Reading Challenge Update- March

I know I said this back in February, but I can't believe that March is over!  It's time to start planning summer programs at my library, and we have almost no snow!  

I took a week off from blogging/ reviewing/ reading in March, and I'm glad I did.  I needed that time to recharge my batteries, and get out of my reading funk.  

So now on to what I actually read for March!

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

In the Garden by Nora Roberts

#3 Red Lily

The Winner's Trilogy Marie Rutkoski

#2 The Winner's Crime

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

#1 Red Pyramid

Nightmares by Jason Segel and Kirsten White

#1 Nightmares

Platypus Police Squad by Jarrett Krosoczka

#1 The Frog Who Croaked

#2 The Ostrich Conspiracy

Flavia de Luce Series by Alan Bradley

#7 As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust

Fool's Gold series by Susan Mallery

#16 Hold Me

Confessions series by James Patterson

#3 Confessions: The Paris Mysteries

Shelter in a Soldier's Arms by Susan Mallery

I added 12 books to my Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge.  I'm 33% done with this challenge.  If I keep up this pace, I'll be done with this challenge around the end of September.

Love, Lucy by April Lindner

Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash

Magnolia by Kristi Cook

How was March for you reading wise?  Read anything interesting?  Leave me a comment!

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
Published by Harry N. Abrams on January 13, 2015

Summary: "Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town that’s famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the town’s best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game.

It’s prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud."  --From Goodreads

This was a highly entertaining middle-grade read.  Miles was the prankster at his old school, and Niles is the suck-up kid at the new school... or is he?  I found myself giggling at many points in the book, especially when the rubber chicken came into play.  The pictures in the book are perfect, illustrating the funny bits without going completely over the top.  

If you're looking for a funny book, I would really suggest anything by Mac Barnett.  He's quickly become an author that I automatically add to my to-read list.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library.

Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash

Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash
Published by Putnam Juvenile on March 10, 2015

Summary: "Alys’s whole world was comprised of the history project that was due, her upcoming violin audition, being held tightly in the arms of her boyfriend, Ben, and laughing with her best friend, Delilah. At least it was—until she found herself on the wrong end of a shotgun in the school library. Her suburban high school had become one of those places you hear about on the news—a place where some disaffected youth decided to end it all and take as many of his teachers and classmates with him as he could. Except, in this story, that youth was Alys’s own brother, Luke. He killed fifteen others and himself, but spared her—though she’ll never know why.  Alys’s downward spiral begins instantly, and there seems to be no bottom." --From Goodreads

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.  In the current climate, books about mass shootings are needed.  These events happen frequently, and kids are just as affected by those events that are across the country, not to mention the ones that happen in their own backyard.

Alys's story is different though.  Her brother is the one who walked through their school, killing 15 innocent classmates and teachers.  Silent Alarm is her story, and how she copes with the aftermath.  I would recommend this book to any and all students.  

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library.

TTT: Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's theme is the top ten books I'm most excited for in my Spring TBR.  

 Here we go!

Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash

Publication Date: March 10

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Publication Date: May 5

Finding Paris by Joy Preble

Publication Date: April 21

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige

Publication Date: March 31 

Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein

Publication Date: March 31

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Publication Date: March 3 

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Publication Date: March 31

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me by Meredith Zeitlin

Publication Date: April 21

Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

Publication Date: March 31

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Publication Date: May 5

What are you looking forward to reading in Spring?  Leave a list or link in the comments!

Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
Nightmares #1
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers on September 9, 2014

Summary: "Charlie Laird has several problems.

1. His dad married a woman he is sure moonlights as a witch.
2. He had to move into her purple mansion, which is NOT a place you want to find yourself after dark.
3.He can’t remember the last time sleeping wasn’t a nightmarish prospect. Like even a nap.

What Charlie doesn’t know is that his problems are about to get a whole lot more real. Nightmares can ruin a good night’s sleep, but when they start slipping out of your dreams and into the waking world—that’s a line that should never be crossed.

And when your worst nightmares start to come true, well, that’s something only Charlie can face. And he’s going to need all the help he can get, or it might just be lights-out for Charlie Laird. For good."  --From Goodreads

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I have real reservations when an author reads his own book, but Jason Segal knocked it out of the park. He knew his own characters, and in doing so, provided them with their own unique voices. My favorite was Meduso and his three snakes. Meduso lends the story the unique adult figure who also has his own nightmares to face.

I am really glad that this story is part of a series. I know I will be getting the audiobook again.

Disclosure: I borrowed the audiobook from my local library.