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ninetalevixen
(Won through a Goodreads giveaway! Thank you to author B.K. Dell for providing me a free e-copy.)
I think I kind of knew from the beginning — Shane’s opening chapter had me rolling my eyes at its overt ominous tone, his contemplation of how worthless his classmates’ lives were, his contempt for Life in general — then enter Keisha, an angel (in Shane’s eyes at least), who is about to be drawn into a predictably unhealthy relationship with this bad boy despite her constant flashbacks to her friend’s warning that he’s a psychopath. (Seriously, they throw around the word “psychopath” a few times, never pausing to examine its impact on mental health stigma or individual reputations.) He’s obsessive, though arguably she’s the stalker, and it’s just toxic all around — there’s even a scene where Keisha is resentful that Shane respected her earlier “no” and now won’t take advantage of her, and an outright condemnation of #MeToo for “enfeebling” our men when instead we could be teaching them to read our signals.
Honestly, I didn’t like Keisha much. Her fixation on “saving” Shane and his future six victims, playing God because she thinks it worked once before; her “quirky-cute”/doesn’t-know-she’s-beautiful/“the pretty giirls always win and that doesn’t include me” thing, the insensitive jokes that lead to her feelings getting hurt when Shane doesn’t find them funny (because they’re not). She performs page-long monologues on the meaning of love and being our best selves, usually to Shane, and just doesn’t seem to have much going on besides her general positive attitude mixed with a slight underdog complex. Come to think of it, I’m not sure this book passes the Bechdel test.
My biggest problem is perhaps that everything felt like a plot device, especially because there was little follow-up — for example, — unless it played into the main plot. Even Keisha’s storyline revolves around Shane; once she gets entangled, she doesn’t seem to think about or spend time with anyone or anything else, including her love for acting and her only friend, Molly. The high school setting and its inhabitants are not just cliched but drawn out, from the explicit archetypes (jock, cheerleader, loner, etc) to the long explanation of how to play Never Have I Ever. The end twist seemed to come out of nowhere, which I didn’t like; nor did I like the sharp turn into HEA afterward.
There’s even an in-class debate about the Second Amendment, which was definitely a heavy-handed touch, especially considering both sides stuck to the same few talking points that we’re all already familiar with: people kill people, guns are part of the culture of the South (which was never revisited outside the context of the debate, which seems to defeat the purpose of setting the book in the South), at least we can make it harder for potential school shooters to execute their plans.
Overall, I just felt like this book tried too hard to be too many things, and ultimately didn’t do very well at any of them.
I think I kind of knew from the beginning — Shane’s opening chapter had me rolling my eyes at its overt ominous tone, his contemplation of how worthless his classmates’ lives were, his contempt for Life in general — then enter Keisha, an angel (in Shane’s eyes at least), who is about to be drawn into a predictably unhealthy relationship with this bad boy despite her constant flashbacks to her friend’s warning that he’s a psychopath. (Seriously, they throw around the word “psychopath” a few times, never pausing to examine its impact on mental health stigma or individual reputations.) He’s obsessive, though arguably she’s the stalker, and it’s just toxic all around — there’s even a scene where Keisha is resentful that Shane respected her earlier “no” and now won’t take advantage of her, and an outright condemnation of #MeToo for “enfeebling” our men when instead we could be teaching them to read our signals.
Honestly, I didn’t like Keisha much. Her fixation on “saving” Shane and his future six victims, playing God because she thinks it worked once before; her “quirky-cute”/doesn’t-know-she’s-beautiful/“the pretty giirls always win and that doesn’t include me” thing, the insensitive jokes that lead to her feelings getting hurt when Shane doesn’t find them funny (because they’re not). She performs page-long monologues on the meaning of love and being our best selves, usually to Shane, and just doesn’t seem to have much going on besides her general positive attitude mixed with a slight underdog complex. Come to think of it, I’m not sure this book passes the Bechdel test.
My biggest problem is perhaps that everything felt like a plot device, especially because there was little follow-up — for example,
Spoiler
after Shane poisoned Aubrey so Keisha could star in the school playThere’s even an in-class debate about the Second Amendment, which was definitely a heavy-handed touch, especially considering both sides stuck to the same few talking points that we’re all already familiar with: people kill people, guns are part of the culture of the South (which was never revisited outside the context of the debate, which seems to defeat the purpose of setting the book in the South), at least we can make it harder for potential school shooters to execute their plans.
Overall, I just felt like this book tried too hard to be too many things, and ultimately didn’t do very well at any of them.
I like retellings and stories-within-stories, but to be quite honest I found this one disappointing.
Don't get me wrong, this was an entertaining read that kept me turning the pages. Its greatest strength was probably the rich worldbuilding: geography and politics, magic and belief systems, folklore.
However, I just couldn't really get into it — the pacing kept me feeling disoriented, the dialogue seemed a bit contrived (the kind of inspirational but no one really asked monologues and one-liners you'd hear in Disney movies rather than in real life), and the characters/relationships didn't resonate with me.
The plot hits a lot of the notes you'd expect, but I just didn't feel any tension or relief thereof. I'd say it's more inspired by Snow White than retelling of Snow White since it's very different in themes and details, which isn't inherently a bad thing but added to my disappointment. The other folktales are just barely mentioned — understandable since, but unsatisfying.
Part of Snow White's/Jade's appeal should be her kind heart and innocence, but honestly I didn't think that came through. (Naivete isn't the same thing as compassion.) Although there's a lot of dialogue regarding being good and brave and responsible, in a lot of scenes it felt more demonstrative than genuine as she expresses "disgust" or judgment towards others for their choices. It's not uncommon for a YA character, or even especially off-putting in and of itself, but it doesn't fit with the image I think we're supposed to have of her. Her relationships with other characters, from Koichi to Wren to Xifeng to Amah, didn't add as much dimension to her character as I'd hoped.
content warnings:
rep:
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CONVERSION: 8.9 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 2 / 5
Don't get me wrong, this was an entertaining read that kept me turning the pages. Its greatest strength was probably the rich worldbuilding: geography and politics, magic and belief systems, folklore.
However, I just couldn't really get into it — the pacing kept me feeling disoriented, the dialogue seemed a bit contrived (the kind of inspirational but no one really asked monologues and one-liners you'd hear in Disney movies rather than in real life), and the characters/relationships didn't resonate with me.
The plot hits a lot of the notes you'd expect, but I just didn't feel any tension or relief thereof. I'd say it's more inspired by Snow White than retelling of Snow White since it's very different in themes and details, which isn't inherently a bad thing but added to my disappointment. The other folktales are just barely mentioned — understandable since
Spoiler
there are relatively many of them, and none of them are the focusPart of Snow White's/Jade's appeal should be her kind heart and innocence, but honestly I didn't think that came through. (Naivete isn't the same thing as compassion.) Although there's a lot of dialogue regarding being good and brave and responsible, in a lot of scenes it felt more demonstrative than genuine as she expresses "disgust" or judgment towards others for their choices. It's not uncommon for a YA character, or even especially off-putting in and of itself, but it doesn't fit with the image I think we're supposed to have of her. Her relationships with other characters, from Koichi to Wren to Xifeng to Amah, didn't add as much dimension to her character as I'd hoped.
content warnings:
Spoiler
blood magic, loss of loved ones, major character death(s), on-page graphic murderrep:
Spoiler
major character with dwarfism-----------
CONVERSION: 8.9 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 2 / 5
Honestly the art style didn't totally appeal to me, but the panels are well-designed and striking, the use of color is masterful; it's clear how much work and thoughtful attention to detail was put in. The story itself is solid too, with good pacing and purposeful character design that supports a strong narrative. It definitely made me feel a lot of things.
I haven't read the original novel, but I definitely want to now. It's brutal, which I think was the intent, and I'm interested to see how it's conveyed in a less visual format.
I haven't read the original novel, but I definitely want to now. It's brutal, which I think was the intent, and I'm interested to see how it's conveyed in a less visual format.
I really, really, really liked this book when I was a little kid - it was frequently one of the three books I was allowed to check out at a time, and it never failed to make me laugh.
I received a review copy of this book from Netgalley. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
When we shoot moments instead of things we capture the feelings as well as the facts. [...] A great moment, photographed, makes us nostalgic - in fact, it should feel that way even if we only shot it yesterday.
I've been a follower and fan of Sara Tasker's Instagram (@me_and_orla) for a while now. The calming composition and captions of her photos remind me to take a moment to breathe and appreciate the world around me, and that's the power of human connection.
This is a beautifully written and very helpful guide for the age of social media, offering insight on visual storytelling, smartphone photography, the balance between authenticity and aesthetic. There are thoughtful exercises to help you figure out your style and what messages you want to convey, what distinguishes the photos that appeal to you (and therefore your ideal target audience). Whether you have 10 or 10k followers, the evergreen tips in this book are good for checking in on your process and developing an authentic online community.
Also recommended by Haley @ The Caffeinated Reader.
I received a review copy from Lerner Publishing Group through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
This is such an adorable, wholesome slice-of-life story! While the narrative arc is deceptively simple, the art and prose both show careful attention to detail — I loved watching the seasons change on-page, and Paj Ntaub's hair and clothes along with them — and speak to those quiet, universal truths about life and humanity. Of course, the Hmong representation is also great in its matter-of-factness.
In other words, this is a book that I would wholeheartedly recommend for any child old enough to comprehend the subject matter.
rep: Hmong MC + family
content warnings: off-page death of elderly neighbor
This is such an adorable, wholesome slice-of-life story! While the narrative arc is deceptively simple, the art and prose both show careful attention to detail — I loved watching the seasons change on-page, and Paj Ntaub's hair and clothes along with them — and speak to those quiet, universal truths about life and humanity. Of course, the Hmong representation is also great in its matter-of-factness.
In other words, this is a book that I would wholeheartedly recommend for any child old enough to comprehend the subject matter.
rep: Hmong MC + family
content warnings:
★ 2.5 stars ★
A relatively quick and easy read, considering it's the conclusion of this multi-book saga. Really drives home the sense of tragedy as well as Arthurian morals; I would've given it at least 3 stars but the philosophizing at the end was somewhat tedious.
(Read as part of [b:The Once and Future King|43545|The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4)|T.H. White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338741283l/43545._SY75_.jpg|1140206] collected edition, but shelved individually for review and reading challenge purposes.)
A relatively quick and easy read, considering it's the conclusion of this multi-book saga. Really drives home the sense of tragedy as well as Arthurian morals; I would've given it at least 3 stars but the philosophizing at the end was somewhat tedious.
(Read as part of [b:The Once and Future King|43545|The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4)|T.H. White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338741283l/43545._SY75_.jpg|1140206] collected edition, but shelved individually for review and reading challenge purposes.)