katietotallybooked's Reviews (785)

Unfortunately, I was bored and underwhelmed by this book. I really wanted to love it! For me, it was lacking excitement and it felt a lot longer than it was - at less than 300 pages it dragged on!

I was most intrigued by Jivan's experience and if the book followed her storyline only, I might have enjoyed it more. I didn't care for PT Sir at all, and I could take or leave Lovely, yet I did appreciate the trans representation here. Perhaps my reading tastes are too story-driven and this book was written with more of a character focus and so it just wasn't meant for me.

It was great to read a book set in India and now I can scratch that country off my literary travel map.

I can't believe this is my first Abbi Waxman book, and that I found it to be such a delight! I truly enjoyed the mother/daughter relationship featured in this novel. I also enjoyed the campus tour/road trip element because it was a premise that I haven't seen before. This book was fast paced and filled with charming characters. I had a wonderful time reading it and I've added all of Abbi Waxman's backlist to my TBR.

It's well written and when watching an author interview afterwards, I was even more impressed by how the author writes based on what is going on in her world around her. As she says, you should write what you know!

Finally I was prompted to read this one from my TBR shelf thanks to the MMD Book Club! I watched the movie years ago, but it had been long enough that I didn't remember any of the twists or unveilings.

I was certainly intrigued by the writing and tone of this book. It's certainly written in a way that you know something sinister and off-putting is going on, and you're compelled to keep going so you can figure out just what that is exactly. I don't know that I'll read more by this author or in this genre (literary sci-fi), but I appreciate book club for pushing me out of my comfort zone every once in a while.

If you are a motherless daughter, this book will make you feel seen like very few books ever have before. I flew threw this graphic novel in a few hours. I was captivated and touched by Tyler's own story. The graphic illustrations are wonderful and I am glad to have this on my shelf as its a book that speaks to a life experience that I wouldn't wish on anybody else.

This was a wonderful book to read and listen to in tandem. The audiobook includes a star studded line of readers, plus Alicia Keys herself. She reflects on her life thus far and opens her self up to readers who care to learn from her and about her. This was a wonderful reading experience, and I'll carry a new understanding and respect for Alicia going forward.

I'm generally not one for ghost stories, but this book was quirky and a bit enjoyable. Plus, at just around 200 pages it is quite a short read.

I've often wondered about life after death. It was neat to see this type of story played out. But I can tell that I am becoming a mystery enthusiast because the entire time I was reading, all I wanted to know was how the death happened.

Charming, quirky and thought-provoking. A ghost story for anyone who wants one that isn't scary!

I was generally entertained by this YA contemporary novel by Haitian-Canadian author Ben Philippe.
But I think what I liked most was the experience of Norris as a Canadian teenager who is transplanted to life in Austin, Texas when his mom starts a new college-level teaching job.

It's an all-encompassing take on modern high school life and on being a teenager. I enjoyed how each chapter started with field notes. Honestly, I think this book would make a great premise for a high-school television show.

I would definitely recommend this to older YA readers, because of some of the language used. But it's a great contemporary that I think a lot of teenagers will find relatable and easy to get into.

Plus there are so many fun Canadian references that make it enjoyable for Canadian readers especially!

As a Hunger Games fan, am I glad I read this book? Yes.

Did I love the entire reading experience? No. This book is long. Over 500 pages. And it covers A LOT of ground.

However, it was interesting to learn about the history of The Hunger Games, and to know more about Snow. I am glad that I listened to the audio, while reading the physical because there are so many names to pronounce! It also helped me read at a steady pace.

I will be excited for the movie adaptation that I am sure is to come. I still find that I handle fantasy/sci-fi/books with serious world-building better on film because I can fully visualize what the author is describing.

So as a my one YA fantasy / sci-fi / dystopia book for the year, I am happy with my experience but I won't be raving about this book to anyone who asks.

Beautiful. Thought-provoking. Timely.

A must-read novel in verse.

''I have a crayon and paper. I didn't know that I could hold this little bit of freedom in my hands."

Art teachers - put this on a poster in your classroom now. Art is a way for all of us to share and express our thoughts and feelings. That appreciation for the arts is shared by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam in this YA novel.

I’m surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did. I thought it was going to be more historical fiction than it was (and I’m not always a fan of that genre). Instead it’s a poignant story about sisterhood, family, and unbreakable bonds with a historical plot/setting basis. A much more enjoyable mix for my personal tastes!