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cassroberts89's reviews
436 reviews
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
I was so impressed when I found out this is Patel’s debut! It is stunning and expansive. I’m not super familiar with the Ramayana so I can’t say just how much was true to the epic or not. I’m willing to bet much of the feminist movement aspect was Patel’s invention, or was twisted to appear so. The pacing was a bit off sometimes too. Still, I am looking forward to seeing more from this author!
Side note as a parent:
This is clearly an adult novel, but I appreciated that there really isn’t anything in here that would prevent me from handing this to my kids if they were interested. There is mention of Kaikeyi visiting her husband’s rooms, but hardly any description at all of what transpires other than Kaikeyi herself seeming disinterested (my guess was either she isn’t straight or is asexual, for what it’s worth. This isn’t really relevant in the book though). I also loved that, otherwise, she and Dasharath developed a loving relationship with a healthy dose of respect.
Side note as a parent:
This is clearly an adult novel, but I appreciated that there really isn’t anything in here that would prevent me from handing this to my kids if they were interested. There is mention of Kaikeyi visiting her husband’s rooms, but hardly any description at all of what transpires other than Kaikeyi herself seeming disinterested (my guess was either she isn’t straight or is asexual, for what it’s worth. This isn’t really relevant in the book though). I also loved that, otherwise, she and Dasharath developed a loving relationship with a healthy dose of respect.
Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent by Dipo Faloyin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Had to return to library, 140 pages
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The kids and I loved this when I read it aloud for homeschool! It was just the right mix of real world friendships and kid problems, and mysterious puzzle.
Summer at Blue Sands Cove by C.P. Ward
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This… wasn’t great. Right away, the characters felt more like caricatures. Trust the reviewers complaining about fat shaming; it’s rampant. I was just skimming from about the 20% point on. I can see why this was free during the stuff-your-kindle deal *shrug*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A cute and sweet and mostly-wholesome summer read about friendship with a side of first love. I enjoyed this so much! The list that Sloane leaves behind for Emily provides the perfect backdrop to structure the story. Without it, we’d just be watching a bunch of teenagers do their teenager thing.
As a parent I’m not really a fan of all the sneaking around, curfew breaking, etc. But seventeen year old Emily is a good kid, hangs out with friends who are good kids, and is fairly responsible overall. There’s a minimal amount of responsible drinking, albeit underage, a scene where she uses a fake ID to get into a bar to listen to a band sober, a long road trip without parents knowledge or consent, and a few make out sessions. No sex or even talk of sex that I recall. A few instances of a boyfriend/girlfriend cheating on their partner (kissing).
All in all, it reminds me of the mom in the Sandlot: “Get into trouble, for crying out loud! Not too much, but some.” I’d be more than happy to hand this to my older teen.
P.S. The title is perfect and fits the story well. I may have belted out Kelly Clarkson more than once after walking by and seeing the cover…
As a parent I’m not really a fan of all the sneaking around, curfew breaking, etc. But seventeen year old Emily is a good kid, hangs out with friends who are good kids, and is fairly responsible overall. There’s a minimal amount of responsible drinking, albeit underage, a scene where she uses a fake ID to get into a bar to listen to a band sober, a long road trip without parents knowledge or consent, and a few make out sessions. No sex or even talk of sex that I recall. A few instances of a boyfriend/girlfriend cheating on their partner (kissing).
All in all, it reminds me of the mom in the Sandlot: “Get into trouble, for crying out loud! Not too much, but some.” I’d be more than happy to hand this to my older teen.
P.S. The title is perfect and fits the story well. I may have belted out Kelly Clarkson more than once after walking by and seeing the cover…
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Finished in one day. I guess that says something! While so much of the story is a little out there, it’s definitely a page turner. The timeline is all over the place, but it’s done so well.
I’m not sure I’d hand this one to my daughter just yet (mature 13yo). There is so much going on; seek out trigger warnings and HEED them for sure. Child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, just straight up violence, the list goes on. Most of it is closed door, especially the sexual abuse with the victim as young as 10yo, but it’s extremely clear that it is going on. It’s all far-fetched but also real enough that you’d need to follow up with some heavy conversations with your teen.
I’m not sure I’d hand this one to my daughter just yet (mature 13yo). There is so much going on; seek out trigger warnings and HEED them for sure. Child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, just straight up violence, the list goes on. Most of it is closed door, especially the sexual abuse with the victim as young as 10yo, but it’s extremely clear that it is going on. It’s all far-fetched but also real enough that you’d need to follow up with some heavy conversations with your teen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion
Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This last installment of the series was a little… silly? Unbelievable? Tropey? Dex was barely introduced earlier in the books as the guy who hooks up with a different girl at every fair. There’s literally nothing else we know about him going in. And by the time Dex and Lulu hook up? That’s still mostly all we know about him. Supposedly there’s so much more to him and his family just doesn’t see or expect much from him, but it’s not set up well before they just fall into bed. Nightly. For like, the entire time they’re in the camper. And then BOOM they’re in love. Not to mention it’s all wrapped up so neatly with a bow at the end. Meh. It was satisfying and cute toward the end, but I did not get nearly as much out of this one as the other three.
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
What an odd book. It was very different. This was read as a selection for my tween book club at the library, and it was interesting to hear what the kids there had to say about their interpretations. I think they were, for the most part, able to relate to the story as a whole as kind of a metaphor for their own experiences growing into tweens. One kid mentioned that the scene where Jinny swims so far out to the ocean that she gets lost makes her think of times when she just wants go be left alone and goes outside, but then gets hungry and has to trudge back in for a snack.
If you’re going to read this as a literal island adventure story, you will be disappointed. Almost nothing about the mystery of the island or its orphans is explained, ever. You really have to go into it with an open mind, EXPECTING it to be almost completely metaphorical.
P.S. Not a fan of the period scene at all. Specifically, I really dislike that Laurel Snyder chose to write it as Jinny believing that she had brought it upon herself as a kind of punishment. Her choice to stay on the island meant that the sky was breaking, the island was breaking, the magic was breaking, and now SHE is breaking too, and she deserves it. I can see how it would be a scary experience for a girl who had no guidance, but it could have been done better, especially given the target audience.
If you’re going to read this as a literal island adventure story, you will be disappointed.
P.S. Not a fan of the period scene at all. Specifically, I really dislike that Laurel Snyder chose to write it as Jinny believing that she had brought it upon herself as a kind of punishment. Her choice to stay on the island meant that the sky was breaking, the island was breaking, the magic was breaking, and now SHE is breaking too, and she deserves it. I can see how it would be a scary experience for a girl who had no guidance, but it could have been done better, especially given the target audience.
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was just okay. I was completely bored for the first 150 pages or so, it took forever to finally get moving. Once we were getting somewhere I was more interested, but I had a hard time with Hannah just making idiotic choices. She was the most flat main character I have read in a while. I also guessed the “whodunnit” pretty early, but the way it happened seemed a little ridiculous honestly. And man, we were getting thrown red herrings left and right there at the end. I may try others from Ruth Ware if they aren’t quite as long.
P.S. Side note to mention how weird it was that John Neville is almost… a martyr? After he had all but stalked and assaulted Hannah? I think I get what we were “supposed” to think of him at the end, but some of his actual actions were completely inappropriate.
P.S. Side note to mention how weird it was that John Neville is almost… a martyr? After he had all but stalked and assaulted Hannah? I think I get what we were “supposed” to think of him at the end, but some of his actual actions were completely inappropriate.