2017 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challege (March)

If you are a member or Netgalley or Edelweiss, feel free to pop over to Bookish Things & More to join the Reading Challege!  Want to join Netgalley or Edelweiss?  Just follow the links on their names! (Please note, that I am only a member of Netgalley.)  I hope to reach 100 books, or possibly more, by the end of December!  I have also seen an increase in my feedback ratio, started the month at 15% and I am now at 18%.  That is still nowhere near the 80+% that they would like me to be at, but still an improvement!

March Books (with links to the reviews)

1. Indivisible: Poems for Social Justice
2. Edge of Everything (eSampler) (only the first 3 chapters of the book)
3. Transformed: Paris
4. Garden Flora
5. Size Matters
6. When My Senses Don't Make Sense
7. Caraval
8. The Amazing Crafty Cat
9. Mrs. White Rabbit
10. The Blue Hour
11. Piper Perish
12. The King of Average

March Total:12 Books
Year to Date Total: 46  (54 to go!)

The King of Average -- A NetGalley Review

 James.  What an average name that is.  James is 11 years old.  He is working through his abandonment issues, as his dad left when he was born.  He is dealing with a mother that has told him that her life would have been better if he didn't exist.  Heavy things to be dealing with in a children's book (late elementary into middle grades).  I think that for children that have not dealt with this situation, might find it a bit scary or be very off put. 
James is average in school, and according to himself, in everything.  So when he wishes to become the most average kid in the world, his life gets a little weird.  He ends up in another world, to become the King of Average.  He has to go on a quest to find the previous king and find out why he left, then James can become the King.
While I understand that their are children that are going through this, I feel that the book is written very light and comedic for the themes being discussed.  This book might be very scary for children, even if they are dealing with some of the same issues. 
Thank you Bunny Moon Enterprises, LLC and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

Piper Perish -- A NetGalley Review

A diary style book about a teenage girl about to graduate high school.  There are dealings with insecurity about turning her (ex)boyfriend gay.  She also has to find her way to get her dreams.  Piper lives in small town Texas, but dreams of going to art school in New York.   Things get messy with her family and friends, while trying to make those dreams come true.
I believe that this book is way more realistic than many think.  Who wouldn't question themselves if their ex comes out as gay while you are dating, especially when growing up conservative in high school.  My sisters and I fought much like they did and there really isn't much explanation as to why, but our relationships are much better now.  Sometime boys get in the way of what we really want and our friendships.  Piper learns that sometimes she has to work really hard to get what she wants, and even then it may not happen.
I really wish the book wouldn't have had a happy ending for Piper.  Rarely are opportunities like the one Piper gets happen.  Why are there not a lot of books that have the main character not get what they want?  Everyone needs to learn to respect what they have and expand on them by working hard.
However, I am hoping that there will be a sequel.  I want to know about Piper's adventures!
Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

The Blue Hour -- A NetGalley Review

 Do you know the time of day where everything seems to go blue?  Everything slows down as it gets darker to start the night?  That is the time of day that this book takes place.
This book is perfect for preschool or early education, when presenting the color blue.  Learn about several things that are blue and what happens at this darkening time of day!
Thank you William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

Mrs. White Rabbit -- A NetGalley Review

Ever wonder what date the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland was late for?  Wonder what his wife was doing?
Read the diary of Mrs. White Rabbit to see Wonderland through her eyes.  An excellent book for young children, or even adults, who love Alice in Wonderland!
Thank you William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

The Amazing Crafty Cat -- A NetGalley Review

Birdie has a secret identity, Crafty Cat!  When she is Crafty Cat, there is no craft that can't be done.

In this book, Birdie is getting prepared for her birthday snack at school.  She has prepared Panda cupcakes.  While on her way to school she has an accident, which means no more cupcakes for school.  Birdie, with the help of Crafty Cat, she has to come up with something to do during her birthday celebration at school.  Will everyone enjoy it?

This is an honest review based on the digital ARC received from First Second Books and NetGalley.

Caraval -- A NetGalley Review

What do we have in this book? Sisters that will do anything for each other.  Magic.  Evil Father.  Missing Mother. Adventure  Legend. Love.  And I probably missed a few others.
This book will be one of my favorites for time to come!  Who wouldn't want to get away from their abusive, controlling father.  Especially one that will not let his 2 daughters leave their island, and controls the elder sister by punishing the younger.  That is why Scarlett writes to Legend, the magician that runs Caraval.  She wants him to come to her island, but after a death he refuses to leave his island, and leaves Scarlett's letters be unanswered.  That is until, Scarlett announces, in her last letter to him, that she is to be married to a man that her father doesn't want her to meet until the wedding. She is sent 3 tickets to this years Caraval. One for her, one for her sister, and one for her betrothed. 
Scarlett has to find a way there!  Step in Julian.  Once there, she has to figure out what is real and what is part of the game.  She thinks she is going mad when she sees her father, and her sister goes missing. 
I read the entire book in less than 6 hours!  I could not put it down!  The whole story grips you and won't let you go until that cliffhanger ending.  I need the second book, NOW!
Thank you Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

When My Senses Don't Make Sense -- A NetGalley Review

What a wonderful book for those with sensory issues!  I love the social stories that are attached to this story.  Social stories help students with special needs to know what to do in certain social interactions.  This book I hope, will help those with these sensory issues!

Thank you Dog Ear Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

Size Matters -- A NetGalley Review

When I first started reading this book, I thought is was going to be another BBW romance.  The female lead would put herself down, and well, take every comment that might be construed as her weight or eating habits to heart or taken out of context.  Well, lets just say, that part is true.  When it come to her mother, well, there was no taking it the wrong way, her mother was just that abrasive to me.  Sam and Leah meet at a bar, only because Sam's friend wanted to talk to Leah's friend.  Sam and Leah are instantly attracted to each other, but his sense of chivalry leads him to dance with someone else, pissing Leah off and leads her to over drinking!  Sam ends up taking Leah home, but before he could find out where to take her, she passes out, and he takes her to his house.  In an effort to make it up to her, he does some repairs to her bakery, and helps her take the cake to her ex-boyfriends wedding.  While at the wedding, he opens his mouth and tells the ex-boyfriend and her mother that they are engaged.  They had just started to get to know each other, why would he do that?  Now for the plan to get them not engaged!
I loved this book, except for 2 things.  Leah not verbalizing her comfort of her body.  The internal dialog made it seem like she was, but all of her outer dialog made it seem like she was absolutely ashamed of it, for it not being a size 2.   Takes a man for her to realize she is perfect the way she is.  Why do women always need the validation of a man, for us to decide that we are fine? 
This book is hilarious when Sam is on vacation with Leah's family, trying to break up the "engagement".  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching this actually happen.  Some of the responses to the things Sam says or does, I can imagine my family doing the same thing!
Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

Garden Flora -- A NetGalley Review

Garden Flora is an amazing reference book.  Because it is a reference book, I found it very hard to just sit down and read, one page at a time.  The sketches are amazing!  Each plant has detailed information about where it came from and how to use it in your garden.  I would think this would be perfect for anyone that loves gardening, just beginning or a professional!  Come learn something new!
Thank you Timber Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

Transformed: Paris -- A NetGalley Review

This is the second Transformed novel.  We find transman Charley and his Society Dom girlfriend, Electra, on their way to Paris, where Charley will be working with the French police to stop a bombing.  Electra has the hard decision to work with Charley or not.  She doesn't want to do all the testing and training that is needed, and besides she is in her 50's.  Who joins a spy agency when they are in their 50's.  Because she has not done the training, she is to have no part in Charley's work.  When Electra becomes friends with the person believed to be the mastermind behind the upcoming bombing, Charley lets her do some investigating.  Charley's boss, however, is not happy with this.  In the mean time, we learn about polyamory.  Charley wants it, Electra doesn't.  This leads to a big fight and break up of Charley and Electra, and causes Charley to become a huge wuss.  Just like the first Transformed book, all ends well, with Charley and Electra on their way home, back together again.
This book (and series) is probably best  left for adults due to the polyamory remarks and the possible bombing.  I love Charley and Electra.  They are both very ambitious and intriguing.  They both have their flaws, but who doesn't.  Their love for each other is very strong, but can also cause each other pain when they have disagreements.  Charley and Electra a fully wrapped up into themselves, and that is the kind of love that I want to have!  I hope that their will be another novel!  I can't wait to see what Electra can do while fully working with Charley!
Thank you New Heights Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

Edge of Everything eSampler -- A NetGalley Review

 I was given the first three chapters to read and review.  These chapter are about Zoe, her brother Jonah, their attacker, and the mysterious X.  They are about to have a major snow storm, and Jonah is outside.  Zoe goes to look for him, and takes him to a neighbors home.  The neighbors are not there, and soon a guy comes to take the dogs, and possibly some other things.  Then X appears when the attacker takes the dogs to a hole in the frozen lake.
Maybe 3 chapters wasn't enough for me to get into the book?  Maybe I would have never gotten into this book?  All I can really say is, I will probably not be reading more that these three chapters of this book.
Thank you Bloomsbury USA Children's Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

Indivisible: Poems for Social Justice -- A NetGalley Review

When I think of Norwood House Press, I think about Dear Dragon or other books for preschool aged children.  This is what was in my mind when I started reading this book.  I soon realized that this was not the case.  This book is geared more toward late middle school and high school, but I think that adults should read it too.

This is an anthology of 50 or so poems based on social injustices in the United States.  These injustices include discrimination based on color, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, as well as the struggle for equality and justice. 

In school, I struggled through all poetry sections in English classes, and I'm pretty sure I made a joke out of them.  While reading this book, I loved the free form of most of the poems, which made it a bit easier to read.  Some of them, I am still not sure what I was supposed to get out of them, but others made me look inside myself, to see what I could be doing better.  Everyone could do better!

Thank you Norwood House Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.