Aurora Rising – Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Penguin Random House Canada
Published: May 2019
Publisher: Knopf BFYR
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Action, Romance, Friendship

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REVIEW:

Part of me wants to give this book two stars because, looking back, I’m not sure I completely understood everything that happened and why. Another reason is that the characters’ ‘‘voices’’ all sounded the same so even if the narrator was announced at the beginning of a chapter I still needed to think hard at times to remember whose point of view I was reading.

The Grace Year – Kim Liggett

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: September 17th, 2019
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Action, Dystopia, Feminism, Romance

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REVIEW:

Do not be fooled by the excessively pink cover, this is not a sweet story and the characters do not care to be likeable and cherished by the reader. It’s a wild, wild world and so are the girls in it. I have not read a YA dystopian in over a year, but this one reminded me why I used to actively seek out these types of stories. Because they are messy and ugly and dramatic and despite all that, or maybe because of it, I am fascinated.

Run Away – Harlan Coben

Run Away by Harlan Coben

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Published: March 19th, 2019
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Recommended Age: 14+
Genres & Themes: Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Family, Crime

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REVIEW:

This was my first Harlan Coben book and I am IMPRESSED. I could not put it down. It’s not rare I finish a book in a single day, especially during an exam period because I would way rather read than study but the action of going through 371 pages in one day is still worth mentioning here because I was not one bit exhausted at the end. Not every almost 400-page book can be read so fast but I was completely engrossed in this one and closed it wanting to read 5 more from the author the same day.

Catwoman: Soulstealer – Sarah J. Maas

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Penguin Random House Canada
Published: August 7th, 2018
Publisher: Random House BFYR
Pacing: Fast
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Action, Superheroes, Family, Romance, Friendship

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BLURB:

Two years after escaping Gotham City’s slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking. Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing’s undoing.

Star Scouts (Star Scouts #1) – Mike Lawrence

Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: 2017
Publisher: First Second
Recommended Age: 8+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Humor, Friendship

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BLURB:

Avani is the new kid in town, and she’s not happy about it. Everyone in school thinks she’s weird, especially the girls in her Flower Scouts troop. Is it so weird to think scouting should be about fun and adventure, not about makeovers and boys, boys, boys? But everything changes when Avani is “accidentally” abducted by a spunky alien named Mabel. Mabel is a scout too—a Star Scout. Collecting alien specimens (like Avani) goes with the territory, along with teleportation and jetpack racing. Avani might be weird, but in the Star Scouts she fits right in. If she can just survive Camp Andromeda, and keep her dad from discovering that she’s left planet Earth, she’s in for the adventure of a lifetime.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 4: I Kissed a Squirrel and I Liked It

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 4: I Kissed a Squirrel and I Liked It by Ryan North

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Diamond Distributors
Published: 2016
Publisher: Marvel
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Comics, Action, Science Fiction, Dating

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BLURB:

The hero who refuses to be beat celebrates 11 consecutive issues without a new #1! And she’s letting you seize the chance to be the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl in a choose-your-own path encounter with Swarm, buzzkill made of bees! Then, Doreen takes charge of her life -her love life, that is – and starts dating. But just who will kiss a Squirrel and like it? Surely not…Mole Man?! When the subterranean super villain falls deep in love, he’s willing to hold the world hostage to get Doreen’s attention. Can she save everything without becoming Mrs. Mole Man? But enough with the hearts and the flowers and the kissing, you read this book for computer science and super heroics (not necessarily in that order). You’ll get both – and more – in a showdown with Count Nefaria!

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 3: Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 3: Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Diamond Distributors
Published: 2016
Publisher: Marvel
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Comics, Action, Science Fiction

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BLURB:

New series, New Avenger! With her unique combination of wit, empathy and squirrel powers, computer science student Doreen Green – aka the unbeatable Squirrel Girl – is all that stands between the Earth and total destruction. Well, Doreen plus her friends Tippy-Toe (a squirrel) and Nancy (a regular human with no powers). So, mainly Squirrel Girl. Then what hope does the Earth have if she gets hurled back in time to the 1960s and erased from history? At least Nancy will never forget her friend, but what invincible armored Avenger can she call on to help, through the magic of social media? Decades apart, can they avert doom, or will everything go wrong forever? Howard the Duck hopes not…he has an appointment for a crossover!

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It’s True

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It’s True by Ryan North

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Received: Diamond Distributors
Published: 2015
Publisher: Marvel
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Comics, Humor, Action, Fights

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BLURB:

The breakout character of 2015 continues her one-woman crusade against injustice and jerks! These TAILS of the Squirrel Girl will show you the Marvel Universe’s most powerful super hero from a bunch of brand-new perspectives, several of them Quite Astonishing.

Seafire – Natalie C. Parker

Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: August 28th, 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Fantasy, Pirates, Action, Adventure, Revenge, Loyalty, Family, Sisterhood, Feminism, Romance

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BLURB:

After her family is killed by corrupt warlord Aric Athair and his bloodthirsty army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx is left to chart her own course on the dangerous and deadly seas. She captains her ship, the Mors Navis, with a crew of girls and women just like her, whose lives have been turned upside down by Aric and his men. The crew has one misson: stay alive, and take down Aric’s armed and armored fleet. But when Caledonia’s best friend and second-in-command just barely survives an attack thanks to help from a Bullet looking to defect, Caledonia finds herself questioning whether or not to let him join their crew. Is this boy the key to taking down Aric Athair once and for all…or will he threaten everything the women of the Mors Navis have worked for?

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Diamond Distributors
Published: 2015
Publisher: Marvel
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Comics, Humor, Action, University Life

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BLURB:

Wolverine, Deadpool, Doctor Doom, Thanos: There’s one hero that’s beaten them all-and now she’s got her own ongoing series! (Not that she’s bragging.) That’s right, you asked for it, you got it, it’s SQUIRREL GIRL! (She’s also starting college this semester.) It’s the start of a brand-new set of adventures starring the nuttiest and most upbeat super hero in the world!