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Book Review: The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give is the first novel by author Angie Thomas.

This book was definitely a recommendation buy. Everyone on my Bookstagram has been talking about it for a while. I also don’t read enough diverse books, so I felt that this was a good place to start.

Here’s the cover:

Here is the synopsis of The Hate U Give from Amazon:

“Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.”

Finally, here’s my review of The Hate U Give!

This is a difficult one for me to talk about. Not because I didn’t like it. I adored it.

However, it talks about a lot of things that I don’t feel that I can speak to. That I don’t think I have the right to speak about. Racism. Police brutality. Race in general.

I could say that it felt authentic to me, that it felt like a realistic and fair portrayal of the community it is based in. I could say that it must be because Angie Thomas is black. But as a white woman, what right do I have to say what is authentic to a community other than my own? None.

Yes, I can have an opinion on those things. I am not a racist. I think that police have been too strongly racially profiling people and that even if it’s subconscious, they often target people of colour. However, I am not a person who can speak for communities of people of colour.

What I can talk about is how it affected me. And it affected me deeply. This book made me uncomfortable. Good uncomfortable. Uncomfortable that I don’t know how to talk about these issues without seeming like I’m trying to speak for people.  It made me angry. Angry about the injustice that people in these communities experience daily. It made me sad. I felt motivated to act, but also terrified about making a choice to act with the wrong intentions.

This book definitely left me with a lot to think about.

Other Awesome Stuff

This book had great characters. Some were likeable, some were not. And that was a good thing. The characters that were not so nice were great examples of the things that non-marginalized groups can do unintentionally that are harmful.

This book was also suspenseful. I’m not going to spoil the major conflicts in the story, but they’re very interesting, seem realistic, and are not easily resolved.

Overall, 5/5 stars.

This was an amazing read, and I highly recommend it for readers in their teens and up.

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Book Reviews: 5 Poetry Anthologies

I ordered five poetry books from Indigo during their boxing week sale, and I just went on a binge and read them all in the span of four days.

The books, in the order that I read them, are:

Our Numbered Days, by Neil Hilborn
Helium, by Rudy Francisco
Chasers of the Light, by Tyler Knott Gregson
Depression & Other Magic Tricks, by Sabrina Benaim, and
Adultolesence, by Gabbie Hanna

I decided that since they are all fairly quick reads and I likely wouldn’t have enough to say to do a full post review for each, I would do a big post on all of them at once.

Without further ado, here we go with the poetry books!

First: Our Numbered Days, by Neil Hilborn

I first discovered Neil Hilborn on Facebook. One of my friends shared a video of him performing his poem, “OCD.” It is amazing, and is shared in several places. This book is sponsored by Button Poetry, which I think is where the performance I saw was originally shared from.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy his book of poetry as much as I’d hoped to. In fact, “OCD” was my favourite poem in it. I fully acknowledge the possibility that his poetry is all meant to be spoken, and that reading it from a page does not do it justice. Alas, that’s what I did.

I did, however, like that his poetry had a lot of references to other writers. It was really interesting to see how he incorporated their work into his poetry, and made it his own,.

Favourite poem: “OCD.”

Overall, 3/5 stars. An interesting read, but not as soul-crushing or inspirational as watching him perform “OCD.”

Second: Helium, by Rudy Francisco.

This was partly a cover buy, and I partly bought it because Indigo recommended it and I trust them.

Favourite poem: “My Honest Poem.”

Francisco writes killer metaphors. My favourite poem from this book is direct evidence of that.

I also really liked that his poems addressed topics such as the environment, race, and politics.

Overall, 4/5 stars.

Third: Chasers of the Light, by Tyler Knott Gregson.

I had already read one of Gregson’s other poetry books, All the Words are Yours, before purchasing this one. I really enjoyed it, and this one was no different.

Favourite poem (Gregson doesn’t title his poem, so I’ve just included the whole thing):

“If I died tonight
I think I
would like to come back
as your morning
coffee.
Just as strong
and just
as necessary.”

One thing I didn’t enjoy about this book was that it felt repetitive. However, he writes his poems on a typewriter on top of found paper and they are very visually interesting, which adds to the appeal of reading the poetry for me.

Overall, 3/5 stars.

Fourth: Depression and Other Magic Tricks, by Sabrina Benaim

Favourite poem: “nature versus nurture.”

I really liked the way that Sabrina put a voice to her depression. It felt relatable in a way that mental illness doesn’t ways feel.

I did find that some of the poems were a bit meandering and not quite catching or impactful enough for my liking.

Overall, 3/5 stars.

Fifth: Adultolescence, by Gabbie Hanna.

Favourite poem: “Worry.”

This book of poetry is hilarious. The “advice” poems running through it add a great thematic thread and are very funny. The drawings really add to the poetry. Also, each poem never feels too long or circuitous like some of the poems in a couple of the other books were.

At times it felt a little too Sesame Street, with its funny rhymes, but most of the time that aspect of it was humourous endearing.

Overall, 4/5 stars.

Out of all the books, I’d say my favourite was Helium, closely followed by Adultolescence.

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Book Review: #GIRLBOSS, by Sophia Amuroso

#GIRLBOSS is a non-fiction book by CEO and Creative Director of Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso. What kind of girl doesn’t want to be a girlboss? I’m an introvert and that idea still appeals to me (not the implication of being the head of a company, just the general badass ideal).

I bought this book based on a recommendation from a friend.

I also love non-fiction, especially from female voices, so it was a no-brainer for me.

Here’s the cover:

Here is the synopsis of #GIRLBOSS from Amazon:

“In the New York Times bestseller that the Washington Post called “Lean In for misfits,” Sophia Amoruso shares how she went from dumpster diving to founding one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world.

Sophia Amoruso spent her teens hitchhiking, committing petty theft, and scrounging in dumpsters for leftover bagels. By age twenty-two she had dropped out of school, and was broke, directionless, and checking IDs in the lobby of an art school—a job she’d taken for the health insurance. It was in that lobby that Sophia decided to start selling vintage clothes on eBay.

Flash forward ten years to today, and she’s the founder and executive chairman of Nasty Gal, a $250-million-plus fashion retailer with more than four hundred employees. Sophia was never a typical CEO, or a typical anything, and she’s written #GIRLBOSS for other girls like her: outsiders (and insiders) seeking a unique path to success, even when that path is windy as all hell and lined with naysayers.

#GIRLBOSS proves that being successful isn’t about where you went to college or how popular you were in high school. It’s about trusting your instincts and following your gut; knowing which rules to follow and which to break; when to button up and when to let your freak flag fly.”

Finally, here’s my review of #GIRLBOSS!

This is a fun read. I think it would be interesting regardless of how it is written, simply because Amoruso’s story is just so captivating. It’s literally rags to riches. Girl to girlboss. But it’s so much better than just interesting, because I found her writing to be good.

It’s definitely not one of those “rich CEO writes a book because they have had a noteworthy experience but are terrible writers” type of tell-all books.

However, some of the stuff she writes does cross the line a bit into the “preachy cliché you can do it if you put your mind to it” zone. I find that a lot of non-fiction books are like that. I find myself thinking, yes, I know that with hard work and determination you can go far, but I want to you know what you did specifically; that’s why I’m reading your book!

Those feelings didn’t overwhelm the great aspects of the book, though.

Other Noteworthy Stuff

I loved the structure of this book. The chapter divers include quotes and awesome sketches. Stylistic choices like these that  go the extra mile really make me enjoy books, especially non-fiction ones.

Overall, 4/5 stars, good for any girlboss anywhere!

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Book Review: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands is the first novel by author Alwyn Hamilton. It is the first in a trilogy. Book two is Traitor to the Throne, and book three is Hero at the Fall.

This book was definitely a cover-buy for me.

When I tell you more of the cover story, you’ll see why that’s kind of coincidental.

Here’s the (UK) cover of Rebel of the Sands, which is STUNNING. I only just found out that it’s the UK cover, more on that later…

Here is the synopsis of Rebel of the Sands from Amazon:

“Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic. For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female. Amani Al’Hiza is all three. She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.

Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.

This startlingly original Middle-East-meets-Wild-West fantasy reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes—in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally embracing her power.”

Finally, here’s my review of Rebel of the Sands!

This book was great!

First, the character development was really well done. Characters seemed realistic and had complex flaws. They also had interesting relationships with others.

I also really enjoyed the world-building and setting. It’s certainly unique: as the Amazon review states, it’s “Middle-East-meets-Wild-West” and I couldn’t put it better. This is a far different world than anything I’ve read in a book recently, which was refreshing.

Finally, it’s just a really fun, exciting read. The plot is full of twists and turns, and doesn’t feel too fantastical that I have to shelve my disbelief while reading. I definitely appreciate when it feels like the plot is actually mostly realistic.

As an added bonus, the ending didn’t feel like too much of a cliffhanger, even though it did set up the next book nicely. Bonus!

Now, about those covers…

I ordered my copy of Rebel of the Sands from Book Outlet. I received what I didn’t know was the UK cover. When books 2 & 3 in the trilogy started popping up on Bookstagram (people have been receiving ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) of book 3 recently), I went to Indigo to order book 2.

That’s when I found this.

Ew. My Bookstagram followers agree by a landslide, here’s the results of a recent poll I put up in my Story:

When I first saw the North American cover, I was worried that publishers changed the covers mid-series, but I figured out pretty quick that the UK/AUS covers were still nice. Here’s book 2 (Traitor to the Throne) on Amazon. The only problem is that they seem to only be available in paperback in that format. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem (I am Paperback Patronus, after all), but when I got Rebel of the Sands from Book Outlet, they only had it in hardback. Sigh. Mis-matched series frustrate me.

Anyway, with all that said: overall, 5/5 stars.

This was a really fun, suspenseful, action-packed read. The world-building was really great, and I also liked the character development. I highly recommend it, and hope that the other two books in the series are just as enjoyable!

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Book Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Caraval is the first book by writer Stephanie Garber.

Once again, Caraval was a cover buy for me (I’m sensing a trend). It was also a Bookstagram hype buy. Tons of people were talking about this book and how much they loved it. After I bought it, some people started saying they didn’t like it very much, so I went into reading it with a bit of hesitation, and I finished reading it with that same hesitation.

I won’t say more until I include the usual stuff!

Here’s the beautiful cover that made me want the book in the first place:

Here’s the book’s synopsis from Amazon:

“Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.”

And here’s my review of Caraval!

There were two feelings that sort of stuck with me almost the entire time I was reading Caraval. The first, scattered. The second, over dramatic.

Let me explain.

The whole time I was reading, I felt distracted. Normally, when I really enjoy the book, after reading a few sentences, I am in it. Music playing? Can’t hear it. TV on? Not listening. Husband banging pots around in the kitchen? Don’t care. While reading Caraval, my eyes were constantly dancing across the pages, onto the next page, reading ahead, having to go back. And any little sound or distraction had me away from the book. It was strange.

I don’t think that it was because it wasn’t interesting. It still felt like I was reading a page-turner – I loved the suspense and read it really quickly because I was always wanting to know what would happen next. But as I was reading it felt like it wasn’t keeping my attention.

The other word, over dramatic, applies to the main character, Scarlett. She just seemed to overreact to almost everything, and it started to get annoying. Normally I like main characters despite their flaws, but I got tired of her after a while. It will be interesting to see if her character develops/improves in the next book.

I enjoyed it.

It just wasn’t my favourite thing ever. Definitely a page-turner, even if I didn’t like some aspects of it. The concept is very interesting – a magical, mysterious game called Caraval, where the rules are constantly changing. I also liked the main storyline of two sisters trying to escape their unfair life circumstances. It just fell a little flat.

Other Noteworthy Stuff

I really liked that I couldn’t tell who was telling the truth in this story. The narrator, the main character, Scarlett, is definitely reliable. However, two characters in particular, Julian and Legend, are extremely unreliable. As are the rest of the characters, actually.

It makes for a suspenseful romp in which you never really know who to trust. It’s also part of what makes Scarlett feel a bit over dramatic; her inability to trust anyone constantly overwhelms her.

Overall, 3 stars.

Really interesting concept, but lacking in depth. I found it to be over dramatic, and not developed enough in some parts. I’m intrigued enough, however, to want to read the sequel. Legendary, the second book in the series, is scheduled to come out on May 28 of this year.

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Book Review: Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

Everything Is Illuminated is a novel by author Jonathan Safran Foer, who wrote another book that I’ve read (and you’ve probably heard of), Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which was adapted into a movie.

I quite enjoyed Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, but I hadn’t heard much about Everything Is Illuminated.

Essentially, I bought it because I liked ELaIC (too much to type more than a few times. Foer definitely has some interesting and creative titles to his name.

Here’s the cover of Everything is Illuminated, which I think is pretty nice:

This is the synopsis of Everything is Illuminated from Amazon:

“With only a yellowing photograph in hand, a young man — also named Jonathan Safran Foer — sets out to find the woman who may or may not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war; an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior; and the unforgettable Alex, a young Ukrainian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over a devastated landscape and into an unexpected past.

By turns comic and tragic, but always passionate, wildly inventive, and touched with an indelible humanity, this debut novel is a powerful, deeply felt story of searching: for the past, family, and truth.”

Finally, here’s my review of Everything is Illuminated!

This book hooked me from the very first page. It starts with a letter from Alex in the Ukraine to Jonathan in New York. His writes in English as if he translated each word individually from Ukrainian into English and then used a Thesaurus to make each word more interesting. However, it feels as though he disregards all meaning and this makes his writing gut-splittingly funny and charmingly heartwarming.

As the book went on, I became more and more enthralled with the characters and what would happen to them, but I also enjoyed the reading of the story less. It is a difficult feeling to describe.

I also definitely didn’t like the ending. I hate to be like that, but not liking the end of a story really dampens how I feel about it.

Other Noteworthy Stuff

The story was really unique. This is not something you’re going to recognize other storylines in. The perspectives were different and refreshing, and the conflict is particular and quirky.

The narrative structure is different as well, flipping back and forth between narrators Alex and Jonathan. It also includes letters from Alex to Jonathan. I felt this really helped the story along, and if it only had one perspective, it would have felt much more arduous to read.

Overall, 4/5 stars.

I didn’t like the direction the plot took and enjoyed reading the book less and less as it went on. However, I still thought it was an enjoyable and interesting reading experience.

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Book Reviews: A History of Magic and the Illustrated Fantastic Beasts

Two reviews in one with this post! The first is of Harry Potter: A History of Magic,  put together by the British Library to accompany their exhibition of the same name. The second is of the new illustrated and updated edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, written by J. K. Rowling and illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

First, Harry Potter: A History of Magic!

I essentially buy any book that comes out to do with Harry Potter. I even have multiple editions of the series itself. So, when this book came out, I knew I had to have it!

First, here’s the beautiful cover of Harry Potter: A History of Magic:

And here’s the synopsis from Amazon:

“Harry Potter: A History of Magic is the official book of the exhibition, a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling and the brilliant curators of the British Library. It promises to take readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – from Alchemy and Potions classes through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures.

Each chapter showcases a treasure trove of artefacts from the British Library and other collections around the world, beside exclusive manuscripts, sketches and illustrations from the Harry Potter archive. There’s also a specially commissioned essay for each subject area by an expert, writer or cultural commentator, inspired by the contents of the exhibition – absorbing, insightful and unexpected contributions from Steve Backshall, the Reverend Richard Coles, Owen Davies, Julia Eccleshare, Roger Highfield, Steve Kloves, Lucy Mangan, Anna Pavord and Tim Peake, who offer a personal perspective on their magical theme.

Readers will be able to pore over ancient spell books, amazing illuminated scrolls that reveal the secret of the Elixir of Life, vials of dragon’s blood, mandrake roots, painted centaurs and a genuine witch’s broomstick, in a book that shows J.K. Rowling’s magical inventions alongside their cultural and historical forebears.

This is the ultimate gift for Harry Potter fans, curious minds, big imaginations, bibliophiles and readers around the world who missed out on the chance to see the exhibition in person.”

Finally, here’s my review of Harry Potter: A History of Magic!

I really loved the premise of this book. It combines actual real-world history of magic and magical artefacts with the history of magic in the world of Harry Potter.

Also, it was amazing to see the early drawings J. K. Rowling made of her characters (she’s pretty good at drawing!) and the early drafts and edits she shared of the series.

One of the things I didn’t like much about this book was that there was some repetition – first because I read the illustrated Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them a few days prior, and especially in the “Care of Magical Creatures” section, there are a lot of quotes from FB, and second because there is some overlap between the different sections of the book and they often say exactly the same thing twice, but in two different sections. I think this wouldn’t matter as much if you were reading it like a coffee table book, intermittently or in passing. However, reading it in the span of less than 24 hours made it a bit annoying.

Extra-Memorable Elements

I loved the way this book was structured. It has several sections. Each section is a subject at Hogwarts, such as Herbology or Defense Against the Dark Arts. Each section is then themed around the history of magic in that subject.

I also really loved the essays from experts that introduced each section. They were interesting and insightful. Even better, each writer was very creative and seemed to be a fan of the Harry Potter universe themselves.

Overall, 4/5 stars.

Definitely an interesting read for people who love history or the Harry Potter universe, or both. The images and stories are enthralling, and the essays by different experts are very good. However, it is a bit repetitive.

Next, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!

I already have a copy of the original Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but I’m all over anything illustrated. Further, this edition has some new magical beasts in it that weren’t in the original edition. Newt Scamander’s introduction explains that. It even ties in with the recent Fantastic Beasts movie, which I think is awesome.

This is the cover of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (and also a sneak peek of something I’ll be sharing soon):

Here’s the synopsis from Amazon:

“This glorious new edition of Newt Scamander’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (considered a classic throughout the wizarding world) features an extraordinary array of magical creatures, from Acromantula to Yeti via ten different breeds of dragon – all beautifully illustrated in full colour by the brilliantly inventive, Greenaway Medal shortlisted Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Famed Magizoologist Newt Scamander’s years of adventure and exploration have yielded a work of unparalleled importance, admired by scholars, devoured by young witches and wizards, and even made available to Muggles in the early years of this century. With this dazzling illustrated edition, readers can explore the magical fauna of five continents from the comfort of their own armchairs. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is essential reading at Hogwarts.

This new edition features the fully updated 2017 text – which includes new profiles of six magnificent beasts that inhabit North America and a new foreword by J.K. Rowling, writing as Newt Scamander.”

And finally, here’s my review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!

The most obviously amazing aspect of this book is the illustrations. Olivia Lomenech Gill knocks it out of the park.

Listed alphabetically, this book describes the origins and characteristics of the fantastic magical beasts that make up the world of the Harry Potter books and Fantastic Beasts movies.

Even better, the book connects these magical creatures to real-world phenomena, such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. Awesome.

Other Noteworthy Stuff

The introduction by J. K. Rowling as Newt Scamander is surprisingly funny. Also, I loved how it tied in with the recent Fantastic Beasts movie. I love that the magic of the Harry Potter universe never dies. It seems to be constantly adapting and evolving. I am so happy that I will likely get to experience the expansion of this wonderful universe for many years to come.

Overall, 5/5 stars.

This is magical book in terms of content, writing, and illustration. So, I highly recommend it for all ages and lovers of the Harry Potter universe.

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Book Review: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Wonder is the first book by author Raquel Jaramillo, under the pen name R. J. Palacio.

I’d heard a lot of great things on Bookstagram about this one, and rave reviews about the movie.

Of course, I’m a READ IT FIRST kind of girl. I hate going to movies based on books if I haven’t read the book, because I feel like seeing the movie first ruins the experience of reading the book.

So, I picked it up.

Here’s the cover of Wonder, which I quite like (and was adamant about getting instead of the new movie one that just came out – more on that in another post):

This is the synopsis of Wonder from Goodreads.

“‘My name is August.
I won’t describe to you what I look like.
Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.’
Ten-year-old August Pullman wants to be ordinary. He does ordinary things. He eats ice-cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary – inside.
But Auggie is far from ordinary. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, he has been home-schooled by his parents his entire life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, Auggie’s parents are sending him to a real school. Can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, underneath it all?
Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches, Wonder is a frank, funny, astonishingly moving debut to be read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.”

Finally, here’s my review of Wonder!

Wonder feels like an honest telling of what goes on at school. I teach grade 8 and 10 at a secondary school, and although a 10-year-old like Auggie would attend elementary school, I think I’ve spent enough time working as a teacher (and more time than I would have liked as a substitute in elementary schools) that I can say that with confidence.

The things that occur in the book are heartbreaking, partly because they are sad and mean and horrible, but also partly because they are real and possible and probable. And that is an important moral truth.

However, I love how hopeful this book is. The tagline for the movie release was #choosekind, and that was clear throughout the story. I especially liked the precepts that Auggie’s English teacher introduced each month. In my opinion, it is the Social-Emotional lessons that are the most important part of a teacher’s job. The things students learn through those types of activities are what make them positive, caring, and contributing adult citizens.

Other Noteworthy Stuff

Not only is Wonder a heart-warming tale of resilience, kindness, and hope, but it is also a harrowing cautionary tale. It demonstrates the kind of hatred and meanness that young people are capable of if they are not taught kindness. It’s an important lesson that needs to be taken seriously, for adults and children alike.

Also, this is the first time I’ve cried reading a book in as long as I can remember. It was wonderfully cathartic. I won’t tell you what made me cry because it would be a spoiler. But any book that can make me cry is certainly worth a read. It really is a wonder.

Finally, I really loved the different perspectives in this story. It starts out from the perspective of August, but switches to other characters in the story that are a part of his life. It definitely adds to the story for it to switch around like that.

Overall, 5/5 stars.

I definitely recommend Wonder! One caveat: I based this rating on the fact that this is a book intended for young(ish) readers.

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

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Monthly To Be Read List: January 2018

I got a lot of books during Black Friday sales that I’m really excited about, so I had a pretty ambitious To Be Read (TBR) stack for December, and I’m doing the same for January.

Without further ado, here’s it is, pictured with the beautiful book lamp my husband got me for christmas! It opens like a book and is insanely satisfying.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic – The British Library
The Invention of Wings – Sue Monk Kidd
Caraval  – Stephanie Garber
Rebel of the Sands – Alwyn Hamilton
#GIRLBOSS – Sophia Amoruso
Lily and the Octopus – Steven Rowley
The Wonder – Emma Donoghue
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
Braving the Wilderness – Brené Brown
I’ll Give You the Sun – Jandy Nelson
The Graduate – Charles Webb
Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
This Song Will Save Your Life – Leila Sales
Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls – Lynn Weingarten

Where I’m at, and what I’m looking forward to!

As it’s already January 6, I’ve finished three of these! I read Harry Potter: A History of Magic first, Caraval second, and Rebel of the Sands third. Reviews upcoming for all of them! Out of the three, I enjoyed Rebel of the Sands the most! I think my next read will be #GIRLBOSS! I’m feeling some non-fiction.  I think my most highly anticipated reads of this month are The Hate U Give and Station Eleven, which both come highly recommended from friends and Bookstagram alike.

It’s highly possible that you think there’s no way I’ll finish all of these…

You might be right, but I’ve already read three and I read 15 books in December! I’d bet on myself for this one.

Now that I’ve shared this with you, I’m off to keep working on all the reviews I need to post thanks to my warp-speed holiday break reading spree!

– Paperback Patronus

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: December 2017

I’m pretty proud of my wrap-up for this month! I was off work for a week of it, which helped. I just love the holiday season – guilt-free reading at its best!

Without further ado, here’s my December Wrap-Up! I totally destroyed this month!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander – J. K. Rowling, Illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – J. K. Rowling, Illustrated by Jim Kay ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Doug the Pug – Leslie Mosier ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steal Like An Artist – Austin Kleon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Renegades – Marissa Meyer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wonder – R. J. Palacio ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Warcross – Marie Lu ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Turtles All the Way Down – John Green ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Columbine – Dave Cullen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – Mark Manson ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everything Is Illuminated – Jonathan Safran Foer ⭐️⭐️⭐️
the sun and her flowers – rupi kaur ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Silver Chair – C. S. Lewis ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Battle – C. S. Lewis ⭐️⭐️⭐️

That’s 15 books! I didn’t read everything I’d planned (see my December TBR). However, I only planned to read 12 and ended up reading 15, so I’m proud of that.

2017 Challenge Wrap-Up:

I beat my Goodreads reading challenge goal of 100 books by 5, for a total of 105 books! If you’re interested in the Goodreads reading goal I’ve set for 2018, you can check out my upcoming January TBR post!

My favourite book of this month was Turtles All the Way Down, but I also read some other books in December that made my honourable mentions list for 2017. They are Renegades, the sun and her flowers, The Smell of Other People’s Houses, and Warcross! I also highly recommend the illustrated Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, it’s just gorgeous. It’s also updated from the original edition, and is quite funny.

As usual, I enjoyed almost all of what I read, but this month in particular seems to have been the month of the 5-star review. You win some, you lose some.

My next posts will be my review of Wonder, and then my January TBR so stay tuned to find out my 2018 reading goal and what I plan to read this month!

– Paperback Patronus