My goal this summer was to read 20 books. I came just short of that at 18, but at least now I have lots to recommend! One of my favorites was The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi.
Here's a description: Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you're only seventeen? Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire... But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself. A lush and vivid story that is steeped in Indian folklore and mythology. The Star-touched Queen is a novel that no reader will soon forget. So what did I think? I LOVED this book. Roshani Chokshi writes so beautifully, and the inclusion of both Indian and Greek folklore add a wonderful layer to both the plot and the characters. I came across a review of this book from NPR, and there was a quote that I felt really captured the style of Chokshi's writing, and what it does for the reader: "The sentence-level beauty of this book often stunned me: There's a smooth, understated loveliness to the writing that kept catching me off guard. In Chokshi's prose, voices have substance and texture while light has color and flavor; never have I wanted to munch on books so much as after reading "The archives were cut like honeycombs and golden light clung to them, dousing every tome, painting, treatise and poem the soft gold of ghee freshly skimmed from boiling butter." The vivid details are probably my favorite aspect of the book, but along with that, Maya's strength in the face of mystery and danger makes for a very compelling main character. Check this book out today!
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Book Riot has posted 131 YA Books that are being published from now until the end of the year! We've been busy putting many of them on our next order so check back in the library as they get released to see when they're available to check out!
Here's some notable books from the list that we are really excited about: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon **This is the December Book Club Book!** Holding Up the Pieces by Jennifer Niven The Midnight Star by Marie Lu Replica by Lauren Oliver Saving Red by Sonya Sones Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee by Mary G. Thompson Goldenhand by Garth Nix Image via HuffPost Travel: Aurora Borealis at the Arctic Circle Here's a list of 5 websites to check out this weekend:
If you were ever curious as to what kids around the world wear to school, now you know! It's interesting to see what factors influence their dress codes based on their location. Also I love Australia's blue hats! Here are 6 Addictive YA Historical Novels to check out. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres especially when it's done really well. I love how reading can transport you to a different time and you feel like you're actually there. Reading any of the books on this list is sure to have that effect on you. Ever wonder how many people are in space at any given time? Me either! However, there's a website that will tell you who's in space and provide mission details like how long they'll be up there. There are also astronaut profiles that tell you everything from their nationality to space flight experience. This Pittsburgh librarian is probably the biggest Harry Potter Fan and coolest mom ever. And finally, "30 Dr. Seuss Quotes to Live By." You can't go wrong with "Be awesome! Be a book nut!" Our book club for this upcoming month is Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. Bracken is the author of the Darkest Minds series, and Passenger is her newest release! We'll be meeting on Wednesday, March 16th after school in the PTHS library for our book discussion. The library still has two copies available for checkout. Read the synopsis below:
"In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles, but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now. Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods-a powerful family in the Colonies-and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find. In order to protect her, Nick must ensure she brings it back to them-whether she wants to or not. Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever." -Amazon.com Hope to see you at Book Club! Earth Science Photo of the Day: Heart-shaped opening of a Lake Michigan Ice Cave Here's a list of 5 websites to check out this weekend: If you're not into celebrating this February 14th, here's a list of 16 Books To Read If You Hate Valentine's Day. Some of them are so so good! Interested in learning about what was going on in the world the year you were born? This site tells you everything from popular movies and TV shows to the political climate of the time. Lakes and Oceans. A sketch of their depths and records of some of the deepest sea explorations. Witty Animal Illustrations, like this one: And finally, this article from Book Riot has all the tips you need for your own Library Scavenger Hunt. The author gives you 5 ways to read something new including checking out the oversized books and searching for a book that's practically falling apart (for a good reason!)
Find out what Dewey Decimal classification you'd have based on your name, favorite number, and date of birth. The generator will give you a result that tells you about your personality. Click the image below to see if it's accurate!
About a month ago, the New York Public Library released around 180,000 images for the public to view. Housed in their digital collections archive, these images provide a wonderful glimpse into the past. One of their collections is titled Holiday Postcards. Just in time for February 14th, the subcategory Valentine's Day is home to 89 different postcards, some created as far back as over 100 years ago! The one above is from 1902. Check out the NYPL Digital Collections and the Valentine's Day postcards.
Source: flavorwire.com This week's book review is for Soundless by Richelle Mead. Regan of the PeruseProject on YouTube reviewed this video back in December. You can check out her review below! She also mentions Richelle Mead's newest book, The Glittering Court, which will be released April 5, 2016! |
Ms. Gilroy
Welcome to The Book Drop, Ms. Gilroy's library blog! Check here for some of your PTHS librarian's favorite things including book reviews, what's happening in YA literature, and the latest and greatest news from around the world & web. Archives
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