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ashylibrarian's reviews
891 reviews
Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena RamÃrez by Belen Medina
informative
fast-paced
5.0
This is a bright and beautiful picture book about Lorena Ramirez, an Indigenous marathon champion. The text is short on each page with striking illustrations that have accompanying onomatopoeias, like "clip clap, clip clap" to describe her sandals hitting the ground as she runs. This aspect of the book would make it a fun read-aloud to invite kids to participate in with you!
The back matter shares more about Lorena and her Raramuri Indigenous culture.
The back matter shares more about Lorena and her Raramuri Indigenous culture.
Dive!: The Story of Breathing Underwater by Chris Gall
informative
medium-paced
3.5
A nicely illustrated picture book exploring the history of underwater diving and how humans crafted various tools to help us breathe underwater. The author mixes in information about diving and the impact water pressure has on the human body with small nuggets mixed in sharing relatable moments, like having your ears pop and blowing up a pool floaty, to reasonable experiments, like placing an empty cup in water and watching how the air stays trapped inside.
The back matter is full of accessible information: how to support our oceans, how to become a diver, career opportunities in diving, and TONS of water-themed fun facts!
This book is best suited for younger readers with stronger reading skills or as a read-aloud with some adjustments as the text blocks are written in smaller text with full paragraphs on each page.
The back matter is full of accessible information: how to support our oceans, how to become a diver, career opportunities in diving, and TONS of water-themed fun facts!
This book is best suited for younger readers with stronger reading skills or as a read-aloud with some adjustments as the text blocks are written in smaller text with full paragraphs on each page.
Borderlands and the Mexican American Story by David Dorado Romo
informative
medium-paced
4.25
An accessible, informational book about the Mexican American story. This book is intentional about sharing the Indigenous history of Mexicans on what is now American lands and how the white colonizers have and continue to try to erase them and their story.
One of my favorite parts of this book was that at the end of each chapter, there was a "Let's Think About It" section that asked the reader questions about what was covered in the chapter, which can help support reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
One of my favorite parts of this book was that at the end of each chapter, there was a "Let's Think About It" section that asked the reader questions about what was covered in the chapter, which can help support reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
I have thoughts on this book I would like to share, however, I will be withholding my review for this title in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press Marketing Boycott.
The book community is demanding three (3) things of St. Martin's:
1. Address and denounce the Islamophobia and racism from their employee.
2. Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
3. Address how moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.
This boycott is a media boycott asking influencers not to promote books from St. Martin's Press. If you are interested in supporting the authors, please still buy/borrow and read their books, just please do not promote those books on socials.
The book community is demanding three (3) things of St. Martin's:
1. Address and denounce the Islamophobia and racism from their employee.
2. Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
3. Address how moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.
This boycott is a media boycott asking influencers not to promote books from St. Martin's Press. If you are interested in supporting the authors, please still buy/borrow and read their books, just please do not promote those books on socials.
Double Booking: The Tail of the Mummy Cat by Kim Shearer, Chas! Pangburn
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Another wild ride, slasher horror/thriller from Danielle Valentine.
Valentine's How to Survive Your Murder was a well-done, slasher-inspired YA horror. Two Sides to Every Murder was equally as impressive. There are twists and turns and shocking reveals.
Camp Lost Lake is scheduled to reopen after the brutal murders there over 16 years ago. Two teens are returning to the scene for different reasons, and each is hoping to uncover a truth.
Tactfully written with classic slasher themes, Two Sides to Every Murder is bound to be a top-recommended YA horror for me.
Valentine's How to Survive Your Murder was a well-done, slasher-inspired YA horror. Two Sides to Every Murder was equally as impressive. There are twists and turns and shocking reveals.
Camp Lost Lake is scheduled to reopen after the brutal murders there over 16 years ago. Two teens are returning to the scene for different reasons, and each is hoping to uncover a truth.
Tactfully written with classic slasher themes, Two Sides to Every Murder is bound to be a top-recommended YA horror for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was just...fine. I was hopeful going into this book because reviews seem mostly positive and the cover is really neat! And I would argue that if folks are invested in the story, there can be a good amount to unpack and discuss.
Unfortunately, I found it to be pretty boring from the start, and that left me not feeling very invested throughout the majority of the book. Every time I started to become interested in the story, it moved on to something else. It is also pretty long.
Unfortunately, I found it to be pretty boring from the start, and that left me not feeling very invested throughout the majority of the book. Every time I started to become interested in the story, it moved on to something else. It is also pretty long.
The Spindle of Fate by Aimee Lim
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A fun Percy Jackson and Gifted Clans read-alike using Chinese mythology.
Shortly after her mother goes missing, Evie Mei finds a talking demon monkey who tells her shocking news and sends her racing to enter the netherworld. An action-packed adventure with magic, fantastical characters, and the growth in understanding family connections.
Shortly after her mother goes missing, Evie Mei finds a talking demon monkey who tells her shocking news and sends her racing to enter the netherworld. An action-packed adventure with magic, fantastical characters, and the growth in understanding family connections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Torture and Murder
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is an informative debut thriller that brings attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. I thought the author did a nice job writing for teens about a topic that impacts all ages.
When four teens become the main suspects in a local murder investigation, each must get their story straight to protect themselves and their families. Fingers are pointed and rumors are spread.
When four teens become the main suspects in a local murder investigation, each must get their story straight to protect themselves and their families. Fingers are pointed and rumors are spread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use
Silver Spoon, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa
2.0
I can't look past the fatphobia in this book and the way it was never addressed, just used as an, assuming, humor point. I won't be continuing or recommending this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia