This blog is for Missouri State Library staff members to record their books read for the annual Missouri Book Challenge.
Welcome to the MOSL Book Challenge
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Power of Pen and Voice by Melanie Cellier
The magic system is still really cool
268 Pages
Monday, September 20, 2021
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Eeeeeek!
What a ride. Happy, sad, compelling, suspenseful, thought-provoking, enjoyable.
478 pages
Plot Twist by Bethany Turner
Curse these romance novels having me ship one way and then making me ship another ship.
I LIVE for Clark Kents. I love them.
...y'all...I do not appreciate being attacked like this...Yes I have a messy bun and I always look meh because I'm a writer, not an actor. You're not wrong. But still.. Rude.
Liam is just. Yes.
All the movie references.
336 Pages
Friday, September 17, 2021
The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
You ever just look at someone and think "Idiot"
The tiger. Just. Yes
I love my babies.
And these tropes. These tropes are fantastic.
Javelin. Just. Like. Yes.
Pterodactyl screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech.
It's the yearning for me.
When they hint at a mythology but don't ever like confirm it...like I love it and hate it. Gimme more.
....Can I please have an Arin please...because like....what he does when he's stressed, and he just starts fixing things like....
Anyone else want a modern day band AU...or something...anyways.
496 Pages
The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
Miscommunication is so frustrating, but like...the angst that comes from it...so good.
Wt frick kind of ending is that. Rude.
432 Pages
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
Arin's great. I love him
Alexa play "The Ten Duel Commandments"
I'm just going to be over here, having feelings and stuff
The Remnant Chronicle/Dance of Thieves vibes. Slaps.
384 Pages
Thursday, September 16, 2021
The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
And at the end, Solomon reminds me of another Lord of the Rings character
It was kind of hard for me to get into because like...no Nathaniel....
416 Pages
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Anyone else getting Attack on Titan vibes....just me....
Hiss hiss Kitty cat
Oh there's a ship.
432 Pages
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy."
Eeeeek, the romantic build-up and pay off was enjoyable!
The payoff to the timeloop however was a bit of a let down. Boo.
307 pages
The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer
Also can we talk about OCD and paranoia and multiple personality and psychosis, and how debilitating it can be, and how important it is to be supportive of someone who has it....just me..ok cool
Are we just going to ask like...that....never happened...if there's a weird love triangle in the last book.... wait is that why the twins get a series, so we can see cameos....
384 Pages
Monday, September 13, 2021
The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
Artemis being a brother. Just. Perfect. I love him.
"Plotting music. I need plotting music." Mood
No. 1!!!!
Mulch!
We really do be bringing new meaning to self-hatred.
480 Pages
Sunday, September 12, 2021
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
As the Civil War draws to a close, Landry and Prentiss, brothers born into slavery, take refuge on the homestead of George and Isabelle Walker as they try and make their way north, seeking their mother, who had been sold years ago. When George stumbles across the boys, he hires them to help him install a crop of peanuts, hoping the work will numb the grief of the loss of his only child to the war.
The forbidden romance of two Confederate soldiers also plays out in the town of Old Ox. The men meet in the woods and, when their secret is discovered, chaos ensues and culminates in murder. The repercussions are greater—for both of them—than either could have ever guessed.
In the aftermath of this grief and chaos, Isabelle is thrust to the forefront as the unlikely leader, whose strength results in a vision set to heal both the land and its citizens.
368 pages.
Friday, September 10, 2021
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Summary: "No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.
In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive."
Holy moly. What a ride. Darker than I expected.
I love any book that can truly surprise me.
416 pages
They'll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman
Babe you deserve better. You can easily do better.
....was I this stupid as a teenager...am I this stupid....
look at all the things y'all will need to go to therapy for.
....You could throw a rock and find a better guy
336 Pages
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Wait. Edith Wharton. THE Edith Warton?
meh. like. meh
352 Pages
Thursday, September 9, 2021
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
"I was born knowing how to do three things: how to breathe, how to dream, and how to love you" bro. Just. Marry me right now.
I'm here for the boys. And Lore.
Also this whole concept. slaps.
480 Pages
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith
....I don't know which ship to root for.
Some of these witches...They must really like bees...
I has bad feeling.
oh fuuuuuuuu
sigh. I just like. I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.
448 Pages
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Friday, September 3, 2021
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
Can I please have some good fanart. Because we all know that Nathaniel Nevell-ed up. Also. my ship.

512 Pages
The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
Can Artemis please have some background music when he's saving the day, please...because like..
I think this is the last one that I actually read so like...the cliffhanger
432 Pages
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Beast Boy: Teen Titans #2 by Kami Garcia, Illustrated by Gabriel Picolo
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
I'm hyped for Beast Boy Loves Raven!
208 pages
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schnrefer
Ok so boy is thirsty.
PUT YOUR OWN MASK ON BEFORE HELPING OTHERS. HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN IN A PLANE AND HEARD THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SAY THAT.
I see that Greek root word
I see you referencing Star Wars and quoting them with that "flare for dramatic" bit
WHAT
Well we all know that I have a lot of feelings. and uh. yeah.
432 Pages


