molly_dettmann's reviews
1817 reviews

This was a great read. As a public school educator and a product of public schools, I know they aren’t perfect, but they sure as heck aren’t the evil and indoctrinating. Personally I want my students to learn a little more about the world around them and enjoy reading a book of their choice every now and then at the very basic level. This was a really interesting look at one area of Texas where extreme politics came into play as a larger attack on inclusivity and public schools that still plays out across our nation. The look at how activists are fighting back against it ends it with a hopeful, but still grim look at the fight to provide an education to every child. I thought the author did a great job providing a lot of historical context for Southlake and his writing style made me race through, I was so engaged (despite how shocked and sad I was at parts!)

This book felt like I was sitting down with an old friend as he told me all about his childhood over a delicious fried Oklahoman meal. The prose was short and to the point, often ending stories as soon as they started, and just picking up with another the next chapter. Somehow this made me nostalgic for 1970s/80s Oklahoma. I really enjoyed this story of an Indian kid who loved sports and got into journalism all while growing up in poverty, but having friends and family that loved him and teachers that believed in him. 

If you’re a world history fan you’d enjoy this (though it may be just a rehash of things you already knew). There were a few sections where I hadn’t heard about those reveals of moments and people in history, but even for the things I was familiar with I thought the writing and information was interesting and worth the read.

This was a delightful graphic memoir that was overall a funny and charming story about a boy traveling with his family to Mexico to bring back his abuelito to live in the US with them. There is plenty of action and humorous side bars throughout and I felt like I was a part of the eclectic family and their adventures and misadventures. A great pick for middle school and upper elementary library collections for sure! 

A beautiful message with the most gorgeous artwork ever. I love dragons so this was especially a top picture book depiction for me.

What an incredible story about a woman in a man’s world, fighting for her family and the rights she believed in, and just being an overall total badass (in pants!)

The message is simple and the artwork is absolutely lovely, colorful, and connects us all in some way to the story.

As a millennial that is just 3 years younger than our author, I really enjoyed this nostalgic look at growing up with AIM, Limited Too, unhealthy media representations, and all the cringey things in-between. I thought the essays were funny and relatable, though the author gives lots of disclaimers that this is her experience and not a universal one for all millennials. The tougher reflections were also well received by me as a reader because of how they were presented and how I was able to still see some of myself in them. 

This was an adorable series and I loved the chapters where you got the cat’s point of view. A sweet manga series I’d recommend for middle school/high school collections. 

This was angry read that I think I get what it was trying to do but then it just kind of ends.