Top Five Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm where bookworms get to chat about their top five books based on different topics.
“A” = Asking for It by Louise O’Neill
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I say it every time. I was slow getting into the beginning because of how strongly unlikeable the main character, Emma, was. Through my reading I learned her judgmental and better-than-thou attitude was a choice by the author to critique slut shaming, and ended up thoroughly enjoying Asking for It.
“B” = Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
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My second favourite Ruta Sepetys book (which could change, TBD when I get my hands on her newest Fountains of Silence). The caring relationship between the main character and her family shatter my heart over and over as they suffered the cruelty of the Stalin regime.
“C” = Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
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When I want a book with environmentalist themes, I immediately jump to Hiaasen’s work. He’s both hilarious and on-the-nose with his comments concerning conservation. A must-read for fans of likeable protags and quirky side characters.
“D” = Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley
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Every time I mention this book I say that it left me an emotional wreck. I don’t want everything I read to do this to me (I mean, I would never be able to get through a day if every book I read threw my emotions into a spin). In this case, I was treated to a dose of angst and self-questioning with amazing writing that I could read again and again.
“E” = Entwined by Heather Dixon
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This is my absolute favourite kind of fantasy novel. The type that brushes up against real life, where the fantastical weaves into the everyday so seamlessly that it’s as thought we always had magic in our history. Add in a theme of family and I 100% call this book a favourite.
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What are your favourite books that begin with A-B-C-D-E?
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Book Princess Reviews 
I almost put “Asking For It” on my list, too! What an incredible book. I struggled as well to like Emma, but you’re right, it was definitely a conscious choice on the author’s part to make a statement. It’s so brilliantly written, not just because of that, but all the other things O’Neill does to create this powerful message about how backwards our culture is when it comes to treating women.
And I love Carl Hiaasen! “Hoot” is one of my all time favorites and “Chomp” looks so cute!
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So great to hear from someone else who enjoyed Asking for It! I don’t think that book gets enough love. Like you say, there is such a powerful message within its pages. I felt really shook when I finished.
Also yay for another Carl Hiaasen appreciator! Hoot is so good, and I’m not mad at the movie adaptation. Chomp is definitely another one of his good works. Thanks for commenting!
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Which was your favorite by Ruta Sepetys? salt to the Sea? Because I so loved that book!
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My favourite Ruta Sepetys is Out of the Easy. That book holds a special place in my heart. I liked Salt to the Sea, but the short chapters made it harder to the connect to the characters. Which is so frustration, because Sepetys writes the most amazing characters.
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Out of the Easy is one that does not get as much publicity as her other books! Thanks for recommending this one Sha!
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Agreed! Glad to share the love, Sophie!
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Deposing Nathan is on my TBR, I need to get to it soon, I’ve heard such great things about it!!
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Enjoy it! I loved the book, it’s deeply emotional and certainly not an easy read, but adds a voice to YA that I think was missing.
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Ooh, I loved Deposing Nathan, and I’ve heard so many fantastic things about Between Shades of Gray. As usual, when prompted to choose a book of any kind, my mind has gone blank and I can’t remember anything I’ve ever read that starts with ABCDE (except for Deposing Nathan 😉
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Haha, I was searching intensely for books with those letters. I felt some real fear in my hear knowing that soon I would get to letters like W and X. Yes, Deposing Nathan was so good! And you need to read Between Shades of Gray, that’s a review I’d love to see from you.
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Carl Hiassen was my literal obsession in middle school! I loved Hoot and his other works, but Flush truly nailed it for me because of how ridiculously passionate (and funny) the dad was about the environment in that book. Not to mention, Hiassen’s stories always nail the family and friendships element; I come out smiling in the end, every time. 😊
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Yes, I can’t say enough about how well Hiaasen writes family and friendship. I’m trying to remember the plot of Flush right now… Ahh, yes, the dad who sinks the boat. That one was so, so good. Now I’m in the mood for a re-read. I need more of Hiaasen’s books on recommended lists for children.
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