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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
Thank you to bibliolifestyle and WilliamMorrow for the gifted copy
Thank you to Libro.fm for the gifted ALC
Mexican-American brothers Pedro and Daniel grow up in 1970s Ohio. Both gay and neurodivergent, the duo struggle to find their places in school and at home. Together, the brothers endure an abusive mother, come out, find love, and live through the AIDS epidemic.
PEDRO & DANIEL is a marvelous and moving story that covers heavy yet essential topics. I love the brothers’ relationship and their different approaches to life. While it’s labeled as YA, there are philosophical and medical passages I’m not sure if younger audiences would fully grasp.
With poetic prose and absorbing writing, PEDRO & DANIEL is a beautiful ode to brotherly love inspired by Erebia’s own life.
Mexican-American brothers Pedro and Daniel grow up in 1970s Ohio. Both gay and neurodivergent, the duo struggle to find their places in school and at home. Together, the brothers endure an abusive mother, come out, find love, and live through the AIDS epidemic.
PEDRO & DANIEL is a marvelous and moving story that covers heavy yet essential topics. I love the brothers’ relationship and their different approaches to life. While it’s labeled as YA, there are philosophical and medical passages I’m not sure if younger audiences would fully grasp.
With poetic prose and absorbing writing, PEDRO & DANIEL is a beautiful ode to brotherly love inspired by Erebia’s own life.
As an autistic girl who never talks and is ignored by her classmates, Ariana Ruiz is over the moon when the popular Luis starts paying attention to her. But after a party goes wrong, Ari isn't sure about Luis anymore. Faced with the aftermath, Ari must find her power and voice to survive him.
Reyes' sophomore novel again blows me away. I love how they describe Ari's inner monologue and the care they took to write a neurodivergent character. The friendship between Ari and her fellow survivors is another aspect I enjoyed. While the plot moves quickly, Reyes covers the heavy topic of sexual assault and the journey to healing with extreme empathy that also feels realistic.
SURVIVAL GUIDE is an essential glimpse into the aftermaths of unimaginable violence through a young woman finding her voice.
Reyes' sophomore novel again blows me away. I love how they describe Ari's inner monologue and the care they took to write a neurodivergent character. The friendship between Ari and her fellow survivors is another aspect I enjoyed. While the plot moves quickly, Reyes covers the heavy topic of sexual assault and the journey to healing with extreme empathy that also feels realistic.
SURVIVAL GUIDE is an essential glimpse into the aftermaths of unimaginable violence through a young woman finding her voice.
Thank you to Flatiron Books for the gifted ARC
Set in the 1950s, Victor Chin’s life is upended after being diagnosed with Hansen’s disease at 15. He’s forced to move away from his family in New York City to a federal institution for patients in Carville, Louisiana. Together with his fellow residents, Victor experiences love, friendship, jealousy, joy, and his passion for music in this coming-of-age story.
ARMADILLOS covers topics of fractured families, the life of Chinese immigrants, and entrenched racism that impacts every aspect of one’s life. Since the focus is on Victor’s experience living in the leprosarium and figuring out life with other teenagers, the book leans more toward YA than most coming-of-age novels.
There are also shifting POVs between Victor’s family members. I thought these are the weaker aspects of ARMADILLOS as they are more slice-of-life musings, and the readers don’t get a full picture of the supporting characters.
ARMADILLOS is a solid debut inspired by the story of Chin-Tanner’s father. It explores an important historical aspect of Hansen’s disease and the life-saving power of music.
Set in the 1950s, Victor Chin’s life is upended after being diagnosed with Hansen’s disease at 15. He’s forced to move away from his family in New York City to a federal institution for patients in Carville, Louisiana. Together with his fellow residents, Victor experiences love, friendship, jealousy, joy, and his passion for music in this coming-of-age story.
ARMADILLOS covers topics of fractured families, the life of Chinese immigrants, and entrenched racism that impacts every aspect of one’s life. Since the focus is on Victor’s experience living in the leprosarium and figuring out life with other teenagers, the book leans more toward YA than most coming-of-age novels.
There are also shifting POVs between Victor’s family members. I thought these are the weaker aspects of ARMADILLOS as they are more slice-of-life musings, and the readers don’t get a full picture of the supporting characters.
ARMADILLOS is a solid debut inspired by the story of Chin-Tanner’s father. It explores an important historical aspect of Hansen’s disease and the life-saving power of music.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the gifted ALC
As a talented sound editor, Montserrat has always been overlooked and excluded from the boys' club ruling the movie industry in the 90s. When her childhood best friend/washed-up actor/the target of her secret crush Tristán discovers his new neighbor is involved in filming a legendary unfinished movie, Montserrat and Tristán are recruited to help complete the project. But soon, the duo finds they're tangled in a hidden secret of magic, curses, and white supremacy.
SILVER NITRATE has a slower build-up, but I couldn't put it down once the story picks up pace! I love learning about the movie industry and the different filming technologies. The technical terms can sometimes be quite niche, and some might find that it affects the pacing; still, I had a blast.
Moreno-Garcia is talented at infusing her worlds with an eerie and gothic vibe, and SILVER NITRATE is no exception. I particularly enjoyed the magic and curses in the story, even though some sections are pretty scary, and I even covered my mirrors at one point because I got so spooked
As a talented sound editor, Montserrat has always been overlooked and excluded from the boys' club ruling the movie industry in the 90s. When her childhood best friend/washed-up actor/the target of her secret crush Tristán discovers his new neighbor is involved in filming a legendary unfinished movie, Montserrat and Tristán are recruited to help complete the project. But soon, the duo finds they're tangled in a hidden secret of magic, curses, and white supremacy.
SILVER NITRATE has a slower build-up, but I couldn't put it down once the story picks up pace! I love learning about the movie industry and the different filming technologies. The technical terms can sometimes be quite niche, and some might find that it affects the pacing; still, I had a blast.
Moreno-Garcia is talented at infusing her worlds with an eerie and gothic vibe, and SILVER NITRATE is no exception. I particularly enjoyed the magic and curses in the story, even though some sections are pretty scary, and I even covered my mirrors at one point because I got so spooked
