I cannot believe that I go back to school in less than a week! I have been blessed to have had so many amazing opportunities this summer (such as starting this blog), and I am excited to see what the future holds. Currently, my posting schedule for the school year will include posts on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays along with the Sunday Post every week. Thanks to everyone who has subscribed. I love getting to know you through the comments!

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (reread)
Rating: 5/5

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling (reread)
Rating: 5/5

3. Rethinking Normal by Katie Rain Hill
​Rating: 5/5

4. Psychology for Dummies
Rating: 4/5

1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
​Rating: 5/5

2. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Rating: 4/5

3. Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind of) Liked Me by Andrea Portes
Rating: 4/5
Check out my full review here.

4. Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell
​Rating: 4/5
Check out my full review here.

5. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
​Rating: 5/5
Check out my full review here.

1. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Rating: 4/5
Read my comparison of the Netflix TV series and the book here.

2. House Arrest by K. A. Holt
Rating: 4/5

3. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
​Rating: 4/5
Check out my review of The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy here.

4. Seeing Red by Frank Beddor
​Rating: 3/5

5. Archenemy by Frank Beddor
​Rating: 3/5

6. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
​Rating: 5/5
​Check out my full review here.

7. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
​Rating: 3/5

8: The Cellar by Natasha Preston
Rating: 3/5

9. Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
​Rating: 4/5

10. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
​Rating: 5/5
​Check out my full review here.

11. Spinning by Tillie Walden
Rating: 4.5/5
​Check out my full review here.

I have no idea how I read some much more in August! Hopefully I can keep up the trend during September! Here are my top 5 favorite books I read this summer.

1. ​Caraval by Stephanie Garber
   
2. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
3. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
5. Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell​

Have you read any of the books I read this summer? What was your favorite read of summer 2017? Let me know in the comments!

I am super excited to share this book with the community! I came across this gem at my library, and I needed to check it out! The cover art really popped, and the description on the jacket sounded incredible. It is always pleasant to find raw and real novels which tugs at your heartstrings with every turn of the page.

Three generations. One story.

Katie is a teenage girl trying to uncover both her family's secrets and her own identity.

Caroline is a mother of two who struggles to protect the people she loves most.

Mary battles Alzheimer's and becomes a shock in the lives of her daughter, Caroline and grandchild, Katie when her partner dies and she can no longer live on her own.

As Katie cares for her grandmother, she listens to Mary's tales of grandiosity as a girl. The wise words of her grandmother begin to spark something new within Katie. Suddenly, she is no longer content with going through the motions. She wants to know the truth. She wants to live. And she wants to love.

There were many aspects of this novel I enjoyed including:

• ​The Format: I admire how Jenny Downham alternates between the perspectives of Katie and her grandmother, Mary. While the novel is in third person, the various perspectives are spot on. The parallels between the two women are executed well without feeling forced. The perspective of Katie's mother is never directly provided, but it was interested to watch her evolve through the stories of Katie and Mary.
• Covers serious issues in a realistic manner: One aspect of Unbecoming which moved me was the presence of topics such as the impacts of depression, suicide, and dementia on a family. As Katie and her mother care for Mary, I was exposed to both the moments of love and the moments of difficulty experienced by the family members of dementia patients. For the sake of a spoiler-free review. I will not reveal the character who commits suicide, but Jenny Downham is spot on with her portrayal of the effects suicide can have on the family members left behind after tragedy.
• The "Firey Spirit": Throughout the book, Mary references the idea of a "fiery spirit", someone who isn't afraid to bend the rules and explore the world for the sake of living. She frequently promotes the idea to her granddaughter in the hope of igniting the flame within Katie.

There are very few things I disliked about this novel.

• ​At first, I was confused by the alternating perspectives of Katie and Mary.
• There is a certain like mother, like daughter incident toward the last quarter of the book which feels a tad forced (will not go into detail to avoid spoilers).
• Very little information is provided on Katie's father.

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham was a pleasant surprise from the YA section of my library. I would reccomend it to readers who enjoy emotional stories full of drama, family, and love.

Rating: 4/5

Want to see more YA book reviews and insights into the life of a teenage bookworm and writer? Hit the subscribe button so you can be in the loop about the latest posts here at Scripturient.

Super excited to link up with The Sunday Post, a weekly post hosted by Kimberly @TheCaffeinatedBookReviewer! This is my second time participating in this weekly meme, and I cannot wait to share my latest reads with you guys!

Review: Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
What I Read this Summer
Review: To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han

This week I managed to pick up the pace on my reading! Here are the books I read this week.

I can't believe I start school in a little over a week! I have the next month of posts scheduled, so I promise to be consistent even as the school year starts. Thanks for reading and let me know what you are currently reading in the comments!

I would like to give a huge thank you to Courtney at paperbackbeaches.com for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award!  I am still fairly new in the blogging community, so I really appreciate being nominated!

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to bloggers who are creative, positive, and inspiring.  Once nominated, the blogger is required to write a post in which they:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated them and link back to their blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated them.
3. Nominate 11 other blogs and give them 11 new questions to answer.
4. Notify your nominees and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post.

​1. What's the best book recommendation you've ever received from someone?
A few months ago, my grandmother recommended A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith to me. I fell in love with the book, and it was amazing to share such an incredible story with my grandmother.

2. What are some goals you have for your blog and yourself as a blogger?
One of my biggest goals for this blog is to reach out to teenagers who are active in the YA community. As a teenage YA blogger, I would love to spark interactions between other teen book bloggers. My personal goals as a blogger are to expose myself to new and exciting books through the blogging community.

3. What's your proudest moment as a blogger?
Well, I haven't been a blogger for very long, but my proudest moment was getting my first follower on Bloglovin'. It felt so good to see someone who not only read and enjoyed my blog but wanted to continue reading it in the future.

4. Who is your favorite fictional character and why?
This may sound a tad cliche (whoops), but Hermoine Granger. I have read the Harry Potter books countless times, and I always find myself aspiring to be as smart and caring as she is.

5. What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
When the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was a thing, I tried to do it with really cold water and my aunt's nice glass bowl. I flipped the bowl over my head and was so shocked by the cold that I accidentally chucked the bowl across her driveway and it shattered everywhere!

6. Name three shows you've been wanting to watch but haven't gotten around to watching them yet.
How I Met Your Mother, Reign, Jane the Virgin

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world today, where would you go?
I would go to Italy! For the last four years, I have taken Latin, and I would love to see the birthplace of the language I have devoted quite a long time to!

8. What was the name of the last book you picked up, but couldn't finish?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

9. How were you inspired to become a blogger?
I have always been passionate about reading and writing, so I jumped at the chance to join the book blogging community!

10. Which bloggers inspired you to be a better blogger?
All of the blogs I nominated below! They all have high quality posts and gorgeous blog layouts.
​
11. What's the name of your favorite book store?
​I have to name two. The Little Book Shop and BBGB!
​

I nominate the following bloggers for the Sunshine Blogger Award:

1. Diana of The Bookish Sisters
2. Alex of Young at Heart Books
3. Ryann of Ryann the Reader
4. Kayla of K Drew the Bookworm
5. Erika of Living for the Books
6. Alice of Alice Reads Classics
7. Katie of Katie Judges Books
8. Jade of Jade Browne
9. Karoline of Karoline's Book Reviews
10. Becky of Rebecca Reads
11. Nicole of Nicole Henderson Reads

1. How long have you been blogging?
2. Who is your favorite villain?
3. What is the first book you remember reading?
4. How do you manage blogging and other aspects of your life?
5. Where do you see your blog in five years?
6. What is you favorite part of blogging?
7. List your top three favorite movies.
8. What are your interests outside of blogging?
9. Do you have any pets? What kind(s)?
10. Paperback or Hardcover?
11. What is your favorite book you've read this year?

If you have been tagged before, just know that I love your blog! By the way, this tag is for all bloggers, so you do not necessarily have to tag all book bloggers (but you can)! Thanks for stopping by and make sure to subscribe if you would like to see more!

I was SO excited when I saw that Rachel tagged me in the Harry Potter Book Tag! I have loved Harry Potter for years, so I am thrilled to share my thoughts with you guys!

1. What house are you in?
According to Pottermore, I'm a Griffindor. To me, it doesn't really line up, but at least I share a house with Hermione!

2. What is your patronus?
My patronus is a dolphin!

!3. What is your wand?
Redwood wood with unicorn hair core which is 10 inches long & has supple flexibility!

4. What would your boggart be?
Mine would be losing my loved ones. And spiders. Spiders are definitely up there too.

5. What position would you play in Quiddich?
The same one I play in football: watching in the stands.

6. Would you be a pure blood, half blood, or muggle born?
I would be a half blood because only one of my parents enjoys the Harry Potter series!
​

7. What job would you want to have after graduating from Hogwarts?
Minister of Magic? Ahahaha, no. More likely I'd go back to Hogwarts and teach!

8. Which of the deathly hallows would you choose?
I would pick the invisibility cloak because it would be so much fun, and I'd rather not have people trying to kill me over a wand!

9. Favorite book?
I love all of the books, but my favorite would have to be Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I have read it so many times because I love learning more about Voldemort and I really enjoy the storyline!

10. Least favorite book?
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Dont get me wrong, I really love this book as well, but it is the one I have re-read the least amount of times. The storyline just doesn't resonate with me as well as the other ones do.

11. Favorite film?
Hands down Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I know this is a super unpopular opinion, but I really loved this movie! Well, except when a certain character who I cherish with all my heart dies at the end (cries).

12. Least favorite film?
Once again, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I just do not like this storyline as much as I enjoy the others!

13. Favorite character?
My favorite character has and always will be Hermione Granger. When I was little, she was my strongest (fictional) female role model, and I aspired to someday be like her (powers and everything). She is still my favorite because I admire her perseverance and intelligence.

14. Least favorite/ most hated character?
Easiest question on the tag! Umbridge! Must I even explain why?

15. Favorite teacher?
McGonnagal for the first six books, and Snape was my favorite after reading the last book.

16. Least favorite teacher?
Umbridge. She is incredibly malevolent and strives only to spread evil throughout the Wizarding World.
​

17. Do you have any unpopular opinions about the series?
a) I don't understand why Ginny and Harry end up together.
b) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban was not my favorite book/movie.

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Harry Potter! I tag the following blogs (as well as anyone else who wants to do it)! If you have already completed the tag, just know I tagged you because I really enjoy reading your blog!

Penned by Lauren

Young at Heart Books

Girl Hearts Book

K Drew the Bookworm

Wild and Wonderful Reads

​Literary Tea With Her

Today I am super exciting to start The Sunday Post, a weekly post hosted by Kimberly @TheCaffeinatedBookReviewer. After coming across this weekly meme, I realized I really wanted to give it a try! Let me know in the comments what you think!

Harry Potter Book Tag
Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber
​Sunshine Blogger Award

Honestly, this was a slow reading week for me. I really tried to read a lot despite my job and volunteering, but I did not conquer as many books as usual. Hopefully I will be able to get in a few more books before I go back to school!

Since school starts in two weeks, my blogging time will have to be managed very carefully. My current goal is to start scheduling posts for Saturday, Sunday (The Sunday Post), Tuesday, and Thursday. I will alternate between book reviews and other posts.

This has been a crazy week! From volunteering to my job, every spare moment has been spent working on projects and assignments! Luckily, I love my job, so it does not really feel like work:) In other news, I really need to work on my summer assignments for school this week, so hopefully I will be able to make time for reading!

Originally, I was going to review each book in The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy by Frank Beddor individually. However, I ended up finishing the books within only a day of each other, so I decided to write a spoiler-free review of all of the books in one post. Enjoy!

Alice enters Wonderland down the rabbit hole. Or is that just what Lewis Carroll wants the world to think? In Frank Beddor's The Looking Glass Wars, we find out the "truth" about Alyss Heart of Wonderland.

When Alyss's vengeful Aunt Redd storms the Heart Palace, Alyss is forced to flee Wonderland through the Pool of Tears. Suddenly, she is trapped on earth, a world where she is forced to conform and bury the home she once knew in the back of her mind. Alyss struggles to adapt to a place where the Heart Palace and her Aunt Redd are little more than fantasy.

Desperate to share her story, Alyss places her trust in Lewis Carroll, an aspiring author with quite the imagination. He listens and records her stories, but he fails to capture the truth. Even her name is spelled wrong. Alyss feels betrayed as her truths are depicted as fairytales for the human world to enjoy.

Meanwhile, Hatter Madigan races around the world to find Alyss, the rightful queen of Wonderland. Her Aunt Redd has overtaken Wonderland and forces the inhabitants to bow to the darkness of Black Imagination.

There are so many things I loved about this trilogy (and this is just the spoiler free version)!
•The evolution of Redd's character is fascinating.
•Beddor demonstrates flawless world-building abilities as he immerses readers in his own Wonderland.
•Imagination is a concept which is crucial to the story.
•The novels successfully retain certain characteristics of the traditional Wonderland (Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter, etc.) with unique twists.
•The trilogy depicts many women in positions of power (i.e. Wonderland is a queendom).

•At some points, the descriptions were so vivid that I struggled to follow along with the story (i.e. during battle scenes).
•The conclusion wrapped everything up in a tidy little bow with nothing left to question (I both liked and disliked this aspect of the books).
•Alyss's character experiences less character development than Redd.
​•The ending was slightly confusing and happened very quickly. There seemed to be a lot of build up for a very short scene.

Although there were a few aspects of the books which I was not a fan of, I loved this series. Alice in Wonderland has always been one of my favorite stories, so I knew I would love The Looking Glass Wars. I reccomend this trilogy to anyone who enjoys the classics but doesn't mind if they stray a bit from the original.

Rating: 4/5 (for entire trilogy)

I am super excited to say I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Eram at https://literaryteawither.wordpress.com
I am so grateful to have been nominated and I am excited to see how others will answer my questions!

The Rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Answer their 11 questions.
3. Nominate 11 blogs.
​4. Give them 11 questions to answer.

1. Were you a born reader or did you discover your love for books later in life?
I have loved reading ever since my parents read out loud to me. When I could read on my own, I was never found without a book in my hand.

2. Who or what inspired you to read?
I was inspired to read by my parents and teachers. My parents started reading to me at a young age, so I had constant exposure to books. I also was blessed with many incredible teachers over the years who introduced me to new genres and authors.

3. Which book is your childhood favorite?
This is just about one of the hardest questions I could be asked, so I'll name a few. When I was a toddler, I loved this intro-to-reading Disney Princess book. Then, I was OBSESSED with the Magic Tree House Series. During my late elementary years I could not stop reading the Percy Jackson Series.

4. Do you prefer long books or short books?
If it is a book I am enjoying, then I prefer long books so I can spend more time with the characters! However, I am not opposed to reading short books!

5. Do you think that all readers are on some level "nerds"?
Yes, and there is no shame in being a nerd (coming from a nerd herself :)

6. Which book blogger inspired you to start your own blog?
I was inspired by MANY amazing blogs. One of the ones which inspired me the most was The Introverted Book Nerd. I love her blog and her reviews are wonderfully written!

​7. What do you do when you don't enjoy a book at all?
If I do not enjoy the first 100 pages of a book, I stop reading unless I received a copy for the purpose of review. Otherwise, I power through the book for the purpose of providing a honest and constructive review after I finish.

8. Do you read other's reviews on a book before you review it?
No. I think reading reviews from other bloggers could sway my original opinion about a book. After I write a review, I will read other reviews to see how different readers viewed the book.
​
9. Do you aspire to be a published author? If so, then what genre book will you write?
One of my goals in life is to someday become a published author. As of right now, I would write either a Young Adult or nonfiction book.

10. What is the one thing you struggled with the most at the beginning of your blogging journey?
At first, I really struggled with deciding which blogging platform to use. Ultimately, I decided on Weebly because of ease of use, and the program allows me to manage my blog from my phone.

11. What advice would you give to someone planning on starting their own book blog?
To any potential book bloggers, I have a few reccomendations. First, make a schedule of your future posts. The schedule will provide organization and motivation. Then, use social media to meet new bloggers and gain a following!

I nominate the following blogs for the Liebster Award.

1. Ruby Rae Reads
2. Penned By Lauren
3. Alexa Loves Books
4. Frayed Books
5. K Drew the Bookworm
6. Ryann the Reader
7. Young at Heart Books
8. Girl Hearts Book
9. Living for the Books
10. Wild and Wonderful Reads
11. Whimsically Stuffed Shelves

Here are the questions for my nominees to answer!
1, What are you currently reading?
2. What is the top book on your TBR?
3. How do you organize your books?
4. What is your favorite book cover?
5. Name your favorite book-to-movie adaption.
6. How do you come up with creative new post ideas?
7. What do you use as a bookmark?
8. Where do you see your blog in five years?
9. What is your favorite book you've read this year?
10. Paperback or hardcover?
​11. Who inspired you to start your book blog?

If you have been nominated before, you may answer the questions if you like, but you do not have to. Good luck!

Hello! It is a rainy day where I live, so I decided to plan my TBR for August! I realized I have picked up a bunch of books from both bookstores and libraries, so I have an exciting haul to share with y'all! Enjoy!

1. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
3. Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner
4. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
5. Unearthly Things by Michelle Gagnon
6. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

I also purchased or checked out a few e-books!
1. Seeing Red (The Looking Glass Wars #2) by Frank Beddor
2. ArchEnemy (The Looking Glass Wars #3) by Frank Beddor
3. Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman

I am super excited to read the books listed above this month as I savor the remaining days of summer. Have you read any of the books above? What did you think of them? Which should I read first? Let me know in the comments! If you would like to see more, subscribe through Bloglovin!