Not quite as engaging as the first book in the series but still a twisty, fast-paced read. IMO the love triangle bogged things down, there weren‘t many puzzles/riddles to decipher, and unlike The Inheritance Games there wasn‘t a clear mystery to be solved — just lots of intertwined secrets to be revealed. That said, I‘m sure I‘ll devour the 3rd book when it comes out in a few months. JLB knows how to write a page turner! #ya #teachersoflitsy

Meh. Another book with an interesting premise — magical tea, competition, murder — but poor execution — too many characters, not enough development. Did the lead care about her dying sister, her family‘s reputation, her community, the competition, the princess‘ safety, her love interest, or kingdom politics? Depends on the chapter! It was all over the place, and it REALLY needed a map. The cover is beautiful though. #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

I‘ve been obsessed with Titanic since 1997 — thank you Leonardo DiCaprio — and have wanted to read this since I got it with a handmade book sleeve last year — thank you Stacey Lee.

I enjoyed the historical aspects (Ringling Bros, the inspiration of real-life Chinese Titanic survivors), but the last 1/4 felt like a movie ripoff and the simile/metaphor every paragraph REALLY annoyed me.

👍🏻premise 👎🏻execution

#ya #teachersoflitsy

Trilogy complete! I can‘t believe I read this entire series this month. The third installment diverged from the style of the previous books and is probably my least favorite of the three, but it was still a page turner and had a satisfying resolution that neatly tied back to the beginning. I need to read something light next — I‘ve been engrossed in murder mysteries too long and looked at all the stuff in my dad‘s garage as weapons 🥴 #ya #mystery

I had no intention of reading this book in 3 days, let alone staying up til 2 am to finish it tonight, but here we are. Maybe the large blended coffee this afternoon helped 😜 Another Holly Jackson page turner!! Just as enjoyable — maybe even moreso — than book 1. Can‘t wait for my hold on book 3 to come in at the library.

#ya #mystery #teachersoflitsy

What a page turner! I haven‘t read a book this fast in ages! I was engrossed in Pippa‘s murder-suicide investigation from the jump and definitely fell for some red herrings — maybe they‘ll resurface in the sequels? (What could the sequels possibly be about?!) I really liked the mixed research report/narrative format too.

#ya #mystery #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

Reading a book that takes place in Iran at an Italian restaurant in NYC felt a bit… off 😆 but the meal was delicious and the book was sweet.

It‘s a lovely coming of age story about “Fractional Persian” Darius‘ family, friendships, and mental health — and surprisingly zero romance (that‘s what the sequel is for)

“We have a saying in Farsi. It translates ‘your place was empty.‘ We say it when we miss somebody.”

#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

This book could have been great — interesting and realistic sister dynamic, commentary about social media activism and police brutality, modern road trip following the Negro Motorist Green Book— but the structure did the book a tremendous disservice. The disjointed plot pieces didn‘t start to fit together until 200+ pages in. Such a shame. I‘m really perplexed by the writers‘/editors‘ messy narrative decisions.

#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

WOW. I loved this book but I don‘t really know how to describe it.

Romeo & Juliet and Wuthering Heights meet Back to the Future and Taylor Swift?

That‘s not a great analogy but it‘s the best I can think of right now.

If you enjoy classic literature and/or time travel stories, give this a read. It‘s a twisty, fast-paced hybrid of both.

#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

I know I‘m biased because San Francisco is close to my heart — literally started reading this book on a street mentioned in ch 2 — but I can‘t recommend it highly enough. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lovely coming of age story about Lily, a 17 year old STEM-loving Chinese American girl living in San Francisco in the 1950‘s & discovering her sexuality

The extensive author‘s note about her research is fascinating in itself!

#ya #teachersoflitsy #bookclub #lgbtq

Great road trip listen! I‘ve always liked Colin Jost on SNL — even when most people panned him. I loved getting a glimpse into what led him to where he is today as well as some interesting SNL BTS tidbits. I laughed out loud a lot, but the chapter about his mom made me cry. Can‘t wait to see the pictures in the physical book when I get home.

#teachersoflitsy #librofm

First, I LOVE this cover! The colors, the illustration *chefs kiss*

As for the story, I ADORED the first 3/4 — sooooo cute & funny with romcom tropes like flirting while playing pool — but the last 1/4 took a turn I wasn‘t expecting and the resolution felt rushed & unsatisfying. I still recommend it because most of the book is ADORABLE, but it didn‘t stick the landing IMO.

#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy #romcom

What. A. Ride. The action in this book starts from the first chapter (a bank robbery gone wrong) and doesn‘t let up for 350 pages. Switching between present and past events was a little choppy IMO but I was engrossed in both timelines; I just wish it didn‘t jump back and forth so much. Not for the faint of heart — there‘s all kinds of violence — this book reads like a feminist action movie & I‘m here for it. #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

Any narrator who compares their relationship to Darcy & Elizabeth is my kind of person ❤️ This book is off to a great start!

#ya #teachersoflitsy #bookclub

This story took a turn I wasn‘t expecting! This image doesn‘t capture much about the plot, but it was the most striking illustration IMO.

Honestly, graphic novels aren‘t my thing. I only read them for book club. This one was fine — a mix of multicultural fairy tales, immigrant story, and coming of age — but the afterward where the author/artist explained his concepts was definitely the most interesting part.

#teachersoflitsy #bookclub #ya

Cute YA romcom in the vein of What A Girl Wants, The Princess Diaries, First Daughter, etc. where a teen from rural California learns she‘s the illegitimate child of the crown prince of Japan and ultimately falls for her bodyguard 🇯🇵 Hallmark-y and mostly predictable, the snarky voice of the narrator made me laugh out loud nearly every chapter.

#ya #romance #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

If you like history, fantasy, romance, comedy, The Princess Bride, and/or the under-appreciated tv show Reign, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK (but probably read My Lady Jane first). I love this world of revised history where queens are friends & don‘t die tragically 💚

#ya #teachersoflitsy #historicalfiction #fantasy

A book largely about food requires a food pic, right?

Despite the title, this story was entirely sweet to me, a debut YA romance wrapped in family drama, immigration issues, and delicious-sounding recipes. I did enjoy the Xander-narrated chapters more than the Pen ones, but I‘m not really sure why.

When I didn‘t think I could like the book more, the author acknowledgements include a whole page praising teachers!

#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

Ain‘t that the truth!

I intended to read this book last June, but then I had to overhaul the curriculum for 4 courses & Juliet sat on the back burner for a year.

She‘s Bold. Modern. Messy. Insightful. Intersectional. Worthy of your time & attention.

As I suspected, this would be PERFECT for the Feminist Lit class I created but will not get to teach. Hopefully I‘ll be able to fit it in somewhere in the future.

#ya #teachersoflitsy #pride #LGBTQ

I‘ve been trying to finish this one for months, but other books and real life got in the way. Namesake is a satisfying conclusion to the duology that answered many of the lingering questions I had at the end of Fable. The final resolution was a little too “easy” after all of the twists that preceded it, but it was still enjoyable. Great escapist pirate adventure for the summer!

#ya #teachersoflitsy

This definitely isn‘t my usual fare, but it‘s being made into a Hallmark movie with one of my favorite actors so I decided to give the audiobook a shot on a solo road trip. Needless to say, at least 50% of the book won‘t make it onto Hallmark 😏 Still an entertaining listen though.

BTW the original title, There Goes The Bride, is much classier and more accurate to the plot.

#teachersoflitsy #romance #audiobook

I‘m not a nonfiction/memoir person, but I love Rachel Bloom. Her honesty and irreverence never fail to crack me up. I‘m so glad I read this in audio form because I‘m sure the print version can‘t compare with Rachel‘s storytelling and singing and audio-exclusive tangents (“In the book there‘s a box, but you can just draw one for yourself”, “I‘ll do different voices so you know who‘s who”). Great road trip listen. #teachersoflitsy #memoir #audiobook

I think there was too much going on in this book for me to become invested in it. It felt like a chore to get through. The mystery/investigation plot was interesting, as was the exploration of Indigenous culture, but other aspects fell flat for me, especially the “romance” which I thought was inappropriate and creepy. Several characters & side stories could have been condensed to make the book shorter & better paced. #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

“Some kids do drugs. Some kids start fires. I embroider in the dead of night for the attention of strangers.”
✨
This was the perfect light, fun, fast spring break read. It‘s Hallmark movie (romcom tropes) meets Schitt‘s Creek (the narrator sounded like David Rose & at times his mom sounded like Moira). People unfamiliar with con culture might not get it, but to me it felt authentic & made me really miss cons.

#teachersoflitsy #ya #bookclub #lgbtq

Diversifying our Brit Lit curriculum with this story about the daughter of Jamaican immigrants who, after experiencing traumatic racism at home in London, visits her parents‘ home country and learns about her family history 🍋 I like Andrea Levy‘s writing, but this plot meandered more than I prefer. I felt more invested in the Jamaica part than the London part, and I wish we‘d gotten there sooner. Curious what students will think
#teachersoflitsy

“Home was a ship at the bottom of the sea where my mother‘s bones lay sleeping.”
🌊🌊
I really enjoyed this dramatic nautical adventure. I kept thinking I knew what was coming but then TWIST.
🌊🌊
One of my pet peeves is when the 1st book in a series doesn‘t have some sort of resolution, and this one certainly does not, so THANK GOODNESS the 2nd book of the duology came out this week. Already ordered! Need closure!
#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

I FLEW through this book today! Read it cover to cover! Best mystery I‘ve read in years!

Barnes kept me guessing up to the very last page in this story of a teen who inherits a fortune from a man she doesn‘t know. It has a Riverdale feel but with more games & less sex and violence. Highly recommend!!

#ya #mystery #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

A California woman spends the holidays in England hobnobbing with royalty & falling in love? Sign me up!
💗
“Vivian couldn‘t decide what appealed to her more, hot coffee and fresh scones, or the man in the corner who looked like a tall mug of hot chocolate.”
💗
It‘s been a very long time since I‘ve read an adult romance. I still prefer YA, but this was a light, fluffy, enjoyable read for winter break.

#teachersoflitsy

Graphic novels aren‘t really my thing, and neither are middle grade books, but my #ya book club reads the Newberry winner each December, so here we are. This one has a few astute moments, like the spot-on criticism of stereotypical book recommendations for young readers. Decent light, quick read

#middlegrade #graphicnovel #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

Catching up on posting about the (very few) books I‘ve read over the past couple of months...

It‘s refreshing to read a novel in verse that is genuinely POETIC. Such great diction and structure. As a Californian, the earthquake reference is one that stands out as being perfectly expressed. This is free verse poetry at its finest.

Edited to add that I literally didn‘t even see the person on the cover until now 🤯

#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

Great tag line! Mediocre book. Lots of action but little depth. Missed opportunities to make this like The Kingsmen (and women) of books but too much time was spent on what people were wearing, insignificant 80s allusions, & new magical entities every few chapters. What should have been the climax wasn‘t because the book moved on to a different problem for the last 50 pages. Good premise but disappointing execution. #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

I‘m SO EXCITED to be teaching one of my favorite books again after a 10 year hiatus. Finally something GOOD about this school year! Another female teacher convinced the males to read/teach it even though I‘ve been suggesting it for over 20 years 🤦🏻‍♀️ I gave students some brief background info & asked them what they expect from the book. One wrote, “That it will be mildly inappropriate but well written.” 🤔 #teachersoflitsy #feministclassic

I didn‘t intend to finish this book today
but I just couldn‘t stop! What a charming, touching story about a subject I know very little about: foster care. I loved all of the characters & how their relationships evolved. Definitely some laugh-out-loud & swoon-worthy moments mixed in with the heart. A lovely antidote to all the misery in the world right now ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gorgeous cover art by Spun Inthawong

#nationalreadabookday #ya #bookclub

Becky Albertalli‘s books never disappoint. Told entirely through emails, this novella captures the voice & angst of the Creekwood High alums‘ first year of college. It reminded me of my own college correspondence with my high school friends; we were scattered across the country & email was new, long before social media kept people in touch. I love these characters, who in my head will forever sound like the Love, Simon actors. #ya #teachersoflitsy

It was lovely to get swept away in sparkly vampire romance again ❤️ The past few weeks have been brutal in real life. I desperately needed this escape ❤️ Yes, Edward is moody & overthinks everything, but that made the book longer (yay!) & he provided interesting insights Bella couldn‘t (like when she was unconscious in the hospital). I loved reliving moments from the original book & my own visit to Forks 11 years ago. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #ya #teachersoflitsy

This is my favorite part of the original Twilight book ✨ Disappointed that it wasn‘t in the movie but SO excited to read it from Edward‘s POV now

#twilight #ya #teachersoflitsy

Another winner from The Lady Janies! Their blending of historical fiction, fantasy, humor, romance, & breaking-the-fourth-wall narration is always entertaining. I‘m not into westerns & don‘t know much about the *real* Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, Annie Oakley, or Frank Butler, but I was thoroughly engrossed in this reimagined history. So clever & funny! Just what I needed right now.

#ya #historicalfiction #historicalfantasy #teachersoflitsy

Anyone else an old school Oregon Trail player? 😂 I‘m having flashbacks to my once-a-week elementary school computer classes in the 80s!
•
I LOVE the pop culture humor and contemporary narrator asides in all of the Jane books. I‘m about halfway through this one centering on Calamity Jane & Annie Oakley, and it does not disappoint. I find myself literally laughing out loud every chapter! #ya #historicalfantasy

“Evil comes from the unfulfilled need for significance.”
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This YA mystery centers around the persecution of Catholics in Korea in the late 18th century, about which I had zero prior knowledge. Fortunately I read the author‘s note at the end before starting the book to give some context. Unfortunately the storytelling was uneven, some plot details just *happened* to come together, & the ending wasn‘t satisfying.
#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

I read this entire book yesterday! It‘s a novel-in-verse about a biracial boy growing up in London and discovering himself through drag. The “verse” wasn‘t particularly poetic IMO but I really enjoyed the story. I didn‘t want it to end! #blackjoy #lgbtq #teachersoflitsy

Haven‘t we all felt this way at some point in our lives?
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Graphic novels aren‘t really my thing; I wouldn‘t have read this if not for book club. I think the end message was good, but it was hard to sympathize with the main character. I liked all of her friends much more than her. The “Dear Anna Vice” concept was uneven, and the transitions between scenes were sometimes difficult to follow. Overall just meh
#bookclub #teachersoflitsy

This is the most enjoyable book I‘ve read in a long time. I generally find the clash of modern & traditional women interesting, and I like that the author presented a variety of perspectives about relationships in this story. At various moments it‘s laugh-out-loud funny, suspenseful, and touching, and then there are the erotic stories the widows write which seem ripped out of romance novels or fanfic. Entertaining on many levels! #teachersoflitsy

Continuing to try to diversify our Brit Lit curriculum... I appreciate that the main character here is bisexual but the book isn‘t *about* her sexuality; it‘s about mental health and relationships in many forms. Not sure about teaching it though. The sex is more gratuitous than what I‘m used to reading (YA is typically my jam); students probably wouldn‘t mind but their parents might. #teachersoflitsy

WOW. I‘m only one story in & I‘m hooked! I generally enjoy fairy tale retellings (The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer is one of my favorite series) & I‘m totally burnt out on contemporary texts, so this is hitting the speculative spot right now.

I first heard of this book when I was researching texts for a potential feminist lit class. That‘s on the back burner for now, but I‘m really glad I discovered Angela Carter!

#teachersoflitsy

In my pursuit of diverse, contemporary Brit Lit texts I read the electronic play version of this story while waiting for my hard copy of the novel to arrive. I don‘t know if the play does the book justice, but I don‘t think my students have the patience for a 400 page book. I liked act 2 better than act 1, some R&J vibes plus surprising turns. I‘m downloading the graphic novel too because IMO visuals are significant for the story. #teachersoflitsy

Read this in 2 days in an effort to find books that will diversify our 11th grade Brit Lit curriculum // A little choppy but overall a good read that will give us a starting point to discuss race, class, and gender discrimination when school resumes // Slightly concerned about parents‘ potential reaction to the profanity though 😬 #teachersoflitsy #weneeddiversebooks

I started listening to this book in hopes that it might fit into our 11th grade Brit Lit curriculum. I like the narration but 1/3 of the way in I can tell it‘s not for us. Bailing on it for now but might get back to it later just for fun. Back to trying to find contemporary British novels by people of color suitable for 11th graders! #teachersoflitsy #weneeddiversebooks

[screenshot from the author‘s Instagram]
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The first step to seeing is seeing that there are things you do not see...The truth does not change whether it is seen or unseen…A thing that is happening happens whether you look at it or not...Maybe it is easier not to look. Maybe it is easier to say because you do not see it, it is not happening...The thing that is happening will happen whether you believe [it] or not.”
#ya #teachersoflitsy

Challenging my friends to join me. Right now I‘m reading Pet by Akwaeke Emezi for my Hicklebee‘s book club, and then I‘m planning to read Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. Regardless of whether or not you join me in this challenge, ALWAYS BUY BOOKS FROM BOOKSTORES —> hicklebees.com
#weneeddiversebooks #junereadingchallenge #stayhomeandread #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

I‘m only one chapter into this book & I‘m already BLOWN AWAY. This particular paragraph is very timely, but so far everything about this book is 🤯 #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy