Category: lists

Top Books of November

  1. Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson
    This was a great murder mystery told in 2 different time periods- one in the “present day” and one from when the murder happened. I really enjoyed the plot and the way that we got to see so much of Stevie’s real character. It was a super interesting story and I totally recommend this series to you!
  2. The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson
    This is the second book of the Truly, Devious trilogy and I enjoyed it just as much as the previous book. In this book, we can see how close Stevie is to her friends and the way that she struggles
  3. The Agathas by by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
    This was another great murder mystery! Iris and Alice never asked to be paired up, in fact the two are almost exactly opposite. But the disappearance of one of Alice’s ex-friends connects them both as they know they have to figure out who did it because the police certainly aren’t going to do anything. I really enjoyed the way that we not only got to learn about the mystery but also how
  4. Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
    I really loved this book! When Izzy contacted her dad, she wasn’t expecting to make contact with the crown prince of Japan. But when her home gets swarmed by paparazzi and bodyguards, she has to adapt to her new life in Japan. Izzy is such a sweet character and I loved seeing how she adapted to fit in a completely new world with new friends and threats. I really enjoyed this book!
  5. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
    This was such a magical book from the very beginning! Iris’ brother is on the war front and all that comforts her is writing letters to him. Letters that he’ll never get, that he’ll never read. But when someone writes her back, they open up their hearts to each other. I really enjoyed this book and the settings. I cant wait to read the next one!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September and October: click here

Top Reads of September and October

Here are my favorite books for September and October!

  1. Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
    This was an amazing book! I loved the way that Adina grew, as she chose to make her own destiny and rules instead of falling in line with tradition. I loved the whole story and the stereotypes that it turned on its head. It was an amazing book and I totally recommend it to you!
  2. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
    This is an amazing retelling of Medusa that looks at her story from different perspectives. We get comments not only from Medusa, but from crows, her decapitated head, Perseus’ mother, and so many more. It’s a great book and I enjoyed it a lot!
  3. Thin Air by Kellie M Parker
    This was a great murder mystery! Emily was just expecting to compete with 11 others for a prestigious scholarship. But when she boards the flight, things fly into action as someone is almost poisoned and mysterious envelopes with three very real secrets are placed in front of everyone. As more and more people start dying, it becomes a race to figure out who the murderer is. I really enjoyed this book!
  4. Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren J.A. Bear
    I adored this book! It takes the tale of Medusa, one that’s been told many, many times, and reimagines it from the perspective of her two sisters- Stheno and Euryale, who remain virtually unheard of. It takes the story of the Gorgons from the very beginning- since they were born. We learn who they were as they grew up- what made them happy, how they each changed to fit their environment, and so on. I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend it to you!
  5. The Chalice of Gods by Rick Riordan
    This was a great book that continued on the Percy Jackson series! In it, we got the original trio- Percy, Annabeth, and Grover- going on another quest to retrieve the god Ganymede’s chalice so that he will write Percy a recommendation letter. It was a great, funny book and I enjoyed it a lot!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here

August Top Reads

Sorry that this is such a late top reads! Here are my favorite books I read in August.

  1. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
    Over the summer, I watched a lot of Studio Ghibli movies and decided to read the book that inspired one of the most famous ones. I really enjoyed the book and the vivid descriptions that went into make all the characters, especially Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer stand out. I enjoyed the book-to-movie adaptation, though I was surprised by how it was changed quite a bit. Either way, they were both amazing!
  2. Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes
    This was an incredible book about the role of women in Greek myths! Throughout history, women have gotten overlooked and villainized, but in this book, their true stories come to light. We learn more about who they really were and how they’re been represented through history. We get to read about Pandora, Helen, Clytemnestra, Jocasta, The Amazons, and many more. I really enjoyed this book!
  3. Just Lizzie by Karen Wilfrid
    This was an incredibly touching book about a girl just trying to figure out how she fits in a world where romance surrounds her. Along with her mom’s own struggles, Lizzie has to learn who to trust and who listens to and supports the real her. I loved Lizzie’s journey throughout her life and the way that she meets so many people, some supportive, some not. It was a great read and I totally recommend it to you!
  4. Thirteens by Kate Alice Marshall
    I loved the idea of this book! Every 13 years, 3 kids, all born on Halloween, all marked with a mysterious birthmark in the shape of a key, are taken. Eleanor has just moved to Elden Eld and her life begins to get weirder immediately, starting with seeing demonic creatures that no one else can see except her two newest friends- the two other kids she’s taken with. I loved the puzzle-element of this story and the way it was told! It’s a great read.

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here

Top reads of July

Here are my top reads for July!

  1. The Sun and The Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
    This was an incredible book! I’d always adored Nico and Will’s relationship in the Heroes of Olympus series, so I was really excited when I heard about this book. Nico and Will are adorable in this book and I really enjoyed the way the story progressed. I also liked the way Nico’s grief and trauma were addressed. This was a great book!
  2. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
    This was a great book! I haven’t read the Cruel Prince series yet, but, while being set in the same universe, this book was still understandable without prior knowledge. I loved the queer and the relationship between Hazel and Ben. I really enjoyed this book!
  3. Connect the Stars by David Teague and Marisa de los Santos
    I really enjoyed this book! Audrey can tell when anyone is lying and Aaron can remember everything he’s seen. Both of them don’t fit in at their schools, but when their parents send them to a wilderness camp, they find each other. The two also make friends with Kate and Louis and the group face the challenges together. I really enjoyed this book!
  4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
    This was a great book! I enjoyed the descriptions of the circus and the way we got many POVS showing us how different people experience it. The descriptions were detailed and I loved how it all tied in at the end. The characters were also intricate and I enjoyed getting to read about them. It was a great book!
  5. The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
    This was an amazing reread! 4 siblings and none of them alike, yet they have to journey together to find the mythical Ivory Key. They each have different reasons for wanting it, but if they fail, they could all lose everything. I love the characters so much and the plot twists along the way. I really enjoyed this book!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here

Top reads of June!

Here are my top books of June!

  1. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    This was such a perfect ending to a series I had enjoyed a lot! I’ve enjoyed this book series for a while and I have been so excited to read the last book! The Hawthorne Mansion is almost Avery’s, but she has one more year to get through. When a visitor turns up at the Mansion, Avery doesn’t know whether to trust them or not, but misplaced trust could hurt them all. This book was incredibly written, with an amazing plot filled with puzzles, riddles, and mysteries- just like the whole series. I totally recommend this series to you!
  2. The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea
    I loved this book so much. It’s a great re-read about different kids who deal with different thing in life. They have nothing in common until they are placed together in Mrs. Woods 6th grade class. Even then, at the beginning, they are reluctant to work with each other, but as the time for the statewide tests draw closer, they learn to trust each either and how to be a good team. This book is so emotionally touching and I loved all the ups and downs. The characters are also really great. I totally recommend this series to you!
  3. The Ivies by Alexa Donne
    This was an incredible murder mystery! Olivia is part of the Ivies, a group of high school students who would do anything to get into the Ivy League schools they want. But when one of the Ivies is murdered, Olivia starts to question her friendship and everything she knows. I really enjoyed this book and the way the characters were created! There was a lot of layers and I enjoyed reading through them all. This is a great book!

  4. Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
    I adored this book! It’s another re-read from an amazing author. Similarly to The Perfect Score, kids who normally despise each other are forced to be in their 6th grade class together. I loved exploring each of their unique personalities and characteristics! Soon, tragedy befalls the class and they each have to learn how to cope with their grief while still caring for everyone. This was an incredibly book and I totally recommend it to you!
  5. Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
    This was an incredible book! Saoirse is used to telling lies to survive. It’s how she climbed to the top of training and gets offered a job to be a guard to the Prince. But being a siren is dangerous, especially when all the prince’s guards are on the hunt for a beautiful woman who just happens to be Saoirse in disguise. This was an amazing book and I totally enjoyed it!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here

Top Books of April and May

Here are my top reads of April and May! April’s books are the first 2 and May’s are the last 3.

  1. The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood
    This was a great book about one of the “heroes” from Greek mythology! Perseus is commonly known as the only hero with a happy ending, but this fails to consider the women in his life. I loved the way the story flowed and its plot! I also enjoyed how we got 3 POVs from the most important women in his life- Danaë, his mother, Medusa, the woman he killed, and Andromeda, his wife. It was such a great book and I really enjoyed it!
  2. The Cobra’s Song by Supriya Kelkar
    I loved this book! When Geetanjali gets stage fright for the first time in her life, she’s sure it’s over. She can’t stand up for her friends and now, she might be at risk of losing her best friend. Not only that, her usually kind and caring neighbor is now cold and distant-possible possessed by the snake gem. I really enjoyed the story and the way that the book’s characters were developed! I totally recommend it to you!
  3. Wretched Waterpark by Kiersten White
    I really enjoyed this book! When Theo, Alexander, and Wil are suddenly told to go spend the summer with their mysterious Aunt Saffronia, they aren’t sure how to react, especially when their aunt decides to deposit them at the Fathoms of Fun waterpark, a waterpark that looks more like a nightmare zone. Then comes the problem of all the staff suddenly changing their personalities…This was such a great read and I totally recommend it to you! I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series!
  4. Family of Liars by Emily Lockhart
    This was the prequel to We Were Liars! In this book, Caroline’s own story comes to life during the summer that the boys arrived. The island is their own safe haven and soon, the boys both help build that up and break that down. Carrie falls for Pfeff, though he doesn’t seem to reciprocate the same feelings. As Pfeff shows just how much he doesn’t care for Carrie, their relationship splinters, to the point where she hates him. I really enjoyed this book and the way it defines the book after it! I totally recommend it to you!
  5. The Ojja Wojja by Magdalene Visaggio
    This was a graphic novel about two misfits in a “perfect” town. They’re terrorized by a bully, but find solace in each other and their small projects. Until one of those projects accidentally awakens a demon who takes over their town and makes their bully the center of it all. Only the two and their friends are spared. But the ritual to recapture the demon is tricky and they have to learn that sometimes, violence isn’t always the answer!

My Top Books of March ’23

  1. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
    This was such an amazing book! I’d heard about it for a really long time and so when I was able to get it, I was really excited! This book is about Queen Clytemnestra, one of the most infamous characters in Greek mythology, as she murdered her own husband after watching him kill their daughter as a sacrifice. I loved the way Clytemnestra was portrayed in the book, especially as we got to see her early years and how that led up to who she is. It’s a great story!
  2. Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
    I really enjoyed this book! It creates an intriguing world where the gods have died and humans and otherborns alike are left to fend for themselves. The otherborns are descendants of magical creatures, like the Fates, the Furies, the Graces and many others. Each otherborn has a special ability that they can use to change the world around them. I loved the worldbuilding that happened in this book and the way that they story evolved. This is a great read!
  3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    This was such a good book! Starr knows grief. She’s witnessed it with Natasha, and now, she witnesses it with Khalil. Now, she’s the only one left out of their friend group. Starr has to figure out where her loyalties lie as she struggles through family and school life. I really enjoyed this book and the way that the story was created. It was powerful and held strength in each sentence. I totally recommend it to you!
  4. Brighter Than the Moon by David Valdes
    Jonas and Shani met online. Ash and Shani are childhood friends. When Shani suspects something isn’t right, she asks Ash to investigate. But soon, they all find themselves stressed out and dealing with all their problems. Not to mention, that their feelings are confused and they don’t know what to do with their lives. I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters and the different perspectives, so you could see how each character reacts to what. It’s such an amazing book and I love how it ends!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here

My Top Books of Feb ’23

Here are my top books for this month!

  1. Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
    Seven has been waiting her whole life to be sorted into coven and so when the sorting ceremony comes, she can’t wait. But when she doesn’t get sorted and becomes a Spare, she’s distraught. Along with her worst enemy and the new girl, Seven must battle the monster that’s been plaguing their town to stay alive. This is an amazing book and I totally recommend it to you!
  2. Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie
    This was such an amazing book! I really enjoyed getting to read all the different stories- some that were serious and some that were fun and light. All the stories had different plots, different characters, and overall, different fun experiences to dive into. This is a great book and I totally recommend it to you!
  3. Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith
    This was such an amazing book! We get to see 3 different perspectives, Mary’s and her parents’. I loved the style of writing and the way poetry was eloquently used to tell the story of a French-Greek girl struggling to fit in. The author also included many beautifully written lines that still stick with me. It’s an amazing book!
  4. Curses by Lish McBride
    When Merit refused to marry the suitor her mother picked for her, she was cursed and transformed into a beast. A few years later, her 18th birthday is coming up and if she doesn’t marry soon, she’ll be a beast forever. However, she’s found a band of criminals who promise to help her meet her match. I really enjoyed this book!

Top Books of January: click here

Kalkandu Sadam

Recently I made a quick and easy Kalkandu Sadam in my Ninja Foodi. I really liked it and wanted to share it with you!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup kalkandu (sugar candy)
  • 2 and 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 and 1/2 tbsp ghee
  • 2 tsp cashews
  • 2 tsp raisins
  • a pinch of saffron

Recipe:

  1. Wash the rice and powder the kalkandu until it forms a coarse powder
  2. Add the rice (washed), water, and 1 cup of milk to the Foodi.
  3. Cook for 5 minutes and let the pressure release naturally, then open lid and mash the rice.
  4. Set the Foodi in saute mode and add the rest of the milk, the powdered kalkandu, and the cardamom.
  5. Mix well and cook for around 3-5 minutes.
  6. In a separate pan, heat the ghee then add the cashews and raisins to fry.
  7. Add this to the Foodi and mix well.
  8. Garnish with saffron and enjoy!

2023 goals

2023 is hopefully going to be a big year! I’m graduating middle school and moving on to high school, so that’s a pretty big milestone for me. I’m also hoping to work on things I’m passionate about and get much better at them.

Dance:

Dance, especially Bharatanatyam, is already a huge part of my life and I want that to continue through the new year. I hope to practice a lot more, learn many new items, and get more opportunities to perform.
This year, I’ll also get to perform in my school’s Spring Show, where I’ll be able to perform 4 dances in front of parents and friends. This is something I’m really excited for and I can’t wait to grow my contemporary dancing skills as well!

Writing:

I really want to work on my writing, as well as my use of vocabulary. Writing is already a huge passion of mine and I definitely want to grow that this year. I’m also auditioning for a creative-arts school in the category of writing!

Art:

Along with my writing, I would like to get better at my art skills! Currently, I might not be the best artist, however, I definitely want to practice a lot this year and hopefully learn more about art and develop an art style (or any semblance of one)

Books:

This year, I’m going to be trying to “read my bookshelf” more and get through many of the books on my bookshelf instead of always getting new ones. I hope to maybe finish more series and discover a lot of good books!

School:

This year, I’ll be going into high school and I hope to find my footing quickly. I’ll definitely keep working hard in my new school (and for the rest of middle school).

What goals do you have for 2023?