TinkerActive Workbooks: Kindergarten Science [Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway]

Hello! Welcome to the next stop on the Tinkeractive Workbooks blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this workbook with you! 

Title: TINKERACTIVE WORKBOOKS
Author: Various Authors & Illustrators
Pub. Date: May 14, 2019
Publisher: Odd Dot
Formats: Paperback
Pages: Differs per workbook
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD

Tinker, make, and engineer to learn through play! With TinkerActive Workbooks, learning leaps off the page and into the real world. Start with interactive and entertaining exercises that cover the essential kindergarten, 1st Grade, & 2nd Grade, math, science, and problem-solving skills. Then, apply what you’ve learned in exciting hands-on tinkering, making, and engineering activities that utilize only common household materials. Plus, the charming cast of characters, the MotMots, guide kids through every new concept with cheer and humor. Once you've completed the workbook, unbox a collectible magnet hidden in the back cover!

Vetted by award-winning educators, TinkerActive Workbooks are designed for all learners. They build your child’s fundamental math & science skills AND inspire them to try new things, discover new skills, and imagine new possibilities.

𑁋

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

My son and I both really love the TinkerActive Workbook, and have enjoyed completing many of the activities over the last week! He would actually ask me when we could choose a new activity from the book, instead of me trying to coax him into sitting still for more that five minutes. Since I received this for review, I let him randomly select the activities instead of starting from page one. I wanted to see what the workbook offered as a whole, and this method worked really well.

In addition to having to draw his thoughts, which is something he isn't used to doing, the TinkerActive Workbook includes many different experiments. They require very few materials, and most were items we already had around the house (water, paper, cotton balls, etc.). My son stumbled across an experiment for a small tornado, which was perfect after all of our storms last week. After receiving a tornado warning on my phone, and having to explain what that meant to him, he's been a little less impressed when he sees massive amounts of lighting and hears thunder that can also be felt. We used this opportunity to learn more about tornados, and what conditions allow them to form. It also provided him with an educational way to make one for himself, and we had a blast with the entire process!

I also really like how this workbook is formatted. The back is made like a children's board book, which meant we weren't confined to the table when we used it. It traveled in the car, to restaurants, the library (I always keep activities in my bag in case we have to wait somewhere), and the thicker backing really helped. Also, the pages are perforated, so we could easily hang up the activities he was proud of on the fridge. Although, I think he would have preferred putting stickers (included at the end of the workbook) on every available surface!

I know there's a magnet included at the end of the workbook, but I haven't made my son aware of that fact. I think it will make a nice little surprise once we've worked our way through the entire thing! Besides, we always need more magnets.

We've used a lot of workbooks in the past, and this one is a new favorite. We are really enjoying the activities, and I like how everything is presented. The TinkerActive Workbook was made to be used, and touches on a wide variety of materials. I'm already looking forward to future activities with my little loves. If you have children, even if they go to school, this is an excellent workbook to have around the house!

Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive their choice of one of the TINKERACTIVE WORKBOOKS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tour Schedule:

Week One:
5/20/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review- 1st Grade
5/21/2019- The suburban lifestyle- Review- 2nd Grade
5/22/2019- The Pages In-Between- Review- Kindergarten
5/23/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review- Kindergarten
5/24/2019- ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ- Review- Kindergarten

Week Two:
5/27/2019- 100 Pages A Day- Review- 1st Grade
5/28/2019- Wonder Struck- Review- 2nd Grade
5/29/2019- BookHounds- Review- 1st Grade
5/30/2019- Two Chicks on Books- Spotlight- All Workbooks
5/31/2019- Little Red Reads- Review- 2nd Grade 

My Weekly Pull [71] & Can't Wait Wednesday [41]

My Weekly Pull is something I do every Wednesday to show which comics I had pulled for me that week! If you're into comics, or you're looking to start, please join me! If you decide to do your own post, there's a link-up at the bottom. I would love to stop by and check it out!

Miles Morales Spider-Man #6 by Saladin Ahmed, Javi Garron, Marco D'Alfonso

War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #3 (of 5) by Clint McElroy, Andre Araujo, Valerio Schiti, David Curiel

Jacob's comics for the week!

Venom #14 by Cullen Bunn, Iban Coello, Max Lim

War of the Realms: Punisher #2 (of 3) by Gerry Duggan, Marcelo Ferreira, Juan Ferreya

War of the Realms: Strikeforce Land of Giants #1 by Tom Taylor, Jorge Molina

I didn't know Tom Taylor was writing War of the Realms: Strikeforce Land of Giants, so I might read that one from Jacob's list to see if it's something I'd like. I've really enjoyed Taylor's writing in the past, and I would love to see how he portrays characters like Luke Cage and Iron Fist. 

It's a pretty short list this week! My comics were starting to stack up again, so this gives me an opportunity to stay on top of them. Are you reading anything new this week?

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, that highlights upcoming releases that we're anticipating and excited to read. It's a spinoff of the feature Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Shatter the Sky (Shatter the Sky, #1)

by Rebecca Kim Wells

Expected publication: July 30th 2019

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Raised among the ruins of a conquered mountain nation, Maren dreams only of sharing a quiet life with her girlfriend Kaia—until the day Kaia is abducted by the Aurati, prophetic agents of the emperor, and forced to join their ranks. Desperate to save her, Maren hatches a plan to steal one of the emperor’s coveted dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold.

If Maren is to have any hope of succeeding, she must become an apprentice to the Aromatory—the emperor’s mysterious dragon trainer. But Maren is unprepared for the dangerous secrets she uncovers: rumors of a lost prince, a brewing rebellion, and a prophecy that threatens to shatter the empire itself. Not to mention the strange dreams she’s been having about a beast deep underground…

With time running out, can Maren survive long enough to rescue Kaia from impending death? Or could it be that Maren is destined for something greater than she could have ever imagined?

I love the synopsis for this book! Fighting for love? Fighting for love with dragons? Yes! Please!

*Share your My Weekly Pull post! Please leave the direct link to your My Weekly Pull post and not just your blog's URL. Thank you for participating and happy reading!

A Monster Like Me by Wendy S. Swore

Synopsis (via Goodreads): There are trolls, goblins, and witches. Which kind of monster is Sophie?

Sophie is a monster expert. Thanks to her Big Book of Monsters and her vivid imagination, Sophie can identify the monsters in her school and neighborhood. Clearly, the bullies are trolls and goblins. Her nice neighbor must be a good witch, and Sophie’s new best friend is obviously a fairy. But what about Sophie? She’s convinced she is definitely a monster because of the “monster mark” on her face. At least that’s what she calls it. The doctors call it a blood tumor. Sophie tries to hide it but it covers almost half her face. And if she’s a monster on the outside, then she must be a monster on the inside, too.

Being the new kid at school is hard. Being called a monster is even harder. Sophie knows that it’s only a matter of time before the other kids, the doctors, and even her mom figure it out. And then her mom will probably leave — just like her dad did.

Because who would want to live with a real monster?

Inspired by real events in the author’s life, A Monster Like Me teaches the importance of believing in oneself, accepting change, and the power of friendship.

"Oftentimes we fickle humans have fleeting wishes for a life not our own, but such superficial desires lead to discontent and unhappiness. Better to take heed of all the good in your life, and take nothing for granted. Look for the good and you will find it, no magic or wish required."

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

A Monster Like Me really captured what it's like to have a child's imagination. At one point, Sophie and Autumn were at the beach, and they imagined stone giants where others simply saw rocks. When they were underneath a willow tree, they believed they were battling a ferocious monster with webs and arms. It felt like an authentic portrayal of what children see when they look at the world. It's like they have a special lens when they're younger, and it was nice to be reminded of how magical even the most mundane items can be. Sophie has a talisman that could've easily been called junk, but it meant the world to her. It may have looked like mishmash to an adult, but every item she selected for it was special and unique.

Sophie's story also broke my heart. I can understand children teasing her about the mark on her face, but it really shocked me when adults were sometimes worse than their children. Something happens at the beginning of the book that felt totally unrealistic, and I made a note to say something about it in my review, but another blogger mentioned it was based on a real experience the author had. It still baffles me, because in my mind, adults should be responsible and kind, not verbally abusive and cruel. However, I know that there are some really rotten people in the world, so it shouldn't have been so surprising.

Despite my overall enjoyment of the book, I do have some quibbles regarding the story. One, I have no idea how old Sophie is supposed to be in this book. She can read, her mother also leaves her alone at the Farmer's Market (Sophie seems to know her way around), and she uses words my five-year-old doesn't know yet. Sophie still needs adult supervision when her mother goes on a date, but her mom left her home alone when she was pretending to be too sick to go to school. There was a lot of conflicting information that made it hard for me to place her age, and it's not specified anywhere within the story.

My second complaint would be the vocabulary. I believe this book was written for a younger audience, yet some of the words from Sophie's Big Book of Monsters were hard for me to pronounce. I had to Google a few of them to make sure I was reading them correctly (example: cireincròin), and there were a lot of different monsters and mythological creatures mentioned throughout the book. One of them was a constant in her life, and I still have no idea how she pronounced what she thought he was.

Speaking of the Big Book of Monsters, I loved the little excerpts at the beginning of each chapter. Sometimes Sophie's story would obviously tie into the reference, and other times it was a little harder to make the connection. After a few chapters, the excerpts started to take on a very motivational vibe. "Remember, dear reader, the truth these creatures will never understand: emotion is a powerful force, and while it is easy to use it to destroy, it is far nobler to build. Things once said, cannot be unsaid. Whether emotion-fueled rampages strike a city of millions or a single person’s heart, painful scars are left behind. And some scars are invisible to all except those who carry them."

As a whole, I really enjoyed this book. I think there were a lot of wonderful aspects, and the author gives you a lot to reflect on even as an adult. I wish Sophie's interactions with a counselor had been expanded on, but I'm happy that it was even mentioned. It seems unlikely that the counselor would have bought a gift to bribe Sophie, and the fact that she won the game seemed purely coincidental, but it was easy to overlook. At least her mom knew that her daughter needed to talk with someone that would be able to better understand what Sophie was thinking and feeling.

A Monster Like Me also shows what it's like to be an imperfect parent. Sophie's mother makes mistakes, but it's obvious she loves her daughter. She wants Sophie to have an easy life, and she doesn't want other people to bully or ridicule her child. I think her mother's reactions to other people added to Sophie's discomfort and embarrassment. Honestly, I didn't like her mother most of the time, because she saw Sophie's mark as something to be fixed, instead of loving her daughter with no reservations. I think if she'd been unbothered by other people's perceptions of Sophie, her daughter would have been more accepting of herself.

I tried to read this one to my five-year-old, but I don't think he's quite there yet. Although, I do think this will be an excellent book for children that can understand (and possibly relate to) the various concepts mentioned throughout the book. ISwore has written an incredibly impactful story that shows what's it like to be different, and how to accept and love those differences.

The Sunday Post [19]

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.

News:

Our washing machine is still broken, but I refuse to talk about it anymore, haha. The new new part came in, so we scheduled a time for them to replace it, but no one showed up. They're closed over the weekend, so I won't have any answers until Monday (this has been going on for nearly a month now).

It's been over a year, but I finally got a pedicure! I convinced my pseudo-parents to watch the little monsters for an hour or so, and they did a fun scavenger hunt while I was gone (and brought their nature finds home, haha). I love my kiddos, but it was lovely having a moment to myself. My feet look amazing, and I was able to read uninterrupted (mostly) for about an hour. Yay!

I've started really working out again (kickboxing and PIIT28), so I've been adjusting my eating habits this week (more green, less microwave). I'm a huuuuge fan of snacks, and could eat an entire bag of chips with salsa in one sitting, so I'm trying to keep healthier snack foods in the house. I'll spend forever making well-balanced meals for the kids, but then heat something up for myself. It's easier to do it that way, and faster (with the exception of dinner, which we all eat together).

I'm also staying on top of my review books, which has been amazing, and it's also given me time to read other books that I've neglected. I'm currently working my way through the backlogged books on NetGalley and made a lot of progress yesterday! Unfortunately, some of those were DNFs, but at least they're not just sitting there anymore. What does your NetGalley percentage look like? 

Previous week on the blog:

Sunday: The Sunday Post [18]

Monday: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Tuesday: Nothing! 

Wednesday: Nothing!

Thursday: My Weekly Pull [70] & Can't Wait Wednesday [40]

Friday: There's Something About Sweetie (Dimple and Rishi, #2) by Sandhya Menon ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Saturday: Mini Reviews [27]

What I'm currently reading:

Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, #3.5) by Marissa Meyer

Beware the Night (Beware the Night, #1) by Jessika Fleck

Star-Crossed by Minnie Darke

I finished The Lunar Chronicles earlier this year, and totally forgot to read Fairest before reading Winter. The audiobook was available through my library, and I decided it was finally time to fully finish the series. I doubt Levana's story will make me sympathetic, but it might offer some insight that would make me more understanding. Also, Rebecca Soler! She's an amazing narrator. 

What I plan on reading next: 

I Spy the Boy Next Door by Samantha Armstrong 

Girl Gone Viral by Arvin Ahmadi

Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum 

What I'm watching:

I've been keeping up with Game of Thrones, but I'm just so disappointed with this season. Everything feels rushed, which might be why certain things seem uncharacteristic. Does anyone know why they chose to do the final season in six episodes? Finales usually require more, right? 

I did love how they chose to end The Big Bang Theory! This show has been a part of my life for so long, it's crazy to think it's not going to be there anymore. Twelve years is insane! 

Challenge updates:

Audiobook Challenge: 21 / 30+
Beat the Backlist Challenge: 27 / 100
Discussion Challenge: 2 / 11-20
Q [6] Do you watch book trailers?
Q [7] Does the age of a character's love interest matter to you?
Goodreads Challenge: 162 / 500

I hope everyone is having an amazing weekend! Don't forget to enter the giveaway for All Our Broken Pieces by L.D. Crichton. :)

Mini Reviews [27]

Daredevil (#1-4) by Chip Zdarsky, 

Marco Checchetto (Illustrator), 

Julian Tedesco (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): KNOW FEAR.

My husband loves Daredevil. I've lost track of how many times he's re-watched the series on Netflix, but I do know it's a ridiculous number. We watched the first two seasons together, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't something I was itching to see again. However, when I discovered Chip Zdarsky was writing the new series, I was curious. I've really liked some of his other work, and wanted to see his version of the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. 

Zdarsky didn't disappoint! I'm already weirdly addicted to this darker version of Matt Murdock and what that means for future issues. Matt has been struggling with his identity and his place in the world for a while now, and I like that the author not-so-gently pushed him over an invisible line. Matt's going to face some hard truths, and who is more honest than Frank Castle? Honestly, I'm more partial to Frank's sense of justice, and I'm not sure what that says about me. It's hard to disagree with him when Matt fights the same enemies over and over again, and Frank only fights them once.

I'm curious what role Detective North will continue to play, since he seems to have issues with both Daredevil and Fisk. Also, Daredevil's attire at the end of the fourth issue was badass, and hopefully foreshadows an ever darker version of the Devil and what he's capable of. However, I disagree with his treatment of Frank after what Castle did for him. Jerk.

⳼

Spider-Man: Life Story (#1-2) by Chip

Zdarsky, Mark Bagley (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): In 1962, in AMAZING FANTASY #15, 15-year-old Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and became the Amazing Spider-Man! Fifty-seven years have passed in the real world since that event — so what would have happened if the same amount of time passed for Peter as well? A special high-end limited series that’s a part of the celebration of Marvel’s 80th anniversary, SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY combines the talents of Chip Zdarsky (SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, MARVEL 2-IN-ONE) and Mark Bagley (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN) to tell the entire history of Spider-Man from beginning to end, set against the key events of the decades through which he lived! In this first oversized issue, when Flash Thompson is drafted to serve during the Vietnam War, Spidey must weigh the question of where his responsibility truly lies!

Clearly I'm on a Chip Zdarsky kick, and I'm totally okay with that! I've read the first two issues of Spider-Man: Life Story and really enjoyed them both. We get to see how Peter Parker would have reacted to problems over the span of a few decades. Does he join the war because he has powers and could really help, or does his involvement only perpetuate the problem? It was interesting to see Peter's moral dilemma as Spider-Man, and seeing him question himself made him even more relatable.

I've always liked Spider-Man, and I hate that his life has always been so hard and full of heartache. He's trying to live his life as Peter Parker, but also save people as Spider-Man, and sometimes one negatively impacts the other. I hate that happiness doesn't seem to last long for Peter, and Zdarsky makes that very apparent at the end of the second issue (this author likes to write dirty). Give Peter some love, Chip! You know he deserves it.

⳼

Miles Morales: Spider-Man (#1-5) by

Saladin Ahmed, Javier Garron Illustrator),

Brian Stelfreeze (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Balancing his normal life, school, parents, etc…and super-heroing has never been easy, but when the Rhino and a cadre of mysterious criminals start plaguing Brooklyn, things take a dark turn. And Miles doesn’t even know the half of it yet. Eisner Award-winner Saladin Ahmed (BLACK BOLT) and Young Gun Javier Garrón (ANT-MAN & THE WASP) bring you the latest incarnation of the coolest character in the Marvel Universe!

Saladin Ahmed is a new favorite! His writing is phenomenal, and he's made Miles Morales completely relatable. He even manages to address real world problems within the comic, and it makes you really think about the world we live in. I know some people like to read to escape, but Ahmed makes it clear that you cannot avoid the hard realities happening all around us.

Miles is an amazing character that's dealing with school, friends, and even a love interest. He also has two parents that love and accept him and his secrets. They just want him to be happy and responsible. I like that they're being supportive, even though their child is constantly putting himself in danger. He's Spider-Man, and that isn't an easy life to live. Also, Miles may be a different version of Spider-Man, but they're both sarcastic and like to be witty when fighting bad guys.

Miles is your typical teenager, but with superpowers, so it's interesting to see how he chooses to handle problems. I really love everything they're doing with this comic and cannot wait to see what happens next!

⳼

West Coast Avengers #10 by Kelly Thompson,

Gang Hyuk Lim (Illustrator), 

Moy R (Illustrator) *FT

Synopsis (via Goodreads): THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE BEAUTIFUL CONCLUDES! HAWKEYE and HAWKEYE lead the fight to save AMERICA CHAVEZ from a cult that believes she’s their prophesized chosen one who will lead them into the light — and also into victory — as they attempt a takeover of Los Angeles. But just as things look darkest, the team is joined by a mysterious and powerful new ally. Amid flying arrows and punching fists, relationships are both blossoming and being torn apart — what does it all mean for the future of the West Coast Avengers?!

Kelly Thompson is a goddess with brilliant ideas, and she knows how to tell a story. She weaves little threads that connect throughout a series, and now we'll never know what was going to happen with this one! I have so many questions about Kate's parents and Ramona's heritage. I wanted to see the relationships flourish or run their course. Despite the comic's untimely end, Thompson managed to leave this one on a high note with all the sarcasm and charm that I've come to love from these characters.

West Coast Avengers has been one of my all-time favorites, so I'm super bummed it was cancelled just like Thompson's All-New Hawkeye. Even though All-New Hawkeye ended in a positive place, there were still a lot of unanswered questions. However, the author managed to tie those loose ends into this new series, and things were going fantastically well! The team was growing, they had a place to call their own, and the characters were diverse and perfect. Gwenpool was back and as crazy as ever, both Hawkeyes were in this one (hell yes), and America was a fierce force to be reckoned with. I loved her relationship with Ramona. There were even siblings on the team! Seriously, this one had everything I wanted and I hate that it ended so soon after it started. Also, Jeff fighting vampires was the best! He was absolutely perfect for Gwen (and so was someone else...)!

The current arc was wrapped up, but it's clear Kate and crew had more adventures to go on. I look forward to seeing what Thompson does next, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that West Coast Avengers is brought back in the future (preferably the near future).

There's Something About Sweetie (Dimple and Rishi, #2) by Sandhya Menon

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After he’s dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.

The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.

Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?

𑁋

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I haven't read When Dimple Met Rishi, but now I really want to! They were mentioned a few times throughout this book, and now I'm curious about their story. There's Something About Sweetie was an impactful read that left me questioning myself as well as society. Sweetie is totally right, because "fat" isn't a bad word. Like she says, it's just the opposite of thin, and there's nothing wrong with that. 

I've struggled with my body and how it looks in the past, and my parents were a part of the problem. My mom would criticize me if I wore a shirt that showed my "pooch," and my dad would yell during softball games, "You could run faster if you unhitched that caboose!" In retrospect, I don't think my parents meant any harm, but their words were damaging. They made me question my weight and appearance, instead of being happy with the person I was. I could totally relate to Sweetie and her Sassy Sweetie Project. I wish I'd had her confidence in high school! 

Sweetie's relationship with her mother broke my heart. I wish her father had realized sooner that his daughter was hurting and stepped in, but more than that, I wish her mother would have defended her against verbal attacks and digs about her daughter's weight. She wanted to protect her daughter (usually by telling her not to eat this or wear that), but she would also let people say whatever they wanted about Sweetie's appearance and eating habits. 

Ashish was cocky and he knew it. Smoldering Ash? Hah! I really liked his group of friends and how supportive they were. Their friendship was easy and the result of many years spent together. I'm curious if Samir will get a book after this, because I think there needs to be a story about him and Pinky! Sweetie had great friends, too. They were encouraging and maybe a little too eager to fight on her behalf. 

Actually, that's my one quibble with this book... Sweetie's reaction to a perceived wrongdoing. I felt like she and her friends acted impulsively and out of character. I can understand why they would have been upset, but Sweetie jumped to conclusions without giving someone she trusted the benefit of the doubt. Instead, they did something completely unnecessary and over-the-top, and accomplished nothing. If anything, in that moment they were the ones being judgmental bullies. 

I really liked both Ashish and Sweetie's families! They wanted to be involved in their children's lives (maybe a little too much in some instances), but it was obvious they cared. The Patel's wanted Ashish to understand his culture, and the Nair's wanted their daughter to be accepted and not ridiculed (this was more her mother than her father). Parents do things out of love, but it doesn't always come across the right way.

There's Something About Sweetie was an encouraging story that will stick with me. Sweetie proved to everyone and herself, that she was perfect exactly the way she was. She loved herself and the life that she had, despite the ignorance of others. I think there were a lot of lessons to take away from this story, and believe a lot of people will be able to relate to the characters. 

My Weekly Pull [70] & Can't Wait Wednesday [40]

My Weekly Pull is something I do every Wednesday (yep, it's Thursday) to show which comics I had pulled for me that week! If you're into comics, or you're looking to start, please join me! If you decide to do your own post, there's a link-up at the bottom. I would love to stop by and check it out!

Firefly #6 by Greg Pak, Dan McDaid, Lee Garbett 

Transformers #5 by Brian Ruckley, Angel Hernandez, Andrew Griffith, Cachet Whitman

Spider-Man Life Story #3 (of 6) by Chip Zdarsky, Mark Bagely

Jacob's comics for the week!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder in Hell #3 by Mateus Santolouco, Kevin Eastman

Kick-Ass #14 by Steve Niles, Marcelo Frusin, Chris Burnham

Amazing Spider-Man #21 by Nick Spencer, Humberto Ramos

Daredevil #5 by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, Julian Totino Tedesco

Guardians of the Galaxy #5 by Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Jong-Ju Kim

War of the Realms #4 (of 6) by Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman, Aaron Kuder

War of the Realms Spider-Man & League of Realms #1 (of 3) by Sean Ryan, Nico Leon, Ken Lashley

War of the Realms Strikeforce War Avengers #1 by Dennis "Hopeless" Hallum, Kim Jacinto

I don't think my husband knows what it means to do something early, haha! He didn't send his pull list for this week until the wee hours of Wednesday morning, which left me zero time to create a post. He likes to procrastinate until the very last minute, and it drives me bananas. 

Firefly, Transformers, and Spider-Man Life Story are all comics that I'm really enjoying! Greg Pak has managed to recreate one of my favorite television shows with authentic characters and an enjoyable storyline. Transformers has completely started over, so we get to see the characters before they became the names we know today. Zdarksy is spinning an interesting perspective for Spider-Man, and I've really liked seeing how he would've lived during different decades.

I highly recommend all three of these comics! They're new-ish, so it wouldn't take very long to catch up! Also, I'm seriously considering giving everyone my husband's email, so we can make reminding him to send his list a group effort. ;) Once I have a little more time, I'm going to start reading Daredevil and Guardians of the Galaxy from his list. I'm not entirely sure what War of the Realms entails, but it looks interesting!

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, that highlights upcoming releases that we're anticipating and excited to read. It's a spinoff of the feature Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Last True Poets of the Sea 

by Julia Drake

Expected publication: October 1st 2019

FromastunningnewvoiceinYAliteraturecomesanepic,utterlyunforgettablecontemporarynovelaboutalostshipwreck,amissingpieceoffamilyhistory,andweatheringthestormsoflife.

"Profoundandpage-turning."
--MadelineMiller,#1NewYorkTimesbest-sellingauthorofCirce

TheLarkinfamilyisn'tjustlucky-theypersevere.Atleastthat'swhatVioletandheryoungerbrother,Sam,werealwaystold.WhentheLyricsankoffthecoastofMaine,theirgreat-great-great-grandmotherdidn'tdrownliketherestofthepassengers.No,Fideliaswamtoshore,fellinlove,andfoundedLyric,Maine,thetownVioletandSamreturnedtoeverysummer.

Butwrecksseemtoruninthefamily:Tall,funny,musicalVioletcan'tstoppartyingwiththewrongpeople.And,onebeautifulsummerday,brilliant,sensitiveSamattemptstotakehisownlife.

ShippedbacktoLyricwhileSamisintreatment,Violetishauntedbyherfamily'smissingpiece-thelostshipwrecksheandSamdreamedofdiscoveringwhentheywerechildren.Desperatetomakeamends,Violetembarksonawildlyambitiousmission:locatetheLyric,lainhiddeninawaterygraveforoveracentury.

ShefindsafellowwreckhunterinLivStone,anamateurlocalhistorianwhosesparklingintelligenceandguardedgrayeyesmakeVioletacheinanexhilaratingnewway.WhetherornottheyfindtheLyric,thejourneyViolettakes-andthebridgesshebuildsalongtheway-maybethestartofsomethinglikesurvival.

Epic,funny,andsweepinglyromantic,TheLastTruePoetsoftheSeaisanastonishingdebutaboutthestrengthittakestoswimupfromawreck.Synopsis (via Goodreads): From a stunning new voice in YA literature comes an epic, utterly unforgettable contemporary novel about a lost shipwreck, a missing piece of family history, and weathering the storms of life.

"Profound and page-turning."
--Madeline Miller, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Circe

The Larkin family isn't just lucky-they persevere. At least that's what Violet and her younger brother, Sam, were always told. When the Lyric sank off the coast of Maine, their great-great-great-grandmother didn't drown like the rest of the passengers. No, Fidelia swam to shore, fell in love, and founded Lyric, Maine, the town Violet and Sam returned to every summer.

But wrecks seem to run in the family: Tall, funny, musical Violet can't stop partying with the wrong people. And, one beautiful summer day, brilliant, sensitive Sam attempts to take his own life.

Shipped back to Lyric while Sam is in treatment, Violet is haunted by her family's missing piece-the lost shipwreck she and Sam dreamed of discovering when they were children. Desperate to make amends, Violet embarks on a wildly ambitious mission: locate the Lyric, lain hidden in a watery grave for over a century.

She finds a fellow wreck hunter in Liv Stone, an amateur local historian whose sparkling intelligence and guarded gray eyes make Violet ache in an exhilarating new way. Whether or not they find the Lyric, the journey Violet takes-and the bridges she builds along the way-may be the start of something like survival.

Epic, funny, and sweepingly romantic, The Last True Poets of the Sea is an astonishing debut about the strength it takes to swim up from a wreck.

The Last True Poets of the Sea sounds absolutely amazing! I love the idea of a lost shipwreck, and two people trying to find it, but also the story behind their family's survival. Can you imagine swimming away from something like that and being the sole survivor? 

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