Tag: books

My Goodreads Account

I recently got a Goodreads account and have just started making up all of the books I’ve read. If you have Goodreads and would like to follow me, here is the link: click here.

I used to keep track of all the books I’ve read on Word or Google Sheets. This wasn’t very efficient and took a bit more work to update everything. In Goodreads, the author of the books is already there, so I don’t have to write that, and I can review books on a scale of one to five. I find it important that I track books, especially because in my blog, I do a “top reads of the month” post. These posts require me to know which books I’ve read, and Goodreads can help with that. I also like knowing which books I really enjoyed reading, and having them saved on my computer.

Do you track the books you read? Remember to follow me on Goodreads!

A-Z 2021 Theme Reveal

This year, I’m participating in the Blogging From A-Z Challenge. This challenge is when you post every day of April (except Sundays) thematically in alphabetical order. My theme is Mglit Book Characters.

I picked this theme because I love to read and wanted to share some of my favorite characters and what I love about them. Mglit has many diverse characters, some being realistic, and some being fantastical, and I love to see what each book has in store. I’ve been preparing for a few months and while it was hard at some times (trying to find characters whose names started with X for example), all in all it was really fun and was an enjoyable time!

#AtoZChallenge 2021 banner

February’s Top Books

Here are my top book of February!

February’s Best Books

  1. Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment by Chris Grabenstein and James Patterson
    This book is about Max Einstein, a twelve year old orphan. She’s homeless, but still works out ways to get an education. One day, she’s recruited by an organization to participate in a competition. Max would love to win, but she disagrees with the tests and what is considered important. All the time, there is an evil company trying to get her…….What happens is so fun and I got taken on an amazing ride with this book. I loved it!
  2. The Last Bear by Hannah Gold
    April is a young girl who lives with her dad. She tries to have a normal life, but it’s hard when her dad has changed a lot. Then, one day, her dad gets a notice, saying that he has a new job on Bear Island. April is thrilled, hoping that she’ll get to have fun with her dad. But, nothing has changed. April is bored again, until she meets a polar bear which isn’t supposed to be there. I loved this book and what it talks about so much. It’s an amazing book!
  3. Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi
    Rea is a twelve year old girl whose brother has just been kidnapped. Her mother and grandmother seem to take it that he’s gone, but Rea knows she can save him. So she visits Mishti Daadi, an old fortune teller with her sort-of friend, Leela. Mishti Daadi gives her riddles and with these riddles and her dreams, she realizes that it is possible to save her brother. As the story progresses, there are twists and turns around every corner. I loved this book so, so much and I totally recommend it to you!
  4. Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi
    This is the second book in the Aru Shah series. Aru is a pandava. She’s been accused of stealing the god of love’s (Kamadeva) bow and arrow, but she knows it wasn’t her. Now she has until the next full moon to go on a quest with her two “soul-sisters” Mini and Brynne and her other friend, Aiden. I love the Indian mythology in this book and how everything is so descriptive. I loved this book!
  5. The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao
    Faryn Liu is a twelve year old girl who has dreams of defeating monsters and honoring her family and the gods, but how can she do that when her family is shunned by almost everyone else? One day, she helps to kill a nian, a mythical beast. From then on, she is proclaimed the Heaven Breaker and has to get on several tasks to prove it. I loved this book so much and all the twists and turns that came with it. It’s so amazing!
  6. The Mysterious Benedict Society: The Prisoner’s Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
    In the third book of the Mr. Benedict series, the stakes are higher than ever. Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are in big trouble when one day, a blackout engulfs Stontown. Constance is missing and they almost find her and are safe, but of course the enemies are one step ahead of them. I loved the thrilling twists and turns and all the puzzles in the book. It’s so fun and I enjoyed it so much!

Top books of January: click here

January’s Top Books

This is a new feature which I’m introducing on my blog. At the end of every month, I’ll write a list of around 5-7 books which I really enjoyed reading the month. Hope you enjoy!

Best Books I read in January 2021

  1. The Magnus Chase Series by Rick Riordan
    This series is about Magnus Chase, a 16 year old boy who lives in Boston. He’s homeless and has two good friends, Hearth and Blitz. But when he accidentally dies, he opens up a whole new world of Norse myths and legends. These books are really amazing and they’re definitely one of my top.
  2. The Giver by Lois Lowry
    This is the first book in a quartet. Jonas, a 11 year old boy, lives in a “perfect” world where there is no poverty, war, or overpopulation. But good things, such as music and color have also disappeared from their lives. When he meets the Giver, he finally learns what his life is, and what it could be. I really enjoyed reading the series, with all of the suspense and twists. It’s an amazing book.
  3. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
    This book tells the story of 12 year old Crow, a girl who was abandoned and now lives off the coast of Massachusetts. She wants answers about her past, almost desperately and her two guardians support her, though a bit reluctantly. I loved following Crow in this journey to learn about who she really is. It’s a great book!
  4. Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie
    This book contains mysteries, some of which have almost never been solved. Miss Marple is a old lady, who has seen and learnt more than anybody could guess. I loved reading about all of these puzzles and how Miss Marple outwits everyone else every time. This is one of those books my parents have also read and enjoyed. It is fun talking to them about it.
  5. Aster’s Good Right Things by Kate Gordon
    Aster is a young girl who doesn’t feel special at all, but she goes to a school for gifted kids. The only way she copes is by doing her “good, right things”. As a young girl with an anxiety disorder, she believes that the world will fall apart if she stops. Then she meets Xavier and she starts having fun. I really enjoyed the book about finding friends and support.
  6. The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari
    I loved this amazing book about dealing with grief. Charlie has been noticing that his sister’s been acting unusual. He follows her to another world, one where his mom is still alive. He’s happy….at first. He realizes that something is wrong though. With the help of his friends, he comes up with a plan to escape the other world for good. I really loved this book and the magical element to it.

Read Your Bookshelf

Read Your Bookshelf month is where you take a month (or 2 in my case!) and use it to only read books from your shelves. This means no library or e-books at all (at least after I finish my big pile of books to read!). I’ll be doing it through January and February.

I’m also using this opportunity to participate in the #bitaboutbooks challenge.

This is a fun challenge, in which I’m using books on my bookshelf. This is my plan so far, but it’s all subject to change!

I’ve already finished, Miss Marple, and am super excited to read the rest!

5 Things I am Thankful For

2020 has been a strange year. There is the whole COVID-19 pandemic, and small other things that make this year feel like the worst. However, if you take a look at your day to day lives, you’ll see quite a few things which make you grateful for the life you’re living right now. Here are a few parts of my life I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving.

  1. Getting into the middle school I wanted- I was very, very nervous leading up to the middle school selection deadline. One day, my mom announced that I had gotten into the school which I had wanted, and all of my worries vanished. I’m currently attending that middle school and really happy there!
  2. My teachers- My teachers, old and new, were always kind and helpful to me. They have helped me through my struggles and always been there for me. They always incorporate a bit of fun into the learning for a great day.
  3. My friends- even though I can’t meet up with my friends, that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun with them through online chats and video calls. I love hanging out with them and they incorporate a lot of fun into my day!
  4. Books- books are always there for me. I love to pick up a random book and dive into its pages and stay immersed in the story until I have to leave. Books are another fantastical world for me and they are an amazing way to pass the time.
  5. Technology- if not for technology (meaning laptops, phones, computers etc.) then I would not be able to attend my classes, not be able to learn much, and not have a “school” to go to. Because of my laptop and other important devices around me, I can learn, talk to friends, and make new friends. Technology is awesome, just because of that.

Those were some things I am thankful for in this strange year of 2020. What about you? What are you thankful for?

My 2020 #mgbooktober posts

Last month, I participated in #mgbooktober on Instagram. #Mgbooktober is a fun book challenge which requires you to post something every day. I decided to share a few of my favorite posts on my blog as well. You can check out my other posts on Instagram and hopefully follow me!

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Day 12 of October and #mgbooktober ! Today’s prompt is a book that got you out of a reading slump. I don’t really have reading slumps, but if I just need a book to read, I always go for this one. I love reading the ending in which Sophie realizes who she really is and knows that she is and will always be loved by Agatha, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. This scene is so sweet and always brings tears to my eyes. If you haven’t read this series, I totally recommend it to you. Current Reads: 1. Of a Feather by @daynalorentzbooks 2. The Elephant’s Girl by @celesta_rimington #schoolforgoodandevil #sge #ilovethisseries #ilovethisbook #lovethisending #amazingbook #sophie #agatha #anadil #dot #hester #tedros #theschoolyears #thecamelotyears

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Day 24 of October and #mgbooktober ! Today’s prompt is a fictional book setting you wish you could visit. I have always wanted to go to Camp Half-Blood and meet the demigods like Percy, Annabeth, or Piper! Ever since I started read this series, it has been my dream. By the way, I’m a daughter of either Poseidon or Athena. What about you? Current Reads: 1. A Woman in the House (and Senate) by Ilene Cooper 2. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart Unexpected Reads: 1. The Bookshop Girl by Sylvia Bishop 2. One Last Word by Nikki Grimes #camphalfblood #percyjackson #percyjacksonandtheolympians #heroesofolympus #demigods #halfbloods #campjupiter #goodseries #goodbooks #annabethchase #pipermclean #7demigods

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Day 26 of October and #mgbooktober ! Today’s prompt is a book that made you laugh. I love this series and Mr Lemencello’s crazy and wacky imagination. It’s so amazing to just open a book and fall into a new world with magical and bizarre games. This series has taken me on a wild ride and I am constantly excited for the next one to come out! Current Reads: 1. The Graveyard Book by @neilhimself 2. Over the Underworld by Adam Shaughnessy #mrlemencello #thetitaniumticket #chrisgrabenstein #goodauthor #greatseries #ilovethisgame #ilovethisseries #ilovethisbook #thisissuperfunny #boardgames #kylekeeley #akimihughes #miguelfernandez #sierarussel #andrewpeckleman #charleschilington #ireadmgbooks #ireadmglit #ireadmg #ireadmgfantasy #ireadmgfiction

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Mint Girl Reads What Stars Are Made of by Sarah Allen

I recently read the book, “What Stars Are Made Of” by Sarah Allen. It’s a book that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.

It’s about a 12 year old girl, Libby Monroe, who is born with Turner syndrome. This impacts how she acts in certain situations, but it doesn’t make her any less of a determined girl. When her big sister, Nonny, announces that she is pregnant, Libby is thrilled. She decides to make a deal with the universe. If she is able to give credit to Celia Payne, a lesser known scientist , through a Smithsonian contest, then Nonny’s baby will be fine. She tries hard to get Celia into her school textbook, but when that doesn’t work, she is heartbroken. Along with her friends though, she creates a new stunning project.

I loved learning about how Libby overcomes her shyness and is able to show who she really is in this book. I think it was a sweet book and I could never put it down.

In this book, y0u will learn how Libby makes friends and comes to realize that she is perfect, just the way she is. I really enjoyed reading this book and thought it was amazing. I definitely recommend you to check out this book if you haven’t read it.

4 Graphic Novels I Enjoyed

Graphic novels are almost like normal books. They capture a lot of the same emotions and talk about problems in the same way. The only difference is that they are usually lighter and more fun to read. Here are some of my favorite graphic novels.

  1. Raina Telgemeier books

I absolutely love the graphic novels that Raina Telgemeier writes. She writes many different ranges of books. 2 of my favorite books by her are Smile and Sisters which talk about her experiences with mouth troubles and her relationship with her sister. I also enjoy her graphic novel take on the novels written by Ann M Martin. The Baby-Sitters Club series is so lively and it’s one of my favorites. I also love her stand alone books.

2. Go With The Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann

This book talks about periods and how one certain middle school never had pads and tampons stocked up. It is really exciting and I love how the authors tied in the theme of friendship in as well. Each character’s personality is so different and I loved the idea of protests. This is such a great book and you should totally read it!

3. 5 Worlds series by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel

This series is so captivating and exciting. Each graphic novel ends with an enthralling cliffhanger and makes you want to read the next book. It follows the story of Oona Lee and her friends who are trying to save the 5 worlds from extinction. There are so many plot twists and everyone has secrets. I love the fantasy element and it’s so fun to read! This is a great series and the last book is coming out soon!

4. Emmie and Friends series by Terri Libenson

This series is so upbeat and I love the problems and solutions. It’s really fun to read and each book can be read as a stand-alone or a series. It’s one of my favorite series, because of the realistic characters. It’s so fun to read and I always can count on Emmie, Brianna, and Jamie (even though I haven’t read her book yet- it’s on my TBR) to cheer me up. This is such a great series and I really think you should read it.

What are some of your favorite series?

The Mint Girl Reads The Heath Cousins and The Moonstone Cave by Eileen Hobbs

Recently, I received a copy of the book, The Heath Cousins and the Moonstone Cave by Eileen Hobbs. This is the first book in a trilogy and I am really excited to read the other books.

Addie B. is a young girl who lives in London. She comes to her grandparent’s beach house in Maine. She is excited to meet her grandfather, but not at all excited to see her 3 cousins: Jack, Beanie, and Bodie. Addie’s grandfather gives her a treasure book, which her grandmother once owned. Inside it is a moonstone ring and a poem. These lead Addie and her cousins to a cave. The adventure that they go on is unlike any other.

My favorite part of the book was when Addie and Jack (and the other cousins) start to understand each other. This helps them get along better and work together to get out of the cave.

This book is perfect if you love mystery and fantasy. I was kept on the edge of my toes while following the story of Addie B., Bodie, Jack, and Beanie.