April Wrap Up

This month I took on a mammoth task: Book Roast's OWLs Read-a-thon 2019. Book Roast has hosted this on her YouTube channel and bookstagram before, but this is my first time looking into her challenge. The challenge itself is pretty flexible, but encourages you to read five to seven books in April. She has prompts for each of the OWLs tested classes per Hogwarts and Harry Potter lore. You can also pick a career to "study" for, which may dictate what prompts you seek to fulfill. I chose professor as it was the most flexible and, well, my actual career.

Here's the breakdown for this year's challenge:

• Ancient Runes: Retelling
• Arithomancy: Written by more than one author
• Astronomy: "Star" in the title
• Care of Magical Creatures: Land Animal on the cover
• Charms: Age-line: Adult work
• Defense Against the Dark Arts: Reducto - book that starts with "R"
• Divination: Set in the Future
• Herbology: Plant on the Cover
• History of Magic: Book published 10+ years ago
• Muggle Studies: Contemporary read
• Potions: Next ingredient - sequel
• Transfiguration: Sprayed Edges

For my chosen career, I was to complete Defense Against the Dark Arts and six other courses. I almost made it.

Astronomy

Stardust - Neil Gaiman

I have started this book, but did not finish before the end of April. I adore the movie, so I knew I would love the book. And I do, so far. But I especially love the way Gaiman introduces Wall and Tristan and prefer the books version of Tristan entering the land beyond the wall. 

Care of Magical Creatures

The Tea Dragon Society - Kate O'Neill

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This cute graphic novel was included in OwlCrate's February box. 

Charms

The Wild Card - Hope & Wade King

I am reading this along with other middle school teachers in my district as part of a team-building, career-focused Twitter chat. Initially, I was bummed because I felt I already include much of the content in my classroom, however, as I have progressed through the book I realize while I have a solid foundation on how to be creative and engaging in my classroom, I still have more to learn.

Defense Against the Dark Arts

Renegades - Marissa Meyer (audiobook)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

First of all, this book was the perfect book to listen to at 2x the speed. Second, it is a brilliant superhero versus supervillain retelling that challenges the reader to truly consider who the good guys really are. I appreciate that the protagonist views herself as a villain, but her values and the actions of the antagonist cause the reader to question the morality of the "heroes". 

Divination

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins (book + audio)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I nearly missed finishing this book in time for the Read & Gush session, but the library's audiobook selection saved me. I was able to work in the yard and listen to the final third of the book. Again, I wasn't sure how Collins would increase the anticipation and intensity of her series, but I found this to be a fitting ending to the story she created. I was happily Team Peeta all the way through and truly enjoyed discussing the characters, plot, and conflicts with the Read & Gush team, even if we did disagree about Gale.

Herbology

Four Dead Queens - Astrid Schlote

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Fitting this book into herbology is a bit of a stretch, but one of the crowns is embellished with leaves and flowers, so I counted it. Because I was already reading and loving this book and couldn't live with reading a book that didn't fit within the challenge. 

Four Dead Queens is a captivating whodunit that keeps you guessing until the end. While there were elements that were not my favorite, the mystery itself was fantastic. The twist was completely unexpected, which drove the plot to its final, fulfilling conclusion.

*OwlCrate March selection

History of Magic

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When given the chance to squeeze in an older book, I will generally pick up a classic that I've been dying to reread. That's exactly what I did with this prompt. Fahrenheit 451 is probably my favorite book of all time (yes, I think it even outranks Anne of Green Gables and Pride and Prejudice). Rereading this lit a fire in me once again about the importance of reading and learning a variety of different topics and views. Knowledge is power.

Transfiguration

Crown of Feathers - Nicki Pau Preto

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Did I maybe cheat by including this one? Yes, because I was already about 100 pages in when April started. But, Book Roast said this is for fun and qualifications are really up to me, so yes, I counted it. OwlCrate's edition of this book has a gorgeous purple cover with purple sprayed edges! It's so pretty!

Unfortunately, I don't think the story lived up to my expectations. The premise is amazing: a girl who seeks out Phoenix Riders (hello?!) and a central relationship focused on two sisters (Val and Veronyka). The story flowed well when focusing on the sisters and their goal, however, there were a couple internal romances and a secondary plot that halted the flow for me. In fact, I would have been fine not knowing the other side of the story. Also, the book had a satisfying conclusion, but the author is writing a sequel, which kind of confuses me. What more is there?

If you tally the scores you'll notice that I was one book shy of meeting the requirements for my chosen profession. But two half-read books can count as one, right?