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What a book. I am speechless *applause*
TW: Homophobia & bullying
This book follows the AIDs crisis in 1989 New York, NY. I can't even put into words how much I loved this book. The Madonna references were everything & the message of fighting for your community was so powerful and heart-warming. This book took me through so many emotions & I was a teary mess at the end. I don't have anything bad to say about this book, just go and read it.
TW: Homophobia & bullying
This book follows the AIDs crisis in 1989 New York, NY. I can't even put into words how much I loved this book. The Madonna references were everything & the message of fighting for your community was so powerful and heart-warming. This book took me through so many emotions & I was a teary mess at the end. I don't have anything bad to say about this book, just go and read it.
This is now my second favorite Rainbow Rowell book. I had so much fun listening to this book and I was laughing SOOO MUCH. Baz is now my favorite character, ever. There are some issues I have, like beginning being super slow and Baz doesn't come in until pg 150 also
I was sent this book for review from Macmillan-First Second Reads. All thoughts and opinions are honest.
I've read Anya's Ghost and I really enjoyed it. So, I knew very well that I wouldn't have a problem reading this. Vera is eight & nine-years old in this graphic memoir and dreams of going to sleep-away camp like her friends are. Yet, her mother is going to school for accounting and is a single parent. They're dealing with poverty and Vera is being excluded and called "weird" because she is Russian. I liked seeing young Vera and her character development throughout the novel. She learns a lot about herself by going to a Russian camp.
I really enjoyed how Vera incorporated her own camp experience into this novel with her own written letters and adding her experience to the plot while adding some fictional elements. Be Prepared showed the ups and downs of childhood and trying to belong. I also enjoyed the incorporation of the Russian language. You learn some Russian words. and I especially liked that the words were starred and had English translation.
If you went to summer camp, you will definitely relate to this novel! I didn't go to sleep-away camp, I only went to day camp yet I could still relate to Vera in some ways.
This was a sweet novel and I would highly recommend.
I've read Anya's Ghost and I really enjoyed it. So, I knew very well that I wouldn't have a problem reading this. Vera is eight & nine-years old in this graphic memoir and dreams of going to sleep-away camp like her friends are. Yet, her mother is going to school for accounting and is a single parent. They're dealing with poverty and Vera is being excluded and called "weird" because she is Russian. I liked seeing young Vera and her character development throughout the novel. She learns a lot about herself by going to a Russian camp.
I really enjoyed how Vera incorporated her own camp experience into this novel with her own written letters and adding her experience to the plot while adding some fictional elements. Be Prepared showed the ups and downs of childhood and trying to belong. I also enjoyed the incorporation of the Russian language. You learn some Russian words. and I especially liked that the words were starred and had English translation.
If you went to summer camp, you will definitely relate to this novel! I didn't go to sleep-away camp, I only went to day camp yet I could still relate to Vera in some ways.
This was a sweet novel and I would highly recommend.
This was FANTASTIC. The writing was clean and whimsical, I really enjoyed a different style of writing.
Suzette "Little" is discovering that she is bisexual after her first relationship with a girl at her boarding school she attended in Massachusetts. The story is set in her hometown, California. Although I am not bisexual myself, I did like the way bisexuality was written. Suzette has a crush on a girl and a boy and develops the same feelings. The feelings were written so in depth and I was smiling a lot!! There are also other LGBTQ+ characters, even a pansexual side character with a major role in the story. I was really glad how diverse the characters were in their sexuality. This book also offered so many great LGBTQ+ quotes especially shutting down the bisexual social stigma. Overall, I think the sexuality aspect of this novel was very well done.
Family is another major aspect of this novel. Little & Lion are step siblings with a close bond. It's rare in YA to have a strong family dynamic especially with a step-father/mother and sibling(s) being from different backgrounds. Little is a black, Jewish main character and Colbert does go into some detail about how Suzette and her mother converted to Judaism. She includes scenes of special Jewish traditions and dinners. The relationship between the family members was very close and caring. This was one of few parents in YA done satisfactorily.
Little & Lion have a strong bond and this novel explores their bond extensively when Lion's bipolar disorder is addressed. I cannot comment on the bipolar disorder because I do not have this disorder. But, I did feel that I got to learn a lot about Lion's struggles especially with emphasis on his feelings toward taking pills.
I highly recommend to go and read this. It's a great diverse LGBTQ+ book with mental health. I will most definitely be reading more of Colbert's work! This was my first read by her.
Suzette "Little" is discovering that she is bisexual after her first relationship with a girl at her boarding school she attended in Massachusetts. The story is set in her hometown, California. Although I am not bisexual myself, I did like the way bisexuality was written. Suzette has a crush on a girl and a boy and develops the same feelings. The feelings were written so in depth and I was smiling a lot!! There are also other LGBTQ+ characters, even a pansexual side character with a major role in the story. I was really glad how diverse the characters were in their sexuality. This book also offered so many great LGBTQ+ quotes especially shutting down the bisexual social stigma. Overall, I think the sexuality aspect of this novel was very well done.
Family is another major aspect of this novel. Little & Lion are step siblings with a close bond. It's rare in YA to have a strong family dynamic especially with a step-father/mother and sibling(s) being from different backgrounds. Little is a black, Jewish main character and Colbert does go into some detail about how Suzette and her mother converted to Judaism. She includes scenes of special Jewish traditions and dinners. The relationship between the family members was very close and caring. This was one of few parents in YA done satisfactorily.
Little & Lion have a strong bond and this novel explores their bond extensively when Lion's bipolar disorder is addressed. I cannot comment on the bipolar disorder because I do not have this disorder. But, I did feel that I got to learn a lot about Lion's struggles especially with emphasis on his feelings toward taking pills.
I highly recommend to go and read this. It's a great diverse LGBTQ+ book with mental health. I will most definitely be reading more of Colbert's work! This was my first read by her.
CW: death of a parent, death of a child, gunshots, blood, animal death & abuse, seizures, bullying, paranoia
This was a very thought-provoking and chilling read. I loved how the author explored grief through our main character, Junior who has lost his father and is seeing him appear in their house. I resonated so much with the lines about him saying his father just needed to turn solid. The hardest part of grief is coming to terms with death. The passage about Natives not believing in guardian angels really stuck with me.
This was a very thought-provoking and chilling read. I loved how the author explored grief through our main character, Junior who has lost his father and is seeing him appear in their house. I resonated so much with the lines about him saying his father just needed to turn solid. The hardest part of grief is coming to terms with death. The passage about Natives not believing in guardian angels really stuck with me.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
TW: rape, racism
Rep: POC, #ownvoices for gay rep
The best way I can describe this book is unique. This was the most unique story I've read in a while. It tackles so many issues that are never discussed about boys and men! Through Max and Jordan, Bill Konigsberg shows how every guy is different and showing your emotions isn't a bad thing. Max feels like he always has to be a warrior yet he's hiding a big secret. Max and Jordan's romance is bittersweet, it was so different and I loved having a change in gay characters for once. Max is very macho and "dude bro" which I absolutely loved! I was laughing so much at the dialogue between him and his boys, Zay-Rod and Betts. As a guy who leans more on the bro side, I've been searching for a book that is more bro-like and I was so so happy with this! It was exactly what I was looking for.
This book also talks about relationships of every kind; friendships, parental relationships and romantic relationships. Max and Jordan both have rocky relationships with one of their parents, for Max it's his dad, who is a traveling comedian, and for Jordan, it's his mom who he feels like he has to babysit since the beginning of the story starts with him starting his dad's food truck with no experience to try and salvage overdue rent money so they won't lose their house.
Going into the book, I was so excited to read about a food truck and I really enjoyed this aspect! Mainly because I could tell the author really did his research, which he mentions in the acknowledgements. This is because we get to really see how much hard work a food truck actually is and the business side, like getting permits and licenses.
Next, I really liked the writing. You could tell the author really put his heart into this book by describing everything. In particular, I loved the descriptions of Max and Jordan's homes. They really came to life in my head!
Last, the title came full circle! For a bit, I kept wondering what the title meant. No spoilers :)
Ugh. I just loved this book and it's easily my favorite of the year. The characters were great and artsy! Max is an artist and Jordan writes poems.
TW: rape, racism
Rep: POC, #ownvoices for gay rep
The best way I can describe this book is unique. This was the most unique story I've read in a while. It tackles so many issues that are never discussed about boys and men! Through Max and Jordan, Bill Konigsberg shows how every guy is different and showing your emotions isn't a bad thing. Max feels like he always has to be a warrior yet he's hiding a big secret. Max and Jordan's romance is bittersweet, it was so different and I loved having a change in gay characters for once. Max is very macho and "dude bro" which I absolutely loved! I was laughing so much at the dialogue between him and his boys, Zay-Rod and Betts. As a guy who leans more on the bro side, I've been searching for a book that is more bro-like and I was so so happy with this! It was exactly what I was looking for.
This book also talks about relationships of every kind; friendships, parental relationships and romantic relationships. Max and Jordan both have rocky relationships with one of their parents, for Max it's his dad, who is a traveling comedian, and for Jordan, it's his mom who he feels like he has to babysit since the beginning of the story starts with him starting his dad's food truck with no experience to try and salvage overdue rent money so they won't lose their house.
Going into the book, I was so excited to read about a food truck and I really enjoyed this aspect! Mainly because I could tell the author really did his research, which he mentions in the acknowledgements. This is because we get to really see how much hard work a food truck actually is and the business side, like getting permits and licenses.
Next, I really liked the writing. You could tell the author really put his heart into this book by describing everything. In particular, I loved the descriptions of Max and Jordan's homes. They really came to life in my head!
Last, the title came full circle! For a bit, I kept wondering what the title meant. No spoilers :)
Ugh. I just loved this book and it's easily my favorite of the year. The characters were great and artsy! Max is an artist and Jordan writes poems.
TW/CW: racism, police brutality, stabbing, murder
I really enjoyed this poetry collection focused on Black girl magic, oppression, and police brutality. The poems pulled at my heartstrings. This is a perfect coffee table book and I'd recommend it!
We will not apologize for our rage
You earned every drop- Tsunami
No problem’s solved until it’s faced,
But we have no time left to waste. - Say Her Name
I really enjoyed this poetry collection focused on Black girl magic, oppression, and police brutality. The poems pulled at my heartstrings. This is a perfect coffee table book and I'd recommend it!
We will not apologize for our rage
You earned every drop- Tsunami
No problem’s solved until it’s faced,
But we have no time left to waste. - Say Her Name
4.5 stars
Read for Indigathon 2020 - completing the challenge "Outside of the US"
CW: Child abuse
Wow. This book was so great. I loved the concept of monsters and angels in the world of Lucille and the book had me thoroughly engaged to discover who the monster was that Pet was hunting. Jam and Redemption's chemistry was great and I loved their friendship dynamic. They kept each other on their toes and it was awesome to read. This book was just remarkable and very memorable.
I would've liked more depth as it felt a little rushed but otherwise, those are just very minor critiques and I will be reading all of Emezi's work. As a reader who strays away from fantasy and magical books, this says a lot.
I also loved Jam and the subtle transness as she is a trans girl. It's so important to have trans characters to be the focus of the adventure rather than focus only on them being trans. I also liked that her selective mutism was never explained nor was it magically "cured".
Highly recommend but keep in mind the content warning for child abuse.
Read for Indigathon 2020 - completing the challenge "Outside of the US"
CW: Child abuse
Wow. This book was so great. I loved the concept of monsters and angels in the world of Lucille and the book had me thoroughly engaged to discover who the monster was that Pet was hunting. Jam and Redemption's chemistry was great and I loved their friendship dynamic. They kept each other on their toes and it was awesome to read. This book was just remarkable and very memorable.
I would've liked more depth as it felt a little rushed but otherwise, those are just very minor critiques and I will be reading all of Emezi's work. As a reader who strays away from fantasy and magical books, this says a lot.
I also loved Jam and the subtle transness as she is a trans girl. It's so important to have trans characters to be the focus of the adventure rather than focus only on them being trans. I also liked that her selective mutism was never explained nor was it magically "cured".
Highly recommend but keep in mind the content warning for child abuse.