Book Reflections

Content Tags: Supernatural, CSA, Representation, Incredulity Description from Storygraph : There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colors and claws, who emerges from one of her mother’s paintings and a drop of Jam’s blood, she must reconsider what she’s been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster—and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption’s house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also uncover the truth, and the answer to the question—How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist? In their riveting and timely young adult debut, acclaimed novelist Akwaeke Emezi asks difficult questions about what choices a young person can make when the adults around them are in denial. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ This books is about how to face "monsters" when everyo...

Content Tags: Horror, LGBTQIA+, Abuse, Alcoholism, Animal Death, Death, Racism, Fantasy, Nightmares (Hauntings), Violence, Self-Harm, Sex, Cult, Religious Trauma Description from  Storygraph : Vern - seven months pregnant and desperate to escape the strict religious compound where she was raised - flees for the shelter of the woods. There, she gives birth to twins, and plans to raise them far from the influence of the outside world. But even in the forest, Vern is a hunted woman. Forced to fight back against the community that refuses to let her go, she unleashes incredible brutality far beyond what a person should be capable of, her body wracked by inexplicable and uncanny changes. To understand her metamorphosis and to protect her small family, Vern has to face the past, and more troublingly, the future--outside the woods. Finding the truth will mean uncovering the secrets of the compound she fled but also the violent history in America that produced it. Rivers Solomon's Sorrowla...

Content Tags: Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide, Racism, Stress, Cute Puppies, Sex Description from Storygraph : Nicola Yoon meets Jenny Han in a heated first-love romance about two teens who are torn apart one summer by prejudice and mental illness, and find each other once again. Eighteen-year-old Devon longs for two things. The stars and the boy she fell in love with last summer. When Ashton breaks Devon's heart at the end of the most romantic summer ever, she thinks her heart will never heal again. But over the course of the following year, Devon finds herself slowly putting the broken pieces back together. Now it's senior year and she's determined to enjoy every moment of it, as she prepares for a future studying galaxies. That is, until Ashton shows up on the first day of school. Can she forgive and open her heart to him again? Or are they doomed to repeat history? From debut author, Ronni Davis, comes a stunning novel about passion, loss, and the power of first ...

Content Tags: Fear, Minimal Blood and Gore, Nightmares, Fantasy, Anxiety   FOR THE SCIENCE!!!! My sister read this book and was also involved in the Sooz Your Own Adventure creation of it. And she had the following to share: "While I loved the story and thought it was incredible, one thing I am curious about is if there's enough backstory and connecting information for someone who didn't participate in the adventure. [...] Would The Luminaries be as enjoyable for someone who doesn't have the additional background that came from Sooz Your Own Adventure? Or would it leave them pleased but mildly confused at times? (Taking volunteers to determine this, for science!)" So, naturally, I volunteered, for the science. You can read her full review to see the synopsis along with her thoughts on the book. Without having the same background knowledge, the beginning of the book was a tad confusing and then a lot of information to process and keep track of. But, in all honesty...

Content Tags: Emotional Abuse, Grooming, Violence, Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Physical Abuse This is the second book of the  A Song of Wraiths and Ruin duology. My post about the first book is located here . DESCRIPTION (from Storygraph ) The highly-anticipated second—and final—book in the immersive fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore that began with the New York Times bestselling A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, from author Roseanne A. Brown. Months have passed since the violent coup that upended Princess Karina’s life. She is now a fugitive racing across the desert to sanctuary in the Arkwasian Jungle, where she hopes to find allies to help her reclaim her kingdom from her adopted brother's clutches. Meanwhile, Malik's illusion magic is flourishing under Farid's tutelage, but the bonds keeping the Faceless King trapped in his mind are weakening. His quest to best the spirit once and for all leads him deep into the dark history of his o...

Content Tags: Indigenous, Cultural Identity, Citizenship Google Books: "From celebrated Indigenous author Thomas King and award-winning Métis artist Natasha Donovan comes a powerful graphic novel about a family caught between nations. Borders is a masterfully told story of a boy and his mother whose road trip is thwarted at the border when they identify their citizenship as Blackfoot. Refusing to identify as either American or Canadian first bars their entry into the US, and then their return into Canada. In the limbo between countries, they find power in their connection to their identity and to each other.  Borders explores nationhood from an Indigenous perspective and resonates deeply with themes of identity, justice, and belonging." This is a short, but very impactful graphic novel about the impact Borders have on the people whose land was stolen to create those Borders. This is a quick read with beautiful images and a very important story and perspective being shared.  D...

Content Tags: Violence, LGBTQIA+, Alcohol, Racism From the Storygraph description: "Stonewall Honor recipient and two-time National Book Award Longlist selectee Anna-Marie McLemore weaves an intoxicating tale of glamor and heartache in Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix, part of the Remixed Classics series." And from the Author's Note: "I wanted to create a Gatsby that included my queer, transgender, and Latine communities." All classics need to be rewritten as queer and more diverse. This book was brilliant and I loved every minute of it. McLemore crafted such beautiful scenes and amazing characters (that vastly differed from what I know of the original) that I wanted to know more about. And her descriptions painted a very detailed picture and were, at times, incredibly humorous to me. Such as: "If an Irish castle had an affair with a cathedral, that might be the house that came of it." I may have at some point read The Great Gatsby   in my life, b...