Tag: books

Mid-October Thrift Book Haul | 2022 ♡

Q'Zion1 Comment

Hey, everyone! This is Q’Zion and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. Yes, yes I am posting a second bookish post, this week. But I decided to spice things up by posting something that I’ve never done before: a book haul! This month, I’ve already got 8 new books! I don’t know about you guys, but for me, that’s a lot for only half a month!

My favorite place to buy thrift books, which are awesome if you are on a budget, is Goodwill. Before last week, it had been about 2 1/2 years since we’d last stopped by, since we didn’t want to buy any pre-used items during COVID-19. But now that the virus appears to be subsiding, me and Goodmommy (my grandmother and guardian) figured that it’s a good time to start again! So, without further ado, here’s all the books I’ve received this month!

  • Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez

I stumbled upon this one by just browsing a large bookshelf in a thrift store. And of course, the bright colors were quick to catch my attention. I had never heard of this author or book before, but when I looked at the back and saw that 1) It’s a contemporary Christian novel and 2) It had a super interesting plot; the protagonist’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, I was immediately sold.

  • Savvy by Ingrid Law

I don’t think any fan of fantasy middle grade books would reject this novel. As soon as I saw the striking cover art of Savvy, I knew that it would be a book that I would like. It’s about a girl named Mibs, short for Mississippi, who is about to turn thirteen and earn her “savvy,” which is a superpower that is earned by each member of her family on their 13th birthday. I can’t wait to get into this one; it’s seems like such a good read!

  • Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek

To be honest, by the title of this book, you’d think it’d be about food lol. But I was pleasantly surprised to see a little baby goat on the front. This cute novel is about a girl with anxiety who learns to face her fears when fate leads her to a little baby goat, whom she names Butter. There’s something about books involving cute animals that makes them so tempting to read. I hope this book is as good as it is adorable.

  • Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

Books that take place in the summer are always so refreshing…even when it’s not actually summertime. And they’re almost always the most colorful, so that’s always a plus. But from the start, this vibrant novel seemed like such a blast–and the plot about a teenage girl becoming a CIT at a summer camp to avoid being a third wheel with her best friend’s new boyfriend and some subtopics like friendship seemed pretty promising. I’m looking forward to giving this one a shot.

  • The Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin

Believe it or not, I actually found this book at Dollar Tree. There is so much going on in this cover art… but I actually kind of liked it. The art style almost reminds me of Gordon Korman’s novels–especially the cute banana peel. I actually started this one about a week ago, and while it was pretty confusing at the beginning–kind of like the cover–it’s growing on me the more I read it. So, keep looking out for my review on this book throughout the next few weeks.

  • Scat by Carl Miaasen

The first thing that caught my attention about this novel was the name. Scat. To be honest, that within itself seems like a pretty odd name for a book. Then, when I read the synopsis the first thing I could think of was the word “quirky.” It looks like this will be such a strange, yet fun book. And I can’t wait to read what this story has up its sleeve!

  • Chicken Noodle Soup for the Teenage Soul I by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kerberger

It’s very rare that I read a book that’s not fiction, but this popular classic became an exception when Goodmommy brought it to my attention. Chicken Noodle Soup is an entire, Christian based, self-help series filled with a bunch of inspirational short stories and poems sent by either teenagers and/or adults—depending on the target age group—about their personal life experiences, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. And better yet, they have a book(s) for parents, college students, Christians, kids, dog lover’s, teachers, etc. so there’s really a book in this series for everyone. But of course, I got the teenage version. I’ve already read 1 1/2 of the 8 sections, and I’m already loving it!

  • Chicken Noodle Soup for the Teenage Soul II by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kerberger

Surpise! Turns out, we were able to spot the second edition to this trilogy in the Chicken Soup series. To be honest, I could not be more thrilled–and tempted to get the third book, plus a version specifically for Christian teens, to complete my collection lol.

  • Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff.

Double surprise! God surely provides us with what we need; and apparently Goodmommy needed a Chicken Soup book, too. It’s so awesome to see her expanding her book collection, as well. In fact, I think my bookish ways are starting to rub off on her. Whether or not Goodmommy is turning into a bookworm, I’m glad to see her buying new books. Besides, this one practically screams her name with the design!

From now on, I just might make book hauls a monthly (or half-a-monthly) tradition on my blog. This was so much fun! Also, I would love to know if YOU like shopping for thrift books in the comments. If you do, what’s your favorite place to get them? But if not, what book format do you prefer (brand new physical books, eBooks, audiobooks, etc.?)

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

Just Me . . . Having the Best Birthday Ever!!!

Q'Zion5 Comments

As I mentioned in my last post, a special day was right around the corner that I wanted to share with you guys. And that special day was (drumroll, please) my birthday! I know that I say this every year, but me and Goodmommy had such a blast, and I still can’t hush up about how hyped I am.

Even though birthdays come back every year, they’re a really big deal. It’s not just a day about you, but also a celebration of the beautiful and wonderful gift of life that God has blessed us with. Life has it’s ups and downs for everyone, but the fact that we are still breathing is a blessing within itself. In reality, every day is worth celebrating.

Sending time with Goodmommy is always a blast, and I want to share how we spent our special day with all of you, as well! Okay, enough of the chatter, now! My 2022 birthday post is a go!

Our first stop was probably one of my favorites out of the whole day; and it was only just beginning! We decided to stop at Claire’s to do something that we’ve been talking about for years–getting my second ear piercing! And considering that Claire’s has been known for piercing ears for decades—or 40 years, to be exact—we thought it would be a great place to get the job done.

I actually got my first ear piercing when I was a few months old, so I obviously don’t remember anything from that experience–though Goodmommy’s retelling of my baby-self’s reaction always makes me giggle. As a result, I never knew how it felt to get your ear’s pierced before my birthday, so I was naturally a little nervous. But considering that I handle shots so well, I knew that this was going to be a walk in the park.

Despite our original plan to get the silver cross, we decided to get a stainless-steel star after the reccomendation to get a smaller earring. And I immediately fell in love with the results–it’s small, sweet, and simple. I can’t thank Goodmommy enough for getting me my second piercing! In fact, I loved it so much that I may even get another one, in a few years.

My reaction to the first piercing; it burned for about a minute, but I only felt a little pinch, as expected.
The finished product! I couldn’t be more obsessed! 🙂
Me cleaning my ears for the first time. I was a little confused about the steps at first, but once you get the hang of it it’s pretty simple.

Before we left our house, Goodmommy shared with me that she was contemplating taking me to a surprise destination for my birthday celebration, and I was over the moon to find out that it was Barnes and Nobles–my favorite bookstore.

If you’re a frequent visitor of my blog, you already know how I feel about books. And what I really appreciate about Barnes & Nobles is they’re variety–not only with the genres of their books, but with the types of items that they sell, too! As soon as I saw on a sign that the Young Readers’ section was upstairs, we took a ride on the escalator and searched around the entire second floor.

After a few minutes of searching, I finally found the section in question, and I couldn’t have been more excited by the shelves of novels that stood before me. I really love how this section in particular had literature that varied from pictures books to upper-middle grade, which makes it appropriate for a large range of ages.

We ended up purchasing three awesome novels–one of which was a graphic novel–for about ten bucks each. Another one of them was on my TBR (or to be read) list for this year, so I was super grateful for the opportunity to finally read it! Oh, and don’t worry, y’all; I’ll be posting all the book reviews for each one soon. ;))

So, I’m a firm believer that birthday’s don’t have to break the bank. But a simple piece of cake is always nice. And that’s why our next stop was no other than The Cheesecake Factory. Now, in case I’ve never mentioned this on my blog, cheesecake is one of my absolute favorite desserts, and we hadn’t had a slice for like, two years. So as anyone would assume, I was greatly anticipating eating a slice.

Me and Goodmommy are on a health journey, so it was a little shocking–to say the least–to see the amount of calories in a slice of each cheesecake. Seriously though, one slice is like half of the calories for the day! And although all of the options looked absolutely delicious, we both decided to stick with the classics–a slice of Cheesecake Factory’s original cheesecake.

After we saw the fact that it was a full house inside the restaurant, we decided to eat our delicious treats in the car. But I didn’t mind, at all; we had a close up view of the entire food court section of the mall!

To all of the cheesecake fans who don’t think they’d like the plain original, I’ve got to press the fact that The Cheesecake Factory knows what they’re doing. The piece of cheesecake had the perfect amount of sweetness, and the soft texture of the cream cheese melted in your mouth with the perfect serving of sour cream to eat with every bite. What can I say? If you’re looking for a tasteful—and delicious—dessert with fewer calories, the Classic is probably the way to go, in my opinion.

While that sweet surprise was absolutely delicious, we wanted to work off some of those calories. So we ended up making our last stop at Celebration Station, which is this amusement park full of rides (go-karts, water karts, roller coasters, etc.) and an arcade.

After entering the building, we decided to buy a couple hundred coins and explore the arcade. It was actually my first time ever visiting this place, so when I looked it up and saw the booming reviews, I was really anticipating exploring. And trust me, it didn’t disappoint!

What I find so captivating about arcades are all the bright lights. As someone who’s naturally attracted to colors, I got excited by seeing the games. There were so many games to play. And I have to admit that most of them are super addicting!

Me playing a creative game that tests your reflexes. I had a lot of fun with it!
This is a piano game where I had to press as many correct keys as possible in 40 (ish) seconds. I loved it!
Here’s just a cute pic that Goodmommy took when we first arrived.

One of the first games that I played was a massive claw machine that was full of large bags of 5,000 tickets. I tried it about three times, and I got a good grip on all three tries. But as always, the grabber didn’t seem like it was strong enough. Boy, I would’ve really loved those tickets; just imagine the prices I could’ve won.

After about a half hour of exploring, we decided to check out the additional games located upstairs, and Goodmommy’s eyes lit up when she spotted two huge pool tables. She’s told me several times how she used to play pool years ago, but I never had the opportunity to play pool with her. That is, until my birthday.

At first, I was struggling with getting a good grip on the pool stick, but eventually I got the swing of it, and I was able to hit the balls. Practice makes improvement!

But honestly, seeing how happy it made Goodmommy to play a game of pool with me is what really made it all worthwhile. Just look at her!

Finally, here’s a quick selfie of me to get a closer look at my outfit. Goodmommy did such an awesome job on my hair, didn’t she? She really made me feel special on my special day, and I am forever grateful to her for that.

I have to admit that this birthday was genuinely the best that I’ve ever had. Sure, I say that every time my b-day arrives, but my 2022 celebration is going to be hard to beat. I thank God for letting me and my Goodmommy having such a blast! I hope we get to make many, many more blessed birthday memories together, for many, many, many, many, many more years to come!

What are some of your favorite that you’ve done on your birthday? I would love to read your responses down below in the comments.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, y’all! God bless you all, and I will see you all next time!

Thank you, Lord, for another happy and blessed birthday! In Jesus’ name, Amen. ♡

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

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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! ♡

My TBR List for the Second Half of 2022

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What’s up, y’all! Happy Tuesday! ♡

The first half of this year has already went by so fast, and my goal to read a total of 12 books before next January still stands. Lately, I’ve been reading many of the books in my own collection, and speeding through them within a few day’s time. But as a bookworm, I always feel the need to add more novels to my shelves.

Today I will be sharing a few of the most-anticipated books on my TBR (aka to be read) list for the second half of 2022. Let’s get started!

As some of you all know, one of my older cousin’s happens to be deaf. That has inspired me to take American Sign Language as one of my electives for my upcoming freshman year. And aside from the gorgeous cover art, I couldn’t help but love that the protagonist of this book is a deaf girl who is trying to navigate in a school with all-hearing kids. She also has a goal to make a song for a whale. Let’s admit it: cute animals are always a bonus.

Lately, I’ve been more interested in reading books with black protagonists, especially those that address racism and discrimination in a way that is appropriate for younger audiences, like myself. This middle-grade book starring the 12-year-old protagonist, Shayla, seems like a really good place to start. I’ve heard lots of good feedback regarding The Good Kind of Trouble, including how it address the issue of racism, but it also contains much diversity in the characters and a message of finding yourself, friendship, and standing up for what’s right. I can’t wait to test this book out for myself!

Fish in a Tree

You all know how much I loved the novel Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. I’ve been eyeing this book for a while now, and it seems to have a pretty similar plotline. What really attracts me to this novel is that it seems to focus on the subject of belonging, speaking up when you need help and coming to a point of loving yourself and the things that make you different. The protagonist is a girl with dyslexia, and although I’ve heard of the condition, I think this book will give me a better look on what it is and how it can effect a person.

Honestly, just by looking at the cover you can tell that this is a super cute book. Magic Poindexter is the daughter of an incredibly famous NBA player, and her dream is to become an athlete and join her school’s cheer squad, the HoneyBees. The overall plot of the book seems pretty promising, and, once again, I love the diversity of the characters. Oh, and did I mention the book takes place at a summer camp? For obvious reasons, I’ve been in the mood to read summer stories, lately.

Yep, I still haven’t read it. During my visit to Barnes and Nobles last month, I looked for the most-anticipated novel on my list–the sequel to Out of My Mind–but I didn’t see it anywhere. Still, my excitement to read the next adventure of Melody in this novel has not faltered. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!

Hopefully, you had fun seeing the books on my TBR list as much as I enjoyed writing about them. You all know that my bookish posts are always my favorites, lol.

LET’S CHAT!~Tell me, do you have any highly anticipated books on your TBR list and/or any books that you recommend for me? Let me know in the comments. (P.S. middle grade and lower YA are highly preferred)

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! Peace in, y’all! ♡

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! ✨

The Books I Want and Love | Book Tag

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Hey, y’all! I hope you are having a wonderful day or night! Today, I thought it would be fun to make my very own book tag, also known as The Books I Want and Love Tag, where I will list a few books that I either have read, haven’t read in a while, or plan to read in the future. Sounds fun, right?

Rules

If by any chance you would like to do this tag on your blog, here are some rules for your post.

A book that had a really sweet ending

Okay, so I only have a few graphic novels on my bookshelf (literally just this one and Sisters and Smile by Raina Telgemeier, which I love, too) and this one was a great buy! The protagonist, Jacky, is a fun-loving girl who loves to be in the spotlight, but also loves to make her family and friends laugh every chance she gets. The whole novel was super funny, family-oriented, with positive role models and an ending that just feels right.

A book that has been sitting on your shelf for way too long

Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun by Liz Kessler is actually a part of a series, which is simple named Emily Windsnap. I only got about 20 pages into this one (since I found it a little boring) but it’s about a teenage girl named Emily–she’s half mermaid and half human. The genre is a mix of adventure, family, and slight romance. Although I’m not for sure about whether I will finish this book or not, it has really great reviews from several online sources, so if you are a fan of mermaids, then you’ll likely love this series!

A book series that you LOVE but haven’t finished

So, I actually got this book at Goodwill, and as soon as I started reading…I couldn’t stop! I think I read up to 100-150 pages in one sitting, at one point. I was so close to finishing bad news/good news–the second addition to the series–but I never got to finishing it. Anyway, it’s about middle school girls with positive friendships, diverse representation, and likeable characters, and lots of humor. Perfect for any girl 12 and up.

A book in your TBR (to be read) list that you want because you read another book by the same author

I mean…just looking at the covers, this triology looks pretty awesome! As those of you who aren’t new to my blog likely know, I am in the process of reading another book by this same author, Kamilla Benko, and I named it one of the best novels that I’ve ever read. The Unicorn Quest books are also raving with great reviews, and many people agree that Kamilla Benko is a fantastic author. The adventure, unicorns, and theme of sisterhood seems like something that I would like. Hopefully I’ll get my hands on these sometime this year.

A book that covers a topic that isn’t spoken about enough

Maybe He Just Likes You is about a topic–the harassment of girls in middle school–that I was a little wary about, at first. This novel is about Mila, a 7th grader who plays in her school band. After speaking with my grandmother, who is also my guardian, about the book, we both agreed to go ahead and buy it in the Apple Store. What really sticks about this one is how a realistic situation is portrayed; it’s written in the perspective of a girl that is receiving unwanted attention from some of her classmates.

Although the topic of the book is serious, it is written in a way that makes it appropriate for middle school tweens and teens, both boys and girls, as many comments on the book don’t fail to point out. It teaches girls not to be afraid to speak up if something is going on, as well as how to have love and respect for yourself.

A book that caught your attention because of the cover

Cleo Porter and the Body Electric was actually an option for the reading selections in my book club, and as soon as I saw this one, I was intrigued. When I searched for the synopsis, I found out that it was about twelve-year-old Cleo, who dreams to be a remote drone surgeon.

She goes on a mission to return a misplaced delivery during a worldwide pandemic, which sounds similar to COVID. Thankfully, this book was picked as a selection-yayy!-and I have a copy from my local library to read by next month. I’m super excited to get into it. I already have the feeling that it’s going to be a really good read.

Thank you so much for reading this short and sweet book tag. I really hope you guys enjoyed it. <33 If you do decide to replicate this post, please comment that you did so down below so that I may check it out!

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! See you later! ✨

7 Tips on How to Read More

Q'Zion2 Comments

Some of you may already be aware that one of my goals for this year, 2022, was to read more, as I realized that I didn’t read many novels in 2021. It’s not that I ever stopped loving to read, but I was busy with school, clubs, my blog, and family time. The time by so quickly, and before I knew it the year was over.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m not the only one that wants to begin to read more. What I love about every day is that each one gives you a chance to improve and set goals to support a more productive lifestyle with the activities that we love.

So here’s a few tips on how to read more. ✨

Be realistic. While wanting to read more is a wonderful resolution, it is important that we be realistic with how many books we can fit into our schedule. Consider all the duties that you have and how much time of leisure you have every week. This will make your goal for how much you want to read more possible and reachable.

Take baby steps. Just because you want to step up your reading game doesn’t mean you didn’t read at all last year. It’s possible that you read 3 books last year. This year, you might want to read 5. What I’m trying to say is, increase your goal in baby steps to avoid getting overwhelmed. Reading is fun, but its important that you also make time for family, friends, your other hobbies and rest.

Keep books in the rooms you spend the most time in. Sometimes it may be harder to read more when there are no books within arm’s reach. Try to add a bookshelf in your room or office and constantly keep a book on your desk, during the day. It will be easier to finish books more often if you keep one in front of you, at all times.

Consider replacing some phone time with reading time. After school, it’s only natural to want to check your phone. However, instead of spending the multitude of your time off of work/school on electronics, use some of that time to read.

Join a group or club of other readers. Personally, I am in a book club where we read one book a month. At the end of the month, we come together to discuss how we felt about it. It can be a great experience to surround yourself with a community of peers who have similar interests and hobbies.

Read works of your favorite genre(s). I find it much easier to get through a book quickly when it is of the genres that I favor. When reading your preferred genre, it will likely be right up your alley. Books that are the most relatable, memorable, and appeal to our emotions and likes tend to be the ones that we can read in just a couple of days.

Don’t be afraid to try audiobooks. Truly, life can occasionally get too busy for us to sit down and read. If you happen to be someone who is always on the go but would still like to get engaged in literature, then consider purchasing audiobooks (a recording of a book that is read aloud to you.) Not only are audiobooks very convenient, but you may also find some book recordings (specifically for classic books) for free on YouTube. Awesome, am I right?

Finding time for reading may be a little bit of a challenge. But one of the many benefits of the constant technological advances is that we now have so many options for how we can read–there’s no one way. I hope you enjoyed this fairly quick read and that you will reach all of your reading goals. All it takes is some faith, effort and time, and we can–and will–succeed.

Have a beautiful and blessed day everyone! ✨

Books That I’m Reading (But Haven’t Finished, Yet)

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Okay. So it’s been a little while since I posted another book review or anything related to literature. Lately, I’ve been reading a book for this month’s book club meeting (which I will be sharing in this post) and it inspired me to write about the books that I’ve started but just haven’t got around to finishing.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to read, and I have for a long time. So much that ‘love’ might be considered an understatement. But I think we’ve all had that book–or multiple books–that we just put down one day and never finish.

Here’s my list of some of the books that I’m currently reading (or am in the process of reading) but haven’t finished, quite yet. I plan to finish all of them in the future. Enjoy!

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

What would you do if you were literally struck by lightning? What would your life be like? This question is answered by the main character of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl: a germophobic, introverted, and insanely smart 12-year-old girl named Lucy Callahan. Although her constant compulsion to have a pack of Clorox wipes with her at all times and sit-stand 3 times every time she takes a seat might seem weird to others, the amount of numbers that race through Lucy’s mind on a daily basis is hidden from everyone except her Nana (guardian) and her Uncle Paul.

This is the library book that I’m currently reading for book club. I’m about halfway through. What I found so insanely crazy towards the beginning of the book is the fact that Lucy is just like me: she’s a homebody, she’s been homeschooled since the 3rd grade, and she’s a straight-A student. It’s almost like I’m reading about myself. I plan on finishing this book in a few days, though I thought it would be a good addition to the list since I haven’t completed it, yet. I’m loving it so far, though!

The Stars of Summer by Tara Dairman

This is the second addition of a trilogy written by Tara Dairman about a tweenager named Gladys Gadsby who is a food critic for her homestate, New York’s, newspaper. In fact, she has recently completed her first restaurant review for the New York Standard paper. Now, it’s summer break, and her friend Charissa Bentley has invited Gladys to her parent’s summer camp–Camp Bentley. Gladys has been assigned to find the tastiest hot dog in New York, and it turns out that summer camp life isn’t as smooth sailing as she hoped. Is this the end of Gladys’s reviewing career?

This is a book that I actually ordered myself, and I stopped toward the beginning of it. I really enjoyed the first book of this series “All Four Stars” so I’m determined to finish this one, too. Books with a strong, young, female lead always seem to grab my attention. So, of course, the fact that Gladys is a 12-year-old food critic was part of what reeled me into the series, in the first place. Finishing this book is definitely a goal of mine for the near future.

Jinxed by Amy McCulloch

Jinxed takes place in the future. Now, a company called MONCHA have created ‘bakus’–mechanical animal companions that function as a phone and a fur baby. It’s Lucy Chu’s dream to work for MONCHA one day, and one of her first steps to her goal is joining Profectus — a school for students who are skilled in all things technology. The only catch is, in order to be accepted into the school of Lucy’s dreams, you need to have a baku of your own. Lucy is able to turn scraps of a seemingly handmade baku into a full-functioning companion, whom she names ‘Jinx.’ Although Lucy finally makes it to Profectus, Jinx is different from any other baku that she’s encountered. It’s almost like he’s…real?

This is one of the books that I put on the list of books that I want to read this school year, and I have gotten started on it—I just haven’t finished it, as of now. The amount of technology and action in this book is super exciting to read. And the whole concept of bakus makes me want one of my own! I’ve already gotten well into this one, so I’m curious to see what happens next!

Soul Harvest, Left Behind Series #4 by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides by Tim LaHaye

In the fourth addition to the Christian novel series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, two men named Buck and Rayford begin to search for their lost family members from different corners of the world. Both of which having survived “the wrath of the Lamb”–a global earthquake in the twenty-first month of the Tribulation. This journey of a novel takes you all the way from Iraq to America in a journey around the world.

I must say that overall this novel is extremely complex. Many twists and turns, amounts of suspense, and unexpected outcomes. I got about 160 pages in–pretty well into the novel–and I must admit that it is extremely well-written with good character development. I think I’ll be able to relate more to the Left Behind: The Kids series, which is written by the same authors, due to the close proximity of my age to the protagonists. However, this series is a great read! I hope Rayford and Buck find their family in the earthquake.

Frozen II: Forest of Shadows by Kamilla Benko

Set in between the popular Disney movie, Frozen, and the hit sequel, Frozen 2, is a story about one of the best animated sister duos, Anna and Elsa. And Anna wants to be nothing more than a help to her older sister, Queen of Arendelle. But in Anna’s sight, Elsa has been doing just fine without her. Just as Elsa is about to set sail for a grand tour of the world, Anna makes it her goal to accompany her sister. But, all of a sudden, a strange sickness begins to show itself in Arendelle, and Anna’s childhood nightmare of a giant fearsome wolf has seemingly become a reality. And worst of all, Anna thinks it’s all her fault.

Earlier on my blog, I dubbed this masterpiece as one of the BEST novels that I’ve ever read. That opinion still stands today. There is just an inevitable amount of detail added into the book that incorporates the whimsical Disney aspect while still creating some suspense and mystery that makes it hard to put down. I really, really, REALLY want to finish this one. I’m sure the ending will be a banger!

Wow. That definitely took a little while to write, but any post about reading and books is one of my favorites, on my blog.

Do you have any books that you’re in the middle of but haven’t finished? If you have any exciting, family-friendly recommendations, feel free to comment them down below. :))

Have a beautiful and blessed day, y’all! ✨