My 2019 Reading Recap

Looking back at a year of reading gives me warm fuzzies. I love to see everything I've read and think about what I enjoyed most, what new authors I discovered, what series I want to continue in the year to come... I mean, really, any excuse to spend some time thinking about books, right? ;)

So here's a recap of my 2019 in books! These are my own personal favorites that I *read* in 2019, not necessarily ones that were released this year. Most of this is according to the "Your Year in Books" feature on Goodreads.

{ My 2019 Reading Recap }

Total number of books read: 54 (my goal was 52, one book a week, so yay!)


Total number of pages read: 11,954


Average length of books I read: 221 pages 


Longest book I read: The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross (464 pages)

Shortest book I read: A Year in Nature: A Carousel Book of the Seasons by Hazel Maskell; illustrated by Eleanor Taylor (8 pages)

Most popular book I read (according to Goodreads): The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (684,211 people also read it)

Least popular book I read (according to Goodreads): Forest Club: A Year of Activities, Crafts, and Exploring Nature by Kris Hirschmann; illustrated by Marta Antelo (13 people also read it - shout out to you 13 awesome folks! *waves*)

(You can read my review here!)

Genre I read the most books from: Young Adult (with Picture Books close behind!)


Favorite book cover of the books I read this year:  The cover for The Antidote by Shelley Sackier - Unfortunately I didn't end up loving the book itself, but that gorgeous cover sure got me to pick it up and give it a try!

Favorite board book I read this year: A Is for Artichoke: A Foodie Alphabet from Artichoke to Zest by America's Test Kitchen Kids; illustrated by Maddie Frost - I only read 1 board book this year :(  but I really did enjoy this one so it is rightfully my favorite!

(You can read my review here!)

Favorite picture book I read this year: Frankie's Favorite Food by Kelsey Garrity-Riley - Oh man, I read soooo many good picture books this year, it was really hard to choose a favorite! But I have to give it to Frankie for the cute story, clever food puns, and adorable illustrations. (Escargot by Dashka Slater & illustrated by Sydney Hanson was a *very* close second because I love that adorable little snail and I can't wait to read more of his adventures!)

(You can read my review here!)

Favorite beginning reader I read this year: I read ZERO beginning readers this year! :(  I'm really making an effort in 2020 to read across more genres, especially more beginning readers and early chapter books. 


Favorite early chapter book I read this year: I read ZERO early chapter books this year! :(  See above for new goals and wish me luck for next year!


Favorite middle grade book I read this year: Malamander by Thomas Taylor; illustrated by Tom Booth - It has been a while since I loved a middle grade book as much as I loved Malamander. If you like your middle grade adventurous and a little creepy, with a fantastically dreary seaside setting, definitely give this one a try.

(You can read my review here!)

Favorite young adult book I read this year: Enchantée by Gita Trelease - For me, it doesn't get much better than a peasant girl living a double life as a magical card-playing baroness in a fantasy version of Revolutionary France. C'est magnifique!

(You can read my review here!)

Favorite graphic novel I read this year: Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu - I loved literally EVERYTHING about this, despite the fact that I'm not that fond of hockey (like, at all) and I cannot wait to read the next book!!

(You can read my review here!)

Favorite poetry book I read this year: A Year of Nature Poems
by Joseph Coelho; illustrated by Kelly Louise Judd - This is my favorite because it's the *only* poetry book I read this year. And it wasn't bad, I did like it... but I feel like I missed out on so many poetry books I could have read this year. Adding poetry to the list of genres I need to read more of next year!

(You can read my review here!)

Favorite nonfiction book I read this year: The Lost Book of Adventure: from the notebooks of the Unknown Adventurer by the Unknown Adventurer; edited by Teddy Keen - I loved this one so much. It's kind of a mix of fiction and nonficiton... The Unknown Adventurer tells you the stories of their travels, woven among gorgeous sketchbook illustrations and real-world survival information. It's a very creative and beautiful book, and it's easily my favorite nonfiction book of the year. 

(You can read my review here!)

Favorite adult book I read this year: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - One of the most beautiful fantasies I have ever read. It makes me sad it took me this long to discover this book and this author, which both became instant favorites for me. Another adult favorite from this year: The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, which is an incredible, twisty mindblower of a book that repeats the same 24 hour period over and over by having one character inhabit the body of nearly every other character in the story. Definitely recommended to older/more mature YA readers who like mysteries and time travel. 

Review I wrote that got the most views: My reviews for Multicultural Children's Book Day: Albie Newton by Josh Funk; illustrated by Ester Garay - How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk; illustrated by Sara Palacios - Ahni and Her Dancing Secret by Shereen Rahming; illustrated by Jeff Vernon

(You can read my reviews here!)

New-to-me author(s) that I want to read more of:  Erin Morgenstern now has my heart and I will read anything she writes. (I'm reading The Starless Sea right now and I am as in love with it and bewitched by it as I was with The Night Circus!) I also fell in love with Kelsey Garrity-Riley's storytelling and illustrations, so I'd love to read more of her picture books.


Series I started that I can't wait to continue: The Malamander series by Thomas Taylor for sure - I can't wait to be back in that world. I also really enjoyed the first book of the Berserker series by Emmy Laybourne and I'd like to see how that story continues.


Books releasing in 2020 I'm most anticipating: How much time do you have? There are SO MANY new books I can't wait to read in 2020! I'm just going to put up the pretty covers because there are literally too many to list out (and who doesn't love looking at pretty book covers??).

So that's my 2019 reading recap! How was your bookish year? Leave me a link to your end-of-the-year posts in the comments!

Weekly Wrap-Up: December 22-28, 2019

Here's my weekly collection of news, announcements, and booklists I have found around the interwebs, along with a recap of my own posts from this week. Hope you enjoy! :)


Here @ PPBN

• Nothing this week - on a holiday hiatus!

Awards

• None that I could find... leave me a note in the comments if you know of one!

Booklists

• Book Riot's Books for Young People Inspired by the Words of the Year.
  
• Epic Read's 20 Books Featuring A Non-European Influenced Fantasy Worl.
  
• Fatherly's The Best Children’s Books of 2019 That Are Really, Truly for Kids.
  
• POPSUGAR's 20 Must-Have Classic Children's Books — and When to Introduce Them.
  

New & Upcoming Books

• Epic Read's preview of Just Breathe by Cammie McGovern, plus The 23 Most Anticipated YA Books to Read in January.
  
• Paste's The Most Anticipated Young Adult Novels of 2020.
  
• POPSUGAR's 34 Promising New YA Books to Look Out For in 2020.
  
• Teen Librarian Toolbox's Read Wild in 2020: Books to Have on Your Radar that Feature Nature.
  

Weekly Wrap-Up: December 15-21, 2019

Here's my weekly collection of news, announcements, and booklists I have found around the interwebs, along with a recap of my own posts from this week. Hope you enjoy! :)


Here @ PPBN

• nothing this week - on a holiday hiatus!

Awards

• Voting for the final round of the 2019 Epic Reads Book Shimmy Awards is open until December 30! The awards recognize the "best and most feels-inducing YA books the year" (source) and it's down to the final 4 books in each category.

Booklists

• The Booklist Reader's 2019 Top of the List Picks - featuring Youth Nonfiction, Youth Fiction, Youth Picture Book, and Youth Audiobook selections. Also available are the 2019 Booklist Editors' Choice lists for Adult Books for Young Adults and Books for Youth.
  
• Brain Pickings's Favorite Children’s Books of 2019.
  
• Brightly's Editors’ Favorite Books of 2019 and Our Favorite Books of the Decade.
  
• BuzzFeed's 31 Young Adult Books That We Deemed The Best Of 2019.
  
• Entertainment Weekly's The 10 best YA books of the year (and the decade).
  
• Epic Read's Our Favorite Books of the Decade & What to Look Forward to in 2020.
  
• Publishers Weekly's A Roundup of 2019’s Best Book Lists for Kids and Teens.
  
• School Library Journal's Best YA Books of the Decade, According to the Best YA Authors of the Year.
  

Articles

• Goodreads's Celebrate Your 2019 Year in Books!
  
• The Hub's What Would a Jedi Read? Reader’s Advisory for Star Wars Characters.
  

New & Upcoming Books

• Brightly's Most-Anticipated Young Adult, Middle Grade & Chapter Books, and Picture Books of 2020.
  
• Book Riot's 20 Queer YA Books For Your 2020 TBR
  
• Epic Read's You’ll Want to Save Your Gift Cards for These 27 YA Books coming in 2020.
  

Weekly Wrap-Up: December 8-14, 2019

Here's my weekly collection of news, announcements, and booklists I have found around the interwebs, along with a recap of my own posts from this week. Hope you enjoy! :)


Here @ PPBN

• nothing this week boooo :(   The pre-holiday craziness is in full swing at my house!

Awards

• 2019 CODE Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Young Adult Literature shortlist announced - the Canadian award recognizes "excellence in Indigenous-authored literature for young adults" (source). This year the award will have 2 winners: one book written in English and one book written in an Indigenous language, making this the "first ever Canadian Indigenous-language Young Adult Literature award" (source).

Booklists

• 100 Scope Notes's Top 20 Books of 2019.
  
• Book Riot's 20 Must-Read Picture Books from 2019.
  
• Curbed's 101 Kids’ Books About Where and How We Live - a list for "the budding urbanists among us" (source) featuring picture books, middle grade, and young adult books..
  
• Epic Reads's New Year, New Activist You! Books to Help You Find Your Voice in 2020 - featuring "11 books to help you rise up" (source).
  
• School Library Journal's 2019 Translated Picture Books.
  
• Tablet's Best Jewish Children’s Books of 2019 - featuring picture books, middle grade, and young adult books.
  
• The Wall Street Journal's Best Children’s Books of 2019.
  

Articles

• Bookish's How to Plan for Your 2020 Reading Challenge is super helpful right about now.
  
• Brightly's How to Create Your Own Book Advent Calendar is also very helpful no matter which holiday(s) you celebrate.
  

New & Upcoming Books

• Publishers Weekly's New Kids' and YA Books: Weeks of December 16 and December 23, 2019.
  

Weekly Wrap-Up: December 1-7, 2019

Here's my weekly collection of news, announcements, and booklists I have found around the interwebs, along with a recap of my own posts from this week. Hope you enjoy! :)


Here @ PPBN

• Review: I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi - I don't think I can put this one into my own words any better than they did in the synopsis: it's Guess How Much I Love You but with funnies.
• Review: Tomorrow Is Waiting by Kiley Frank - Colorful illustrations and empowering, encouraging words of overcoming obstacles.
• Review: Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together by Andrea Tsurumi - This was a total winner for me and I'll definitely be watching for more picture books from this author!

Awards

• Voting for the 2019 Epic Reads Book Shimmy Awards is open through December 13! The awards recognize the "best and most feels-inducing YA books the year" (source) and include 20 categories such as Cover Lust, We Need Diverse Books, and Squad Goals.
• 2020 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award finalists announced - the award (part of the ALA Youth Media Awards) recognizes the "best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year" (source).
  
• 2020 William C. Morris YA Debut Award finalists announced - the award (also part of the ALA Youth Media Awards) recognizes books "published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature" (source).
  

Booklists

• 100 Scope Notes's 2019 Children’s Lit: The Year in Miscellanea - this has some of the best accolades I've ever seen. Gems include "Best Use of Children’s Literature in a Meme," "Cover Trope of the Year," and "Best Feeling Book of 2019, and by 'Best Feeling' I Don’t Mean the Book That Makes You Feel the Best, But the Book That Literally Just Feels Really Cool in a Tactile Way" (source).
  
• Air & Space Magazine's Best Children’s Books of 2019 announced - featuring "aviation- and space-themed books for young readers" (source).
  
• Book Riot's Best Books of 2019 announced - including Young Adult selections.
  
• Imagination Soup's Best Children’s Nonfiction Books of 2019 announced.
  
• NPR (National Public Radio)'s Book Concierge of 2019 announced - featuring an incredible interactive menu of mix-and-match options, including Kids' Books and Young Adult.
  
• The New York Times's 25 Best Children's Books of 2019 announced - featuring Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult selections.
  
• Smithsonian's 10 Best Children's Books of 2019 announced - featuring "strange animals, mouth-watering foods and biographies of unsung heroes" (source).
  

Review: Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together by Andrea Tsurumi

Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together
by Andrea Tsurumi

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 48
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 5, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, sea creatures, conservation, baking


From Goodreads:

"Under the sea, a crab follows its heart and its calling, bringing everyone together in the wake of a disaster. Feed your craving for a hilarious, heart-warming story with Crab Cake, perfect for budding environmentalists, kids learning to cope with mishaps, and every young reader in between.

Under the sea, fish do what fish do: Seahorse hides, Pufferfish puffs up, Parrotfish crunches coral, and Crab . . . bakes cakes?
Scallop swims, Dolphin blows bubbles, and . . . Crab bakes cakes.
And so life goes on, until one night when everything changes with a splash!
In the face of total disaster, can Crab's small, brave act help the community come together and carry on?"

Crab is adorable and just wants to bake. (I love him so!) The other animals don't really understand what he's up to, but when trouble arrives in the form of a huge load of garbage dumped onto their ocean home, no one knows what to do... Except Crab! This was a really entertaining story, mixed with facts about sea creatures, a message to be kind to the earth, amazing artwork with lots of personality and lots of details to find, some good silliness, AND some resources at the end for how kids can learn more and help protect the ocean! This was a total winner for me and I'll definitely be watching for more picture books from this author!


Final verdict: I'm obsessed with it! I thought this book was amazing! It's now officially one of my favorite books! I shall be shouting about it from the rooftops for days and I am currently recommending it to everyone I come in contact with!

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: Tomorrow Is Waiting by Kiley Frank

Tomorrow Is Waiting
by Kiley Frank
illustrated by Aaron Meshon

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication date: January 8, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, nature, bedtime, love


From Goodreads:

"A touching, timeless book about a parent's everlasting love for their child--and all of the potential their child has within.

Tonight as you sleep
A new day stirs
Each kiss goodnight
Is a wish for tomorrow...

As a child dreams, their parent imagines everything they will someday be: independent and imaginative, kind and courageous, a listener and a leader. And each hopeful, heartfelt wish is paired with a a promise of love.

Tender and moving, Tomorrow Is Waiting is a modern celebration of the dreams we have for our children for finding their place in the world, and for how they will make it a better world. A perfect gift for baby showers, birthdays, and graduation, it's a book that will be treasured, passed down, read and loved--again, and again, and again."

I loved the colorful illustrations in this one. They depict children having outdoor adventures - hiking, playing, exploring - as well as lots of animals and environments such as forests, the arctic, under the sea, etc. The story itself includes empowering, encouraging words of overcoming obstacles. I personally like my bedtime stories a little fluffier, full of happy things, so this is a little heavy for my tastes for right before bed... But I do think it's a good read for a daytime snuggle or a storytime setting, since it encourages children and reminds them of their strength, even when faced with troubles that seem too big.


Final verdict: I liked it! I thought this book was good! I enjoyed reading it and I would probably recommend it to others.

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi

I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home
by Kathryn Cristaldi
illustrated by Kristyna Litten

Available as: hardcover
Pages: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: December 18, 2018
Suggested tags: picture book, bedtime, love



From Goodreads:

"I will love you till the cows come home from a trip to Mars through skies unknown, in a rocket ship made of glass and stone… I will love you till the cows come home.

Love knows no bounds in this tender tribute to the depths of family love. For fans of Guess How Much I Love You—only funnier!

This book extends the saying, “I’ll love you till the cows come home” to the humorous extreme. Along the way there are yaks in cadillacs, sheep setting sail, frogs on big-wheeled bikes, and more, in this great read-aloud.

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home is filled with warm, funny art and rhythmic, romping text, perfect for curling up with your little one at the end of the day...or anytime you want to express your love."

I don't think I can put this one into my own words any better than they did in the synopsis: it's Guess How Much I Love You but with funnies. There are lots of silly combinations of animals and activities, worded in lyrical rhymes and paired with beautiful soft illustrations. After their adventures, the animals settle down to the sleep at the end, making this not just a fun anytime read, but a good bedtime read as well. Amidst all the giggles, it will surely remind children of just how very much they are loved.


Final verdict: I liked it! I thought this book was good! I enjoyed reading it and I would probably recommend it to others.

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Weekly Wrap-Up: November 24-30, 2019

I like keeping up with book news, like award winner announcements and "best of" lists and new booklists shared, so I thought I'd start doing a weekly collection of news and announcements I have found, along with a recap of my own posts from this week. Hope you enjoy! :)


Here @ PPBN

• Review: Frankie's Favorite Food by Kelsey Garrity-Riley - OFFICIALLY my favorite picture book of the year!

Awards

• 2019 Costa Book Award shortlists announced, including the Children's Book category - the award recognizes the "most enjoyable books of the year by writers resident in the UK and Ireland" (source).
• Voting for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards is open through December 2! Don't forget to cast your votes for Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, Middle Grade & Children's, and Picture Books!
  
• 2019 Middle East Book Award winners and honor books for Picture Book, Youth Literature, and Youth Non-Fiction announced - the award recognizes books for children and teens that "contribute meaningfully to understanding of the Middle East" (source).
  
• 2020 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award winner, honor books, and recommended books announced - the award "recognizes fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder" in books intended for preschool through age 12 readers (source).
  
• 2020 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award winner, honor books, and recommended books announced - the award recognizes "excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children" (source).
  

Booklists

• Brightly's 13 Children’s and YA Books That Celebrate Native American History and Experience
  
• New York Public Library's Best Books of 2019 announced - featuring lists for Kids, Los Mejores Libros para Pequeños/The Best Books for Kids (Spanish-language kids' books), and Teens
  
• Shelf Awareness's Best Children's & Teen Books of 2019 announced
  
• TIME's 10 Best YA and Children's Books of 2019 announced
• The Today Show's 26 best kids books of 2019 announced
  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish those who celebrate a very happy Thanksgiving, with good food, good times with friends and family, and good books (and plenty of free time to read)!

If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I still wish you a day filled with all the same good things! :)

Review: Frankie's Favorite Food by Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Frankie's Favorite Food
by Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Available as: hardcover, ebook
Pages: 36
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication date: August 20, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, food



From Goodreads:

"A scrumptiously adorable story about a boy, a school play and his love for food. Featuring foods from all over the world, this debut picture book will make you hungry for more!

Frankie has a problem: he has too many favorite foods. He can't bring himself to choose just one to be for the school play, so on the day of the performance, he's still without a costume. His teacher comes up with a delicious idea: what if Frankie becomes the Costume Manager? That way, he can parlay his love of all things culinary into the whole production. From adding some last-minute garnishes to helping the rice and beans into their costumes, Frankie shines backstage until he has a brilliant idea and decides to make his debut on the menu as something that combines his love for all his favorite foods . . .

In this funny and scrumptiously adorable story, readers will delight in the variety of foods represented and the clever performances full of silly word play and sweet camaraderie. In Kelsey Garrity-Riley's author-illustrator debut, she shows the joy of food and revels in celebrating the way food can bring people together and inspire creativity."

Oh my goodness. This is OFFICIALLY my favorite picture book of the year! I loved everything about this one!! The story, the illustrations, the food puns, FRANKIE. Frankie can’t decide what food he should dress up as for his school’s play, because he loves all the foods. (I feel ya, Frankie.)

Review: Malamander by Thomas Taylor

Malamander
by Thomas Taylor; illustrated by Tom Booth

Available as: hardcover, ebook
Pages: 320
Publisher: Walker Books US
Publication date: September 10, 2019
Suggested tags: middle grade, fantasy



From Goodreads:

"Nobody visits Eerie-on-Sea in the winter. Especially not when darkness falls and the wind howls around Maw Rocks and the wreck of the battleship Leviathan, where even now some swear they have seen the unctuous malamander creep…

Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy – especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl. No one knows what happened to Violet Parma’s parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger..."

I read a lot of middle grade fantasy, but it has been a while since I've enjoyed one as much as Malamander. I think what made me love it most was the setting – the author builds such an amazing city by the sea, misty and mysterious, full of intriguing places and people. In Eerie-on-Sea, there is mystery, there is adventure, there are characters who are not what they seem and a dangerous creature lurking in the shadows that may or may not exist…

I loved both Herbert and Violet, our young heroes who must solve the mystery of Violet's parents' whereabouts while avoiding a sinister hook-handed man. I loved the writing, also – it has that familiarity to it, like a good friend is telling you a great story, but it never talks down to the reader, and the plot is carried along at the perfect pace. I was piecing together clues along with Herbert and Violet and almost literally on the edge of my seat when they made their daring escapes from the hook-handed man.

I devoured this book and am eagerly awaiting the next (Gargantis, due out in May of 2020)! I can't wait to see how Herbert's story continues and how the mystery of Violet's parents is unraveled. I'll be snatching up the next book as soon as I can, and settling into a shadowy corner to lose myself in the mist and wonder of Eerie-on-Sea again.


Final verdict: I'm obsessed with it! I thought this book was amazing! It's now officially one of my favorite books! I shall be shouting about it from the rooftops for days and I am currently recommending it to everyone I come in contact with!

{ Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for providing me with a free copy.
My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: The Not-So Great Outdoors by Madeline Kloepper

The Not-So Great Outdoors
by Madeline Kloepper

Available as: hardcover
Pages: 40
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication date: May 14, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, nature



From Goodreads:

"A reluctant camper discovers that the (not-so) great outdoors can be just as exciting as screens and skyscrapers in this playful picture book celebration of the pleasures of unplugging and embracing nature.

What's so great about the "great outdoors"? A grumpy urban kid begrudgingly accompanies her family on a summer camping trip, missing all the sublime sights right under her nose as she longs for the lights and stimulation of the city. But as she explores forests, lakes and mountains, and encounters bears, beavers and caribou, she slowly comes to realize that the simpler things are just as sparkly, that the sky is its own majestic light show, and the symphony is all around. The Not-So Great Outdoors is a humorous and richly imagined reminder of the beauty and magic that can be found away from the city and our screens. "

This was a really cute picture book that offers a lot, if you take the time to take it in. A girl is not excited to be going into the not-so-great outdoors with her family. What’s wrong with staying in the city?? There’s nothing to do outdoors, nothing to see, not as much fun to be had… or is there?

I loved how the illustrations in this book contradicted the text, offering little secrets to readers who take the time to enjoy them. And I love the way we get to watch the girl slowly start enjoying her vacation with her family, joining in on the fun rather than sitting out. I can see this book being a hit with readers who love the outdoors and immediately pick up on all the things the girl is missing. I think it might help readers who prefer to stay indoors too, as it shows them that there are things to see and adventures to be had in the great outdoors if they are willing to open their eyes and minds.



Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.

{ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy.
My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: Berserker by Emmy Laybourne

Berserker
by Emmy Laybourne

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 352
Publisher: Feiwel Friends
Publication date: October 10, 2017
Suggested tags: young adult, historical fantasy, western, Norse mythology



First in the Berserker series. From Goodreads:

"Are Hanne's powers a gift from the old Norse gods, or a curse?

Her brother Stieg swears their powers are a gift from the old gods, but Hanne Hemstad knows she is truly cursed. It's not Stieg's fault that their father is dead, their mother has left, and their brother Knut has been accused of a crime he didn't commit.

No, the fault lies with Hanne and her inability to control her murderous "gift"--she is a Berserker. When someone she loves is threatened, she flies into a killing state. The siblings must leave Norway for the American frontier or risk being brought to justice.

Aided by a young cowboy who agrees to be their guide, Hanne and her siblings use their powers to survive the perilous trail, where blizzards, wild animals, and vicious bounty hunters await.

Will they be able to reach their uncle, the one man Hanne believes may be able to teach her how to control her drive to kill? With Berserker, Emmy Laybourne, the author of Monument 14, presents her vision of an American west studded with Viking glory."

I mean, I was sold at "American west studded with Viking glory," but I loved this one! Really well done historical fiction, making the small frontier American towns come alive with all their dust and dirt and hard-scrabbleness. (...is that a word? meh, I like it, I'm keeping it.) There's also a lot of wild west type stuff - shootouts! saloons! loyal horses! dog companions! And with Norse mythology mixed in! I loved it all!!

It was so interesting to see how the siblings used their "gifts" and how they felt about them. There's just enough romance between Hanne and the "young cowboy," Owen - I was more into the siblings' story and their adventures traveling from Norway towards their uncle in Montana, but Owen's appearance in the story added to rather than distracted from their storyline, for me. Hanne truly was on her own adventure and just happened to find a guy she liked along the way, rather than being a character who only existed to have a romance, and I loved that.

The *only* small tiny thing that bothered me a bit was the author sometimes did just a liiiittle too much telling rather than showing for my taste - she would kind of spell out how a character was thinking or feeling rather than writing it in a way that let us learn it on our own, or feel it along with the character. But that didn't keep me from enjoying the book, just something that stood out to me here and there... Because when she did let us feel things with the characters, it was so powerful. Man, the regret and shame Hanne feels when her powers get away from her and she realizes what terrible violent things she's done... I really felt it along with her, and I love when an author can do that. 

All in all, I really enjoyed my first western historical fantasy! It sounded awesome but I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did, and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the duology, Ransacker, published in January 2019, where Hanne's sister Sissel discovers she has a gift too. (Not-so-spoiler alert: she's a Ransacker, which means she has a gift for finding precious metals... and here she is, right in the middle of Gold Rush era America, surrounded by some new characters who *shocker* may not have her best interests at heart... Yessss dramaaaaa I am here for it...)



Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.

{ I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

{ WWW Wednesdays } : August 21, 2019

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Taking on a World of Words. It’s a weekly blog meme to talk books by answering 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading? 
• What did you recently finish reading? 
• What do you think you’ll read next?

I've participated in WWW Wednesdays in the past, but it's been a while since I've joined in... I'm excited to get back into it! :)


{ Currently reading } :
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Mallory Ortberg
Man, I love me a good collection of fairy tale retellings. So far this one is pretty good - some of them have confused me, or have ended kind of anticlamactically, but for the most part I'm enjoying them. Technically an adult book but I think YA readers who are into fairy tale retellings (especially those who are into unique retellings with an edge of horror) would probably enjoy giving this one a read.



{ Finished reading } :
Berserker by Emmy Laybourne
This was so good!! I've had this one for a while and it got buried in my TBR pile, but I'm so glad I finally pulled it back out! It's a historical fantasy/western, with Norse mythology. And yes, it's as awesome as it sounds.







{ Reading next } :
Everything Must Go by Jenny Fran Davis
This is another one that's been stuck on my TBR for a while. It sounds like an interesting story - YA about a Quaker boarding school, told in epistolary style with letters, emails, journal entries, etc. I'm excited to start it! 







That's it for me this week! What did you read this week? Link to your WWW Wednesdays post in the comments - I'd love to come visit! :)