Hi all!
Today is a fun post responding to Ravenclaw Book Recommendations – which is a video created by the hilariously talented Common Spence on Booktube. He made four separate recommendation videos for each Hogwarts House, so please check out yours for inspiration! We all know I’m a Ravenclaw at this point. I even made a post detailing why I belong in this house. You can check it out here. I am going to tell you my thoughts on the books Spence promotes for Ravenclaws, whether I agree with him and five of my own recommendations at the end. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Before we begin, feel free to watch the video above for context. I am only going to respond to Spencer’s recommendations, not the additional ones added by the other BookTubers. He mentions that he selected these books because they posed interesting . questions, provoked thought and have a mysterious element to them. Also, I just want to state that I am not speaking for all Ravenclaws with these opinions. This is purely what I think.
1.) RADIO SILENCE by ALICE OSEMAN
Frances is a study machine with one goal. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. Then Frances meets Aled, and for the first time she’s unafraid to be herself. So when the fragile trust between them is broken, Frances is caught between who she was and who she longs to be. Now Frances knows that she has to confront her past. To confess why Carys disappeared…Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.
So if you read my ‘Best Books of 2020’ post, you will know that this incredible book made my list. Well done Spencer, great first recommendation! Spence added this novel to the Ravenclaw video because as we continue to read it, more and more unexpected surprises and layers are introduced. He feels that our analytical side will appreciate the way tropes are subverted in this novel and how new elements are constantly thrown into the story. I couldn’t agree more. It blew me away!
2.) STRANGE THE DREAMER by LAINI TAYLOR
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then, a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
2 for 2 Spencer! If you read my ‘Best Books of 2018’ post, you will once again see that this phenomenal story made my list! Spencer believes Ravenclaws will appreciate this novel because of the mythological elements. He couldn’t be more right! I was just as drawn into the lost, ancient city of Weep as Lazlo Strange! I adored the mythology, world-building and mystery. Plus, it does help that the cover is blue. Us Ravenclaws are partial to that particular hue! If you haven’t checked this duology out yet, what are you waiting for?
3.) WE ARE THE ANTS by SHAUN DAVID HUTCHINSON
Henry Denton has spent years being periodically abducted by aliens. Then the aliens give him an ultimatum: The world will end in 144 days, and all Henry has to do to stop it is push a big red button.
Only he isn’t sure he wants to…
This is where I start to disagree with Spencer (in my personal opinion). I wanted to enjoy this. The writing was beautiful, it even made me tear up in certain moments…but overall there were too many things left open that were never resolved. I felt it dragged way too much as well. Also, there was a scene where a tragic event happens and the main character’s mother doesn’t even appear phased by it. The ending was strange and unsatisfying. However, I can see why Spence picked it. He believes Ravenclaws will be intrigued by the question ‘is humanity worth saving’ and I was…but I was not a fan of the execution sadly. It could’ve been better written. He recommends reading it several times but I’m going to have to pass.
4.) THIS SAVAGE SONG by VICTORIA SCHWAB
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters.
I need to stop Spencer right there because I’m about to dish a very unpopular opinion: I don’t like Victoria Schwab’s writing style. I know, I know, I’m sorry! I have tried reading a few of her books and I can never get into them. I DNF’d this novel after a couple of chapters because I just wasn’t feeling it. Having said that, I know a lot of people who love this book, so I understand why Spence recommended it. There are apparently so many different layers, monsters and questions to examine.
5.) MR. PENUMBRA’S 24 HOUR BOOKSTORE by ROBIN SLOAN
The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, but after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything; instead, they “check out” large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele’s behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends, but when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls.
If you read The Fortune Teller Readathon – My Wrap-Up! you will know I was not a fan of this novel either. Much like We Are the Ants, the concept was intriguing but the execution poor. Spencer believes that Ravenclaw’s will be able to relate to the analytical, problem-solving protagonist but I had zero connection with him. I wanted so much more. This book is supposed to be about a secret society but there is so much talk about Google and modern technology that it took the adventurous spirit away from that.
My overall thoughts are that Spencer’s book recommendations for Ravenclaw’s were pretty spot on. I was a big fan of the first two he mentioned and the rest intrigued me enough to check them out. Just because I didn’t rate them five stars, doesn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate why they would appeal to my particular Hogwarts House. I have left a few of my own recommendations below!
MY 5 RAVENCLAW BOOK/SERIES RECOMMENDATIONS
1.) The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff – mixed media, codes, transcripts, illustrations and more. Perfect for the analytical Ravenclaw!
2.) The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – Ravenclaw’s will love the witty dialogue and constant mind-games these two protagonists play with one another. It’s a steamy, fun read!
3.) The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo – this thought-provoking novel written in verse will intrigue and touch my girls and guys in blue.
4.) The Truly Devious trilogy by Maureen Johnson – this series is full of mystery, intrigue and riddles to solve. Perfect for my Ravenclaws!
5.) Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake – this story is full of philosophical questions and talking points. You will want to discuss this with your fellow Ravenclaws once you turn the last page.
I hope you enjoyed this post. What books do you recommend for Ravenclaws? What is your Hogwarts House? I would check out Spencer’s other recommendations and see if they match your reading style. Make it into a challenge! Thanks for stopping by!
Peace & Love xoxo