high school years! I really felt like I could connect with Evie because I’ve been “that girl” (minus the vampires…). So, yeah I enjoyed Evie as a main character even though she sometimes (okay most of the time!) made really dumb thoughtless decisions, but I guess when I think back on it I did a bit of that as a teenager too!

I was really a fan of all the different supernatural and mythological creatures. Vampires and werewolves yes, but also mermaids, fairies, elemental spirits, shapeshifters and even hags. Seeing bits and pieces of these creatures and their lore was incredibly refreshing. It makes sense that if there are some supernaturals in the world that there would be others as well! These supporting characters are all interesting! Lend, the mysterious guy who breaks in to The Center had me intrigued from the beginning. And Lish, the mermaid, was so cute I’d like to meet more of her kind in the sequels.

The little hints of Evie’s history left me wanting more. Why can she see beneath the supernaturals’ glamours? Who is she exactly? White gives us small pieces of Evie’s mysterious beginnings, but I’m sure that we’ll learn more as the series continues. Which is why I really, really can’t wait to get my hands on Supernaturally!

And…there is a very sweet romance. So cute!

If you’re one of those readers who is looking for a fun and bright read because you’re tired of the under dark paranormal reads then you should definitely check out Paranormalcy! I highly recommend it as a good summer poolside read to middle school aged readers and older.

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen (August 31, 2010)

Format: Paperback

Length: 335 pages

Series: First in the Paranormalcy trilogy

YA/MG: MG/YA

Buy the Book: Paranormalcy

Waiting on Wednesday: The Burning Sky

Welcome back everyone!

Most of you know that Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that I like to participate in and is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. The goal is to showcase an upcoming new release that we just can’t wait to get our hands on.

This week I’m all about The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas.

It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she’s being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he’s also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to revenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.

I’m pretty much always in the mood for some good fantasy! And throw in a little bit of love and romance and I’m most likely hooked! It sounds kind of like it has Kristin Cashore-like qualities, which if it does I’m sure I’ll be in love with this book by the end of the first page!

Sadly, we do have a little while to wait before The Burning Sky is released since it’s scheduled for September 17. What do you think? Are you waiting patiently for this one or another title today?

 

 

 

Quick Pic: “And Some Hairy Bacon”

Hi there!

One of my Battle of the Books team students came into the Media Center to show off her socks which she called “An ode to The Graveyard Book“.  The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, was one of this year’s fifteen Florida Sunshine State Books that the team studied and competed on.

In the book, one of the characters, Ms. Owens, sings a song and she’s unsure of the final lyrics.  Since she’s not sure what the lyrics actually are she sings them as “and some hairy bacon”!  This student in particular loved this part of the story so when she found her socks she had to have them! Today she ran into my Media Center to show them off! 

Aren’t they hilarious?! And I love that they’re bookish!

Top Ten Tuesday: When You’re in the Mood for Light and Fun

Hiya!

Welcome back to BookTasty!

Every week I participate in The Broke and Bookish’s Top Ten Tuesday event. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is focused on books that are light and fun reads.

Light and fun reads are super important and necessary to any reader’s repertoire, just like the deep and serious books are. You can’t have too much of one type or else you get bored. Sometimes you’re in the mood for a deeper more complex story, and other times all you need is a break! So, what books do I recommend if you’re in the mood for something of the not-so-serious and complex type? Well, let’s take a look at some fun and entertaining reads!

Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter

These do get darker as the series progresses, but even in this Carter manages to keep the mood light.

Poison by Bridget Zinn

Poison is such a fun fantasy read. It’s a great new addition to my list!

Smile by Raina Telegemier

This graphic novel is so fun and sweet you can’t help but…smile!

Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

A fluffy mermaid fantasy full of corny puns and sweet romance.

The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen

Elaborate gowns and tantalizing gossip make for a simply entertaining read.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

A fun not so serious supernatural romance.

The 39 Clues series by various authors

It’s like National Treasure in book form. SO FUN!

Austenland by Shannon Hale (not YA)

Jane Austen. Romance. Darcy. Need I say more?!

The Heather Wells series by Meg Cabot (not YA)

A murder mystery series in chick lit form. Heather Wells is a hilarious Bridget Jones-like character who makes you love her and laugh at the same time.

A Rather series by C.A. Belmond (not YA)

This is just such a breezy chick-lit mystery series set in many gorgeous and luxurious locales across the world.

All of these are titles I love and recommend to you. They’re light and fun reads that are good mix-ins between more weighty reads. Do you have any suggestions for books on the airy and delightful side?

May New Releases

Can you believe it’s already May?!

I can’t! This school year has completely flown by! There is like 21 school days left and then…SUMMER VACATION! YAY!

Yes, us teachers and librarians look forward to summer just as much (if not more) than the students do! So, as we count down the days left in the school year, let’s also take a look at the new books that May brings us.

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Tommy Greenwald (May 7)

Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield (May 7)

Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George (May 7)

Icons by Margaret Stohl (May 7)

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (May 7)

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland (May 7)

Towering by Alex Flinn (May 14)

Vote by Gary Paulsen (May 14)

All I Need by Susan Colasanti (May 21)

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown (May 21)

All of these May new releases seem like have good potential although, I think I’m the most interested in Nantucket Blue, Chantress,  Icons and The 5th Wave. Have any of you already read them (ARCs) or are there any you’re particularly looking forward to?