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ninetalevixen
I received an advance review copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
I love the message that it's okay to explore lots of different fields to find out what you like, matter-of-factly ignoring gender norms. There's a good mix of trivia, concepts, and activities, ranging from relatively quick-and-accessible to slightly more technical. The writing style is upbeat and straightforward, though some older/more advanced readers may find it slightly patronizing. The badges are fun (reminiscent of Girl Scouts, but also just a nice collectible — and a potential additional DIY). And the overall design is aesthetically pleasing, with great use of color and white space; that said, it would've been helpful to have illustrations for the lists (types of clouds, types of birds, etc.) and the experiments/crafts.
My only major critique is that although the art is somewhat diverse, the reading lists could be much more so, and the "melted crayon samurai stars" DIY is not the greatest (especially when there are so many other shapes you could've picked).
I love the message that it's okay to explore lots of different fields to find out what you like, matter-of-factly ignoring gender norms. There's a good mix of trivia, concepts, and activities, ranging from relatively quick-and-accessible to slightly more technical. The writing style is upbeat and straightforward, though some older/more advanced readers may find it slightly patronizing. The badges are fun (reminiscent of Girl Scouts, but also just a nice collectible — and a potential additional DIY). And the overall design is aesthetically pleasing, with great use of color and white space; that said, it would've been helpful to have illustrations for the lists (types of clouds, types of birds, etc.) and the experiments/crafts.
My only major critique is that although the art is somewhat diverse, the reading lists could be much more so, and the "melted crayon samurai stars" DIY is not the greatest (especially when there are so many other shapes you could've picked).
reread in 2021 - RTC
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[2019 review]
4.5 stars, approximately.
Like with Emergency Contact, I wouldn't say that I liked this, but it certainly made an impression, and not a negative one at that.
For some reason I was under the impression this was nonfiction — maybe I've been watching too many Netflix food docuseries. ("Street Food" is particularly great, if you're looking for something new to watch!)
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[2019 review]
4.5 stars, approximately.
Like with Emergency Contact, I wouldn't say that I liked this, but it certainly made an impression, and not a negative one at that.
For some reason I was under the impression this was nonfiction — maybe I've been watching too many Netflix food docuseries. ("Street Food" is particularly great, if you're looking for something new to watch!)
A fantastic resource, with lovely bright illustrations and step-by-step directions that are relatively beginner-friendly: tips about what to look for, common issues, storage, and areas for creativity. (Though I'll be honest, I'm a bit intimidated by the sheer scope of the project that is preparing ramen from scratch. Not sure I'll be doing that anytime soon.) I also really appreciate that there are discussions of ramen history and culture throughout, as well as sections from experts, giving context and demonstrating clear respect for this culinary tradition.
This one is definitely not for everyone — and not even for everyone who enjoys the main Kingkiller Chronicle books — but I adored it. I don't know whether this was intended to be OCD (or other mental health/neurodivergence) rep or whether sensitivity readers were consulted, so I won't try to speak to that potential aspect, but overall I found it compassionate and complex and charming.
content warnings: cissexism, being outed, speciesism/racism, mentioned animal (unicorn) deaths
rep: intersex MC
I'm not intersex like the protagonist, and I was never a "horse girl," but — given those caveats and acknowledging their implications — this story hit home almost from the very beginning. Unlike the parental figures here, I vividly remember what it was like to be a kid desperate to fit in, making difficult and sometimes questionable social choices to compensate for being different from your classmates. (To be fair, it was clear that the adults had good intentions, albeit undermined by their obliviousness.) Regan may not have a super distinctive consistent personality, but in this case I found that made her more relatable, and also made sense given that one of the major running themes is her growth, both physical and mental.
Considering the limitations of a novella format, I was quite impressed by the worldbuilding, particularly the way tropes are incorporated (including reluctant Chosen One, found family, earth-sea-air adventure trio, (literal) Man Behind the Curtain ). There's a great balance between meaningful twists and thoughtfully-delivered moments of resolution, as well as pointed but not excessive social commentary.
And the ending? Even knowing it was coming, that hurt. Wow.
rep:
I'm not intersex like the protagonist, and I was never a "horse girl," but — given those caveats and acknowledging their implications — this story hit home almost from the very beginning. Unlike the parental figures here, I vividly remember what it was like to be a kid desperate to fit in, making difficult and sometimes questionable social choices to compensate for being different from your classmates. (To be fair, it was clear that the adults had good intentions, albeit undermined by their obliviousness.) Regan may not have a super distinctive consistent personality, but in this case I found that made her more relatable, and also made sense given that one of the major running themes is her growth, both physical and mental.
Considering the limitations of a novella format, I was quite impressed by the worldbuilding, particularly the way tropes are incorporated (including
And the ending? Even knowing it was coming, that hurt. Wow.
DNF at 5%.
Holly's really annoying, the stereotypical self-centered narrow-minded naïve teenage girl; there were some intriguing elements but the writing style didn't appeal to me — I gave up when I read the sentence "Must of." (Don't even get me started on the grammar, let alone the borderline-TSTL ignorance with which Holly dismisses everything out of the ordinary.)
Holly's really annoying, the stereotypical self-centered narrow-minded naïve teenage girl; there were some intriguing elements but the writing style didn't appeal to me — I gave up when I read the sentence "Must of." (Don't even get me started on the grammar, let alone the borderline-TSTL ignorance with which Holly dismisses everything out of the ordinary.)
(I received a free eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.)
DNF at 5%.
I had a feeling from the beginning that I wouldn't like the writing style - half overly descriptive with adjectives and adverbs, and I barely understood the other half because it was archaic and/or underdeveloped worldbuilding - but chapter two, in which Reine inexplicably prefaces random sentences with "Fuckin" was the clincher. The Christianity/Wiccan conflict and individual backstories seem promising, but I just don't feel like struggling through to pick out the plot.
DNF at 5%.
I had a feeling from the beginning that I wouldn't like the writing style - half overly descriptive with adjectives and adverbs, and I barely understood the other half because it was archaic and/or underdeveloped worldbuilding - but chapter two, in which Reine inexplicably prefaces random sentences with "Fuckin" was the clincher. The Christianity/Wiccan conflict and individual backstories seem promising, but I just don't feel like struggling through to pick out the plot.