Search Results for: stacey lee

• Book Review: “Outrun the Moon” by Stacey Lee

  Posted at 4:15 am by Laura, on April 12, 2017

  Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

  Publisher: Putnam
  Published: May 2016
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780399175411
  Rating: ★★★★★

  San Francisco, 1906: Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty in Chinatown, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes.

  On April 18, a historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. With martial law in effect, she is forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Though fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, Mercy can’t sit by while they wait for the army to bring help—she still has the “bossy” cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenage girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?

  Mercy Wong is eager to make something of herself and help her family out of Chinatown. In order to do so, she needs to attend St Clare’s School for Girls. Getting into the school is the first of many hurdles, and Mercy is nearly unprepared for what’s in store within the school’s walls. But when a disastrous earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying the city and setting it alight, Mercy and the other girls do their best to set up a temporary encampment at a nearby park and make the most of what they have. Mercy can’t sit by and watch the world burn — but what can she do to help ease the pain of her crumbling home?

  Once again, Stacey Lee steals my heart and shares another important story. Important in American history, important in Chinese-American culture, just all around important. She delivers it with such artistry and storytelling mastery. I’m blown away.

  Mercy is one fierce, independent, determined young woman. She wants to make something of herself so that she could also assist her family and help them out of poverty. The Wongs, like most Chinese-American families in Chinatown, would otherwise face the inevitable cycle of poverty just because of their race and location of their home. Mercy consults a businesswoman’s book to help her navigate the “white ghost” language, social structure, and business in a fair and structured way. No one could lawfully question her otherwise if she’s playing by their rules. But in order to do so, she needs to attend an all-white, very prosperous, all-girls school. The struggle is real, folks.

  Race is a common theme throughout the novel, and one that is demonstrated without pushing an agenda. This is how things were then — and it’s painful and honest and difficult to take in — and likely how things are still now. We can learn from our history, and Lee does an excellent job of saying such by showing us the conflicts, triggering the reader’s emotions and reactions. I, for one, wanted to punch the living daylights out of so many white characters; meanwhile, Mercy held her ground with strength and poise. I admired her.

  To end on a light note, I was touched by the affection between Mercy and Tom, another Chinese-American boy with aspirations to fly. They love one another, you can feel it in their interactions, and they set out for their goals with the other in mind to share in the dreams and success. Though this isn’t a romance per se, it’s beautiful.

  This book is about Mercy’s journey to achieve her dreams while fighting through adversity, and experiencing this journey with a close group of schoolgirls in the middle of a very traumatic moment in history. Open it and take the journey in another’s shoes. Find compassion. Be inspired.

  .

  This qualifies as book 6 of 12 in the Rock My TBR challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017, Rock My TBR | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “Under a Painted Sky” by Stacey Lee

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on May 11, 2015

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

  Publisher: Putnam
  Published: March 2015
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780399168031
  Goodreads: 4.09
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail.

  If Samantha just listened to her father’s plan about moving to California, then tragedy would not have left her an orphan — or so she believes. Over the course of one night, Samantha murders a man and is aided by slave Annamae to disguise as boys and flee Missouri. A Chinese girl and runaway slave aren’t easy to hide, so they quickly forge a bond with three cowboys and claim to be heading to California for the gold rush. But these girls-turned-boys, now Sammy and Andy, find they’ve got more to worry about than prices on their heads. The Oregon Trail is no walk in the park, and danger can strike at any moment on the open prairie.

  Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.

  When I first saw this book on a list of to-watch reads, I latched on immediately to three things: YA historical fiction, west/Oregon Trail, and diverse protagonists. A year ago I said I wanted more historical fiction in YA, more Western themes (even mentioned the Oregon Trail!), more pioneers, more POC as protagonists. And guess what? This book has it. So if you’re looking for something fresh and unique that your mind will cling to long after you finish the book, you want to pick this one up. There’s not enough historical fiction in the YA category, and everyone loves a good adventure. Plus, this troupe has a Chinese girl (and her philosophy really plays a role in the story), a black girl (whose faith is so steadfast, it makes me weep), two white Texans (who are so very American it cracks me up), and one Mexican (whose story I wanted to hear more of). You will fall in love. Also, music. Music and storytelling are massive components to this book.

  If eyes left footprints, this man’s face would be worn as a welcome mat.

  At first I wondered how Sammy could pull off being a guy. She and Andy are girls with defining feminine features, and Chinese are typically built thinner anyway. The likelihood people could see through their disguise was pretty high, which is why it was so great the three cowboys — Cay, West, and Peety — took them under their wing without asking too many questions. With those guys by their side, teaching them how to ride, shoot, and use rope, Sammy and Andy could take on the whole Oregon Trail and any outlaws they’d stumble across. With each passing day, the guys open up to them, and Sammy noticeably relaxes from a fearful girl dressed as a guy, to a strong-willed girl stretching her wings and independence.

  They say time freezes, but I’ve never experienced it until now. I stay like that, lost in his eyes for that eternal moment, and then the dawn breaks, and we are Sammy and West again, boys on the trail.

  About a third into the book you begin to wonder if the cowboys have caught on to the girls’ disguises. It’s most visible in West’s demeanor around Sammy. He’s an artistic, tortured, quiet soul, and it speaks to Sammy’s philosophical, musical side. They dance around each other. After several life-threatening events, Sammy’s certain West knows, but at this point in the trail she’s not sure what to believe. The romance is not a major component to the story, yet it’s fraught with emotional turmoil and tension and confusion. It’s a difficult situation, pretending to be someone you’re not, when the people who’ve helped you from the beginning have been nothing but kind, generous, and honest. Truly, all the relationships, platonic or otherwise, were so well-written and believable I can’t help but hope their journey continues beautifully.

  It is no easy thing, living under the weight of public scrutiny day after day.

  Sammy and Andy are the stars of this book. Forced together under difficult circumstances, a blessing to the other, they grow and bond like no other new friendship I’ve seen in any other book. They’re torn over their paths to freedom: Sammy to California to find the man who was going to help her and her father, Andy to an unmarked, potentially mythical falls, where she would meet her runaway brother. As time passes and the necessity to stay linked to the cowboys becomes apparent, the girls are torn between continuing on those separate journeys or linking them together. It’s incredibly touching, and made doubly so by their shared and yet vastly different life experiences. Sammy’s singled out because she’s Chinese, a foreigner, a marvel to some and scum to others. Andy is singled out — or invisible — because she’s black, a slave girl with a brand on her arm, with no one to believe she’s good and clean and human. They bond over their otherness, and they learn from their differences. And what’s even more beautiful is that West, Peety, and Cay don’t give a lick what these girls (boys?) look like, just that they do their part on the trail.

  “Dig in for a second, boys,” breathes Cay. “My eyeballs are full.”

  This is a story about friendship and sacrifice, compassion and humanity, philosophy and faith, music and art, danger and bravery, all on the stunning backdrop of the Oregon Trail.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Familiars” by Stacey Halls

  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on March 21, 2019

  The Familiars by Stacey Halls

  Publisher: MIRA
  Published: February 2019
  Genre: historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780778369189
  Rating: ★★★★

  Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, is with child again. None of her previous pregnancies have borne fruit, and her husband, Richard, is anxious for an heir. Then Fleetwood discovers a hidden doctor’s letter that carries a dire prediction: she will not survive another birth. By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help her deliver a healthy baby. But Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft.

  Is there more to Alice than meets the eye? Fleetwood must risk everything to prove her innocence. As the two women’s lives become intertwined, the Witch Trials of 1612 loom. Time is running out; both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.

  Fleetwood Shuttleworth is a young noblewoman living near Pendle Hill in 1612 and approaching her fourth pregnancy with trepidation. Her other pregnancies have failed and she’s terrified this one will be the death of her. She requires the midwifery services of Alice Grey, who is later accused of witchcraft along with a dozen other women in the Lancaster area. Desperate to prove her innocence, Fleetwood defies the men in her life and tries to piece together the puzzle of Alice’s unfortunate situation.

  This solidly historical novel, with writing and atmosphere that feels like there’s a touch of magic, recounts the Pendle Witch Trials in northern England, taken from transcripts, letters, and notes of the time. Halls does an incredible job of making the reader question if Alice really was a witch––the eerie coincidences, Fleetwood’s moments of fear, and the misunderstandings of the townspeople are full of the uncanny and unsettling. Hundreds of years later our society is fascinated by witch trials and witch hunts––what really happened, what caused them, and why don’t we believe it now––and let’s just say Halls really nails it with this novel.

  Poor, illiterate women were the scapegoats for any instances of misunderstanding or coincidences. These women were also relied upon (“wise women”) to serve their villages and towns with their knowledge of herbal medicines and remedies––far more than any doctor at the time, and far more successful. Whether people (particularly men) were offended or threatened by them for their poverty and illiteracy, or for their expertise in something one was not familiar with, or for the plain fact they were female and it offended one’s masculinity, these “wise women” were sought out and accused of witchcraft. In the case of the Pendle witches, they were poor, possible mentally abused and traumatized, and neighbors as well––perhaps there was a long familial rivalry and things just snapped––and immediately were the ones blamed for all bad luck in the Lancaster area.

  In a way, Hall makes us examine just how much we’ve “grown” from these trials. We still have prejudices against the poor, mentally ill, and boundary-pushing women, all who are still at risk of being pushed down, silenced, and minimized. They’re not witches anymore, but they’re still “unwanted” members of society.

  Politics aside, I was enamored with the writing, the power behind the story, and all that women were still able to do (in very roundabout ways) in order to stand with each other on the right side of justice. Excellent, atmospheric novel!

  This qualifies as book 3 of 10 in my library books challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2019 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review

• Flipping Through the Pages: Spring Rewind 2017

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on July 3, 2017

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  One of my friends had a very lovely, private wedding (or engagement party? She’s having a big to-do this time next year, so it was quasi-engagement party, quasi-wedding because she and her husband signed papers), and the cupcakes were too pretty and delicious not to take a picture! Rossetti has been joining me for a lot of my reading this spring, and I love her company. Finally, The Alice Network was my first 5-star read of the year and I was absolutely blown away by the writing, the story, the characters, the plot…

  Life Highlights

  The biggest news is that I was recently promoted to Associate Literary Agent!

  I talked a little bit about Book Expo in an If We Were Having Coffee post, but I also recently went to ALA! The morning was spent attending as many panels as possible for the library, and the afternoon was spent wandering the exhibit floor and documenting Jared Reck’s first public appearance and galley signing. Big day for this agent/librarian.

  Finally, the Beau and I went on a mini trip to see his friends for a pub crawl. Two couples in the friend group are moving out of state within a few weeks of each other, so we all got together and went on a massive bar crawl. It started off with 7 people, and somewhere in the night we had 25+ total. So much fun — and a mandatory brunch the next day was just what the doctor ordered. It’s so hard when you/your friends move away. They’re going to neat places in the country, so hopefully this means more travel opportunities.

  Tunes on Repeat

  Maybe I should eliminate this bit of the feature, because it’s just not happening for me. I’m not into what’s on the radio (and I’m already missing out on John Mayer’s latest, Ed Sheeran, and the 1D solo boys’ music), I’m listening to audio books for the library in the car, and (to be completely honest) what I have listened to is mostly choral music that most of you aren’t all that interested in. Unless you want to hear something? Let me know. Feast your ears on this, in the meantime.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro @ Belle of the Literati — For Kelly’s 30th birthday, this adventurer went on her own and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro! Her experience was incredible. Read about it here!
  2. The Intimidating TBR Tag @ The Bookish Beagle — Morgan’s TBR post was both intense and awesome. I fully plan to do this tag at some point (…just like I fully plan to read all those books on the TBR pile at some point…*ducks*)
  3. On My Nightstand @ What Sarah Read — In a similar vein, Sarah started a new feature called On My Nightstand to showcase some books she’s interested in reading immediately.
  4. When the Movie is Better Than the Book @ Writer of Wrongs — Gillian went there. She went there and admitted what we all know to be true: sometimes, the movie is better than the book. *gasp*
  5. Library Dreamin’ @ Alexa Loves Books — What does your dream library look like? I gotta say, my dream library looks a lot like Alexa’s IRL library…

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. Book Review: Hunted by Meagan Spooner (ARC) — I LOVE this book, and it makes me ridiculously happy to see this was such a popular post!
  2. Book Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (ARC) — IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK YOU MUST REMEDY THAT NOW.
  3. If We Were Having Coffee… — This post is always so popular. For random updates, feel free to read my unedited, walls down, conversational post. In this one, I talk about Band of Brothers, Book Expo, Forge of Empires, and my never-ending war with chips and queso.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee ★★★★★

  The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ★★★★★

  The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams ★★★★.5

  What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum ★★★★.5 (review to come!)

  Cherished Quotes

  “Why don’t you sit with the others?” I ask her.
  “I find the company of a book much more interesting.”
  — Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

  Emma suffered daily for friends and neighbors. [The Allies] were doing it for strangers, throwing themselves on that beach, slaughtered tillt he sea ran dark, and another wave came, and was slaughtered, and another, whole cities of men. They have never met Emma, she would never meet them, and still another wave.
  It was so humbling, Emma clung to the tree and did not think she could continue to breathe. The weight of their sacrifice might crush her. Here they had died, and up the beach they were still dying, in flocks and willingly for the idea that she, Emma herself, and her friends and family and neighbors, ought to live in freedom. Who on earth deserved such a gift?
  — The Baker’s Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan

  My hands are flapping again. Tears are running down my face. I am losing control.
  Slipping into a vertiginous vortex. I used to think loneliness was being stuck
  with only the one voice in your head. I was wrong.*

  Here’s the thing about making a friend that I didn’t understand before I started talking to Kit: They grow your world. Allow for previously inconceivable possibilities.*
  — *the following quotes taken from uncorrected proof of What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 10 / 22

  The Light Between Oceans || The Husband’s Secret || W is for Wasted
  The Miniaturist || The Astronaut Wives Club || The Burning Room
  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet || The President’s Shadow
  Orphan Train || Still Life

  Fun Library Books: 8 / 5 // Complete!

  Heart’s Blood || The Bear and the Nightingale || The Silver Gate
  Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies || A Window Opens
  Alex, Approximately || The Baker’s Secret || Troubled Waters

  Flights of Fantasy / Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 2 / 9

  Heart’s Blood || Son of the Shadows

  Classics & ReRead: 0 / 2

  Rock My TBR: 10 / 12

  Caraval || You and Me, Always || The Miniaturist
  Son of the Shadows || The Sun is Also a Star || Outrun the Moon
  The Secret Life of Violet Grant || This Adventure Ends || The Alice Network 
  Like a River Glorious

  Impulse Buys: 5 / 5

  You and Me, Always || Flight of Dreams || Wait for Me
  The Hate U Give || The Map That Leads to You

  Overall Challenge: 32 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Grantchester is back!

  

  I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF SIDNEY CHAMBERS. He’s making poor life choices so far this season (go AWAY, AMANDA.), but I love him all just the same.

  On Film: I mentioned watching Band of Brothers for the first time in my If We Were Having Coffee post, and weeks later I’m still blown away by the show. So let’s add Wonder Woman to the mix! OH MY GOD. When we left the theater, I said to The Beau, “This must be what it feels like to be a white man!” I FELT POWERFUL AND UNSTOPPABLE. More female superheroes, please!!!

  In the Shopping Bag: Shopping? What is shopping? All my money went to travel, conferences, and hotel fees. Wah wah.

  Miscellaneous: I mentioned it before and I’ll say it again: Forge of Empires. I’m seriously obsessed with this app. People have described it like Sim City, and I can’t tell you if it is or not but I’m enjoying every second of it. Have you played it?

  Looking Towards the Future

  Lots of traveling coming up this summer! In July I’m heading to Nashville for a writers conference. Hope to hear some great pitches while I’m there. In August I’m traveling with The Beau to Iowa to visit family and some of his high school friends. And then in September, Jared’s book publishes! HURRAY! Oh, and it’s wedding season for like…a bazillion people, and I’m really looking forward to dancing many nights away!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

   

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind | 3 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Advance Excitement at a Glance XXIV

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on April 30, 2016

  

  A monthly meme to keep up with the latest publications, featuring advance copy reviews to look forward to reading.

  Holy massive month of releases. Some of my favorites — Morgan Matson, Stacey Lee, Stephanie Perkins, Jessica Brockmole, SJ Maas — and some potential newbies, like The Crown’s Game and Sing, all come out in May. But one book I’m particularly excited about, Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman, releases in just a few days!

  

  Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman
  (Balzer + Bray, May 3)

  Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects.

  Except for Elizabeth Milton, the daughter of notorious poet John Milton. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.

  When the king’s men arrest him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by an Italian scientist, Antonio Vivani. When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code.

  Nerd book of nerdy proportions. Give it to me now.

  What books are you looking forward to in May?

  Posted in Advance Excitement, books | 0 Comments | Tagged advance excitement at a glance, advance reading copy, books

• End of Year Book Survey II

  Posted at 3:40 am by Laura, on December 28, 2015

  

  This is the second year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. What started off as a fun recap on her blog has turned into an excellent way for other bloggers to catch up with each other and what happened to them/the blog that year.

  So without further ado, here are some of my reflections on my 2015 book life! Note: This includes all books read in 2015 – they do not have to be published in 2015. 

  

  Number Of Books You Read: 66
  Number of Re-Reads: 3.5 (I’m halfway through a 4th one!)
  Genre You Read The Most From: contemporary

  

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2015?

  AHHHHHHH of course we must start with the toughest question. I think, of the top five books I chose, it would be Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  Uprooted by Naomi Novik was definitely a good read, but I didn’t love it the way the blogging community seemed to. A lot of it had to do with the romance plotline. That particular kind of romance with that kind of guy isn’t my cup of tea, but everything else about the book was fantastic. A forest as a villain? Yes.

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2015? 

  Most Surprising (Good): The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski, only because I didn’t have very high expectations for it, and now I’m gaga over the trilogy.
  Most Surprising (Bad): This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer Smith. I thought I would fall to pieces over it, and instead the book fell flat for me! Major bummer.

  

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2015?

  A lot of what I recommend when I’m working at the bookstore tends to be contemporary YA that’s a bit on the lighter side (plenty of teens and parents ask for books that “aren’t so dark and heavy” or “the romance isn’t the main focus of the plot”). So with that in mind, I’d say I pushed Sophie Kinsella’s YA debut Finding Audrey and Holly Smale’s Model Misfit the most (and equally).

  5. Best Series You Started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

  Best series started: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
  Best sequel: The Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman
  Best series ender: The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan (mostly because this is the only ‘series’ (rather than duology) that I finished this year)

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2015?

  Stacey Lee! Her debut Under a Painted Sky convinced me to read all of her future work, forever and ever amen.

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?
  

  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, because I’m not a memoir person at all.

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  Teri Brown’s Velvet Undercover was definitely thrilling and hard to put down. Right up there with Blankman’s books. It’s that espionage element I’m surprised I love so much.

  9. Book You Read in 2015 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  Probably Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest cause it’s so damn good.

  

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2015?

  Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch for series continuity and overall Balzer + Bray brilliance, or The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston for the way it almost looks like a portrait (the background has brush strokes and everything!), or Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy, again a credit to B+B brilliance. I DON’T KNOW. I love covers!

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2015?

  Sorcha (of Daughter of the Forest). Gosh, she’s nearly everything I could want in a character. Sorcha is strong, intelligent, wise beyond her years and yet still innocent, determined, driven by instinct.

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2015?

  Daughter of the Forest. How many times will I need to mention this book before I convince you to read it, too? We’re only on Question Twelve!

  

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2015?

  It sounds terrible to say I didn’t read a thought-provoking/life-changing book (well, Daughter of the Forest, again, is close on the life-changing), but there are a couple books I read this year that can inspire great conversations.

  • Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman is all about the underbelly of German government before Hitler became Chancellor, a period of history so rarely discussed in American schools.
  • A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis opens up a whole host of discussions about mental illness, asylums, feminism, and crime in nineteenth-century America.
  • Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway dissects the ways a tragic incident can change not only the life of the victim but other lives surrounding him as well.
  • Dumplin’ has a body positive message, one I’d never seen before (but surely had been mentioned or discussed in literature at some point…right?)
  • Finding Audrey is one of few positive mental health books where things do not end in tragedy (why must mental illness always end tragically?)

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2015 to Finally Read? 

  Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. I think I’ll be answering this question with Outlander books forever. For shame I didn’t read them before!

  

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2015?

  Perhaps he could still weave together the broken threads of his life. And yet, I wanted him here now. I needed him here. In the darkness, if I sat very still, I could almost feel his presence by me, quite near, but not too near. Didn’t I promise to keep you safe, he would say softly. I have never broken a promise. Don’t look so worried, Jenny. And yet, he would be careful. Careful not to move too close. Careful not to frighten me. Waiting still. I am your shelter. Don’t be afraid.
  —Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2015?

  After checking my Goodreads stats, the shortest was picture book The Animals’ Santa by Jan Brett (my favorite of her books!) at 32 pages and the longest was Drums of Autumn at 1,070.

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  Rook by Sharon Cameron. The intricacy, the plot, the world, the way it both mirrored and differed from Scarlet Pimpernel. Gosh, that door stopper was good. I remember I wasn’t quite in the right mindset to read the book, so it’ll be reread again eventually.

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  RED AND SORCHA.

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Grace and Dr Thornhollow from A Madness So Discreet. I said in my review:

  What an individual. And what an opportunity for Grace to fall in love and forget her entire past and the scars it left behind, an opportunity for a scientific man to crack open his shell and break free and fall in love. Thank goodness McGinnis did not go that route!

  

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord. She’s an automatic read and buy for me, and I didn’t think it was possible to love a YA male character more than Matt Finch, but then Max Watson showed up and SHUT THE FRONT DOOR I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT.

  21. Best Book You Read in 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, recommended by Hannah @ So Obsessed With, and thank goodness! I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy…well, frankly, “royal family fanfiction” (because WHAT), and I TOTALLY DID.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2015?

  Red. ‘Nuff said.

  

  23. Best 2015 Debut You Read?

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee, again. Best newly discovered author and best debut!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  Gosh, those are two completely different things in my head. The best world-building may go to A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas, and the most vivid setting will (of course, you guessed it) Daughter of the Forest. Both are fantasies, but one is entirely new and the other based on Ireland.

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  Murder is Bad Manners / A Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens. Talk about a classic MG detective mystery!

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2015?

  Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey, but I think that has something to do with the fact it was late at night and it reached a point in the story that touched me so deeply I couldn’t help but cry. I’m emotional like that.

  

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Kate Alcott holds a special place in my heart, so I’d say her “Gone With the Wind”-behind-the-scenes book A Touch of Stardust was a hidden gem in 2015.

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  The Winner’s Crime. Right in the feels.

  

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2015?

  The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon. It’s a quirky and unique adventure-that’s-not-quite-an-adventure MG, and the author used his own artwork to enhance the story. He’s definitely someone to watch.

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  I Remember You by Cathleen Bell was…odd. I still don’t know what it was I read, and I remember feeling unsettled the entire time I read it. Again, not mad, necessarily, just…frustrated.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2015? 

  Probably Kelly @ Belle of the Literati. I stumbled across it after joining the ReRead 2015 challenge, and I love her mixture of discussion, challenges, tags, and reviews (plus she reviews a lot of historical fiction, which is hard to find in a YA-saturated blogosphere).

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015? 

  A Madness So Discreet because there were so many things I wanted to talk about and discuss. The quotes alone said it all, though!

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  Best discussion: “Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary” received a lot of traffic on the blog / “Book Buying Habits” received a lot of traffic on the blog and feedback on Twitter.
  Non-Review post: “First BEA Experience” had a lot of comments, received a lot of traffic, and is picking back up in stats again.

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  My very first Book Expo America! I met so many bloggers, had meetings with my favorite editors, gathered up some excellent reads, and successfully navigated New York City solo.

  

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2015?

  Making my first sale as an agent!

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  Most popular non-review post of 2015: First BEA Experience.
  Most popular book review post of 2015: The Doldrums

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  My Thankful For post for Thanksgiving should’ve received a little more love, I think. We all need to take a moment to be thankful for what we have and what we’ve been given.

  

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  BookOutlet.com, though if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, the jury is still out…

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

  I made a goal to read 50 books in a year, and I read 66! I also participated in ReRead 2015, but only read 3 books, so I don’t think that was…completed or successful. Haha!

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

  I genuinely can’t say. Maybe The Fiery Cross (Outlander‘s fifth book) or Son of the Shadows (the second Daughter of the Forest book).

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2016 (non-debut)?

  Anne Blankman’s Traitor Angels or Stacey Lee’s Outrun the Moon or Ruta Sepetys’s Salt to the Sea.

  3. 2016 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  Apart from my answer for #6 in this section, I’d say Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor. I’ve already read it (review coming in February!), but it’s one of those books I have to have my hands on now. There’s also Evelyn Skye’s The Crown’s Game, too.

  

   4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2016?

  The next Jackaby book, though the title and publication date have not been announced. If the publication timelines are anything like what’s already been published in the series, we’ll see it this fall!

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2016?

  Announce more book deals!

  6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

  Tara Sim’s Timekeeper, coming out in the fall. For obvious (agenting) reasons.

  

   ~

  What books were highlighted in your End of Year survey?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 10 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

• Top Five Books of 2015

  Posted at 5:05 am by Laura, on December 20, 2015

  

  The most difficult post: selecting five fantastic books from the 66, as of December 20th, I read this year! Thankfully, the season rewind helped me narrow down my favorites from the year even further.

  

  

  

  A Madness So Discreet || Daughter of the Forest || Into the Dim

  A MADNESS SO DISCREET by Mindy McGinnis is, by far, the best YA book I read this year. Historically set, a close analyzation of mental illness and suffrage, and a thrilling mystery throughout. Also? No romance. YA can be successful without romance, folks.

  DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST by Juliet Marillier because I can’t get enough of Marillier and she needs to be on every top list ever ever ever.

  INTO THE DIM by Janet B Taylor is not available to the public yet (not till March!), nor have I posted a review for it yet (not till February!), but wow. This was the answer to a YA Outlander, with a more scientific/less-fantasy spin.

  

  

  Under a Painted Sky || The Royal We

  UNDER A PAINTED SKY by Stacey Lee grabbed me from the very first line. Simply written, an unusual (“unusual” in that it’s rarely written about) point in American history, with a variety of characters and backgrounds. An absolute joy to read — and I can’t wait to read Lee’s future work!

  THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan is purely my candy choice. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it was an immediate winner for this royal-phile. You could call it my guilty pleasure, if you want. I loved it.

  Honorable mentions: The Lake House by Kate Morton, The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.

  Which books made it to your Top Books of 2015 list?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 9 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, top five books

• Thankful For . . . in 2015!

  Posted at 1:36 pm by Laura, on November 25, 2015

  Our family tradition may appear similar to yours. My mother’s side of the family travels from one end of the Midwest to the other to gather at our house for Thanksgiving. We make ham and turkey, stuffing, mouth-watering mashed potatoes, jello-fruit-marshmallows (what in the world is this called?!), and pumpkin pie. My grandparents bring cranberries and an assortment of pies (usually apple or pecan), one of my uncles brings dinner rolls and ice cream, and my aunt, uncle, and cousins bring green bean casserole and macaroni and cheese for the younger (pickier) eaters. We play games, work on jigsaw puzzles, play music, catch up on life, and try to keep the children active so they sleep peacefully on the drive back to their home. Dinner is a short affair, to be honest, but the time together is never long enough!

  It’s that time of year when America pauses and thinks back on what they’re thankful for in the last several months. Say what you want about the history of Thanksgiving and the subsequent events that followed, or how we live in a gimme-gimme, instant gratification, #firstworldproblems society. The heart of Thanksgiving is touching and important, especially during rough and turbulent times such as these.

  This year, I thought I’d share what I’m thankful for and post a book recommendation from what I read in 2015 that features an excellent example of a cast of characters living that life.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  MY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY || It’s been a wild ride this year in the Crockett household, many joys and rough patches and celebrations and disagreements. We always manage to come together and figure things out, supporting one another and challenging each other. I could not be more thankful for the kind of family I have. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
  the books featuring strong families . . . Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway / Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling || Emmy’s family is (rightfully) overprotective, but even after their emotional roller-coasters, they love one another deeply and compromise. I’m always impressed with the Weasley family, especially in the opening scenes of the fourth Potter installment. In times of turmoil and distress, they’re always looking out for one another, even Percy the Git.

  MY REMARKABLE FRIENDS IN REAL LIFE || Did you hear what they did for me in September? I still can’t get over it. They’re 100% supportive and encouraging and fun and understanding and a whole host of wonderful adjectives every year. But this year in particular, they really rallied together and permanently established the biggest space in my heart. I fully plan to grow old with these ladies.
  the book featuring remarkable friendships . . . The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord || Paige’s friends are wonderful. They’ve got a range of personalities and interrelationship dynamics and opinions, but they’ll firmly stand by her side and watch out for her, through thick and thin.

  MY FANTASTIC BLOGGER FRIENDS || It feels silly to separate IRL friends from blogger friends, since I probably talk to Lindsey and Morgan and the rest of the book community more than I see my IRL friends. But I have to separate them because it feels great to go to people outside the situations in my life and gain perspective. They’re intelligent women and massive fangirls. You gotta have an outlet for that energy and enthusiasm!
  the books featuring unique/unlikely friendships . . . Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee / A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis || Sammy and Grace are thrust into unique, terrifying, dangerous situations. If it weren’t for those scenarios, they would not have met the ragtag crew that quickly become their closest companions. I’m a firm believer than some of the strongest friendships arise from unique life events!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  THE BRITISH BEAU || Because duh. The feels. He makes life better than fiction!
  the books featuring a heart-pounding romance . . . Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier / The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan || RED AND SORCHA FOREVER. BEX AND NICK FOREVER.

  LIVING A STABLE LIFESTYLE || In light of recent world events, I’m thankful and grateful to be living in a permanent home with a roof over my head, lots of food stored away to eat, and a comfortable, warm bed. While there’s terror and turmoil domestically and internationally, and threats are all around, I can’t help but remember what I’ve been blessed with in my life. I can only hope to one day provide such safety and comfort to another.
  the books featuring rocky, uncertain times . . . At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen / Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman || The protagonists in each of these books endure war-torn hardships, fear, and unstable lifestyles. It makes for great fiction, but we must remember that these lifestyles are still very real for large populations of the world.

  MY CAREER IN THE BOOK INDUSTRY || From my awesome boss and managers to the talented clients and book-hungry customers, I’m incredibly thankful to be employed in this economy. It’s also a blessing to be employed in an area you love. Bonus points for that!
  the books featuring interesting employment . . . Beastly Bones by William Ritter / A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott || Abigail stumbled upon her career with Jackaby as a detective’s assistant, and she thoroughly enjoys it. Especially when her new career blends with her passion for paleontology. Same thing happens to Julie when she arrives in Hollywood. She wants to be a screenwriter, but becomes an assistant to an actress, and a whole host of wonderful opportunities open up to her.

  What are you thankful for in 2015? What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions with friends and family? Are there any books that you think have similar messages or examples of what you’re thankful for?

  Happy Thanksgiving!

  May your day be filled with love and cheer!

  Posted in books | 1 Comment | Tagged books, personal, recommendations, thankful for, thanksgiving

• Flipping Through the Pages: Spring Rewind 2015

  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on July 1, 2015

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  Meeting Jenny Han at her book launch party in Brooklyn for PS I Still Love You was definitely the perfect launch into BEA. Also, I’m featuring this food post because ohmygod it was delicious. I ate breakfast for lunch (during lunch hour, so it’s technically not brunch, right?) with my friend Evan and his girlfriend at Another Broken Egg. Not quite pictured: a pancake I also devoured. YUM. Finally, a photo that’s still getting a lot of attention on instagram: my summer reading list!

  Life Highlights

  In the last week of April, I met five spectacular authors. Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places), Sharon Biggs Waller (A Mad, Wicked Folly), Trisha Leaver (The Secrets We Keep), Shannon Lee Alexander (Love and Other Unknown Variables), and Lisa Aldin (One of the Guys) came to the bookstore for signings.

  Now, it may not be in my personal life, but I’d definitely say the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge ranked as a pretty good highlight. *waves English flag*

  At the end of May, I traveled back to Virginia to see Lindsey and she, Ashley, and I went to BEA! We met loads of bloggers, made contacts in the industry, and gathered several books. I’m so glad I finally got to experience BEA first hand, and I’m looking forward to Chicago next year. Lindsey and I capped off the trip by attending a beach concert and seeing Andy MacMahon (and it was on the date of our official friendiversary! May 30th was the day we first emailed each other about our guest blog posts (here and here)).

  In June I signed my first contract to have one of my authors publish a book! Be on the lookout for Tara Sim’s Timekeeper in Fall 2016!

  Tunes on Repeat

  Every time I hear Heartbeat Song by Kelly Clarkson I think of one of my friends rocking out in his car so hard it shook. Now we run around like crazy kids, hopping up and down during the chorus and belting out the lyrics.

  Better Than Words by One Direction, because ever since Lindsey showed me this video (1:30) I can’t help but crack up and squeal in a disgustingly tweeny fashion.

  Really, the entire Mumford & Sons album. I was concerned, but I should know by now to trust those men. I can still speed down the highway with their music.

  Signs by Brett Eldridge. Or, again, the entire album.

  Raised by a Good Time by Steven Lee Olsen has a story behind it, a connection to my agenting. One of my authors has a wonderfully tense and heartbreaking YA Southern fiction manuscript, and this song reminds me of the male protagonist…if he had a better upbringing, that is. It fits his “would have been” character so well.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  There was a lot I enjoyed these last few months, bookish and not so bookish…

  1. 2015 Bookish Trends @ Love at First Page — Danielle talks about cover design trends in 2015. I’ve also seen more drawn artwork/typeface, a la Fangirl, and I’ve really liked that too.
  2. “Time Travel To” Feature @ Alexa Loves Books, So Obsessed With, and Belle of the Literati — These three ladies decided to transport readers through time by showcasing some of their favorite books written in/about a certain historical time period, and sharing books they plan to read as well. Alexa covers romantic Regency England, Hannah the American Civil War, and Kelly the exciting Tudor England.
  3. Matching songs to books with #UKYADay: Taylor Swift Meets UKYA @ Pretty Books and Tunes & Tales: Four @ Alexa Loves Books — Stacey’s post focuses solely on Taylor Swift songs and which books they’d go well with, while Alexa’s post was inspired by One Direction’s news (*sobs*) and thus 1D songs.
  4. Why I Won’t Stop Taking Pictures of my ARCs @ Lily’s Book Blog — What an interesting read. I used to think, years ago, that the mark of a great blogger meant how many ARCs you received from publishers. And while that’s a great asset to have, that’s not what blogging is about.
  5. Tune in Tonight: Belle @ So Obsessed With — BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T KNOW THIS ALREADY, BELLE IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE EVER EVER EVER. And I died when I saw Hannah’s post.
  6. Four Bookish Blogs I’ve Added to My Reader Recently @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie discusses blogging friendships coming and going, the community and culture, and features four blogs (Scribbles & Wanderlust included!) she’s added to her to-visit list.
  7. 5 Classics I Want to Read Before August 1 @ LvsBks — Ashley was inspired by the BEA trip to revitalize her blog, and what better way than to discuss classics she plans to reread or discover in the summer. What are your favorite classics?
  8. Let’s Discuss Little House @ So Obsessed With and Little House Lit @ Alexa Loves Books — If you haven’t caught on yet, Hannah and Alexa have the best discussion posts. Seriously. Plus, Little House is what my mother lives and breathes. I couldn’t hide from this discussion.
  9. The Status of All Things: It’s Complicated @ Rather Be Reading — Estelle makes some excellent observations about online identities becoming a brand, how sometimes your online identity prevents you from sharing other aspects of yourself, and how we rely so much on technology we forget about living in the moment with friends and family.

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. The Accidental April Book Haul — April was nuts. Absolutely nuts. Not only did I have a billion ARCs to read, but I accidentally won galleys, received books from editors, purchased books with my tax return…It was quite a lot, and apparently worth sharing!
  2. Stepping Back for the Summer — As a result of April madness, I decided to step back and read all those backlist titles I own. Several of you are doing the same thing, either with book-buying bans, stepping back from ARCs, or just plain reading what’s already on your TBR shelves.
  3. First Book Expo America Experience — Instead of gushing about what I did, I wanted to share my expectations, the reality, and the small (compared to others) book haul I gathered from the event. First BEA = success!
  4. Book Review: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan — I can definitely see why this was popular. The book’s publication was timed perfectly with the Duke and Duchess’s wedding anniversary and birth of Princess Charlotte. Also, come on, the book was awesome.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee ★★★★★

  The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan ★★★★★

  Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman ★★★★★

  A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas ★★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.
  –Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

  I wasn’t faerie, but I was part of this earth, and the earth was a part of me,
  and I’d be content to dance upon it for the rest of my life.
  –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

  Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?
  —Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

  Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.
  –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Library Books: 6 / 10
  Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency || Emma
  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? || The Girl With the Glass Bird
  Murder is Bad Manners
  

  #ReRead2015: 3 / 10
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl
  Anna and the French Kiss

  Overall Challenge: 42 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Gilmore Girls — WHY DIDN’T I WATCH THIS WHEN IT AIRED. I mean, really. If I were to leave a note to my YA self, I’d tell her to listen to Audrey and Mrs. A and watch Gilmore Girls. And I’m in that lovely middle age between Rory and Lorelai that I can appreciate all ends of the drama and love and laughter. As I’m typing this, I’m in the first third of the 6th season, so no spoilers! (Feel free to follow #LauraWatchesGG.)

  On Film: Far From the Madding Crowd was amazing. It’s hard to adapt Thomas Hardy novels, and this movie nailed it. Perfect score, brilliant cinematography, stunning costumes, and fantastic acting. I knew Carey Mulligan would be wonderful (I’ve got such a girl crush on her), but toss in those British men and wow Matthias Schoenaerts and I was a goner. Where’s my Gabriel Oak? Seriously. Let’s cover some hay stacks together.

  In the Shopping Bag: *snort* Nothing. I have to avoid my usual haunts (ModCloth, Book Depository, BookOutlet, Abe Books, Target, Etsy) because I’m on an everything-except-necessities-buying ban.

  Miscellaneous: Adagio’s Harry Potter Tea. Guys, this is amazing. Stina is amazing. She showed up to the Jennifer Niven event with a bag filled with different kinds of tea (including a chocolate tea!) and I’m still excited about it. They’re delicious, distinct flavors, and they come in really neat tins that I fully plan on keeping.

  Looking Towards the Future

  There’s really only one massive event for July through September, and that’s my childhood friend Amanda’s wedding. Apart from that, there are some neat events going on at my B&N, including an Outlander Day and Harry Potter Day. September is also the kick-off for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir’s 30th Anniversary season, and as VP of the Alumni Association I have to help coordinate some alumni events surrounding that.

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 6 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Top Ten Tuesday: YA Historical Fiction TBR

  Posted at 6:35 am by Laura, on May 19, 2015

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten FREEBIE. So what did I choose? Top Ten YA Historical Fiction on my TBR, mostly because I’ve recently acquired quite a lot of YA historical fiction.

  

  

  

  

  

  Take a journey to . . . Tudor England.

  I stumbled upon The Lacey Chronicles while browsing Book Outlet, and asked a couple historical fiction bloggers if they’ve read or heard of it. This trilogy came out a few years ago, all set during Elizabeth I’s reign, and each with intriguing heroines and good romances. Sounds about right for a Tudor court!

  Katherine Longshore was the reigning Tudor writer in my eyes, but I think that’s only because her books were more recently published. Of them all, I’m most interested in Brazen, set during Henry VIII’s reign and around the time of the marriage to Anne Boleyn.

  

  

  Take a journey to . . . France and Denmark.

  Belle Epoque is a repoussoir, a book about a girl who’s not just a companion but the person who stands by her mistress’s side in order for the mistress to appear more interesting and beautiful. A far more serious version of a DUFF, in a way, and a true trick used in history among the aristocracy.

  For all those Shakespeare lovers out there, Ophelia is a historical retelling of Hamlet, and it sounds epic. I’m all for Shakespeare retellings, and Ophelia’s character is quite possibly one of the most haunting of all.

  

  

  

  

  Take a journey to . . . the early- to mid-1900s.

  From a gilded age murder mystery to WWI spy networks, WWII codes and spies and torture to 1950s Southern mystery, I’m bound to sink my teeth into something with all the secrecy!

  Honorable mentions: The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller, Unsinkable Mercy Wong by Stacey Lee, Beastly Bones by William Ritter, A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

  Who says YA historical fiction doesn’t sell? Clearly these books are showing them who’s boss!

  What are some of your favorite YA historicals? What did you choose for your TTT this week?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 12 Comments | Tagged books, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, top ten tuesday

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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