It was another great reading week for me! I feel like I’ve just been on top of it reading wise, lately, and it feel so good. Granted, I’ve gotten some reading time at work, so that also helps. And I’ve been trying to limit social media at night, so that helps too. All the reading! For the Week of 9/12, I read 11 books! And only one of them was a graphic novel.
I’ve been doing a lot of ebook reading at the desk when I’m at the library because it’s been pretty slow. Which isn’t surprising, given the pandemic, but it is a little sad. Hopefully we’ll be back to more services sometime in the new future.
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 9/12
Lucky Caller by Emma Mills (9/12)
Nina expects her senior broadcasting class to be easy, given her dad is a radio show host. Instead, she’s stuck with a rag tag group, plus an old friend, Jamie, she hoped to avoid for the rest of high school. As their show barrels toward disaster, Nina has to deal with family change, too. I read this in one sitting, it was so cute! While I some of the time jumps were difficult to follow at first, the more I got into the novel, the more I enjoyed. I’m a sucker for a rag tag group of friends, and childhood friends who fall in love. If you’re looking for a cute romance, definitely check this one out! (4 stars)
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes (9/12)
This is a picture book following a young Black boy as he goes to the barber to get his hair cut. One of the prompts for the Read Harder challenge was to read a picture book featuring a main character from a marginalized community. I had seen a lot about this book, and I’m glad to finally have read it! The artwork in this book is amazing. They are paintings that take up the entire spread on each page, and they are extremely life like. Plus, the story is one that a lot of kids will relate to (5 stars).
They Went Left by Monica Hesse (9/12)
It’s 1945, and the concentration camps in Germany have just been liberated. Zofia Lederman is has just started the long healing process after being in a concentration camp for the last few years. Now, all she wants to do is find her brother. Her search may seem impossible, but she’s dedicated. Not many WWII books focus on what happens after the war. It’s clear that Hesse did her research for this book, and I learned a lot of stuff I didn’t know. There’s a twist at the end that I also didn’t see coming. Overall, this was a well-written historical fiction that I definitely recommend! (4 stars)
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (9/12)
This is a novella that I listened to on audio. Binti is the first of her people to be offered a place at Oomza University. In order to get there, she has to face the Meduse, a race that has a conflict with a university. In order to make it, Binti has to figure out how to survive. Robin Mills narrates this audiobook, and I love her narration. If you haven’t listened to a book by her, you definitely should! Though this is a short story, the world building and the characters are amazing. You get pulled in right from the beginning and are engrossed until the very end (4 stars).
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles (9/13)
Del has had a crush on Kiera since kindergarten. Now that she’s newly single, Del accidently joins the Purity Pledge group at church to get on her good side. But Del doesn’t have the greatest reputation when it comes to purity, even if it isn’t true. Though everything doesn’t go as planned, everything will work itself out in the end. I loved the characters in this book, and Giles deals with the issues of toxic masculinity in a really realistic way. Del has to look inward and deal with the fact that he’s possibly not always the good guy. Seriously, everyone should read this book (5 stars).
Just Breathe by Cammie McGovern (9/16)
David is battling cystic fibrosis, Jamie volunteers at the hospital he’s in. As they become quick friends, they both realize they don’t have to hide around each other. When David takes a turn for the worse, they both have secrets to tell before it’s too late. While this is a novel about David’s battle with cystic fibrosis, it’s also a novel about Jamie’s struggle with depression. McGovern deals with both issues with grace, really looking at the stigma behind chronic illness and depression (4 stars).
Camp by L.C. Rosen (9/16)
Randy has a plan for his latest summer at Camp Outland; become “Del,” a sports loving, athletic version of himself in order to land his dream boy: Hudson. The plan is successful at first. Randy just has to hide his theater loving self until Hudson falls for him. Then he can be honest. Right? This is another book that looks at toxic masculinity and what can happen when someone internalizes homophobia they hear every day. I loved the way that the relationship between Randy and Hudson evolves; it felt realistic. The secondary characters were also just as developed as the first, and we all know that I love it when that happens. However, be warned that there are some sexy time scenes at the end (4 stars).
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang (9/17)
For his latest graphic novel, Yang takes a look at his own school. Specifically, the basketball team, who has been to the State Championship repeatedly but never one. This year is going to be their year, though. Yang interviews the players and coachers that go into making this possible, as well as inserting basketball history throughout the book. I loved the theme of simply taking a step to make a change or take a stand. Plus, we get little glimpses into Yang’s own life. Even if you don’t like basketball, this is an engrossing story (5 stars).
Vampires Never Get Old by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker (9/17)
I already posted a full review of this, but it gets a little blurb here too! This is an excellent collection of vampire stories. You get every perspective of vampires that you could ever want, from funny to sad to creepy. My favorite story was from Samira Ahmed; it was a hilarious, different take on vampires and I loved it (4 stars).
Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power (9/17)
Margot has only known life with her mother, but her mother has never really shared much about her family history. After a fight, Margot decides to find out for herself. But when she arrives on the family farm, the past is darker than she could have imagined. If you liked Wilder Girls, this will definitely appeal to you, too. It’s gritty and dark, and perfect if you’re looking for something for the spooky season. However, I didn’t necessarily buy the explanation at the end. It didn’t quite fit, for me (3 stars).
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (9/18)
When returning to his childhood home, a man is drawn back to the farm owned by the Hempstock family. He’s transported 40 years earlier, after a man commits suicide and the events that happen afterward. This is another spooky, atmospheric book that fits well for the fall season. A dark and spooky fable that’s a quick read, but one that will stay with you long after you finish it (4 stars).
[…] Lucky Caller by Emma Mills (4 stars) […]