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?

March Wrap Up

Big dreams this month...and not so big accomplishments. At least not in reading goals.

A bit of a rough month for us transportation-wise. My husband was in a wreck in December (he was rear-ended) and the insurance company of the driver at fault is FINALLY talking care of the issue. The day after his car was towed away, my car refused to start. On a morning I as running late, luckily my mother was able to come pick me up. My dad and cousin came to look at the car, but could not figure out the issue. My car was towed the next morning (yep, both cars in the shop at once. Thank heavens for my in-laws who have been lending us a car since my husband's wreck in December). After two days of inspecting, the dealership found that a rodent had chewed through the main wiring of my car. Guess what? That damage isn't covered by your warranty. Eventually, the car was fixed. My husband is still waiting to hear back from insurance about his.

Most of March Book Haul

We have had a record number of snow days this winter: a total of TEN! Far more than I ever remember. Ever. With that, my district elected to sacrifice half of our spring break so we will not have to go to school after Memorial Day. Bummer for now, great for the summer.

A few great things happened this month, too!

I officially interviewed to direct Barefoot in the Park for the local community theatre and was notified that would be directing the show just a few days later!

I also scored some amazing deals on books at my favorite store, Cargo Largo! Over 25 books for under $80!

Now for this month's wrap up:

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Besides being a culturally relevant, poignant story of how to be brave enough to speak up. Starr's momma, Lisa, was my favorite character, dropping wisdom and truth bombs left and right. The book is also an English teacher's dream, filled with figurative language, great character development, and themes that challenge us all to be better people.

Ami: Child of the Stars - Enrique Barrios
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A student handed this book to me one morning, telling me it was her favorite book growing up. Ami has a great message of the power and law of Love. It presents a utopia of a world at peace.

Some of my favorite bookstagrammers are hosting #readgushpanem this month and I'm excited to participate and read the series for the first time ever. Yup, you read that correctly. I have never read The Hunger Games before. The movies came out while I was teaching at a private school, but my students were so obsessed that I was turned off. Plus, that was the era of YA dystopian books turned to film and Divergent was a disappointment.
As I spilled most of my feelings during our Read & Gush discussions, the summaries here are going to be abbreviated.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Truly fantastic world-building and beautifully complex characters with realistic internal and external struggles. I'm totally Team Peeta.

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was a bit conflicted on how Collins was going to add more intensity to the series when this book takes place outside the Games, but she exceeded my expectations and kept me glued to the story from cover to cover.