Used Bookstore Spoils

This past weekend, I traded in some books at the used bookstore, and I came home with some lovely (and inexpensive) finds that have been begging to get crossed off my wish list for months now. Behold:


  • L.M. Mongomery's The Story Girl
  • Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
  • Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted
  • Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle
  • Julie Kagawa's The Iron King
  • Alyson Noel's Evermore

And don't they just look oh so pretty stacked together like that?

2014 Reading Progress Report: April

At this point, I've read 22 out of 50 books-- accomplishing 44% of my reading challenge and putting me at 7 books ahead of schedule.


  1. Keri Arthur's Darkness UnboundBook at the Bottom of the TBR Pile
  2. Kiersten White and Jim di Bartolo's In the ShadowsBook Set in the Summer
  3. J.K Rowling's Harry Potter: The Prequel Book with a Lion, a Witch, or a Wardrobe
  4. Gena Showalter's The Darkest NightBook Written by Someone Under 30
  5. Jean Webster's Daddy-Long-LegsA Classic YA Book
  6. Irene Hunt's Up a Road SlowlyBook with a Female Heroine
 
I am basically a book reading machine, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Book Journal: In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim di Bartolo

Let's talk about how great this book is, shall we?


First, I should say that I won it as an ARC in a First Reads giveaway, but that has no bearing on the rave review I'm about to give it. In fact, when I win books, I generally have low expectations. This time was no different-- I wasn't expecting much. I was unfamiliar with both the author and the illustrator, and the title and cover didn't do much for me. They're a bit generic for the fantasy genre, but once I cracked the book open, I was completely smitten.

The artwork is phenomenal. Really dark and moody and powerful. At first, I was thrown off by the back-and-forth between the two storylines of illustration and text, but after a while, once the dichotomy of the two clicked for me, I really admired and appreciated the decision to keep them separate.

The plot is full of action and suspense, and despite its swift pace, the author also takes time to flesh out the five main characters. For such a short book, I was surprised by how quickly I was able to connect with and root for them, which is a real testament to Kiersten White's writing. Also-- the ending is perfection. I won't say anymore.

This book completely won me over and is a new favorite of mine, which so rarely happens these days. I would recommend it to all YA fantasy and graphic novel lovers. It's such a treat for the eyes and mind. READ IT!

You can also find my review on GoodReads.

2014 Reading Progress Report: March

Over 3 months into 2014, and I've read 17 out of 50 books. I've accomplished  34% of my Reading Challenge, putting me at 5 books ahead of schedule. I've also marked off 7 spots on my Bingo Boards. Yeah!



  1. Veronica Roth's Insurgent Book Heard about Online
  2. Shannon Hale's Austenland →  Book Set on a Different Continent
  3. Steve Nile's Daughters of Fly in my Eye
  4. Paulo Coelho's The AlchemistBook Your Friend Loves
  5. Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches Book with Non-Human Characters
  6. Claudia Gray's Evernight Book Set in High School
  7. Jeaniene Frost's Up from the Grave Book Published this Year
  8. Keri Arthur's Darkness UnboundBook at the Bottom of the TBR Pile  



I have to say-- I'm really proud of my progress. It feels like I'll hit 50 books in no time.
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