Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: All Eyes on Her
Author: Laura Elizabeth Flynn
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Murder mystery, thriller
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Pages: 384
Recommended Age: 16+ (murder, sexism, slight violence, language)
Synopsis: You heard the story on the news. A girl and a boy went into the woods. The girl carried a picnic basket. The boy wore bright yellow running shoes. The girl found her way out, but the boy never did….
Everyone thinks they know what happened. Some say Tabby pushed him off that cliff— she didn’t even like hiking. She was jealous. She had more than her share of demons. Others think he fell accidentally—she loved Mark. She would never hurt him…even if he hurt her.
But what’s the real story? All Eyes On Her is told from everyone but Tabby herself as the people in her life string together the events that led Tabby to that cliff. Her best friend. Her sister. Her enemy. Her ex-boyfriend. Because everybody thinks they know a girl better than she knows herself.
What do you think is the truth?
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. The premise is interesting and excitable. The book does well with the world building and the pacing is even for the most part.
However, the ending is open and that really left me with more questions than answers and the book didn't do well with the characters. It was an interesting way to write the book, but the characters were left very underdeveloped in my opinion.
Verdict: It was ok but was a bit confusing.
Book: All Eyes on Her
Author: Laura Elizabeth Flynn
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Murder mystery, thriller
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Pages: 384
Recommended Age: 16+ (murder, sexism, slight violence, language)
Synopsis: You heard the story on the news. A girl and a boy went into the woods. The girl carried a picnic basket. The boy wore bright yellow running shoes. The girl found her way out, but the boy never did….
Everyone thinks they know what happened. Some say Tabby pushed him off that cliff— she didn’t even like hiking. She was jealous. She had more than her share of demons. Others think he fell accidentally—she loved Mark. She would never hurt him…even if he hurt her.
But what’s the real story? All Eyes On Her is told from everyone but Tabby herself as the people in her life string together the events that led Tabby to that cliff. Her best friend. Her sister. Her enemy. Her ex-boyfriend. Because everybody thinks they know a girl better than she knows herself.
What do you think is the truth?
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. The premise is interesting and excitable. The book does well with the world building and the pacing is even for the most part.
However, the ending is open and that really left me with more questions than answers and the book didn't do well with the characters. It was an interesting way to write the book, but the characters were left very underdeveloped in my opinion.
Verdict: It was ok but was a bit confusing.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Day Lincoln Lost
Author: Charles Rosenberg
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Historical fiction, Lincoln fans
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Pages: 432
Recommended Age: 15+ (politics, slavery TW, slight violence)
Synopsis: An inventive historical thriller that reimagines the tumultuous presidential election of 1860, capturing the people desperately trying to hold the nation together—and those trying to crack it apart.
Abby Kelley Foster arrived in Springfield, Illinois, with the fate of the nation on her mind. Her fame as an abolitionist speaker had spread west and she knew that her first speech in the city would make headlines. One of the residents reading those headlines would be none other than the likely next president of the United States.
Abraham Lincoln, lawyer and presidential candidate, knew his chances of winning were good. All he had to do was stay above the fray of the slavery debate and appear the voice of reason until the people cast their votes. The last thing he needed was a fiery abolitionist appearing in town. When her speech sparks violence, leading to her arrest and a high-profile trial, he suspects that his political rivals have conspired against him.
President James Buchanan is one such rival. As his term ends and his political power crumbles, he gathers his advisers at the White House to make one last move that might derail Lincoln’s campaign, steal the election and throw America into chaos.
A fascinating historical novel and fast-paced political thriller of a nation on the cusp of civil war, The Day Lincoln Lost offers an unexpected window into one of the most consequential elections in our country’s history.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. I liked the character dynamic between Lincoln and Lucy and I liked the character development. The book also had well done world building.
However, this was a really weird book. The book was kinda disjointed in the writing and the book had some confusing plot points. I also felt very uneasy with how Lucy was wrote and I'd love to read a Black reviewer's perspective on her. The book is also not historically accurate which is my problem with historical fiction books. If you're going to write historical fiction books please try to be accurate.
Verdict: It was good, just not what I expected.
Book: The Day Lincoln Lost
Author: Charles Rosenberg
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Historical fiction, Lincoln fans
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Pages: 432
Recommended Age: 15+ (politics, slavery TW, slight violence)
Synopsis: An inventive historical thriller that reimagines the tumultuous presidential election of 1860, capturing the people desperately trying to hold the nation together—and those trying to crack it apart.
Abby Kelley Foster arrived in Springfield, Illinois, with the fate of the nation on her mind. Her fame as an abolitionist speaker had spread west and she knew that her first speech in the city would make headlines. One of the residents reading those headlines would be none other than the likely next president of the United States.
Abraham Lincoln, lawyer and presidential candidate, knew his chances of winning were good. All he had to do was stay above the fray of the slavery debate and appear the voice of reason until the people cast their votes. The last thing he needed was a fiery abolitionist appearing in town. When her speech sparks violence, leading to her arrest and a high-profile trial, he suspects that his political rivals have conspired against him.
President James Buchanan is one such rival. As his term ends and his political power crumbles, he gathers his advisers at the White House to make one last move that might derail Lincoln’s campaign, steal the election and throw America into chaos.
A fascinating historical novel and fast-paced political thriller of a nation on the cusp of civil war, The Day Lincoln Lost offers an unexpected window into one of the most consequential elections in our country’s history.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. I liked the character dynamic between Lincoln and Lucy and I liked the character development. The book also had well done world building.
However, this was a really weird book. The book was kinda disjointed in the writing and the book had some confusing plot points. I also felt very uneasy with how Lucy was wrote and I'd love to read a Black reviewer's perspective on her. The book is also not historically accurate which is my problem with historical fiction books. If you're going to write historical fiction books please try to be accurate.
Verdict: It was good, just not what I expected.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own accord. Yay me!
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, mature scenes, romance, magic, diversity!!!)
Pages: 525
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
Holy hell what can I say about this wonderful book? It’s like Harry Potter level of addiction and it makes me happy inside! I love this book!! The characters are complex and developed. The plot in intriguing and there’s not an “easy way out” or “one simple solution”. The book has a lot to talk about in regards to racism and prejudice. The book has an excellent and unique magic system. The book is just WONDERFUL! I was intrigued throughout the book. I felt that the pacing was on point and the writing was well done. I also realized why there was so much hype about this book: IT’S FUCKING GOOD! It’s the diverse fantasy that I’m happy and excited to see in the book community and it’s the best thing to read when it’s rainy outside (I tested this so definitely do this).
The only thing I would nitpick on is that I felt it was a bit long. I feel like the book could have been broken up into two books and it would have still been just as good, so I’m wondering how long this series will be and if there will be enough material for all of those books.
Verdict: Diverse fantasy that we needed yesterday.
Challenge Score: 28.5
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, mature scenes, romance, magic, diversity!!!)
Pages: 525
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
Holy hell what can I say about this wonderful book? It’s like Harry Potter level of addiction and it makes me happy inside! I love this book!! The characters are complex and developed. The plot in intriguing and there’s not an “easy way out” or “one simple solution”. The book has a lot to talk about in regards to racism and prejudice. The book has an excellent and unique magic system. The book is just WONDERFUL! I was intrigued throughout the book. I felt that the pacing was on point and the writing was well done. I also realized why there was so much hype about this book: IT’S FUCKING GOOD! It’s the diverse fantasy that I’m happy and excited to see in the book community and it’s the best thing to read when it’s rainy outside (I tested this so definitely do this).
The only thing I would nitpick on is that I felt it was a bit long. I feel like the book could have been broken up into two books and it would have still been just as good, so I’m wondering how long this series will be and if there will be enough material for all of those books.
Verdict: Diverse fantasy that we needed yesterday.
Challenge Score: 28.5
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher for a JeanNerd book tour! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Chasing Starlight
Author: Terri Bailey Black
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Mystery lovers, thrill seekers
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
Publisher: Torteen
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, murder, sexism, gore)
Synopsis: 1938. The Golden Age of Hollywood. Palm trees and movie stars. Film studios pumping out musicals, westerns, and gangster films at a furious pace. Everyone wants to be a star―except society girl and aspiring astronomer Kate Hildebrand, who’d rather study them in the night sky. She’s already famous after a childhood tragedy turned her into a newspaper headline. What she craves is stability.
But when Kate has to move to Hollywood to live with her washed-up silent film star grandfather, she walks into a murder scene and finds herself on the front page again. She suspects one of the young men boarding in her grandfather’s run-down mansion is the killer―maybe even her grandfather. She searches for clues.
Now, Kate must discover the killer while working on the set of a musical―and falling in love. Will her stars align so she can catch the murderer and live the dream in Old Hollywood? Or will she find that she's just chasing starlight?
Review: I really liked this book! It was a great mystery and it was kinda like Clue (like a lot like the movie from the 90s which I absolutely love). The book was well written and the world building was amazing. The pacing was also very well done.
My only issue is that the book was a bit predictable and the side characters were just there and weren't developed that well.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Chasing Starlight
Author: Terri Bailey Black
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Mystery lovers, thrill seekers
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
Publisher: Torteen
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, murder, sexism, gore)
Synopsis: 1938. The Golden Age of Hollywood. Palm trees and movie stars. Film studios pumping out musicals, westerns, and gangster films at a furious pace. Everyone wants to be a star―except society girl and aspiring astronomer Kate Hildebrand, who’d rather study them in the night sky. She’s already famous after a childhood tragedy turned her into a newspaper headline. What she craves is stability.
But when Kate has to move to Hollywood to live with her washed-up silent film star grandfather, she walks into a murder scene and finds herself on the front page again. She suspects one of the young men boarding in her grandfather’s run-down mansion is the killer―maybe even her grandfather. She searches for clues.
Now, Kate must discover the killer while working on the set of a musical―and falling in love. Will her stars align so she can catch the murderer and live the dream in Old Hollywood? Or will she find that she's just chasing starlight?
Review: I really liked this book! It was a great mystery and it was kinda like Clue (like a lot like the movie from the 90s which I absolutely love). The book was well written and the world building was amazing. The pacing was also very well done.
My only issue is that the book was a bit predictable and the side characters were just there and weren't developed that well.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: Children of Virtue and Vengeance
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Book Series: The Legacy of Orisha Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: ownvoice Black characters!
Recommended For...: ya fantasy, high fantasy, magic, ownvoice
Publication Date: December 3, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, gore, sexual content, depression TW, grief TW, racism in context of magic, religious persecution, and some eugenics imagery)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 404
Synopsis: After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too.
Now, Zélie struggles to unite the maji in an Orïsha where the enemy is just as powerful as they are. But when the monarchy and military unite to keep control of Orïsha, Zélie must fight to secure Amari's right to the throne and protect the new maji from the monarchy's wrath.
With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.
Review: I really loved this book! It was a great action packed sequel to the first book. The book kept the same themes of using prejudice and racism in terms of magic, but in this book we got more of Amari’s story and we saw how a well meaning person can still make mistakes and hurt a culture rather than help it and it showed, in terms of magic again, systematic racism and how that can look through two different perspectives. There was also great writing around grief processing, depression, eugenics imagery, religious persecution, and slavery imagery. The characters were well developed and I loved seeing Zelie get closer to Roen. The pacing was also very even and the book kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The only things that I didn’t like as much were that I thought the world building could have been better and that the beginning is confusing. When you don’t read the books back to back, it gets a little hard to remember all of the details. Thank goodness for wiki or else I would have been so lost.
Verdict: A great read! Definitely recommend this series!
Book: Children of Virtue and Vengeance
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Book Series: The Legacy of Orisha Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: ownvoice Black characters!
Recommended For...: ya fantasy, high fantasy, magic, ownvoice
Publication Date: December 3, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, gore, sexual content, depression TW, grief TW, racism in context of magic, religious persecution, and some eugenics imagery)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 404
Synopsis: After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too.
Now, Zélie struggles to unite the maji in an Orïsha where the enemy is just as powerful as they are. But when the monarchy and military unite to keep control of Orïsha, Zélie must fight to secure Amari's right to the throne and protect the new maji from the monarchy's wrath.
With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.
Review: I really loved this book! It was a great action packed sequel to the first book. The book kept the same themes of using prejudice and racism in terms of magic, but in this book we got more of Amari’s story and we saw how a well meaning person can still make mistakes and hurt a culture rather than help it and it showed, in terms of magic again, systematic racism and how that can look through two different perspectives. There was also great writing around grief processing, depression, eugenics imagery, religious persecution, and slavery imagery. The characters were well developed and I loved seeing Zelie get closer to Roen. The pacing was also very even and the book kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The only things that I didn’t like as much were that I thought the world building could have been better and that the beginning is confusing. When you don’t read the books back to back, it gets a little hard to remember all of the details. Thank goodness for wiki or else I would have been so lost.
Verdict: A great read! Definitely recommend this series!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Where Dreams Descend
Author: Janella Angeles
Book Series: Kingdom of Cards Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: POC characters (Kallia specifically is described as having brown skin)
Recommended For...: ya fantasy, magic, kinda like The Night Circus.
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 464
Synopsis: In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.
As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.
The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost
The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told
The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide
Review: Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at 43%. I think the book has a lot of promise and I’m really intrigued by the story, but it needs more editing. The book is very confusing. The formatting is horrible and the POV switches are so confusing. The book kind of jumps into the story and it was pretty far into the book before I figured out who Kallia really was personality wise. The plot is intriguing in the synopsis but at 43% it still wasn't the focal point of the book. Character development is all over the place and the mind games hurt my brain. The world building is the best part but it doesn't help save this plot. It's also very long winded and overtly talkative in a lot of spots. I did have an arc so I'm hoping the final version was cleaned up but it's definitely not for me I don't think.
Verdict: It’s promising, but not for me at the moment.
Book: Where Dreams Descend
Author: Janella Angeles
Book Series: Kingdom of Cards Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: POC characters (Kallia specifically is described as having brown skin)
Recommended For...: ya fantasy, magic, kinda like The Night Circus.
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 464
Synopsis: In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.
As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.
The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost
The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told
The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide
Review: Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at 43%. I think the book has a lot of promise and I’m really intrigued by the story, but it needs more editing. The book is very confusing. The formatting is horrible and the POV switches are so confusing. The book kind of jumps into the story and it was pretty far into the book before I figured out who Kallia really was personality wise. The plot is intriguing in the synopsis but at 43% it still wasn't the focal point of the book. Character development is all over the place and the mind games hurt my brain. The world building is the best part but it doesn't help save this plot. It's also very long winded and overtly talkative in a lot of spots. I did have an arc so I'm hoping the final version was cleaned up but it's definitely not for me I don't think.
Verdict: It’s promising, but not for me at the moment.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: This Little Light
Author: Lori Lansens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian, feminist, cults, like The Handmaid’s Tale
Publication Date: January 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian/Feminist
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape TW, sexual content, sexism, violence, gore)
Publisher: Random House Canada
Pages: 257
Synopsis: Taking place over 48 hours in the year 2023, this is the story of Rory Ann Miller, on the run with her best friend because they are accused of bombing their posh Californian high school during an American Virtue Ball. There's a bounty on their heads, and a social media storm of trolls flying around them, not to mention a posse of law enforcement, attack helicopters and drones trying to track them down. Rory's mom, a social activist and lawyer, has been arrested and implicated in her daughter's "crimes" whereas her dad (who betrayed his wife and daughter in a nasty divorce) is cooperating with the authorities. The story exists in a universe of gated communities, born-again Christians, Probationary Citizens (once known as "Dreamers"), re-criminalized abortion and birth control, teenage virginity oaths and something called the Red Market, which is either a Conservative bogey-man created to further polarize the "base" or a criminal network making money from selling unwanted babies to whomever wants them and fetal tissue to cosmetics and drug companies.
Rory is cynical and scared, furious and scathing, betrayed and looking for something or someone to trust. What she has to say about the dads and bosses and politicians lining up to keep women in their place, and about the ways women collaborate in their own undermining, is fierce, and funny, and sad, and true.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the dystopian vibes and I liked how the book took inspiration from The Handmaid’s Tale. The book did well to talk about feminism, sexism, cults, and rape culture. The book was written well for the most part and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, the book rambles on and on so much. It suffers a little from what I dubbed Stephen King syndrome (where you get stuck on a topic for a few pages). The book is very hard to make your way through it when the “rambles” happen and while it’s a great book with an interesting story, I wish that the rambles had been edited down a bit. It distracts from the rest of the story in my opinion, BUT it is very true to the voice of the character.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just a bit rambly.
Book: This Little Light
Author: Lori Lansens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian, feminist, cults, like The Handmaid’s Tale
Publication Date: January 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian/Feminist
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape TW, sexual content, sexism, violence, gore)
Publisher: Random House Canada
Pages: 257
Synopsis: Taking place over 48 hours in the year 2023, this is the story of Rory Ann Miller, on the run with her best friend because they are accused of bombing their posh Californian high school during an American Virtue Ball. There's a bounty on their heads, and a social media storm of trolls flying around them, not to mention a posse of law enforcement, attack helicopters and drones trying to track them down. Rory's mom, a social activist and lawyer, has been arrested and implicated in her daughter's "crimes" whereas her dad (who betrayed his wife and daughter in a nasty divorce) is cooperating with the authorities. The story exists in a universe of gated communities, born-again Christians, Probationary Citizens (once known as "Dreamers"), re-criminalized abortion and birth control, teenage virginity oaths and something called the Red Market, which is either a Conservative bogey-man created to further polarize the "base" or a criminal network making money from selling unwanted babies to whomever wants them and fetal tissue to cosmetics and drug companies.
Rory is cynical and scared, furious and scathing, betrayed and looking for something or someone to trust. What she has to say about the dads and bosses and politicians lining up to keep women in their place, and about the ways women collaborate in their own undermining, is fierce, and funny, and sad, and true.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the dystopian vibes and I liked how the book took inspiration from The Handmaid’s Tale. The book did well to talk about feminism, sexism, cults, and rape culture. The book was written well for the most part and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, the book rambles on and on so much. It suffers a little from what I dubbed Stephen King syndrome (where you get stuck on a topic for a few pages). The book is very hard to make your way through it when the “rambles” happen and while it’s a great book with an interesting story, I wish that the rambles had been edited down a bit. It distracts from the rest of the story in my opinion, BUT it is very true to the voice of the character.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just a bit rambly.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Out Radical Anatomy
Author: Kelly Jensen, Eric Smith, Julie Murphy, Roshani Chokshi, Anna-Marie McLemore, Shane Burcaw, Sara Saedi, Alex Gino, Nic Stone, Yao Xiao, Junauda Petrus, Lilliam Rivera, I.W. Gregorio, Rachael Lippincott, Amanda Lovelace, Kati Gardner, Tyra Banks, Carolyn London, Kate Hart, Kate Bigam Kaput, Kelly Bastow, Patricia S. Elzie, Madame Gandhi, Eugene Grant, Gavin Grimm, Alicia Lutes, John McGinty, D.M. Moehrie, Ben Pu, Aly Raisman, Nat Razi, Abby Sams, Jourdain Searles, Mars Sebastian, Jerlyn M. Thomas, Kara Thomas, Libby VanderPloeg, Alice Wong
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: ownvoice narratives about their bodies
Recommended For...: informational short stories
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Genre: YA Anthology Non-Fiction
Recommended Age: 10+ (eating disorders TW, gender dyphoria TW, cancer TW, body anxiety and body shaming narratives TW, talking about the body and some parts are a little gory)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 256
Synopsis: It’s time to bare it all about bodies!
We all experience the world in a body, but we don’t usually take the time to explore what it really means to have and live within one. Just as every person has a unique personality, every person has a unique body, and every body tells its own story.
In Body Talk, thirty-seven writers, models, actors, musicians, and artists share essays, lists, comics, and illustrations—about everything from size and shape to scoliosis, from eating disorders to cancer, from sexuality and gender identity to the use of makeup as armor. Together, they contribute a broad variety of perspectives on what it’s like to live in their particular bodies—and how their bodies have helped to inform who they are and how they move through the world.
Come on in, turn the pages, and join the celebration of our diverse, miraculous, beautiful bodies!
Review: I really loved this compilation of stories! The book did well to talk about what happens or could happen in a teens/yound adults body and the books speak from an ownvoice perspective. It talks about acne, scoliosis, eating disorders, gender dyphoria, and more! Overall, the writing is great. It’s inviting, non-judgmental, and comforting. But, most importantly, the book is informative, which is something that teens need more than anything.
Verdict: Highly recommend for teens and young adults!
Book: Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Out Radical Anatomy
Author: Kelly Jensen, Eric Smith, Julie Murphy, Roshani Chokshi, Anna-Marie McLemore, Shane Burcaw, Sara Saedi, Alex Gino, Nic Stone, Yao Xiao, Junauda Petrus, Lilliam Rivera, I.W. Gregorio, Rachael Lippincott, Amanda Lovelace, Kati Gardner, Tyra Banks, Carolyn London, Kate Hart, Kate Bigam Kaput, Kelly Bastow, Patricia S. Elzie, Madame Gandhi, Eugene Grant, Gavin Grimm, Alicia Lutes, John McGinty, D.M. Moehrie, Ben Pu, Aly Raisman, Nat Razi, Abby Sams, Jourdain Searles, Mars Sebastian, Jerlyn M. Thomas, Kara Thomas, Libby VanderPloeg, Alice Wong
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: ownvoice narratives about their bodies
Recommended For...: informational short stories
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Genre: YA Anthology Non-Fiction
Recommended Age: 10+ (eating disorders TW, gender dyphoria TW, cancer TW, body anxiety and body shaming narratives TW, talking about the body and some parts are a little gory)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 256
Synopsis: It’s time to bare it all about bodies!
We all experience the world in a body, but we don’t usually take the time to explore what it really means to have and live within one. Just as every person has a unique personality, every person has a unique body, and every body tells its own story.
In Body Talk, thirty-seven writers, models, actors, musicians, and artists share essays, lists, comics, and illustrations—about everything from size and shape to scoliosis, from eating disorders to cancer, from sexuality and gender identity to the use of makeup as armor. Together, they contribute a broad variety of perspectives on what it’s like to live in their particular bodies—and how their bodies have helped to inform who they are and how they move through the world.
Come on in, turn the pages, and join the celebration of our diverse, miraculous, beautiful bodies!
Review: I really loved this compilation of stories! The book did well to talk about what happens or could happen in a teens/yound adults body and the books speak from an ownvoice perspective. It talks about acne, scoliosis, eating disorders, gender dyphoria, and more! Overall, the writing is great. It’s inviting, non-judgmental, and comforting. But, most importantly, the book is informative, which is something that teens need more than anything.
Verdict: Highly recommend for teens and young adults!
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Blood Moon
Author: Lucy Cuthew
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: contemporary, ya, bullying stories
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (periods, period shaming, body shaming, mean girls, bullying TW)
Publisher: Walker Books US
Pages: 340
Synopsis: After school one day, Frankie, a lover of physics and astronomy, has her first sexual experience with quiet and gorgeous Benjamin—and gets her period. It’s only blood, they agree. But soon a gruesome meme goes viral, turning an intimate, affectionate afternoon into something sordid, mortifying, and damaging. In the time it takes to swipe a screen, Frankie’s universe implodes. Who can she trust? Not Harriet, her suddenly cruel best friend, and certainly not Benjamin, the only one who knows about the incident. As the online shaming takes on a horrifying life of its own, Frankie begins to wonder: is her real life over?
Author Lucy Cuthew vividly portrays what it is to be a teen today with this fearless and ultimately uplifting novel in verse. Brimming with emotion, the story captures the intensity of friendships, first love, and female desire, while unflinchingly exploring the culture of online and menstrual shaming. Sure to be a conversation starter, Blood Moon is the unforgettable portrait of one girl’s fight to reclaim her reputation and to stand up against a culture that says periods are dirty.
Review: Overall, this was a good book. I liked the character development and I felt the book did good to show body shaming, especially period shaming (I was never the victim of this because I’ve been cursed with the infrequent periods and can count on two hands how many periods I had through High School). I felt like the book had a good plot and it did well to keep my intrigued throughout the book. I’m also loving how more open YA is becoming on periods and the menstrual cycle! For years YA just pretended those didn’t exist and that’s so unrealistic for a lot of people.
However, I didn’t like how slow the first third of the book is and the pacing throughout the book is a bit wonky. The book also had a disappointing ending. There shouldn’t have been any reason the girls made in up in my opinion and I didn’t like how the victim in all of this (Frankie) apologized first… like… no. It was also a little cheesy.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just had some issues with me.
Book: Blood Moon
Author: Lucy Cuthew
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: contemporary, ya, bullying stories
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (periods, period shaming, body shaming, mean girls, bullying TW)
Publisher: Walker Books US
Pages: 340
Synopsis: After school one day, Frankie, a lover of physics and astronomy, has her first sexual experience with quiet and gorgeous Benjamin—and gets her period. It’s only blood, they agree. But soon a gruesome meme goes viral, turning an intimate, affectionate afternoon into something sordid, mortifying, and damaging. In the time it takes to swipe a screen, Frankie’s universe implodes. Who can she trust? Not Harriet, her suddenly cruel best friend, and certainly not Benjamin, the only one who knows about the incident. As the online shaming takes on a horrifying life of its own, Frankie begins to wonder: is her real life over?
Author Lucy Cuthew vividly portrays what it is to be a teen today with this fearless and ultimately uplifting novel in verse. Brimming with emotion, the story captures the intensity of friendships, first love, and female desire, while unflinchingly exploring the culture of online and menstrual shaming. Sure to be a conversation starter, Blood Moon is the unforgettable portrait of one girl’s fight to reclaim her reputation and to stand up against a culture that says periods are dirty.
Review: Overall, this was a good book. I liked the character development and I felt the book did good to show body shaming, especially period shaming (I was never the victim of this because I’ve been cursed with the infrequent periods and can count on two hands how many periods I had through High School). I felt like the book had a good plot and it did well to keep my intrigued throughout the book. I’m also loving how more open YA is becoming on periods and the menstrual cycle! For years YA just pretended those didn’t exist and that’s so unrealistic for a lot of people.
However, I didn’t like how slow the first third of the book is and the pacing throughout the book is a bit wonky. The book also had a disappointing ending. There shouldn’t have been any reason the girls made in up in my opinion and I didn’t like how the victim in all of this (Frankie) apologized first… like… no. It was also a little cheesy.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just had some issues with me.
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author for Turn the Pages Book Tours! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Story of Babushka
Author: Catherine Flores, Ana Beatriz Marques (illustrator)
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: children’s book, beginning chapter books, fantasy
Publication Date: July 29, 2020
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Recommended Age: 5+ (self worth discussed)
Publisher: ACL Creative Studio
Pages: 120
Synopsis: Babushka wants to find out the meaning of life so she sends her bodies out of the forest and into the world to search for answers. But there is a hurdle to overcome before all of the bodies can reunite and return to the forest.
WHAT IS A BABUSHKA?
The Babushka doll, also known as a "Matryoshka" or "Russian Nesting Doll", is a traditional Russian toy first made over 100 years ago. The doll has come to symbolize Russian folk culture, as well as the complex and beautiful layers of women. This is the story of one very special doll, with five bodies that together make the Babushka: There was the outermost body, Antonia. She was pure beauty and everyone who saw her raved about her good looks. Beneath that body of beauty hid the second body, Loretta, who was richly adorned. She wore gold ornaments, and her robe was decorated with many different gems that glittered like the ocean on a sunny day. Hidden within the rich body was Paula the body that held all the talents. Whatever Paula did, she was sure to succeed. She knew how to work and always did so with joy and determination. Under the shell of the talented body was Viola, the body of wisdom. Viola knew a lot about the world and learned very quickly. She was always full of brilliant ideas and had clever solutions for every problem. The last body, the innermost and smallest of all, was Mary, the embodiment of love. Mary had a compassionate heart and was very helpful. She had the special ability to dry tears and mend broken hearts. All these bodies together formed the beautiful Babushka.
Review: Overall I thought this was a cute and amazing tale. I loved how the book is presented as a hybrid of a chapter book and a picture book. The book does well to represent self worth and how there are different parts of everyone that make up a whole person! The book also talks about friendship, love, money, and appearance. The story was engaging and had a great life message for young and old children.
Verdict: Recommended for youngsters!
Book: The Story of Babushka
Author: Catherine Flores, Ana Beatriz Marques (illustrator)
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: children’s book, beginning chapter books, fantasy
Publication Date: July 29, 2020
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Recommended Age: 5+ (self worth discussed)
Publisher: ACL Creative Studio
Pages: 120
Synopsis: Babushka wants to find out the meaning of life so she sends her bodies out of the forest and into the world to search for answers. But there is a hurdle to overcome before all of the bodies can reunite and return to the forest.
WHAT IS A BABUSHKA?
The Babushka doll, also known as a "Matryoshka" or "Russian Nesting Doll", is a traditional Russian toy first made over 100 years ago. The doll has come to symbolize Russian folk culture, as well as the complex and beautiful layers of women. This is the story of one very special doll, with five bodies that together make the Babushka: There was the outermost body, Antonia. She was pure beauty and everyone who saw her raved about her good looks. Beneath that body of beauty hid the second body, Loretta, who was richly adorned. She wore gold ornaments, and her robe was decorated with many different gems that glittered like the ocean on a sunny day. Hidden within the rich body was Paula the body that held all the talents. Whatever Paula did, she was sure to succeed. She knew how to work and always did so with joy and determination. Under the shell of the talented body was Viola, the body of wisdom. Viola knew a lot about the world and learned very quickly. She was always full of brilliant ideas and had clever solutions for every problem. The last body, the innermost and smallest of all, was Mary, the embodiment of love. Mary had a compassionate heart and was very helpful. She had the special ability to dry tears and mend broken hearts. All these bodies together formed the beautiful Babushka.
Review: Overall I thought this was a cute and amazing tale. I loved how the book is presented as a hybrid of a chapter book and a picture book. The book does well to represent self worth and how there are different parts of everyone that make up a whole person! The book also talks about friendship, love, money, and appearance. The story was engaging and had a great life message for young and old children.
Verdict: Recommended for youngsters!