Spring Break Reading Challenge - Activity #3

Not on Spring Break just yet? That's okay, neither am I. Join the Spring Break Reading Challenge anyhow, which runs from Friday, March 12 - Sunday, March 21.

Activity #3 - What are you reading?

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.
Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.
Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.
With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

It took me 242 pages to really get into this book. The technology is so beyond my realm of understanding and imagination that I found some passages quite difficult to visualize. But! Once it all clicked for me (and it did, more than halfway through), I started zooming through it. I appreciated getting to know Alek and Deryn separately, but the story really comes together once they meet. I love it! I want to go finish it now!

If you've never read anything by Scott Westerfeld, consider yourself truly deprived. Check out his website, designed in the Leviathan style at the moment, and follow him on Twitter @ScottWesterfeld.

Spring Break Reading Challenge - Activity #2

So, I'm signing up a day late to the Spring Break Reading Challenge, but that's okay because it runs from Friday, March 12 to Sunday, March 21. Karin from The Book Jacket is the lovely gal hosting this challenge. My break is actually the week after, but I thought I'd join in on the fun anyhow. :)

Each day boasts an Activity and a chance to win a Prize! Today's Activity is a Scavenger Hunt - woo! Here are the three things I need to find:

1 - Using keywords related to your interests, find a blog that is new to you.  Be sure to give us the Blog Title, Link, and Short Description of the Blog.
I took the lazy way out on this one and went to Kidlitosphere Central's Member List to find a new kidlit blog to add to my ever-growing feed reader. I chose:

Bottom Shelf Books

"picture books from a (somewhat) grown-up perspective"

 

2 - A blog belonging to an author from a book in your To Be Read pile (just a random one if you don't have a To-Be-Read pile).

Lisa McMann

Gone is next on my to-read list. :)

3 - A book releasing THIS MONTH you want to read.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Waiting for my library to buy this one!

Hope you'll join the Spring Break Reading Challenge too!