Middle Grade Book Recommendations

A long time ago, along with other book bloggers, I started organizing middle grade book readalongs, centered at first on Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, but the idea died down month after month, and I got busy with life and other things. What didn’t die is my love for middle grade books. In the midst of a two months long confinement, I just celebrated the fact that I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE BOOKSTORE FOR A YEAR NOW! And I’m in charge of the kidlit/middle grade/YA section, which means that I got the chance to discover and read more middle grade books this past year! And this rekindled my love for middle grade books. Some I would probably have read anyway, and some I discovered by chance and fell in love with. Which is why, today, I’m here to share all the love that I have for middle grade books!

I’m obviously not going to talk about Percy Jackson, even if I just binge read Heroes of Olympus, because it’s all I’m talking about these days, and I wanted to share my love for OTHER SERIES that also deserve it ♥ (Have I mentioned how excited I am that Percy Jackson is finally getting the TV show it deserves?)

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Without further ado, here are seven middle grade books(eries) that you should check out!

City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab

Okay so yes, I know I just said I wanted to share the love about authors and books I don’t talk about all the times, and I KNOW I talk about Victoria Schwab a lot. But hey, it’s worth it. Her books are amazing. The Cassidy Blake series is about a young girl whose parents earn a living by talking about ghosts. They have written many famous books as “The Inspecters” and are now having their own TV Show, which means they’re going to travel to cities famous for their ghosts. They talk about folklore and history, and are not necessarily believers. Cassidy probably wouldn’t have been a believer either, if not for the fact that… her best friend is a ghost. Jacob has been hanging out for the past year, ever since Cassidy almost died. And now they are going to be thrown into cities populated by dangerous ghosts. First Edinburgh, then Paris… And the third books, which will be released next March, is going to be set in Venice!

Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet #1) by Roshani Chokshi

This one is another series in the making and I am OBSESSED with it. I have yet to read the third book, but to be perfectly honest with you, I’m waiting for the paperback version to be released because I want it to match the rest of the series… Anyway. This one does have a special place in my heart, obviously because I loved it. The story is fun, action packed, with awesome characters. But also because I managed to sell it splendidly at work, and I will forever be proud of it. Spreading the love, one book sale at a time! Anyway. Think Percy Jackson, except it’s hindu mythology. On a bet, Aru opens a magical lamp in her mother’s museum. And suddenly, she finds out she is the reincarnation of a famous hero, and she has ten days to save the world, while traveling across the US. These books are excellent, and I will never stop recommending them.

Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh

A contemporary book for a change! Nowhere Boy is absolutely precious, and I’m so glad I decided to give it a go. Throughout the book, we follow two books who despite the fact that they have nothing in common, end up sharing a house in Brussels. Max comes from the US and his father has been relocated to Belgium for one year. He has to attend school in French despite his not speaking a word of it, and left all of his friends behind. Needless to say, he is less than happy about it. Ahmed fled Syria with his father. He lost him on the way, and ended up seeking refuge in the basement of a house in Brussels. One night, they meet, and the boys become friends. It’s a beautiful book about friendship in the face of adversity, that also deals with important topics such as the refugee crisis. And of course, I would definitely recommend that you check it out ASAP.

The Strangers (Greystone Secrets #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This one is another fantasy book series that I believe is underrated. I’ve seen the first two books I mentioned around quite a lot on Bookstagram, or Book Twitter, but I haven’t seen this one much except for when I actively look for it. But I’m here to say: if you like middle grade books, then you should definitely give this one a try. The second book in the series has been released in early April and I have yet to read it. Here’s the premise: one day when the come back from school, the Greystone kids come across an odd piece of news. Three kids have gone missing, and they share their names, as well as age, and exact birth dates. The coincidence becomes even bigger when their mom disappears the next morning, leaving behind her a few scattered clues, and abandoning them in the care of a woman they barely know. So of course, they try to piece it together, and what they discover is even bigger than anything they could have foreseen, and much scarier… I’m not going to say anything more, but I LOVED the plot twists in this one, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel!

Thisby Thestoop and the Black Mountain by Zac Gorman

Just like The Strangers, I came across this one unexpectedly, because I received an ARC copy of the French edition at work. And I’m so glad that I decided to give it a go! It’s full of dark humour and irony for a start, and I am always here for that. It’s a story about friendship, and girls standing up for one another, which again, I am here for. Thisby is in charge of feeding the monsters of the Black Mountain, and checking up on them regularly, so that it remains what it is supposed to be: an attraction for wannabe heroes who want to earn some glory. From the get go, I loved the twist on classic fairytale like stories. One day, Iphigenia, the princess and heiress to the throne comes to visit with her brother. When the prince goes missing, the two girls set up on a quest among the half destroyed mountain to save him, facing on their way more monsters than they possibly could have expected. This book was fun and original, and featured not one but two badass female characters. There’s also a sequel called Thisby Thestoop and the Wretched Scrattle, and I can’t wait to check it out!

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Like Aru Shah, this book is a part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint that promotes books featuring all different kinds of mythology and cultures. That’s pretty much everything they have in common… Well, except for the fact that I also loved them both. Dragon Pearl is a standalone sci-fi/fantasy book featuring creatures from classical Korean mythology, except that it’s set in space. Think something like Gu Family Book or Arang and the Magistrate* meet Star Wars. Min comes from an old family of gumihos, who live on a distant planet. Nobody really knows about their origins, because foxes have a bad reputation. Because, you know, they can shapeshift. When her bother goes missing, and is accused from treason, she runs away from home with one goal in mind: find him, figure out what happened, and clear his name. The book is full of action, and had a very strong vibe of “middle grader saving the world” vibe which I absolutely loved. If you want to check out more middle grade fantasy books, but are too afraid of starting a series because you know you won’t finish it, then this is the thing for you!

*Two of my favourite sageuk kdramas, the first one featuring Gumihos aka shapeshifting nine-tailed foxes, and the second one being about ghosts.

Wings of Olympus by Kallie George

Last but not least, a book about Greek mythology that isn’t written by Rick Riordan (yes, they do exist!) This one is set up in ancient Greece, and follows Pippa, a girl who loves horses, and who is an orphan. One day, she is selected by Aphrodite to take part in a pegasus race organised by the Gods, an event that only takes place every hundred years. It’s an incredible honour, but her pegasus has a mind of its own, and the other kids look down on her because they come from wealthier backgrounds. And honestly, who would take Aphrodite seriously when it comes to winning a competition? She is the goddess of love after all. But Pippa is strong-willed, loves her pegasus Zephyr with all she has, and his determined to win. Its a beautiful book about friendship, and I quickly fell in love with it. A sequel, The Colt of the Coulds, was released in April and I cannot wait to check it out.

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And of course, I couldn’t end this article without mentioning one of my favourite reads of 2019, a middle grade book AND a Canadian Classic, yes I’m talking about Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. If you haven’t done that yet, do yourself a favour and go read this book. I don’t know why I waited so long. (And yes, I am also obsessed with the show Anne with an E. I’m still upset Netflix canceled it.)

And with that, I’m done for today, and going back to reading!

Dragon Pearl: My Review

I think it’s really time I write some book reviews. I’ve read 12 books since the beginning of the month, and really enjoyed most of them, so what am I waiting for? I got nothing better to do. And it’s nice to do different things. Like, yesterday I read and watched Netflix. Today I’ll blog and probably read. And maybe tomorrow I’ll bake a cake. Life is great. The confinement is lasting at least until May 11th and I really hope it comes quickly. (However, we are still in the great unknown when it comes to what happens next.) ANYWAY. I’m here to talk about something else today: my latest middle grade discovery!

Title: Dragon Pearl
Author: Yoon Ha Lee
Genre: Middle Grade Science Fiction
Release: 2019
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dragon Pearl is part of the ever growing pile of books promoted by Rick Riordan through “Rick Riordan Presents”, which are middle grade books about different cultures and mythologies, written by authors of colour. I really love the idea, and have a soft spot for magical middle grade books, so of course, I want to read all of them. I fell in love with Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah last year, and wanted to check out more books. When I learnt that there was one featuring Korean mythical creatures, I immediately wanted to check it out. All the more so considering it’s a standalone book, and I’m so bad at completing series. So I ordered it back in February, and finally took the time to read it!

To sum it up:

In addition to its absolutely stunning book cover, it featured a 13 years old shape shifting gumiho called Min (the gumiho is a nine-tailed fox creature known for how much they like to deceive humans, so basically they have a pretty bad reputation) ready to do anything to find her brother; a bunch of ghosts; a dragon sidekick and a non binary goblin, as well as heaps of mythical creatures; a sageuk vibe except it’s set in SPACE, and on top of that, a crazy ass quest!! A sageuk is a Historical Korean drama, they also can feature elements of mythology, ghosts and gumiho beeing recurrent elements of the culture. They are very present in Dragon Pearl, obviously, the only difference being that it’s a science fiction book, set in a future where humanity lives on different planets. Most of the intrigue is set on a space shift.

My thoughts:

I really liked the atmosphere of this book. I started it not really knowing what to expect, except for loads of adventures which I got. The setting was well-made: you’re immediately surrounded by this extraordinary world which is a blend of fantasy with its mythical creatures, and the family of gumihos, and science-fiction as they are living on another planet in what seems to be the future. It caught my attention immediately, and I kept wanting to know more. About the dragon pearl, about what exactly had happened to Min’s brother, about that mysterious planet of ghosts… What I want to say is: excellent world-building.

As for the characters, Min is your typical middle grade book main character. She has a not-so-easy relationship with her cousins and her family, but she’s ready to do anything for her brother Jun who has apparently gone AWOL, and she makes friends along the way, although there are also some deception but I’ll let you see for yourself once you read the book, which you hopefully will do! She is pretty bold and daring, which makes for more adventures, and her ability to shapeshift into anyone, or anything actually, really comes in handy (and is also quite funny, as we watch her shift into a table, or a very heavy brick for example!) I really liked the fact that she is overall a morally gray character, who deep inside, was a good person although she did make some questionable decisions, and abuse of her fox charm in quite a few occasions [warning for mild spoilers] as she won’t hesitate to go into a gambling den, or impersonate someone who was supposed to be dead [end of spoilers] which overall made the book more interesting and enjoyable. The book also has some great villain figures who are well-balanced in between stereotypes and originality, which I also appreciated.

As for the side characters, Jun remains pretty much a mystery for most of the book, although he seemed like a good person through the memories that his sister had of their childhood together, and I’m really glad that we eventually got some more answers by the end of the book. I also really liked Jang because like Min, he was a complex character, who took some questionable decisions although in the end, he wasn’t a bad person. As for Sujin and Haneul, they also had quite a few important decisions to make throughout the book, and in the end, I know that if the opportunity were to present itself to me, I would adopt them in the blink of an eye. They are great friends and good cadets, and it was a pleasure to have them at my side throughout the book.

In the end, in case you haven’t gotten that already, I loved this book. Once you get past the fact that the main character is 13, and actually impersonating her older cousin more than once to get through difficult situations (such as driving, or, you know, running away from her home planet), it’s really easy to get drawn into the story and I had a lot of fun reading it. So if you’re looking for a fun science-fiction that’s a bit different from the rest of your TBR, go for it!

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More recommendations ~

Before I ended this article, here are a few kdrama recommendations featuring magical creatures! Arang and the Magistrate follows a ghost who cannot leave the physical world until she has been avenged. Oh my Ghostess and Master’s Sun are also fun ghost stories, both set in the present unlike Arang and the Magistrate which is a sageuk. For more gumiho stories, you can check out the old classic My Girlfriend is a Gumiho or one of my personal favourites, Gu Family Book. And of course, the very popular Goblin which follows a grim reaper, and a goblin.

As for books, I really need to get my hands on Wicked Fox by Kat Cho, which is a YA story about a gumiho, because I heard it was really great, and I have to admit I’m really curious about it!

The Strangers: My Review

Let’s hear me babble about another middle grade book which I absolutely LOVED. I am pretty sure that I can sum up 2019 as the year I fell in love with all the kidlit/middle grade books. There was Anne of Green Gables and Aru Shah and of course City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab. There was this super awesome French book called Wicca by Marie Alhninho. There’s a bunch of other books in French which I also really enjoyed. But I am diverging from the original topic: then there was this book, and I absolutely loved it.

Title: The Strangers (Greystone Secrets #1)
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Release: 2018
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The concept: one day, as they come home from school, Finn, Emma and Chest discover that three kids have gone missing. It’s on national TV and everything. Not only do they have the exact same names as them, all three of them also have the same birthday, which they think is a bit too much of a coincidence. Especially since their mother decides to leave on the next day, and leaves them in the care of a woman they barely know. After Chest overheard a very weird conversation on the phone at night. What exactly is going on?

Basically, this book was released in English last year, and was just released in France in the beginning of October. I had the chance of receiving an early copy at work (because I am in charge of the kidlit and YA ♥), and I jumped into it.

Here goes: I loved this book. It was excellent. If you’re looking for a new, good middle grade book, then go for it. The characters are really adorable, and it’s refreshing to actually follow three siblings. There are so many books where the MC going on an adventure is always a single child, and it’s great to see amazing friendships, I’m not going to complain about that, but it is also great to see a strong family bond, which was definitely the case here in Greystone Secrets, and I am here for it! Whether it is the relationship between the three siblings, or the one they share with their mother, for that matter. Apart from the fact that Emma is a freaking genius at maths, they also seem pretty relatable, and I loved that about them.

Now if you are going to read this te review any further, BE WARNED BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE SPOILERS.

But I simply couldn’t make this review without talking about the whole parallel universe set up! We don’t know about it right away, and I loved how it was introduced. Some parts of the travelling were a bit confusing, but it was worth it as the rest of the world building was excellent.

The character of Natalie is also a great addition to the story, and I loved how all the kids, including her, had a great development throughout the book.

And finally, this book ends on a very well made CLIFFHANGER and I can’t wait to pick up the sequel, which I know is already available!

Aru Shah and the Song of Death: My Review

I finally read the second book in the Pandava Quartet and I’m so glad that I did! I find myself reading more and more middle grade books these days, partly because of work, but also because I love them dearly. And Aru Shah and the Song of Death was no exception.

Title: Aru Shah and the Song of Death (Pandava Quartet #2)
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Release: 2019
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story:

It picks up right where The End of Time left, as Aru and Mini get a glimpse at their new sister. And that’s right before they’re all accused of thievery and given 10 days to right a wrong they had nothing to do with, unless they want to be kicked out of Otherworld and have all of their memories erased.

Aru, Mini and their new sister Brynne are sent on a new quest along with boy next door Aiden. On the way, they will meet new friends, new prophecies, and make new enemies. And once again, the story ends on a cliffhanger!

My thoughts:

I think my favourite thing in this book was the humour. The narration is clever and witty, which makes it all the more impossible to put the book down. A second close in terms of my favourite things about this book is the Hindu mythology. In this book, we learn more about the history of the Pandava brothers (who are now reincarnated as sisters, although the weight of the original brothers weighs on them constantly). We also meet new divinities and places, and they’re all absolutely amazing. It’s really refreshing to read about divinities I’m not really familiar with. I love Roman and Greek mythology but I know about it, and I’ve read about it A LOT so it’s nice to have something keeping this atmosphere / universe that I like, but with completely new stories!

And my third favourite thing was obviously the characters. I love the dynamic between Aru and Mini, they’re both so precious. And I thought that Brynne and Aiden were a great addition to their little family. I love how they’re all different. They all have hardships in their lives, mostly related to their parents and / or their parents’ expectations for them, or (at least) in Aru’s case her classmates. But they’re all trying their best, they’re smart and refuse to give up in the face of adversity. Honestly, they all deserve a giant hug.

*Cue my new favourite hug gif*

We also got briefly introduced to the last two sisters at the end of the book and let me tell you I can’t wait to see how that will turn out in the sequel!

One thing I regretted though was that I would have loved to learn more about Aru’s mom and her past. Hopefully I will get a few answers in the next book!

Oh and before I forget, this is a small thing but it makes the book so much better in many ways: Aru is full of pop culture references which is both sweet and hilarious, and sometimes super random, and I love it so much! In the first book she wandered through the kingdom of the dead in her Spiderman pyjamas, and this time she dressed up as Gandalf for her birthday party. Despite the whole saving-the-world thing, she is and remains a kid and I absolutely love how she is portrayed. She is so precious. And as I recommend Aru Shah and the End of Time to as many customers buying books for young readers as I can, I am so glad that I can give these kids such a great model to follow! Aru is imperfect and inspiring at the same time, and I love her. I can’t shut up about this book, and every time someone buys it, it makes me immensely happy.

So… To conclude, I can’t wait for book 3, and I can’t wait for book 2 to be released in French so I can promote it as well! Have you read this one yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

(PS: check out my review for book 1)

City of Ghosts: My Review

Well it seems like I was in the mood for some middle grade fantasy this month because although I always want to pick up more of them, I never seem to actually do so, and here I am with not only one but two reviews for middle grade fiction! (This post being one, and that one being the other).

I originally wanted to read City of Ghosts around Halloween last year, back when it was released, but as usual, things did not go the way I wanted them to when it came to my TBR. Anyway, last weekend I suddenly decided to pick it up and I read it in one day. You know, after I made that TBR post, and then I read something else entirely, just like I always do. But anyway I had been meaning to read this one for quite some time, and I’m glad I actually did because I really loved it!

Title: City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1)
Author: Victoria Schwab
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction
Release: 2018
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story:

Cassidy’s parents are famous for the books they wrote about history and ghosts. And now they’re going to make a TV show about it, and they’re leaving for Edinburgh, the so called “city of ghosts”. Cassidy can say goodbye to a summer by the sea because she’s going ghosts hunting with her parents, and she’s not to keen on the idea.

But here’s the thing: her parents can’t see ghosts although she actually can. Her best friend is one of them. And it seems like she still has a lot to learn when it comes to the world of the dead…

My thoughts:

As expected of a Victoria Schwab book, I couldn’t put it down. Once again, she created a whole universe of her own, and an amazing one. After being transported through all different Londons in her Shades of Magic trilogy, I was delighted to be brought back to in Edinburgh in City of Ghosts. I really love this city, and it was nice to see all those little reference to places where I had actually been to. Well, not all of them, but since I’ve been there, I could recognize some of the places mentioned, and I really loved that. Victoria Schwab really did her research when it comes to the history of the city, it shows and I’m here for it!

I thought the premise of the story was really smart and funny: while Cassidy can see ghosts (her best friend is one!), it’s not entirely sure that her parents DO believe in them although they keep talking about them whether in their books, or now on their TV show. They mostly accept that Cassidy’s best friend is a ghost, and pretend that it’s normal, although we can clearly see that her dad doesn’t really take it seriously. And while very realistic it also brought some great comic relief which I really loved.

All in all, I loved the characters. Jacob is fascinating and I really hope we get to know more about him in the next book. Lara is a badass and I absolutely adore her. Cassidy’s parents are super original, but also really care about their daughter which I really loved about them. And of course Cass herself. She lives in her own little world, with a best friend invisible to all but her. She has always known that she was a little bit different, but only through City of Ghosts will she discover just how different she is — and how amazing that makes her.

So yes, this book is amazing, and really got me thinking that I should read more middle grade fantasy! And in the meantime, I’ll be waiting for September 3rd aka the release of Tunnel of Bones (a title just as charming!) which I heard is taking place in Paris, and is getting me REAL EXCITED! I’m guessing it will take place at least partly in the catacombs and oh boy I can’t wait!

Aru Shah and the End of Time: My Review

To be really honest with you, this book has been on my radar ever since I heard of its existence and I have absolutely no clue as to why I did not pick it up sooner. I love mythology, and I’m also a huge fan of Percy Jackson, so when I heard that a similar concept would be applied to Indian mythology (to put it shortly) I knew that I had to read it.

Back in January, I also read Roshani Chokshi’s book The Gilded Wolves and I absolutely fell in love with her writing, which reminded me that I also really wanted to read Aru Shah. And finally, a few weeks ago we received some copies of the French translation at work, and I finally knew that my opportunity was here.

Title: Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet #1)
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction
Release: 2018
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story:

Aru knew she should not have touched the lamp, but when three of her classmates call her a liar and dare her to do so, she cannot resist. And now her mother is petrified, and the rest of the world is going to end… She has ten days to stop it with the help of one of her newly found sisters, and a talking pigeon.

My thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book. I started it hoping that I would, and slightly afraid that I’d be disappointed but I was not, not one second. I absolutely loved that universe, as well as its characters. It was really fun to read about Indian mythology, and its heroes and deities. I learnt a lot, and it made me want to know more!

Reading middle grade books is somehow very comforting, especially when you know it’s the first book in a series. You know there’s going to be some crazy adventures and twists, and at the same time, you have your eyes full of stars and excitement because you are discovering a new universe, and in the end you also know that nothing too bad can happen because it’s only the first volume in the series. Aru Shah and the End of Time was all of this for me. It also had a catastrophic cliffhanger at the end which I absolutely loved, and I’m very grateful that I finally received my copy of the sequel so I can know what happens next.

While reading Aru Shah it felt a little bit like I was coming home, in fantasyland where I belong, and I love that feeling.

I loved both Aru and Mini. They complete each other in many ways, and have a great dynamic. While Aru knew nothing about her origins, Mini has been raised knowing all about how real the Pandava are… Except that her entire family thought her brother would be the chosen one. Both of their upbringing make for very strong and interesting characters which I LOVED. I also really loved their companion Boo, and can’t wait to find out more about him, as well as the other sisters we will most likely meet in the other books.

One more thing I loved was the flashbacks and the backstory surrounding Aru’s mother: yet another thing I can’t wait to find out more about!

Overall, Aru Shah is a great first book in a fantasy middle grade series! It is well written and dynamic. It is original, and has both some smart and fun moments. It’s a very endearing book, which managed to warm my cold heart and grab a spot on the list of books that will always be dear to me. I’m trying to promote it at the bookstore but it’s not really working so far… I’m not giving up though!

So to conclude, GO 👏 READ 👏 THIS 👏 BOOK and also brace yourselves because I can’t shut up about it, so you’re probably going to see it on the blog a lot!

George: My Review

Title: George
Author: Alex Gino
Genre: Middle Grade Literature, Contemporary
Release: 2015
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads summary:

(Because I couldn’t sum it up any better)

BE WHO YOU ARE. When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl.

George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part… because she’s a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte – but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

Thoughts:

This book had been on my TBR for quite some time, and I’m so glad I finally got to pick it up. I had heard many great things about it, and it didn’t disappoint. It really deserves all the praise, especially since it is talking about a really important topic, and sets the example for parents and families who might need to help a trans child grow up. It’s just super beautiful and well written. It’s very well executed and SO IMPORTANT.

Let me start by saying that books narrated with the voice of a child (like Room) always leave a deep impact on me, and this one was exactly one of those. The story follows George, a little girl growing up with the body of a boy. No one knows it, and no one can see it, but she knows it: she’s a girl, and she has found the perfect opportunity to show it to the world, the school play where she wants to interpret the main character Charlotte, so perfecly that people will see she is a girl.

I thought it was a very beautiful premise. I really liked the relationship between George and her best friend Kelly, and also with her mother and brother. The book was full of sweet surprises. It was a quick read, and all the more so a book that should be read by everyone in my opinion. We need more books like this one!

The struggles and the discomforts George had to face through the book were well depicted, and she overcame them. It was a very sweet book, with supportive side characters, and I absolutely loved how full of hope the ending was. Definitely recommended!

On why the Percy Jackson series are so great

This is mostly based on my thoughts on The Battle of the Labyrinth since it’s the last book of the series I read recently, but really this entire series is totally worth reading and I would strongly recommend it especially if you have never read anything by Rick Riordan! In this one, which is the fourth volume in the series, the intrigue is going more grave, even more than in the third one, as dark forces are rising, more powerful than ever before.

Basically, if you don’t know about Percy Jackson, it’s a modern series, mostly destined for a middle grade audience (but really enjoyable for pretty much anyone in my opinion) where the Greek Gods still exist today, and still have children with mortals, the halfbloods. Percy Jackson discovers one day that he is the son of Poseidon, and he spends every summer at Half Blood Camp, but the world is in danger as the Titans and their lord Kronos are trying to rise again and destroy the gods…

So here are a few reasons why you should definitely check out this series!

* While dealing with dark matters, Rick Riordan keeps a quick pace, and a writing style that is both light and witty, in a way I find absolutely unique.

* Greek mythology is an inspiration I’ll never get tired of. These books are full of little references (as well as the obvious ones) and it makes reading them all the more satisfying.

* It manages to be simple, funny and hilarious in a way that makes you think, man I would never have thought of that but it’s bloody brilliant (for example bringing back the dead with coca cola and happy meals).

* It has these very simple sentences that are actually hilarious, for example when Percy says “Annabeth, Grover and I each took one of his hands” because it’s a being with a hundred hands, and it’s just really simple but also really funny at the same time at least in my opinion.

* They really show Rick Riordan’s incredible imagination. I know the creatures depainted do exist in Greek mythology (the work of great research too, and I admire it) but he is the one who describes them in a most vivid way, and I find it both incredible and fascinating.

And that’s all I could think about for now but I would love to hear your thoughts if you have also read and loved this series! I find them both clever and hilarious, and such unique books. I don’t know why I waited so long to pick them up again, but now that I have, I’m so glad I did, and I can only recommend them to spread the love! I am definitely planning on reading all of Rick Riordan’s books, they are quick and definitely refreshing reads!

Bookstagram House Cup

Hi guys! This post is a bit different since I just wanted to share a bunch of pictures, but I hope you enjoy anyway!

Last week, a group of amazing Bookstagrammers organised the Bookstagram House Cup. Each day, you had to post a picture going accordingly with a quote picked from one of the books. Your entry represented your Hogwarts House. Your Head of House picked four representatives each day, and the Headmistress picked four winners for each day, and gave points to their house accordingly. At the end of the week, the House with most points won bragging rights, and one of the members was sent a copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!

Of course, I took part in each of the prompts, and I really enjoyed it. I was selected as a House representative for Day 7, which got me all excited. And the best thing was that Hufflepuff won!

That’s it for my babble, now I’m just going to let you enjoy my pictures!

Day 1:

“Oh, honestly, don’t you two read?” (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone)

Day 2:

“Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts!” (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

Day 3:

“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

Day 4:

“Accio Firebolt!” (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

Day 5:

“Not Potter’s Army, Dumbledore’s Army.” (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

Day 6:

“This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince.” (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

Day 7:

“Now was the moment to decide: Horcruxes of Hallows?” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

And I had two more pictures I wanted to include, the first one is another one I took for the prompt of the first day, but I ended up picking the other one for the challenge:

And one more I took during my movie marathon on Saturday night!

For more pictures like this, you can check out my Bookstagram account @Clemireads and the hashtag #BookstagramHouseCupH which features all the wonderful entries of House Hufflepuff for the challenge!

In addition to taking all these pictures, I tried to make butterbeer for the first time, and I reread and watched The Prisoner of Azkaban! I had so much fun and discovered many incredible new bookstagram accounts…

And last but not least, since this challenge was in honour of the release of The Cursed Child, here is a picture of my own copy, which I just got yesterday!

Hope you enjoyed this article!

Merch featured:
Wands: Wand Witch & Wizard on Etsy
Quidditch bookmark: Mybookmark on Etsy
Deatly Hallows Necklace: Cutie House on Amazon
Hufflepuff mug: Warner Bros Studios
Hufflepuff scarf: handmade

Middle Grade Book Club: Harry Potter Update #3

At the beginning of the year, I had planned with a bunch of bookstagrammers to reread the entire Harry Potter series from January to July. This now seems to fit even more perfectly since The Cursed Child will be released at the end of the month. However, as time went by, July came and I had only reread The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets.

Of course, I decided that it didn’t matter, but I still want to reread all the Harry Potter books before moving on to the new release. The only problem being that I only own those pictured above…

But I can still say that I made some progress this month! Earlier this month I rewatched both parts of the Deathly Hallows with my little brother who had never seen them. And I have to say, since I never mentioned them here on the blog, these movies are brillant. And it made me want to reread the books even more.

And over the weekend, I finally reread The Prisoner of Azkaban.

WARNING: SPOILERS

If you had asked me last year, I would have said that the third book in the series was my favourite. However now I’m not so sure. I know that I totally loved the first two books. And people usually say that the series gets darker with The Goblet of Fire. But since it was the third (or fourth?) time I read it, I noticed more things in The Prisoner of Azkaban that foreshadow the darkness that will come into the rest of the series.

First, we have the apparition of the Dementors. They are probably the most horrible thing in the entire Harry Potter universe. Like, really. They represent depression after all, and it is something I can relate to. I feel like this time, I understood better all the depth of these creatures, and it is really rather disturbing.

Then we have the whole oh-my-god-siruis-black-is-a-dangerous-crimminal plot that goes throughout this volume. Now I know by heart everything that happens, but really, bad stuff happens into this volume. A supposed escaped convict enters Hogwarts and the Gryffindor dormitories. A magical creature is unfairly sentenced to death (which raises my hatred towards the Malfoy family). The Prisoner of Azkaban definitely has its dark corners which are not to be underestimated.

Anyway, as ever, I really enjoyed this book. I have to say, I really love the ending, with what of the time turner, and the Marauders, and the Patronus, and Harry learning more about his parents, and finding family with Sirius. What I will keep in mind after this reread is the depth you can still find in the Harry Potter series with the rereads. And I changed my mind, it is not getting dark with The Goblet of Fire, but with The Prisoner of Azkaban, and that for two reasons: the Dementors, and the fact that Harry has now officially lost his innocence. Because for God’s sake, he wanted to kill Sirius when he thought he was the reason his parents had dies. (And I shed a tear when they had to say goodbye…) So yeah, big up for the great character development I don’t think I had noticed before! And I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one which is one of my favourite! (Okay, they are all one of my favourites, you got me…) (And since I’m going to be a camp councellor in August I will earn some money and buy a few books without feeling bad about it…)

That’s it for today, I hope you enjoyed, please feel free to share your opinion on the Harry Potter series in the comments!

Oh and if you want to check it out there is a Bookstagram House Cup thing going on on Instagram, you can check it out and participate, it’s a lot of fun! (Use hashtages #BookstagramHouseCup + the first letter of your Hogwarts House, like for example, I use #BookstagramHouseCupH because I’m a Hufflepuff!)

And PS I posted a new video on my Booktube Channel!