Travel Tips: Aeroplane Books

If there's one thing I know about airlines, it's that sometimes they don't offer the best entertainment for non-international flights. Therefore, it's an absolute must to bring your own entertainment. Sure, you can spend your time surfing Netflix and watching Downton Abbey on your iPad, but you could also take it as an opportunity to crack open a new book. Here are my recommendations:

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

"If I’m going to be a student here, treated on equal terms, then I have to be willing to do everything that they do,” I said. “There can’t be two sets of expectations, one for them and one for me, the only girl in the class."

Image courtesy of Beauty and the Bookshelf

Set in England during the early 1900s, the novel follows a young girl named Vicky. Vicky's family is part of the upper class, so she has almost everything she could ask for. However, all Vicky wants to do is be an artist. She secretly attends art classes while at finishing school in France, and while there, poses nude. Her finishing school finds out and expels her, causing her parents to quickly try and find a new husband for their daughter. 

Just to clarify, the novel is not at all about posing nude and flashing yourself to the whole world. I was worried about that before reading it, but rest assured, the book is 100% appropriate for most age groups (probably too advanced for third graders, but not for a smart seventh grader). It's also a great novel. Many historical fiction novels are super boring and lackluster, but this one manages to be both educational and entertaining. Also, there's a bit of information about the women's suffrage movement in it, which I loved. 

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood 

“A trio of sisters will come of age, all witches. One of the sisters, who will be gifted with mind-magic, will be the most powerful witch born in centuries."

Image courtesy of Alice Marvels

 Set in an imaginative world based on the ages of the Salem witch trials, Born Wicked tells the story of three sisters: Cate, Mara, and Tess. Cate is the leader of the pack, and the main character. Her mother died when she was young and entrusted Cate with the care of her sisters. However, things are complicated because Cate and her sisters are witches, something considered evil in a society run by the Brotherhood. To complicate things even more, Cate's "choosing day" is coming up, and she must decide between joining the Sisterhood and marrying her childhood best friend... but what if she's not interested in either?

I'll admit, my synopsis is a little cheesy, but this book really is fantastic. The writing is lush, but not to the point that the book is boring, and the plot keeps at a decent pace. I really loved all the imagery in this book: the poofy dresses, tea parties, and rose gardens brought me back to the colonial era. The biggest reason that I would recommend this as a good plane read is due to the fact that the book manages to deal with more serious issues without resorting to death and destruction. The novel is more focused on the characters, plot, and scenery as opposed to the "thrill" factor. With that said, if you do decide to read the second book, be prepared for a lot more action. 

Well, I hope you enjoyed hearing me blab about my favorite books. Goodbye for now!