Banned Books Week {book lists}

Happy Banned Books Week!  

It's a week where we celebrate the freedom to read.  It's a week to be aware that books are challenged and asked to removed from the shelf. 

"Yes, books are dangerous. They should be dangerous - they contain ideas." Pete Hautman 

 All of the books on these lists have been challenged or banned from school or public libraries.  Their reasons vary, but are usually as a result of the author's personal actions or beliefs or the content in the book.

"If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed." Benjamin Franklin 

Librarians across the world strive to keep books on the shelves.  Librarians strive to avoid censoring books; we believe parents and the individual can make the choice for himself, herself, or for one's own children. 

"Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there." Clare Booth Luce

Banning books inhibits free speech.  Books have power to teach, inspire, unite, and honestly change the world.  Books have power.  Let's not limit that power by censoring books for everyone. 

"Banning books is just another form of bullying.  It's all about fear and an assumption of power.  The key is to address the fear and deny the power." James Howe

I'm a banned book reader. Are you?  Join the Rebellion, and support the freedom of speech; the freedom to read.  

"To forbid us anything is to make us have a mind for it." Michel de Montaigne

Hopefully, some of these book lists will entice you to pick up a book. 

You must check out the most Ridiculous Reasons Books are Banned in this list.  

These books were all Banned For Being Too Religious or offending a certain religious group. 

Books that are powerful, impactful, or have Too Much aka Too Good are Banned. 

Books for the young and old are banned for all types of reasons. 

The Kid's Banned Books List always surprises everyone.  I'm assuming b/c the list is full of books they read and loved. 

The YA and Adult Banned Book list is full of classics.  A lot of the classics are banned... interesting huh?

Let's see how much of a rebel you are.  How many banned books have you read?

Join the Rebellion. Read a Banned Book! 

Surprise Me gets 4 Stars {adult fiction, contemporary lit}

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella is fun.  It's a fun read where the main character, Sylvie, is a bit ridiculous at times.  However, she is relatable with her thoughts and feelings, but her actions are a bit more extreme than the average Jane. 

Surprise Me earns 4 out of 5 stars in my review. This novel has some great aspects, but my favorite was the fact that it wasn't predictable.  There were some aspects of the story I saw coming from a mile away, but there were a few things (like the BIG thing in the story) that surprised me.  I love being surprised in a story, and I think that is part of what makes a great author. 

If you are looking for a fun adult fiction book, with a great story you'll enjoy and want to keep turning the pages, then check this book out.  I don't think men will enjoy this story, but if they do read it they may commiserate with Dan, Sylvie's husband, a little. 😉   

Happy Fun Adult Contemporary Lit Reading with a Bit of a Twist. 

Surpise Me by Sophie Kinsella
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 18+, adult women.  
Clean Read: No, quite a bit of language.  
Worth a Check Out: Yes. Readers who like Big Little Lies or other Liane Moriarty books will like this one.
Buy It or Not: No, unless you love Sophie Kinsella. Book Club Discussion: Was Sylvie and Dan's reaction on par or exaggerated?  How did your feelings to Dan change throughout the book?  What did you think of the different relationships and friendships Sylvie had throughout the book (her best friend, the professor, her parents, boss and coworkers)? Does everyone have an ah-ha moment, like Sylvie had, in their life?  Why is communication such a big deal in this story, and in your lives? 

Did you read this new Sophie Kinsella book?  What did you think? 


A few quotes I loved from Surprise Me:

"She who conquers, conquers herself." 

"Nothing changes if nothing changes." 

"If we don't stick up for the ones we love then what are we good for." 

"Sometimes I wonder how we get anything done as a human race. There's always so many misunderstandings." 


Any favs I missed???

My Dear Hamilton gets 4.5 Stars {historical fiction, adult}

20 minutes.  That's how long I sat telling my husband about My Dear Hamilton.  It was one of those books I wanted to talk with someone about, but I didn't know anyone else that had read it.  Therefore, my poor husband becomes my sounding board.  

I shared with him the things that shocked me such as Alexander's well known scandal as well as the things Eliza found out after his death.  I was baffled that Gentlemen Duels lasted as long as they did.  I was surprised how Lafayette explained why an affair doesn't mean the husband doesn't love his wife.  I'm inspired with Eliza's dedication to serving and helping others.  I shared with him how wise her father, Philip Schulyer, was about what he chose to do with his wife's questionable actions.  I am amazed that Eliza was able to forgive and love through all that she suffered.   

Now, it took me far longer than 20 minutes to read this almost 700 page book. At times I felt like I was reading an incredibly well written US History book b/c the amount of factual history found inside these pages was impressive.  However, I do think the 637 pages was a bit excessive, and though I was anxious to turn the pages to find out what happened there were some moments that lulled and moved slower than I would've liked.  To be honest, I think that was my only qualm with the book.  

Hence the reason why My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in my review.  

This book is fantastic.  It's a well written historical fiction novel with a story line that shocks (and per the author note at the end, all of the shocking things are factual), inspires, and educates you all at the same time.  I felt Eliza really grew and developed as a character, and the emotions you felt for her were captivating.

My Dear Hamilton, though long, is a great novel that is definitely worth a check-out.  Though, be warned that this new release novel will usually give you a limited check-out window from the library, so you'll have to read fast.      

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: Adults
Clean Read: Yes.  Though, there is talk of affairs, drinking,  homosexuality, and violence. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: If you love Historical Fictions and US History then buy it.
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: There is an entire section in the back for book club questions; a few of my questions are: The Schuyler family's motto was Semper Fidelis- Always Faithful, Always Loyal. How does this play out in Eliza's life? Why was it important for Betsy to start going by the name Eliza? What did you think of the relationship among Eliza, Angelica, and Alexander?  How did Eliza's opinion of slavery evolve as she matured and aged? What did Eliza and her family sacrifice for the sake of the nation? What were Eliza's most important choices she made in her life?

This is an excellent, though long, historical fiction.

Just a few quotes I loved from My Dear Hamilton:  

"God put us here to make a better world." Eliza's mission her entire life. 

"The people we love are not exactly knowable. Even to themselves. But we love them anyway."

"Life, like backgammon, is a game of perseverance in which you're forced to choose the best move, even if it is only a choice between evils." 

"The only just way to judge a person is by the sum of their deeds, good and bad.  And in the balance, your father did far more good than harm.  That's all any of us can aim to do with our lives." 

Happy Interesting US History reading!  As always, I love to hear your thoughts on the book. 

Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor gets 4 Stars {regency romance}

I 💓 Jane Austen.  My first year living in Denver after grad school, I was living by myself, which was awesome.  However, b/c I had no roommate to share expenses I couldn't afford cable or internet on a teacher librarian salary.  

I watched the entire Felicity series, checked out from the library, on my laptop, and went through a serious Jane Austen phase.  I read all of her books more than a few times, and I even threw some books by the Bronte sisters in there.  It was a great year.  

The past couple days I flew threw Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor by Sarah L. McConkie, and was reminded of my love for Austen.  To be honest, the Regency Romance genre is not my go to genre, but I adored this debut book by this new author and it's well deserving of its 4 out of 5 stars rating.     

I loved the complexity of the story and how beautifully it was woven together.  I enjoyed Christine, her sister Lizzy, their parents, and their friends Meg and Ivory; as characters they are fun, likable, and relatable.  I loved the happy ending even though you weren't always sure how the happy ending would come about.  I overall loved the fun ending, and that there was more to it than just a clean romance.    

I enjoyed as Christine grew, matured, and had real worries and fears she worked through.  Though, at times I felt her development was a bit abrupt, and a tad confusing.  I was also confused with the Mr. Greenville's France story, and didn't see how it added to the story.  

I truly enjoyed how the story transported me to what seemed to be Loughbourn and Pemberley, but to be honest I felt that there were too many similarities to Pride and Prejudice.      

Overall, Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor is a well woven story that is a captivating.  The love story is perfect, and the intrigue with the characters and their stories were fun.  If you enjoy Jane Austen then you should most definitely pick up this book. 

Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor by Sarah L. McConkie
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: Adults and teens that enjoy romance/regency romance books
Clean Read: Yes. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: If you love Edenbrooke or Jane Austen books then buy it.
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: What are the similarities to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? Which of the 4 girls do you relate to the most?  How does class play a role in who you can become?  Does present day have similarities to the struggles to the "class" you are in?  

Are you a Regency Romance fan? Which romance is your favorite?  

Just a quote/thought I loved from Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor:

"She realized she had a choice to make. She could either let her old fears haunt her- and stop her.  Or she could move forward, choosing to hope, believing that her future would work." 

Happy reading!  As always, I love to hear your thoughts on the book. 

The Great Alone gets 4.5 Stars {adult fiction}

I absolutely adored Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale; it earned 5 stars from me and remains one of the best books I've ever read.  When I saw that Hannah wrote another book I was anxious to check it out.  Even though it comes in at almost 450 pages, The Great Alone is a fast read; it's a page turner.  I found the story to be captivating, riveting, and pulls on your heart strings. 

The Great Alone follows the Allbrights, a family in the 1970s who move a lot and finally settle in Alaska.  Ernt, the father was a POW in Vietnam and suffers from PTSD, leads his family to Alaska to get away from most of civilization and claim some land and a cabin Ernt's war buddy gifted him.

Alaska is a place of strength, but its winters are full of dark days.  The winters are tough, and one must be prepared for them.  The Allbrights don't know how to prepare, but the small community pulls together to help them, and that same community then help them survive the many dark days of the winters there.  Cora and her 13 year old daughter Leni also strengthen one another and have a beautiful relationship.   

I had several thoughts while reading this story.  One of them was, "Wow! Alaska sounds beautiful and amazing." and the other thought was, "I wish I was tough enough to handle Alaska."  Another thought I had was that I hope we all can have a Large Marge sometime in our life, or maybe the time in our life we need the most help. I especially loved the character Large Marge; she is maybe one of my favorite characters of all time.  She is smart, tough, kind, and fighter through and through.  

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah gets 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I thoroughly loved this book.  I loved the depth of the story line that involves abuse, friendship, and making the tough decisions that can define and change our lives.  I loved the entire story from beginning to end.  Sure, there were times the characters with their naivety frustrated me, but their strength and growth had me cheering along with them.  I was concerned, happy, scared, and worried throughout the novel.  I loved how the story seemed realistic, but that realism also caused predictability in a climatic moment.   Overall, The Great Alone didn't leave me in WOW like Hannah's previous book, but it's a really great read. Definitely check it out.  

One thing I love about Kristin Hannah's books are the strong female characters and that every day people can be heroic.  Her books are really just fantastic, and inspire greatness!  Love. 💗 

I also loved reading the epilogue and the personal connection Hannah has with the story.  It was powerful, and maybe made me love the story a bit more.  

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: Adults, and 16 year old+ teens who like Picoult books.
Clean Read: Yes. There's a little language, action, spouse abuse, and sex is mentioned.  
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: It's a great book to purchase, but I won't be buying it.
Read Aloud: No, but it is a great audiobook too.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: Vietnam War and the culture in America there.  Are we ever really prepared for the harsh winters of our life?  Could you survive life in Alaska? Abuse, is it harder to get away in solitude? Alcoholism.  PTSD. How do you cope with the Dark Days?

Did you read The Great Alone? What did you think? 

Just a couple quotes and thoughts I loved from The Great Alone:

"You know what they say about finding a man in Alaska: the odds are good but the goods are odd." 

"Leni will always ache for the dad she always wanted and Matthew aches for the mom he lost." 

Secrets of a Charmed Life gets 5 Stars {adult, historical fiction}

World War II. London Blitz. Fate. Mystery. Family. Dreams.  

Secrets of  Charmed Life by Susan Meissner is a beautiful WWII historical fiction story of resilience, family, mistakes, chasing dreams, and the makings of a happy life.  This novel is fantastic; I loved every minute of it.  There was excellent character development, an unpredictable story, and powerful moments that are impactful.  

The story of Julia and Emmy set during the time of the London Blitz not only opens your eyes to how extensive the bombings in London were, but also how resilient the community was with the motto, "Keep on and carry on" spoken.  Julia and Emmy's stories have similar threads of love and acceptance.       

Susan Meissner is a wonderful author.  I loved Fall of Marigolds, but I enjoyed Secrets of a Charmed Life even more.  If you are looking for a great clean adult historical fiction read, you must check out Meissner's books. 

Happy London Blitz Historical Fiction Reading! 


Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: Adults.
Clean Read: Yes. There's action, and intensity regarding war time, but considered it clean. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes. The audiobook is a great check-out as well.
Buy It or Not: Buy, especially if you love historical fictions.
Read Aloud: The historical aspect of the London Blitz and the mystery that goes along with it would make a good read aloud with the right group/class.  It'd make a great book club book.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: How extensive the London Blitz was, Resilience, Impact of choices, Is it ever okay to lie?, People make mistakes, Fate and providence, What makes up a happy life?


Did you read Secrets of a Charmed Life? What did you think? 


Just a couple quotes and thoughts I loved from Secrets of a Charmed Life:

"Don't chase only the dream. Life is a journey not a destination."

We play the cards we've been dealt and other cards around us are impacted by the cards we play.

A happy life is not made up of what you dreamed of or achieved, but who you poured your  life into and who poured theirs into yours.  Love for others should be the motivation.

My Favorite Books of 2017 {Picture Books, Middle Grade Lit, YA Lit, Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction}

I read or listened to a lot of books in 2017.  I'm super behind on writing reviews for them, but I wrote a review on all of these books here on my blog, Instagram @alohamroaopenabook, or my Goodreads Megan-Alohamora Open a Book.

Of all the books I read to this year, these 15 are my favorite.  What are some of your favorite books you read in 2017?  

My 15 Favorite Books of 2017

Picture Books

She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

Inspiring. Educational. An all around fantastic book. 

Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford

This Caldecott Honor book has gorgeous pictures, and a beautifully educational book. 

The Most Perfect Snowman by Chris Britt

Such a sweet story story about friendship and giving. 

Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz

This is one of my absolute favorite books to read aloud, and my very favorite version of this story. 

Middle Grade Fiction

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Fantastic book!  This quick read provides a valuable new perspective on the experiences of refugees. 

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

This Newbery Medal winner writes a beautiful and magical story. 

Young Adult

March Book Three by John Lewis

I love all three March books.  These non-fiction graphic novels about the civil rights movement are so well done.  

Perfect by Cecelia Ahern

The follow-up book to the Flawed series is fast paced and a great addition to this dystopian series. 

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Fast paced mystery like novel with a strong female character.  Basically, a really fun read. 

Adult Fiction

The Black Book by James Patterson and David Ellis

This mystery may be my favorite James Patterson book.  Well paced story leaves you guessing until the end. 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I'm not sure if I can say this is my favorite Moriarty book, but I did love it.  I also loved that the story was unpredictable. 

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Picoult did it again.  She wrote a great book about a controversial yet relatable topic. 

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

This historical fiction is fantastic.  It's heart warming, emotional, and powerful. A definite favorite this year. 

Non-Fiction

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Amazing!  Definitely listen to this one (Chip and Joanna read it).  This book is inspiring, hilarious, and 100% enjoyable. 

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

If you love sports, athletic shoes, or own your own business then you should definitely give this book a read.  Excellent book! 

These are my favorites. Do we have any in common, or do you have some to add to my TBR list? 

Happy Fantastic Book Reading in 2018!