Now on Facebook and Pinterest!

Hi hi hi. So... if you can believe it, I have never had a Facebook account in my entire life until now. I'm kind of a private person, I guess. BUT I decided that it couldn't hurt to create an account under my pseudonym specifically for my blog. So if you're interested in being my friend, then I'd be happy to accept: here!

Along with that, I've created a Facebook page for my blog. I'm going to be going through my favourite blogs and Liking everyone's pages and of course it would be cool if people could Like my page if you want, as well: here! You can also leave links in the comments to your blog's Facebook page to make it easy for me to Like your page!

And in the spirit of joining sites just so that I can see what all the cool kids are talking about, I joined Pinterest... and have no idea what to do with it. What kind of things to people use Pinterest for anyways? I would love to hear any insight you can give me on this in the comments below. If you're interested in following me, then I'd be happy to return the favour: here!

Review: Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: October 9, 2012
Pages: 432
Source: For Review from Hachette Book Group Canada
Rating: 4 Stars

In most fairy tales, princesses are beautiful, dragons are terrifying, and stories are harmless. This isn't most fairy tales.
Princess Violet is plain, reckless, and quite possibly too clever for her own good. Particularly when it comes to telling stories. One day she and her best friend, Demetrius, stumble upon a hidden room and find a peculiar book. A forbidden book. It tells a story of an evil being -- called the Nybbas -- imprisoned in their world. The story cannot be true -- not really. But then the whispers start. Violet and Demetrius, along with an ancient, scarred dragon, may hold the key to the Nybbas's triumph . . . or its demise. It all depends on how they tell the story. After all, stories make their own rules.
Iron Hearted Violet is a story of a princess unlike any other. It is a story of the last dragon in existence, deathly afraid of its own reflection. Above all, it is a story about the power of stories, our belief in them, and how one enchanted tale changed the course of an entire kingdom.

In short: If I were to describe Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill in one word, it would be Charming.

Middle Grade fantasies featuring strong and charismatic protagonists and creative world building are among my favourite kind of books to read and I had a feeling Iron Hearted Violet would give me exactly what I wanted - and it did. Kelly Barnhill has crafted an adventurous and unconventional story with a completely endearing protagonist. And what's more, there was SUBSTANCE here in the themes and messages of the novel. If I had to describe Iron Hearted Violet in one word, it would be Charming. I was utterly charmed by the story, characters, and writing.

Iron Hearted Violet is narrated not by Violet, but by the Court Storyteller, stepping away from the more traditional first person and third person omniscient points of view, which added a lot of interest and texture to the story that I really appreciated. It also really brought home the message of the power of storytelling and gave the story a fairytale feel, which was genius on Kelly Barnhill's part. Her bewitching prose was a delight to read and so very playful. The plot was well done - perhaps a bit too predictable at times - but very intriguing and whimsical.

I loved Violet. She is not your typical princess - she isn't graceful or fragile. And she is described as being a homely princess, with a lopsided face, mismatched eyes, and a frizzy and unruly mane of hair. Though I have to say, even though I knew all this, I couldn't help picturing her as an adorable and charming girl, just based on the strength of her personality. She may not be princess-conventionally-pretty, but she is unique and beautiful in her own way. It's hard not to be charmed by such a clever, inquisitive, and dauntless protagonist!

I was mostly impressed by the illustrations present in Iron Hearted Violet, as drawn by Iacopo Bruno, though I have a few quibbles: first off, that awesome scene depicted on the cover of Violet riding on the back of a dragon? NEVER happens. So that was disappointing and misleading. Also, Violet as illustrated by Iacopo Bruno is not the Violet at described by Kelly Barnhill: the illustrations of her are more conventionally pretty than the physical characteristics described in the book and I would have preferred to see her as her unique and adorable self instead.

Overall, Iron Hearted Violet was a super charming read and I look forward to reading more books from Kelly Barnhill in the future. Iron Hearted Violet is a standalone.

Authors Links:
Blog
Twitter
Goodreads

Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Published: May 15, 2012
Pages: 339
Source: For Review from Random House Canada
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Two young women from totally different backgrounds are thrown together during World War II: one a working-class girl from Manchester, the other a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a wireless operator. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted friends.
But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. She is captured by the Gestapo and becomes a prisoner of war. The story begins in “Verity’s” own words, as she writes her account for her captors.

In short: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is an exceptionally brilliant story with emotionally powerful narration.

I knew I was going to need to read Code Name Verity when the positive reviews came pouring in, one after the other. Historical fiction isn't a genre that I usually read and enjoy and indeed, when I first started Code Name Verity, I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story. It was a bit disorienting following the narration in letter format as Verity switches between what is happening in the current and what has happened in the past in quick succession. There is also a ton of piloting details that, while really adding to the feeling of historical accuracy, were not always the most interesting to read about. But I continued on, knowing that people had gushed about the power and emotion of the story.

And I'm glad I did continue: because what I read in part two of Code Name Verity, this time told from Kittyhawk's point of view, was like a reward. It was like I had been moving through a long, dark tunnel in part one - appreciating Elizabeth Wein's beautiful narration and depiction of the friendship between Verity and Kittyhawk, but still struggling a bit with the point and direction of the story - and then BAM, there was light and suddenly everything made sense and it was like a puzzle snapping into place. The entire time in part one clues were being left and I was completely oblivious to it. It made me instantly want to return and read part one again to pick up on everything that I missed. What seemed like a frenetic and at times, irrelevant, part one suddenly became clear and evident and it was BRILLIANT.

Part two also opened up a whole new can of emotions: part one seemed more like your standard WWII novel - at least at the time that I was reading it - complete with a ton of intricate and interesting historical details (it is very evident that Elizabeth Wein has done her research well), whereas part two seemed more personable and emotional. And when I say emotional, I mean absolutely HEARTBREAKING at times. How can it not be when in such a short time you come to care so deeply for these two girls? These two girls who, while differing in personality, were both brave and admirable characters who forged a wonderful friendship. Elizabeth Wein will have you buzzing with happiness at times with the way their friendship is depicted and will break your heart in others with her strong and emotional writing.

I am happy I went outside my comfort zone to read Code Name Verity because I was rewarded handsomely with a powerful story that really had an impact; a story that left me astounded at its brilliance as all the clues in part one fell into place in part two. I highly recommend Code Name Verity to all readers, even non-historical fiction fans. Be patient with part one if it seems disorienting and unimportant because you will be rewarded if you stick to it.

Other Reviews:
Alison Can Read
A Girl, Books, and Other Things
Hooked on Books

Authors Links:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Goodreads

Stacking the Shelves (6): My Third Vlog

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews to showcase any books that I have received for review, bought, borrowed, or won to read.

This week, I made my third vlog, in which I am intense about dragons, excited about maps in books, and say the word "excellent" a lot:

Books Mentioned:
What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton
Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill
Darkwater by Catherine Fisher
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson

Huge thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada, Penguin Canada, and Random House Canada for sending me books to review!

Blogs Mentioned:
Alluring Reads
Alison Can Read
Small Review
Bookurious

Post Mentioned:
My review of What Happens Next

Review: What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: October 9, 2012
Pages: 320
Source: For Review from Hachette Book Group Canada
Rating: 5 Stars

How can you talk about something you can’t remember?
Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.
Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.

In short: What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton was an authentic and emotional read that really challenged my perception of the way I view the issues the novel dealt with.

What Happens Next was not my usual reading fare; those who know me know I only seldom stray into contemporary reads, choosing instead make-believe speculative fiction. And I RARELY make visits into the area of issue books, often scared away by the serious subject matter. But I can't say how utterly happy I am that I took the plunge and read What Happens Next, a story about a girl who gets date-raped while on a school ski-trip and the repercussions following the event. What a completely real and piercing read this was. As it turns out, I actually really love books that tackle serious subject matters - when they are done WELL, that is. I was definitely affected by the story and was given a lot to think about.

Sid is an instantly likeable and relatable protagonist, which makes her journey following the event all the more emotional. It's hard not to feel sympathy for a girl who loses everything in one night - her reputation, her friends, her self image, and her virginity - and yet somehow also feel proud of her that she wasn't completely beaten down. I loved how snarky and bold she was. And though I haven't personally ever gone through any experiences exactly the same to hers, I was still able to identify with the little things - her insecurities and doubts. Her authentic personality and appearance really made her stand out among a sea of cookie-cutter YA protagonists.

And I loved Sid's excellent support system in the form of her two best friends, her caring mother, her adorable brother, and her reliable pet Irish Wolfhound. And her love interest, Corey. Corey!! Corey is basically my idea of the perfect book boyfriend. Through it all, Corey is there to support Sid and it was such a relief to me that she always had him even when she felt she had no one else. He is thoughtful and caring, but also has his own insecurities and problems. The romance between Sid and Corey was pretty dang swoon-worthy, full of awkward and butterfly-inducing moments. And did I mention Corey bakes?! BAKES, people!!

Possibly the most notable part of What Happens Next is that it really challenged my perception of things and made me rethink how I view certain issues. And I am truly grateful to Colleen Clayton for that. I really appreciated her authentic approach to such serious issues. I was honestly shocked to learn that Colleen Clayton is a debut author because What Happens Next read like it was written by an experienced writer. I very much look forward to reading all her subsequent novels!

Other Reviews:
365 Days of Reading
Alluring Reads
Xpresso Reads

Authors Links:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Goodreads