Powerful, moving, informative

This isn't just poetry, but a history lesson couched in moving words that will twist you in so many different ways it'll leave you feeling raw with emotions: hope, anger, joy, sorrow. The way Amanda Gorman intertwines the experience of the Covid Pandemic with what has come before is powerful. I learned things I never knew: like how elements of history don't exist in a bubble, but instead are bonded with others. The most shocking was that of refugees desperate to escape the Jim Crow south, WW1, and the Spanish Flu. We are always blaming the innocent for what they did not do, and it is always fueled by hate. Do we never learn?

I can see ways the world has learned, though often it feels like for every step forward these days, we take two steps back. It feels like we're just repeating the past especially right now with all this injustice allowed to be committed by cops/white supremacist groups/nazis/other hate groups, puritanical charades about protecting the children that are misinformation, book banning, and hate -  against Drag Queens, against Trans people, against Immigrants/Migrants/Refugees. I think if ever there was an important time for this book to be read and taught? It's now.

There's definitely a lot to unpack in her words, especially about how even in despair, there's still joy to be found. I suppose there's a great deal to be said about the empowerment to be found as well. About not losing hope, about not giving up, about not being silent. So, even with everything above, losing hope and giving up would be terrible. I do hope that one day people will learn and more of us stand together than apart to continue enacting positive change for the future of the world and the generations to come. I didn't see it during the Covid Pandemic - people content to be selfish instead of staying at home, wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccinated even if it meant the deaths of those most vulnerable or their own loved ones - but perhaps this pandemic we're still living through while people bury their heads in the sand will be the one that teaches future generations, and governments, not to make the same mistakes.

One can hope.

While the digital/ebook version has some formatting issues that I hope will get fixed in future, it didn't distract from me being able to enjoy this novella. The magic and lore was good, but I really liked the characters. I did wish it was just a liiiittle bit longer which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars. I love the setting, the characters, and the story we got to experience. They were all really interesting. Also found family is my favorite trope. I loved too how it felt almost like a standard medieval magic fantasy, but the elements that made it own gave it that fresh feel. I also really enjoyed that it was a queernorm setting too - don't see this nearly enough.

I really hope to read more from this author soon. Perhaps we'll even get more stores from the characters/places in this book cause I'd really like that a lot.

It hurts, but the writing is so beautiful. . .

And when I've had time to process this raw, emotional, beautiful read a little more I'll add to this review.

A new favorite.

I am in love with this book. It's beautiful handling of anxiety rep, it's wonderful disabled rep in the existence of a wheelchair user who is also a tailor and archer(in a fantasy book!), it's lovely messages about the characters in this world, and it's great found family notes. . . The twists and turns in this book, and the fast pace, made everything feel so intense. The different personalities and the bonds of each character from those within the Crows to the ones outside of the group. Just so much to be loved. It surprises me that before I picked it up I hadn't heard more about this book. It deserves more attention.

This is my second experience with the author, the first being the adult fantasy Romance book The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I adored, showed me how well Sangu Mandanna can write children so I was beyond excited to find a middle grade work by them.

And I was not disappointed. Not one bit. The writing in this book will pull you in, the characters will steal your heart, and the descriptions will leave you stunned. I can't wait to read the next adventure of Kiki Kallira.

Note: as always, please check content warnings. This book has a child character who deals with anxiety and it also includes an unexpected death, and grief, and I'm sure there are more I'm probably missing.