This is a companion to [b:Elijah of Buxton|638689|Elijah of Buxton|Christopher Paul Curtis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328843610s/638689.jpg|2247514], which I haven't read. I think this book holds its own--Elijah is a minor character in this one. I'm interested now to go back and read his story, though.

This is a historical-adventure story with an interesting setting--a black community (and an Irish community) in Canada in 1901. It's a good lens for looking at slavery and the Civil War from a relatively close distance, and Curtis does it well, in an age-appropriate way. It's also rare for kids lit to touch on the shitty treatment Irish immigrants got and how that contributed to racism in its own way.

I liked the friendship between Red and Benji, and the gradual reveal of the "Madman" was great. (I wonder how differently that would read if I had read Elijah of Buxton? Not sure.)

Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this to middle-grade readers who are interested in historical fiction, but also ones who are interested in science or journalism. (Red and Benji are very interested in science and journalism, respectively.)

This was a weird book. Stylistically, I enjoyed its weirdness. I do definitely agree with criticism that none of the female characters in this book are developed like, at all, beyond super sexy sex objects? Which I think is sooort of the point of having a ~realistic horny teenage boy narrator~? But as a woman reading it, it's a little hard not to be alienated by it.

The queer representation is cool, although kind of buys into the "bisexuals are confused" trope? Not that Austin explicitly identifies as bi, or that he necessarily needs to? He's just definitely confused.

I liked the B-movie vibe and the Vonnegut-esque style, for sure. Would recommend to horny teenage boys.

I read this as single issues. It's great! I love Natasha's relationship with Liho (OBV) and Isaiah, and just all of her attempts to atone.

<3 NAT <3

Read as single issues. I was skeptical about rebooting Captain Marvel and putting her in space but IT'S SO GREAT AND I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT

likes: Kitty Pryde, the artwork, the "director's commentary" in the backmatter

dislikes: uhhh, the plot? idk I was kind of expecting more from ~the death of Wolverine~. Whatever, I'm sure he'll be back before long and somebody else can kill him better.

The full-cast audiobook adds a lot to this, I think. It's a great collection of characters in Harlem in the 30s, some with funny stories, others tragic, others just observing. I think it would be a great classroom accompaniment to a lesson about the Harlem Renaissance, or a unit about storytelling through poetry, maybe.

Oh wowwwww. I have to be honest and say that I did not super know who Patti Smith was? Like, I'd heard the name, and I knew Just Kids won the National Book Award, but I didn't really know... well, anything that was written about in this book. I was constantly going back and forth between Just Kids and Wikipedia to see who all the various figures of the Chelsea Hotel were.

Anyway so, I say that just to make it clear that this 5-star rating is not coming from a place of Patti Smith's #1 fandom. It's just a phenomenal book about ~art~ and ~friendship~ and ~love~ and ~finding a place for yourself in the world.~

~*~*~*~

Read it and then join me in doing nothing but listening to Patti Smith on Spotify okay???

I also think that this could have teen appeal, especially for ~artistic types,~ but there is a lot of talk about drugs (though much of it as an observer, not a user) and description of Robert Mapplethorpe's photography so... be aware.

Oof. This book kept me turning pages and feeling vaguely nauseous as I did so. Not that Courtney Summers ever pulls punches, but... she's definitely not, here. Romy Grey is a character with a lot of well-earned rage, and the way it plays out here is so believable and compelling.

This is a really smart, important, scary, great book.

I enjoyed this as a fun, straight-forward look at some of the major controversies of the day. It should be said that I'm pretty much in agreement with the author already--I don't need to be persuaded that the moon landing was real or that vaccines are good. I'm there. But I think this is a good intro for some teens at looking at the major points of stuff like this without getting too overwhelmed. I kinda wish it had better backmatter--there is a list of sources for each chapter but it doesn't cite by line. BUT given the intended YA audience, it would likely be ignored by most of them anyway. And I do appreciate that most of his sources are online articles that would be pretty easily accessible by any interested reader (ie not behind a paywall).

eee I just love Holly Black so much. So much!

This is just such a smart, scary, fun, romantic book. I love everything that's going on about the power of fairy tales and family love and forgiveness and just, ugh, everything, Holly Black why are you the best, did you make a bargain with a fairy, if so I think it worked pretty well.