Reading Roundup: April 2013

By the Numbers
Teen: 14
Tween: 6
Children: 7

Sources
Review Copies: 11
Purchased: 1
Library: 13

Standouts
Teen: Dark Trimph by Robin LaFevers
Yes, it is possible to get darker than Grave Mercy. Sybella has some nasty secrets in her past. If you can handle that, pick this up.
Tween: How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg
Short, self-contained chapters and plenty of gross details make this a natural for reluctant readers. Just don't read while eating. I can't emphasize this enough.
Children: 13 Planets: the latest view of the solar system
While the stuff about the classic nine planets was pretty old hat to me, it's presented in a quick and interesting way. And the newer planets (Eris, Ceres, and others) are downright fascinating.

Because I Want To Awards
Snarky Good Fun: Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
The first book by the Fug Girls had all the gleeful Hollywood sendups I expected, but with two strong and sympathetic protagonists, feeling their way toward being sisters to anchor the snark.
Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah Cliffhanger: Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Not so much a romance as a girl-finding-herself story, this book's last page made me shriek aloud.
Shut Up, I'm Busy Swooning: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
This sci-fi post-apocalyptic retelling of Austen's Persuasion (INORITE) was pretty fun for the chance to pick up similarities to the original. The next one is supposed to be based on The Scarlet Pimpernel. I'm so there.
Captures Middle-School Politics Perfectly: 33 Minutes by Todd Lasky
Sigh. Like the best middle-school books, this one reminds me why I wouldn't go back to that age of changing identities for any amount of money in the world. Extra points because this intensely interpersonal book is about two guy friends.
Loved the Family Dynamics: Tuesdays at the Castle and Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George
You don't know what you're missing until you see it. This book showcased a close and supportive family that worked together to fight off common enemies. In an age group that teems with evil adults and disdainful siblings, this was incredibly refreshing.