michaelion's reviews
250 reviews

Xander's Panda Party by Linda Sue Park

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Cute. Has some big words I thought would be good for kids to try to learn. So extra cute points!
Broken Places & Outer Spaces: Finding Creativity in the Unexpected by Nnedi Okorafor

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emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

4.5

Humans are so cool. Black women! 🫶🏾🥰

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One Hundred and One Classic Love Poems by Contemporary Books

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inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.75

A few of these were already on my poetry list. Pretty cool.

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Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

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informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I think we can all reasonably assume this was a book every kid in New Hampshire had to read in elementary school. That being said, it's very inappropriate to teach kids slaves were sold to kind masters. I know this book was based on a real guy but not fully his life story, but still. 

Not related to the book at all, has anyone ever thought his name sounds like a drag name? Imagine a drag king who’s very clumsy named Amos Fortune. I’d love him.

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Book of Colour by Julia Blackburn

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dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I liked it more finding out its based on the author's real life story. Cool that she was trying to make sense of her ancestry, more specifically the pain her family went through at their own / colonialism’s hands. First time I ever felt like a white person did magical realism right but also it might be that 1/32nd drop doing the heavy lifting! I’m kidding but... am I?

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Finding Ruby Starling by Karen Rivers

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emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I was NOT expecting any of that. That was so heavy and emotional and woah! I thought it was gonna be a cute lil kids book! But kids go through these things and should be exposed to these kinds of stories too. Woah!

Having the whole book be letters and emails was weird because some of them should've been dialogue / in person perspective scenes. People don't actually write emails or letters where they say "hold on someone in the room is talking to me they want me to tell you-" So I had to remove points for that of course. Also the emails should've been dated, that would've been cool and not confusing.

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Always and Forever, Lara Jean: Target Exclusive by Jenny Han

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.25

Just a cozy read. There's like no conflict in this book and any scenes without Peter I was like where's Peter! Bring him back! Chris is such a bad friend. Kitty needs to be smacked at least once. I love this series so much. Fucking fantabulous.

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We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film by Tre'vell Anderson

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

Wasn't a banger of a read. Like it's good but it doesn't have a full spark. It's missing something, but I liked it! It's at the perfect crossroads for me (film major, black, queer trans / nonbinary) so I gave it extra points for all that.

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Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir by Akwaeke Emezi

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

GET OUT OF MY HEAD! Had another spiritual experience reading this. DIdn't black out this time though. I almost couldn't finish it but I also couldn't dnf it. Like this book could be my Bible. EMEZI twin GET OUT OF MY BRAIN!!!

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The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

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emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Trung Le Nguyen you have a fan in me for life for the art style alone. It felt like I was watching a film. It's so vibrant! For life!!!!!

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