#printz

[m4aneat3r]

. . . why not me?? 😞🍷🪕

[zip-toonz]

Oops surprise King Dedede and Printz art from my 5 hour plane ride

[youthbookreview]

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

[Image description: Book cover of Elana K. Arnold’s Damsel, showing flowers and other items branching outwards with a human heart at the center]

4 out of 5 stars

TW: sexual assault, animal death and torture

I ate this book up! Which really surprised me because I normally don't read a lot of fantasy, and this book definitely counts as high fantasy. The only reason I even checked it out is because I went to the Printz Awards (for which this was an honor book) reception at ALA this past summer, and Elana K. Arnold gave a wonderful speech about the book's themes. I don't know why, but I was picturing something kind of funny when she described it, but the book is anything but funny.

It's about a prince in a kingdom where the tradition is that, in order to become king, the prince has to slay a dragon and save a damsel. That damsel then becomes his bride and they become the new king and queen. That's how every prince has done it. And the book opens with Prince Emory on his way to the dragon to slay it. The first few chapters are from Emory's perspective and I almost DNF'd the book before we even met the damsel, because I was pretty bored by the whole thing.

But then Ama, our damsel, is introduced, and god, I want to hug her. She has no memory of her past or even her own name, so Emory has to name her. And in the beginning, it was easy to take a romantic view of things. Emory saved her! He's being pretty nice to her! She'll get to be queen, this is all a happy thing! But then you start to see more of Emory come out, and he becomes more and more controlling once they make their way back to the castle.

I was constantly terrified for Ama and her pet lynx (which she comes across on their way to the castle). I think Elana K. Arnold did an amazing job at portraying what it's like to be in an abusive, controlling relationship and not to have any power. I'm not a fast reader but I stayed up really late finishing this book in one day, because that's how much it gripped me. And trust me when I say that it's worth reading the book through to the end. The book has an excellent ending.

Honestly, the only thing keeping it from being a 5-star book for me was the beginning and how hard it was for me to get through it, before we meet Ama. But I highly, highly recommend reading the book. Seriously, if you read it, I think you’ll be glad you did.

[teencafepw-blog]

New YA Books!

Check out my new reading selection for our Printz mock elections!

[islandprintexpress-blog1]

#Printz is rolling around today with a full truck of #business items for #speedy #delivery. Honk if you see this #truck. Can we deliver for you or your company? PRINTZ the speedy turtle says, "Yeah that's us!" . . #Voted #best in the #bayarea for all your #print needs . . We can help a #smallbusiness or #corporation . . Are you a #business owner, #office admin, #entrepreneur or #nonprofit #organization? . . Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more. @islandprintexpress @islandprintexpress @islandprintexpress #islandprintz #islandprintexpress #island #printing

[smallbeerpress]

A review of 2 books, one of which is IN OTHER LANDS by @sarahreesbrennan and, if you enjoyed the book (which since we published it, I did, otherwise what would be the point?!), this will make you very very happy.

[novel-goddess]

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta // 110 pages in and I'm completely in love with this book 🌺

[nealshustermanreal]

I am thrilled to announce that #SCYTHE is a 2017 #MichaelLPrintz honor book! Here's #Printz committee member Melanie Koss and Michelle Leo from Simon & Schuster at the midwinter #ALA, affixing the first official Printz honor sticker on SCYTHE!