Welcome to the MOSL Book Challenge


Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Blue Period Volume 1 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

Ok but a high school student pursuing his interest in art, and having support and teachers, and like...ways to improve.... I'm not crying.
and like...having an art club that pushes the members to really improve their art....like.... I can't. 

"Writing off the thing you love like it's just a hobby sounds like something only grown-ups would do, don't you think?" Cries. Cries. Cries. 

The art style is gorgeous, btw...like. sfjkdssfjkld 
224 Pages 

Friday, September 16, 2022

Physik by Angie Sage

DRAGON baby. I love him. He love food and we love him for that.
"even when I'm really old? like when I'm 30" dead. I'm dead Septimus. 
576 Pages

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I Lin

The pacing was kind of slow for like....85% of the book.
But I love that we got Kan's (spelling cause I can't remember his name rn) perspective.
The food descriptions and the magic system.
Part of me like....wishes that they had filled out the story between the last chapter and the epilogue...cause there was emotional potential there.
352 Pages

The King Will Kill You by Sarah Henning

I love the cover. Like. A lot. And I love my boy Luca...just let him sleep tho
Ferdinand being described as an ox/bull. haha
The stakes didn't feel high enough. I wasn't having a pnaic attack, so like...
Was I waiting for a specific Princess Bride quote...yes. Cause like...
they had the scene that happens right before it.
368 Pages

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R.F. Kaung

Fantasy Victorian England with characters that aren't white. Sign me up. lezzgo.
Shots fired at Charles Dickens
Shots fired at the white person's flavor palette
"If tobacco smelled like [books] he'd huff it every day" Mood.

Let's go off about the Industrial Revolution. I. am. here. for. it. 
"It's French. Latin's flimsiest daughter"
"there's no novelist writing about the effect of opium on Chinese families" haha. I see you, RF Kuang.
When one of the quote's is Victor Hugo. 
ALSO THERE ARE FOOTNOTES.
Literally. Chef's kiss. Perfection. I am not worthy of R.F. Kuang and her brilliance. fjkldsfjildsafjklds I can't. I just can't. The commentary. The history. The language. fjkldsasfjkld Send help. 
560 Pages

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

 

Pages: 321

"The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives."

This 'Not History Book' did an amazing job at providing an accessible overview of the history of racism and antiracism and how it has influenced its current state. I would definitely recommend this to anyone as a starting point. It is aimed at middle to highschool age, but I think adults will benefit from reading this too, and may want to read the original Stamped for more details.

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

 Pages: 541

"To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters. As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?"

Soo many reveals in this book! The ending had me crying and I was left wondering what the next three books are going to be about. They left one loose end and I am curious to see how it plays out. I really enjoyed this one and I am hoping the books keep improving as the series goes.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory


 Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing right out of college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, living at home, still an editorial assistant, and the only Black employee at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be?

But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn't there before.

So freaking cute you guys!!!

pages: 320

The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas

The wording and phrasing is just off enough that it bugs me. Because my brain predicts a word, and then it isn't that word.
If we spend the entire book talking about his arms, istg
Y'all doing Ashton dirty...
"Out of Reception" sure that's why two people on their honeymoon aren't answering their cell phones.
....He started in Portland, rented a car in New Orleans, and then drove to Phoenix....like...that.....

Omigod they were roommates
Ok but men making bread.
Character referencing the gaga gif:

Ok so like.... If we could just get rid of Lina, everything would be perfect.
Also it felt a little bit like a writer self-insert where she just posts her diary, but I have no room to judge cause that's my NANOWRIMO project, basically, but with dragons. 
400 Pages



Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne

Angelika's I mean. Victor's inventions around the house.
I love Will. Too pure.

Iykyk
Belladonna and Runt fanclub forever. I LOVE THEM AND WILL ADOPT THEM.
So there's a part that makes me uncomfy for ..reasons..that I won't go into, but it's in England, so it's fine. 
Y'all....I cried...
Also the name drop in the epilogue. 
384 Pages



Monday, September 12, 2022

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Wililams

I am weeping. Hysterically. I don't want to talk about it.  
Do I have a favorite favorite character. Yes.
Also the Oxford English Dictionary and like...the common person's dictionary. Lezgo. 
416 Pages

Friday, September 9, 2022

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford

fhdjfdsklaskld
I just want my babies to be happy... cries
Also like. I am here for talking about trauma, especially trauma that is passed on through generations.
All the history and research. 
384 Pages

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Ok but Jamie the librarian. We love him. He's me, but cooler, because he works with magical texts. 
gfjdskljsjklfgdkl;
the found family.
Also like....talking about trauma and accepting love and being vulnerable, and I can't.
Like. there was a section that reminded me of the speech from 2015 Cinderella and like sfjkdla
336 Pages

The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson

Me connecting the dots because the hints being dropped. 
We love Esme
Also we love characters that look scary from far away but are big sweethearts
I'm not crying, you're crying.
368 Pages

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller

Ok but the magic system and the characters and the fact that we have a character with crippling social anxiety...I'm just like... sfjkldfjklds
The characters are really funny--and I love seeing how they interact with each other, and I love the magic concept and I can't. 
Kellyn is cool. No one is surprised. 

Petrick--cute little nerd:

ARE YOU HOW DID I MISS THAT
352 Pages





Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Jamie and Claire hanging out in 1750s France.
me: knowing about the French salons and how they were the hubs of intellectual conversation....gimme plz.
I love Fergus so much.
y'all it took me so long to read this, and I like...forgot that stuff happened. 
I have feelings. And like. I can't.
768 Pages

Bronze Drum: A Novel of Sisters and War by Phong Nguyen

All of the crying emojis.
All. of. the. crying. emojis.
The two sisters and their love stories. cries.
400 Pages

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer

Literally the first chapter with Chris gave me anxiety because the fear of breakfast going horribly wrong and the parent and child relationship.
We love Chris. He's cool. 
I really liked that we got to see a character with GAD and her coping mechanisms. And like....someone who validates the coping mechanisms, no matter how weird they seem to be.
Single dad with a preteen girl shenanigans. We love it. 
I feel like that the relationship was rushed--in the sense that the characters thought a lot of things about the other, but they never really said anything to each other, and then they were saying "I love you"
Sooooo I'm like....mildly upset because it could have been steamier....
Like... it was hinted and then never brought up. THERE WAS POTENTIAL.
416 Pages

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane

And they were roommates.
We stan characters getting out of toxic relationships and stuff.
fjidssfjkldsa
Calllllllllll
Also Harriet is a wedding photographer and that's just...feels. fdjklssfdjkla
416 Pages

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean

dfjskl;jsafl;jafhjksla
My ship.
Y'all I was so stressed. 
I just....love the characters. 
336 Pages

Friday, September 2, 2022

The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino

Ok but the devil and Phantom of the Opera vibes
And the academic vibes fsjkdlsjksfdsfjkldkk
dskalfjl;jklfsdaklj;fdsaj;
368 Pages

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

 Pages: 453

"Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father."

Where to begin. I was surprised at the diversity in this book. It was published in 2008 when diversity in YA wasn't as big as it is now, making it a trailblazer in that regard. The tension and pacing was better in this book than the first, and we are finally getting some secrets answered. I am also shipping everyone together and I am hoping they all happen!