#IMWAYR JANUARY 4

Welcome back Mondays!

I haven't posted in #IMWAYR since the middle of December, so today's post is a recap of what I have been reading since then. Thank you so much Jen at Mentor Texts and Kellee and Rickie at Unleashing Readers for hosting this weekly event. I'm so very thankful for all of you who participate so we can all discover more fabulous books to read. 

It has been a busy busy few weeks of winter break. I thought I would get a lot more reading time in, but that busy busy just got in the way... Most recently I've been trying to post about mind blowing books I read last year. So far I've done one on novels, one on series, a final post on my #mustreadin2015 list and another about picture books. I'm now in the throws of narrowing down my #mustreadin2016 list. 

Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko

4 stars

This was an enjoyable historical novel based on the true plague outbreak in San Francisco in 1900. Lizzie Kennedy is a spunky character who assists her physician father when he goes out to visit patients. When rumors of plague in Chinatown result in a quarantine of that part of the city, Jing, their manservant, is trapped inside. Shortly after this, Lizzie discovers that Jing's son, Noah, is hiding in Jing's room. Lizzie is determined to rescue Jing and eventually, with help from her older brother, Billy, manages to do so.

There is a lot to like about this book. I appreciate how it examines class, racism, and privilege. I liked that Lizzie finally realized that girls at her school were much more accepting than she supposed them to be.

Choldenko provides a fascinating section at the end of the book with additional historical details about San Francisco, Chinatown, the plague, immunization and the state of medicine in the 1900's. 

4 stars

The Imaginary by by A.F. Harrold, Emily Gravett (Illustrator)

Well, this was some delightfully creepy tale. Rudger has been imagined into being by Amanda, a highly creative young girl. Their life together is idyllic until Mr Bunting arrives on the scene. Mr Bunting hunts and devours imaginaries. I will most certainly get a copy of this for our library. I might even get two of them.

Bog by Karen Krossing (book club book)

3 stars

While I appreciated this story, especially the references to Norse mythology, it didn't quite work for me. Bog, a cave troll, is out hunting with his father when they are discovered by humans. They end up trapped till daylight, and when the sun comes up, Bog's father is turned to stone. It turns out that these humans had been learning from the Troll Hunter, and that is how they were able to trick Bog and his father.

After learning some disturbing news from his grandmother, Bog, his head filled with thoughts of revenge and anger, sets off in search of the Troll Hunter who he plans to destroy. Along the way he makes friends with Small, a very large Forest Troll. Eventually, Small, Bog, and a young human named Hannie, set off in search of the Troll hunter and a magical stone that is supposed to turn stone trolls back to their original form.

As I read I kept waiting for a message to be revealed in this book. Sure it deals with prejudice and perception, but to be honest, the final reveal was much bigger and more powerful than I expected it to be. Readers who are caught in the middle of a battle between their parents will appreciate Bog's dilemma. Their parents, should they read it, could be forced to have a hard look at themselves.

4 stars

Cress by Marissa Meyer & Winter by Marissa Meyer

While I was sewing shirts for my sons for Christmas, I binge listened to these audiobooks. What can I say? I became addicted to the story. I appreciate the complexity of all Meyer's characters, even the evil ones. Now that I am completely satiated, I'm ready to move on to something else.

4 stars

The Skunk by Mac Barnett, Patrick McDonnell (Illustrations)

This book is really out there. I finished it wondering what the heck had just happened. I gave it to my son who said, it's like The Cat Came Back. He's right, except that there is that weird switch at the end. All I know for certain is that Mac Barnett is bloody brilliant!

CURRENTLY

I'm reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone by Darlene Foster. Both of these were on my Must Read in 2015 list, but I never finished them so I think I'll transfer them to my 2016 list! I'm listening to The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud. 

UP NEXT

Jellicoe Road has been downloaded to my device. It is another title that I'm transferring to my 2016 must read list.