Leander Public Library’s Comments (group member since Feb 24, 2018)

Leander Public Library’s comments from the Literally Leander group.

Our featured book for June is Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland.

Chaos & Flame is the opening book of a fantasy duology, with the second book published last month! Both authors have written sci-fi/fantasy novels. Gratton has published YA and adult books, while Ireland has focused on YA and middle grade.

The discussion prompts for this month were written by a staff member.

1. Between Darling and Talon, which point of view did you enjoy most? Which character did you identify with best, and why?

2. In the prologue, young Caspian paints a single girl again and again—first without eyes, and later with figurative eyes, like suns and moons, or fire and pearls. What is the significance of the eyes in the prologue, and how does their symbolism change over the course of the novel?

3. How would you describe “Chaos” as it’s presented in the novel? What is its role, and why is it important enough to be part of the book’s title?

4. Discuss the relationship between Talon and Caspian, as well as their duties in their respective roles. Do you think their relationship would be different if they weren’t High Prince Regent and War Prince?

5. What did you make of the final chapters? Did you see this climax coming? Were you surprised at how events unfolded?

6. Are you planning to read the sequel, Blood & Fury? What do you think the future holds for Darling and Talon?

Greetings to everyone!

Literally Leander will be ending monthly activity at the end of July 2024. This is due to several factors, including patron participation and staff time. Staff are moving their energy into new projects and ideas to improve our library's offerings.

The library is currently only offering adult book clubs in-person, however you can sign up for our newsletter to see what we're reading, anticipating, and featuring.

Thank you all for your participation in this book club for the last 5 years!

- Leander Public Library

This month, we're reading Marie Lu's newest novel, Stars and Smoke.

Lu has written YA novels in many genres, but Stars and Smoke is her first spy thriller/romance book. It's the start of a series, with the sequel, Icon and Inferno, scheduled to come out next month!

Our discussion prompts for this month were written by a staff member. There may be spoilers for the novel in this thread, so beware!

1. Describe how Winter and Sydney’s relationship evolved over the course of the novel.

2. The novel is told in dual POV from Winter and Sydney’s perspectives. Which character’s POV did you prefer reading, and why?

3. Discuss the role that ambition played in the novel.

4. What did you think about the novel’s conclusion?

5. Are you planning to read Icon and Inferno? What would you like to see happen next for Winter and Sydney?

Our featured book for April is Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross.

In the year since it's publication, this historical fantasy has been given over 350,000 ratings from Goodreads users and has maintained an impressive rating of 4.2 stars! The novel was nominated for the CYBILS Award for YA Speculative Fiction and the Barnes & Nobles Book of the Year. It was awarded the She Reads Best Book for YA and the Libby Award for Best YA Fiction.

The following discussion prompts were written by a staff member. Please be aware that there may be spoilers in the prompts and discussion.

1. Pretend you are pitching this book to someone else. How would you write a synopsis for this book? What were the main things you wanted to point out? How does your synopsis compare to the official one?

2. Iris and Roman make their living by writing, and even form a bond by exchanging letters. Do you believe that there is power in words? Have you ever had a pen pal or sent a letter to a stranger? If so, did your correspondence affect, change, or shape you in any way?

3. In a letter, Iris says to Roman: “It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are. Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.” Do you agree with this statement?

4. How do you think the story would have changed if Iris had read Roman’s last letter (“Iris! Iris, it’s me, Kitt.”) before leaving Oath?

5. How does the depiction of war in Divine Rivals measure up to what you’ve learned in class or seen in movies? Do you know anyone in the armed forces who has shared their story with you?

6. Were you surprised by the revelations about Iris’s brother, Forest, at the end of the novel? Will you be reading the next book, Ruthless Vows? What do you think will happen to Iris and Roman in the future?

This month, we'll be reading Nightbirds, a historical fantasy from Kate J. Armstrong.

Nightbirds marks the author's debut, and follows three young women whose kisses give magic--and who are about to shake up their world.

The discussion prompts this month were borrowed from Scholastic Australia. Please note that there may be spoilers for the novel in the prompts or in the following discussion.

1. How is the use of magic in the upper echelons of Eudean society different to its use on the streets of Simta?

2. Masks—literal and figurative —are worn by many characters in Nightbirds. In what way do you think wearing a mask—hiding the real you behind an image of what you think the world wants to see—is relevant to the novel’s examination of feminism and prohibition?

3. Describe how the novel portrays religion. What does it mean to the characters? How does it shape or lead them?

4. What similarities does Matilde’s family share with Sayer and Aesa’s families?

5. Nightbirds is the first book in a planned duology. Are you planning to read its sequel? What would you like to see happen to Matilde, Aesa and Sayer?

This month, we're reading Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou.

Threads that Bind is the author's debut novel, though her work has previously appeared in short story collections. The sequel to Threads that Bind, Hearts That Cut, has an expected publication date of June 2024.

This month, our discussion prompts were written by a staff member. You are not required to use them! Please note that there is a spoiler for the novel in the last question, and will likely be spoilers in any discussions.

1. What was the purpose of the prologue? Why do you think the author chose to start the book this way?

2. Children of the Fates are born in threes: “The firstborn was the spinner, who could weave new threads. The second was the drawer; she could elongate or shorten a thread, intensifying or weakening the corresponding feeling. And the youngest was the cutter, able to cut whatever thread she desired, even life-threads.” Out of the sisters, why do you think the author made the main character, Io, the youngest? What does her character gain by being a cutter, instead of a spinner or a drawer? Which of three powers do you find the most interesting?

3. Consider Thais’s argument that Io should cut her fate-thread to Edei in order to give him free will. Why do you think Io is unwilling to cut it? What are your thoughts on fate and free will—is one more powerful than the other?

4. In the story, it is revealed that most people have an average of 15 threads that tie them to the things they love most. Think of yourself and those closest to you—do you think that number is too many, too few, or just right, and why?

5. If the average person has 15 threads, Io has over twice as many. What does that say about her character?

6. Discuss the relationships between the Ora sisters, particularly Io and Thais. Which sister, if any, should shoulder most of the blame for their past dysfunction? Why do you think Io allowed her sisters to escape at the end of the book? Do you think that they will ever get along?

This is our hardest, longest challenge of the year. You have 50 parameters to try to meet--good luck!

Bronze Level: 15-29 options met
Silver Level: 30 - 39 options met
Gold Level: 40+ options met

The Rules:
1. All of the books added to your list must be completed in the year 2024. To keep track of your yearly reads, it's easiest to use your Currently Reading shelf or add read dates to your book reviews.
2. Each book can only be used once. Even if the book you've read meets more than one requirement, you can only assign it to one. Shuffling them around as you read different books is perfectly fine!
3. All of the books must be for a young adult audience, unless otherwise specified.For the one that's of a different target audience, you can choose to read a book intended for adults or one intended for middle grade readers, whichever you're more comfortable with!
4. Book club books do count! If you've read them, you certainly deserve to use them!

Copy and paste the list below into your own comment to keep track of your books!

An adult OR middle grade book:
A book set in another country:
A book translated from a foreign language:
A science fiction:
A fantasy:
A mystery/thriller:
A horror:
A historical fiction:
A contemporary fiction:
A dystopian/post-apocalyptic book:
A western:
A magical realism book:
A graphic novel:
A nonfiction book:
A biography/autobiography:
A classic:
A book with a movie/television series:
A book of short stories:
A book written in verse:
A book by an author from a state you’ve lived in:
A book by an author with the same first initial as you:
A book set in space:
A book based on a myth or folklore:
A retelling:
A book about mental health:
The first book in a series:
The last book in a series:
A LGBTQ+ book:
A Goodreads 2023 Choice Awards nominee:
A book recommended by a librarian/library staff:
An author's debut novel:
A book published this year:
A book published before you were born:
A book you picked based on the cover:
A book written by someone using a pseudonym:
A banned/challenged book:
A book with a number in the title:
A book with a color in the title:
A book with a character’s name in the title:
A book with a city, state, country, or continent in the title:
A book with an animal in the title:
A book you would recommend to a friend:
A book you own but have never read before:
A book you didn’t think you would like but did:
A book with more than 500 pages:
A book with less than 300 pages:
A book that made you laugh:
A book that made you cry:
A book you’ve read more than once:
A book with high reviews (a Goodreads average of 4+ stars):

This challenge requires you to read at least 26 books this year... and each one has to start with a different letter of the alphabet.

The Rules
1. Exclude articles like "a/an" and "the." Go with the next full word!
2. All of the books added to your list must be read in year 2024. To ensure that each book is logged, we suggest you use your Currently Reading shelf on your Goodreads profile or add read dates to your book reviews.
3. All of the books on your list must be for a young adult audience. It wouldn't be a challenge if we didn't make it a little bit harder, right?
4. Book club books do count! You read it, you earned it!

Special Rule: For the letter X, you may use a book that has an X anywhere in the title. BUT you can only use each book once; your book for X can't be used for any other letter. Choose wisely!

To keep track of your challenge, copy and paste the list below into your own comment.

A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

We pick out twelve books to feature every year! Can you read all of them?

Copy and paste the list below into your own comment to track your reading progress.

January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

Welcome to another year of young adult books from all genres! We're opening up the year with A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen.

This series opener comes from the author who has written sci-fi/fantasy adventures such as Nyxia and Ashlords. This book mixes fantasy and dark academia that culminates in a spine-tingling survival story.

Discussion prompts for this book were written by a staff member. Please note that there may be spoilers for the book in this thread!

1. What did you think of the world in A Door in the Dark? Which aspect of the world was your favorite?

2. Imagine that you’re writing a pitch for this novel and fill in the blanks with books or movies: this book is a mash-up of _______ and _______. Why did you choose these titles?

3. If you used magic, what object would you use as a wand to store your magic in? Why did you pick this object?

4. Which character was your favorite? Which character death was most devastating for you?

5. Discuss the ending. Were you surprised by the revelations Ren shared with the reader?

6. Will you be reading the sequel, A Whisper in the Walls?

We're almost done with 2023! Goodreads has posted the winners from this year's reader's Choice Awards (see the results here), and now it's time for you to give out your own awards!

Look back on everything you've read this year here, as long as you've added read dates to your reviews, and share what your top books are! Since this is a YA book club, please make sure all of your given awards are for young adult audiences.

Books read in 2023:
Longest book:
Shortest book:
Best Book Club Book:

Best Fiction:
Best Mystery/Thriller:
Best Historical Fiction:
Best Fantasy:
Best Science Fiction:
Best Romance:
Best Horror:
Best Nonfiction:
Best Biography:
Best Graphic Novel:
Best Book of the Year:

Our final book pick for 2023 is Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban.

Lying in the Deep is the author's third book, following All Your Twisted Secrets and These Deadly Games. In this book, college students attend class aboard a cruise ship, traveling the world... until a shocking murder occurs.

The following discussion prompts were written by a staff member and may have spoilers for the novel, so beware!

1. This book is partially inspired by Death on the Nile. Have you read the book, or seen the movie? What aspects of Death on the Nile did you see in Lying in the Deep?

2. Why do you think the author chose a cruise ship for the setting of this novel? If you had the opportunity to attend Campus on Board, would you? Why or why not?

3. As a college student, Jade is a little older than the typical YA narrator. Why do you think the author chose to make the characters college students instead of high school students?

4. Describe Jade as a narrator. Did you find her to be a reliable narrator? If you were to meet her in person, do you think you would be friends?

5. Were you surprised by the big reveal and ending events? Were you able to piece together the mystery? What are some clues you may have overlooked?

Our book for November is Silver in the Bone by popular fantasy author Alexandra Bracken!

Bracken, who wrote popular series like The Darkest Minds, gives her take on the legend of King Arthur with her latest book. Silver in the Bone was published in April of this year and has an average rating of 3.9 stars from Goodreads users. The sequel for this book, The Mirror of Beasts, is expected to be published in 2024.

The discussion prompts for this book were written by a staff member, and may contain spoilers for the novel.

1. How would you describe Tamsin as a narrator? How does she change over the course of the novel, and what lead to her character growth?

2. Why do you think relic hunters like Tamsin are called “Hollowers”? Does the meaning of the word change from one character to the next? Would you have called them something different, and if so, what?

3. Think about what magic signifies to Tamsin, Cabell, and Emrys. How do their past experiences affect their feelings towards magic?

4. Discuss Nash’s character and describe what he means to both Tamsin and Cabell. In what ways are their views of Nash the same? How do they differ?

5. Are you familiar with the legend of King Arthur? What was your favorite “retelling” aspect in Silver in the Bone

6. Were you surprised by the ending events of the novel? Which revelation was the most shocking?

7. Will you be reading the sequel? What do you think is in the future for Tamsin and the others?

This month, our featured book is Lillie Lainoff's debut novel, One for All. Please note that there may be spoilers for the novel in this thread.

One For All is described as a "gender-bent retelling" of The Three Musketeers, and an OwnVoices novel about chronic illness. This book was chosen to be part of the 2023 Texas Lone Star reading list. Discussion prompts for this book were written by a staff member. Feel free to use them!

1. Have you read The Three Musketeers? What aspects of the novel did you see in One For All?

2. The novel is set in 17th century France. What part of the setting was your favorite? Do you know much about this time period in history?

3. What did you think of Tania as a narrator? What characteristics do you think lent well to her duties for a Musketeer? What were her greatest weaknesses?

4. Tania has a chronic illness known today as POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.) What were some of the things Tania struggled with in the novel that you had never thought about before? How does the book change your view on chronic illness, if changed at all?

5. Discuss Tania’s relationships with her sisters-in-arms: Portia, Aria, and Théa. How did Tania’s friendships with the girls change her view of herself?

This month we're reading The Black Queen by Jumata Emill. Please be aware that there will be spoilers for the book in this thread.

The Black Queen is a mystery/thriller that follows two girls after the death of Nova Albright, the first Black homecoming queen. The book was published in January of this year and has a 4-star rating from Goodreads reviewers.

The discussion prompts this month were written by a staff member.

1. The publisher’s description of the book ends with the claim that: “Everybody loved Nova. And sometimes love is exactly what gets you killed.” What do you think about this claim? Do you believe that love ultimately caused Nova’s demise?

2. The novel is told in a dual POV between two classmates: Duchess Simmons and Tinsley McArthur. Which character’s perspective did you prefer reading, and why?

3. Describe how the relationship between Duchess and Tinsley changed over the course of the novel.

4. Discuss how the themes of systemic racism and bias are explored in the novel.

5. How did you feel about the novel’s ending? Were you surprised when Nova’s murderer was revealed

This month, we're reading Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz. There are definitely spoilers in the discussion prompts, so consider yourself warned if you haven't already finished the book.

Anatomy came out early in 2022 and was an instant hit for YA readers; it was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award last year. It's the opening of a historical fiction duology, with its sequel, Immortality: A Love Story published in February of this year.

Our discussion prompts come from Forever Young Adult, a community of YA readers. Please feel free to use them, but remember, you don't have to!

1. Between the dissections Hazel attends, the medicine she practices at home, and the newsy excerpts between chapters, this book features a lot of 19th century medicine, and Schwartz doesn’t hold back from writing squeamish details. Did you find this interesting or did it make you queasy, or both? What did you think of Schwartz’s world-building overall?

2. Hazel was reluctant to let go of her engagement to her cousin Bernard, because being a viscountess would guarantee her a comfortable life, even if it meant she couldn’t be a proper doctor. Did you understand her reluctance, or did you want Bernard to get stuffed? What would you have done?

3. Jack is what was known as a “Resurrection Man” – a fancy term for body snatcher – who was paid by doctors to dig up fresh graves and bring them corpses to practice medicine on. Did this affect the way you felt about Jack?

4. What did you think of the romance between Hazel and Jack? Do you think Anatomy: A Love Story refers to their romance, or Hazel’s love of medicine?

5. Hazel doesn’t hesitate to hire Jack to bring her corpses, so that she could pass Dr. Beecham’s exam. If the villains of the story are stealing parts and organs from people off the street, is Hazel any more in the “right” if she is stealing corpses?

6. In the end, it’s revealed that Dr. Beecham had uncovered the secret to immortality, which gave the book a magical twist – what did you think of this turn the story took?

7. Do you think Hazel should have taken the immortality serum? If you were Hazel, would you have taken it?

8. What did you think of that ending? Do you think Jack is alive and he and Hazel will be reunited? Do you plan to read the sequel, Immortality?

This month, we're reading Karen M. McManus's most recent novel, Nothing More to Tell.

McManus is a repeat author for this group--we read her debut novel, One of Us Is Lying in 2018! McManus is the author of six mystery/thrillers for YA readers and has won several awards. This book was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction in 2022.

The discussion prompts (which you are free to use should you want to) were written by a staff member.

1. Nothing More to Tell has two narrators: classmates Brynn Gallagher and Tripp Talbot. Which character’s perspective did you prefer reading, and why?

2. The novel contains several flashbacks from Tripp’s perspective about what happened four years earlier when he and some classmates found Mr. Larkin’s body in the woods. How did these flashbacks enhance your understanding of what happened on the day Mr. Larkin died?

3. On her first day back at Saint Ambrose School, Brynn is introduced to the school’s growing class divide and disparity of wealth among students. Explain how the class divide affected Saint Ambrose students, specifically Brynn and Tripp.

4. Describe how Brynn and Tripp’s relationship evolved over the course of the novel.

5. In the novel’s epilogue, Brynn speculated about who killed Mr. Larkin, but the murder was not officially solved. Do you agree with Brynn’s theory of who killed Mr. Larkin, or do you have another suspect in mind? Why do you think McManus chose to leave the novel’s conclusion open ended?

It's summer, and this book is perfect for the season! We're reading The Counselors by Jessica Goodman, a thriller set at summer camp.

The Counselors is Goodman's third YA mystery/thriller. It features life guards, summer camp, complicated friendships, and possible murder.

Discussion prompts for this month were written by a staff member. As always, they're not a requirement and only on offer if you want to use them. Please note that there is a high likelihood of spoilers for the novel within this thread.

1. Have you ever attended summer camp? If so, what was your favorite camp memory?

2. Discuss the divide between the Roxwood locals and the Lake Alpine staffers. Where does Goldie fit in between them? What are the pros and cons of being a part of both groups?

3. Why do you think Goldie allowed Heller and everyone else to blame her for the accident? What does that choice say about her character? Do you think she should have come clean earlier?

4. Describe the dynamic of Goldie, Imogen, and Ava’s friendship. What were the good things in their friendship? What were the bad things?

5. Were you surprised that the girls’ friendship survived Goldie’s accusation of Ava? Do you think the outcome of the book would be different if they were honest with each other earlier?

6. Were you surprised by the identity of the culprits, or did you know beforehand? What clues led you to them?

Our book for May is The Stranded by Sarah Daniels. There are spoilers for the novel within the discussion prompts, so proceed with caution.

Originally published in July 2022 in England, The Stranded made its American debut in January this year. The novel imagines a world in which Europe was destroyed by war.

Our discussion prompts this month were written by a staff member. Please feel free to use them.

1. The Stranded is told through three viewpoints: Esther, Nik, and Hadley. Which point of view did you find most interesting? Why do you think the author chose to feature these three characters? Are there any other characters that you wish had a point of view?

2. Why do you think a cruise ship was chosen as the setting for this novel? If you were the author, would you have chosen to set this book differently? If so, what would you use as the setting?

3. Describe Hadley as the novel’s antagonist. In what ways was he a villain? Did you ever feel any sympathy for him?

4. Nik and May’s leaflet drop caused ripples that affected the rebellion in large ways. Do you think that Nik and May were unprepared for the consequences of their actions? Which consequence do you think affected them the most?

5. Discuss May’s importance to both Esther and Nik. What did you think of May’s character, and how she interacted with others in the story? How does her death change Esther and Nik?

6. Hadley compares himself to Alex. Do you see the connection? In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different?

7. Will you be reading the sequel, The Exiled? What do you think the future holds for Esther, Nik, and the rebellion?

This month, we're reading If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang! Be aware that there will likely be spoilers for the novel in this thread.

If You Could See the Sun is a magical realism novel about a student at an elite Beijing international school who, one day, suddenly possesses the power to turn invisible. The novel is a debut from the author, and has maintained a 4-star rating from Goodreads users since its publication less than a year ago. It was nominated for the 2022 Aurealis Award.

Our discussion prompts this month were written by a staff member. We look forward to seeing anything you had to say about this book!

1. Imagine that you could turn invisible. What would you do with this power?

2. What do you think caused Alice to become invisible? Why?

3. Discuss the relationship Alice has with her classmates, particularly with Henry and Chanel. In what ways did misunderstandings affect their relationships? How did their relationships change over the course of the novel?

4. How does Alice’s knowledge of her classmates’ secrets affect her?

5. Why does Alice put so much pressure on herself? How much of this pressure do you think was influenced by outside sources, like her parents?

6. Alice told Henry that she would "rather be the villain who lives to the end than the hero who winds up dead." How did Alice exemplify the characteristics of an anti-hero?

7. How does Alice assuage her feelings of guilt? Does she deserve the benefit of the doubt? At what point is she fully guilty for her actions, and why?