Bite Size Reviews: Week of 8/1

And just like that, we’re into August friends! Can you believe it? I know I can’t. I’m thankful to get a month off from my classes, though. Which means more reading! And I have a lot of reading to do. I’m volunteering on a committee for the Michigan Library Association which awards YA books for the year. I thought I had been keeping up on new releases, but not as much as I thought! We all have to read the books on the list, which means I have some catching up to do. Good catching up, though! I did some of that during the week of 8/1 in my reading choices.

I also powered through 2 audiobooks this week. Woo! Honestly, I’m so glad I got into audiobooks because I’ve listened to so many series that way. Knocking things off that TBR, one at a time!

Bite Size Reviews: Week of 8/1

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang (8/1)

This is a YA graphic novel that follows a radio story arc of Superman from the 1940s. It follows an Asian-American family as they move to Metropolis and have to deal with the Ku Klux Klan. With Superman’s help! Superman has his own struggles with remembering things from his past that parallel the struggles that Tommy and Roberta struggle with. Gene Luen Yang puts his own artistic touch on it, making this a relatable and relevant story for our own time. I don’t read a lot of DC stuff, but I liked Yang’s iteration of Superman. It lent a lot to the story (4 stars).

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer (8/4)

The second book in the Renegades trilogy finds Nova and Adrian getting themselves in a more complicated situation. As both of their secrets come dangerously close to the surface, something more sinister is going on in Gatlon. Will they both be able to stop it? This worked well as a bridge book, building up the tension to the final battle that I’m sure is going to happen in the last book. Meyer is also great at writing romantic tension between characters, which is building up between Nova and Adrian. They are perfect for each other, honestly! I’m hoping they end up together. The narration also helps to bring this audiobook to life (4 stars).

Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson (8/4)

We’re introduced to Diana as she turns 16, desperately hoping that her Amazon powers will start to come back as she transitions out of puberty. Instead, Diana finds herself ripped away from her island, now a refugee. A refugee who wants to help other refugees. She uses her talents and her tools at her disposal to reveal darkness going on in the underbelly of the city. While the art felt a little off at times, the writing here is strong. The story really resonates with you after you finish this graphic novel. A great addition to the growing number of YA DC graphic novels! (3 stars).

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (8/4)

I already wrote a full review of this book this week, but still talking about it here! Honestly, I’ve been talking about this book everywhere on social media in the last week. And I can’t wait to get a final copy so I can take a million pictures of it for Instagram. Thomas’s debut feels new and refreshing and is paced so well. With fantastic characters. I could honestly read about Julian and Yadriel all day and I wouldn’t get tired of them. What are you waiting for? Go pre-order this book! (5 stars)

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (8/6)

Another great 2020 release for you if you want all the feels! Felix Love just wants to be in love. But he’s afraid that he has one marginalized identity too many: Black, transgender, and queer. When his old pictures with his deadname are posted all over school, he comes up with a scheme to get revenge. But instead, he ends up in a sort of love triangle. Felix is such a cinnamon roll character who needs to be protected at all costs. The way he interacts with Ezra and Declan throughout this book is adorable. They could join with Julian and Yadriel and I could just read about them all the time! (5 stars)

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (8/7)

This is a book that has been on my shelf forever, and I finally got around to reading it! When kids start coming down with a mysterious virus that gives them psychic abilities, they’re put into camps around the country. Classified by color, oranges are the most dangerous. And that’s what Ruby is. We get to follow her as she makes it out of a camp and into the real world. With everyone vying for her power, which way will she turn? I saw this movie when it came out a few years ago, and I’m surprised at how well it seems it followed the book! At first, Ruby was a little off-putting, but her character got better as the book went on. There’s a cliff hanger, so I’m glad I have the next book to read soon! (4 stars)