Waiting on Wednesday: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

‘Waiting on Wednesday’ is a weekly meme that was created at Breaking The Spine. Thank you for this.

The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.

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About this author

I write books about teens who must do brave things. I’m originally from California, but I moved to Ohio to marry my husband, who is the smartest man I know. We live in Columbus with my teenaged stepsons, who are awesome. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices.

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Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (ARC)

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: April 7th 2015
Format: eARC

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

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I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: All the Oreos.

I am more than confident that I can’t express all my love for this book in this review. This book is not just one of my favorite in 2015.
It’s one of my favorites ever.

So I decided not to write this review as usual and make a list with the reasons why I have so much love for this incredible book.

REASON 1.

Oreos.

Don’t tell me you don’t like these stunningly delicious cookies. I love it as much as Simon do, so I couldn’t resist.

REASON 2 IS

Simon.

He has the most amazing and unique voice in the history of YA literature. I don’t know anyone who read this book and hasn’t fallen in love with this guy.

REASON 3 IS

Blue.

I can’t speak about his personality because of spoilers. But people, you need this character. YA need this character. Trust me.

REASON 4 IS

Simon’s parents and friends.

To overcome all the difficulties, no one helped Simon more than his family and his friends. I am absolutely in love with Leah, Simon’s sister and Simon’s mother. They are beautiful and strong women, and I found them very interesting to read.

REASON 5 IS

Bieber.

Yeah, you got it right. He is a wonderful… dog.

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This is not an exhaustive list, but I know that I’ll have lots of other opportunities to praise this book.
Just… Go ahead and read it, guys. It’s adorable and cute and awesome.

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Here is my fan-art for this book:

Waiting on Wednesday: This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee

‘Waiting on Wednesday’ is a weekly meme that was created at Breaking The Spine. Thank you for this.

In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.

His brother, Oliver—dead.

His sweetheart, Mary—gone.

His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.

Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.

But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.

Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…

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About this author

Mackenzi Lee is reader, writer, bookseller, unapologetic fangirl, fast talker, and perpetually-anxious badass. She holds an MFA from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults, and her short fiction has appeared in Inaccurate Realities, The Friend, and The Newport Review. Her young adult historical fantasy novel, THIS MONSTROUS THING, which won the PEN-New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award, as well as an Emerging Artist Grant from the St. Botolph Club Foundation, will be published fall of 2015 by Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins.

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