Maria's Mélange

Shadowshaper by   Daniel José Older   ( @djolder ,  ghoststar.net ) If you missed it - we started by chatting about the cover of the book last week! Cover Appeal First Half discussion (pages 1-140) Check out the other half of the discussion at The Brain Lair Visit our Facebook page , comment here, or tweet us (@thebrainlair or @mariaselke with #BattyAboutBooks and/or #Shadowshaper) to join in the discussion! I love the fact that we chose a book that is being praised for how it represents elements of American life that are so different from my own life story. Since we often talk about the need for diverse books to provide us both windows and mirrors, I’m going to frame at least some of my thoughts around those two ideas. ** For those reading my blog who aren’t familiar with this framework**  Many think of diversity in literature giving us a window into lives that are different from our own (helping build connections, empathy, and un...

It's been a while since Batty About Books hit the trail. Last year seemed so crazy - so hectic - that we really didn't get a chance to read anything together. What would it take to get us moving? What kind of book would push us to get the band back together again? Well... take a LOOK at this one. Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older (Goodreads Author) Hardcover, 304 pages Published June 30th 2015 by Arthur A. Levine Books (first published January 1st 2015) ISBN 0545591619 (ISBN13: 9780545591614) (Join us on our blogs  (Kathy is at The Brain Lair ) , on  Facebook , or Tweet/IG with #BattyAboutBooks and/or #Shadowshaper. We'll post brief thoughts and quotes from the text during the week.) I'll admit, I had heard about this book before seeing the cover. There were rumbles about this being an intriguing storyline. When I saw the cover, though, I was hooked. FRONT: + The first thing that strikes me is the strength in that face. So often I feel lik...

I absolutely love everything Lish McBride has put out there. I love her twitter feed, too!  This is an author with just the right level of snark.       Just the right level of swagger.  Her books and her characters make me chuckle, cheer, and captivate me all along the way.  Firebug  (Firebug #1) by Lish McBride Hardcover, 336 pages Expected publication: September 23rd 2014 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) ISBN 0805098623 (ISBN13: 9780805098624) Source: I received an advanced copy from the publisher for my honest thoughts.  Goodreads Blurb: Ava can start fires with her mind . . . but is it a blessing or a curse? Ava is a firebug—she can start fires with her mind. Which would all be well and good if she weren't caught in a deadly contract with the Coterie, a magical mafia. She's one of their main hit men . . . and she doesn't like it one bit. Not least because her mother's death was ordered by Venus—who is n...