249 reviews by:

oofsharkz73

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Ellen Levine

3.0

A Lesson in Vengeance

Victoria Lee

DID NOT FINISH: 13%

Easy to get into, not easy for me to follow, just not my genre! But seems like it'd be an amazing book if I liked the style a bit more.

We All Looked Up

Tommy Wallach

DID NOT FINISH: 1%

Not the quickest I'd ever stopped a book, but the writing style was nothing short of atrocious off the bat.

Glass

Ellen Hopkins

5.0

So hard to read, but so glad I am reading it. Diving into Fallout asap.

Daughter 4254

Leigh Statham

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"My Dearest Daughter4254 --
We used to be a people surrounded by beauty. We even had beautiful names like the apple tree and muslin cloth. My name is Imani. I wanted you to know this before I left you. The world wasn't always so rigid. I know it's hard to believe, but Neurodeficient people like us used to be the majority. There were millions of us. There are still a few left and many learned to blend in, like myself. You just have to find your place..."

Though it's been years since I read The Giver by Lois Lowry, Daughter 4254 instantly felt similar. The novel takes place in a dystopian society where the government dictates your life path based on intelligence and social status—both shaped by whether you're classified as Neuroadvanced—analytical and calculated—or Neurodeficient—emotional and free-spirited. At its core, the story explores conformity, something Daughter 4254 struggles with even before grappling with the grief of losing her mother.
We quickly learn that this society operates on strict compliance—any waste of resources, disobedience, or rule-breaking leaves a permanent mark on one’s record. It becomes clear that things weren’t always this way; when her mother was her age, the world was different. Despite the odds stacked against her, Daughter 4254’s mother hopes for a better future and urges her to apply to Secondary School.

The novel opens with imagery of grayness, rigidity, and cold, immediately conveying a society stripped of life's beauty and warmth. Overtime throughout being in jail and in the alternating viewpoint of her time at the Secondary School, Daughter 4254 starts to see how important art and creativity are, and longs to live like Thomas and his group did - in their own little commune away from the harsh society.

The story progresses quickly and neatly, and the plot was very compelling. Delighted to know there's a sequel!

My Fight / Your Fight

Ronda Rousey

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense

I used to say all the time, "Changing things is not that easy."
But it is just as easy as making up your mind. You can always make a decision. And if that decision doesn't work, you can make another decision.

While I’ve never been interested in combat sports myself, I’ve always wanted to connect with my partner’s passion for martial arts. That curiosity led me to read Henry Cejudo’s book, but My Fight, Your Fight by Ronda Rousey completely floored me. Rousey’s journey isn’t just about chasing dreams or fueling a passion—it’s about dedicating your entire life to something you believe in. Her story inspired me in ways I didn’t expect, making me more eager than ever to sit down and watch UFC fights with my partner. This book isn’t just for fight fans—it’s for anyone who appreciates relentless determination and the power of resilience.