Does anyone else feel like November has been going on for forever? I feel like the election made everything stretch out more. Plus, I’ve started a new job and my schedule is different. I’m just not used to it yet. But I will eventually! Well, maybe. The pandemic is also messing with scheduling. Just plugging along until it gets figured out, I guess! For the week of 11/14, I finished 8 books! Yay for all the reading!
Also, I am really close to getting to 300 books for the year. I’m not sure how with how crazy this year has been, but man, I’ve done so much reading. Here’s to hopefully making it to 300 by December 31st!
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 11/14
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (11/14)
Elatsoe lives in an America where all kinds of monsters are real and a part of every day life. She has a pet ghost dog, and her family is known for their ability to raise ghosts. When her cousin’s ghost visits her and insists his death wasn’t an accident, she goes to investigate. She has to do what she can to protect her family. Darcie Little Badger is part of the Lipan Apache Tribe and pulled a lot of her culture into this book. It was immersive, and the mystery unfolded in such a satisfying way. Plus Elatsoe is asexual! Overall, great representation and a great story (4 stars).
The Witch’s Hand by Nathan Page and Drew Shannon (11/14)
Pete and Alastair are two brothers with a knack for detective work. They lead pretty normal lives, until they learn the truth of their past. After a strange storm, their guardian comes clean about their past. And now, they have to use their skills to save three girls who have gone missing. At first, I didn’t realize that this was set in the 1960s, so parts of it were confusing. But, I saw it described as an updated version of the Hardy Boys, and this is such a great description of this graphic novel. If you’re looking for something like that, I definitely recommend this! (4 stars).
With a Star in My Hand by Margarita Engle (11/16)
This short poetry collection chronicles the life of Rubén Darío, a well-known poet from Central America. Engle chronicles his journey across Central and South America and how he became a renowned poet. This was definitely a quick read, and some of the poems really stand out. There was some disconnect between how this book is classified and the actual subject matter, but Engle brings to light a poet that I think a lot of people don’t know about (3 stars).
Jane Against the World by Karen Blumenthal (11/17)
This nonfiction book looks at the history of reproductive rights in the United States. Specifically, it looks at how these events lead up to the landmark court case, Roe vs. Wade, and the effects that had on reproductive rights. There was so much information packed in this book, and I learned so much reading it. Plus, Blumenthal organizes a book in such a way that makes this information easy to digest. Even if a lot of the information in the book is going to make you mad (4 stars).
Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia (11/18)
Garfield feels like he’s always overlooked. He’s desperate to make a mark on the world. When he gets a chance via an extreme dare, he takes his shot and puts himself on the map. As he accepts more and more dares, the more and more dangerous they get. But new powers also seem to be growing the more he puts himself in danger. This is the origin story for Beast Boy, another in the DC Comics graphic novel series (like Swamp Thing). This one was fun, even if Garfield is annoying and doesn’t acknowledge the friends he does have. But that’s just a character flaw and doesn’t take away from the entertainment factor of the book overall (4 stars).
The Glare by Margot Harrison (11/19)
After living on a technology free ranch for 10 years, Hedda is going back to the real world and “the Glare” as she calls it. A traumatic event when she was kid made her wary of screens. But she’s quickly pulled back in by a game called The Glare, where anyone who makes it to Level 13 dies in real life. Now, the Glare is after her and her new friends. This was an action packed thriller that will definitely please those that read for plot. However, most of the characters felt flat to me. I wanted more from them, as I think this would have rounded out the story a little more. If you’re looking for a technology themed thriller, though, this one is definitely for you (3.5 stars).
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee (11/19)
This book follows the story of fourteen Japanese American teens who were living in the United States during WWII. When they’re all forced into incarceration camps, they’re all conflicted about their loyalty to the United States. This is the third book I think I’ve read this year on this topic, and it’s so important. Since this is something that isn’t talked about much in American history, it’s about time we actually do. While there were too many points of view for me, I did really enjoy Chee’s Author’s Note at the end. It made me think about language and the way we frame these events in history classes (4 stars).
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (11/20)
This is the second time I’ve listened to this book, and it’s just as good the second time around! The final book in this series comes out in just a few weeks, and I’m both excited and nervous for the ending. I love Elias and Laia and they are definitely what makes this series so great. I wrote a post recommending other books to fans of this series this week, and you should give it some love! There are so many great YA fantasy series out there that you should definitely check out if you love this series (5 stars).