The Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted, by Conor Grennan ~ 4.5 Stars

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Adventure, Dystopian Fiction, Mystery, Tween Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 8th, 2019

368 Pages

Synopsis: Jack Carlson is dreading a class presentation, when he suddenly finds himself transported to the Hadley Academy, a secret institution that tracks teens with unlikely gifts and trains them to protect the world from an unseen squad of killers. But Jack isn’t the only one who doesn’t know what he’s doing at Hadley. Despite indications that he is the one prophesied to end the ancient Reaper War, Jack appears to have no extraordinary abilities.

So when dark, mysterious forces grow, Hadley is in a confused panic. Much to everyone’s dismay, humanity seems to depend on Jack and his new teammates. Can Hadley’s rawest recruits push past personal struggles and enormous doubts, develop their dormant powers and stop the spreading evil? And are they willing to commit to Hadley’s motto, “One Life for Many,” and make the ultimate sacrifice? The Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted might be just the place for Jack after all. 

The Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted is a thoroughly enjoyable story that gives the ubiquitous “chosen one” trope a refreshing new twist. 

I’m going to get the one negative I found, out of the way first, hopefully without giving away any spoilers. Jack and his team are newcomers to the Hadley Academy, and as such, don’t know anything about their dormant abilities. The other recruits have had years of training but suddenly about halfway through the book, Jack and his friends are thrust into these life and death situations that had me silently protesting “No! They’re not ready!” The whole thing had me a bit stressed at times.

But that leads me to one of the biggest pluses of this book—the characters. To say that I loved Jack and the other members of Team Thirteen is putting it mildly. While this is like a teen version of the X-Men, in addition to dealing with superpowers and saving the world, these kids are also grappling with difficult backstories, and all the trials and tribulations of being young teenagers. They’re likable, relatable and easy to root for.

The story itself is exciting and managed to surprise me more than once. The world building is very well done and has more than enough originality to make it stand out from other books in this genre. The ending while not a cliffhanger per se, still is clearly setting things up for subsequent stories.

Overall, The Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted is a fabulous book for kids ten and up who are fans of books like the Percy Jackson and The Maze Runner series. I am very much looking forward to the next book!

 

 

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

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Happy Rosh Hashanah

Please forgive me for being a little late. For all my Jewish friends, Shanah Tovah Um’tukah!

Banned Books Week 2019

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Banned Books Week

Well, another Banned Books Week has come to an end. I wish I could say it’s the last one, but undoubtedly I’ll be here this time next year talking about this. Just because it’s over doesn’t mean you can’t do anything the rest of the year. As I said in my first post, visit any library or bookstore and check out a banned or challenged book. Even if their displays have been taken down, talk to a librarian or bookseller and they’ll point you in the right direction.

Attempts to ban books aren’t usually successful if people speak out or act to prevent it. If you see censorship taking place in your school or public library, here’s a few things you can do.

📚 Attend any school, PTA, or public library hearings where book challenges are being discussed and speak up for the First Amendment and the right to read.

📚 Write letters to local administrators, newspapers, and politicians and tell them that no one has the right to restrict access to books.

📚 Stand up for all books, even ones you don’t like. For example, I may have mentioned a few times that I don’t care for For Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James. As much as I personally dislike her writing however, I will always defend the right of others to read her books.

📚 Stay in touch with local librarians and teachers and keep informed about book challenges in your community.

📚 Here are a few organizations where you can report censorship:

* American Library’s Office of Intellectual Freedom – http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/oif/

* Comic Book Legal Defense Fund – http://cbldf.org

* National Coalition Against Censorship – http://www.ncac.org

* National Council of Teachers of English – http://www2.ncte.org/

I cannot stress this enough: the First Amendment and the freedom to read have to be protected year round. Whether you’re a librarian, bookseller, teacher, writer, student, or parent please, PLEASE don’t be silent if you see something happening in your community. So, I’m climbing off my soapbox now. I’d like to end with this short but awesome video from Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literary Lines ~ Banned Books Week

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Banned Books Week, Literary Lines

During Banned Books Week every year, there’s a lot of discussion about books and authors who have been banned and challenged. Back in 2017, freelance journalist Karina Kolodny had the wonderful idea of putting together powerful quotes from ten of the most commonly banned books in an article for The Huffington Post, and I’d like to share them. If you have a favorite quote from a banned or challenged book, please feel free share them in the comments.

 

Veiled By Desire (Laith #2), by Candace Robinson ~ Cover Reveal

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Candace Robinson, Cover Reveal, Veiled By Desire

Happy Friday everyone! Today is the official cover reveal for author and fellow blogger Candace Robinson’s second book in her Laith series. Thanks to The Parliament House Press for organizing this. So, without further ado I’d like to present Veiled By Desire!

 

Veiled By Desire is being released on November 19th, so mark your calendars, or you can preorder on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Veiled-Desire-Laith-Candace-Robinson-ebook/dp/B07Y6LDHKD/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Veiled+by+Desire+Robinson&qid=1569440269&sr=8-2

Author Bio: My name is Candace Robinson, obviously. I spend my days consumed by words. When I’m not writing stories, I maintain a book review blog—Literary Dust. My life consists of avoiding migraines, admiring Bonsai trees, and living with my husband and daughter in Texas—where it can be forty degrees one day and eighty the next.

Website –  https://authorcandacerobinson.wordpress.com

Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/literarydust

Twitter – https://mobile.twitter.com/literarydust

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/literarydust

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41085174-veiled-by-desire

Candace’s Book Review Blog – https://literarydust.wordpress.com

Sign-up for Candace’s Newsletter – http://eepurl.com/dhV0yv

#veiledbydesire, #candacerobinson, #fantasyreads, #laithseries, #theparliamenthousepress, #coverreveal, #TPHTours

 

 

 

To Impeach, Or Not To Impeach?

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Donald Trump, Impeachment

You all may have noticed that Washington D.C. since late last week, has been rocked by #Whistleblowergate. If you haven’t been following me long and wonder what my feelings are, the above graphic might provide a hint. You may be surprised that until now I actually have been resistant to calls for impeachment. Although I personally think the Mueller Report provided ample evidence of obstruction of justice, for me it wasn’t worth tearing this country further apart. Now however, things have changed. As evidenced from the summary of Mr. Trump’s phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, it’s obvious that he was dangling the release of foreign aid in return for reopening the investigation into Joe Biden and his son. This. Is. Not Normal. You do not extort a foreign government’s aid in digging up dirt on a potential presidential rival. And it’s obvious that officials who were privy to the conversation know this as well given how hard they’ve worked to cover it up. In my humble opinion, Nancy Pelosi had no option but to start an impeachment inquiry. But don’t take my word for it. If you haven’t already, please read the rough transcript and the whistleblower’s complaint.

Transcript:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-transcript-call/index.html

Whistleblower Complaint: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/26/us/politics/whistle-blower-complaint.html

 

Banned Book Week Tastes Forbidden “Candy!” “Wednesday’s Bookmobile” Has Fascinating “Candy Men” To Talk Obscenity And Literature!

This is a fascinating post by John about the controversial book Candy, published 61 years ago.

johnrieber

“Candy” By Maxwell Kenton!

61 years ago, the sex farce known as “Candy” shocked the world when published in France and immediately became a worldwide scandal.

Since this is “banned book week”, my Wednesday Bookmobile travels overseas to show how two Writers, using the assumed name of Maxwell Kenton, created a pop culture masterpiece.

Here’s a look at the book, written by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg, AND also a fascinating book all about the creation of “Candy.”

Here’s the plot:

“Candy” Christian, aged eighteen, is an extremely pretty and desirable but naïve young woman, who finds herself in a variety of farcical sexual situations as a result of her desire to help others. The men in her life, regardless of age or relationship, wish only to possess her.

Because of the language and sexual situations described in this farce, the book was written under the pen name “Maxwell Kenton”…

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Whimsical Wednesday ~ Banned Books Week

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Banned Books Week, The Joy of Books, Whimsical Wednesday

 

Suggested Reading, by David Connis ~ 4.0 Stars

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Attempted Suicide, Book Banning, Homophobia, LGBTQ, Mental Health, YA Fiction

Thanks to Edelweiss and Katherine Tegan Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 17th, 2019

304 Pages

Synopsis: In this hilarious and thought-provoking contemporary teen standalone that’s perfect for fans of Moxie, a bookworm finds a way to fight back when her school bans dozens of classic and meaningful books.

Clara Evans is horrified when she discovers her principal’s “prohibited media” hit list. The iconic books on the list have been pulled from the library and aren’t allowed anywhere on the school’s premises. Students caught with the contraband will be sternly punished.

Many of these stories have changed Clara’s life, so she’s not just going to sit back and watch while her draconian principal abuses his power. She’s going to strike back.

So Clara starts an underground library in her locker, doing a shady trade in titles like “Speak” and “The Chocolate War.” But when one of the books she loves most is connected to a tragedy she never saw coming, Clara is forced to face her role in it.

Will she be able to make peace with her conflicting feelings, or is fighting for this noble cause too tough for her to bear?

I finished Suggested Reading a couple of weeks ago, but I’ve been saving my review for this week, because a story about fighting against the banning of books is obviously perfect for Banned Books Week. 

Clara is a complex character who both annoyed me and made me want to hug her. She’s a rabid reader, so that in itself earns her major points. She’s also very focused and determined to stand up to injustice. However, at times these same qualities can get her into trouble, especially in regards to making assumptions about other people. After a near tragedy occurs, the Clara that emerges at the end of the book is much wiser and likable than the somewhat immature and self-absorbed teen that’s introduced in the beginning. The other characters, from Clara’s best friend LiQui, to some of the smaller characters, are well-rounded and relatable. 

What I love the most about this book though are the multiple themes that run through it that present perfect opportunities for discussion. First and foremost of course is what impact books have on our lives and how they can inspire us and make us think, but in addition to this there are other topics explored such as: not being so quick to judge others, mental health, and homophobia. 

While not perfect, Suggested Reading is a quick moving read with a relatable heroine and intriguing narrative. It’s a book that I believe should be in every public and high school library and it’s perfect for classroom discussion. With censorship continuing to rear its ugly head not only in this country but around the world, we need to share timely stories such as this.

HAPPY DAUGHTERS DAY!! || REAL ISSUES’ QUIP.

This is a great post by Suzan, a new blogger, who points out the struggles women still face in 2019.

Magical BookLush.

The life of daughters is overwhelming. Seeing your daughter grow big and get married is the only thing that a father wants. It’s a beautiful journey, isn’t it? But are you sure it is as beautiful as you think? Today, where the world is celebrating daughters day, let’s discuss the real issues.

HAPPY DAUGHTERS DAY TO EVERYONE!!

Beautiful isn’t It, How our parents, friends and everyone care for us and how we care for others. But not every daughter has the same life as we do. We have everything, we are safe, we are alive but out there some girls are hungry begging on streets, getting raped or kidnapped, and many are dead due to different reasons.

A rally against rapists.

Pepper sprayed by police officers because they were shouting the truth.

Married at the age of 10, is this her age to handle house and children?

Teens killed…

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