Knights of the Hill Country

By Tim Tharp
Hardback
233 pages

So it's a football book. I don't sport. But I enjoyed the book - I even set aside my delicious homemade cheesy ham his cute because I was so close to finishing it and wanted to focus.

There is a lot of football in the book, but it's not really a book about football.

The protagonist is a high school senior. He plays defense for the football team - which has been undefeated for 4 straight seasons.

His home life is a bit of a mess, and so is his best friend.

It was a surprisingly engaging book!

I picked it up to vet for lit circle choices in my classroom, and it doesn't quite meet what I want for that, but I am glad that I read it.

How it Went Down

By Kekla Magoon
Paperback
325 pages

Tariq Johnson was shot outside of a convenience store and then the shooter drove off. The shooter was a white man in a predominantly black neighborhood, and was released by police the next day.
The book explores the impact of this event on a community, and it also explores the questions of equity, justice, and racism.
There are 18 distinct viewpoints that the story is told from - which at first was a bit confusing; however, the characters are each so vivid that it becomes easy to follow.
This book was engaging, affecting, and a quick read. I picked it up because I'm thinking of adding it to the curriculum As a lit circle book.

The Lovely Bones

By Alice Sebold
Paperback
328 pages

It's bittersweet and sad. The protagonist is murdered as the book begins, and the story follows the aftermath her death causes for her friends and family.

I read this in one day.

1984

George Orwell

I reread this recently, in one of those one line sites. I was really frustrated because the end of part 2 chapter 9 was cut off and the next chapter was missing. I had to spark note those to remember what happened so that I could keep reading.

I love this book; it's one of my favorites.

Doubleplusgood!

Of Fire and Stars

By Audrey Coulthurst

Hardback
Fantasy
January Owlcrate

Double point of view first person. Usually this is a turn off for me in books, but I honestly didn't even really notice until just now.

Both princesses are likeable, and the Prince isn't the worst thing ever. In all, the characters felt very round and real. No clear good and evil, just people making choices that they think are right (or know are wrong...) and dealing with the consequences.

The magic in this world is interesting and there are a lot of things that aren't fully explained. The worldbuilding is rich.

The plot comes to a satisfying conclusion. As I got closer and closer to the end of the book I was really worried that the author was setting up for a sequel, because I couldn't see the way out of the mess! But it was wrapped up well.

Stealing Snow

By Danielle Paige

This one is a retelling of The Snow Queen. Our protagonist starts in a mental institution. Sometimes I wonder if she ever got out or if the whole thing was her psychotic breakdown. Still, interesting world and magical system.

Vassa in the Night

By Sarah Porter
Hardback - Owlcrate

Fantasy/retelling - Baba Yaga.

Super neat book. Replete with the most amazing and lush personification. Great story. The protagonist, assisted by a small magical doll, has to survive three days and nights working in an enchanted supermarket in chicken legs. For a witch.