3.5

I really enjoyed the first of the series, but I felt that this one had a much slower pace for a normal Dean Koontz novel. There was a great deal of time spent on building this into a series, which is great, but I missed the tension that normal happens in a self-contained novel.

Note to self: while I enjoyed the audio--read book #3 instead. nothing against the audio, but maybe the spark will be better.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my review.

I will admit--I was unaware that this was an updated story from one of the Teen Titans tv show. That should have been obvious from the title, but then again I was not of the age group who would have seen the TV show while it was on TV.

This is a really cool storyline. Raven is a teen who is a tragic car accident in which her mother dies. She then goes to New Orleans to live with her aunt and cousin, both of whom she barely knows. Suffering from short term memory loss, Raven starts to have other odd things happen to her. She doesn't know if they are normal, or as a result of the accident.

Throw in the elements of New Orleans Voodoo, and you know there is a good story.

The illustration is great, and I especially love Raven's ?spirit shadow? that shows up. The ARC is not a full color copy, but truthfully, I really loved it that way. But based on what I've seen, the final copy is going to be amazing.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my review.

This one didn't really do it for me. The story was okay, but I felt that it lacked depth.

It's not your typical WWII historical fiction that the market has seen a deluge of. I wouldn't even call it a historical fiction, but more of a personal journey to accepting who you are with the backdrop of WWII.

This book had two halves for me. The story of an insipid teen/early 20's privileged girl who for the first time has been given all freedom with no consequences. Kind of a coming of age story. And then, the real meat of the story--The actual becoming of a person.

What I loved:
The later part of the story, when Viv is an adult. The path that leads her to living her life on her terms. Where she finally owns who she is, how she wants to live her life, and makes no apologies for it!!

YES, GIRL, YES!!!

This section of the book is the reward for the drudgery of the rest. I so appreciate Elizabeth Gilbert showing us a strong, independent, sex-loving, woman who is not defined by a man or a marriage. Bold, honest about her faults, unashamed. Its how we should all live our lives. She finds her way, and learns that family is not who you are related to by blood or marriage.

The meh part:
The beginning and the middle. When Viv first gets to New York, she is a privileged girl who never really had hardships or the need to own up to her actions. She failed out of school--NBD, lets send her to the aunt in NY we don't really approve of. She lives a carefree life, not really working, partying hard. While she was liberated and free to live her life not under the constraints put on female of the time, she did it with out care to the people around her. Flitting from one shiny person to the next. It really was appalling how she dropped the people in her life for the next new person who she thought could get her what she wanted. You almost didn't feel bad for her when her life was nearly destroyed by a scandal. When she goes back home and submits herself to being controlled by her parents again, it was almost too much tedium to bare. She resigned herself to live a boring life without passion or care. I really wanted to give up on this book. Much like Viv had given up on herself.

Cute book about thinking you are weird and realizing that everyone is different and has things about them they find weird too.

The beginning is a little sad with Rumple thinking he is a monster that everyone will be afraid of, so he hides in the sewer and leads a very lonely existence.

Hopefully kids will find this story relatable. Because at one point or another I think we all feel like we don't belong.

There is so much going on in here. A bit too much! Death, grief, parents who can't parent, lying, actual trauma. Do we have to have YA novels filled with so much conflict that it leaves you dizzy trying to figure out who the protagonist is. I think that's part of the problem. I felt like I was being forced to want to root for Maia. So many hints were dropped about "who she used to be" but we never get to see which that was. I ended up feeling like she was living a life and had this poor me attitude throughout. Yes, she was grieving the death of her sister, but it didn't connect for me.
On the flip side, I felt that Chris was a more realistic character. I would have preferred an #ownvoices author though. Much of it felt real and true. The dysphoria, conflicted emotions, tension. But other bits felt odd. Maybe it's my own cis viewpoint, but at times I felt that he was characterized as a cis Male with cis Male privilege, and then the author would occasionally add in--oh, I know how that felt as a girl, so I have to be mindful of how I present as a Male-to not make it seem that way. Chris was a mix of what I thought were authentic reactions/actions/emotions and not.

Now onto the parents.

I am tired of the parents fall apart and leave the kid to take care of themselves trope. It doesn't do justice to the grieving process, and makes me wonder if all teens feel like their parents are going to "disappear" if tragedy happens. It does nothing to show that there are many faces of greif and the process of grieving. If you are going to introduce such a huge arc of sibling death, then in expect more.

Chris's dad seemed right on appropriate. But his mom???? Again, let's throw in a story arc because it's what is expected- trans kid not supported by their parent(s). Yes, that is a reality. I see it every day. But to have mom be supportive of everything in Chris's life until the point he realizes his truth??? And then a year of her being in opposition and them he is gone two months and comes back and she is all good?? It just doesn't add up. Her point about grieving who Chris was as a girl and the projected future she had put on him is real. From personal experience that is a true process. But this went to an extreme that didn't seem in character. I didn't buy it.

As a parent of a trans kid, I pick up these novels to try and help me understand and relate. While I appreciate the story line of a normal teen relationship for all, my over all impression is that there was too many story arcs that distracted from that.

I received an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley.

3.5 stars.

How do you rate a memoir? It's essentially a person's own reflection of the events that happened in their life. Maybe they are true, maybe not. Possibly embellished, sometimes events are skimmed over.

This book to me had two sections. Pre-college as part one, and with the Duke college years as part two.
The first part, has a humorous overtone that carries the story. Even though Jacob is fighting to have their identity seen, he recounts this time in a manner that makes it easy for the reader to relate--by adding humor. Is that the right thing to do? Do they need to make things easier for us, is that what they are even doing? I am not qualified to answer that-- I don't know Jacob personally. But I did appreciate the unabashed honesty that they shared.

Part 2-- the Duke years. The tone in this part of the book was much different. There was a ton more anger. At times, it seemed as I was drowning in "poor me". Jacob took every no, every rejection as a personal attack on their gender. At times, they would vacillate between nobody likes me, I am all by myself, nobody supports me, everyone is out to get me and Everyone loves me. However, the author fully admits that they are a very driven, overachiever who burns bright and flames out. Who also takes on more and more in an attempt to be validated. This is a rough way to live life--as you will never be happy, always trying to gain others approval.

I had a difficult time reading this portion of the book--and as you will see, many reviewers really give it a beating. I too began to feel less empathetic and more assaulted by their attitude and actions. Upon reflecting on it a little more, and reading the final Chapter (Chp 9: Mom and Dad) and the Epilogue, I have a different take on it. I think that writing those college-years chapters was a way for them to process and grieve that portion of their life. College is difficult, and much more so when you are striving to be the best at everything. Add to that, your changing gender identity.
Explosions and high emotions are only bound to happen.

Thank you for sharing your journey and your story. And for showing me what more I can be doing to be an ally and support the queer community.

Maia Kobabe thank you for sharing your story. You have given me more to ponder and be aware of as a parent of a non binary child.