As a fan of Brandon Sanderson and his extensive world-building (see my attempt to catalog The Way of Kings here, here, here, and here) I was eager to find out how his earlier writing compares to his more recent work. Mistborn is his second published work after Elantris, which I have around here somewhere too.
As much as I can tell, there are two major types of magic in Mistborn, Allomancy and Feruchemy.
Allomancers gain power by downing metals. They can increase their vision by burning tin or their strentght by burning pewter. Some Allomancers can only use one type of metals (there are at least 10, possibly 11) but Mistborns can use them all. Feruchemists use their own bodies to gain power, which they store in metals until needed. They can store up youth when they want to appear younger or strenghth when they need muscle power.
Mistborn follows Vin, a street thief, as she is caught up into a new thieving crew whose goal is to take down the Lord Ruler. The crew is led by the legendary Kelsier, the only known survivor of the Halthisn Pits. Vin doesn't trust anyone on the crew. She goes along with them because she's interested in learning more about the gift of Luck that she has. It turns out she is a true Mistborn and what she calls luck is a form of changing peoples emotions. She can Soothe or Riot them. She also has many other powers.
What follows is Vin's take on Kelsier's plan. It introduces us to lots of cool magic, including traveling by pushing off metals, which reminds me of the Lashings in Sanderson's The Way Of Kings. They also read a logbook about The Hero of Ages which is the third book in the series. Can't wait to see how that connects!
So far I've enjoyed Mistborn, Warbreaker, Alcatraz Vs. Evil Librarians, The Way of Kings, The Rithmatist, and Steelheart. Hope to hit Elantris this summer and revisit Way of Kings next summer so I can read the sequel, Words of Radiance.
The Way of Kings : The Stormlight Archive (ARC) Brandon Sanderson Tor Fantasy August 2010
Part 3: Dying Chap 29 - Chap 51 and Interludes 7-9 Pages 455 - 721
The Story
Shallan is trying to figure out a way to steal from Jasnah because she knows here family is depending on her. She's become engrossed in becoming a scholar and has even made a friend of Kabsal, the ardent. She is becoming increasingly disturbed because "figures" keep appearing in the background of all of her drawings, ones that she isn't drawing. She thinks it's the stress of keeping her secret that causing her breakdown. She then 'soulcasts' without knowing that she's doing it and ends up in the hospital. She tells Jasnah part of her secret and is now waiting for her fate. I'm trying to guess her other secret - something to do with holding out her hand and waiting for 10 heartbeats. Isn't that how you call your Shardblade?
We learn a little more about why Jasnah might be in Kharbranth instead of home, she seems to be investigating her father's death in regards to his meeting the Parshendi on a hunt. At the time of his death, it seemed the Alethi were actually making a treaty with the Parshendi and not at war with them. She can't seem to figure out what changed so that they would want to assassinate him.
Kaladin's choice to become a soldier becomes clear. His goal, then as it is now, is to save someone. Kaladin is trying to figure out how to keep Bridge Four safe, not knowing that doing so means others have to die. His action leads to such a serious defeat that he is left in the highstorm to die. We also find out why Kaladin hates the lighteyes so much. He was betrayed in battle and then branded so no one would believe his story.
In the Interludes we meet a aqueen who likes to destroy art as well as two ardents. One of the ardents like to cook while the other is studying the spren. This is our second spren studier. We are finding out things that might help us understand Syl, the spren that follows and talks to Kaladin. We also learn more about Szeth. He doesn't want to do the killings but believes he ahs no choice as a Truthless. He had to kill some Highprinces but they weren't any of the ten in Alethkar. Szeth is also called, Szeth-son-Neturo (his father) and Szeth-son-son-Vallano.
The World Building
Brandon Sanderson must have books and books of notes to keep all the details straight. This world is so complete. I'm fascinated and drawn back into it with every free moment. I'm not even telling you Spren - the light that takes a variety of shapes and colors. Kaladin's mother believes they signify change.
Hashal and Matal - Matal is new lighteyes in charge of Bridge crews in Highprince Sadeas' army
Klade - King Gavilar's Parshendi "friend"
Stormwarden Matain - was on expedition with King Gavilar when the first encountered the Parshendi
Kabsal - ardent that seeks to convert Jasnah Kohlin and woo Shallan Davar
Vocabulary
makam - wood to make bridges
Thaylen bread - brown and fluffy
Devotaries - Purity, Insight, Sincerity
Books - Shadows Remembered, Western Voyages, Dialogue, Palates of Personality, 14th Book of Seld, Among the Darkeyed, Tales by Hearthlight, King Gavilar Kholin: A Biography, Book of Endless Pages, The Last Desolation
What I'm Thinking Finally understand how many of the characters became who they are, especially Kaladin. I love how there are so many books mentioned since Jasnah and Shallan are scholars. The library, the Palaneum, sounds like a beautiful place. I want to learn more about Soulcasting. I wonder if a Desolation is coming soon since it's stressed that you can almost pinpoint it's arrival.
The Way of Kings : The Stormlight Archive Brandon Sanderson Tor Fantasy August 2010
Note: I'm reading the ARC not the finished book. I'm also switching things up a little and will do this by parts. Can't believe I skipped the table of contents! Chapter 15 - Chapter 28 Pages 221 - 451 (End of Part 2 + The Interludes)
The Story We get to learn some of the Codes that Dalinar likes to follow. He started following them as a way to honor his slain brother, King Gavilar but now he not only believes in them, but makes his entire war camp follow them. There are ten war camps, each headed by a Lighteyes Highprince. Dalinar's is the most rigid but he also seems to care the about his people. We still haven't figured out what Gavilar meant by his last words but we know they came from the book The Way of Kings, which was a book on getting the most out of life written by a past king named Nohadon. We get to follow Dalinar on one of his visions. Are these prophecies of the future? More and more, Dalinar feels like he's losing his grip on reality and that he is missing something important that will help to end the war and save Alethkar.
Kaladin in still looking back on his childhood and we understand why he's torn between the soldier's life and that of a surgeon's. He is guided by his father's words, "you can't put a price on a person's life" but he is also haunted by them. He feels responsible for the men of Bridge Four but he has no real authority over them and most of them mock him. He believes that he has survived all the pain and loss for something... he just doesn't know what. When he looks back, he's trying to understand the choices his parents made and how that affects his choices.
We are also learning about Highprince Sadeas. He's not a main character but he is major. Dalinar and he both feel responsible for Gavilar's death and so have sworn to protect King Elhokar, Gavilar's son. But they also seem at war with each other. Kaladin's bridge crew is in Sadeas' war camp.
In the Interludes, we are introduced to the first person to have Szeth-son-son-Vallano's oathstone. Szeth was sold to him but since he was Truthless, no one cared. We also meet someone who is a sort of Spren Librarian. He's studying and cataloguing them. Last, but not least, we see Szeth himself. He breathes in Stormlight and it gives him power along with his Shardblade. He's a Surgebinder and he can "lash" items and himself. He can walk on walls and ceilings. He can also use the lashing to move incredibly heavy objects. These Surgebinding abilities are what help him do these assassinations. Which he appears to NOT want to do. But since he's Truthless, he has to.
The World Building Someone really needs to create some sort of encyclopedia for this place. There is so much going on in this book that the notes (very limited as they are) I keep are not nearly enough.
Spren
angerspren - bright red
musicspren
groundspren - pulls things down
corruptionspren
captivityspren? - being studied
drinking spren? - being studied
Places
Irial - Kasitor, Rall Elorim
Shinovar - Valley of Truth, grass does not retract and they have soil not stone
Hearthstone - village where Kaladin lived
Urithiru -where the Radiants used to live?
People
Rock, Teft, - two bridge members who support Kaladin
Syl - not really a person, she's a windspren that guides Kaladin
Navani - Elhokar's mother, she was courted by both Gavilar and Dalinar
Vocabulary
Some of the Callings - soldier, farmer, dueler
Glory - attribute of almighty you can choose
Weeping - appears to be a rainy season
Books - The Way of Kings, The Arguments, Alethi Code of War
Span reed - used to send messages far away, like a telegraph
Masculine arts - commerce, war, commanding
Feminine arts - music, engineering, writing, reading
Mathana - older sister, formal
Nyishim - third moon, green
Some Heralds - Jezerezah, Nalan, Ishi (symmetry in names in important!) (there were 10 - 5 male and 5 female) Some of these are in the Preludes but the names are slightly different...
glyphpairs
Veristitalian - Jasnah Kohlin is one, they study history and find the actual facts
Wars? - The Everstorm, True Desolation, Night of Sorrows, Heirocracy, Recreance
wine colors - orange, blue, violet - levels of intoxication
Midnight Essence - strange, snakelike beasts that were in Dalinar's vision
Shardblades and Shardplates are from the Lost Radiants
10 Highprinces
Roion - has great archers
Sadeas - fast bridges
Aladar
Dalinar - great infantry
Vamah
Ruthar
Thanadal
Hatham
Bethab
Sebarial
What I'm Thinking How did the Shardbearers learn how to summon a blade? How did they discover Soulcasting? Why is it holy in some places but used lightly in others? How did Szeth become Truthless and what does that mean? Did Brandon Sanderson actually write the book, The Way of Kings, that Dalinar is learning from? Did he write a history? So much to learn! This books gets better and better and better.
The Way of Kings : The Stormlight Archive
Brandon Sanderson
Tor Fantasy
August 2010
Chapter 7 - Chapter 14
Pages 112 - 220
The Story
We continue learning about Brightlady Shallan Davar as she tries to covince Brightness Jasnah Kholin to take her on as a ward. Jasnah tells Shallan that her history and philosophy knowledge is deficient and she will take her on if she studies. Shallan knows that will take FOREVER so she needs to find a way to get Jasnah to change her mind.
Meanwhile, Kaladin is trying to decide if he wants to continue living as a slave or kill himself. We look back at Kaladin as a youngster as he trains with his surgeon father all the while wishing he could be training to become a soldier. Now that Kaladin is a soldier, he wonders if he made the right choice.
We are also introduced to The King Elhokar Kholin, his uncle Brightprince Dalinar Kholin and some other Brightprinces: Adolin, Renarin, Sadeas and Vamas. They are going on a hunt for the great chasmfiend. These chasmfiends have gemhearts that allow them to support their armies while trying to fulfill the Vengeance Pact and take out Parshendi, the ones who ordered King Gavilar Kholin's murder.
The World Building
Sanderson continues to flesh out Roshar so we have some new people, places and other stuff to add to our knowledge.
The Spren - light that takes shape under a variety of circumstances
creationspren - silvery
flamespren - attracted to fire
logicspren - cloudy looking
lifespren - green
gloryspren - golden
The Places
Valath
Alethkar - missed noting this last week!
Bavland
Villages and towns - Fu Abra, Fu Ralis, Fu Namir, Fu Albast, Fu Moorin, Ironsway
People - more nationalities - Roshar is HUGE!
Makabaki - The Azish and The Emuli
Unkalaki
Vocabulary
Shardbearers - have shardplates and shardblades
nahn - citizenship levels - first nahn are only second to the ruling class
Nan - first son (not just by age)
Nomon - blue middle moon
soulcasting
fabrial and fabrial science - recreating power from the past with gemstones
safehand vs freehand - girls have them, the safehand gets covered at adolescence
Heralds - teach mankind after ousting from heaven
Voidbringers - fought the Heralds
Radiants - founded by the Heralds but went overboard with power
oathstone - if you have someone's oathstone they do whatever you want
Alethi War Codes - in the old days was followed by the Radiants. Gavilar Kholin re-discovered them and found they were actually about bringing peace. He was the only one who followed them. Now Dalinar, Gavilar's brother, follows them and teaches them to his sons.
Ryshadium - special horses that can bear the weight of Shardbringers and can communicate with them.
chasmfiend - weird 30-foot tall creature that armies want to destroy
women - readers
men - involved in business
Family Ties
Gavilar Kholin - King who was killed by Szeth on Parshendi orders
Navani - Gavilar's Queen
Elhokar - Gavilar's son, now the King, 27, Shardbearer, his blade is Sunraiser
Jasnah - Gavilar's daughter, atheist, leading scholar, Soulcaster
Dalinar Kholin - Brightprince who was preoccupied the night his brother, Gavilar, was killed. Now determined to take care of his nephew, Elhokar. He's a Shardbearer who's blade is Oathbringer.
Adolin- Dalinar's son, Brightprince, 23, Shardbearer, things his dad needs to do more warmongering
Renarin - Dalinar's son, Brightprince, 19
Lirin - only surgeon in Hearthstone, second nahn, studied in Kharbranth
Hesina- Lirin's wife and assistant
Kaladin - Lirin's son, 27, was a soldier known as Stormblessed Kaladin, now a slave working in Brightprince Sadeas' troops as a bridge leader.
Tien - Lirin's son, deceased, Kaladin blames himself for Tien's death
Brightlord Davar - abusive father who cheated his way through life and left his family destitute
Shallan - Davar's daughter, wants to steal from Jasnah Kholin
Helaran - Shallan's missing older brother, presumed dead
Nan Balat - Shallan's next older brother, loves killing helpless creatures
Tet Wikim - Shallan's brother who appears to be manic depressive
Asha Jushu - Shallan's brother
What I'm Thinking
Sanderson has created a fantastic world that becomes more visible as I continue reading. The characters are starting to become people as we learn bits and pieces of their lives both now and in the past. It's like I'm assembling a puzzle and I almost have all the edges filled in. The picture is emerging and I'm getting pulled into the story. It's becoming increasingly hard to take notes as I just don't want to step out of the book for a moment!
The Way of Kings : The Stormlight Archive
Brandon Sanderson
Tor Fantasy
August 2010
Prelude to Chapter 6 - pgs 15 - 111
The Story
We start out with a couple of the Kings, Jezreil and Kalan, who are deciding they aren't going to continue something called "The Oathpack". They have just finished fighting and they are supposed to go and be re-born but they don't want to so they dont. Next we me Szeth as he stalks his way to kill the Shardbearer King Gavilar Kholin. As he ends the king, Szeth is left to fulfill the man's dying wish to tell his brother he "must find the most important words a man can say". Since Szeth's people think last words are sacred -he has to do what Gavilar wants. So he wrote it on the wall in the King's blood. Yeah.
Next we are introduced to Kaladin Stormblessed. He's in the military and his goal is to stop fighting in these outposts and move to the forefront of the war - The Shattered Plains. Things go awfully wrong for Kaladin and he ends up a branded slave. But wait, he's actually sold back to the army but on the Shattered Plains. Except, he's on Bridge Crew Four and Gaz, his leader, has it in for him. Bridge Crews are first in the line of fire although they are unarmed and usually sacrificed. So, not looking so good for Kaladin.
We also meet Brightness Shallan Davar. Shallan's father died and they found out he was not only involved in illegal shenanigans but he owed everybody and hadn't left any money to pay them! So, Shallan has to figure out a way to make Brightlady Princess Jasnah Kholin (hmm, that last name is familiar) take her on as a ward. If she can make this happen, she can do one last illegal thing and save the Davar house and name. All before people realize her father died!
The World Building
We are introduced to a busload of people, places, flora and fauna and even religion in these first pages. The grass and other plants can retract into the ground! It was a little overwhelming but I teased out some stuff for you. This is subject to change as I read more!
The Spren - different colors of light that can take a variety of shapes
windspren - makes things stay
painspren - orange and relieves pain
fearspren - purple and shows if people are afraid
riverspren
rotspren - shows up when wounds aren't healing
hungerspren - around people who need more food
The Places - Roshar is the World - these are cities, I think
Jah Keved
Kharbranth
Tashikk
Vedenar
Nantanatan
The People - different Nationalities
Alethi - lighteyes and dark hair - ruling class
Parshendi - fighting the Alethi
Veden
Thaylen
Vorin - might be a religion too
Takers
Seley
Vocabulary
spheres - money - chips, marks, candles, broams
stormlight
shardblade
shardplate
shash - dangerous
first moon - time period
violet salas - a moon
palanquin - transportation
lait - protects from highstorms
months? - Shasin, Tanat, Shashash, Tanates
days? - Palah, Chach
What I'm Thinking
Wow, so far I'm loving this and it's hard to stop reading. Brandon Sanderson has done an extensive amount of world building and I'm just getting the feel for things. This is the first book in a series and only 1/10th of the book. I can't imagine the planning that has gone into this and can't wait to continue.
What's Next
See you next week for Chapter 7 - Chapter 14. I hope next week won't be so extensive but we'll see!
Is there a different way to do this? Let me know what you think!
Yes, I know it's Monday. I had a lazy weekend. Went to dinner with friends, slept in, went to brunch with the Amazing Dancer, took long naps...yeah, it's been great.
But, enough about me, no wait, more about me. Here's what I'm hooked on:
1. E-Readers - we have this grant to buy ereaders and part of the request was that teachers could use them over summer to see how they could be used in their classrooms. This is taking way more time than I wanted.
2. Myself - as you can see in these pics, in a moment of pure insanity, I chopped my hair off. I wasn't sure how I thought it would help but I did it and now I'm desperate to grow it out. Not sure how though... Plus, I'm getting older and really need to take better care of myself, dress better, do grown-up stuff...but, again, not sure how...
3. Flip Flops - between my daughter and I, we have at least 20 pairs of flip flops. We love them and buy them in all colors. Problem? I might be getting a little old to be wearing flip flops. But, dang, they are comfy!
4. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - I LOVED Warbreaker last year and when I heard about this one coming out, I squealed. Really. The awesome Ben Rubinstein at Macmillan Library sent me an ARC. I just devised a reading plan because this thing is HUGE, over 1000 pages!
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender - I just finished watching Season 3 on Neflix and then I just started over again! Love the shows comedy drama mix. The characters are so sassy. And, of course, you learn something about using your gifts, working together, harmony, friendship, perseverance. Great show! Looking forward to the movie.
The awesome Ben Rubinstein, from Macmillan Library, has supplied me with some great summer reading material! Last year I devoured Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson and it was all kinds of amazing. The Way of Kings is promising to be just as good. But this sucker is huge! It's over 1,000 pages long with dense print.
So I devised a reading plan so I can finish by it’s August release date. I’ll post the results on Saturdays, starting June 19, 2010. I’m calling these updates, Thoughts on The Way. Look for them!
Read By
Chapters
Page Numbers
June 19
Prelude – 5
5 – 111
June 26
6 – 14
112 – 220
July 3
15 – 22
221 – 336
July 10
23 – 28
337 – 451
July 17
29 – 39
455 – 566
July 24
40 – 47
567 – 675
July 31
48 – 56
676 – 787
August 7
57 – 65
789 – 902
August 14
66 – Epilogue
903 - 1001
The page gaps are picture and from 1002 – 1008 is a Glossary. I’ll read that throughout. If you’ve got an ARC, read with me. I know Ben will be handing out ARCs at The ALA (American Library Association) Annual in DC so make sure you stop by! Happy Sunday! Read On!
It's Monday, What Are You Reading keeps me focused on my reading goals and is hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog. Each week I look at what books I finished, started, and/or abandoned and what I plan on doing the following week.
Finished
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (239/592) - loved it!
Neil Armstrong is My Uncle by Nan Marino (154) - loved it!
Started
Hollywood is Like High School With Money by Zoey Dean (248/277) - this is fun - kind of a Devil Wears Prada but working in the film industry.
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (77/277) - quiet but interesting, you have to pay attention. Intense.
Another Faust by Dina and Daniel Nayeri (22/387) - love the idea behind it. Just met all of the characters and learned their deepest, darkest desires.
Intertwined by Gena Showalter (46/442) - I wanna meet Aden, without the souls in his head, of course.
Owly: Tiny Tales by Andy Runton (wordless) (90/172)
Not counting the wordless book I read 786 pg which was 86% of goal!
Upcoming
I am having a hard time keeping up with everything so I'm dubbing this week DEAR AndRew- Drop Everything And Read andReview Week! For every book I read, I will review it right away and complete an overdue review!
I'm going to read whatever I want this week - could be some library books, some old In My Mailbox books, books for Reading Challenges, or just a book that's been on my shelf for years! I only have ONE book that must be finished this week:
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (200/277) - for a teacher bookclub 7/14
Ok, I'm hoping this re-ignites my reading passion. Too much required reading dampens my soul! What's on your list this week?
Has a book ever called your name? Have you ever been drawn to a book, knowing that you don't have "time" to read it because you have other books you need to read? Well, this week TWO books called out to me. They were books I planned on reading, eventually. But they couldn't wait, so I stopped resisting and picked them up. Really glad I did!
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
This book was all the rage early in the year, but I found the cover too corny. Then, in April, it made my Waiting on Wednesday post and I've been salivating after it ever since. I borrowed it from the library and put it In My Mailbox June 21st which usually means I won't get to it for another 6 weeks! But no, I couldn't wait, I had to know, what did that cover mean....and it was well worth it. Great book! There has to be a sequel. There has to be.
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
I saw this book on a sidebar in Shelf Awareness back in early May and added it to my Wanna Read It list. I didn't request it because I wasn't sure when I could read it. Then, the most wonderful thing happened: Dot Lin, Mr. Sanderson's publicist, asked if I wanted to receive a copy. Ha Ha! Why do they ask - of course I want a copy!!! And she sent this beautiful, HUGE, hardcover and I posted it In My Mailbox - June 15, mere days after it was released. But alas, that translates to "I will read it before year's end because it is not a library book nor is it a blog tour just some wonderfully pleasant reading to look forward to". Yes, it means all of that! But, it wasn't to be - I picked it up a mere day after I finished The Demon's Lexicon and Big Stone Gap. It wasn't even in the pile, I had to go and get it and WOW! It is wonderful.
I haven't finished it yet but I will tell you a little about it:
on pg. 278 of 592
We are introduced to two kingdoms: Idris and Hallandren. In Idris they believe the Royal Family are the true rulers who should also control Hallandren. In Hallandren they have The Returned and the God King and they want to keep control of their kingdom as well as destroy the Idrians and control that land.
The Idrian king designed a treaty that has staved off war for twenty years. In order to continue doing so, he has to send his daughter, Vivenna, to marry the God King and bear an heir. He decides he can't do that, he loves his daughter too much. So he sends his youngest child, the redundant one, Siri, instead!
Siri uncovers some interesting mysteries in the City of Gods, the least of all being the Returned God, Lightsong. Lightsong is my favorite character in this book. He is funny and witty and tries hard not to do anything...until he has no choice.
Vivenna decides to run away to Hallandren and rescue her sister and, hopefully, take her rightful place beside the God King. She was raised to be the God Queen and she wants to fulfill her duties. She gets to Hallandren only to find that everything she thought she knew, was actually nothing at all. She starts questioning her father, her faith, and her very existence.
Ok, that's where I'm at now. Here is one of Lightsong's comments that make me like him:
"That's a charming concept, Blushweaver. But I believe the universe and I are in slightly different weight categories."
"I think you're wrong"
"Are you saying I'm fat?" (p. 145)
And here is Nightblood the sword talking:
"You didn't use me much...You could have used me. I'm better than a shirt. I'm a sword.
...I really am better than a shirt. I would have killed them. Look, they're still breathing. Stupid shirt." (p. 207)
I know, funny right? You weren't thinking that? Maybe you need to read the book. No, really. Get it. It's a mystery, a fantasy, it's humorous, it's witty, it has great new ideas, and makes you think! What more could you ask for from a book?
This was a wonderful week for me. I received a lot of books I requested and bought a couple I had my eyes on! In My Mailbox is brought to you courtesy of The Story Siren.
Bought I bought two books this week. I had a gift card and a coupon that were burning a hole in my pocket.
Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard - The Amazing Dancer thought the story sounded great and loved the cover so we got it.
The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - I've been hearing a lot about these books so I got the first one to read at the end of summer break.
Begged For Hollywood is Like High School With Money by Zoey Dean - from Hachette
from Waterbrook/Multnomah The Veil by Diane Noble Tomorrow's Treasure by Linda Lee Chaikin
Kurt Wallander Mystery Series by Henry Mankell - from BookDivas
Freaked by JT Dutton - this is on my I Wanna Read It list and the author asked to send me one! How cool is that!
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson - I'm a fan of Mistborn and the Alacatraz books so I put this on my list and received this beautiful book from Tor! Brandon Sanderson says:
The concept of color as life fascinated me. When something dies in our world, the color fades from it—green plants become brown and human bodies lose their color, becoming pale as the blood drains to the bottom of the corpse. In a lot of ways, color is a representation of life itself.
Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiana - Thanks to J from Harper for this! Read it in one sitting and it was awesome. Look for my teaser next week and review closer to pub date. Picking up all of her books to read!
The Bystander by James Preller - Yeah! E from Feiwel and Friends sent us TEN copies! The teachers and I were so excited - Every copy is being read right now, except mine - I finished it -and it was even better than I thought it would be. Look for a review closer to pub date.
Borrowed The Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiana Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour by Michael D. Beil - possible Newbery
Well - those are the great books I received this week. What did you receive?
