Stack for a Cause!!

Purple, yellow, and white, for Little Princess Trust

Book Community do your thing and please help me raise some funds for Little Princess Trust.

They help young people up to 24 years old with free wigs. I'm donating my hair in August, it's currently at 20 inches. It costs £550 to make a wig, so that is my goal, but I'd love to hit £1k+. Any extra helps with providing more wigs and to help fund research into making treatments kinder.

You don't have to be in the UK to donate!!

If you donate, and if you can't, please reblog this to get this around. The fundraiser is running for 4 months.

You can donate here!!

You can never have enough trans Books 🏳️‍⚧️

I can also never post enough trans stacks!! Although, I've only read one of these but I'll get there :)

🏳️‍⚧️Q. What's your favourite book by a trans author?? 🏳️‍⚧️

Books in order from left to right:

1. Obie is Man Enough - Schuyler Bailar

2. None of the Above - Travis Alabanza

3. Melissa's Story (George) - Alex Gino

4. Detransition, Baby - Torrey Peters

5. The Gender Games -Juno Dawson

Image Description: 5 books standing against a pink background. The books are set out like the trans flag. A blue rose sits on each side of the books, and a pink, a white, and another pink rose sit on top. A tall vase full of blue roses is on the right side, but the vase is mostly out of view and one large blue rose head stands out at the top.

[ End of Image Description ]

Mother Knows Best (Disney Villains) - Serena Valentino

Rating: ★★★★☆    Pages: 390     Read: 24th Jan 2020

The tale of the legendary golden flower is widely known. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the flower is coveted by an old witch to keep herself young and beautiful. And always the flower is used to save a dying queen, who then gives birth to a princess with magical hair. Not willing to lose the flower, the old witch steals the princess and locks her away in a high tower, raising her as her own. But the princess always finds out who she truly is and manages to defeat the old witch. And yet this is only half the story. So what of the old witch, Mother Gothel? Where does she come from? And how does she come across the magical golden flower? Here is one account that recounts a version of the story that has remained untold for centuries . . . until now. It is a tale of mothers and daughters, of youth and dark magic. It is a tale of the old witch.

I actually read these books in the wrong order, as I wasn’t aware of the order. But I didn’t feel like I lost anything by reading this first. I’m still not sure of the correct order to be honest, so many sites say different things.

I did enjoy this book and the story line. But there are a few things that don’t seem to add up but that’s probably because I read the series out of order. I will probably have to reread this book and update this review. 

This book took me a little while to read, I wasn’t as hooked as I hoped that I would be, but I still enjoyed the story. The odd sisters are really weird and they seem to take over whenever they are in the story. 

| Paperback |

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A lot of the books I’ve posted recently are books I haven’t read. I’m currently working through the rainbow on instagram. But here are some orange books that I’ve actually read.

If you like what I do, please consider buying me a virtual coffee to support me :)

Harley Quinn (2016-) #1 (Harley Quinn (2016) (Single Issues) #1) -  Amanda Conner,Jimmy Palmiotti,Chad Hardin(Illustrator),Chad Hardin(Illustrator),Alex Sinclair(Colorist)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆     Pages: 26       Read: 28 Jan 2020

“Die Laughing” part one! Welcome back to Harley Quinn’s crazy world on Coney Island…now get ready to wave goodbye, because everyone there just might get eaten alive! Harley’s gotta protect her neighborhood against an all-out zombie apocalypse! Break out the chainsaws, everybody!

I really liked the artwork. But to be honest, as I’m writing this review, I can’t remember the storyline. Considerng that I remember the storyline to every book I’ve read, that just shows to me that I wasn’t that interested in the comic. I love Harley, I really do. But maybe I need to read more of this series before making a judgement. Comics are difficult to review when they are in single issues as they normally isn’t a lot going on per issue, it builds up over the next few issues.

| Paperback (Graphic Novel vol 1) |

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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: The Beast Within - Serena Valentino

Rating: ★★★☆☆    Pages: 215    Read: 28th Jan 2020

A cursed prince sits alone in a secluded castle. Few have seen him, but those who claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp--like a beast's! But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people, come to be a reclusive and bitter monster? And is it possible that he can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon him?

This book wasn’t as gripping as I had hoped. I found myself dragging myself through parts of this book. I did enjoy the overall story, but some of the writing felt disconnected and rushed. 

| Paperback |

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Color Theory - José María Parramón (Published 1989)

Rating: ★★★★☆    Pages: 111        Read: 17th Jan 2020

This guide explains how colour works in nature and how it can be manipulated to make expressive paintings. After covering the more scientific aspects of colour theory, the author offers information which analyses a subject in terms of local, tonal, reflected and shadow colour.

I found this book quite helpful. I included the year it was published because it’s quite an old book and considering it’s a non-fiction, I feel like that’s a piece of information that I should include. 

This book would be helpful for those who are new to painting and colour theory and those who are experienced. Most of it for me was just a revision, but there were a few things in there that I wasn’t taught.

| Goodreads | 

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Crimson - Niviaq Korneliussen

Rating: ★★★★☆  Pages: 192   Read: 10th Jan 2020

In Nuuk, Greenland . . . Fia breaks up with her long-term boyfriend and falls for Sara. Sara is in love with Ivik who holds a deep secret and is about to break promises. Ivik struggles with gender dysphoria as their friends become addicted to social media, listen to American pop music and get blind drunk in downtown bars and uptown house parties. Then there is Inuk, who also has something to hide - it will take him beyond his limits to madness, and question what it means to be a Greenlander, while Arnaq, the party queen, pulls the strings of manipulation, bringing a web of relationships to a shocking crescendo. Crimson weaves through restlessness, depression, love and queer experiences to tell the story of Greenlanders through a unique and challenging form. The original text was written and published in the Greenlandic language.

This book is split into 5 sections, one for each of them. I really enjoyed how this was done.

The characters are real and flawed. It’s written in a believable way and it was gripping from the start. You see how the characters interact with each other and you follow their every move and thought, including how they see the other characters.

A really insightful and thought-provoking book.

| Paperback | Hardback |

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Music and Malice in Hurricane Town - Alex Bell

Rating: ★★★★☆    Pages: 384

"There are no angels in Baton Noir. Only devils." Jude Lomax scrapes a living playing the trumpet on the neon streets of Baton Noir. Then she is invited to play at the funeral of the infamous cajou queen, Ivory Monette. Passing through the cemetery gates, Jude finds herself possessed by the murdered queen's spirit. And Ivory won't rest until she's found the person responsible for her death. If Jude wants to be rid of the vengeful spirit, she must take a journey deep into the dangerous underbelly of the city, from the swampy depths of the Black Bayou to the velvet opulence of the vampires' secret jazz clubs. But as Jude untangles Ivory's web of secrets, she is confronted with a few dark truths from her own past...

This book was a little hard to get into. It took me a few chapters to really get gripped. But once it had me, I couldn’t wait to read more. This book has magic, music, spooky old rich guys in a weird house, friendship, ghosts, vampires and snakes. What more do you want?

| Paperback |

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The Ghouls of Howlfair - Nick Tomlinson

Rating: ★★★★☆    Pages: 336     Read: 14th Jan 2020

The scariest legends are about to come true! Molly Thompson has lots of questions. Questions like, is her Aunt Carol an undead fiend who drinks the blood of the living? Is she secretly lurking in the attic? And is Molly's friend Lowry a descendant of a long line of Kroglin werewolves? Serious young historian Molly suspects that the creepy legends about her tourist town of Howlfair are starting to come true. But when her mother bans her from doing any further research, bookworm Molly and her friends - Lowry and guardian-cat Gabriel - become covert monster-hunters to keep Howlfair safe. It seems that someone is secretly trying to summon Howlfair's mythical monsters, and with the election of a new town mayor looming, everything - and everyone - is becoming increasingly suspicious...

I love spooky kids books. I love the way they are written and the way things are explored. I adored this book. It was fast-paced and will written. 

I loved that Molly was clumsy while she is investigating, and no matter how much people were against her, she still wanted to help out her town. 

I loved the story-line and I think anyone of any age would love this book too. It wad easy to read and the story was easy to follow, even though there was a lot going on. 

| Paperback |

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The Strangeworlds Travel Agency - L.D. Lapinski (Published 30th April 2020)

Rating: ★★★★★    Pages: 376     Read: Jan 20 2020

At the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, each suitcase transports you to a different world. All you have to do is step inside . . . When 12-year-old Flick Hudson accidentally ends up in the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, she uncovers a fantastic secret: there are hundreds of other worlds just steps away from ours. All you have to do to visit them is jump into the right suitcase. Then Flick gets the invitation of a lifetime: join Strangeworlds' magical travel society and explore other worlds.

But, unknown to Flick, the world at the very centre of it all, a city called Five Lights, is in danger. Buildings and even streets are mysteriously disappearing. Once Flick realizes what's happening she must race against time, travelling through unchartered worlds, seeking a way to fix Five Lights before it collapses into nothingness -- and takes our world with it.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a middle-grade fantasy which means it was pretty easy to read but I loved every moment of it. I also really loved the character Jonathan. He’s father is missing which leaves him in charge of the travel agency. Even though he is an adult (18 if I remember rightly) he has no idea what to do and tries to carry on like normal. He often hopes a more adulter adult would step in to help (a feeling that is very relatable).

He shows Flick new worlds and together they try and hunt down his father, but they find out something bigger is happening.

| Paperback |

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Now We Are Six - A.A Milne

Rating: ★★★★★        Pages: 112              Read: 10th Jan 2020

'But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever. So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever!' Curl up with Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin in A. A. Milne's classic book of poetry for children, Now We Are Six. This work includes poems for children which feature Pooh helping Christopher Robin with his schoolwork (if helping is the word). It is an evocation of childhood, through the eyes of the six-year-old Robin. Featuring E. H. Shepard's original illustrations, Now We Are Six is a heart-warming and funny introduction to children's poetry, offering the same sense of humour, imagination and whimsy that we've come to expect from his favourite books about Winnie-the-Pooh, that Bear of Very Little Brain.

The final book in the collection of 4. A beautiful ending. These are poems from when Christopher Robin was six and under and it shows how he grew but still loved his old friends. 

| Hardback | Collection |

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When We Were Very Young - A.A Milne

Rating: ★★★★★   Pages: 112          Read: 10th Jan 2020

'They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice.' Curl up with A. A. Milne's classic book of poetry for children, When We Were Very Young. This is the first volume of rhymes written especially for children by Milne - as popular now as when they were first written. Featuring E. H. Shepard's original illustrations, this collection is a heart-warming and funny introduction to children's poetry, offering the same sense of humour, imagination and whimsy that we've come to expect from Milne's favourite books about Winnie-the-Pooh, that Bear of Very Little Brain.

These are beautiful and funny poems from the life of Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh. I adore Winnie, and I love poetry, so for me, these books are even better.

| Hardback | Collection |

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The House at Pooh Corner - A.A Milne

Rating: ★★★★★      Pages: 192        Read: 10th Jan 2020

'One day when Pooh Bear had nothing else to do, he thought he would do something, so he went round to Piglet's house to see what Piglet was doing.' This is the second classic children's story by A.A. Milne about Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. In this volume Pooh meets the irrepressible Tigger for the first time, learns to play Poohsticks and sets a trap for a Heffalump. In this stunning edition of The House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne's classic characters are once again brought to life by E.H. Shepard's illustrations.

This is the book where we are first introduced to Tigger, who was my childhood favourite. This book is full of beautiful stories about friendship and one amazing little bear.

| Hardback | Collection |

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Winnie-the-Pooh - A.A Milne

Rating: ★★★★★     Pages: 160      Read: 10th Jan 2020

'Once upon a time, a very long time ago now, about last Friday, Winnie-the-Pooh lived in a forest all by himself under the name of Sanders' Curl up with a true children's classic by reading A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh. Winnie-the-Pooh may be a bear of very little brain, but thanks to his friends Piglet, Eeyore and, of course, Christopher Robin, he's never far from an adventure. In this story Pooh gets into a tight place, nearly catches a Woozle and heads off on an 'expotition' to the North Pole with the other animals.

I adore Winnie-the-Pooh, always have done, always will do. The beautiful illustrations, the fun little songs Pooh comes up with. This is a childhood favourite that I will enjoy into old age.  

| Hardback | Collection |

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