Hai guys! This will be the first time I have ever done an "end of year book survey." This survey was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner. The link to original is at the end of this post, so keep reading! :D

Best in Books

Best book(s) you read in 2013?
Historical Fiction: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Nonfiction: Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook by Ellen Potter
Realistic Fiction: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Alternatively, Who Done It? edited and composed by Jon Sciezka.

Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

Best series you discovered in 2013?
Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer Hands DOWN.

Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
JOHN GREEN. and Jodi Picoult too, but I think I started reading her books in 2012.

Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross.

Book you read in 2013 that you most likely to re-read next year?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Also, The Truth About Forever, because I reread everything that I really love. I'll reread the first one more though, as I actually own a copy of it.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

Most memorable character in 2013?
Erm. Hmm.... I simply can't choose!! D:

Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Mehh honestly I don't know.

Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard.

Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. I know right?! It's so cute though.

Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2013?
"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities."
-The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

Shortest and longest book you read in 2013?
Shortest: Cheer Skills: Beginning Tumbling and Stunting by Jen Jones (32 pages)
Longest: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (544 pages)

Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it? (A WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, ETC).
Definitely Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley.

Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc.)
too many to name, but I shall name a few:

Jase x Samantha

Macy x Wes

Kate x Anna (sibling bond)


Favorite book you read in 2013 from an author you've read previously?
I guess either A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass or The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech.

Best book you read in 2013 that you read SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?

None?

Genre you read the most from in 2013?
Realistic Fiction, for sure. It's basically all that I read nowadays. I tend to stay away from fantasy, although I'm not sure why. I don't think I've had a very positive experience with fantasy books in general. I mean, I have, like Harry Potter and all that, but still.

Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Jase! From My Life Next Door. <333

Best 2013 debut you read?
Ack... I think I've only read one 2013 debut... Seeing Cinderella.

Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis. I loved how realistic he made it.

Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2013?
UGHHH I don't know. I don't read emotional books anymore ;_; no but mostly I'm just oddly unaffected by books, however well written. Maybe The Book Thief by Markus Zusak?

Book you read in 2013 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. Seriously. Soo good. Although, I guess, the plot may come off as a bit cliche.

Book blogging/Reading life in 2013

New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013?
Because I just found it and got addicted to it, Saru's blog over at To read or not to read? I also simply adore her blog design.


Favorite review that you wrote in 2013?
Urmm....... Sequins, Secrets, and Silver Linings, by Sophia Bennett.

Best discussion you had on your blog?*BURSTS INTO TEARS* I don't have discussions on my blog :'(

Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog?
No idea. Something that I saw on Goodreads....

Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Hrmm. HRMM. I don't know, because I rarely participate in anything. Yeah, my reading life is almost nonexistent :D

Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?
Whenever I get a new comment on a post. :)

Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Pfft. For comments, it was my post about "Thank You!!!
For views, it was --WHAT!?!??!?!?!?!-- my review of The Danger Box by Blue Balliett. I only just posted it like, last month!!!! Wowzas.

Post you wished got a little more love?
Each :)

Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Goodreads :)

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Well.... the simple answer is no. I completed only 2/3 of my goal :(

Looking Ahead...

One book you didn't get to in 2013 but will be your number one priority in 2014?
Ugh! It's not that I "didn't get to it", it's just that I wasn't able to finish it! I guess audiobooks just really aren't for me. :(


Book you are most anticipating for 2014 (non-debut)?
Hrmm. Wait a second, I got this.... Cress by Marissa Meyer!


2014 debut you are most anticipating?
I can't see any on my immediate list...uh oh! I have to change that! Any books you guys recommend I look out for?


Series ending you are most anticipating in 2014?
Nothing?


One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2014?
Read more~!! Since I don't really have access to a library here, it's pretty hard for me to catch up on reading :(


Happy New Year everyone! Don't forget to check out the original post here at The Perpetual Page-Turner!

The Danger Box by Blue Balliett :)

The Danger Box by Blue Balliett
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Danger Box. Ahhh <3
Just kidding.

i picked up this book when I saw it at the library for a number of reasons:

1) Ooh that's an...... interesting cover. Rather reminds me of this one, another personal favorite:
2) Ooh Blue Balliett!!!! I read her book Chasing Vermeer and thoroughly enjoyed it in fourth grade and I assumed that that meant that her other books were all equally entertaining. Alas!
3) Ahh the blurb is so.... intriguing!
4) Omg dat TITLE~! It just sounds amazing and interesting and VERY mysterious.

So there were a lot of things that I felt had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it didn't work out quite as well as I had hoped it would.

Firstly, the main character, Zoomy, is the son of an alcoholic and a migrant worker. His father is the alcoholic, Buckeye, and he did not claim Zoomy, leaving him under the care of his parents (Zoomy's grandparents). "Zoomy" turns out to be the name of Buckeye's childhood 'invisible friend.' I felt like that concept could be developed a little more, like maybe some special link with Buckeye's childhood friend that becomes a special link between estranged father and son.

Secondly, Zoomy has pathological myopia (he's legally blind), so he wears incredibly thick glasses. This does affect the way he sees, as mentioned in the blurb; but, it doesn't play as big of a role as I had hoped it would, nor is the 'affected way he sees' the way I had anticipated, either. Surely he is almost blind, but most of the time anything related to his eyesight comes up it's usually when he's saying "I can't see! What's going on?" or some other version of that.

Also, I never really understood what the Danger Box really was. In the preface in the beginning of the book, something about "Everyone has their own Danger Box" was mentioned, which really heightened my hopes, but in the end, it seems that the Danger Box is just a box full of treasures and memories?

Additionally, the plot was disorganized, for the most part. I would have liked to know more about Lorrel, the "mysterious girl who doesn't fit in", and her family, as well as her life before in the city.

Really, my major disappointment was that it was never really clear what (view spoiler)[ the "players" hired by "Mr. Zip" were hired to do. (hide spoiler)] It had all sounded so thrilling, so exciting, so mysterious, in the beginning of the book, but then it really fell flat for me.

However, I would probably consider reading "The Wright 3" and "The Calder Game" just because I thoroughly enjoyed "Chasing Vermeer" and those books are (i think?) sequels to it.



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