Hello, it’s already April’s monthly reads!
after the spring break, I felt like my expectations for my reads had increased but idk. Another month has ended and another month is closer for me to reach my reading goal of the year which is 40 books for 2021 (fingers crossed).
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The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Categories: Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, and Classics.
‘One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children’s literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in the novel form in 1911.
The plot centers around Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma of losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic.’
A nostalgic read. Periodt
I had to re-read this after I saw this book’s pretty cover - although, it felt like this was my read as I forgot as I grew up.
⭐4.5/5; I do recommend to both young and young adult readers if they have not because YOU ARE MISSING OUT!
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Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott
Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Classics.
‘The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. It is loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters. Scholars classify it as an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical novel.’
a classic that is beloved by all ages so my review is that this book speaks for itself.
⭐5/5
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Caraval Series by Stepanie Gaber
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, and Adventure.
‘Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.’
This series as I have mentioned many times emotionally messed me up! And I have already posted a review for the series here.
⭐5/5
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Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories by Kelly Barnhill
Categories: Fiction and Young Adult.
‘Author Kelly Barnhill has written a collection of stories, teeming with uncanny characters whose lives unfold in worlds at once strikingly human and eerily original.’
Firstly, I got this mainly because of the title and the cover. Secondly, I was excited to read dark horror-ish stories. And I expected to read about dreadful young ladies as the main heroines and theme. However, none of what I’ve mentioned above - as disappointing as it is, I could not finish this book.
And I hate to admit this but I kinda regret getting this book.
⭐2/5; 2 stars because only for the cover design.
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Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, and Dystopia.
‘In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.
No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.’
100 pages and honestly tried to like this book but all disappointment what I was disappointed. I truly believe that I would like this book despite the negative reviews online.
The plot gripped my attention but my expectations and criteria were never met with this one. It got boring - not entertaining enough to keep me reading till at least the end of the chapters.
⭐1/5
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K-pop Confidential by Stephan Lee
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary, and Cultural.
'Big dreams, rivalries, and romance collide in this must-read YA novel for K-pop fans everywhere! Candace is your average Korean-American teen - who can’t believe her luck when she’s picked from thousands of auditionees to travel to Seoul and train to become a K-pop star. There’s only one problem: she’s really not cut out for it. The language is hard, the girls are mean, and the number-one rule is NO DATING - which proves impossible after she meets superstar idol One. J and fellow trainee YoungBae. In the battle to debut, Candace must decide whether a spot in the most hyped K-pop girl group of all time is really worth risking everything.
I LOVE IT! IT exceeds my expectations tbh - expecting to be bored within 100 pages in but NOOOO! it slayed, and served me everything I did not even know can be served in this book!
reading this got so hooked up as watching K-drama to binge-watch till morning which I did!!
although it was so cringy that got me rolling my eyes far too many times - it gave me that 'America white girl gets everything she wants’ vibe as getting the guy and debuting with fewer years and suffering she faced compared to her teammates. but the ending threw me off guard with a realistic twist.
⭐4.5/5; 0.5 less just for that 'America white girl gets everything she wants’ vibe but overall, I do recommend this read especially if you are into Korean music and Korean drama.
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this month has spring break, assignment week, and Ramadan - all together in one bundle that got me on reading and drawing slump but thank god, it is over, and here’s to a new month with a new start <3
Thank you for reading and please stay safe!
-Hessa
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