Raven Cycle

As I finish up my graduate degree, I'm being more intentional about reading for myself - final assignments are getting turned in, my portfolio is coming along, and that means time for me to read what I want to read! To no one's surprise, it's more YA fiction - but more specifically, I'm excited to continue and finish series that I started before and during grad school.

Up first, the Raven Cycle: four books (plus bonus material!) about the non-psychic daughter of a psychic and four prep school friends on the search for a long-dead Welsh king. That's really the most simple way to describe what is a journey filled with joys, heartbreak, foreshadowing, connections, reveals, friendship, reunions, murder, love, and history.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the first installment of the series, we meet Blue Sargent and her titular Raven Boys, which is the name she gives students who attend Aglionby, the prep school in Henrietta, Virginia, where her family works as clairvoyants.

Blue herself has zero psychic abilities, but her presence does help to "boost" the powers of her mother, aunts, and cousins, so she tags along during readings. Blue has also been told for as long as she can remember that she if she kisses her true love, he will die - meaning she avoids "love" at all costs. Inevitably, she meets 4 potential loves, Raven Boys all. Gansey is searching for Glendower, a (dead) Welsh king, thought to be buried nearby, because of a voice he heard during a near-death experience seven years ago. Adam, a scholarship student and Gansey's best friend, is searching for a way out of Henrietta. Fearless and secretive Ronan is the middle brother of the Lynch family, and fiercely protective of the few people he associates with. And finally, Noah, who observes but rarely speaks.

Blue doesn't need to be clairvoyant to know that her future is tied up with that of each of "her" Raven Boys - so she joins them in their quest to find Glendower.

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The search for Glendower continues: Blue and the Raven Boys seem to have narrowed down his location to a magical place known as Cabeswater, but they aren't the only ones looking for the Welsh King.


Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blue's mother goes missing, which means she and the Raven Boys know have two people to search for. They also all have (different) requests for Glendower when they find and awaken him - but Glendower will only honor one.


The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The cycle comes to a thrilling close in this fourth book. Dreams merge with reality and Glendower is closer than ever. To describe any more would be major spoilers for earlier books! (And if you've gotten this far, you're going to finish the series.)



Bonus Material!
If, like me, you want to escape back to Henrietta after finishing the Raven Cycle, these bonus stories will help bring the magic back. Most are available on Stiefvater's website, and Opal can be purchased on Amazon or Google Play as an ebook (worth the $1.09!).

300 Fox Way Holiday Piece by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A short (2 pages) scene set at 300 Fox Way before the events of the Raven Cycle occur. We meet Blue, who longs for a bit more for the holidays.

A Minor Raven Boys Holiday Drabble by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A similar short to 300 Fox Way - this time we see what Christmas is like at Monmouth Manufacturing, where Gansey, Ronan, and Noah are living. This short is also set pre-Raven Cycle.

A Very Declan Christmas by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very much pre-Cycle - this slightly longer short story is set in Ronan's childhood. His older brother, Declan, isn't thrilled about Ronan's nighttime "secrets" (dreaming things into existence) and loses sleep each night trying to maintain order. When his body finally forces him to rest, Ronan creates a secret the entire Lynch family will have to keep.

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This short story takes place after the events of the Raven Cycle series, and has been referred to as book 4.5. Readers delve deeper into Opal's thoughts as she carries on her life at the Lynch farm with Ronan, and sometimes Adam. Ronan and Adam's relationship is fleshed out, and more closure is given to the new Cabeswater.

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Tight

Tight by Torrey Maldonado
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If Bryan could be any superhero, he’d be Batman. Or Black Panther. They’re smart, they think 10 steps ahead, and they’re tough. Bryan’s dad and his older sister, Ava, both say he should be tough: “don’t be soft” they tell him, but his mom keeps him cool and level-headed. She also introduces him to Mike, who is in 7th grade – one year older than him in school – and Bryan thinks he’s pretty tight. Mike loves comics and drawing superheroes just like Bryan, and he doesn’t let school get in the way of having fun.

Slowly, Mike starts asking Bryan to take more and more risks: climbing up to the rooftop of a neighborhood building, ducking the subway turnstiles to take the train for free, skipping school to get the newest Luke Cage comic. Bryan doesn’t feel so good about lying to his parents, especially his mom, but he loves the feeling of freedom that comes with hanging out with Mike.

Bryan’s internal struggle to make the right choices is grounded in Tight’s contemporary Brooklyn setting and in his genuine interactions with strong secondary characters. He genuinely wants to do the right thing, while also wanting to give his friend a chance to choose better as well. Maldonado’s dialogues present a variety of perspectives on peer pressure and the difficulties of navigating friendships as a young person, making it easy to empathize with Bryan.


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Memoir-ish

While I'm not a fan of sweeping memoirs, I do appreciate a reflection on a specific time in a person's life - be that childhood or another exciting/unique/formative time period. I also like "memoirs" focused on a theme, because I think limits are helpful to creativity. These are a few memoir-like books I've read and enjoyed recently:

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a follow-up to Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Kaling's second memoir-style book delves into her life as a writer and actor (and woman) of color in Hollywood. I listened to the audio, read by Kaling, and felt like I was hanging out with a loquacious friend.


Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Written as letters to Coates's young son, Between the World and Me is informative, but with heart. Listening felt like being part of an intimate conversation, and hearing about Coates's personal journeys (both literal and emotional) within the context of American history elevates this from mere memoir into an important part of anti-racist discourse.

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trevor Noah's writing is fun and funny, but never feels forced or fake. If you watch and enjoy The Daily Show, you'll appreciate his narrative voice. Noah knows how to tell a story, with humor and depth, while also being informative. Born a Crime is moving, enlightening, and a joy to read.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This graphic memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution is at times funny, moving, sweet, heartbreaking, and enlightening. Satrapi's simple black and white illustrations tell her story without sensationalizing it, and both the words and images allow for the reader to connect with the content on an emotional and intellectual level. I'm excited to continue reading more of Satrapi!

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With stark honesty and a muted palette, Krosoczka tells the story of his upbringing through his high school years. Raised by his grandparents and never quite sure of his place in his family, or how to mix his school life with his home life, Krosoczka leans into his artistic interests and finds his place in the world. This graphic memoir for young adults echoes themes from Krosoczka’s TED Talk in 2012.

How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In ten brief chapters, Montgomery recalls her time with and lessons learned from 13 animals – some known only for days, some beloved family members. Each chapter is part biology lesson, part biographic narrative, and part philosophical reflection on the gift of animals in our lives. Montgomery describes in vivid detail the daily routine of emus in Australia, the playful nature of an octopus living at the New England Aquarium, the charming personality of a pig named Christopher Hogwood, and the ways in which she grew and changed as a person thanks to a variety of family pets. This memoir is unique in its creature focus, and in the full range of emotions displayed by both Montgomery and her animal companions. This heartfelt memoir written for a young audience reminds us we’re all just creatures with emotions. As she states, “A far worse mistake than misreading an animal’s emotions is to assume the animal hasn’t any emotions at all” (p 148). As a read along, read aloud, or part of a larger discussion about our place in the world, How to Be a Good Creature will be at home on many bookshelves.

Educated by Tara Westover
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Equal parts fascinating and horrifying. As a woman nearly the same age as Westover + a 1st generation college student + having also grown up in a tiny farming community, I had so many thoughts while listening to this memoir. Some parts I felt - when she stops journaling during difficult times because she doesn't want to have to think about those times ever again, when she feels way out of her element on her first day of undergrad classes...and other parts I was like, okay, yeah we've all had impostor syndrome at some point in our lives. Either way, this book reminded me that when you've heard one person's story, you've heard one person's story (and one story isn't the whole story!).


Lost Soul, Be At Peace by Maggie Thrash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This ghostly memoir shows Thrash's artistic eye and ear - the illustrations worked seamlessly with the text to tell a story that's honest without worrying too much about the boring details. I'm a fan of the dry humor, which doesn't downplay Thrash's depression, and her thoughts on family dynamics and mental health are timely.


Extras: Librarian Memoirs or view all my reviews.

Finding Langston

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Langston doesn’t like much about his new life in Chicago – not the small apartment he shares with his father, or the noisy streets and sidewalks, and definitely not his new school, where classmates call him “country boy” and make fun of how he speaks. Langston misses Alabama, where his mother died and where his Grandma still lives, though his father sends her part of his paycheck each week in the hopes of helping her move up north with them. It’s only when Langston discovers George Cleveland Hall Library, open to all Chicago residents, that he starts to feel at home.

In the safety of the library, Langston also discovers his namesake, a poet who seems to have inspired a few of the love letters written by young Langston’s mother to his father. Reading the poetry of Hughes helps Langston work through his grief at losing his mother, but it’s a new friend who recognizes that reading poetry “is a way of putting all the things you feel inside on the outside” (p 99).

Cline-Ransome mixes poetry and history in this slim fiction novel for elementary and middle school children. The post World War II era of the Great Migration is explored through the story of one family, and Langston (the character) also learns a great deal about Langston Hughes and other African American poets and writers of the time. Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and Chicago Public Library’s Hall Branch are both highlighted and given extra detail in an Author’s Note at the end of the book. Told with heart and thoughtfulness, Finding Langston belongs in personal libraries and on classroom shelves alike.


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2018 Middle Grades Graphics

I had a lot of fun reading these brand new graphic novels, all written for a middle grade audience. From awkward summer vacations and back-to-school blues to falling in love and learning how to best be yourself, there's a lot to learn from these stories and plenty to laugh at too.

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What happens if you beg to go to summer camp, and then you hate it (and it hates you)? Brosgol creatively remembers a summer of her youth with all its ups and downs in this funny and bittersweet graphic novel for middle grades and up.

All Summer Long by Hope Larson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Bina’s best friend, Austin, goes to soccer camp for the summer, she’s left to befriend Austin’s older sister and fears growing apart from Austin. A love of listening to and creating music keeps Bina occupied, but when Austin returns, things don’t go back to normal. This middle grade story of the growing pains of friendship hits all the emotional notes without getting melodramatic, and a bright color palette and bold artwork keep it fresh and fun.

Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dany is a seventh grader now, and all of her friends ended up in a different cluster – together, without her. In need of a few friends, and armed with a magic sketchbook, she literally makes new friends without worrying about the consequences. With anime and other tongue-in-cheek pop culture references on every page, Making Friends charms and delights.

The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This graphic novel was a complete joy to read. Over the course of a summer, neighborhood kids explore and create their own superhero/supervillain personas using cardboard boxes, paint, and plenty of imagination. Each kid gets their own "origin story" chapters, but the entirety of the novel tells a cohesive story as well. Chad Sell's bold illustrations call to mind classic comic books with striking characterizations and vibrant colors, which allow the emotions and interactions on the page to shine.

Fake Blood by Whitney Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nia Winters likes vampires. AJ likes Nia, but since he isn’t a vampire, he can’t seem to catch her attention – until he decides to become a vampire himself. Then he realizes it’s not that Nia likes vampires – she slays them. Suddenly his great idea could be the death of him, if he can’t convince Nia it was all a ploy, and that a real vampire of Spoons Middle School is still out there. This graphic novel is more silly than scary, with all of its parodying of other well-known vampire tales. The illustrations add a level of fun, and the relationships between AJ and his sister and AJ and his friends are sweet with plenty of goodnatured needling. For readers who would rather laugh at monsters than be terrified by them, Fake Blood will satisfy.

Extras: more graphics, or view all my reviews.

Darius the Great is Not Okay

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Darius Kellner, named after Darius the Great, doesn’t always feel great, and he and his family know that. Darius’s father also has Depression, and while he struggles to vocalize his love for Darius, does not shy away from tougher conversations about his own mental health and the importance of both therapy and medication. These conversations happen against the backdrop of a rough patch for Darius – he is bullied at school, not appreciated at his part time job at Tea Haven, and feels distance growing between himself and all of his family members: dad, mom, and younger sister, Lelah, who he sees as a replacement for himself.

As a narrator, Darius is not without faults – he routinely gets in his own way, and many times would rather remove himself from a situation or conversation with an “Um” and redirection towards the nearest tea kettle – but his character does learn and grow in his own way. During a family trip to Iran, where his mother grew up, Darius begins to recognize and find his place in his family as son, brother, and friend, though not without mistakes, painful conversations, and learning how to advocate for himself. This young adult novel, told from the perspective of an awkward but earnest narrator, is a testament to the importance of open and honest conversations around mental health. Aspects of daily life in Iran, from religious customs to food preparation rituals, add depth and interest to the characters and give the story a firm sense of place and nuanced secondary characters allow for a reader to see multiple facets of Darius as a protagonist.


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Tokyo Neighborhoods

For my final honeymoon photo recap, I'll be sharing a few of our adventures from our last few days in Tokyo. We had no set schedules on these days - Jesus picked out a few neighborhoods he wanted to explore, I told him things I'd like to see, and we wandered all day long. We stayed in a wonderful hotel that featured breakfast each morning, a glass of beer along with a bowl of yakisoba at night, and coffee and hot chocolate all day. By this point, the time change was only slightly confusing, and it was fun to think about how we were ending our days as our families were starting theirs. We had mostly figured out traffic patterns, how to work public transportation, and other common cultural norms regarding being out and about in public. And finally, we had been married for over a week!

Day 1

Photos aren't allowed in Tsukiji Fish Market (several AMERICAN tourists disregarded this and got dirty looks from me and some choice words from Jesus - why are we (Americans) the worst when traveling?), but here is the view outside the market, and looking down onto a tiny tiny portion of it.

 

 We took a lovely stroll through the Imperial Gardens:

Then we boarded a water bus to float down the Sumida River towards Odaiba, a man-made island built for shopping and entertainment.

 

Rainbow Bridge (photos at night show why it has this name!)

Our spaceship-style water bus, and Rainbow Bridge in the background.

Did you know Tokyo has their very own Lady Liberty?

This is the Ferris Wheel that's visible from Disney!

A Venice-themed mall (reminded me of The Venetian in Las Vegas)!

Bedtime Beer!

Day 2

In what was not our best decision of the day, we visited a virtual reality "park" in the morning of day 2. Via a headset and a few key atmosphere-creators (fans, sound effects), we explored a haunted house, swam underwater, escaped a building onto a helicopter, and bounced around a jungle on a swing (that's what Jesus in doing in the photos below). While a fun time, doing this the first thing in the morning meant we both felt a delayed motion sickness in the afternoon.

We also learned we have zero crane game skills between us.

Forest Library was a relaxing (and quiet) spot for us to grab some lunch, do a little reading, and even take a short nap!

  

Then we ventured back out, taking our time to maneuver Shibuya crossing, wander Nezu Museum, and visit Roppongi Hills before ending our day at Tokyo Tower and getting a view of the city from above.

   

That's Tokyo Tower in the background!

Who needs the Eiffel Tower?

Can you see Rainbow Bridge and the Odaiba Ferris Wheel way back there?

(a zoomed-in shot)

Day 3

We started this briskly chilly day at Meiji Shrine before heading to Harajuku, the cute/hipster/art & fashion neighborhood of Tokyo.

  

Yes, we got their Chicago mix. Yes, it was amazing.

Jesus has most/all of our photos from Kawaii Monster Cafe. I was a bit overwhelmed by it all and spent most of our quick lunch there staring at the ceilings, walls, tables, and overall atmosphere. We got to see a short song & dance show after we ate, which was really fun to watch. This is one of those super touristy things that basically all American visitors to Japan do, but you really can't get this kind of experience anywhere else!

 

Renovations for the 2020 Summer Olympics were well under way!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden reminded me a lot of Garfield Park Conservatory. The indoor was a welcome respite from the cold, but walking around outside was super lovely - the trees were all sorts of yellows, oranges, and reds.

The face of a man about to see the famous Toho Godzilla.

We ended our tours of Harajuku and Shinjuku at the Toho Building, where Godzilla (or at least his head) lives. This area of Shinjuku is very metropolitan and commercial - lots of lights, billboards, and nightlife - and is most definitely an entertainment district. These lights are what many people picture when they picture Tokyo, which made it strange for us to see on one of our final nights. We had already seen so many other sides of Tokyo, seeing the "popular" Tokyo felt surreal.

Day 4

Our final (full) day in Japan consisted of sleeping in, revisiting a few of the neighborhoods near our hotel, packing (!!), and ending the night with our traditional last-night-on-vacation Domino's Pizza. Yes, Tokyo has Domino's, and yes, we got something you can't get here!

We ended our trip with one last interactive activity in the airport: woodblock printing (many thanks to the women who guided us through the process!):