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Today, I'm donating my copy of Skulduggery Pleasant:

Skulduggery Pleasant is an action movie of a book*. As with most action movies, I didn't really get attached to any of the characters. I LIKED them, and lots of them (especially, of course, Skulduggery) were really COOL, but I was never particularly worried about who'd live and who'd die. But remember -- it's an action movie of a book. All that really matters is whether or not it's fun.

It is. 

I love this one so much that it kills me a little bit to let this one go... but as it was featured so prominently on my Percy Jackson readalikes list, I felt that it Needed To Happen. Anyway, I shall dry my tears, because I know it'll be appreciated, and this will give me an excuse to put the rest of the series on my library wishlist!

And even though I haven't been posting about it as regularly, my Donate A Book A Day vow has not faltered: most recently, I handed over Beauty Queens and Glass and Ten Things I Hate About Me.

Today, I'm donating the first two books in the Worst Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure series, Everest and Mars.

While I haven't read them—as much as I love Choose Your Own Adventure-style books, I just never found the time—I can't really image two franchises MORE well-suited to a mash-up than CYOA and The Worst-Case Scenario Handbooks.

Granted, this isn't technically a case of two franchises teaming up, as it's just CYOA-STYLE, and not CYOA-BRAND, but you know what I mean.

Oh, and while I've been remiss in posting about it, my Donate A Book A Day vow has not faltered! On the days I didn't post, I donated Proxy, The Beautiful and the Cursed, and The Secret Ingredient.

Today, I'm donating* my copy of Paul Griffin's Burning Blue:

Burning Blue is a one-sitting book: it’s tight, it’s tense, and it’s intellectually as well as emotionally compelling. Jay’s voice echoes the rhythm and understated humor of old-school noir heroes—I wasn’t exactly sure how, but she reminded me of me. In spite of that, I liked her—but without ever sounding unrealistic or campy. Two thumbs way up, and while it’s not eligible for a 2012 Cybils Award, I have no doubts that it’ll be in the running next year.

And now, re-reading what I wrote about it, I'm remembering how much I enjoyed it... and I'm suddenly wanting to re-read. If I ever have the time, GOOD THING I'LL KNOW JUST WHERE TO FIND IT!

I haven't read any of his other books, but based on my reaction to this one, I should. Any recommendations?

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*In case you missed it, I took over the running of my town library at the beginning of the month, and every day that I've worked, I've donated a book.

Today, I'm donating* my copy of Sarah Zettel's Dust Girl:

I loved everything on the inside of Dust Girl. It’s a great read, full stop. It’s not ultra deep by any means, but it’s thrilling, thoughtful, imaginative and fun. The basic premise is a familiar one—girl discovers that she’s half-fairy and also the main player in a major prophecy—but it still feels fresh. A good part of that is due to Callie’s engaging, honest voice. She also uses enough idiom and slang to create a ’30s flavor, but never so much that she feels over-the-top or forced

I'm donating a copy of the hardback, which has the cover I've included in this post, but check out the artwork on the paperback: looks like Random House paid attention to the negative chatter about the original cover. So that's heartening.

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*In case you missed it, I took over the running of my town library at the beginning of the month, and every day that I've worked, I've donated a book.

I noticed earlier this week that we have no John Green books in the collection. Which seems like a slight oversight.

So, today, I'm donating* my copy of The Fault in Our Stars:

You know what got me about The Fault in Our Stars more than anything else? What made me, on more the one occasion, laugh out loud even while I was bawling**? It wasn't the witty banter or the poetry or the philosophizing or the mullings-over of mortality. It was Hazel's empathy.

I'm sure I have the others around somewhere at home; I'll have to keep my eyes peeled...

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*In case you missed it, I took over the running of my town library at the beginning of the month, and every day that I've worked, I've donated a book.

Today, I'm donating* Starcrossed, by Josephine Angelini:

The Greek god connection is fun, there are lots of unexpected twists in the plotting, and Helen's best friend is THE SHIT. (<--I don't say that lightly. I had my doubts about her at first, but ultimately, she is made of awesome.) And lastly, I thought Angelini did a great job of Helen and Lucas rolling their eyes at the selfishness of Helen and Paris all of those centuries ago—until they both realize just how much it sucks to fall in love with someone it's impossible to be with.

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*In case you missed it, I took over the running of my town library at the beginning of the month, and every day that I've worked, I've donated a book.

This is another case in which I'm donating an item that I haven't reviewed... because while I certainly paged through it and laughed like a loon, the contents of Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book don't really allow for any sort of thoughtful review. 

NUTSHELL: If you enjoy the Grumpy Cat meme, you'll enjoy the book, if you don't, it'll just make you grumpy.

Anyway, while it made me (and Josh, who flipped through it as well) laugh, it's not the sort of book that has a whole lot of re-read potential.

I suspect, though, that it'll have a happy (or, well, satisfyingly grumpy) home in the YA section of the library.

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*In case you missed it, I took over the running of my town library last week, and every day that I've worked, I've donated a book. For instance.

As I've said before, I don't do audiobooks.

If I was capable of listening to them without driving myself off of a cliff like Toonces, though, THESE WOULD TOTALLY BE THE ONES I'D LISTEN TO.

Because, OH MY GOD.

Matilda, narrated by Kate Winslet?

The BFG, narrated by David Walliams?

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, narrated by MORIARTY?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, narrated by the actor who's currently playing Willy Wonka in the musical?

FREAKING. SWOON.

There are a bunch of others in the series, too, performed by a Who's Who of cool UKians: Peter Serafinowicz, Richard Ayoade, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig, Chris O'Dowd, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, OH MY GOD, THE WONDROUSNESS OF IT ALL!!

ANYWAY. I have no doubt whatsoever that some of my patrons*—young AND old AND in-between—are about to get super-duper happy.

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*In case you missed it, I took over the running of my town library last week, and every day that I've worked, I've donated something. For instance.

Today, I'm donating* Rival, by Sara Bennett Wealer:

The girls take turns narrating their story in the present and the past, providing both perspectives on the arc of their friendship. Rival is a solid contemporary YA drama: Brooke and Kathryn have distinct voices and they're both flawed yet relatable. Sara Bennett Wealer deals with both characters fairly: They both do some really rotten things and some really decent things. Even better, she never tips the balance: It never feels like one character is supposed to be more In The Right than the other. Because of that, I never chose one to root for -- and never even wanted to -- which is a rare (and welcome) thing when it comes to this sort of story.

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*In case you missed it, I took over the running of my town library last week, and every day that I've worked, I've donated a book. Or two.