My library has this in fiction, but it reads like a non-fiction account, by which I mean it feels very real. It wasn't super clear to me why Carlos's My library has this in fiction, but it reads like a non-fiction account, by which I mean it feels very real. It wasn't super clear to me why Carlos's mom was willing to risk her life (and her son's life) to go to the US. She was unhappy in El Salvador, toiling away for very little money. But she doesn't seem super happy and prosperous in the US either. That's what makes this story seem so real to me. In real life, people make choices that aren't logical. Carlos and his mother aren't perfectly brave or perfectly noble. They come across as scared and sometimes frustrating. They are motivated by their love for each other and hope for a better life.
Be warned, the story has a fair amount of violence and is super harrowing at times. ...more
This made me think of Brown Girl Dreaming, which I mean as a big compliment. There are poems here for Michelle Obama, Breonna Taylor, and Black girls This made me think of Brown Girl Dreaming, which I mean as a big compliment. There are poems here for Michelle Obama, Breonna Taylor, and Black girls everywhere; but my favorites were the autobiographical ones about Portland, Watson's family, and her personal experiences.
I think it's safe to say this is going to win some awards and deserves them. ...more
This is a meandering first-person narrative about a teenage boy from rural Vermont. It's a tough/sad read because he's living in poverty with his drugThis is a meandering first-person narrative about a teenage boy from rural Vermont. It's a tough/sad read because he's living in poverty with his drug-addicted mother. He finds a big dog and names him Gather.
The book is written as if Ian is trying to explain himself to the reader. I liked this style of writing a lot, but it was sometimes frustrating how non-linear it was. It takes concentration on the reader's part to follow Ian's train of thought.
Ian has a hard time in school but there's an angel/hero teacher called The Sharpe who looks out for him. Ian is very smart, but his values don't align well with the school's. Ian wants to work the land, be a farmer, fix things, etc. It's hard for him to be around rich kids and folks who don't appreciate nature.
This novel takes place just before WWII. It's (tragically) hopeful about peace in Europe. There's a lot of mystery and action (in the sky!), a tiny biThis novel takes place just before WWII. It's (tragically) hopeful about peace in Europe. There's a lot of mystery and action (in the sky!), a tiny bit of romance, and a big cast of characters from around Europe. Young readers will learn a bit about the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini, and the Gestapo. Spoiler alert: (view spoiler)[When there are Nazis involved it's not that hard to guess who will turn out to be the bad guy. (hide spoiler)]
This felt like a spy thriller to me, even though there was no spying. It's about an Olympics-inspired airplane race, but the race never felt that important to me. The thrills come from a lack of trust between the teenaged contestants and the adults in charge plus the looming threat of sabotage and murder.
The title refers to people with a special kind of passport given to refugees who do not have citizenship anywhere. ...more
I was impressed by how well the 20th-century art crime plot flowed alongside the 15th- and 16th-century narrative of Da Vinci's life. I imagine when the author first pitched the idea it might have seemed like too much for a children's book. Like, pick one. However, the book succeeds in tying together the two time periods. I particularly enjoyed the author's insights about how the French detectives lacked the inductive reasoning skills of Da Vinci (as in Leonardo would have been able to solve the case because he was a great observer and not hampered by preconceived notions like only a certain type of person would be able to steal the Mona Lisa).
I also thought the book handled the relative lack of information about Lisa Gherardini with sensitivity. It may be eye-opening to some young readers to learn that most women had no agency in Renaissance Italy. Even including the 20th-century narrative, this book doesn't have many female characters, which is disappointing, but I suppose a consequence of the time period. One of the later chapters examines how influential male art critics became obsessed with Mona Lisa. Here's a great quote:
"When Lisa Gherardini sat for Leonardo, she was powerless. She couldn't even choose her own husband. Now, hundreds of years later, her portrait is powerful enough to lure men to their deaths." (page 201)
I learned so much from this book and was entertained to boot. It's a great work of narrative nonfiction for readers young and old. ...more
I loved the writing. This won a lot of awards and I can totally see why. In my opinion, the plot wasn't as good as the characters, style, and setting.I loved the writing. This won a lot of awards and I can totally see why. In my opinion, the plot wasn't as good as the characters, style, and setting. There were a few times I was confused, most notably (view spoiler)[when the rebbe dybbuk was out to get the gentile gangster Sullivan. Why? I understood why the rebbe possessed his son-in-law but not why he switched to wanting to kill Sullivan. And after being such a formidable figure, he was disposed of pretty easily. Also, I'm not sure I believe a cruel shop boss would confess and give up so easily. The ending was satisfying in some ways, but it sort of felt like the author decided to give everyone closure a little too easily. (hide spoiler)]
In terms of content, I can see readers as young as 11 or 12 enjoying this if they are big readers, especially if they are interested in Judaism, angels, and seeing LGBTQ+ characters in a historical setting. One human character is gay and one of the angels is non-binary (referred to with the pronoun "it" throughout the book, which was ok I thought because it's a supernatural being, not a human).
The relationship between Ash and Uriel was great -- not fully romantic (or at least not sexual on the page) but more than friendship, maybe best described as soulmates.
Rose was a great character to root for. And, of course, we love Grandma Rivke. This book is a dream for a reader who wants to feel like the characters are loveable friends. ...more
I was looking forward to listening to the audiobook, but it was too corny for me. I guess I'm jaded when it comes to YA fantasy. I only want to read iI was looking forward to listening to the audiobook, but it was too corny for me. I guess I'm jaded when it comes to YA fantasy. I only want to read in this genre if there are no cliches. I rolled my eyes when Nick was described as having the physique of an Olympic gymnast and "the bluest eyes I've ever seen" on top of smelling amazing and having a smile "probably on a poster in a dentist's office." Blergh. I did keep listening beyond perfectly-handsome-Nick, but not much....more
Very cute, romantic stories. I think most of them have teen or new-adult characters. The weirdest one was "The Prince and the Troll" which I didn't toVery cute, romantic stories. I think most of them have teen or new-adult characters. The weirdest one was "The Prince and the Troll" which I didn't totally get, but it felt like it was about technology and/or climate change? Maybe? ...more
This was SO GOOD. I immediately recommended it to a bunch of my friends and family. So much information in this book was new to me -- it's almost embaThis was SO GOOD. I immediately recommended it to a bunch of my friends and family. So much information in this book was new to me -- it's almost embarrassing that I didn't know this stuff. That is until I remembered that non-heterosexual behavior in zoological research has been intentionally suppressed for hundreds of years. ...more
I don’t like much horror, but this was recommended as a great audiobook and I’ve heard good things about this author. I ended up liking it, particularI don’t like much horror, but this was recommended as a great audiobook and I’ve heard good things about this author. I ended up liking it, particularly because of the way it remixed Carrie by Stephen King. This is the kind of YA book that feels like it’s really for teens, not just about teens. I immediately recommended it to my niece. ...more
My library has this in the children's section, but I think it's more of a teen book. Karthik is a rising 9th grader with a lot of responsibilities andMy library has this in the children's section, but I think it's more of a teen book. Karthik is a rising 9th grader with a lot of responsibilities and a big crush on a girl he keeps running into at the ice cream shop. I liked how Karthik connected to Leonard Berstein, but the plot was very slow-moving and so I didn't finish this. I have approximately 100 books I want to read this winter and this didn't grab me, but I may come back to it later. It's summer vibes books for sure. ...more
Surprisingly hilarious! I listened to the audiobook in anticipation of the movie version coming soon. The best part of this book is Birdy's sharp, gruSurprisingly hilarious! I listened to the audiobook in anticipation of the movie version coming soon. The best part of this book is Birdy's sharp, grumpy, occasionally wise voice. Like a modern teenager, she seems to be annoyed by everything, particularly the limits put on her as a girl. Unlike a modern teenager, she and her community are at the mercy of the politics of the Middle Ages. Her father intends to marry her off regardless of Birdy's wishes. She manages to trick her suitors into rejecting her, but she can't escape her fate.
As Cushman writes in the author's note, in those days you were born into a certain role and you had little choice but to play it. This is not a book with a modern moral like "You can be whatever you want to be if you work hard." Instead, this book imagines how it might have felt for a fiery young lady to be so constrained and powerless. How can she accept such a life?
The unexpected delights of this book are many. It's pretty gross (they eat a lot of eel pie, there are illnesses, injuries, disgusting remedies, so many fleas, etc.). I really enjoyed hearing about all the obscure saints and what they were sainted for. So strange and funny the way Birdy deadpans their miraculous achievements.
The book is also realistically dark like when Birdy attends a hanging. She's excited to see a criminal punished but it's just young boys and it's horrible.
I think the movie will have to give this story a stronger plot. I'm also really confused about the casting of Birdy's father. In the book Birdy describes him as a nasty beast, but he's played by Andrew Scott (AKA hot priest from Fleabag). Does not compute. ...more
1. It felt didactic at times, like the purpose of the story was to educate readers about being asexual and otherThings I didn't like about this book:
1. It felt didactic at times, like the purpose of the story was to educate readers about being asexual and other queer identities. I understand why Oseman felt she needed to be super clear in the text about certain things (e.g. saying that asexuality is a "big, big spectrum with a whole range of different feelings and experiences") because she didn't want to come across as trying to speak for all asexual people. So it's funny/sad to me that there are negative reviews of this book based on readers feeling that Oseman was trying to say all asexual people are like her. To quote one review, "...this book very much makes the reader feel like this is THE ONLY aroace experience." Oseman inserted didactic dialogue to clearly point out that hers is *not* the only ace experience. And yet this negative review has 400+ likes. I think the takeaway here is that there will always be this kind of criticism when you're writing a book about an underrepresented identity. The "danger of the single story" will always haunt your reviews, even when you insert disclaimers.
2. There wasn't much of a plot beyond typical friendship/romance drama.
Things I did like about this book:
1. The characters were for the most part very lovable and fun to spend time with.
2. I enjoy a college setting and learning new things about how the first year at university in the UK is different from the US. Is "fresher" a new term to replace "freshman" bc it's genderless? Is getting "college married" a thing at most UK universities? How do you pronounce soc? I know it's short for society, but I still want to say it like the beginning of the word social.
3. There was some really lovely exploration of friendship being just as important as romantic relationships. In other media (e.g. Sex and the City) you sometimes see characters claiming that friendships are equal to or greater than romantic partnerships, but it felt more poignant in Loveless because Georgia is so certain she will never be in a romantic partnership. And I loved when she went all in on a romcom grand gesture for her friend. ...more
I actually read the webcomic and not the book. I read it on my little phone for hours. I think I read all four volumes in two days. It's delightful anI actually read the webcomic and not the book. I read it on my little phone for hours. I think I read all four volumes in two days. It's delightful and easy to get lost in. ...more
The audiobook narrator had a voice I loved, but listening to the audiobook left me confused sometimes about the plot. It didn't make sense to me untilThe audiobook narrator had a voice I loved, but listening to the audiobook left me confused sometimes about the plot. It didn't make sense to me until the end, and even then I was not 100% sure I understood. Still, this is a lush fantasy with a tween-friendly romance element and overall very enjoyable.
The Goddess of Moon and Memory was the character who interested me the most, though sometimes I thought she was just there to add in excitement/violence.
I would probably read a spin-off about the sidekick boys who maybe are in love. ...more
My friend likes this series so I gave it a shot, but I can't stand a naive/racist heroine whose journey involves the slow realization that bigotry is My friend likes this series so I gave it a shot, but I can't stand a naive/racist heroine whose journey involves the slow realization that bigotry is bad.
I think the School Library Journal review nailed it:
"Teens will have to get through hundreds of pages of stereotypical characterizations of marginalized groups (non-Gardnerians are hateful and ultraviolent, their blood is "polluted," they mate like animals, the non-Gardnerian women are trying to steal Gardnerian men, etc.) before Elloren begins to recognize that maybe Gardnerians are the bad guys in her realm. Although unlearning prejudices is a timely theme in YA, Forest handles this issue clumsily." ...more
I finished reading this book about teens who murder a child just because they think they can get away with it, and then there was another horrific schI finished reading this book about teens who murder a child just because they think they can get away with it, and then there was another horrific school shooting. So, yeah. Not feeling great. ...more
Some mysteries are left unexplained at the end of the series, which is frustrating, but this is still a highly enjoyable book full of romance and angsSome mysteries are left unexplained at the end of the series, which is frustrating, but this is still a highly enjoyable book full of romance and angst and fun. ...more
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