Hoping everyone had a lovely holiday, no matter what you celebrate! Ours was quiet, but that’s okay. Of course, I got some books, which I’m excited to add to my shelf. And I did a lot of reading for the week of 12/19! Which is probably no surprise to anyone. I checked out a bunch of books before I left work on Tuesday, too. I’ve got a whole stack sitting next to my bed of mostly graphic novels, so I better get cracking.
I finished 8 books this week! A couple of them were audiobooks I listened to at work (perks of being at curbside and working on projects), so yay! And I’m almost finished with my reading challenges, so stay tuned for a wrap up for the year next week.
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 12/19
My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand (12/20)
Everyone knows the story of Jane Eyre. At least, they think they do. What if Jane could talk to ghosts? And maybe she doesn’t end up with Rochester after all. These re-imaginings of classic tales with a feminist twist are so fun. Personally, I enjoyed this more than the first one, but Jane Eyre is also my favorite classic. I think these would be a great way to introduce classics to teens because they are just so entertaining. I love the supernatural twists they add and the commentaries they make about the time periods (4 stars).
Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir (12/22)
I already wrote a full review for this (thanks DC Comics!), but a few thoughts here. I loved how this was a mix between superheroes and The Handmaid’s Tale. Women in this imagined DC future have been silenced, but Dinah keeps hearing a girl singing. And she’s going to find out who it is. The world-building in this book was great and I loved all the characters. Even the minor ones. Though aspects were a bit predictable, the ride was still enjoyable (4 stars).
Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco (12/22)
This is the finale to the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, and what a finale we have. Audrey Rose and Thomas have made it to America where a Jack the Ripper like killer has appeared in New York. Eventually they follow him to Chicago with Audrey Rose’s uncle, hoping to once again catch a killer. First of all, the summary for this book basically gives away the whole book which frustrated me. Second, there was so much plot dedicated to the (not) wedding of Audrey Rose and Thomas. Too much! The main draw for this series is the mystery, the way Audrey Rose and Thomas work together to solve them. That felt like it took a second seat in this book, which left me kind of disappointed (3 stars).
Final Draft by Riley Redgate (12/22)
Laila lives a pretty quiet life, leaving the risk-taking to the characters she’s creating for her sci-fi novel. But when her creative writing teacher gets an accident and is suddenly replaced by a substitute, this changes. Now, she’s being encouraged to take risks. For her writing. But Laila has to be careful to find a balance before it’s too late. This book has been on my radar for a while, so I finally listened to it at work last week! I loved the journey Laila goes on, plus the diverse representation in the cast of characters. Laila just wants to pursue her dream, and I think this will be relatable to a lot of teens (4 stars).
The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph (12/23)
Woven with anecdotes, Joseph speaks directly to the reader throughout this book to dissect instances where racism is prevalent. Instances that white people might not necessarily be aware of. Honestly, I haven’t seen much about this book online, which is sad. Joseph puts a lot of things in perspective that contribute to racism that I didn’t think about before reading this book, things like pop music. He provides ways for white people to consciously work against racism in a variety of aspects of life, and it’s told in a way that’s easy to understand for teens and adults. Highly recommend this if you are on an anti-racism journey. Which everyone should be (5 stars).
Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi (12/24)
The final book in the Shatter Me series! Which I have put off reading since it came out in March. But I finally read it! And unfortunately, this suffered from the fact that I don’t remember what happened in the previous book. For the first third of the book, I felt pretty lost. I needed a cast of characters at the beginning to remind me where we were at. Also, these last three books introduced a complexity to the story that I don’t think was really needed. Someday, I would like to re-read these to see how much better I’d like it by knowing what’s happening from the very beginning (3 stars).
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Mason Deaver (12/24)
This little novella takes place after I Wish You All the Best, when Ben is trying to surprise their boyfriend, Nathan, for Christmas by bringing home Nathan’s dog. But, a storm puts all of their plans into chaos. This was such a heart-warming extension of the original book. You get a glimpse into Ben and Nathan’s life after the original book. I’m in love with these characters and secretly hope we get to visit them again in another book. Deaver also nails anxiety on the head, and this comes through so well in the text. A perfect Christmas story (4 stars).
Pantomime by Laura Lam (12/25)
Gene’s life isn’t what she wants. She’s living a debutant’s life, being presented to society to be married. But she hides a secret: she’s both male and female with secret magical abilities. So, she runs away to the circus and reinvents herself as Micah Grey. But the circus holds its secrets, too. This book is unique in the world building; I don’t think I’ve really read anything like it. I’d also never heard of it before looking for an intersex book for a reading challenge. I’m so glad I read it, though. With the cliffhanger ending, I might have to pick up the second book! (4 stars).
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