Tag: Book blog

For the Love of Fall | Book Tag ♡

Q'Zion3 Comments

Hey, everyone! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to the Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. It’s the middle of fall, and I’ve seen so many awesome tags on WordPress Reader. It has been a while since I’ve done a book tag on here, and I’ve been in a bookish mood lately. So today, I decided to create a fall tag of my own; For the Love of Fall. So without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) Pumpkin Harvest: What is your most anticipated fall release?

As I get older, I am beginning to notice that I care much more about the diversity and representation in the books that I read. Frizzy is a graphic novel about a girl who wants to express herself through her frizzy hair. It is said to address how societies have been calling natural hair “unprofessional” or “ugly,” which is one of the many critical topics that is not often openly addressed in literature. Plus, the cover art is gorgeous, don’t you think? Based on what I’ve read about this soon-to-be-released novel, I’m super excited to add it to my graphic novel collection, in the future.

2.) Hot Chocolate: What is your ultimate comfort novel?

As much as I am one of the biggest bookworms you’ll ever meet, it’s not often that I find myself wanting to read an entire book over again–most of the time, I’d rather just start a new book. But the classic Little Women by Louisa May Allcott and the stunning debut novel From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks are a couple of the few that I’d read several times over. They both make me feel so warm inside with their happy endings, and that I think makes them the perfect books to read this time of year. (Read my review of From the Desk of Zoe Washington here.)

3.) What’s your favorite place to read?

For me, nothing compares to getting cozied up on the couch or in my bed with a book in my hand. Reading is such a satisfying and relaxing activity, and I’ll do it no matter where I am. But in the autumn, nothing compares to getting cozy and doing one of my favorite things in the world a few minutes before it’s time for bed.

4.) Windy Day: Name a book that had it’s ups and downs.

Although I really liked Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega–who is also the author of my anticipated fall release, Frizzy–it had moments where things were kind of casual and slow. Then, five seconds later, I was on the edge of my seat. I mentioned in my review that the beginning was also pretty slow, since there was a huge portion before the action got started. The main characters of the book were witches in training, or as the title points out, witchlings. The overall feel of the book is perfect for autumn, with just enough angst to keep you reading and wholesome moments that will remind most readers of the comforting fall season. (Read my review for Witchlings here.)

5.) Pile of Leaves: Name a book that had a lot of subplots.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt has recently become one of my favorite novels that I’ve read so far. The protagonist is a girl with dyslexia named Ally who learns how to appreciate the differences of herself and those around her. There were a lot of subplots about her family and friends, mixed in with the main conflict, but they weren’t super overwhelming or distracting, which was nice. This middle grade contemporary novel has a simple yet profound writing style that is sure to make for a quirky, fun, and rewarding read for bookworms of any age. (Read my review for Fish in a Tree here.)

6.) Do you prefer to read old books or classic ones?

Honestly, this all depends on the book, for me. A majority of my books are from the 2010-2020s, and I guess they tend to appeal more to me as a girl growing up in the 21st century. But I occasionally do find books that I like from the 90s and 2000s, as well. At the end of the day, although contemporary novels are my go-to, a good book is a good book in my eyes.

7.) Costume: What’s a book that was different than what you expected?

The main reason why Guts by Raina Telgemeier was different from what I was expecting is because I kind of bought it without much knowledge on it, firsthand. All I knew was that I had read the first too additions of this triology, Smile and Sisters, and I loved them. So I just thought, “I know this one’s going to be good, so let’s go ahead and buy it!” But that risk really payed off considering that although the storyline was different than what I had assumed from the cover and synopsis, Guts is such a wholesome story, that I had finished within a day’s time. I guess that goes to show that sometimes its good to go with your gut (pun intended.) (Read my review for Guts here)

8.) Pumpkin: Name a book with a cover that says “Fall”

I couldn’t really find many books in my collection that went with the fall theme (besides just being the color orange) so I decided to just to my best and choose Beacon Street Girls: Bad News/Good News by Annie Bryant and All Four Stars by Tara Dairman because they have what is somewhat reminiscent of fall colors or backgrounds. But, they’re both really cute books, so I don’t really mind adding them in this fall tag.

9.) What’s your favorite autumnal activity?

If I had to pick my favorite season, I’d pick either summer or fall. Like many people, I especially enjoy making hot chocolate, reading all snuggled up on the couch, shopping, and taking mile walks in the autumn. There are so many fun fall activities, that it’s almost impossible for me to choose just one!

The Questions

If you’d like to do this tag for yourself, here are the questions for you to copy and paste. And in case you do The For the Love of Fall Book Tag, please tag me so that I can check out your awesome answers!

1.) Pumpkin Harvest: What is your most anticipated fall release?

2.) Hot Chocolate: What is your ultimate comfort novel?

3.) What’s your favorite place to read?

4.) Windy Day: Name a book that had it’s ups and downs.

5.) Pile of Leaves: Name a book that had a lot of subplots.

6.) Do you prefer to read old books or classic ones?

7.) Costume: What’s a book that was different than what you expected?

8.) Pumpkin: Name a book with a cover that says “Fall”

9.) What’s your favorite autumnal activity?

I won’t be tagging anyone for this tag, but If you’d like to do it feel free to give it a go! I had so much fun creating this, and I hope you all enjoyed it, as well! Also, let me know in the comments what your favorite place to read and autumn activity is.

Have a fantastic rest of your day/night everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

Book Review: From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

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BOOK INFORMATION

Publication Date: January 14, 2020

Genre: Family, Mystery, Realistic Fiction

Age Category: Middle Grade (MG)

Pages: 304

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

SYNOPSIS

Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime?

A crime he says he never committed.

Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.

But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance.

MY TAKEAWAYS

I’m a huge fan of baking shows on the Food Network, and while I wouldn’t consider baking one of my main hobbies, I do like to get in the kitchen every once in a while. Therefore, I really enjoyed how the protagonist, Zoe, had an interest in baking and entering a kids baking competition as a sub-plot of the novel. But in reality, this realistic fiction story was about much more than baking.

The main conflict was when Zoe found a letter in the mail on her twelfth birthday . . . and it was from her father, Marcus, who she’s never met due to him going to prison when she was a baby. Although she’s skeptical about writing back to her father at first, she begins to build a relationship with Marcus through their back and fourth written conversations. He even gave Zoe a new R&B song for her to listen to in each of his letters, which Zoe dubbed “Little’s Tomato’s Playlist” after Marcus’ nickname for her. Cute, right?

I truly enjoyed Zoe and Marcus’ relationship throughout the entire novel, and it was really refreshing to have a book that contains representation of the many fatherless daughters (and sons) that are around the world, specifically so among members of the Black community.

Other topics like systemic racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, and other examples of racial inequality were addressed in a conversation between Zoe and her grandmother. But I admire Janae Marks’ ability to address these topics which can be hard to swallow in a tasteful yet informative way, making this book a great option for kids of all races to learn about the ins and outs of racism and its effect on people of color.

Throughout the story, Zoe had to keep her letters a secret from most of her family–except for her grandmother, whom she has a very close relationship with, and her best friend Trevor–in order to continue to get to know her father. I was rooting for Zoe throughout the entire novel to prove her father innocent of his crime. And while her actions of sneaking out to do so ended up coming back to bite her towards the end, when both her and her blended family’s secrets are revealed, the revolution of this inspiring tale was like the icing on the cake.

Overall, if you’re looking for a book that will tear your heart into pieces and glue it back together again, From the Desk of Zoe Washington is the perfect middle-grade novel for you. From the likeable characters, to the well-delivered hard topics, to the African-American author and protagonist, this heartwarming novel is an appetizing choice that most kids in their pre-teens and teens will happily relate to, while learning important lessons along the way!

Rating: ★★★★✯ (4.5/5 stars)

Recommended Age: for readers 11/12+

Although this novel happened to be a book that I stumbled upon during a trip to a book store, I’m so thankful to God that I gave it a chance! If anyone else has added this to their TBR list, or is contemplating doing so, I highly recommend that you give this novel a try, as well. But if you have already read this literature masterpiece, please tell me some of your thoughts on it–or some other book recommendations–down below!

Have a beautiful and blessed day everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Bye, for now! ♡

Paperback vs. Hardcover Books: Where Do I Stand? ♡

Q'Zion1 Comment

What’s up, my fabulous followers! This is Princess Q (a.k.a. Q’Zion) and welcome to my blog! ♡

Now, to all of my fellow book fanatics, there’s really no such thing as a bad way to read a good book. From audiobooks, to hardcovers, there are so many different ways to read! And while all bookworms love a good story, we each have our own preferences for how we like to read. One of the largest debates among the bookworm community is the simple question: Are paperback or hardcover books better?

Although it may seem silly to most people, a majority of bookworms have a preference between the two. Honestly, I have both paperback and hardcover books in my collection, and as long as I have a book that I can hold, I’m a happy camper! But I thought it’d be cool if I had a little discussion about what I like about each, and whether or not I have a true preference between the two. Let’s go!

Paperbacks

I think we can all agree that paperbacks are probably the most convenient when compared to hardcovers. They’re cheaper, lighter, easier to transport while traveling, and they take up less space, which is super helpful for those of us who have hundreds of books in our collection.

I have to admit that if I put a book in my purse to take with me while I go out, it’s most likely going to be a paperback. They just have this classic “homey” feeling when holding them in my hands; and since I love to read while getting comfy in my bead or on the couch, that is a huge bonus!

Hardcovers

Whenever I get a hardcover book, the one thing that I can think is “fancy.” If you’re someone who highly values the aesthetic of your bookshelf, these are probably the way to go. Hardcover books last longer, are harder to stain due to dust jackets–or those little thick wrappers that wrap around the cover–and make for a much more luxurious reading experience.

It would be a lie for me to say that I don’t love all of my hardcover books. Not only is the cover art absolutely gorgeous, but they are also so nice to look at on a shelf. Although, when I’m reading them they are a lot heavier to hold, which isn’t the best as someone who likes to be comfortable while reading. And even though I adore dust jackets for their function and how they look, I almost always end up setting them to the side while I read. Despite these few drawbacks, I can’t deny that the fact that hardcover books are so gorgeous makes up for them.

Okay, so I know that you guys are still waiting for me to answer the question. Which type of book do I like the most: paperbacks or hardcovers? But to be honest with you, I’d have to say neither. At the end of the day, they both have their pros and cons. As long as it’s a good book–and preferably one that I can physically hold–I couldn’t be happier.

Well, I’ve already told you all where I stand in the paperback vs. hardcover debate. But what about you? Do you prefer paperbacks, hardcover, eBooks, or audiobooks? In fact, do you have a preference at all? I would love to hear from all my fellow bookworms in the comments!

Have an awesome rest of your week, everybody! God bless you all, and I will catch you later! Peace in! ♡

The Best Ways to Celebrate National Book Lover’s Day ♡

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A/N~I’ve got a small announcement to make. Today is the last day of me posting every single day on my blog–as I mentioned that I would do in my 1 year blogiversary post. From now on, I will be posting every two days, meaning I post today, skip tomorrow, post Thursday, and the cycle goes on. Besides that, there will be no other changes to my blog or content. Okay–you are free to read the actual post now!

Happy Tuesday, y’all! This is Q’Zion and welcome back to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. To all my fellow bookworms and bibliophiles, we all know that there are few–if any–gifts that we can get in life that are better than a good book. After all, literature is like the foundation for learning just about anything. A world without books would be like a world without color. Just plan boring.

So in celebration of books and all the people around the world who love them, July 9th is proclaimed as Book Lover’s Day. And I’m going to share a few creative ideas for how we bookworms can celebrate to the fullest. Let’s get this show on the road!

Reorganize Your Book Shelf

Almost every bookworm has a shelf that’s just about filled with books. And as we constantly read and add to our vast collection, it can be easy for our books to get mixed and matched. If your bookshelf needs a little tender love and care, today is the perfect opportunity to make it look as neat as a display in a bookstore.

Make a Book Mark

I remember doing a craft a couple years ago where I made my own colorful bookmark, and I had so much fun with it that I had to make an entire series of custom-made bookmarks afterwards. The more books we get, the more bookmarks we need. That means that there’s no such thing as having too many bookmarks. So getting a little crafty and personalizing bookmarks of your own–especially while using colors that match with a particular book–would be an awesome way to celebrate being a bookworm.

Visit your Local Library

Honestly, this one is like muscle memory to anyone who loves books. However, going to the library to borrow a few books–and maybe even sit down and read for a couple hours–will likely give any bookworm some entertainment.

Recommend Some of Your Favorite Books to Someone Else

There aren’t many things that I love to do more than I love reading. But I have to admit that it always puts a smile on my face when I’m able to share some of the novels that I love the most with family and friends. Reading is a gift from God, and it is truly a great experience to be able to see others embracing it. So try showing some of your favorite books to a friend of yours–you never know; they might just turn them into a bookworm, too.

Try an eBook

If you’re like me, you have a huge preference for physical books. You know, the ones that you can feel, smell and hold. But if there’s anything that many of my books have taught me, it’s that sometimes it can be good to try new things. Whether you are used to reading books in the physical or digital world, it can be a great experience to try buying an eBook or purchasing a physical book from a bookstore for a change. Even if you end up switching to your preference afterwards, it’s always good to explore the different ways to read.

Create an Account on Goodreads

Are you looking for a digital platform where you can discover new books, write reviews for books you’ve read, and connect with other bookworms? Well then you might want to check out Goodreads. While I’ve never actually made an account of my own, I often look to Goodreads when I am looking for ratings and opinions on books that catch my interest. So Goodreads is a good option if you are someone who likes eBooks and/or you are on a mission to read more books.

Replace Your Screen Time for Reading Time

I know, I know. For most teenagers, our phones are like an extension of our arms. But every now and again, it’s really healthy to take a break and do something that doesn’t involve a screen. Instead of playing video games all Friday night when you finish your homework after school, reading could be a really productive way to wind down before bedtime–or any time, for that matter!

Join a Book Club

I’ve participated in a handful of clubs over the last couple years, and I’ve got to say that Book Club is one of my favorites. Not only is this a wonderful option for those who need an extra push to read more novels this year, but it’s also a great way to connect and interact with people who love books just as much as you do. And as a bookworm, that’s almost always a bonus!

I hope you all enjoyed these tips for making the most of National Book Lover’s Day–which if you think about it, is everyday. I thank God for books and how much He has taught me through them. Hopefully, you all found a great way to celebrate.

Have a happy rest of your day or night, everyone! Peace in! ♡

Never Have I Ever: Bookworm Edition

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While I was brainstorming some more blog post ideas, a Never have I Ever post popped in my head. If you don’t know what this game is, Never Have I Ever is a party game where you list several experiences, and you have to say whether or not you have done it. Except, this time it includes some of the common experiences of bookworms.

Although it was a really random idea, it’s something fun that I’ve never done before. So, why not give it a shot? You get 1 point for each thing that you have never done. Feel free to follow along and answer the questions with me.

1) Smelled a new book….

Absolutely. In fact, I do this whenever I get a new book. Especially graphic novels. They have this distinct smell that I love, for some reason. It’s just like a piece of paper that just came out of the print

2) Took a picture with an author…

Although I’m a little sad to say it, I have not. Though I’d really like to meet Sharon M. Draper one day. She’s a really great children’s book author. If poet Maya Angelou was still with us, I would want to meet her, too.

3) Named a pet after a book character…

Never. I’ve had several betta fish in my life…Peace, Easter and Joyus. Two boys and one girl. But we’ve named them based on their personalities and words that we like. Never a character.

4) Joined a book club…

I was in my school’s book club for 8th grade–which I have now graduated from–and I plan to join again for the next school year.

5) Hugged or kissed a book…

I do this all the time. Hug my books, at least. Especially my favorites.

6) Cried while reading…

I’m not that much of an emotional person. Like all people, I cry sometimes, but that alone is very rare. I’ve been on the verge of crying if there is a really sad or heartwarming part, but I don’t think it’s ever gotten to the point where I actually cried.

7) Attended a book signing…

Unfortunately, no I have not. But I hope that I’ll be able to go to one someday–and host a few of my own when I become a NY Times Bestselling author.

8) Fell asleep while reading...

Never. I’ve definitely read while I was tired before, but I always put my book away when I know that it’s time to go to sleep. I take my beauty rest seriously, lol.

9) Bought an eBook…

I’m not the biggest fan of reading books that I can’t physically hold, even though it’s kind of old school. However, I do have about 3 books in which I purchased on my iPad, so the answer is yes.

10) Laughed out loud while reading…

All the time. I love to laugh, and hence I love reading books that have lots of humor, even in the most intense moments. In my opinion, an author that has the ability to make readers laugh has one of the best secret weapons for writing there is.

I scored a total of 5 points, meaning that there were 5 things on this list that I have never done. Pretty good, if you ask me. Overall, these questions were a lot of fun to answer. It really let me reflect on my many years of loving literature.

LET’S CHAT~Now I’m curious. How many points did you get? Don’t be afraid to comment your score, as well as the numbers that you haven’t done below in the comments.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! See you next time! ♡

My favorite childhood book series was… ♡

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The truth is, we were all little kids at some point. When I reflect on how I was in elementary school, I realize that in a lot of ways, I’ve matured and changed. But in other ways, I haven’t changed at all; take my love for reading, as an example.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always spent long amounts of time with my face in a good book. And like most kids, there was one particular book series that I favored the most…Junie B. Jones!

Now, just in case you aren’t familiar with this series, it is starring an almost-five-year-old girl named Junie, who is in kindergarten. While the series began in the early 90s, it didn’t end until the very last book in 2012. What I think really sparked my interest with this series is the humor and relatability, especially considering that I loved these books when I was the same age as Junie; around 1st or 2nd grade.

The Junie B. Jones series were some of my first chapter books–despite the fact that they contained pictures, and I truly believe that they were a big part of what sparked my love for reading in the first place. Although I remember buying my first few from Goodwill, me and my great-grandmother–a.k.a. Goodmommy’s mother–found about 12 of them at a thrift store one day, and she bought every single one for me. Super sweet, right? You have no idea how truly happy I was, LOL.

The books that we read as children, when we are beginning to learn how to read, are a critical part of our development and our interests as we get older. Not to mention that our favorite bedtime stories make great early childhood memories.

I’ve kept a lot of the books that I read when I was little, and I’m glad that I did. Although I prefer reading more advanced books–as my reading level has naturally increased through the years–looking back at what used to be my favorite books is a great experience, even today.

Without the books that I cherished as a little girl, I might have never really embraced the wonderful gift of reading.

Overall, it was really fun to take a look back into the past with my favorite book series in first grade. I think a person’s favorite childhood story can tell you a lot about them and what they find interesting. What we familiarize ourselves with at a young age can make the most precious childhood memories that we cherish and remember for a lifetime. And thank God for it.

LET’S CHAT~What was your favorite childhood story? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Thank you so much for reading! Have a beautiful and blessed day, y’all! ✨