At the beginning of January, I wasn’t sure if I’d finish my TBR. But it’s coming along nicely! Not having classes means I have so much time for reading. This week was definitely a great reading week for me. For the week of 1/9, I read 9 books this week! With possibility of a few more, since I’m planning to read the Fence graphic novels when I finish writing this. We’ll see how far I get on that!
Anyway, be prepared for a lot of graphic novels in the coming weeks because I checked out a lot from the library. Also, the Youth Media Awards are going to be announced by the end of the month, which I’m kind of excited about! The awards are hit or miss, but I always like seeing what’s nominated. They’re always fun!
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 1/9
Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon (1/9)
As a self-proclaimed nerd, Sunny Dae doesn’t think that he has a chance with his new neighbor, Cirrus. Until she mistakes his brother’s bedroom, with all of it’s music stuff, for his. Now, Sunny has to keep a charade that he’s in a band. Committing to his lie gives him a surprise: confidence. Maybe it’s been a part of him all along. David Yoon is the king of fun, YA romances and continues to please! I didn’t like this as much as his first book, but the characters and relationships were fun and entertaining, and the audiobook was fun! (3.5 stars).
Being Toffee by Sarah Crossan (1/10)
A novel in verse, Allison is running away from an abusive home and take’s shelter with a woman named Marla. Where Marla is trying to remember her past, Allison is trying to forget it. The two form an unlikely friendship, one they both didn’t know that they needed. The emotions in this book are done beautifully. I loved how the relationship between Marla and Allison and how it evolves throughout the book. A few times, it lost its voice throughout, but it found its way back eventually (4 stars).
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown (1/10)
Echo Brown is a wizard from the East Side, where people are mostly down on their luck. When she gets the chance to attend a better school, she jumps at the chance. However, she soon realizes that there are difficulties there, too. A memoir infused with magical realism that really doesn’t pull from the punches. I loved the way that Brown uses metaphors throughout, pulling from her own life experience and creating a magical, thought-provoking story (5 stars).
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (1/12)
After a run-in with the town’s witch, Jacks, Snap learns that there’s more than meets the eye. Jacks sells roadkill skeletons online. Which Snap thinks is awesome, so she starts helping out. She soon realizes that Jacks has real magic–and a connection to her own family. This graphic novel has been on many lists from last year, and it met all expectations! The characters are so loveable and the art is fantastic. This is one that I might want to own! (5 stars).
We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal (1/13)
I wrote a full review of this on my blog this week, so just a few thoughts here! It took me a little to get into this, just because I had difficulty remembering what had happened in the previous book. But once I got over that, I loved the characters and the world. They are what make this series great. I do think the book could have been a little shorter, but it was still a great ending to this duology (4 stars).
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas (1/14)
Angie Thomas’s book doesn’t disappoint! This prequel follows Starr’s father, Maverick. We get to see him as a teenage father, struggling to turn his life on the right course for his children. I loved the way that Thomas looks at the nuances of being Black in the 90s and how Maverick struggles with being a father. I can’t think of a lot of teen books that look at teen fathers rather than teen mothers. A full review will be coming for this next week! (5 stars).
Light It Up by Kekla Magoon (1/14)
When a Black teen girl is shot and killed by a police officer, the community is put over the edge. After all, a teen boy was murdered there just two years before. Told in a series of vignettes, we get all perspectives of the story. This is a follow-up to How It Went Down, but it can be read on its own. It’s fast-paced and looks at racism and police violence and protests. A timely novel, especially given everything that’s been happening in the last year. An important read overall. (4 stars).
The Way Back by Gavriel Savit (1/15)
Demons are everywhere for the Jews of Europe. Even though they have their own country, when the Angel of Death comes strolling through the town of Tupik one night, two people’s lives are put on a completely different path. I listened to this audiobook, and while I loved the narrator, I just had a difficult time getting into the story. I think this one may have been better as a physical book, but oh well. A high fantasy sure to pull some people in (3 stars).
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (1/15)
After her mother dies in a car accident, Bree is trying to run from her past because of the pain. When she arrives on UNC’s campus for an early college program, she discovers a secrete magic society that might have something to do with her mother’s death. So, she posts as a recruit to infiltrate their ranks. This is absolutely one of my recent favorite books and I’m so glad I read it finally! I loved everything about it, from the voice to the world to the characters. I can’t wait for the next one! (5 stars).