Uppercase is a YA book subscription box from Lisa Parkin. Each month Uppercase sends you a new YA book, a related accessory, and exclusive content from the author of the chosen book.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Uppercase
The Cost: $29 (If you want them to pick a book based on your tastes the cost is $35 each month)
The Products: “When you sign up for Uppercase, every month you’ll receive:
- 1 exciting new YA book
- 1 book accessory (funky items like bookmarks, posters, jewelry, totes, etc)
- A personal explanation of the choice + other similar titles
- Discount codes for popular book buying websites
- Exclusive content from the author of that month’s book”
Ships to: US and Canada (extra shipping costs for Canadian subscribers).
Ships via: USPS
Check out all my reviews of Uppercase and all my reviews of Book Subscription Boxes!
Each box includes a printed sheet detailing the items included, and a note from Lisa.
There is also a read along bookmark with codes for when you hit certain pages - and you'll get questions, polls, videos, etc. that go along with the book.
Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter - Retail Value $17.99 (On Amazon for $10.58)
Book Summary from Amazon:
Vassa in the Night is an enchanting, modern retelling of the Russian folktale “Vassilissa the Beautiful” for young adults by the critically-acclaimed author, Sarah Porter. Leigh Bardugo,New York Times bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy, calls it, "A dark, thoroughly modern fairy tale crackling with wit and magical mayhem."
In the enchanted kingdom of Brooklyn, the fashionable people put on cute shoes, go to parties in warehouses, drink on rooftops at sunset, and tell themselves they’ve arrived. A whole lot of Brooklyn is like that now—but not Vassa’s working-class neighborhood.
In Vassa’s neighborhood, where she lives with her stepmother and bickering stepsisters, one might stumble onto magic, but stumbling out again could become an issue. Babs Yagg, the owner of the local convenience store, has a policy of beheading shoplifters—and sometimes innocent shoppers as well. So when Vassa’s stepsister sends her out for light bulbs in the middle of night, she knows it could easily become a suicide mission.
But Vassa has a bit of luck hidden in her pocket, a gift from her dead mother. Erg is a tough-talking wooden doll with sticky fingers, a bottomless stomach, and a ferocious cunning. With Erg’s help, Vassa just might be able to break the witch’s curse and free her Brooklyn neighborhood. But Babs won’t be playing fair….
Inspired by the Russian folktale “Vassilissa the Beautiful” and her years of experience teaching creative writing to students in New York City public schools, acclaimed author Sarah Porter weaves a dark yet hopeful tale about a young girl’s search for home, love, and belonging.
And every Uppercase box book is signed by the author!
I'm a few chapters in and I can say I've never read anything like this book before! If you've found this book to be a little too bizarre for you, some reviewers on Goodreads recommend reading the summary of the Russian fairytale before you start the book. I think that helped me!
Punk Rock Writers Notebook - Value $10
This lined notebook has illustrations on the corners of the pages and on the back as well:
Uppercase Box is so good at finding adorable bookish items I didn't know existed. (And Uppercase is also really good at convincing me I always need another notebook!)
More cuteness on the way:
Cassette Tape Bookmarks - Value $12?
These "cassette tapes" are magnetic bookmarks and the tape is thin ribbon:
I think this is the cutest bookmark I've seen in a while (and I get a lot of book subscription boxes).
Love it!
And this box also included a promotional sticker from the book:
Verdict: This box has a value of about $32. I'm happy with the value (a little more than the cost this month), plus there is additional value to the signed book! I'm almost always happy with this subscription. I think the curation is great, and it seems like my taste in YA books is similar to Lisa's so that works out very well!
What do you think of this month's Uppercase box? Is the book weird to you, too?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.