Greetings, fellow readers! I have returned from the west coast with my head full of space exploration and my suitcase full of completed books. While I was in California, I got to take a tour of the SpaceX factory floor (which was mind-blowingly amazing!) and visit the California ScienCenter, where the space shuttle Endeavour is kept. All of these adventures, plus spending lots of time with Jacob, made this one of the best weekends of the whole summer.
Here are some reviews of what I've been reading since my last post:
Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs. Another guilty pleasure summer mystery, this book was nothing special, but still fun to read.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I loved this book! My friend Elli recommended it, and I couldn't be happier I decided to read it. It's about a girl named Cath who writes fan fiction for a Harry Potter-esque book series. She and her twin sister have always worked on these stories together, but when they leave for college, their relationship is strained as each girl adjusts to new experiences. This is a sweet little ode to the stories we write and the books we love best. Highly recommend.
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, A Red Herring Without Mustard, I am Half-Sick of Shadows, Speaking from Among the Bones, and The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, all by Alan Bradley. Now that I am all caught up on the Flavia de Luce series, I can only say I'm sad I have to wait another year until the new book comes out! These mysteries are awesome--I recommend you give them a shot if you're in the mood for something clever.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This was a really good book about two teenagers, one French and one German, growing up during World War Two. Part coming of age novel, part historical mystery, this book went by so quickly for me: I couldn't stop reading it! Definitely a keeper.
Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space by Lynn Sherr. A good biography of the US's first woman astronaut, including an intensely personal look at the woman behind the NASA portraits.
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. This one was a recommendation from my youngest sister. Two girls, Sophie and Agatha, are sent to a school to train as either fairy tale heroes or villains. Upon arriving, however, each girl is convinced she has been placed in the wrong school. The story follows their adventures as they try to undo the mistake while remaining true to their natures.
Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang. This is a two-part graphic novel about the Boxer Rebellion in China that I found at The Bookmark, our local independent bookstore. Being new to graphic novels, I didn't really know what to expect, but I thought the artwork was really good and the two perspectives gave an interesting interpretation of this time in history.
A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Madeleine L'Engle and Hope Larson. The original novel was one of my favorites as a kid--still is--so I was delighted to see that the graphic novel turned out so well. The blues and blacks of the panels evoke the space and time travel of the original novel, and the characters' personalities really shine through the drawings. This is one I will probably go out and purchase for myself.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. One of the best, most consistent books I have read in a long time. I can see why it won the Pulitzer prize. This book is about a teenage boy and a piece of stolen art, and the story follows them both on their interconnected journey through life. It is also about the trauma of loss and the power of art to heal and hurt us. I honestly can't do this book justice--you just have to read it for yourself. It's long, but I promise you, it will be worth it.
Until next time,
Anna
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