Spring into a Good Book Read-a-thon Wrapup

I read 466 pages and I was able to finish three books, which is not too bad! I even wrote the review for Flora & Ulysses. I had to do booktalks for 5th and 6th grade, so I read the Case of Origami Yoda, even though it was not on my list. It was hilarious and perfect for the students. I hope to write the review for Snow and the two other books I need to write reviews for very soon! Thanks to Gina for hosting!

Once Upon a Time VIII

The Once Upon A Time Reading Challenge is hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. There are different levels and different categories, like short stories and films. More information and the signup is at this link. This is my first time participating in this challenge.
 
I am going to try for Quest the First and read 5 books that are fairytale, folklore, mythology, or fantasy. Possibilities for these books include: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep, The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, and The Calling by Kelley Armstrong.

I am going to try to watch Once Upon a Time, the rest of the first season. I watched 4 episodes a year ago, loved them, but never finished the series. I would also like to watch Frozen and Brave, which I have heard good things about.

I have watched Frozen now and it was very good!- March 23

For now I will stick with these categories and choices. Thanks to Carl for hosting!

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

I am participating in the Newbery Reading Challenge and this is my first Newbery of the challenge and this year's Newbery winner!

Candlewick Press

Kate DiCamillo is a wonderful writer and she captures the joy of life in her works.
Flora Belle Buckman is a cynic, mainly turned this way by her parents divorce and her mother's indifference toward her. She needs something to believe in and what she finds is a superhero squirrel. Ulysses, the squirrel, did not ask to be sucked up into a vacuum cleaner and gain superpowers, but from the moment he meets Flora, he is willing to be the superhero she needs. As Ulysses crosses the lives of Flora, her dad, her dad's next door neighbor, and Tootie and Tootie's nephew William Spiver, he gives them all that needed feeling of the extraordinary. The only one who seems unconvinced is Flora's mother and Ulysses arch-nemesis. Told in alternate text and comic book illustrations, this is a wonderful story of finding what truly matters to us in this world and finding the courage to face our problems.

Loved it! I can't wait to booktalk this book. The situations are hilarious and the story is so sweet that you can't help falling in love with the "cynic" Flora, poetry-typing Ulysses, and the indomitable William Spiver. DiCamillo will have you believing in superhero squirrels and in the power of love.

Favorite Character: Flora. She is smart and very forgiving. She is so lovable that even a squirrel cares for her.

Favorite Quote: There are some awesome quotes in this story. I could really put quotes around the whole story, because the writing is so beautiful. My favorite is this: "Nothing would be easier without you, because you are everything, all of it- sprinkles, quarks, giant donuts, eggs sunny-side up- you are the ever-expanding universe to me."

Definitely 5 cups of cocoa! Who would have thought a story about a squirrel being sucked up in a vacuum cleaner would be so moving!

Spring into a Good Book Read-a-thon

This read-a-thon is hosted by Gina at Book Dragon's Lair and runs from March 20 to March 26. You can sign up at this link.  It ties into her Spring Into a Good Book Challenge that runs from March 20 to June 20. You can pick whatever books you want for the challenge and she says the main goal is to have fun!
I am going to try to finish two books this week. One will be Flora and Ulysses and I will try to finish another from my Spring into a Good Book Challenge list. I will post my updates here:

Day 1: Finished Flora & Ulysses! I had a bit of time between the classes I was reading to and was able to finish. It was a very cute story and worthy of the Newbery Award. 94 pages.
Day 2: Finished The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger- 145 pages! I went totally off list. I needed another book to booktalk to 5th and 6th grade and this was perfect. Hilarious for the upper elementary crowd. Reading Cruel Beauty- 12 pages, reading Snow- 25 pages
Day 3: Reading Snow- 25 pages
Day 4: Finished Snow- 87 pages!, Reading Cruel Beauty- 4 pages
Day 5: Reading the Calling- 16 pages
Day 6: Reading the Calling- 6 pages
Day 7: No reading :(

Spring into a Good Book Reading Challenge

This is hosted by Gina at Book Dragon's Lair and you can sign up at this link. I have several books I need to read in this time frame and I hope to finish at least 10. My list will include:

Simon Pulse

Snow by Tracy Lynn

Balzer + Bray

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

HarperTeen

Perfect Lies by Kiersten White

Harper

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Candlewick Press

 Flora and Ulysses by Kate Dicamillo


I will add to this list soon! Thanks to Gina for hosting!

Ides of March Wrap-up

I was able to finish one book (Dark Frost), so I met my goal there and I also participated in 3 of the 4 mini-challenges. I read 220 pages, which is not great, but good enough for the busy time I had. I am slowly getting over my sinus problems and hoping I will get back into the swing of things with my reading soon! Thanks to Kimba for hosting!

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

Dark Frost is the third book in the Mythos Academy series, so this review will definitely have spoilers for the first two books. I am addicted to this series now!

K-Teen

A routine trip to a museum for a school assignment shouldn't be a cause for bloodshed and death, but when Gwen and her friends head to the museum, they and their classmates are attacked by Reapers. The Reapers leave behind an important clue, a map that should guide Gwen to the Heilheim dagger, the last artifact that stands in the way of Loki's return. The attack shows Gwen that she must train and be strong enough to face down the Reapers and to hide the dagger before it falls into the wrong hands. She also is driven by revenge and wants to be the one who kills the Reaper girl. However, she may have to do all this alone. Daphne is angry about her powers quickening and blames others for her puny ability to heal rather than something like fire magic. Logan is upset, once he learns the truth about Gwen knowing part of his secret. When the unthinkable happens, Gwen will be on her own and the fate of the world will hang in the balance.

This one started off quick and stayed fairly fast paced through out the whole book. The excitement is mounting, especially with that ending. I also enjoyed seeing some of the secondary characters be more fleshed out and learning Logan's and Nickamede's secrets. 

Favorite Character: Gwen. She is nosy, but caring and even when the worst happens she deals with it. I am also starting to like Logan better and I think their relationship works.

Favorite Quotes: "The next day was exceptionally average. Except, of course, for my aching heart."
"You know, having the fate of the entire world on my shoulders is a lot of freaking pressure."

I think this is my favorite in the series so far and I can't wait to pick up the next one! 4.5 cups of cocoa!