Today’s review is for the graphic novel New Kid by Jerry Craft.
CW/TW: Racism, racial profiling.
This is a great middle-grade graphic novel. New Kid has a great story that tackles important topics such as lack of diversity at a private school, racism, racial profiling, and judging people without knowing them first. While this is a middle-grade graphic novel, I think it has such an important story that everyone needs to read. I also really enjoyed the artwork and thought it was very well done.
Today’s review is for A List of Cages by Robin Roe. This review along with the original can also be found on Goodreads.
Reread: 4/7/19-4/11/19:
CW/TW: Abuse
I’ve been wanting to reread this book for a while, and I love it just as much now as the first time I read it. A List of Cages is heartbreaking, but such an important, authentic story. I felt for both Adam and Julian. I also really enjoyed the writing style. This book hit me with all the feels.
Today’s review is for On The Come Up by Angie Thomas. You can also find this review on Goodreads.
CW/TW: Gang violence, racial profiling, death, drugs
Angie Thomas has done it again! This book was amazing, and I love that it was set in Garden Heights, it felt familiar but the story is so different. I loved the characters, especially Bri. I felt that Bri was complex. There was a quote that really resonated with me and that is “I’m more of a “Yes, people exist, but that doesn’t mean I need to talk to them” person” (pg. 104). I relate to this quote so much, there are times where I just don’t feel like talking to people but I’m fully aware of their existence. I knew I would love this book just as much as The Hate U Give. There are things that can be learned from On the Come Up. This is a book that definitely needs to be read.
Today’s review is for The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan. This review can also be found on Goodreads.
The photo is my own and can be found on my Instagram
CW/TW: Depression, Suicide
*Disclaimer: Seek out own voices reviews for cultural representation.
This book was heartbreaking and beautiful. The writing was so lyrical. I loved the flashback and memory scenes. I loved the relationship between Leigh and Axel, and how art was such an important part of the story. I also loved the aspects of magical realism. I absolutely loved this book and how powerful it is.
Today’s review is for Enchantée by Gita Trelease, you can also find this review on Goodreads.
This book was everything I wanted. I’ve made it no secret that I love historical fiction, but add in magic it’s a game changer. I felt that the setting was extremely immersive and descriptive but the descriptions showed and didn’t really tell. I adored Camille and Sophie and how Camille did everything she could to provide for her and her sister. I loved the other characters too, and I thought that the romance was subtle and I really enjoyed the relationship between Camille and Lazare. Enchantée is a solid debut.
Today’s review is going to be my review for Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab, it can also be found on Goodreads.
Holy shit I did not see the ending of this book coming at all, but I loved it. I loved how this book wasn’t happy, but very dark. My favorite quote is “There were two kinds of monsters, the kind that hunted the streets and the kind that lived in your head.” I feel like this quote is very much true, there are monsters that hunt the streets and there are monsters inside our heads.
Today’s review is for This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. This review can also be found on Goodreads.
I loved this book, it was so different and unique. I loved how it started off from two different points of view (there are very few books I’ve enjoyed from multiple POVs) and how well the two stories came together to become one story. I was really surprised by the ending and did not see it coming at all, but loved it. I can’t wait to read Our Dark Duet.
Today’s review is for Tears of Water by Alicia Keys. This review can also be found on Goodreads.
I think there’s a poem in this collection that everyone can relate too. One of my favorite poems was “Cosmopolitan Woman, ” and I loved the story of why Alicia wrote the poem. Another aspect of this collection that I enjoyed is how there was commentary included after some of the poems which told the inspirations behind them. The poems like her songs tell a story. Overall, I think this is an excellent collection.
Today’s book review is for Prosper Redding The Last Life of Prince Alastor by Alexandra Bracken. It can also be found on Goodreads.
I absolutely loved this book. I loved how Prosper wanted to do everything to save his sister, and I’m not 100% sure why but I absolutely loved Prince Alastor. In this book, readers learn more about what happened between the Redding’s and the Bellegrave’s, and it’s such an interesting backstory. There are also flashbacks that are well placed, clearly defined, and really enrich the story. I’m hoping there’s going to be another book.
I enjoyed this book and thought that it was a fun and unique twist on Peter Pan. While I did enjoy the story, there was something that I had a minor issue with and that was how Gwen and Rosemary’s parents, especially her father kept his work so secret and weren’t very honest with their children. I also felt that the ending was a bit rushed and that the actual war could have been developed better. Overall I did enjoy it, but I’m not sure if I’m going to continue with the series.
*Disclaimer: This was the last book I read in January
Inside My Minds 