I loved Woodson's approach of presenting this memoir through verse. It really heightens the emotional aspects of her book, whether that's her relationships with her family, her aspirations of becoming a writer, or living through a historic period of the fight for civil rights. Her passion for these elements is within each line, each verse as she recounts memorable moments from her childhood. Though somewhat differing in tone, it reminded me of Nikki Grimes' Ordinary Hazards, another brilliant and evocative memoir in verse. Grimes' memoir delves into heavier topics, but there is a bit of overlap. But what the two hold in common is the complete honesty and openness of their tones. Grimes' displays a deep vulnerability, but a great strength at the same time, while Woodson's words shine with inspiration and hope. 

I think the passage that hit me the most was 'The Selfish Giant' with Woodson closing out the poem with "Words are my brilliance." As someone who also finds comfort in writing, that phrase just struck me. It was all I could think about for the last half of the book. This memoir is full of poignant moments like that, all while structuring the material in a very readable way. Would definitely recommend this to middle graders who share that same passion for writing or enjoy poetry, though it can really be read by anyone.

 An informative look on the lesser known women writers who have been contributing to the literary horror genre from its very beginnings. Definitely a worthwhile read if you're looking to add a few more spooky books to your TBR! 

Going in, I had no clue that there would be as much descriptive sexual content as there was in this book. Now I have no problem with this kind of stuff in books, I'm all for more sex positivity in the world, but it's just not my cup of tea. This lead me to skip so many passages, in both the actual story and the footnotes, and, while I ate up the old timey terminologies for certain appendages, there are certain ones that just left me feeling slimy inside.

As for the footnotes, I will agree with the majority of readers that they were often a trial to get through. I appreciated all the definitions, citations, and such, but I feel like Voth's own story could have been presented as chapters so that they would have a bit more readability to them. Once you get into five pages for one footnote, you've kind of lost me. The footnotes are incredibly earnest at times, but also fall into being pedantic fairly often. Again, I had to skim them by the end of the book because there's only so much history I can stand being spouted at me. I do like the sense of community and camaraderie that emits from them towards the end, so overall they're a mixed bag of effectiveness.

The story itself is passable, though I think those from the trans community may find a bit more value in it. I'm nonbinary, so I technically fall under the umbrella, but I don't exactly find myself identifying as trans per say. I did really love the gender euphoria following a procedure Jack goes through in the middle of the book, unsanitary and dangerous that it was, but hey, that was just London at the time. Speaking of which, this is not a book for those having a weak stomach for the more grotesque and putrid aspects of old London life. 

This story is a fable about a little girl named Mary meeting a beautiful golden snake who is much more than he seems. He visits her throughout her life as she grows up, learning about love and feelings in the process as Mary goes through a slew of hardships. It's a quick read, less than 150 pages and told in a very dreamlike way.

It reminded me a lot of The Little Prince in many ways, which makes sense since the author gives an acknowledgment to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in the end. The story is simple, but true, one of those where both children and adults could enjoy it for their own reasons. It has a sense of vagueness about it, which I think pairs well with the messages it tries to confer.

If you're interested in magical realism stories that are bittersweet, yet lovingly honest, I would definitely recommend picking this one up.