August Reading Roundup

I read 18 book in August:

Smile by Raina Telgemeier ★★★★★ (YA, graphic novel, dentists)
Kiki Strike series by Kirsten Miller (MG, adventure, awesome girl protagonist)
- Inside the Shadow City ★★★★☆
- The Empress’s Tomb ★★★★☆
Kraken by China Mieville ★★★★☆ (speculative fiction, New Weird, fantasy, apocalyptic, cool magic)
Babymouse for President by Jennifer Holm ★★★★☆ (MG, graphic novel)
Bad Kitty Meets the Baby Nick Bruel ★★★☆☆ (MG, semi-graphic novel)
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale ★★★★☆ (MG, award-winning, realistic fantasy, not-girly)
Batula by Marco Cinello ★★★☆☆ (mg, comic book, superheros, vampires)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs ★★★★☆ (YA, realistic fantasy, historical, time travel, WW2)
Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin ★★★★★ (YA, LGBT, coming of age, historical, 20′s)
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey ★★★★☆ (YA, paranormal, witches, contemporary fantasy, lgbt, weird magic, Romeo & Juliet)
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (YA, paranormal romance, vampires)
- Vampire Academy ★★★★☆
- Frostbite ★★★★☆
- Shadow Kiss ★★★☆☆
- Blood Promise ★★★☆☆
- Spirit Bound ★★★☆☆
- Last Sacrifice ★★★☆☆
- Bloodlines ★★★☆☆

Best Book?
Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin ★★★★★ (YA, LGBT, coming of age, historical, 20′s)
A coming of age story set in the 20′s, this book is a little bit Member of the Wedding (evocative of a time and place) and a little bit Fried Green Tomatoes (a budding relationship between two young women looking to assert themselves). Silhouette of a Sparrow is charming and beautifully written. Gigi struggles to balance her family’s traditional values with her desires and dreams (to study ornithology). There is enough tension and gentile drama to keep the pacing tight and the writing is lovely. Really lovely. Ms. Griffin weaves bird imagery and metaphors throughout the book in a way that feels natural and it pulls the book together.