moholub's reviews
104 reviews

 Consider these added to my arsenal. Cutting, ruthless, entertaining and educational, but I think the last comment about his grandfather is what will stick with me most 

 The one highlight to Aliyah's family moving from Tampa to Milwaukee is that her new school actually has a girls basketball team--they aren't very good, and don't have a lot of fans, but with a new coach and a new season, the team is determined to turn their losing record around. For these girls, the game is about more than the score, and soon it becomes about more than the game too. A fun, heartwarming middle grade read based on a true story. 

Charming and whimsical, the world of the Dallergut Dream Department Store will remind you to slow down and enjoy the magic of your subconscious mind. And that sleep is good, and we all need more of it, and to stop staying out late when your dog is home by themselves.

While it was an easy, cozy read, and I enjoyed all the interwoven magical realism, personally I still felt like something was missing. This might be a literal case of lost in translation, or me being picky about writing styles, but the story didn't flow as nicely as I feel it could have. 

 An authentic dive into the behind-the-scenes of one of the most decorated- and most notoriously private- female athletes in history. Ledecky is genuine in both her celebration and her critique (mostly of herself), every word coming from a place of honesty and a love of her sport, family, and community. I enjoyed reading from her own voice the way her mind ticks and her perspective on her career and legacy (and as I am writing this, I am selling a copy of the book to two middle grade swimmers, telling me Ledecky is their favorite athlete and they want to swim just like her...Katie, more than anything, this inspiration and freedom to achieve is that legacy). 

 As women's sports continue to rise in the public eye, the celebration of athletic achievement has also shone a light on the messy underside, including the culture of toxic and abusive coaching environments (tl;dr: NWSL's Sally Yates Report, USA Gymnastics Larry Nassar Scandal, Nike Oregon Project Lawsuit, etc...) and the stigma surrounding mental health support for athletes. Steele and Brown's "The Price She Pays" tackles these topics and more, taking on the sports world at all levels and challenging it with the main question on every female athlete's mind: how do we make sure that the athletes coming after us have a safer, healthier, and happier sports environment than we did? 

The extensive and thorough research in this book makes it required reading for anyone working with or raising a female athlete, covering everything from period equity to body image issue and eating disorders to the impact of social media. Equal parts educational and a call to action, Steele and Brown strive to raise awareness of the changes needed to foster a safer and supportive sports culture for our female athletes to succeed. 

 Once we move past the panic of the opening chapter (I'm sorry, waiting until literally thirty minutes before your international flight boards to go through airport security!!???), Calin's "The New Girl" is a delightful middle grade read about finding a place to belong without changing any part of yourself to fit. I enjoyed the cultural exploration between Lia's friend group, and the open conversation about menstruation that was present but not the focus of the story.