Hello, friends! Saturday got away from me, so I never ended up posted my Bite Size Reviews for the Week of 12/5. I’m also starting to plan out some of my end of the year posts, so stay tuned! I’ve read so many books that it’s a bit difficult to narrow down the ones I absolutely loved. Also, 2020 was just a great year for books all around. 2021 promises to be one, too!
Even though I generally had more free time this week, I didn’t seem to read quite as much as I usually do. I only finished 4 books this week. I’m thinking that will change this week, mostly because I’ve got some library books I definitely have to finish before the end of the year. Plus, one more book to review for 2020, so stay tuned for that as well!
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 12/5
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender (12/6)
King is pretty sure that his brother, Khalid, turned into a dragonfly after he died. After all, Khalid still visits King in his dreams, even as King watches grief take over his whole family. King doesn’t know how to process his own grief, especially since he stopped talking to his best friend Sandy after Sandy came out as gay. When Sandy turns up missing, King decides to help him. Maybe Sandy can help King figure out how to come out to his own family. This book won the National Book Award this year, and it 100% deserves. Callender captures the emotions of King so well, and shows how complicated it can be to navigate being Black and being gay. This is one of this books that everyone should read just because of the perspectives it offers. Plus, the story itself is engaging; I was hooked from beginning to end (5 stars).
Take It Back by Kia Abdullah (12/9)
I already wrote a full review for this book, so just a quick snippet here! The best thing about this book is the topics it makes you think about. Race plays such a huge role in rape cases, which is what Abdullah focuses on here. Plus, the fact that victims often aren’t believed when they come forward with their story. It’s one of those books that keeps you thinking once you’re done reading it. There are moments where it is difficult to read, but the conversations it might spark are definitely worth it (4 stars).
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand (12/10)
Historical fiction with a twist! This is the first book in a series where three authors re-imagine famous Janes in history, but making their stories more feminist, basically. My Lady Jane follows the story of Jane Grey, the cousin to King Edward. Since Edward is dying, Jane becomes engaged to Gifford (G), who is a horse by day and a human by night. The three of them become involved in an intricate plot to get the English throne. This series has been on my radar for a while, so when they were all in at the library, I quickly snatched them up. It’s such a fun story! Definitely not believable, but I absolutely loved the narrator. And who doesn’t love a more feminist re-imagining of history? Too many women got the short end of the stick (4 stars).
A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir (12/10)
The final book in the An Ember in the Ashes series! What an ending to this series, honestly. Tahir had a lot to wrap up by the end, and she does it with grace and lots and lots of emotion. I’ll refrain from giving too much summary (but you can read more about it here!) to avoid spoilers. I also listened to all the audiobooks for this series, which is the format I recommend because the narrators are just fantastic. One of my favorite audiobook series. Elias and Laia are some of my favorite characters, and they’re filled with such hope and strength. Honestly, the whole book is just filled with hope. Now that the whole series is out, I recommend binging it because one you start, you won’t be able to put it down (5 stars).