The List | 
It‘s been a great start to March. 7 picks that include two #Roll100 books, my #BookSpin book and three #SeriesLove2023 books.
#MarchMadness #MarvellousMarch #BookSpinBingo #readyourTBR #ISpyBingo
pickThe people of Ark can only speak the approved words. That list is being cut to 500. Letta is one of the few who can know & use other words. It‘s similar to how only the Giver & Jonah can see color & experience past memories. This dystopian MG/YA book explores the importance and power of language.
#Roll100 #BookSpinBingo #readyourTBR #MarchMadness #MarvellousMarch
pickThis middle grade YA dystopian novel was suggested to me by my neighbor. Set in the future in Ark, the people can only speak the List of 500 words, except the protagonist, Letta, an apprentice to the wordsmith who is in charge of curating words. The villain, John Noa, believes the words and language are dangerous. I enjoyed the themes of climate change, importance of words, creativity and expressions, and the twists. Book 1 of#EasterExtravaganza
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson.
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@Beachesnbooks, this one's for you! ?
Here are the "spoils" of my visit to Barnes & Noble's "First 50% Book Haul and Book Blowout" earlier today.
I also picked up a second copy of Strange the Dreamer for mah bestie AND got to score this sweet, sweet (free!) tote bag for buying 3 books or more! Yay!
#itsahaulyall #buyallthebooks #buttheywereonsale #bnismyhappyplace
pick“Words have the power to change everything.”
In a future where humanity as all but destroyed itself, Ark is a place where restricting people‘s language is supposed to keep them safe, to keep them from making the same mistakes again.
This was a fun middle-grade/YA dystopian novel about the power of language. This would be a great companion novel (especially for my lower-level readers) to Fahrenheit 451. #TeachersofLitsy #IReadYA
Hanging in there for book five! 📚🤘🏻❤️ #readathon
Everyone is in bed here in the secret volcano lair except for me and Steinbeck. He‘s keeping me company as I start book five. I hope everyone had a great day and you have a good book to read as we head into the evening. 😘 - @Liberty #readathon
pick3.5/5 stars
I'm a total sucker for books that discuss the importance and power of words...and basically all middle grade books right now.
I liked this concept and the authors writing but it seemed very on the surface. Her ideas could've been thoroughly done by making this into a duology or something instead of a stand alone. The ending also seemed a little rushed but an enjoyable read overall.
☑️Interesting premise
☑️Pretty cover
☑️Middle grade
I'm really hoping I like this one and that I'm not starting to hit a slump
bailedThis feels a little like 1984-fanfiction gone wrong. It's just not for me. 🙁
My mother is ripping up the floor and putting new boards down like a little whirlwind, but I'm not allowed to help. Very rude, that. I'll just sit here and read, then. 🤔😂
so-soThis was between a Pick and So-So. The ending just didn't sit right with me, but I liked the plot of the story.
pickA Thought-provoking, Dystopian World
The List is a fascinating dystopian tale of a post-apocalyptic society in which language is limited to only 500 words. And falling. The leaders of Ark–a relatively safe haven in the midst of chaos and wilderness–believe the use of words is to blame for the cataclysmic Melting. ... Read more at http://dragonauthors.com
#fantasy #MG #middlegrade #dystopia #dystopian #scifi #sciencefiction
I read the the first part of the inside flap —\u000 sold! Made me think of Ella Minnow Pea right away. Plus, I had 25% off for being a member at the local bookshop.
pickInteresting quick read, compelling because Letta is pretty much left to figure things out alone and she‘s not perfect (meaning she doesn‘t automatically buy what either side is selling). I liked her spunk and her creativity, and the thought of living in a society where you can only use approved words is absolutely chilling.
Up next! I‘m excited for this one, looks right up my alley.
I read this on Netgalley, and I thought it was a pick for middle grades! A bit predidctable but with really complex characters and character relationships that more than redeemed it for me. Read more at ireadthereforeiam.wordpress.com - picture is my accompanying lunch of champions 😜
pickPatricia Forde‘s The List is a clarion call for the future, echoing the lessons of Fahrenheit 451 and Equilibrium.
“Music comes in all colours, Letta, just as we do. Before I knew the word 'Creator‘, I called us colour-catchers, the musicians, the painters, the dancers. That's what we try to do, catch the colours in our own hearts and share that with other people.” ~Leyla to Letta
Must read for fans of dystopic and post-apocalyptic fiction.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This middle grade novel has gotten some strongly varied reviews. I, for one; however, can't think of a single bad thing to say about it. The stilted manner of speech, when the characters were speaking List, did take a little getting used to, but on the whole I enjoyed the book immensely. Also I thought the dystopian storyline was different from the others I've come across, which made it fresh and exciting.
💛this. So easy to fear someone out of position and status. To think them better than you in some capacity. Then you realize they're not everything they've been built up to be; they're flawed. The facade is gone and reality sets in, stripping them bear of everything and you can see they're no better than you. There is nothing to be afraid of.
so-soThe List is without doubt based on a very fascinating and original concept I would easily have given the highest rating for. The language elements are very interesting as well and this was definitely my favorite element of the story. That said, it did take me way longer than expected to read this Middle Grade story and I had difficulties connecting to both the writing style and the characters.
3/5 stars
#bookreview #bookblogger #arc
I started a new ARC today: The List by Patricia Forde. It's one of my first middle grade reads this year and I'm curious to see where things will go... No cover came with this ARC so here's a photo of my kitties instead. And yes, Lila has zero respect for Jasmine's personal space. 😂😂😂
#amreading #currentlyreading #catsoflitsy #cats
pickThis is a good yarn, both sensitive to the age of its likely reader and unwilling to bend away from the truth of itself. It's an unflinching, dark dystopic tale, and a great first novel for Forde. I look forward to recommending it to middle school readers who want a followup to the Hunger Games series.
so-soI loved the premise of this, but it fell short. The plot felt like deja vu of other popular dystopias and it was somewhat predictable. Additionally, the main character was a little flat to me. I would enjoy reading the sequel though to see what Forde will do.
pickThe world of #TheList is confined to a select amount of words. Only the Wordsmith can collect and archive and manage words beyond the approved lexicon. When Letta, the newest Wordsmith, uncovers a plot to suppress people through the limitations of language it sets in motion a chain of events of dystopic proportions. This book goes on-sale in August, but I had a little fun decorating my galley copy with some "edited" dictionary pages. @sourcebooks
pickVery interesting book with a fascinating premise. In the near future, after the devastating Melting, what remains of mankind (so they think) huddles in the ark under the leadership of John Noa. Letta is the apprentice to the last wordsmith, the man in charge of managing the list of words people are allowed to use. There aren't many because words are power. After the wordsmith goes missing, Netta realizes all is not as it seems. Enjoyable book.
Going with another MG. This one was originally published as The Wordsmith in 2014 in Ireland and is now making its way stateside.
so-soThanks to NetGalley for this novel. I would recommend this book for pre-teens. As an adult who appreciates teen driven dystopian novels, this was a slight disappointment. My attention wandered and I found myself flipping through pages when I felt the chapter was dragging a bit too much. There could a sequel based on how the book ended but I think I will pass if that comes to be.
so-soA new version of the standard post-apocalyptic story. Only words on the List are allowed in Ark. Why? Because politicians used words to cover up global warming, which has now left the world ruined. Words create an "ungovernable" people. Enter the standard resistors, tyrants and MC, Letta, who realizes her reality is not what it seems. 4 stars for the theme which poses important questions, 3 stars for the plot, which is fragmented at times. #ARC
So many books, so little time. And this is just my current NetGalley #TBR. Currently reading the bottom on the list which comes out March 1, Tricked by Jen Calonita. 😺📚📖
Dropping all my current reads for this ARC.
Fahrenheit 451 meets The Giver in this middle grade book. It was called The Wordsmith when published in Ireland. Review to follow
