579 reviews by:

jenwoodrum


Renaada William's poetry collection captured raw vulnerable emotions so beautifully.

As a therapist, I loved seeing such a real represention of relatable themes including coping with mental health struggles, overcoming trauma, and accepting/embracing her racial and sexual identity.

Some of the lines I want to just play on repeat over and over until I fully internalize them into my heart. It was a quick read, but I had to force myself to slow down sometimes to let Renaada's words sink in.

Fans of Rupi Kaur will love Renaada's creative and powerful poems. I think a lot of people could learn from her journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ebook to provide an honest review!

Sagar Udeshi's debut novel, Virtues for A Better Tomorrow, is a sweet and wholesome read for children and families to instill positive morals and values. The book tells short stories of people from all walks of life learning values such as humility, compassion, unity, and teamwork.

I loved each of the stories and characters that Sagar created to help children grow. As a mental health counselor, I love any book that teachers positive lessons through its stories. I would love to share Virtues for a Better Tomorrow with any of the kids I work with!

I definitely recommend this book for families, parents, teachers, and counselors who are trying to instill good virtues in their little ones.

Thank you Sagar for sharing this book that creates more positivity in our world!

I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book blew me away!

SUMMARY:
In 1960, Dr. Rudi Kessler lives in regret in East Berlin, wishing he could do something to prevent the pain and destruction he witnessed as a child during WWII.

In 1912, German generals receive mysterious messages from the future that could be used to prevent the devastation soon to come.

In a dystopian 2034 living under German imperialism, Olga is rescued from a dangerous situation, only to learn that this is not the first time she's lived this life.

They each are desperate to have a role in changing history, as much as time allows.

REVIEW:
This book felt like it combined the best elements of 11/22/63 by Stephen King and the anime Steins;Gate into a well-crafted historical war novel.

The twists and turns of the plot, especially with the elements of time and multiple realities, were everything I want out of a sci-fi book!

Besides this being a story about war and history, it was also about a young girl, Olga, learning what she is capable of and finding a way to fight for herself, her friends, and her future.

The only thing that kept it from being five stars for me is I am not much of a history buff, so I got lost at times during some of the war and military adventures. For other readers this might be a strength of the book, as it was very well-researched and rich in history!

But if you're a fan of...
- Alternate history
- WWII stories
- Time shenanigans
- Strong female characters

...check out this book!

4.5/5 stars!

Tons of great exercises for teens exploring their gender identity. Really helpful for any clinician working with teens too!