Review: Gracefully Grayson

Gracefully Grayson
Author: Ami Polonsky
Publication Date: November 4th 2014        
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
 

Alone at home, twelve-year-old Grayson Sender glows, immersed in beautiful thoughts and dreams. But at school, Grayson grasps at shadows, determined to fly under the radar. Because Grayson has been holding onto a secret for what seems like forever: “he” is a girl on the inside, stuck in the wrong gender’s body.

The weight of this secret is crushing, but leaving it behind would mean facing ridicule, scorn, and rejection. Despite these dangers, Grayson’s true self itches to break free. Strengthened by an unexpected friendship and a caring teacher who gives her a chance to step into the spotlight, Grayson might finally have the tools to let her inner light shine.

Debut author Ami Polonsky’s moving, beautifully-written novel shines with the strength of a young person’s spirit and the enduring power of acceptance. 

  

 

There's no doubt Gracefully Grayson is an important story to tell, and since it's between the Middle Grade age range, it's an important story for those ages to read. It's not an easy read, and maybe you're not going to outwardly get it, but you can't deny that at some point in here you'll stop and think about it. People's actions, reactions, their ignorance and prejudice of what's right and what's wrong. It's not a story you can relate to, it's not one you can imagine being in that persons shoes and try to understand because, honestly? How can you understand unless it's you.

Stacking the Shelves (#70) & Recap

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

So, how was everybody's week? Mine was a lot better than last week, thankfully. Had some nice surprises in the mail, which cheered me up, including three pre-orders. Very important pre-orders. ;)


Bought

 

 

 

• Mortal Gods  by Kendare Blake (Already read, and need book three ASAP.)
• Confessions: The Paris Mysteries  by James Patterson and  Maxine Paetro
• The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Review: A Thousand Pieces of You (AKA: Can I stab it with a basilisk fang?)

 A Thousand Pieces of You
Author: Claudia Gray
Publication Date: November 4th 2014        
Publisher: Harper Teen
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure

I'll let you into a little secret, I'm not an optimist. I look for the bad in books first before looking for the good,  so when I love a book despite its faults, that's when I know I truly love a book. Even if I do dislike it or have some issues with it, I usually can find redeemable qualities. Now, this isn't like with debuts where it can go either way, I wasn't worried about A Thousand Pieces of You at all, it's Claudia Gray, you guys, I had no doubt I would love it. I haven't finished the Evernight series, I've read up until the third I think, but I liked them, I read Fateful and loved that-because hello, Titanic-and I've started the Spellcaster series and loved the way the magic is represented, so A Thousand Pieces of You was a must read. Which is why I'm so disappointed that I absolutely hated it. The only redeemable quality I can find is the fact we jump to different times and different countries dimensions, but even then, I was too pissed off with the characters and their actions to actually enjoy it, and for most of it, it just felt like we were just given the run around.

Book Blitz: Diamonds in the Rough

Diamonds in the Rough (The Secret Diamond Sisters #2)

by Michelle Madow 

Release Date: 10/28/14

Harlequin Teen

448

Summary from Goodreads:

All-access doesn't mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow's riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million| Book Depository | iBookstore

Sequel to:

(cover linked to Goodreads)

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Book Depository | iBookstore

Courtney is sixteen years old, and is the middle Diamond sister. She’s the responsible one—she studies hard, does well in school, is a student tutor, and works after school and on weekends to help out her family. Her main goal is to keep up her grades and do well on her SATs so she can get into Stanford, her dream school. She wants to major in English and someday get a career in publishing. She’s competitive with herself and always strives to do her best.
Courtney’s closest friends are her sisters—with all the time she spends on school and work, she doesn’t have time for anyone else. She’s never had a boyfriend and is fine with waiting to date until college. (She doesn’t need any distractions right now!) She’s not into the high school party scene, and whenever she has time in her busy schedule, her favorite thing to do is read novels. She also loves listening to Broadway music (Phantom of the Opera and Wicked are her favorites) and would love to see a live show someday.
She’s a natural early bird, and is always awake before her sisters. She could happily wear jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops every day, and always goes natural with her makeup. Her favorite drink is chai tea. She’s quiet and reserved while first meeting someone, but she will do anything for the people she loves. She would love to travel the world to see historic sites and well-known museums, but it’s always felt more like a dream than a possible reality.

About the Author

Michelle Madow was inspired to write The Secret Diamond Sisters series while walking through her favorite hotel in Las Vegas. The next book in the series, Diamonds in the Rough, launches in October. Prior to The Secret Diamond Sisters, she successfully self-published The Transcend Time Saga. A tireless promoter of her work, Michelle is active on social media networks and has toured across America to promote her books and encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. A graduate of Rollins College, Michelle lives in Florida ... but she loves going to Vegas.

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, joinMichelle Madow's Street Team on Facebook!

Author Links:

   

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Waiting on Wednesday (#70)

 

 "Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

 

 Expected publication: June 9th 2015 by Dial/Penguin

 

 

When seventeen-year-old Minnow stumbles out of the woods one winter morning, she is haunted and handless and covered in someone else’s blood. She has just escaped the strict religious commune run by a cruel man named the Prophet. In exchange for freedom, she leaves behind her family, her home, and Jude--an outsider boy who changed everything.

But the real world isn't the sanctuary Minnow imagined. Soon, she gets arrested and placed in juvenile detention. Now, Minnow is being questioned by an FBI psychiatrist about the night she escaped, the same night the Prophet was burned to death in his own home—a murder Minnow may be responsible for.

A modern retelling of the Grimm fairy tale, "The Handless Maiden," in which the Devil orders a girl's hands cut off, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is the story of a girl growing out of the wreckage of corrupted faith.  

At first I didn't think this would be for me, since it's also about Religion, but it screams Cult and then I saw Grimm, so I'm in.

What're you waiting on?

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

 

 

I usually don't do Awards, but this one seemed too much fun to pass up, besides, I was nominated by these two lovelies, Saruuh and Petra.

The rules ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) Thank the blogger that nominated you, and link back to their site.
2) Post the award's logo on your blog.
3) Answer the 10 Questions That you have been asked.
4) Nominate 10 other bloggers and ask them 10 questions. 

 

 

Saruuh's Questions

 

1 - What was the first book you bought for yourself?

 

Holy crap that was a long time ago, I can't remember that, but I think the first book I remember buying was Harry Potter and the Philosophers  Stone, bought it second-hand with pocket money (the same with up to The Goblet of Fire, so my first full set is half second-hand, half brand new.

2 - Which book did you just finish?

 

Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano