Adventures Through Awkwardness | 2014 Debut

Dec 1

middle grade challenge 2014 Debut

So, friends, we’ve made it to the end of the first year of the Adventures Through Awkwardness Middle Grade Challenge! Pat yourselves on the back. Ok, not too many pats just yet, though. We still have one month to go. This is the only month when our usual, “hey, you can read a book that came out WHENEVER” rule doesn’t apply. December is all about 2014 debuts!

All of the other rules are still in order though, so pick any MG debut that came out this year, review it, and enter to win one of the three debuts below! Enter by linking your review in the comments!

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Adventures Through Awkwardness | Dystopian

Oct 6

middle grade challengeAdventures Through Awkwardness: Dystopian

Happy fall, you guys! It’s the perfect time of year for this month’s middle grade challenge, dystopians!

You guys know the drill: You can read any middle grade dystopian novel during this month. Links to your reviews can be posted in the comments. You can read one or five or however many you want, link up your review and be entered to win one of the dystopian novels below!

 

the giverThe Giver: The Giver Quartet #1 by Lois Lowry

Jonas’s world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

unwantedsThe Unwanteds: Unwanteds #1 by Lisa McMann

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret–behind the mirage of the “death farm” there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.

But it’s a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

Book cover for The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by Jean Claude BemisThe Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis

In Casseomae’s world, the wolves rule the Forest, and the Forest is everywhere. The animals tell stories of the Skinless Ones, whose cities and roads once covered the earth, but the Skinless disappeared long ago.

Casseomae is content to live alone, apart from the other bears in her tribe, until one of the ancients’ sky vehicles crashes to the ground, and from it emerges a Skinless One, a child. Rather than turn him over to the wolves, Casseomae chooses to protect this human cub, to find someplace safe for him to live. But where among the animals will a human child be safe? And is Casseomae threatening the safety of the Forest and all its tribes by protecting him?

Middle-grade fans of postapocalyptic fiction are in for a treat with this fanciful and engaging animal story by the author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy.

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Adventures Through Awkwardness | Graphic Novel

Aug 4

middle grade challengeAdventures Through Awkwardness: Graphic Novels

Hellooo, friends! I’m stoked about this month’s challenge: graphic novels. WORD. I’m a newbie to graphic novels myself, but I do love them so. This month’s challenge is pretty epic, if I do say so myself. There’s TONS of great graphic novels for kiddos out there, so grab one up and dive in!

You guys know the drill: You can read any middle grade graphic novel during this month. Links to your reviews can be posted in the comments or in the giveaway widget. You can read one or five or however many you want, link up your review and be entered to win one of the graphic novels below!

The Avatar’s adventures continue right where the TV series left off, in this beautiful, oversized hardcover of The Promise, from Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko! Aang and friends must join together once again as the four nations’ tenuous peace is threatened in an impasse between Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei! As the world heads toward another devastating war, Aang’s friendship with Zuko throws him into the middle of the conflict! Featuring annotations by Eisner Award-winning writer Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) and artist Gurihiru (Thor and the Warriors Four), and a brand-new sketchbook, this is a story that Avatar fans need in an edition they will love!

An orphan and a thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy train station. He desperately believes a broken automation will make his dreams come true. But when his world collides with an eccentric girl and a bitter old man, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy.

When a young Cleopatra (yes, THAT Cleopatra) finds a mysterious tablet that zaps her to the far, REALLY far future, she learns of an ancient prophecy that says she is destined to save the galaxy from the tyrannical rule of the evil Xaius Octavian. She enrolls in Yasiro Academy, a high-tech school with classes like algebra, biology, and alien languages (which Cleo could do without), and combat training (which is more Cleo’s style). With help from her teacher Khensu, Cleo learns what it takes to be a great leader, while trying to figure out how she’s going to get her homework done, make friends, and avoid detention!

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Adventures Through Awkwardness | Male Narrators!

Jun 2

middle grade challengeAdventures Through Awkwardness: Male Narrators

We are plugging along nicely with our challenge, friends! I can’t believe we’re at the HALFWAY POINT already!! WHAT?! Time is flying! I hope you’re all have so much fun reading all the middle grades!

For this month, we’re highlighting male narrators. Plus, we’ve got a pretty sweet giveaway, courtesy of debut middle grade author, Rebecca Petruck! One lucky participant in this month’s challenge will win a finished copy of STEERING TOWARD NORMAL plus some AWESOME swag! YAY!

You guys know the drill: You can read any middle grade book with a male narrator during this month. Links to your reviews can be posted in the comments or in the giveaway widget. If you want to review two or three, that’s awesome! Extra chances for you to win! If you want to read a book that came out 20 years ago? Super! Get after it. In the meantime, check out how great STEERING TOWARD NORMAL sounds. Don’t tease me with 4-H.
Book cover Steering Toward Normal Rebecca Petruck

Eighth grade is set to be a good year for Diggy Lawson: He’s chosen a great calf to compete at the Minnesota State Fair, he’ll see a lot of July, the girl he secretly likes at 4-H, and he and his dad Pop have big plans for April Fool’s Day. But everything changes when classmate Wayne Graf’s mother dies, which brings to light the secret that Pop is Wayne’s father, too. Suddenly, Diggy has a half brother, who moves in and messes up his life. Wayne threatens Diggy’s chances at the State Fair, horns in on his girl, and rattles his easy relationship with Pop.
What started out great quickly turns into the worst year ever, filled with jealousy, fighting, and several incidents involving cow poop. But as the boys care for their steers, pull pranks, and watch too many B movies, they learn what it means to be brothers and change their concept of family as they slowly steer toward a new kind of normal.

Enter to win this awesome book and some extra goodies!

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Happy Reading, friends!!

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Adventures Through Awkwardness | April | Historical Fiction

Apr 15

middle grade challenge

Adventures Through Awkwardness: Historical Fiction!

Sorry that this post is late, friends. WAHHH! HOST FAIL! Please don’t take it to mean that I don’t love historical fiction MGs as much as the next girl because, hello, I love them. I wish I read more of them, but I love them nonetheless.

You know the drill: You can read and review any middle grade historical fiction novel this month. It can be new or old. I’ve got a few recs comin’ atcha, and at the end of the month (or maybe a little later because I took too long to get this post up), one lucky winner will get their pick of one of them! YAY!

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Adventures Through Awkwardness: Fantasy February

Feb 3

middle grade challengeAdventures Through Awkwardness: Fantasy February!

Welcome, friends, to month 2 of Adventures Through Awkwardness Middle Grade Challenge! Congrats on a great January!

For February, we’re focusing on one of my very favorite genres: Fantasy. Nothing quite like jumping into a made-up world with magic, dragons, and MAPS. WORD.

As always, you can choose ANY middle grade fantasy to read and review this month. It can be new, it can be old. If you’re looking for some recommendations of what to read this month, here’s some of my personal favorites!

Book cover The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom Christopher Healy

 The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom: League of Princes #1 by Christopher Healy

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be. {Goodreads}

Book Cover Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1 by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school… again. And that’s the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he’s angered a few of them. Zeus’ master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus’ stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves. {Goodreads}

Book cover Fablehaven Brandon MullFablehaven: Fablehaven #1 by Brandon Mull

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite … Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most. {Goodreads}

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What are YOU going to read for this month’s challenge? Let us know in the comments (where you can link up your reviews, too)!

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Adventures Through Awkwardness: 2014 Middle Grade Challenge!

Jan 6

middle grade challenge

Adventures Through Awkwardness: 2014 Middle Grade Challenge

As you all may or may not know, I think middle grade is just the bees knees. So does my girl Lisa. There’s just something so endearing and awesome about younger kids going on adventures and living through growing pains and beginning to learn how to make their own mark on the world. Those little whipper snappers just make me laugh and cry and cheer so hard!

So, because Lisa and I love all things middle grade so much, we’ve decided to put together this super challenge for 2014! We’d be beyond jazzed if you joined us. The rules are simple, and we’ve got some fun twists on typical reading challenges, so without further ado, here’s standard operating procedure for Adventures Through Awkwardness: 2014 Middle Grade Challenge!

(PS. Grab that cute little button over there if you want to join in!)

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