Quest Champion for the Bookie Trials!

**edit June 2020 – I no longer support the creator of this readathon due to her views on minorities and other creators, and she has since removed herself from all forms of social media. I will keep this post up, since at the time I enjoyed my participation, but am removing all links to her channel and adding this disclaimer on all videos about the Bookie Trials**

(HI, let’s just pretend the Bookie Trials just ended, so it doesn’t look like I took over a month to write this post. Cool? Cool.) Well well well, it seems as though I have achieved the near-impossible. I read 17 books in the month of July, and visited all the locations in the Queendom, which means I have achieved the status of Quest Champion for the Bookie Trials? If you didn’t see my last post, the Bookie Trials was a month-long readathon in July, created by ‘her royal majesty’ Rachael Marie, during which participants were separated into four teams (Scribe, Mage, Bard, and Outlaw), and are sent on a quest to find the Bookie Grail. I included more information about my team, as well as all the prompts and the books I chose for each prompt in my first post, so feel free to check that one out first. Below you will find my ratings and reviews for all 17 books I read in pursuit of the title of Quest Champion, so I hope you enjoy!

1.) Soft on Soft by Mina Waheed (3.5 star)
Soft on Soft is a sweet little story centered around introverted makeup artist June Bana, who is Middle Eastern, anxious, and pansexual, and extroverted model/actress Selena Clarke, who is black and demisexual. After years of doing Selena’s makeup, June can’t stop thinking of her as Sunshine reincarnated, and when both women realize that their romantic feelings may be reciprocated, they have to decide if their compatibility goes beyond the workplace. This was an adorable slice of life character driven female/female romance that is perfect for a short read. It does have an on-page panic attack, with a content warning at the beginning of the chapter.

2.) A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti (5 star)
Annabelle has been struggling to escape the nightmares of what happened last summer. She’s even willing to make a cross country trip from Seattle to Washington D.C. Even before she can convince herself that this feat is achievable, her brother is planning the route, her friends become her P.R. team, and her grandfather is gassing up his R.V. to follow. What started out as a trip to fight Annabelle’s personal demons becomes a journey connecting people nationwide. This was such a heart-breaking emotional read that leaves puzzle pieces in every chapter that are finally put together in its final pages. It’s hard to read at times, but that just makes pushing on to finish it even more rewarding. Without giving much away, I think this book is especially important to read given current U.S. events, and definitely Caletti definitely opens the door for conversation.

3.) The Night My Sister Went Missing by Carol Plum-Ucci (3 star)
A gun goes off, Casey drops off the pier, and her body is nowhere to be found. Now her older brother, Kurt, is stranded at the police station waiting for his parents, and tries to recount the exact events which transpired that night. Hearing differing accounts, bold-faced lies, and uncovered truths from people he thought he knew, the night seems to simultaneously drag on and move too quickly. He can only hope that Casey, wherever she is, can hold on until morning. This was a reread from early in my teen years, so while I did already know the outcome, there were still twists and turns that kept my attention. I think there were a few moments where the events were a bit too far-fetched, but it was sold as a suspense novel, and for what it was, it was a solid one.

4.) American Gods by Neil Gaiman (3 star)
From Goodreads: “Days before his release from prison, Shadow’s wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America. Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.” There is so much action and plot contained in this book, that the simple synopsis cannot simply do it justice. Shadow was such an interesting character, and it was so intriguing to watch him find out more about the world into which he was thrust into so suddenly. I read this on audio with a full cast recording, which definitely helped with character differentiation, and Neil Gaiman’s writing style is so incredibly unique, but after about a month I just don’t remember much about what happened in this book.

5.) Stardust by Neil Gaiman (3.5 star)
My second Neil Gaiman book of the month! Young Tristran Thorn from the tiny town of Wall has fallen in love with the beautiful Victoria Forester. In exchange for anything he wants (Victoria’s hand in marriage), Tristran promises to retrieve a fallen star that has recently crashed into the grassy meadow just beyond the town. What awaits him is a dangerous journey that is fantastical beyond his wildest imagination. This is certainly much more whimsical than American Gods, and I can appreciate Neil Gaiman’s approach to both of these novels. As the group book for the Book Junkie Trials, there were many differing opinions on it, and mine can be summed up by saying “it was cute, and I might read it again in the future to catch all the plot points I missed, but I didn’t love it.”

6.) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (4 star)
9-year-old Bruno comes home from school one day to find his family’s maid packing up his things because his father has just received a promotion and the entire family is moving away from Berlin. When Bruno arrives at his new home, he is disappointed by, well, just everything about it; he is especially disappointed that there are no other children around to play with, besides his sister, Gretel. From his window, Bruno can see a large camp enclosed with a wire fence, and all the people gathered there are wearing matching “striped pajamas.” One day while exploring, Bruno wanders by the fence and encounters a young boy his age named Shmuel, and the two form a unique and unlikely friendship. This is definitely a heartbreaking book about the German concentration camps during World War II, and what I found particularly interesting was that it was set through the eyes of a child of a German commandant. Bruno doesn’t know the full extent of what his father’s job entails, and refuses to believe he has any hand in the terrible things happening to the people at the camp. I remember reading this for school, and my heart still ached reading this ending the second time around.

7.) Have You Seen Her? by Karen Rose (5 star)
When a small town in North Carolina is gripped with fear as a serial killer is in action, Special Agent Steven Thatcher is on the case. He vows to do whatever he can to protect the teenagers of his community. But when his own teenage son, Brad, starts acting aloof and failing chemistry, his concerned teacher, Jenna Marshall, reaches out to Steven to try and figure out what’s wrong. While Steven and Jenna are both trying to heal from events of the past, and trying to piece together what’s happening in the present, they begin to feel drawn to each other. Will Jenna and Steven be able to make things work despite being hurt in the past, or does the serial killer have other plans for the both of them? This is another reread, and even though I already knew the identity of the killer, it was still thrilling to relive the events of this book. I was able to follow different story lines more closely, connect so many more points, and catch all the hints Karen Rose laid out before the reveal. Extremely riveting, definitely adult, and would highly recommend.

8.) Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy (4 star)
Iris feels like she’s the only one in the entire world who doesn’t care about the high-fantasy Elementia series. The problem is, the books are written by M.E. Throne, and M.E. Thorne just happens to be Iris’ late grandmother. So when Iris and her little brother, both haunted by events of the past, wind up in Ireland for the filming of the movie adaptation, she wants everyone on set to know she wants nothing to do with the process. But can the magic of Elementia, the passion of the crew, and even the persistence of the rascally-cute actor Eamon O’Brien, convince her to fight for something she’s detested her entire life? I first read this book in May, and absolutely flew through it because I’m such a sucker for contemporary romances, so I thought it would be a great reread for this readathon. Plus, Eamon is delightfully charming and makes me wish I could be wooed by an Irishman 🙂

9.) Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (5 star)
15-year-old Will’s brother, Shawn, has just been murdered, and Will is fully aware of the rules: Rule #1: no crying, rule #2: no snitching, and rule#3: get revenge. So Will gets on his apartment’s elevator on the seventh floor with Shawn’s gun in his back pocket, on the way to kill the person he is certain is responsible for his brother’s death. As the elevator slowly descends, Will is visited by ghosts of his past. Can they convince him to change his plan of action, or has Will’s fate already been decided? This is such a powerful story about the cycle of violence, and the first book I’d ever read written in verse. I was captivated from the very first page, and even the closing lines had me questioning what I’d just read. Completely worth the read.

10.) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (2 star)
Dorian Gray has found himself to be the subject of talented artist Basil Hallward’s infatuation while sitting for a full-length oil portrait. When the portrait is finished, Dorian is enchanted by its beauty, and soon becomes disappointed that he will not retain any of this beauty as he ages. In a whisper, Dorian expresses that he would do anything, even sell his soul, to ensure that the portrait, rather than he, would age and fade. I was a part of a production of The Picture of Dorian Gray in college, and I did not have a good experience, so I have to attribute some of my dislike to that association. Additionally, I personally prefer Oscar Wilde’s plays to his novels, because his novels tend to be over-descriptive. Overall, did not enjoy this, but I can say that I read it.

11.) How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (2.5 star)
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is known as “the Dragon Whisperer” throughout the Vikingdom, but it wasn’t always so. This story encompasses the young childhood of the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, starting from the early days of his dragon training. This is vastly different from the movie adaptation, which I am extremely fond on, so maybe I was a bit disappointed with this book, but it wasn’t bad by any means. I just feel as if I might have enjoyed it more as a younger ready. I will also not be continuing on with the series.

12.) Of Mice and Men by John Steinback (3 star)
George and Lennie have nothing but each other and a dream that one day they’ll have enough money to own land of their own and stop having to rely on others. When they find work on a California ranch, things seem like they’re finally falling into place. But Lennie has been a victim of his own strength his entire life, and can George live the rest of his patching up the holes? I originally read this in high school, and, like many other stories read for class, I don’t think I really got to sit with the source material or grasp what any of it meant. While I can appreciate John Steinback’s contribution to literature since his books’ publication, I can’t say I enjoyed this one too much, or cared for the problematic view of people that may be suffering from mental disorders.

13.) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson (2.5 star)
From the Goodreads description: “Lesbian. Bisexual. Queer. Transgender. Straight. Curious. This book is for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who’s ever dared to wonder. This book is for YOU.” Now, this book was published in 2014, and there were things I did like about it. The anecdotes brought real-life experiences into the discussion topics, and the author was able to shine a light on several stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community, and biases some people may have. However, I believe that this book would be most useful to people who are gay, or who parents of gay individuals looking for answers/advice, not necessarily “for everyone” as the description states. There is also a heavy reference to gender as a binary state (male/female) with little to no mention of non-binary individuals, which I found a bit odd. And one thing that was particularly bothersome for me was that while it did have the definition of “asexual,” there were lines that stated “if you ask someone if they’re thinking about sex and they say no, they’re probably lying” to a degree. If I read this book as someone who was questioning my asexual identity, I would not have found this book helpful, but I do hope that other people can use this as a resource, because it does have some useful information.

14.) How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune (5 star)
Josiah Erikson, a demisexual stoner hipster living in Los Angeles, wants to be an actor. Some might even call him “an actor of the highest caliber.” So far he’s well on his way to fame with memorable roles as a TV show background cadaver and a guy in a commercial for herpes medication. All he’s looking for is a his big break, which may or may not come at the hands of Q-Bert, an enigmatic novelist with a butch body guard, who Josy may or may not have a huge friend-crush on. In Abby, Oregon, the town of his best friend Gustavo Tiberius, Josy is on his way to making all his dreams come true, even the ones he never thought possible. I never shut up about this book, or its “prequel” How to Be a Normal Person, or its author T.J. Klune, because I’m just so in love with the world and characters that are developed. Josy is a ball of sunshine, and Q-Bert needs to be protected at all costs. I relate to both characters on so many levels: Quincy, in terms of struggling with mental thoughts that kick my butt every once in a while, and Josy in terms of not being able to decipher my feelings until my friends are ready to punch my face in with an explanation. I will cherish these books forever, and thank T.J. Klune for making me feel seen and understood in the best way.

15.) Song For a Whale by Lynne Kelly (4 star)
Twelve-year-old tech-genius Iris is the only deaf person at her school, and she often feels like people don’t think she’s very smart. She feels very isolated from her classmates, and even her family sometimes, because she can’t communicate the same way they can. So when she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who sings at a higher frequency than other whales of his kind, Iris feels such a connection. And she starts to concoct a way to communicate with Blue, to sing in a way they can both feel connected to. The only problem is that Blue is three thousand miles away. Will she be able to share her song with him? I was not expecting to feel so moved by a middle grade book, and I am so glad I picked this up. While I needed to suspend my disbelief a bit, the story was incredibly enjoyable, and it was so interesting to read a story with deaf culture by a sign language interpreter. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a short, inspiring read.

16.) The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (3 star)
Mia Thermopolis already has enough on her plate, being an unpopular, flat-chested, five-foot-nine freshman who’s currently flunking algebra. Her mom tells her to write down all her feelings in a diary, and she does not hold anything back. So when her mother informs her that she has a date with Mr. G, Mia’s algebra teacher, she has a lot to say. And don’t even get her started on the bombshells her father revealed: he cannot have anymore children, so Mia is the sole Princess of Genovia, a small principality between France and Italy. How is she going to survive now? This series was the first one I can remember completing in middle school, and returning to it brought back all of the warm fuzzy feelings. It also made me realize how different the books are from the movies.

17.) Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot (3 star)
This is the second installment of Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries series, which picks up right after the events of the first. Mia is still dealing with the fact that she’s a Princess, and sometimes she feels like the entire world is against her. But she takes it one day at a time. I can’t wait to complete my reread of this series, it brings back so many memories of checking the books out of the library one by one, and being so excited to go back and pick up the next one because I was dying to know what happened next.