Random Friday: Christmas Traditions

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Merry almost Christmas, everyone! I wanted to spend this post talking about a few Christmas traditions my family has, and feel free to share yours in the comments below!

1. Christmas Eve dinner - When I was much younger, we'd go to my maternal grandparents' for Christmas, and most of my mom's siblings and their families would be there too. We'd go to the Christmas Eve service at their church and then come back for a supper consisting of little appetizer-type foods. Well, my parents and I have kept up this tradition, and I like it a lot.

2. The pickle ornament - One of my mom's students gave her a miniature glass pickle ornament years ago, and it's a tradition that when I decorate the tree, I hide the little ornament deep within the branches and whichever of my parents finds it first gets to open the first present on Christmas Day. 

3. Christmas cookies - My mom and I usually bake little spritz cookies every year, and she makes peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips on top. 

4. Christmas movies - I always tape whatever ABC Family/Freeform airs, and I'll hunt down my favorites on the other stations as well. I love, love, love the Christmas season and the movies are some of the best parts. (Especially Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Santa Clause, White Christmas, and The Polar Express.)

So what are YOUR Christmas/holiday traditions?

So You Like... #40

Ready for some more book recommendations? Today's post is all about some of my (and hopefully your) childhood favorites! I'm going to suggest books you should read now if you enjoyed these books or series when you were younger. (And as usual, covers link to the book's Goodreads page.)

 ---> 

 ---> 

I

I

I

v

 

 ---> 

 ---> 

(or any of Morgan Matson's books)




I
I
I
v
 OR 


Were any of these your childhood favorites? Are there other children's books you'd like YA recommendations for?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want to Find Under the Tree

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Here are ten of the books on the wishlist I gave my mom and other relatives, so here's hoping I find at least a few of these under the tree on Christmas morning.

1. Heartless by Marissa Meyer

2. Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand

3. Poison Is Not Polite by Robin Stevens

4. Hamilton: the Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

 

5 and 6. Any of the Flexibound editions but particularly Peter Pan and The Poetry of Emily Dickinson

7. The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

8. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

9. Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott

10. Once Was a Time by Leila Sales

What are you hoping to receive this holiday season? Or, perhaps, what books do you plan to gift to people?

I Have a Lot of Rereading to Do

I've always reread books. Before I really dove in the ocean that is YA fiction, that was primarily what I did. I've always been picky about books so back then, that was the only way to guarantee I was reading something I liked. 

Lately, I've kept a list on my iPad of books I should reread soon because a) I don't have the space for a dedicated reread shelf at school, and b) Not all of the books on the list are even ones I have in my dorm room.

I want to read a lot of new-to-me this books this winter vacation, but I also want to make a sizeable dent in my reread list, as well. Of course both lists just keep growing and growing but every little bit helps. Some of the books I want to reread are:

• Split Second by Kasie West (I reread Pivot Point over two months ago so I need to get to SS.)
• A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury (It just felt like it was time.)
• The Mother-Daughter Book Club series (I reread book 1 for the book report I did in adolescent lit back in November, and it made me want to reread the rest of the series.)
• Two Summers by Aimee Friedman (I first read this on my birthday, so it's been long enough that I want a refresher.)

I've also included books that have been on my buy list for a while. I want to make sure I still want copies for my library. This section of the list includes Kissing in America by Margo Rabb, Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby, The Things We Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor, and Rook by Sharon Cameron.

So what about you? Why do you reread books? And what rereads are imminent for you?

Writing Prompt #12

Here's another prompt from my fiction class! My professor is/was a big Gene Wilder fan, so she gave this one right after his death. She gave us a line from one of his movies and told us to go from there.

Line prompt: "My name is Jim, but most people call me...Jim."

She slid into the chair across from the brown-haired guy. He wasn't bad-looking, although maybe a bit scrawny. His black-framed glasses stood out against his pale skin.
"Ok, hi," she said. "I'm Lucy."
"I'm Dean, but most people call me, well, Dean," he replied.
Laughter bubbled up before she could catch it. Thankfully, Dean seemed glad they were off to a good start.
"I'm a nurse practitioner," she told him, running through the basics she'd already covered with seven other guys. "I have two cats, Jazz and Foxtrot, and I love the beach."
"Nice names," he remarked. "I don't have any pets at the moment--landlord doesn't allow them--I like the beach too, and I'm a high school math teacher."
"So do you like teenagers then? I always thought high school teachers had the hardest jobs."
"They can be difficult, but I try to make it interesting for them." He'd come right from work, she could tell, based on his slacks and short-sleeved polo shirt.
"Do you have a favorite local restaurant?" she asked. "I'm new to the area, and I love recommendations."
Dean raised an eyebrow. She knew she was practically begging him to ask her out, but she didn't care.
"There's this place on Stanley Street--Granddaddy's Porch. It's good if you like Southern cuisine. Their catfish special on Fridays is my favorite."
That told her all she needed to know. The bell chimed, and she stood to move onto the next table--but not before she slid Dean a Post-It with a phone number.
"Call me sometime," she said, sashaying to the next table.
She barely dialed it in with the next several guys. Her mind was too wrapped up in what Dean had said. Her heart raced. She hadn't expected to find her target so easily. Now she just had to wiggle her way into his smuggling ring, and it would be smooth sailing to bust the whole gang from there.

Review: Stef Soto, Taco Queen

Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
Grade: B
Release date: January 3, 2017
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for review consideration.
Summary: Estefania "Stef" Soto is itching to shake off the onion-and-cilantro embrace of Tia Perla, her family's taco truck. She wants nothing more than for her dad to get a normal job and for Tia Perla to be put out to pasture. It's no fun being known as the "Taco Queen" at school. But just when it looks like Stef is going to get exactly what she wants, and her family's livelihood is threatened, she will have to become the truck's unlikely champion.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I'm not usually much for middle grade books anymore, but this one caught my eye last year, and when it was available for review request on Edelweiss, I decided to give it a try. While it isn't going to be one of my favorites, it's definitely a hit that younger readers will love.
Stef Soto is a feel-good story about a young girl who is proud of her parents but a bit embarrassed of her papi's taco truck, Tia Perla. She also wants more freedom and to be treated like a teenager, not a child, things that I'm sure many young readers could relate to. The plot overall is a bit simple and the friendships didn't go as deep as I wanted them to, but I liked that Stef was willing to apologize for her mistakes and that Julia wasn't such a mean girl. Ms. Torres did a good job explaining (but not necessarily excusing) Julia's behavior. The Viviana Vega plotline could've been a bit more important earlier on; it worked towards the end but not much before that for me. But the taco truck plot was great. It felt grown-up and realistic, not like something you'd see in a Disney Channel movie.

The Verdict: I acknowledge that I am not the target audience for this book, so it felt a bit too juvenile for me. However, I definitely think it could be a hit with middle grade readers.

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: Probably not, but it was a fun read! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated 2017 Releases Part 1

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

(As always when it comes to these lists, I couldn't limit myself to just ten...)

1. By Your Side by Kasie West

First of two Kasie West books we're getting this year, and I'm so psyched, y'all.

2. Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
Absolutely Truly was so cute, and I'm glad it's getting a sequel.

3. Crazy Messy Beautiful by Carrie Arcos

I haven't read any of Carrie's previous works, but I really like the idea of these characters and the love story.

4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This book is so culturally relevant, and I'm really hoping I like it.

5. The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig

Sequel to one of my favorite books of 2016, and Heidi is a delight.

6. Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves

A book that made my Sixteen 2016 Reads list (oops), but I'm sure it'll be well worth the wait.

7. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Another one of the recent YA You've Got Mail stories, which I love.

8. Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

I'm so glad there's a third chapter to this story, and I can't wait to be back in Lara Jean's head.

9. Triple Threat by Gwenda Bond

More Lois Lane!

10. The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

Auto-buy author.

11. Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee

It's about a web-series! So many books have characters who are social media famous, but most don't even delve into web-series. Also the main character is asexual, which I think is very important to see in more young adult fiction.

12. Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

It technically released last year in Australia, but I'm counting it since American copies won't be on shelves until June. (Although, if I like the book, I might have to get an Australian copy too because its cover is just as pretty as this one.)

What 2017 releases in January-June are you looking forward to most?

Preorder All the Books

It's time once again for me to talk about all the 2017 releases I've already preordered. This is basically another way for me to talk up all the 2017 releases I'm anticipating.

By Your Side by Kasie West

The first of two Kasie West releases, and I am so hype. I would preorder her July release, too, but it's not up on Amazon yet.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro

They both come out on Valentine's Day, so that'll be a fun day. I have an ARC of the former that I haven't read yet (but it looks so good, I couldn't resist), and the latter is a sequel.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This is going to be such a big title, I just know it.

The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig

*bounces* I preordered this one the day of its cover reveal.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

ALL THE LOVELY CONTEMPORARIES. (Two of which are reminiscent of You've Got Mail.)

Triple Threat by Gwenda Bond

More Lois Lane!!!

A Court of Thorns and Roses #3 by Sarah J. Maas

I hadn't preordered the first two books, primarily because I didn't love A Court of Thorns and Roses. But A Court of Mist and Fury blew me away, so of course I preordered book three.

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

I mean, it's Emery Lord. She reached auto-buy status with Open Road Summer. (Plus that cover is uh-mazing.)

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee

The former is an Australian book releasing in America and, if you can't tell by the cover, it's about books. The latter is a Seventeen 2017 Reads pick that I'm gonna take a chance on.

Of course this wouldn't be a preorder post without a giveaway.

I'm giving away a preorder of any 2017 YA release under $20. It's your choice, as long as it's a YA title. The giveaway will be open until New Year's Eve, so get entering and spread the word!
(Also, if you're a US reader, you should hop over to my Twitter because I'm also doing a giveaway for a preorder of The Hate U Give.)

Rules

~No cheating. I check entries.

~Open internationally, as long as The Book Depository ships to you.

~The book must cost less than 20 USD and it must have a confirmed release date within 2017.

~You must reply to my email within 48 hours; otherwise, I'll choose another winner.

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