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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and early audiobook copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix
Author: Bethany C. Morrow
Book Series: Remixed Classics Book 2
Diversity: Black MCs and love interests and side characters.
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: classical retellings, young adult readers, historical fiction
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Classic Retelling
Publication Date: September ,7, 2021
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 12+ (Slavery, Romance, Microaggressions)
Explanation of CWs: Slavery is very prevalent in this book and is the foundation for the story. There is also marked events of racism and migroaggressions by the few white characters.
Synopsis: North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the old life. It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:
Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own.
Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained.
Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose.
Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family's home.
As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together.
Review: I really like this remix of Little Women. Even though I have not read the book, I knew about what it should be about LOL. I didn't feel like from what I've heard about Little Women that this book was a lot better than it, but I really don't like classics to begin with. I loved the character development and the World building. I thought that the pacing was very well done and the story overall was very well written. I also loved the little nods to the original including the father's name being Alcott. I also feel like the book did very well commenting and showing the racism that happened after the Civil war. I feel like a lot of people think that racism and slavery and everything ended when the Confederacy gave up and this would be a great book to show them that that is definitely not true and still happens to this day unfortunately.
The only thing that I really didn't like about the book is that the plot was kind of disjointed. But I'm really not going to count that off for the book because I have not read Little Women so I don't know if Little Women is like that but it just felt like there was a lot of storylines going on around the same time and there was time skips and stuff like that and then the end really didn't resolve any conflict but there really wasn't any. Don't get me wrong the book is still really good, I just don't know if this is what Little Women is all about, but I have a suspicion that it is LOL.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix
Author: Bethany C. Morrow
Book Series: Remixed Classics Book 2
Diversity: Black MCs and love interests and side characters.
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: classical retellings, young adult readers, historical fiction
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Classic Retelling
Publication Date: September ,7, 2021
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 12+ (Slavery, Romance, Microaggressions)
Explanation of CWs: Slavery is very prevalent in this book and is the foundation for the story. There is also marked events of racism and migroaggressions by the few white characters.
Synopsis: North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the old life. It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:
Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own.
Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained.
Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose.
Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family's home.
As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together.
Review: I really like this remix of Little Women. Even though I have not read the book, I knew about what it should be about LOL. I didn't feel like from what I've heard about Little Women that this book was a lot better than it, but I really don't like classics to begin with. I loved the character development and the World building. I thought that the pacing was very well done and the story overall was very well written. I also loved the little nods to the original including the father's name being Alcott. I also feel like the book did very well commenting and showing the racism that happened after the Civil war. I feel like a lot of people think that racism and slavery and everything ended when the Confederacy gave up and this would be a great book to show them that that is definitely not true and still happens to this day unfortunately.
The only thing that I really didn't like about the book is that the plot was kind of disjointed. But I'm really not going to count that off for the book because I have not read Little Women so I don't know if Little Women is like that but it just felt like there was a lot of storylines going on around the same time and there was time skips and stuff like that and then the end really didn't resolve any conflict but there really wasn't any. Don't get me wrong the book is still really good, I just don't know if this is what Little Women is all about, but I have a suspicion that it is LOL.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Extraordinaries
Author: T.J. Klune
Book Series: The Extraordinaries Book 1
Diversity: M/m romance, ADHD gay MC, F/f relationship, Lesbian side characters, Black side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, LGBT+, superheroes
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: July 14, 2020
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 405
Recommended Age: 14+ (Sexual content, Sexual jokes, Slight Language, Violence, Slight gore)
Explanation of CWs: Some mentions of masturbation, sexual acts, and teenage jokes about sex and sexual organs.
Synopsis: Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?
After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life).
Review: I really forgot how much I loved this book the first go around and now I love it even more! It's an absolutely amazing book with a fun story (I've also discovered I like superhero storylines lol). The characters were amazing, the diversity was on point, and the world building was immaculate. I also loved the tropes, I loved how the author switched up the Mary Jane like story to one for a male character, and I loved how well written it was.
My only issue with the book is that I wish that there was more to the superheroes than just fighting each other all the time. I kinda wanted to see them interact more with their environment, but it was still amazing overall!
Verdict: Absolutely amazing.
Book: The Extraordinaries
Author: T.J. Klune
Book Series: The Extraordinaries Book 1
Diversity: M/m romance, ADHD gay MC, F/f relationship, Lesbian side characters, Black side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, LGBT+, superheroes
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: July 14, 2020
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 405
Recommended Age: 14+ (Sexual content, Sexual jokes, Slight Language, Violence, Slight gore)
Explanation of CWs: Some mentions of masturbation, sexual acts, and teenage jokes about sex and sexual organs.
Synopsis: Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?
After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life).
Review: I really forgot how much I loved this book the first go around and now I love it even more! It's an absolutely amazing book with a fun story (I've also discovered I like superhero storylines lol). The characters were amazing, the diversity was on point, and the world building was immaculate. I also loved the tropes, I loved how the author switched up the Mary Jane like story to one for a male character, and I loved how well written it was.
My only issue with the book is that I wish that there was more to the superheroes than just fighting each other all the time. I kinda wanted to see them interact more with their environment, but it was still amazing overall!
Verdict: Absolutely amazing.
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Victories Greater Than Death
Author: Charlie Jane Anders
Book Series: Unstoppable Book 1
Diversity: Pronoun usage, Non binary side character, Plus Size side character, Indian side character, Asian side character, Brazilian transgender side character, Black gay side character, Anxiety rep side character, F/f romance
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, science fiction
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Publication Date: April 13, 2021
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 14+ (Child abuse mention TW, Death, Slight sexual content, Gore, Violence)
Explanation of CWs: 1 mention of child abuse in the past. There is lots of violence and death and gore in this book. There is also one scene that's suggestive of sex.
Synopsis: Tina never worries about being ‘ordinary’—she doesn’t have to, since she’s known practically forever that she’s not just Tina Mains, average teenager and beloved daughter. She’s also the keeper of an interplanetary rescue beacon, and one day soon, it’s going to activate, and then her dreams of saving all the worlds and adventuring among the stars will finally be possible. Tina’s legacy, after all, is intergalactic—she is the hidden clone of a famed alien hero, left on Earth disguised as a human to give the universe another chance to defeat a terrible evil.
But when the beacon activates, it turns out that Tina’s destiny isn’t quite what she expected. Things are far more dangerous than she ever assumed. Luckily, Tina is surrounded by a crew she can trust, and her best friend Rachael, and she is still determined to save all the worlds. But first she’ll have to save herself.
Review: So while I managed to get through this whole book (and it was a struggle) I hated every moment reading this book past 15%. The book really felt bland and tropey, and when I say tropey I mean the book tries to use a ton of the usual tropes of YA sci-fi but fails to write them and tell them well. The book wasn't anything very unique and there was just so much clutter in the book to go through in order to understand who was who for the aliens and what was going on. The author didn't let the side characters really develop or grow and while I loved that they all were very diverse, the author didn't write their identities into how they interacted with their environment. In fact, all of the characters felt super 1 dimensional and flat. There was too much telling and virtually no showing. The world building was awful. And the book, overall, was just awful and there's better books out there that utilize the same tropes, but they actually work.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
Book: Victories Greater Than Death
Author: Charlie Jane Anders
Book Series: Unstoppable Book 1
Diversity: Pronoun usage, Non binary side character, Plus Size side character, Indian side character, Asian side character, Brazilian transgender side character, Black gay side character, Anxiety rep side character, F/f romance
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, science fiction
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Publication Date: April 13, 2021
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 14+ (Child abuse mention TW, Death, Slight sexual content, Gore, Violence)
Explanation of CWs: 1 mention of child abuse in the past. There is lots of violence and death and gore in this book. There is also one scene that's suggestive of sex.
Synopsis: Tina never worries about being ‘ordinary’—she doesn’t have to, since she’s known practically forever that she’s not just Tina Mains, average teenager and beloved daughter. She’s also the keeper of an interplanetary rescue beacon, and one day soon, it’s going to activate, and then her dreams of saving all the worlds and adventuring among the stars will finally be possible. Tina’s legacy, after all, is intergalactic—she is the hidden clone of a famed alien hero, left on Earth disguised as a human to give the universe another chance to defeat a terrible evil.
But when the beacon activates, it turns out that Tina’s destiny isn’t quite what she expected. Things are far more dangerous than she ever assumed. Luckily, Tina is surrounded by a crew she can trust, and her best friend Rachael, and she is still determined to save all the worlds. But first she’ll have to save herself.
Review: So while I managed to get through this whole book (and it was a struggle) I hated every moment reading this book past 15%. The book really felt bland and tropey, and when I say tropey I mean the book tries to use a ton of the usual tropes of YA sci-fi but fails to write them and tell them well. The book wasn't anything very unique and there was just so much clutter in the book to go through in order to understand who was who for the aliens and what was going on. The author didn't let the side characters really develop or grow and while I loved that they all were very diverse, the author didn't write their identities into how they interacted with their environment. In fact, all of the characters felt super 1 dimensional and flat. There was too much telling and virtually no showing. The world building was awful. And the book, overall, was just awful and there's better books out there that utilize the same tropes, but they actually work.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Cold Hearted
Author: Serena Valentino
Book Series: Villains Book 8
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, retelling, Disney retellings, Cinderella story
Genre: YA Retelling
Publication Date: July 6, 2021
Publisher: Disney Books
Pages: 294
Recommended Age: 13+ (death, emotional domestic abuse, emotional child abuse)
Explanation of CWs: There is a lot of death in this book with parents. A certain parent also contributes to a certain amount of emotional abuse to Lady Tremaine and there is emotional child abuse to Anastasia and Drizella and some to Cinderella.
Synopsis: It’s a familiar tale: A kind and beautiful young girl, reeling from loss. A doting father, frantic to bring a mother’s love back into his daughter’s life. And the selfish, cruel woman who insinuates herself into that family―a woman so unfeeling, so cold hearted, that when her new husband dies, she makes the girl a servant in her own home.
But who is that evil stepmother, that icy lady of the house? How did she become so closed off that, in the face of a child’s grief, she thought only to seek wealth and power for herself and her abhorrent daughters? Before that fateful ball, before the glass slipper and the prince, there was another story―a story of love and grief, of hope and of dreams dashed. It is the story of Lady Tremaine.
Even the coldest of villains are sometimes wives and mothers, women who loved and lost and hoped for something grander for their lives . . . once upon a dream.
Review: I really enjoyed this one! I absolutely love this series and while I'm not the best at reading them in order I do love that you CAN read them out of order. I love how the author made me sympathetic to Lady Tremaine and how well she crafted this revenge story. I also loved the character development and world building. The pacing was also spot on and I finished this one in one sitting!
My only criticism of the book is that I didn't get that one satisfying death I wanted to see lol.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Cold Hearted
Author: Serena Valentino
Book Series: Villains Book 8
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, retelling, Disney retellings, Cinderella story
Genre: YA Retelling
Publication Date: July 6, 2021
Publisher: Disney Books
Pages: 294
Recommended Age: 13+ (death, emotional domestic abuse, emotional child abuse)
Explanation of CWs: There is a lot of death in this book with parents. A certain parent also contributes to a certain amount of emotional abuse to Lady Tremaine and there is emotional child abuse to Anastasia and Drizella and some to Cinderella.
Synopsis: It’s a familiar tale: A kind and beautiful young girl, reeling from loss. A doting father, frantic to bring a mother’s love back into his daughter’s life. And the selfish, cruel woman who insinuates herself into that family―a woman so unfeeling, so cold hearted, that when her new husband dies, she makes the girl a servant in her own home.
But who is that evil stepmother, that icy lady of the house? How did she become so closed off that, in the face of a child’s grief, she thought only to seek wealth and power for herself and her abhorrent daughters? Before that fateful ball, before the glass slipper and the prince, there was another story―a story of love and grief, of hope and of dreams dashed. It is the story of Lady Tremaine.
Even the coldest of villains are sometimes wives and mothers, women who loved and lost and hoped for something grander for their lives . . . once upon a dream.
Review: I really enjoyed this one! I absolutely love this series and while I'm not the best at reading them in order I do love that you CAN read them out of order. I love how the author made me sympathetic to Lady Tremaine and how well she crafted this revenge story. I also loved the character development and world building. The pacing was also spot on and I finished this one in one sitting!
My only criticism of the book is that I didn't get that one satisfying death I wanted to see lol.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Mirror Season
Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Hispanic, Plus Size, Pansexual MC, F/f romance mentioned (MC past relationships and a current one by a side character)
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Contemporary, magical realism, young adult readers
Genre: YA Contemporary (slight Magical Realism)
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 311
Recommended Age: 15+ (Rape TW, Language, Abstinence Discussion, Bullying, Romance, Sex)
Explanation of CWs: Rape is heavily discussed and it's something the MC and the love interest experience. There is slight language, Abstinence is also talked about, and there is heavy bullying. There is also 1 consensual sex scene and a few mentions to consensual sex.
Synopsis: When two teens discover that they were both sexually assaulted at the same party, they develop a cautious friendship through her family's possibly magical pastelería, his secret forest of otherworldly trees, and the swallows returning to their hometown, in Anna-Marie McLemore's The Mirror Season...
Graciela Cristales's whole world changes after she and a boy she barely knows are assaulted at the same party. She loses her gift for making enchanted pan dulce. Neighborhood trees vanish overnight, while mirrored glass appears, bringing reckless magic with it. And Ciela is haunted by what happened to her, and what happened to the boy whose name she never learned.
But when the boy, Lock, shows up at Ciela's school, he has no memory of that night, and no clue that a single piece of mirrored glass is taking his life apart. Ciela decides to help him, which means hiding the truth about that night. Because Ciela knows who assaulted her, and him. And she knows that her survival, and his, depend on no one finding out what really happened.
Review: I really liked this book, even though it took a lot out of me to read it. The book heavily discusses rape and consent and abstinence, which are always touchy subjects to me. I thought the author did well to craft a story like I hadn't read since Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The world building was well done, the characters were well developed, and the plot was heartbreaking. Furthermore, I loved how the author talked about sexual assaults on men and what they go through and I loved how well the author wrote a male character that does typically "feminine" things like crocheting or sewing. I also read this book in one setting, because the book demanded it of me, but I heavily advise if you're wanting to read this and are touchy on these topics as well, please take your time. Also, because this is a McLemore book, there is a bit of magical realism in it and the writing is very poetry like.
The only thing I didn't like as much about the book is that the format was a bit hard to know if I was in the then or now, but I think that was on purpose and if so it served it's purpose.
Verdict: It's really good! Highly recommend.
Book: The Mirror Season
Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Hispanic, Plus Size, Pansexual MC, F/f romance mentioned (MC past relationships and a current one by a side character)
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Contemporary, magical realism, young adult readers
Genre: YA Contemporary (slight Magical Realism)
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 311
Recommended Age: 15+ (Rape TW, Language, Abstinence Discussion, Bullying, Romance, Sex)
Explanation of CWs: Rape is heavily discussed and it's something the MC and the love interest experience. There is slight language, Abstinence is also talked about, and there is heavy bullying. There is also 1 consensual sex scene and a few mentions to consensual sex.
Synopsis: When two teens discover that they were both sexually assaulted at the same party, they develop a cautious friendship through her family's possibly magical pastelería, his secret forest of otherworldly trees, and the swallows returning to their hometown, in Anna-Marie McLemore's The Mirror Season...
Graciela Cristales's whole world changes after she and a boy she barely knows are assaulted at the same party. She loses her gift for making enchanted pan dulce. Neighborhood trees vanish overnight, while mirrored glass appears, bringing reckless magic with it. And Ciela is haunted by what happened to her, and what happened to the boy whose name she never learned.
But when the boy, Lock, shows up at Ciela's school, he has no memory of that night, and no clue that a single piece of mirrored glass is taking his life apart. Ciela decides to help him, which means hiding the truth about that night. Because Ciela knows who assaulted her, and him. And she knows that her survival, and his, depend on no one finding out what really happened.
Review: I really liked this book, even though it took a lot out of me to read it. The book heavily discusses rape and consent and abstinence, which are always touchy subjects to me. I thought the author did well to craft a story like I hadn't read since Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The world building was well done, the characters were well developed, and the plot was heartbreaking. Furthermore, I loved how the author talked about sexual assaults on men and what they go through and I loved how well the author wrote a male character that does typically "feminine" things like crocheting or sewing. I also read this book in one setting, because the book demanded it of me, but I heavily advise if you're wanting to read this and are touchy on these topics as well, please take your time. Also, because this is a McLemore book, there is a bit of magical realism in it and the writing is very poetry like.
The only thing I didn't like as much about the book is that the format was a bit hard to know if I was in the then or now, but I think that was on purpose and if so it served it's purpose.
Verdict: It's really good! Highly recommend.
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Unnatural Resources
Author: Mindy Uhrlaub
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Congolese MC and side characters, disabled side character
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended For...: fiction, adult reads
Genre: Fiction
Publication Date: November 17, 2020
Publisher: The Permanant Press
Pages: 200
Recommended Age: 17+ (war, violence, death, gore, sexual content, mentions of Sexual Abuse/Rape TW, slavery TW)
Synopsis: When her Congolese village is destroyed by an invading militia group, eleven-year-old Therese is injured and outcast. Stranded with only her little brother's best friend in a war-torn jungle, she is forced to make a choice: lie down and become another victim of the war or stand up and survive. Desperate to find her mother and beloved brother, Felix, she uses her greatest gift, her knowledge of English, to navigate the vast web of humanitarian aid groups. Along the way, she meets the charismatic one-legged teenager, Robert, who takes her on an adventure with a film crew which becomes her lifeline back home. Luna, Therese's mother, has been taken as a slave and concubine to the handsome and evil leader of the militia, The General. In a harrowing act of bravery, she uses her own knowledge of languages to make the difficult choice to escape into the mountainous jungle. In her struggle to reunite with Therese and Felix, some of the least likely people become her friends. With its themes of women's empowerment, Unnatural Resources is a stunning and unflinchingly brutal redefinition of the meaning of family. This book tells the story of a young Congolese girl who becomes a symbol of hope in the worst place in the world to be female.
Review: I really loved this book. I loved the message behind the book and I loved seeing the world outside of my bubble here in the USA. I thought the characters were well developed as was the world building. The book is wonderfully well written and poetic at times as well.
The only thing I had issue with is that the pacing was a little wonky at times and sometimes I got lost as to what was going on, but I got to the point soon after.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Unnatural Resources
Author: Mindy Uhrlaub
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Congolese MC and side characters, disabled side character
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended For...: fiction, adult reads
Genre: Fiction
Publication Date: November 17, 2020
Publisher: The Permanant Press
Pages: 200
Recommended Age: 17+ (war, violence, death, gore, sexual content, mentions of Sexual Abuse/Rape TW, slavery TW)
Synopsis: When her Congolese village is destroyed by an invading militia group, eleven-year-old Therese is injured and outcast. Stranded with only her little brother's best friend in a war-torn jungle, she is forced to make a choice: lie down and become another victim of the war or stand up and survive. Desperate to find her mother and beloved brother, Felix, she uses her greatest gift, her knowledge of English, to navigate the vast web of humanitarian aid groups. Along the way, she meets the charismatic one-legged teenager, Robert, who takes her on an adventure with a film crew which becomes her lifeline back home. Luna, Therese's mother, has been taken as a slave and concubine to the handsome and evil leader of the militia, The General. In a harrowing act of bravery, she uses her own knowledge of languages to make the difficult choice to escape into the mountainous jungle. In her struggle to reunite with Therese and Felix, some of the least likely people become her friends. With its themes of women's empowerment, Unnatural Resources is a stunning and unflinchingly brutal redefinition of the meaning of family. This book tells the story of a young Congolese girl who becomes a symbol of hope in the worst place in the world to be female.
Review: I really loved this book. I loved the message behind the book and I loved seeing the world outside of my bubble here in the USA. I thought the characters were well developed as was the world building. The book is wonderfully well written and poetic at times as well.
The only thing I had issue with is that the pacing was a little wonky at times and sometimes I got lost as to what was going on, but I got to the point soon after.
Verdict: It was good!
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Walls
Author: L. M. Elliott
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, young adult
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Publisher: Algonquin Children's
Pages: 331
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, mentions of war, gore, and "re-education")
Synopsis: Drew is an army brat, a hotshot athlete poised to be his high school’s star pitcher, when he has to move for the sixth time in fifteen years—this time to West Berlin, where American soldiers like his dad hold an outpost of democracy against communist Russia in Hitler’s former capital. Meanwhile, in East Berlin, his cousin Matthias has grown up in the wreckage left by Allied bombing during World War II, on streets ruled by the Communist Party’s secret police.
From the opposing sides of the Cold War, Drew and Matthias begin to overcome the many ideological walls between them to become wary friends. They argue over the space race, capitalism, socialism, and even the American civil rights movement, and bond over rock ’n’ roll—music outlawed in Matthias’s part of the city. If Matthias is caught by the Stasi’s neighborhood spies with the records or books Drew has given him, he will be sent to a work camp for “re-education.” At the same time, Drew’s friendship with the East Berlin Jugend—who ardently spout communist dogma—raises suspicions about his family’s loyalty to America. As the political situation around them gets all the more dire, Drew and Matthias’s loyalty—to their sector, their countries, their families, and each other—will be tested in ways that will change their lives forever.
Set in the tumultuous year leading up to the surprise overnight raising of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, and punctuated with real-life photographs, headlines, and personalities of the time, Walls brings to vivid life the heroic and tragic choices of the Cold War.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. I loved seeing the photographs and it helped me visualize the story better. The characters were well developed and the pacing was well done. I also loved the world building and combined with the pictures this is one of those books I'd love to see high schoolers read.
The only thing I really had issue with is the plot of the book. It took me awhile to connect with the characters, but when I did I consumed the book.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Walls
Author: L. M. Elliott
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, young adult
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Publisher: Algonquin Children's
Pages: 331
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, mentions of war, gore, and "re-education")
Synopsis: Drew is an army brat, a hotshot athlete poised to be his high school’s star pitcher, when he has to move for the sixth time in fifteen years—this time to West Berlin, where American soldiers like his dad hold an outpost of democracy against communist Russia in Hitler’s former capital. Meanwhile, in East Berlin, his cousin Matthias has grown up in the wreckage left by Allied bombing during World War II, on streets ruled by the Communist Party’s secret police.
From the opposing sides of the Cold War, Drew and Matthias begin to overcome the many ideological walls between them to become wary friends. They argue over the space race, capitalism, socialism, and even the American civil rights movement, and bond over rock ’n’ roll—music outlawed in Matthias’s part of the city. If Matthias is caught by the Stasi’s neighborhood spies with the records or books Drew has given him, he will be sent to a work camp for “re-education.” At the same time, Drew’s friendship with the East Berlin Jugend—who ardently spout communist dogma—raises suspicions about his family’s loyalty to America. As the political situation around them gets all the more dire, Drew and Matthias’s loyalty—to their sector, their countries, their families, and each other—will be tested in ways that will change their lives forever.
Set in the tumultuous year leading up to the surprise overnight raising of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, and punctuated with real-life photographs, headlines, and personalities of the time, Walls brings to vivid life the heroic and tragic choices of the Cold War.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. I loved seeing the photographs and it helped me visualize the story better. The characters were well developed and the pacing was well done. I also loved the world building and combined with the pictures this is one of those books I'd love to see high schoolers read.
The only thing I really had issue with is the plot of the book. It took me awhile to connect with the characters, but when I did I consumed the book.
Verdict: It was good!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer:. I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Cool for the Summer
Author: Dahlie Adler
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Russian heritage MC, Jewish side character, Black male character, Aroace side character, F/f romance, Syrian Jewish bisexual love interest, Non binary pan character mentioned, Questioning/Queer MC
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary, young adult readers, romance, song titled books
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 272
Recommended Age: 16+ (Language, Small HP reference, Underage alcohol consumption, Sex, Mentions of Masturbating, Romance, Making a joke out of sexual coercion)
Explanation of CWs: The small HP reference is fairly early in the novel with just the mention of a specific yellow house shirt. There was none other in the book. There is frequent swearing and underage alcohol consumption in this book. Sex is mentioned and there are 2 sex scenes in this book. There was also one unfavorable joke about how a side character would have sex with her professor when she went to college which gives me creep vibes because that's a misuse of power on the part of the professor and can be seen as sexual misconduct and coercion.
Synopsis: Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe...flirting, even? No, wait, he's definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara's wanted out of life.
Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers.
Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she's finally got the guy, why can't she stop thinking about the girl?
Review: I really enjoyed this book! It's so well written and I love how the story takes place between two timelines (then and now). I thought the characters were well developed and the world building was well done. I also loved the story. It's so cute and tropey but it's the right amount of trope. I guess I'm a sucker for the miscommunication trope now. I also really loved the diversity of this book and I loved how the message of the book wasn't labeling or finding a specific label, just to love who you love.
I did have issue with the amount of characters. I think that it was a lot to remember and the two male love interest of the main character and another major character in the book have very similar names. I kept getting confused with the similar friends names too (Keisha / Kiki is one). Also, this is a great book to read in one sitting, but if you leave it or go to sleep like I did, it's hard to get back into.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Cool for the Summer
Author: Dahlie Adler
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Russian heritage MC, Jewish side character, Black male character, Aroace side character, F/f romance, Syrian Jewish bisexual love interest, Non binary pan character mentioned, Questioning/Queer MC
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary, young adult readers, romance, song titled books
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 272
Recommended Age: 16+ (Language, Small HP reference, Underage alcohol consumption, Sex, Mentions of Masturbating, Romance, Making a joke out of sexual coercion)
Explanation of CWs: The small HP reference is fairly early in the novel with just the mention of a specific yellow house shirt. There was none other in the book. There is frequent swearing and underage alcohol consumption in this book. Sex is mentioned and there are 2 sex scenes in this book. There was also one unfavorable joke about how a side character would have sex with her professor when she went to college which gives me creep vibes because that's a misuse of power on the part of the professor and can be seen as sexual misconduct and coercion.
Synopsis: Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe...flirting, even? No, wait, he's definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara's wanted out of life.
Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers.
Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she's finally got the guy, why can't she stop thinking about the girl?
Review: I really enjoyed this book! It's so well written and I love how the story takes place between two timelines (then and now). I thought the characters were well developed and the world building was well done. I also loved the story. It's so cute and tropey but it's the right amount of trope. I guess I'm a sucker for the miscommunication trope now. I also really loved the diversity of this book and I loved how the message of the book wasn't labeling or finding a specific label, just to love who you love.
I did have issue with the amount of characters. I think that it was a lot to remember and the two male love interest of the main character and another major character in the book have very similar names. I kept getting confused with the similar friends names too (Keisha / Kiki is one). Also, this is a great book to read in one sitting, but if you leave it or go to sleep like I did, it's hard to get back into.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: I Play One On TV
Author: Alan Orloff
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: 1 f/f relationship but very briefly mentioned
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, murder mystery, drama kids
Genre: YA Thriller/Mystery
Publication Date: July 19, 2021
Publisher: Down and Out Books
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 14+ (Stalking TW, Kidnapped TW, violence, slight gore)
Explanation of CWs: MC is stalked by a character and is slightly kidnapped at one point.
Synopsis:All’s great for sixteen-year-old actor Dalton Black as he portrays a teen killer on a crime reenactment show. That is, until he realizes someone is stalking him. When that someone turns out to be Homer Lee Varney, the man convicted of the murder, things take a dark turn, and Dalton is afraid for his life. What does Varney want? Some sort of twisted revenge? Or something even worse?
Can Dalton and his drama friends discover the truth, before they become the killer’s next victims? Stay tuned to find out!
Review: Overall, I really liked this thriller mystery read. The premise of it drew me in immediately and I'm a sucker for true crime lol. I loved the world building and the plot. I also thought the writing was well done.
The only issues I had with the book is that I felt like the characters weren't developed enough and that the action around the book was a bit too quick. I would have loved it if the book opened up with the murder and really explained the context of what I was reading. I also think that there was definitely enough in the book to continue for another 50-100 pages easily.
Verdict: it was good!
Book: I Play One On TV
Author: Alan Orloff
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: 1 f/f relationship but very briefly mentioned
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, murder mystery, drama kids
Genre: YA Thriller/Mystery
Publication Date: July 19, 2021
Publisher: Down and Out Books
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 14+ (Stalking TW, Kidnapped TW, violence, slight gore)
Explanation of CWs: MC is stalked by a character and is slightly kidnapped at one point.
Synopsis:All’s great for sixteen-year-old actor Dalton Black as he portrays a teen killer on a crime reenactment show. That is, until he realizes someone is stalking him. When that someone turns out to be Homer Lee Varney, the man convicted of the murder, things take a dark turn, and Dalton is afraid for his life. What does Varney want? Some sort of twisted revenge? Or something even worse?
Can Dalton and his drama friends discover the truth, before they become the killer’s next victims? Stay tuned to find out!
Review: Overall, I really liked this thriller mystery read. The premise of it drew me in immediately and I'm a sucker for true crime lol. I loved the world building and the plot. I also thought the writing was well done.
The only issues I had with the book is that I felt like the characters weren't developed enough and that the action around the book was a bit too quick. I would have loved it if the book opened up with the murder and really explained the context of what I was reading. I also think that there was definitely enough in the book to continue for another 50-100 pages easily.
Verdict: it was good!
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc and an arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Taking of Jake Livingston
Author: Ryan Douglass
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Black MC male, Gay side character and MC, M/M romance
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Horror, young adult readers, paranormal, ghosts, mediums
Genre: YA Horror
Publication Date: July 13, 2021
Publisher: Putnam
Pages: 244
Recommended Age: 16+ (Death, TW School shootings, TW Animal torture, Language, TW Child abuse, Violence, Gore, Bullying, Racism, TW Suicide, Underage alcohol consumption, Drug reference, Sexual content, TW Child Sexual abuse, TW Slight religious abuse, TW Domestic violence mention)
Explanation of CWs: School shootings are mentioned, is focal to the story, and scenes of it are described and played out in the book. Insects are tortured by a villain character. Child abuse is mentioned and shown, experienced by the main character. Racism plays a side role in this story and there are racist remarks made to the main character. Suicide is shown in the story. Alcohol is consumed by minors and a reference to crack is made. There are two sex scenes in this book and some references to this. There is child sexual assault shown by a family member towards the back of the book. There is a scene where the main character is slightly abused religiously as a ploy by the father to get the main character to not be gay anymore. There is also a small mention of domestic violence.
Synopsis: Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact he sees the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don’t interact often with people. But then Jake meets Sawyer. A troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win.
Review: I really liked this book! At first I thought it was just going to be a paranormal book, but it quickly turned into one of my favorite horror stories of this year. I loved the plot and was instantly hooked. I loved the character development of the book as well. I also really liked how the author walked a really tight line between making the reader feel bad for Sawyer but yet remembering that he was a demon who you were ultimately hating.
However, I did think that the book had some things it could have improved on. The pacing was a bit wonky in spots. The world building wasn't the best at explaining Jake's medium powers and how the paranormal world worked in general in this story. The book had some really quick action scenes that should have been slowed down in my opinion, and I feel like the book had the material to go another 100-150 pages. I also felt like Allister was a bit too 1 dimensional.
Verdict: It's honestly a really good and spooky read. Highly recommend!
Book: The Taking of Jake Livingston
Author: Ryan Douglass
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Black MC male, Gay side character and MC, M/M romance
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Horror, young adult readers, paranormal, ghosts, mediums
Genre: YA Horror
Publication Date: July 13, 2021
Publisher: Putnam
Pages: 244
Recommended Age: 16+ (Death, TW School shootings, TW Animal torture, Language, TW Child abuse, Violence, Gore, Bullying, Racism, TW Suicide, Underage alcohol consumption, Drug reference, Sexual content, TW Child Sexual abuse, TW Slight religious abuse, TW Domestic violence mention)
Explanation of CWs: School shootings are mentioned, is focal to the story, and scenes of it are described and played out in the book. Insects are tortured by a villain character. Child abuse is mentioned and shown, experienced by the main character. Racism plays a side role in this story and there are racist remarks made to the main character. Suicide is shown in the story. Alcohol is consumed by minors and a reference to crack is made. There are two sex scenes in this book and some references to this. There is child sexual assault shown by a family member towards the back of the book. There is a scene where the main character is slightly abused religiously as a ploy by the father to get the main character to not be gay anymore. There is also a small mention of domestic violence.
Synopsis: Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact he sees the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don’t interact often with people. But then Jake meets Sawyer. A troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win.
Review: I really liked this book! At first I thought it was just going to be a paranormal book, but it quickly turned into one of my favorite horror stories of this year. I loved the plot and was instantly hooked. I loved the character development of the book as well. I also really liked how the author walked a really tight line between making the reader feel bad for Sawyer but yet remembering that he was a demon who you were ultimately hating.
However, I did think that the book had some things it could have improved on. The pacing was a bit wonky in spots. The world building wasn't the best at explaining Jake's medium powers and how the paranormal world worked in general in this story. The book had some really quick action scenes that should have been slowed down in my opinion, and I feel like the book had the material to go another 100-150 pages. I also felt like Allister was a bit too 1 dimensional.
Verdict: It's honestly a really good and spooky read. Highly recommend!