This is an unfinished manuscript. Laura Ingalls Wilder intended to write a full novel on her early yeaBit of a lackluster end to one of my fave series
This is an unfinished manuscript. Laura Ingalls Wilder intended to write a full novel on her early years married to Almanzo Wilder but she passed prior to finishing the book.
Roger Lea MacBride ("adopted" grandson of Rose, Laura's daughter) found this manuscript after posthumously rummaging through Rose's things and decided to publish this anyway.
I don't wish it would've gone unpublished but at the same time, it's just not as good as the previous books.
We do get some content about the new hardships she faced as a wife and mother but the books don't have the same feel.
It feels shorter, rushed and repeats information from the eighth book.
Roger Lea MacBride then inherited all of the Little House Royalties (not Laura's extended family) and proceeded to publish many a book based on the Ingalls family. His descendants still own the rights to Laura's life and estate opposed to Laura's family.
I have not read those companion books (nor do I intend to) based on that principle.
Laura's books were autobiographical. His books are works of fiction.
Plus it always bugged me that Roger MacBride took over the series.
Laura's family survived - her aunts, uncles and cousins all survived - so while she didn't have any direct descents (other than Rose, who never had surviving children) but there are certainly Ingalls descendants who are there.
MacBride wrote a series from Rose's perspective often leaning on things that Rose supposedly told him during their few years as friends when she was in her 70s and he was just a boy. He also used the estate to amass a fortune based off of Laura's series.
It bothers me.
It really bothers me.
To put this in perspective, if I went over to my 70-year-old neighbor, became "friends" for a few years, grabbed the rights to her late mother's estate, then waited a few decades after her death to capitalize on her experiences as a child under the veil of being an "adopted" grandchild (despite nothing legal ever happening)...it would be wrong.
If not wrong, at least a little shady and morally ambigious?
Then, when her surviving family goes, "no wait. That's OUR story" to refuse them anything, instead pass their (the Ingall's) family legacy to my (completely unrelated) family ...again because of the "adopted" grandchild status (and powerful lawyers).
It seems...weird...and a little strange (and skeezy?) to capitalize to such an extent on someone you knew for a few years in your childhood.
Plus, am I REALLY supposed to believe that Roger's memory is SO GOOD that he can retell Rose's entire life... thirty years AFTER she supposedly told it to him? Methinks quite a bit of it is fiction.
Quite frankly, if Rose wanted to tell the story, she would've written it herself.
Anyway, that was a really long explanation to say...whelp, this is as far as I'll go in the series...
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle - this lovely pair made this book amazing.
These happy golden years are passing by, these happy golden years.
Arguably the most recognizable quote from the eighth book in the series and ri
These happy golden years are passing by, these happy golden years.
Arguably the most recognizable quote from the eighth book in the series and rightly so. We transition from girlhood to adulthood by having Laura slowly, but surly, fall love.
I distinctly remember that this was the first time that I mourned the loss of a character - I was in fifth grade and the book-Laura was still alive. Yet, I remember sadness and sorrow.
The Laura we knew has grown into a woman. It's no longer Ma, Pa and Laura. Gone are the days spent roasting the pig's tail and singing along to Pa's fiddle. This was the first time I had realized that I would someday leave my parents.
I sincerely wish we could've had more books for this series prior to Laura marrying Almanzo. Or even more written by Laura as her daughter grew up.
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle - together they really brought the audio alive. Loved it.
Laura knew then that she was not a little girl any more. Now she was alone; she must take care of herself. When you must do
Sniffs. Wipes away tear
Laura knew then that she was not a little girl any more. Now she was alone; she must take care of herself. When you must do that, then you do it and you are grown up.
Oh, they grow up so fast, don't they? I do wish that this series could stay with Laura as a young girl - running around and having adventures with Ma, Pa and her sisters. But, Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote this as autobiographical and so her younger-self had to grow.
Gone are the isolated cabins in Wisconsin and here is the bustling brand-new town of DeSmet. Laura and her family are living in a town now and with that comes quite a lot of differences. The girls have to go to school and behave like little ladies - but if you think that will stop Laura from letting loose, then you have another thing coming.
Told in simple, plain language, this book manages to capture the beauty and the wildness of town life in the late 1800s. What a time to be alive!
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle - absolutely loved it!
Laura and her family drove their covered wagon all the way to Minnesota to begin life anew.
Their new house? Built iThe Ingalls Family versus the World
Laura and her family drove their covered wagon all the way to Minnesota to begin life anew.
Their new house? Built into a bank, with mud walls and a grass roof. A dugout. Ma is not pleased (especially when a cow manages to go through the roof!) but the girls found little ways to be delighted.
There's a little creek full of fish and crayfish. There's school - full of new people and learning. And there's family - all together and happy.
Except, the crops are ruined . And will stay ruined. Winter is right around the corner and they hardly have anything to eat. Ma, Pa and the girls need money so they can survive. And so, Pa does what he thinks is best and walks 300 miles to find work.
Will he be home in time for Christmas?
Will he come home at all?
As always, the book is beautifully written and stunningly heartfelt.
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle. Love this audio series SO freaking much.
When Mary lost her sight, she lost all hope of continuing her education. A kindly reverend tells the Ing
How would you like to work in town, Laura?
When Mary lost her sight, she lost all hope of continuing her education. A kindly reverend tells the Ingalls family of a college for the blind. It goes without question that Mary will attend the seven years of school.
Now, the Ingalls family desperately needs money to cover school costs for Mary. Laura takes up work in town - sewing buttons of all things. While she hates it, she wants Mary to go to college far mor. The Ingalls family's crops are set upon by great swarms of pests.
And, to top it all, Eliza Jane (Laura's future sister-in-law) teaches their one-room school - and she's terrible at it. No discipline, belittling students and extreme favoritism. Even Laura cannot stand her. When Eliza Jane unjustly punishes Carrie, Laura escalates until she is thrown out of school.
Laura gets the last laugh. She pens this poem and publishes it in her autobiographical novel - for thousands of children to read and remember:
Going to school is lots of fun, From laughing we have gained a ton, We laugh until we have a pain, At Lazy, Lousy, Lizy Jane.
She is my petty-revenge goals.
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle. Love this dynamic duo!
I would have died ten times over if I lived during Laura's time
The whole family moves into town to weather the winter of 1800-1801 - and it's good thiI would have died ten times over if I lived during Laura's time
The whole family moves into town to weather the winter of 1800-1801 - and it's good thing they do. This was one of the harshest winters they would ever face. Snow soon piles over their windows and the bitter cold ensures that they cannot leave their houses. Their fuel runs out, their food consists of scraps, and Pa can no longer play the fiddle for his hands are stiff with cold.
Even in her toughest year, faced with bitter cold and starvation, Laura still conveys the beauty of the prairie.
Then the sun peeped over the edge of the prairie and the whole world glittered. Every tiniest thing glittered rosy toward the sun and pale blue toward the sky, and all along every blade of grass ran rainbow sparkles.
We are introduced to Almanzo as an adult. (The first time since Farmer Boy.) Laura (in the story) admires him first for his horses, then for his kindness and then for his bravery as he hitches up his team of horses to make a run for fuel for the entire town. I appreciate that he remains as a background character. Their love plays out so slowly compared to many teen books that it has time to bloom and blossom.
Wholesomely inspirational and heartwarming. An excellent book to read curled up under a blanket with a cup of cocoa.
“It can't beat us!" Pa said. "Can't it, Pa?" Laura asked stupidly. "No," said Pa. "It's got to quit sometime and we don't. It can't lick us. We won't give up."
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle. Such an incredible audiobook.
Much of Laura's childhood was spent in near-starvation. While they always had something to eat, it was never enough for the family Are you hungry yet?
Much of Laura's childhood was spent in near-starvation. While they always had something to eat, it was never enough for the family to be satisfied.
Thus when Laura wrote about Almanzo (her future husband)'s childhood, she focused on the most idyllic parts and what she wanted for her own childhood and her child - which was a full stomach and stable home.
Almanzo simply ate. He ate ham and chicken and turkey, and dressing and cranberry jelly; he ate potatoes and gravy, succotash, baked beans and boiled beans and onions, and white bread and rye ’n� injun bread, and sweet pickles and jam and preserves. Then he drew a long breath, and he ate pie.
I swear, my stomach rumbled every ten minutes!
After a book of this, I began searching for a cookbook (and luckily, there are books aplenty based on this series: The Little House Cookbook, My Little House Cookbook - which I cannot wait to try)
Now, the entire plot of Farmer Boy did not solely revolve around food - we also get a look into farm life from the perspective of a wealthy farmer.
Almanzo's father loved farming and did his best to impress that love to his son - with great success!
There was no time to lose, no time to waste in rest or play. The life of the earth comes up with a rush in the springtime
Reading as Almanzo completed farm chores and tamed his oxen kindled my brief (but fervent) desire to become a farmer in fifth grade (well, until the impracticality of city-life ruined that dream!)
That being said, not even Almanzo' s cushy childhood was left untouched by the harshness of living in the late 1800s.
If the teacher has to thrash you again, Royal, I’ll give you a thrashing you’ll remember.
There was one crazy scene where their teacher cracked a whip around the school room due to some seriously rowdy teens (could you imagine the look on the PTA Mom's faces?)
While this one was not as endearing nor as thoughtful as Laura's other novels, I certainly enjoyed reading it. This was fun way to learn about life a hundred years ago.
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle. Love this audiobook.
“There's no great loss without some small gain.�
If only we lived and loved in Laura's time...
I get hugely nostalgic for every time I read the Li
“There's no great loss without some small gain.�
If only we lived and loved in Laura's time...
I get hugely nostalgic for every time I read the Little House books. One of my favorite aspects about this series is that Wilder writes these novels in such a way that I feel like I lived through them.
In the West the land was level, and there were no trees. The grass grew thick and high. There the wild animals wandered and fed as though they were in a pasture that stretched much farther than a man could see, and there were no settlers.
Laura and her family left behind their little cabin in Wisconsin and set off for new lands and new adventures.
The Ingalls struggle to carve out a life for themselves while still celebrating the small accomplishments and triumphs of prairie life. They settle in Indian Country and we get a not-quite-politically-correct six-year-old's point of view.
Some of Laura's realizations and desires seem so out-of-wack for a children's book. For example, she becomes obsessed with seeing a little papoose (an Indian baby) and when she finally sees one - she quickly realizes that seeing one was not enough.
“Pa, get me that little Indian baby � Oh, I want it! I want it! � Please, Pa, please!�
This is a smallish part of the book but it definitely gave me a start. One hand there is the blatant racism purported by her parents and herself...but on the other hand, Wilder didn't sugar coat the views and opinions she grew up with.
Despite the racism of the times, Laura's elegant, yet simple words bring such a profound sense of wonder and adventure to life in a one room cabin.
Rereading it now, I still get the same joy as I did from the first time. There's just something so timeless and beautiful about Laura's books.
Audiobook Comments Read by Cherry Jones and accompanied by Paul Woodiel on the fiddle. Such an amazing audio to listen to - highly recommended.
Stuck at home? Got some time on your hands? Want to start a long series? But you don't want a dud?
Then I have some suggestions for you!
Check o
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Stuck at home? Got some time on your hands? Want to start a long series? But you don't want a dud?
Then I have some suggestions for you!
Check out this all about which series are worth your time (and which ones aren't)!
Thanks for watching and happy reading!
Check Out the Written Review!
You don't need magic to make a series magical.
Four-year-old Laura Ingalls Wilder lives with her Ma, Pa and sisters, Mary & Carrie, in a little house in the big woods of Wisconsin in 1871.
We follow a year in the life of Laura - from celebrating Christmas to the fall harvest.
The Ingalls family is always bustling about and preparing for the next season. There very survival depends on their cooperation.
In the winter, we watch them make maple sugar, in spring they plant the garden, the summer they play in the fields and fall they gather their ccrops.
From corn-husk dolls to pig roasts to sugaring-off parties - they are busy, busy, busy.
The barrels of salted fish were in the pantry, and yellow cheeses were stacked on the pantry shelves.
Despite the tough circumstances, they always make it work with Ma's gentle guidance and Pa's happy fiddle.
She was glad that the cozy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.
For a series written so long ago and geared towards young children, this holds so well.
All the little details make this story come alive.
Every time I go back to this story, I am just as enraptured and enthralled as I was when I was a little girl.
All activities seem so different from the commonplace childhood memories I have...and yet, I identified so closely with Laura when I was younger.
I couldn't have been the only kid wishing our attic was filled with preserves or wanting to roast a pig tail. I'll even admit, I wanted to kick around the ol' pig bladder just to see what it was like.
The love, and friendship, and happiness Laura experiences along with the harsh and hungry winters truly makes for a wonderful story.
The little tales from Pa brings this book to life and Ma's gentle nurturing firmly holds together the family. Every time I read this series, I think about my own family. And give my Ma and Pa a call.
But Laura lay awake a little while, listening to Pa’s fiddle softly playing and to the lonely sound of the wind in the Big Woods.
Audiobook Comments Narrated by Cherry Jones and accompanied on the fiddle by Paul Woodielv. Paul gave life to Pa's songs and Cherry truly made this audiobook a masterpiece. Loved every word of it.
Anne Shirley is about to do the unthinkable - postpone marriage and attend off to Redmond College. She still Now this is the college life I longed for
Anne Shirley is about to do the unthinkable - postpone marriage and attend off to Redmond College. She still plans to get married, but only after her education.
She's found a darling house to rent with Prissy Grant (from Avonlea) and Phillipa Gordon (from Redmond). And now, her life will begin.
I loved the feel of this one - the hopeful wondering, the exciting change of scenery and the true friendships she finds. However. I do have a few issues with the way this one is written.
It almost feels like everything is solved too simply. All challenges are overcome with a bit of plucky effort and everything always works out just the way it needs to. Always.
And honestly, the first two novels I didn't mind this...but by the third novel of such coincidences, I am starting to grow a little tired of the sheer perfection of everything.
“It will come sometime. Some beautiful morning she will just wake up and find it is Tomorrow. Not Today but Tomorrow. And then things will happen ... wonderful things.�
I still enjoy this series but there are a few problems/inconsistencies that are really throwing me off.
Dropping Diana Barry like a hot tamale
Remember Diana Barry - Anne's one, true bosom friend?
Kindred spirits alone do not change with the changing years.
Anne is such a liar.
Diana Barry - who was so essential to the first books - is pushed aside now that Anne's in college and Diana's raising a family.
I understand that friends grow apart over time but if that was the case, there should be a paragraph or two explaining that.
It's like...Diana was no longer useful to the plot so L. M. Montgomery just stopped writing about her. I mean, how hard would it be for Anne to write a few letters to Diana or for her to talk about missing her.
I feel so betrayed on Diana's behalf. So much for friendship.
The Schrodinger Cat
And I couldn't have been the only one completely flabbergasted by the cat story.
Upon discovery of a semi-friendly tom cat, Anne, Prissy and Phillipa decide to kill it with chloroform under a basket.
After leaving the cat under the deathtrap for a night, Anne lifts up the basket only to discover that the cat survived. She then adopts the cat and becomes best friends with the feline.
You almost MURDERED the cat - seriously, what the hell Anne?
The Revolving Plot
There seems to be a pattern to these books - Anne meets new bosom friends, one grumpy/ornery one and one miserable one (due to bad luck with true love).
Anne befriends the grump, tries (and ultimately fails) meddling in the miserable one's life...Then she learns valuable life lessons about not judging/meddling someone by their first impression. And everything ends happy.
Repeat.
Concluding Thoughts
Honestly, I'm more than a little disappointed by this one but not enough to stop the series. There were plenty of wonderful of moments and I really want to finish the series. Hopefully it picks up!
The first book was fabulous! Lots of fun mischief but the second has her at 16 already! Where did those four yeaWhy did Anne have to grow up so fast?
The first book was fabulous! Lots of fun mischief but the second has her at 16 already! Where did those four years go? Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't skimp out on the childhood.
I enjoyed this book - seeing Anne blossom into a young school teacher (aside: Totally not fair that everyone get such great jobs out of high school?? Same with Laura Ingalls Wilder. They just handed out jobs to anyone who would take them!)
A pet peeve of mine was really played upon. All kids are precocious angels. Yes, Anne has some struggles but you know from the start that she's going to overcome them magnificently.
It's a little too predictable. And the precocious moments were bordering annoying.
Also, did anyone else feel for poor Dora? Her twin brother, Davy, is a complete bullying snot yet Anne and Marilla just adore him (they even admit that the care more for that little snit)?!
Sure Dora is quiet, but she is dutiful and obedient and deserves twice as much attention as they are lavishing on that horrible Davy.
Still loved this book though!!
Audiobook Comments Read by Barbara Caruso and she really let this audio shine.
Now we've entered the start of the not-so-happy arc. I don't
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Seven of my favorite Bookish Villains in one !
The Written Review
Now we've entered the start of the not-so-happy arc. I don't even want to think about the ending. I would much prefer to reread the first four books again than suffer (vicariously) through that ending with Harry.
The twins antics keeps the book from becoming too depressing and Professor Umbridge is simply divine as the Big Bad.
On a side note, ever think J K Rowling just wants to give sage advice to her kids and wrote an entire book to cover that up?
Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.
Youth can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.
We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on.
Audiobook Comments Read by Jim Dale (as always) and he was absolutely stunning (as always)
The Finer Books Club - 2018 Reading Challenge: An audiobook based on the readers' voice
Why are you worrying about YOU-KNOW-WHO, when you should be worrying about YOU-NO-POO? The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!
The
Why are you worrying about YOU-KNOW-WHO, when you should be worrying about YOU-NO-POO? The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!
The twins. Gah! You got to love them.
Now that we are far past what I like to call "the happy era" (books 1-4), it's little moments like these that keep me from taking the book too seriously.
Yes, Draco is skulking around. Yes, Lord Voldemort evilly plotting. Yes, they still have to keep up all sorts of homework and practice....BUT if given the opportunity, Rowling still slips in a good ol' poop joke.
Audiobook Comments Read by Jim Dale - the audio master himself!
The 2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - A book that makes you feel nostalgic
I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I'm not there.
Ironically, that is what I did as I read this book cover-to-cover.
As much as I l I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I'm not there.
Ironically, that is what I did as I read this book cover-to-cover.
As much as I love the start of it all, the second book really holds. Not only as a sequel but also through time. From third grade until now, I've always looked forward to the second book (especially considering it's still part of the "Happy Arc" as I like to call it (Books 1-4)).
Audiobook Comments Read by Jim Dale - and he absolutely nailed it. Love the way this man reads.
Despite being the most serious of the books, we do get gems like this to keep things light:
“Death's got an Invisibility Cloak?" Harry interrupted a
Despite being the most serious of the books, we do get gems like this to keep things light:
“Death's got an Invisibility Cloak?" Harry interrupted again. "So he can sneak up on people," said Ron. "Sometimes he gets bored of running at them, flapping his arms and shrieking...�
When I first read this book, I would call it, "Harry Potter and the Extended Camping Trip." It does feel like they are running around, not doing much of anything for a really, really long time. But as with all the other books, this one grew on me until it reached the 5 star level.
Audiobook Comments Read by Jim Dale - loved it! He is an absolute natural.
He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch
He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though...keep up with my news...check if I'm happy...
Smart move Harry. Hats off to you!
Audiobook Comments Read by Jim Dale - and he nailed it. This series was just absolutely amazing on audio.
Latest is up - a totally serious take on writing Young Adult Lit!
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You know that feeling when you read a particularly ba
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Latest is up - a totally serious take on writing Young Adult Lit!
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You know that feeling when you read a particularly bad YA and you just have to set down the book and ask, why?
Why in the world did someone give the ok to publish this mess?
Why are the characters so effing dumb?
Why did I even pick this book up?
This happens (on average) once per YA book for me... and Aveyard's book was so far above average that I was honestly impressed.
This book had me questioning everything
WHY is everything always Mare's fault?
Her sister getting caught for stealing? Totally Mare's fault.
Rebel uprising? Totally on Mare's shoulders.
Causing countless deaths on account of her misguided sense of justice? Wait, yeah, that one is actually on her
...There is a difference between taking responsibility for your actions and squeezing out every last ounce of sympathy for your main character.
This is a case of the latter.
WHY is everything repeated three times?
Is there a word count limit Aveyard was building to?
Did someone regift a thesaurus to her last Christmas?
If so, why can't she find any synonyms for Red as the Dawn?
That bloody crimson freaking dawn was the bane of my existence.
WHY is there so much angst??
There's excusable teenage angst...and there's what we had to read.
It's like, come on, they (Mare's captors) literally made Mare read one paragraph of propaganda in exchange for letting her marry the hot prince.
Stop complaining about the "torture" - they LITERALLY made you a princess.
WHY are first fridays even mentioned at all??
It's like in one chapter and then the entire city/world totally forgot they were a thing.
It's like Aveyard was like, "Let's throw in a bit of Hunger Games" but then her editors said, "Sorry, there's a whole series about that." and then they forgot to delete it from the manuscript.
WHY did I pick up this book?
Don't actually have a good reason other than a friend said they thought it was terrible and wanted my opinion.
Guess we figured out that...
Audiobook Comments The reader really embodied Mare, which made listening to this book really terrible. Every whine was emphasized, ever pout was pouted...I ended up listening to this one on 1.5x speed just to get through it faster.
When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster? Did it become something else?
Authors, take note: This is YA Lit don
When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster? Did it become something else?
Authors, take note: This is YA Lit done right.
Katsa is a monster. She's been one ever since she discovered the power of her killing Grace. Only...she starts to wonder, does she have to be?
In the Graceling Realm, those born with heterochromia (different colored eyes) are blessed with a Grace.
A Grace can be anything from the mundane (i.e. holding your breath indefinitely) to the cruel (i.e. mind control).
Katsa has been "blessed" with a killing grace. Ever since she was a child, she could murder at the slightest touch.
A Gracling born into her kingdom is automatically offered to the King (her uncle).
Under his thumb, she murdered, tortured and struck horror across his lands and the seven kingdoms.
However, as she grew older, she became less comfortable in her own skin. So, she formed an alliance with sympathizers and started moonlighting as a hero.
When a mysterious prince - one with a silver eye and a gold eye and graced with fighting - visits to her kingdom, she finds herself questioning everything she's ever done.
First off - abso-freaking-lutely loved this premise. The powers, the squabbling kingdoms, the atmosphere. YES.
Mercy was more frightening than murder, because it was harder.
Second off - I loved Katsa's strength.
She's far stronger than any man in the kingdom - but the writing and the characterization is done so well that she never dips a toe into Mary Sue territory nor does she get thrown into the self-sacrificing-woe-is-me category.
She's a badass who's earned her credentials. And, I adore her sass:
Perhaps I can stay by the fire and mend your socks and scream if I hear any strange noises.
Third off - I loved the love.
There was no falling in love at first sight, no shoe-horned love triangle and NO weird YA boy smells.
I adored between Katsa and her beau (Po) and I will defend their love to my dying day.
They have such a stable, healthy relationship (something that is woefully in short supply in YA).
Katsa sat in the darkness of the Sunderan forest and understood three truths. She loved Po. She wanted Po. And she could never be anyone's but her own.
If you are in the mood for quality YA lit - pick this series up.
This is my fourth read through and I loved it as much as the first.
The 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge - A book about a villian or antihero
Audiobook Comments Holy mother of pearl. Full cast audio production - each character had a different actor/actress, there was music between chapters AND the kid voices sounded really realistic. An absolute pleasure to listen to.