Blog Tour: Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor + Giveaway

Welcome to our tour stop for Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor! This tour includes a giveaway courtesy of PenguinTeen.

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Akata Witch
Akata Witch #1
Author: Nnedi Okorafor
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: uly 11th 2017
Publisher: Speak
 

World Fantasy Award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor weaves together a story of magic, mystery, and finding one's place in the world--for fans of Ursula Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones.

Twelve-year-old Sunny lives in Nigeria, but she was born American. Her features are African, but she's albino. She's a terrific athlete, but can't go out into the sun to play soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits. And then she discovers something amazing-she is a "free agent," with latent magical power. Soon she's part of a quartet of magic students, studying the visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But will it be enough to help them when they are asked to catch a career criminal who knows magic too?

A year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu. Now, stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny is studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and struggling to unlock the secrets in her strange Nsibidi book.

Eventually, Sunny knows she must confront her destiny. With the support of her Leopard Society friends, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha, and of her spirit face, Anyanwu, she will travel through worlds both visible and invisible to the mysteries town of Osisi, where she will fight a climactic battle to save humanity.

Much-honored Nnedi Okorafor, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, merges today’s Nigeria with a unique world she creates. Akata Warrior blends mythology, fantasy, history and magic into a compelling tale that will keep readers spellbound.

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Nnedi Okorafor was born in the United States to two Igbo (Nigerian) immigrant parents. She holds a PhD in English and is a professor of creative writing at Chicago State University. She has been the winner of many awards for her short stories and young adult books, and won a World Fantasy Award for Who Fears Death. Nnedi's books are inspired by her Nigerian heritage and her many trips to Africa. She lives in Chicago with her daughter Anyaugo and family. She can be contacted via her website, www.nnedi.com.

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) sets that include the paperback of AKATA WITCH and a galley of AKATA WARRIOR (ARV: $10.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on July 17th, 2017 and 12:00 AM on August 7, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about August 5, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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July 31 – Here’s to Happy Endings – Review

August 1 – The YA Book Traveler

August 2 – Once Upon a Twilight – Spotlight

August 3 – Books 4 Your Kids

August 4 – Hollywood News Source – Akata Witch Excerpt

#ReadADessen Week 5: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

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Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Review Source: Speak

Up all night.

Nights have always been Auden's time, her chance to escape everything that's going on around her.

Then she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac, and he becomes her nocturnal tour guide.

Now, with an endless supply of summer nights between them, almost anything can happen...

Along for the Ride has been on of my favorite Sarah Dessen books to date. Auden hasn’t been able to sleep during the night long before her parents divorced, though they are the beginning of what made Auden stay up through the night. When Auden decides to visit her father and step-mother for the summer she finds herself navigating a new town, with new places to visit during the night; where she finds herself a fellow insomniac, Eli.

Along for the Ride had a lot more depth to it than some of the other books I have read by Dessen. Auden is navigating a new life for the summer, getting a second chance with her father, learning to “deal” with her step-mom, becoming a well rounded person, and experiencing a lot of things she really missed out on as a child. Her parents kind of made her into an adult kid, and she didn’t get to scrape her knees or get in trouble, she stayed inside and studied, she was the perfect daughter to her mother. A lot changed over the summer and she became more self aware and I just love that about these books. People tend to shun YA for some unknown reason and act like these characters aren’t going through real life problems, and self-doubt, but we all do at one point in time and teenagers especially need to know they’re not alone in this, that it’s okay to change and become a better version of themselves. Auden followed a lot in her mother’s footsteps and that really held her back on experiencing things as mundane as riding a bike or even playing outside.

Then besides Auden, the characters around her made me fall in love. Her step-mom had me worried, I loved when Auden stopped being so judgmental towards her and realized the person she actually is. The girls at the shop, who became more than what she saw on surface. Then Eli, I swear Sarah Dessen knows how to make you fall for a boy and fall hard. I just wanted to hug him tightly. But that’s the best part of a Dessen book, it’s not just about the protagonist but the stories she weaves around them as well. She puts a lot of depth and time into her work and it shows. I know when I pick up a Dessen book I won’t be disappointed when I put it down.

Book Review: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen #ReadADessen

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The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: May 11th 2004
Review Source: Speak

In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own.

As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice. Though it feels like her future ended with her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings.

You know what the best part of this #ReadADessen campaign is? Being able to finally put time aside to read my Sarah Dessen collection. I own over half her books but I’m so busy reading books that I need to review that I’m not able to get to my own collection of books often, but that never stops me from buying more. So when this campaign was offered to me I was all sorts of grabby hands and couldn’t wait to dive in. And this week I got to dive into The Truth About Forever.

In The Truth About Forever, Macy has her whole summer planned out, study, work at the library and hang out with her mom. Some very exciting plans if you ask me. Her father had passed away tragically and her and her mother grieved in their own ways and they may not have been the best ways to do so. While helping her mother with a showing of new townhouses that she was developing, she happened upon helping the catering crew out which changed her whole planned out summer. New job, new friends, a new Macy.

My favorite part of reading a Sarah Dessen is the way she develops each and every one of her characters. Firstly, she makes them feel so real and relatable and that their trials and tribulations feel like your own. Then watching them grow and evolve throughout the book feels authentic. You’re not seeing them wake up one day with an epiphany and then their life is suddenly altered. They’re making the everyday mistakes and learning and changing through them. While the story was about Macy and forging her own path in life and finally living it, my favorite character was Wes, cute artistic, Wes. Their friendship was exciting to watch evolve and their time together playing truth was some of my favorite chapters.

Sarah Dessen is most definitely the queen of YA contemporary. And I can’t wait to dive into more of her work. What has been your favorite Dessen book?

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P.S. A Sarah Dessen book is even better on the beach. 

Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary | Mystery | Realistic
Released: October 4th 2008
Review Source: Purchased

From the #1 bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars

Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery
New York Times bestseller
USA Today bestseller
Publishers Weekly bestseller

When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night—dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q.

Printz Medalist John Green returns with the trademark brilliant wit and heart-stopping emotional honesty that have inspired a new generation of readers.

Paper Towns, while not necessarily my favorite book written by John Green, it was definitely a very good read. The story of a girl who everyone was too fascinated by to bother figuring out and a boy who made it his priority to do just that.

Margo Roth Spiegelman. Just the utterance of her name brought about legendary memories from anyone who heard it. When Quentin hears it, though, he thinks of his childhood friend who never ceases to take his breath away. Margo and Quentin are neighbors and were very close friends as children, but high school rolls around and does its social dividing and they haven’t spoken much since then- ‘till that one fateful night that Margo shows up at his window dressed as a ninja asking for his (mom’s) car. They get revenge on some deserving people, break into Sea World, and Quentin can’t help but fall a little more in love. Then she’s gone missing the next morning, something not rare for Margo. When she does pull this stunt, though, she’s known to leave clues but her parents can’t seem to find any, then Quentin does and he’s convinced they’re meant for him.

This story is about how we all imagine and mis-imagine the people in our lives, and containing something that cannot be contained, and learning, and heartbreak, and emotional roller coasters, and friendship, and growth.

Really it is a beautiful story worth reading. It really opened my eyes to whether or not I was just imagining rather than knowing those I love.

Book Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Authors: John Green & David Levithan
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary | Gay | Love | Humor
Released: April 6th 2009
Review Source: Purchased

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with . . . Will Grayson. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high school stage. Told in alternating voices from two YA superstars, this collaborative novel features a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of fans.

Will Grayson: best friends with Tiny, who’s not so tiny, and keeps to himself and Will Grayson: suffering with depression and incurably insecure. Will Grayson and Will Grayson meet each other at Frenchy’s, an “adult book store” in Chicago. It is unlikely, but ever so amazing. Once Will Grayson (Tiny’s best friend), meets Will Grayson (insecure), his two rules consisting of shutting up and not caring too much are shattered.

Each chapter of this book switched points of view from John Green’s Will Grayson and John Levithan’s Will Grayson (Ch.1- Green, Ch.2- Levithan, etc.). That’s something I find quite tiring, but once I had read Will’s point of view, I just wanted to know what the other Will was thinking, too.

It’s a book that will actually make you chuckle out loud. It has heartbreaking and heart melting moments, all placed beautifully. There’s even a musical! Such a fun read.

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction | Drama
Released: January 10th 2012
Review Source: Purchased

Now a Major Motion Picture
TODAY Book Club pick
TIME Magazine’s #1 Fiction Book of 2012

"The greatest romance story of this decade." —Entertainment Weekly

-Millions of copies sold-

#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 International Bestseller
#1 Indie Bestseller

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars brilliantly explores the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Hazel Grace Lancaster is intelligent, sophisticated, opinionated, and a sixteen year old lung cancer patient. After attending a support group at “the literal heart of Jesus,” as recommended by her mother and doctor, she meets Agustus Waters. Compassionate, enthusiastic, fearful of oblivion, and an eighteen year old osteosarcoma patient.

This was the first of John Green I’d read, and I was immediately hooked. His characters are well developed and a bit sassy. This story was in no way stereotypical. It was modern, heartfelt, and almost inappropriately hilarious. It gets down to the core of emotion and the love these characters felt for each other. It almost makes you feel as if you actually knew Hazel, Agustus, and Isaac, their best friend.

From comedy to romance, The Fault in our Stars is an easy read that will whittle you down to your most vulnerable self. Timeless and breathtaking.

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I would like to introduce our newest member on the Once Upon a Twilight review team, my beautiful and talented niece Bianca. Bianca is going to be turning sixteen this December and is a Junior in High School but also attends the local college where she is enrolled in advance classes. All I can say is that I am one proud Aunt!!!

So stay tuned for more amazing reviews from Bianca!

Extra! Extra!: #JustOneDay & #JustOneYear fans @GayleForman Announced #JustOneNight

I am trying to write this post without freaking out but I am currently freaking out because Gayle Forman just made a HUGE announcement for Just One Day and Just One Year fans! OMG... *goes off and freak out again* I think I die with this announcement. Watch it: 

Let's see how this flies. And we can discuss tomorrow morning. You know, after just one night. http://t.co/0UCRpAh8Pz @xtineMAY
— gayle forman (@gayleforman) April 29, 2014

Now WHO IS FREAKING OUT?! YES, YOU HEARD RIGHT! We will finally know what happened after Willem opened THAT FREAKING DOOR!

Read my review for Just One Year and my note to Gayle Forman ;)

Trailer Thursday: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Just One Day

Just One Day #1

Author: Gayle Forman

Released: January 8th 2013 Hardcover | August 20th 2013 Paperback

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile | Speak

OUaT's Review

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

From the New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay
Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.
A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the "accidents” of fate, Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.
The first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

Book Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Where She Went
If I Stay #2
Author: Gayle Forman
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Released: April 5th 2011
Review Source: Purchased

Summary: (from goodreads) It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

‘Where She Went’ is the sequel of “If I Stay’. The book is told from Adam’s POV. Adam is now a rockstar, living the life of the rich and famous. Yet, his heart is empty. He is still heartbroken from Mia’s departure. She left without any explanation. When you read, you feel how deeply he was affected, it’s heartbreaking and tearjerker. While in New York, he encounters Mia…this book it’s a journey of forgiveness. You feel will feel his pain, loneliness, anxiety and most of all his anger.

I honestly loved this book but I felt the ending was short told. Throughout the book I found myself hating Mia. I resented her decision. They way she left. They way she didn’t keep in touch. I know she went through an extremely hard time but she had someone that truly cared. It was torturing reading their separation. What really got me pissed off is when she finally was able to speak with him the first time. She acted like she didn’t ruin his life. I felt like I needed to shield Adam into a world of rainbows and happiness. Reading the lyrics of his songs… OMG, the tears. This is a must read series.

I truly love Forman, her writing is so beautifully. I love how everything felt real. I love how she answers all my questions. I love how this book turns out to be a self discovery book. I love how much I hated Mia. I truly love how I forgave Mia, even though she didn’t do anything to me. Most of all, I love Adam. This roller coaster ride was just overwhelming. Forman is truly a rockstar!

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay
If I Stay #1
Author: Gayle Forman
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Released: March 24th 2009
Review Source: Purchased

Summary: (from goodreads) The critically acclaimed, bestselling novel from Gayle Forman, author of Where She Went, Just One Day, and the forthcoming Just One Year.

On a day that started like any other,

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.

If I Stay is a beautifully written YA novel, it will break your heart in many ways. The characters are likable; they will capture your attention right from the start. Mia, the main character, is a talented musician. Her character is described as being close to her family. I mean who wouldn’t with such amazing cool hip and supportive parents? There are many parts of the books which will describe their relationship and it will bring you warmth and comfort. She has a brother that loves and look up to her. Not only does she have the perfect family but a perfect boyfriend, Adam! He is also a musician, a rock-star.

Mia and her family go for a drive and from that moment her world is turned upside down. The life she had, the perfect parents and brother are taken from her. Mia is trapped; she is unable to do anything but watch the lives of those that care for her. One of most shattering moment is when she finds out her brother is also gone. The story switches back and forth between past and present, which usually is confusing but not in this story. You will be able to keep up and make sense of what is going on.

Oh Adam, when he finds out – his heart is just destroyed. One of my favorite lines is:

“Please Mia," he implores. "Don't make me write a song.”

I personally love this book. Is a reality check, it makes you think how things can go wrong within seconds. Live is very valuable, one should cherish every moment. The story is realistic and one can relate from the life and death experience to the struggle of trying to survive. I also love her parents – such supportive characters.

This book will definitely will bring you tears. This was a personal experience Gayle went through and she channels her pain through the book. I read online that her and her husband’ close friends and children were involved in a devastating car accident and none survive. Soon after, a friend and co-worker fell ill and passed away – weeks before September 11.

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I agree with everything Leydy mentions in her review of If I Stay. I was able to review it in audio format and was blown away by it. The story itself was powerful but to actually listen to Mia tell the story, just raised the bar even higher. I recommend both books in the series to be listen to as well as read. They will connect with you and stay ingrained long after you finished.