Second Tuesday of the month and time for Show Us Your Books with Jana and Steph. Care to join?
I actually can’t share much about most of the books I’m reading, because they are for the Cybil’s Awards (I’m helping judge the YA Fiction category) and the winners aren’t announced until Valentine’s Day. I’ll have a lot more to share next month! However, I do want to share some quick reviews of books I can talk about! (all Bookshop links are affiliate links; I get a small % at no extra cost to you).
Ripped Away was released today, and I was sent a copy from the author to review. It’s upper-MG/YA and I really enjoyed it. It’s a quick read about a boy named Abe Pearlman who ends up in Victorian London. He has to fulfill a fortune teller’s prophecy to get home, but it’s proving tough! The book takes place during the Jack the Ripper murders. It’s not full of gratuitous violence, and it treats the victims with kindness and compassion. I loved that Vernick focused on the Jewish population at the time, and how they are often unspoken villains. People were quick to point to them as being Jack and they were often harassed, and even arrested during this time. Very well-written, and one that I would recommend.
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Krampus by Brom is one that I read over the holidays. It’s not for the faint of heart, as it can definitely be intense and bloody. I loved learning more about the character of Krampus though, and each chapter begins with a black and white illustration done by Brom himself!
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I love the band McFly, so I’m glad I finally made the time to read their memoir. I loved how they all told their stories, and I would definitely read a follow up if they ever wrote an updated memoir in the future. I do recommend if you’re a fan of McFly. They’re one of my favorite bands. I love that they were so open and honest. They all had their difficulties, and I appreciate them sharing their hearts with their fans.
- It doesn’t look like Bookshop has it, but I got mine from The Book Depository
Can’t wait to hear more about the Cybils awards. Ripped Away sounds good. I’m reading The Red Palace right now. Natalie @ Literary Rambles
I’ve never heard of that band, sounds fun!
I am unfamiliar with the band McFly, but I love the name
Krampus look like a dark holiday read.
Ooh awards reading! Love that you’re doing that.
goodness, the cover for Krampus is intense! i’ve not heard of mcfly before, glad you enjoyed their book though!
The awards reading sounds interesting and fun! 🙂
Looking forward to reading the YA books you read for the Cybils. I haven’t heard of any of these books, but glad you enjoyed them!
Super secret reading! lol
I hope you’re enjoying them Lauren.
Karen @For What It’s Worth
OMG I can’t believe you love McFly! I used to love them when they first came out, they seemed so cool and I have one friend who went to see them in concert and I was so jealous. They feel off my radar as I got older but from what I’ve seen of them since those guys went through a lot.
Ooh, these are good! Krampus! Definitely not for the weak of heart 🙂
Krampus scares me! Can’t wait to see those potential award winning books that you’ll post next month.
Ooh that is so exciting that you get to judge some book awards, how cool! I can’t wait to hear more. I’ve never heard of McFly – I felt old because the first thing I thought of when I saw that title was Back to the Future, ha!
What an interesting range of books here! Glad you enjoyed them all.
It’s pretty cool you get to judge a book competition!