January Reading Wrap-Up!

What I Read In January!

Hey friends and family! I know I haven't updated you guys in a while but I definitely convinced myself that I had already written a back-to-school post, which apparently I didn't do. That's not what this post is for though, I will write a school update post tomorrow! I'm writing tonight to tell y'all about what I read in January! I ended up reading 7 books and overall it was a great reading month! These are in order of how I read them this past month. ~Em

Summary: Simon is a high school student who has been hiding that he is gay but is outed by someone at school. He has been emailing a boy that goes to his school and wants to protect his growing relationship with this anonymous boy. This book was so cute and Becky Albertalli writes teenagers very accurately! I'm excited (yet a little skeptical) about the movie coming out this year called "Love, Simon." Rating: 4/5

 Summary: Lazlo Strange is a librarian who has a passion for a lost city called Weep. No one besides Lazlo really believes that Weep still exists but he is dedicated to researching it. One day some leaders from Weep arrive in Lazlo's city in search of delegates to help them with a special task. It is an adventure/journey story filled with an amazing magic system. I LOVED THIS BOOK! This is definitely a new favorite for me. I loved Laini Taylor's writing style and have never rooted for a romantic couple as much as I rooted for the main couple in this story. I can't wait for the sequel to come out! Rating: 5/5

 Summary: This was the first book I read for school this semester, which was for my directed study. This book gives C. Wright Mills' views on how social sciences should be pursued. I struggled a lot with this read because it was written quite a long time ago and the views of how social sciences should be studied is dated and haven't really aged well. Rating: 2/5

 Summary: This was the second I read for my directed study. In this book, we get the story of the death of Abraham Lincoln's son, Willie. The story is told from the perspectives of various ghosts in the cemetery where Willie is buried and also has parts that are told from different works that have already been published. The story was great and I loved the way it was written. I have never read anything like it. Rating: 4/5

 Summary: Caitlin Doughty tells many different stories about her experiences working in a crematorium and gives great lessons about life, death, and what to expect. This was funny, emotional, and just overall a great read. This was another book for my directed study as well. Rating: 4/5

 Summary: This was the last book I read this month for my directed study and is really hard to explain. It follows the perspectives of JoJo, Leonie, and a ghost named Richie on a trip to get Leonie's boyfriend, Michael after he gets out of jail. It explores racism, drug addiction, dysfunctional families, and many other controversial topics. I didn't really like this one. I found Leonie to be a highly unlikable character with no redeeming qualities and it was just overall tough to read. Rating: 3/5

Summary: Mary Lennox, a spoiled brat who has lived in India her whole life. has to move in with her uncle after both of her parents die. She is well taken care of at her uncle's place but there are many secrets kept from her. She grows bored of staying indoors and one day discovers a garden that has been unkempt and strives to bring it back to life. This is one of the only classic novels I have ever read and enjoyed. I got a beautiful edition with many wonderful pictures that made the reading experience even better. Rating: 5/5