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coolfoolmoon's Reviews (357)
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
I've officially found my favorite poet. Easily. I'm a sucker for allusions to nature, the human body, and religion. Rest in Peace & Power Mrs. Douglas Camp Johnson. You would've loved literally any song by Mitski.
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to DNF this out of spite. Very annoying book. Reminded me of why I didn't like my Philosophy 101 class. Not the fun kind of philosophy, it's the kind that uses long, overdrawn examples. And is very white in a way I can't explain. I mean, I could explain it, but that would take way too long. The only thing I like about it is the idea that Heaven and Hell are sort of neutral / based on perspective, but those concepts truly are just concepts (ideas pitched out and explained to all hell, pun intended) when it comes to the book as a whole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think my opinion of this book is a little swayed by the actual story of the woman renamed Juana Maria, and the appropriation of her and other Native stories by white authors, and on top of that being a Californian who's ancestors are not indigenous to this (Californian) land. This book and the previous are very sweet, and even more so somber. In my non-Native opinion the subject matter was handled decently, but only in the sense that the author didn't do a full "There's two sides to every story!" as some of the depictions in this book about the Natives, the missions, and the Anglo settlers were a little more accurate than a white author would typically write. (Sidenote: why were the missionary gringos and the Anglo gringos calling each other gringos as if they weren't milked from the same European cow? đ )
Honestly the main reason I read these books was because I didn't have the typical elementary upbringing as most California kids, so I was curious. This book shocked me for how direct it was explaining some of California's history. For many kids I'm sure this is the most they'll ever learn about post-Mexico pre-statehood, but even still it shocked me that this is in some kid's curriculum.
I don't have any more notes. Very good kids book. Pretty good book overall.
Honestly the main reason I read these books was because I didn't have the typical elementary upbringing as most California kids, so I was curious. This book shocked me for how direct it was explaining some of California's history. For many kids I'm sure this is the most they'll ever learn about post-Mexico pre-statehood, but even still it shocked me that this is in some kid's curriculum.
I don't have any more notes. Very good kids book. Pretty good book overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Police brutality, Death of parent, Abandonment
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
she also like me fr
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Xenophobia
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I write this review as a person not Indigenous to the Americas.
There's something very iffy with a white man repurposing the story of an Indigenous woman. And then having that book be in the curriculum of California's elementary and middle school education! (I didn't read this book growing up; in fact I'd only learned about the woman baptized as Juana Maria within the past few years, and then found out there was a book inspired by her.) That being said, as a person who does not identify as Indigenous so take my review with a grain of sand, the appropriation isn't that bad. There's a few times in the book you can tell is so written from an outsider's voice trying to emulate something they really don't understand, and probably could never understand, but the whole book is written like a person trying to be careful and respectful about a sensitive topic, but also you remember they started their sentence by saying "If I could just play the devil's advocate for a second..."
When it comes to the writing, I realized about sixty pages in there would probably be no dialogue, which is tough for me because I truly believe that in any book dialogue IS the story, but I didn't find this book to be a drag. It wasn't hard to follow or be swept into, probably because it's a book written for kids, of course. Overall, I did not have as many complaints as I thought I would.
There's something very iffy with a white man repurposing the story of an Indigenous woman. And then having that book be in the curriculum of California's elementary and middle school education! (I didn't read this book growing up; in fact I'd only learned about the woman baptized as Juana Maria within the past few years, and then found out there was a book inspired by her.) That being said, as a person who does not identify as Indigenous so take my review with a grain of sand, the appropriation isn't that bad. There's a few times in the book you can tell is so written from an outsider's voice trying to emulate something they really don't understand, and probably could never understand, but the whole book is written like a person trying to be careful and respectful about a sensitive topic, but also you remember they started their sentence by saying "If I could just play the devil's advocate for a second..."
When it comes to the writing, I realized about sixty pages in there would probably be no dialogue, which is tough for me because I truly believe that in any book dialogue IS the story, but I didn't find this book to be a drag. It wasn't hard to follow or be swept into, probably because it's a book written for kids, of course. Overall, I did not have as many complaints as I thought I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Murder, War
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
A Black Classic. An African American Baptist Blue Bible Clutchin' Colorful Classic. I tried.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
he just like me fr
But seriously, this is the second middle grade Callender book I've read and the only issue I have so far is the kids feel so young. King is uhh 13? In eighth or ninth grade? He feels much younger. I don't remember what I was like when I was in eighth and ninth grade, not fully, but I know I was a bit more mature. Then again, I am from a big city, and in hindisght I probably thought I was more mature than I was, but there are some things in the book where I thought "Okay now baby boy you should know about that by now." It's all perspective though I guess.
This book is perfect for readers of the same age, not old 20 year old hags like me. There's a little black 13 year old child who's gonna read this book and make it their entire personality. If it came out nine years ago, that child could've been me. And then when they turn twenty they'fe gonna look back and reread the book again for the first time in years and go, "Damn... he just like me fr."
Kacen Callender you will always be famous! â¤ď¸ Call me.
But seriously, this is the second middle grade Callender book I've read and the only issue I have so far is the kids feel so young. King is uhh 13? In eighth or ninth grade? He feels much younger. I don't remember what I was like when I was in eighth and ninth grade, not fully, but I know I was a bit more mature. Then again, I am from a big city, and in hindisght I probably thought I was more mature than I was, but there are some things in the book where I thought "Okay now baby boy you should know about that by now." It's all perspective though I guess.
This book is perfect for readers of the same age, not old 20 year old hags like me. There's a little black 13 year old child who's gonna read this book and make it their entire personality. If it came out nine years ago, that child could've been me. And then when they turn twenty they'fe gonna look back and reread the book again for the first time in years and go, "Damn... he just like me fr."
Kacen Callender you will always be famous! â¤ď¸ Call me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Stalking, Outing
Minor: Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
One thing that makes it hard to get through nonfiction is that it is often pure and objective fact, nothing but hard statements and the evidence to back it up, but Angelou writes in a way that doesn't just feel the way a memoir / autobiography would, like someone telling their life story, but in a way that is colorful and bright and fluid like fiction usually is. Well, good fiction at least.
And on a personal note a lot of moments hit a little tew close to home. I'm not gonna list them but not me and Miss Dr Angelou living the same life having the same experiences feeling the same feelings!!! I had to put the book down a couple times and cover my face!!!
And on a personal note a lot of moments hit a little tew close to home. I'm not gonna list them but not me and Miss Dr Angelou living the same life having the same experiences feeling the same feelings!!! I had to put the book down a couple times and cover my face!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Fatphobia, Hate crime, Police brutality, Abortion
The writing is bad. I can get over a characteer's perspective being off and influencing the writing style but even the formatting isn't right. Too many noticeable issues.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Xenophobia
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I say this in a number of reviews but I found the writing to be like my teen-aged self. However this time I found it cute and charming. I didn't dislike this how I disliked Chinua Achebe's trilogy, and I know I shouldn't be comparing them, but it just makes me think I really need to read more modern books by African authors. The classics just aren't that great. :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood
Minor: Ableism, Police brutality, Colonisation