~second read, February 2019~

I’m really enjoying my reread of this trilogy, though I do think my age has affected that somewhat. I’m lowering my rating from 4.5 stars to 4, but I still liked this novel.

My biggest issue was that, upon rereading, I realized that there isn’t…really…a plot. So much of the story revolves around the Instagram scandal and Genevieve’s pettiness. But fluff is fun to read and Han does it wonderfully, so I’m not too bothered.

Other miscellaneous thoughts: Stormy is my favorite character. I like movie Peter but book John and I’m not sure who I ship with Lara Jean, though I remember who’s endgame. Assassin was the most entertaining part of the story, and if I had enough local friends I would 10/10 play it.

On to book three!

~first read, September 2016~

4.5 stars!

Things I've realized since finishing this book:
- Lara Jean is one of the best leads ever and is so relatable.
- The Song-Covey family is awesome.
- There should be more Korean families in YA.
- Peter is frustrating but sort of redeeming himself.
- John is so sweet.
- I sort of want Lara Jean to be with both of them, but I think I might prefer John.
- I was more surprised than I expected to be as I read.
- I would've binge-read this book even if it wasn't due back to the library today.
- Reading the third book is something I'll definitely have to do.

~second read, February 2019~

I’m lowering my rating from 5 stars to 4.5, but I still really enjoyed this novel. It’s so much fun and very emotional, but everything manages to work out perfectly. All of the relationships were great: Lara Jean and Peter, Kitty and Peter, Dr. Covey and Trina, and more. I’m not a huge fan of Margot, but Chris and grown on me. Jamie Fox-Pickle is the star, though. I still want to eat Lara Jean’s cookies, and I appreciated the honesty regarding her college confusion — it makes me glad that I spared myself from that by deciding college isn’t for me. I especially related to the shock of high school graduation, as mine is only a couple of months away. Lastly, I like how quick these books are. I sped through my trilogy reread in four days.

So, Netflix, any news on that second movie?

~first read, August 2017~

I read this in 8-9 hours. I'm so happy this book was written, because I really enjoyed it. I had a few problems with Peter, but to be honest I think he and Lara Jean were realistic (even if a bit of communication would've solved many of their problems). For a fluffy book, it had me fairly emotional and completely invested. I loved Lara Jean and her sisters, and her dad, and Trina. I found her indecisiveness about college completely relatable, and in general she was just a great character. I want her to be my friend and eat her cookies. This little review is kind of a mess, but basically I'm trying to say I loved this book, despite the emotions it gave me that I didn't sign up for. I would've liked a bit more of an epilogue, but otherwise I really liked it. Lara Jean, Peter, and co. got the perfect ending. 😊❤️

(This has been one of Liv's Lazy Reviews™.)

[second read, March 2019]

My rating remains 4.5 stars, and although I cringe at some of the things I wrote, I stand by my original review in its entirety.

I’ve read a couple of hundred books since reading this one for the first time, and this reread made me appreciate it more. Schwab is truly brilliant; the world she created is intricate without ever feeling overwhelming, and I’m in awe of the fact that she came up with several languages to use in snippets of conversation. The magic system is complex, as are the characters. I used to hate Holland, and while he’s still not my favorite, I sympathize with him and appreciate the depth of his character.

My favorite part of rereading was the nostalgia. Though the novel certainly has its share of emotional moments, it made me happy to get lost in the story once more. I loved seeing details I remembered connect with others I’d forgotten.

[first read, January 2017]

» 4.5 stars «

WHY DID I NOT READ THIS SOONER??

positives:
- characters. Kell was great, I loved his determination and his attitude. Lila reminded me of Kaz Brekker, and she's totally one of my new favorite characters. I liked that she cross-dressed, because I haven't really seen that very often in stories. She was so epic and sly and I loved her. Rhy was so sweet and flirty and amusing. I liked his dedication to his crown even though it wasn't his yet, and how he truly saw Kell as a brother. Basically the three of them are all precious and wonderful and I'm invested in their lives. I won't say much about the other characters, but I will admit that I hate the Dane twins (or just siblings?) and Holland. Also the former is kind of terrifying.
- setting. I loved how the parallel versions of London were done, and how distinct they were; Grey = mundane, Red = vibrant, White = eerie, and Black = no more. They were all easy to visualize, and I'd like to book an exclusive Antari passage to Red London as soon as possible, please. (Grey and White vacations currently scheduled for never.) I'm curious to see if any other parts of this world will be revealed/explored in later books.
- the magic. I really liked the concept of Antari, with their blood commands and ability to make doors between the Londons. I can't even express how happy I was when I saw "as travars" on the page for the first time, because that phrase is everywhere in the book community. The stone itself was also intriguing, while also creepy. The way it slowly took control, with black veins and black eyes. Creepy, but in a wonderful, detailed, unique way.
- no romance. Do I ship Kell and Lila? Yes. Rhy and Lila? Yes. Will this complicate my emotions? Definitely. But there really wasn't any love or hidden feelings expressed in the story, with the exception of two brief kisses. No, I won't tell who. Mwahahah. (Ignore me, I'm six inside.) As I've said before, I may be a hopeless romantic, but I still enjoy and search for stories without romance.
- other relationships. Kell and Rhy. Kell and the king and queen. Kell and Lila. Rhy and Lila. Rhy and his parents. Lila and Barron. It all warms my heart.
- the twists. It took some time, but once the story picked up I was 100% hooked. Seriously. Over the past couple of days I've been wanting to do nothing but read, though unfortunately that didn't happen. Omg. After about part eight, everything intensified and nothing was for sure. And the last 3-4 parts had me absolutely terrified for everyone, turning pages quickly and reading in literally every spare moment.

negatives:
- the pacing. I liked the story, but I think it took until about part eight for things to really pick up. In this case it doesn't bother me as much, because the world was intricate and I'd been given time to fall in love with other elements. It didn't bore me. But I will say that I think the story could've escalated sooner. Good, yes, but a little bit too slow for my tastes.

Definitely continuing this trilogy!!

[second read, March 2019]

I went into A Gathering of Shadows wondering whether or not I would still find it worthy of a five star rating, and it undeniably is. This novel tempts readers with magic, expands upon the world of Red London, adds more depth to our favorite characters while captivating us with new faces, teases us with hints of romance. The Essen Tasch is a lot of preparation and not much presentation, but I love it nonetheless. And even though I remembered some key details, thus detracting from the suspense, I enjoyed it just as much. For that, I applaud Schwab.

All comments in my original review still stand. I’m still too emotional for my own good, and am prepared (kind of) for the finale to wreck me once more.

[first read, February 2017]

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK.

I finished this last night right before I went to bed and I still don't think I could write a good, coherent review. Let's see how this goes.

POSITIVES:
- Kell was so sullen and trying to deal with everything that happened in ADSOM, and I felt bad for him. The poor Antari doesn't deserve this treatment. Also, I loved that he was so dedicated to protecting Rhy. Brotherly love is great.
- Rhy was feeling Kell's pain and drinking through his own. I thought it was sad but a realistic approach, even in a fantasy world. Although he was much less lighthearted than in ADSOM, he still had a bit of sass. Also, I thought it was sweet that he bent the rules so Kell could have an outlet. Not necessarily the right thing to do, but sweet nonetheless.
- Lila is freaking amazing. She was so cold and cutthroat, like usual, but she also had this tiny little soft side that we saw very rarely. I loved her witty banter, and it was really interesting to see her figuring out magic. I need more of her in my life, please.
- Alucard. New favorite character, omg. His backstory was kind of cliché, yes, but I loved it and him anyway. He's sassy and witty and a jerk at times. I seem to love those characters most. Also, he's a magician pirate. Yes, yes, YES.
- the romance. There wasn't much of any in this book and that's totally fine. But there were hints toward development in the next book, and I'm living for it. Rhy and Alucard, please. PLEASE. Also, Kell and Lila. Maybe? Yes? Hopefully? Lila is amazing on her own and so is Kell, but stuff between them toward the end has me hoping.
- the Essen Tach. A magician tournament isn't the most original thing, but I loved it. It was really fun to read about, and I ended up getting carried away with hopes of who would win.
- Red London and beyond. I already knew plenty about Red London from ADSOM, but I really enjoyed learning about neighboring empires. Faro and Vesk seemed kind of strange, but I liked the exploration of their culture nonetheless. And I thought it was really cool that their way to keep peace between the 3 of them was to host a huge magical tournament.
- the story. I was hooked instantaneously. I enjoyed ADSOM but it took some time for the story to really pick up. Here I was absorbed from the first chapter. I read close to 300 pages of this book over this past weekend, and I'm sure I would've finished it sooner if school and sleep weren't necessary. I was tempted to just ignore everything and finish this, not even going to lie about that. It was full of twists and surprises, and I was always on my toes. I actually predicted the end twist and worried about it for the last 150 pages or so, but it still destroyed me. THAT'S good writing.
- the ending. I saw it coming and I was terrified but I still absolutely loved and hated it. THAT IS SO CRUEL. KELL AND RHY AND LILA AND ALUCARD ALL NEED TO BE SAFE AND ALIVE AND HAPPY. Ahem. Can you tell this book gave me strong feelings?

NEGATIVES:
…
Um.
…

So overall I thoroughly loved this, if you couldn't tell. I wish I had read these books sooner, because this was so freaking amazing. But, also, I'm glad I waited, because that cliffhanger is horrible. I don't even want to wait a few days for ACOL, let alone a few months or a year. Needless to say, I will definitely be reading the final book in the trilogy. And hoping my soul isn't completely crushed. :)

[second read, March 2019]

Upon finishing A Conjuring of Light for the second time, I can confidently say that it’s my favorite in the trilogy. Schwab expertly navigates this conclusion: the plot stuns you, the characters tug on your heartstrings, the world itself darkens, and you simply don’t know what to expect. Every part was fraught with a multitude of emotion, and while some had me laughing out loud, just as many broke my heart. This story is one of good and bad, magic and mayhem, hopefulness and hopelessness. Words evade me, and while it’s more likely due to time, I prefer thinking that it’s a sign of how truly amazing this novel is. I love how seamlessly every element is tied up, in a way that’s both satisfying and open to the possibility of more. It deserves all of the stars, and I definitely think I’ll revisit this trilogy in the future.

I stand by my original review.

[first read, February 2017]

…
I'm speechless. This book was a wild, extremely emotional, but ultimately perfect finale. I was on my toes from the very beginning, and my unexpected time off school was a gift because I could binge-read this. Granted, I did get very, very far ahead of Erika, who I buddy-read this with. But I couldn't help it, because it was so AMAZING.

Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard have my heart. I love them so much. They're all great. I even started to care for Holland and other secondary characters in this book, like Emira, Maxim, Hastra, and Lenos. I didn't expect to, but I did.

On the subject of one specific character that I won't name, I understood the title after finishing. It hints at growth and sacrifice from someone I never would've expected it from. It's very fitting, and also sad.

If there's one thing Victoria excels at, it's toying with emotions. In part one, I was already afraid someone was dead. That fear never really went away until I turned the last page, because in these books, anything can happen - quite literally. She gets you attached to these characters, and then throws so many plot twists at you, you lose count. It's cruel, but also brilliant.

And that big showdown was just epic. There's no other word for it. I was on the edge of my seat, and I had to know if the plan would work. It was really clever, and I never expected it. Well, I can say that about basically everything in this book and the prior two, to be honest.

Ever since I first found out about this trilogy, I've loved the concept of the four parallel Londons. One of the things I liked about this book was the way Red London was described. It was vibrant, but in a darker sense. It was really interesting; two seeming opposites were woven together to create a captivating alternate world.

The last thing I want to say is about the romance. It was wonderful; slow-burning, constant, genuine. I loved seeing the development, in person and in mind. This was probably why I loved the ending as much as I did. It worked out entirely how I'd hoped, at least in this area specifically.

I don't know how much sense that made. I didn't expect to write a review this long, at least not this soon after finishing. Either way, the one thing I hope I made clear is that I love this book very much.

Anoshe. (See what I did there? Hehe.)

When I first heard of this novel, I wasn’t interested. It wasn’t until later, when I heard it described as a queer Latinx dystopian fantasy, that I added it to my TBR. I’m so glad I did; We Set the Dark on Fire is an exquisite, relevant debut, and I loved it.

From the beginning, I was very intrigued by the world-building. The novel starts with a myth that carries the society the story takes place in, about the Sun God and Salt God. The Sun God falls in love with two women, one the princess of the island he watches over and one the Moon Goddess. When he can’t choose, he takes both as wives, one to be his partner and one his lover. This is the basis of the dystopia: an academy trains two types of girls — Primeras are intellectual, meant to help their husband with work, while Segundas are sensual, intended to please their husband and have children — and upon graduation one of each is wed to the highest bidder.

While such an idea is frightening, Mejia manages it brilliantly. Discussions of sexism, poverty, immigration, and more are expertly woven into the story’s foundation, a startling mirror to our current political climate.

From this, the plot arises. Daniela Vargas and Carmen Santos are chosen to be Primera and Segunda to Mateo Garcia, son of a very prominent man in society and aspiring president. The story is very layered and incredibly interesting, even when the action has slowed. Every chapter adds to the intrigue, to my own suspicion, and I was loath to stop reading. As the story progresses, there’s spying, nefarious plots, rebellion, and forbidden romance. Every element is given the attention it deserves, and together they make for a captivating novel.

I loved the protagonists so much. Daniela and Carmen are both Latinx young women, fierce in their own ways, unique and complex. The former is stoic and strategic while the latter is proud and playful, but both have secrets. Watching these two ladies adapt to their situation and grow as characters was a treat. I enjoyed seeing Daniela and Carmen pave their own paths, together and individually, two girls wanting to help bring down the patriarchy.

My favorite part of this novel, undoubtedly, was the romance. It was sapphic, slow-burn, and absolutely amazing. At first, I had no idea how Daniela and Carmen would ever get to a romantic relationship, given that they were at each other’s throats in the beginning. But slowly, passionately, they transition from enemies to allies to friends to lovers. It was pure gold. Every scene with the two of them was delightful, and always ended too soon. My lesbian heart is full, and if one thing lasts in the sequel, I hope it’s this budding romance. Please, Tehlor Kay Mejia, give my queer queens the happy ending they deserve.

Lastly, I was not at all prepared for that cliffhanger. I suspected part of it in the final chapters, but I had no idea how wonderfully horrible it would really be. Until the sequel releases, I’ll be here wondering what might happen next, trying to contain my desperation.

I think I’ve said everything I wanted to say. I loved We Set the Dark on Fire so much; it’s completely worth all of the hype people give it. With corrupt government officials, a forbidden sapphic romance, rebellion, feminist themes, strong protagonists, as well as a ton of adrenaline and emotion, it’s basically everything a person could want. If this is the return of YA dystopian novels, I’m absolutely here for it.

[second read, April 2019]

3.5 stars

When I read When Dimple Met Rishi the first time, I gave it 5 stars. While I did enjoy it this time around, I no longer find it worth such a high rating.

I liked the focus on Indian culture, as well as Dimple’s headstrong, ambitious attitude. However, I wasn’t fond of her repeatedly mentioning that she doesn’t wear makeup, as if that makes her better than people that do. Rishi was a very sweet love interest, and while I liked him, there were moments where I thought he could stand up for himself better. Both of them did things I didn’t like; Dimple sent Rishi’s sketches to an artist he idolized, and Rishi sent the app prototype they’d been working on to the woman Dimple idolized. Neither of them knew what the other was doing, and though they each had good intentions, I think it was invasive.

Additionally, as many others have said before me, I wish coding had been a more prominent element in the novel. Nearly all of it takes place in a summer coding camp, yet as the story progresses, Dimple and Rishi’s romance overshadows that. The talent show had more page time than the coding competition itself, and I’m not quite sure what purpose the talent show served.

I also appreciate the side characters. Ashish is occasionally annoying, as all younger siblings are, but for the most part he’s a sweet, interesting character. I look forward to seeing him shine in Menon’s upcoming novel. Then there’s Celia, Dimple’s roommate at coding camp, who is Latinx and bi/pansexual. A specific label isn’t used, but I did enjoy her steadfast friendship with Dimple and her own subplot.

+1,000 points for the iced coffee scene. It‘s my favorite part of the story, and, in my humble opinion, is also the best.

When Dimple Met Rishi is a fun, diverse romantic comedy, and the representation is undeniably important. I didn’t love it the way I did when I first read it, but I think that’s because I’ve changed significantly as a reviewer in the past year and a half. I still enjoyed my reread, and I look forward to seeing what’s in store in the sequel novella and Menon’s other novels.

[first read, July 2017]

Sixth book of booktubeathon!

This was adorable, funny, and honestly just perfect. Dimple and Rishi are amazing characters and their romance is realistic and super cute. The iced coffee scene is my new favorite thing. I'd like more of their story, please. One of my top five fluffy contemporaries. ❤️

And that's all that *really* needs to be said. If you haven't read this yet, I highly, highly encourage you do so. Immediately. (*cough*ERIKA*cough*) 😊

(This has been one of Liv's Lazy Reviews™.)

2.5 stars

I was so excited for As Kismet Would Have It, especially after Menon hinted at a wedding. There was one, but not between Dimple and Rishi. Instead I got sixty pages of relationship drama, because Rishi wouldn’t leave the marriage discussion alone. Will Dimple ever want to marry him? Is Dimple against the idea of marriage, or the idea of marrying him specifically?

I like Rishi, but in this novella, he grated on my nerves. The two of them are nineteen and have only been together a year, but he insists that they need to have this conversation now. Honestly, as much as Dimple loves Rishi, I feel like she did what she did to appease him, not because she wanted to.

What I’m getting at is that I really didn’t see the point of this novella. The only parts of it I liked were Dimple’s mom making a Twilight reference, claiming it’s a great love story, and the introduction to Ashish and Sweetie’s relationship. Some people might say they loved this, that it made their heart happy, and if that’s you, that’s great. But personally, this just made me more excited for There’s Something About Sweetie.

2.5 stars

I wanted so badly to enjoy From Twinkle, With Love, but unfortunately I did not. While there were some elements I liked, those were outweighed by many that I wasn’t fond of.

My biggest issue was with Twinkle herself. She’s an Indian teen and aspiring filmmaker, and I liked that she allowed herself to dream big. I also liked her advocacy against the patriarchy, and general feminist attitude. However, the list ends there. Twinkle is introduced as a shy character that avoids confrontation at all costs, but as the story progresses, she becomes self-centered and rather annoying. She believes that being the director makes her superior — at least, that’s how I interpreted it. She’s prone to ridiculous outbursts, and tries to do cruel things, thinking it will help people, but lashes out at those who say otherwise. It takes way too long for her to realize the error of her ways. There’s character development, and then there’s this.

A common occurrence in this novel is Twinkle acting rashly in the moment, then looking back later and feeling guilty. Some reviewers have said they appreciate Menon writing Twinkle in this manner, as it’s representative of many modern teens. I agree with that. Many teens, myself included, learn from mistakes like these. My problems lie with other aspects of Twinkle’s character.

I come from a middle-class family, and thus am not qualified to discuss the financial struggles mentioned throughout the novel. However, I applaud Menon for writing openly about the way Twinkle felt having no phone or car isolated her from classmates and the strain it put on her familial relationships. The latter is in addition to the existing strain that comes from Twinkle wanting to be a filmmaker. This is a complex discussion, and I’ve yet to see any complaints.

While Twinkle and Sahil’s relationship is cute in the end, I’m not fond of the path they went down to get to that stage. Twinkle has a crush on his twin brother Neil, though he likely doesn’t have a clue who she is. She doesn’t even want to be in a relationship with him for him, but because he could elevate her status from “groundling”, as she calls herself, to “silk feathered hat”, her name for the popular clique. First, that’s not a good reason for a relationship, and second, while those nicknames are unique, they felt silly.

In relation to my last point, Twinkle can’t decide if she wants to wait for Neil to come around or follow her heart and date Sahil. This results in her unfairly stringing Sahil along, with several kisses and then various excuses as to why she can’t commit to him: maintaining professionalism while filming, figuring out what she wants, etc. Sahil might not be my favorite, but he deserves better than that. No one deserves that sort of treatment.

Now, about Sahil. I appreciated his unrelenting support of Twinkle and their movie, and his feminist nature. He agreed with Twinkle’s comments about the patriarchy and didn’t mind her ranting. However, I feel like I don’t really know who Sahil is. Sure, he’s a passionate movie lover that wants to work in the industry, a brother in his twin’s shadow, a sweet, dorky guy. But what about deep down?

Another significant issue I had was the subplot regarding Twinkle’s friendship with Maddie, and how it fell apart as Maddie integrated herself into a group of popular girls that wanted nothing to do with Twinkle. The entire thing felt melodramatic and cliché, though I know from somewhat similar personal experiences that this does, unfortunately, happen in real life. In middle school, I tried to hold on to a friendship with my best friend of almost ten years and ultimately it didn’t work out. I understand what Twinkle went through and I’m glad things mostly did work out, but I kept wishing that she would find new friends. No one needs that kind of drama in their daily life.

The one bonus from the aforementioned storyline was a lovely new friendship between Twinkle and a girl from the popular posse. They didn’t have many moments together, but I could tell she was genuinely nice and inclusive. I liked her and I think she’s the kind of friend Twinkle needs.

While we’re on the subject of characters I liked in the novel, let me say that I loved Dadi and her dog Oso. She was my favorite member of Twinkle’s family, even my favorite in the book as a whole. I also liked that Oso had a star-crossed romance with the dog across the fence. It was a minute detail, but it made me smile.

On the other hand, I had one more major issue with this novel: the writing. It felt very juvenile and the dialogue was often cheesy, and it just didn’t work for me. Similarly, Twinkle and many side characters came off as rather young; they’re all 16-17, but spoke and acted as if they were 13-14. I’m not lowering my rating because of this, as teens are young and not all of them are as mature as I am and others are. I have nothing against teens like that. However, the two combined were off-putting.

Lastly, the plot was a bit lacking and relied on many tropes I’ve read so many times. This wouldn’t have been a negative aspect if I cared more for the characters, but I did not. I know that some people argue that marginalized teens deserve to see themselves in stories such as this, in cheesy high-school rom-coms, and I wholeheartedly agree. I hope any teens that need this story find it and enjoy it. But it’s not for me.

I think I’ve covered all of my bases. I truly hope my review doesn’t seem harsh, as that was not my intention. From Twinkle, With Love is a fluffy story with some deeper meanings, and I think I would’ve enjoyed it more had I read it when I was a bit younger. Unfortunately, the few elements I did like were overpowered by the many I did not. But I still plan to read Menon’s upcoming novel and future releases, and hopefully enjoy them more.

Representation:
• Sahil is half-Indian, and though I don’t recall it being stated outright, I imagine Neil is too. They’re twins, after all.
• Sahil’s friend Aaron is gay and black.
• Brij, a side character, is also Indian.
• Matthew, another side character, is bi.
• Maddie is Japanese-American.
• There’s a very minor m/m romance between two side characters.

CW: sexism, financial struggles, slut-shaming

3.5 stars

The Storm Runner is the first book I’ve read from Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, and it was a fun read. It reminded me of my carefree childhood days reading Percy Jackson, and this was unexpectedly nostalgic.

I really liked all of the Maya mythology. I knew essentially nothing about any of their gods or myths before reading, and while I know a novel like this is not intended to educate, I did learn quite a few things. The best part, in my opinion, is that there’s a Maya goddess of chocolate. Sure, it’s mostly irrelevant, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

I also liked the characters. Zane was a snarky protagonist I couldn’t help but root for. He has a bad leg and uses a cane, and while that does impact his life, it isn’t the entirety of his character. He’s also Latinx, but as I am neither Latinx nor disabled, I cannot speak on either representation.

The side characters were interesting as well. Zane’s family is so supportive, though his mother is absent for most of the novel and his quest. I liked his uncle Hondo, a younger man obsessed with wrestling and determined to help Zane no matter what. Brooks was a mysterious companion that piqued my curiosity. However, my favorite was undeniably Rosie, the three-legged boxer-Dalmatian mix that Zane found, abandoned, and gave a home. She was the sweetest doggo and I’m glad things worked out, at least in that regard.

It becomes clear fairly quickly that Zane has a crush on Brooks. While I don’t have anything against romantic storylines, I appreciate that Cervantes put the plot first. I’m not sure a romance won’t develop in forthcoming novels, but for now, it was nice to read a story sans romance.

My biggest issue with this novel was the pacing. As intriguing as the story was, much of the middle dragged and I even considered DNFing. It was only my curiosity that made me push through, and upon finishing I do believe this could’ve been shortened. The ebook was nearly 630 pages, and that really didn’t seem necessary.

All in all, The Storm Runner was an enjoyable Middle Grade novel, but I don’t think I’ll read the next installment.

Representation:
• Zane, the protagonist, is Latinx and disabled; he uses a cane when walking.

CW: death of pet