The plots & POVs were handled awkwardly. The narrator transitioned randomly within chapters. The two storylines didn't line up until the last ten pages, giving this book a dissonance that bled into focus issues for me as a reader. At just under 150 pages, it's a quick read, but at the cost of depth of characters & plot. Hopefully the Spanish reads better. That is one redeeming factor: the Spanish original is included with the English translation.

Soraya struggles with decisions and with self-acceptance. While the plot was good, I quickly grew tired of Soraya's internal self-deprecation and her fight for her place amongst her family. I wanted her to embrace her power! I also got The Darkling vibes from Azad and was disappointed (yet again) by the lack of romance between them. I wouldn't recommend this or read it again, but it wasn't bad.

⭐⭐⭐

Romance. Murder. Scheming. This book has it all.

A shorter novel written as a diary about a young New Zealand tween in 1976 as she learns about the "injustices against Pacific Islanders". Set against the backdrop of her daily life, it's easy to spot her transition from self-centered tween to someone concerned about bias and how it affects others. The ending felt abrupt, even if it had a certain element of growth and hope to it. A good choice for middle school reading to discuss bias.

If you haven't read this book...what's stopping you? It's a meet-ugly, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, angsty yet humorous romance with a side helping of political drama and intrigue. Perfect for the month of love!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A compilation of shorts stories and poems all centered around a huge annual powwow set in Ann Arbor at the U of M. The diversity in the stories and the reflection of different tribes' values, customs, and languages is incredible.

Out 2/21/2021

Alt. title: How Many Tropes Can We Fit Into One Novel?
I liked the backdrop of the competition. The characters were likeable enough & easy to relate to, despite their vastly different situations and lifestyles. But the excuses for pulling the other characters out of the road trip was flimsy at best. Character development, while present, wasn't the main focus but instead took a backseat to the slow burn of their road trip together.

Terribly self-indulgent and I'm not apologizing.
Snarky British humor, the backdrop of a life falling apart at the seams, and a meet-ugly turned into catching feels. My biggest issues are the almost out-of-place subplot with the rockstar dad and the sudden ending.

Netgalley approved my request to read an ARC for Aiden Thomas's new book, out March 23rd! This one twists the classic story of Peter Pan, told through the eyes of Wendy, of course.

"Human beings were never born to read."

Interesting concept. Looking forward to Wolf defending that theory and diving into how the integration of technology changed how and why we read.

Just another cheesy (pun) cute story about teens falling in love - though with the added stress of a Twitter war, elite prep school, college, jobs, and their anonymous school app.

Overall, this is a simple, cute read that offers a slightly different take on a meet-cute, but just didn't hit on any new topics for me to be amazed or want to read it again.

A solid read about being who you are, especially in the face of a culture determined to stay the same. Growth, LGBTQ, and strong Hispanic culture make this book stand out.

A decent, but not great, read. It was fast-paced and had interesting characters, but left me with too many questions. And don't get me started on the "huge robbery" that took place across a total of 5 pages.

Devouring this in audiobook format. I'm not usually one for contemporary fiction (too empathetic - Enneagram 9 here), but this one matches drama for humor and keeps the story moving!

Kind of cute, but Jerzie came out overly naive. Also, the ending rushed certain aspects. Interesting concept and great parallels to Romeo and Juliet, but not something I'd read again.

Happy Book Birthday to "Be Dazzled"!! This is a fun, easy read with a happy ending. Feat. LGBTQ+ themes, cosplay, and an impossible-to-please Hispanic mother.

First book of 2021!
Just started it tonight. Eager to discover where it's going to take me.

Of course I had to run out and by the second one as soon as I finished the first one.

Incredible. Same outstanding drawings as the first one, but this time we deal with more of the homophobia, peer pressure, and fear of family rejection. Even though we see Charlie and Nick's relationship grow, this focused more on Nick's self-realization, growth, and coming-out experience. Happy ending, though!

How dare Oseman leave us on a cliffhanger. She built up this beautiful story between these two boys (one openly gay, though not by his choice, the other suddenly questioning his orientation) and then just left us there!!

Honestly, it's beautiful. I admire how her drawing goes from clean lines and sharp details in times of seriousness to suddenly chunky in the face of humor. It creates this beautiful parallel that a reader can easily follow.

"The Magic Fish" by Trung Le Nguyen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Two points of view from two vastly different characters, both trying to bridge a language barrier to share their thoughts. Meanwhile, three fairy tales weave between their stories, providing a connection for them to help bridge that barrier in understanding.

This was not what I thought it would be and I'm so very pleased with it. Please, please read this AND the author's note at the end!!

Just a handful of days (following most of the storyline of Romeo & Juliet from Ben's POV) set in 5 acts. Caine put THOUGHT into this!

Just finished "Blanca & Roja" by Anna-Marie McLemore
⭐⭐⭐
McLemore's writing transcends expectations. She uses imagery, metaphors, and personification in ways I couldn't have imagined. That alone kept me reading. However, she kept the suspense going for too long and lost my interest after 100 pages.

Out 1.5.2021

A cute story of two queer boys discovering themselves (and each other) through cosplay.

A tale told in three days and in thirteen months

This book is chock-full of humor, sass, heartbreak, and just enough cosplay/pop culture to keep a teen reader interested. It dealt with discovering oneself and coming to terms with one's sexuality and one's chosen path in life, especially in families that offer less support and more criticism.

New school year. New grade level to teach. New books to read. Though this one is am old favorite that I suddenly have the opportunity to teach. #silverlinigs

A beautiful representation of LGBTQ+ families and the struggles of loving religion while trying to find your place in an outdated system. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to punch things. I admire Sebastian's inner strength and Tanner's resiliency and want everyone to read this.

A truly beautiful quote to start off this book.

Having a toddler means I don't read as much, especially physical books. But when I find one with potential, I devour it.

I read this in 24 hours. Kai sucks you in with his personable narrative. And as much as I wanted to dislike Bryson at first (hello, stereotypical jock), he defied all my expectations and became my favorite character.

While there is some language, homophobic slurs, and bullying this book ended up being more cute than angst.

When my favorite actor plays in the movie adaptation, of course I'll read the book first to understand the plot.

The stories weren't in chronological order; rather, they were grouped by common threads of people or experiences. It made the timeline quite confusing. Of course, Magnus is fabulous. He is a good character on which to end my Shadowhunter binge.

I'll take " rejected Panic! At the Disco lyrics" for 1000, Alex.
Seriously. What a chapter title!

I may be addicted to the Shadowhunter universe. I waited (not so) patiently for this to be released, and then I waited another week for my hold to show up on Libby. And every moment of waiting was worth it. I devoured this in 12 hours, staying up way too late to finish it. It's easy to pinpoint where in time this is set, if you're already familiar with the timeline of the books. Love Magnus and Alec!

Quick read. The meat of the story has some snappy, effective dialogue. Some readers will hate the ending, as it is intentionally left open-ended. Not a bad read, but not one I would pick up again.

*I read the audiobook and forgot to grab a photo of the cover.

I'm not even 1/3 of the way done with this book. But I swear, if Richie hurts her or she dies and leaves Park forever, I'll reach through the pages and strangle him (Richie, that is. Park's a cinnamon roll of a human).

I'm super late to the party on this one. It's been sitting on my bookshelf since it came out 3 years ago. The B&N Special Edition has some stunning cover art, as well. Hopefully the story lives up to the artwork!

Not what I was expecting. It's a cute, enjoyable story, if you're into pirates and excessive drinking and gay teenage boys set in the 1700s. There were things I disliked, but as a whole, I deem it worthy of reading.

Oh, wow. That ending was incredible. Clare did a stunning job of tying up all the loose ends and bringing prophecies from Book 1 full circle. And the clear references to The Infernal Devices was a nice touch!
#shadowhunters

Another one bites the dust. Do I really have to day goodbye to these characters soon?!
Cassandra Clare did good work with this one.

Another one bites the dust.
The lack of communication is YA fiction is beginning to frustrate me. I know it is a common theme that teens relate well with...but don't they know most of their problems can be resolved by just TALKING to someone about it?!
I did thoroughly enjoy this book. Clare sets up a solid dilemma for her characters to work through, and manages to keep its origins shrouded in secrecy until the end. And the allusions to TID!!

Because I loved this series so much, I thought I'd share this gem I found with you all. Will is still my favorite Herondale, even though Jace is still spectacular in his own right. #herondales #shadowhunters

What I enjoyed: the vulnerable, shattered hero. It's on my favorite tropes. I loved seeing Jace be less than perfect and even nearly meet his match against Sebastian/Johnathan. I loved seeing Jace and Clary fight for their feelings. Clary's powers coming through at the right moments was neat, too. And when the humor returned at the end! The snark is so purely Herondale. #herondales #shadowhunters #YAfantasy

Book haul from a local thrift/book store! I've been searching for the 3rd Series of Unfortunate Events for a long time! #bookhaul #happysunday

Can I use this review to sing my love and praise for Jace? What a resilient, beautiful character. I have always loved the "fearless but damaged warrior" trope. And Jace takes it to a new level. We even get chapters from his POV now!! ?
As for the rest of the book, I have little about which to complain. Clare sets herself up for the series, hinting at important secrets but keeping them quiet. Can't wait to get my hands on Book 3! #shadowhunters

Truthfully, I despise movie covers with a burning passion. But it was a cheap Goodwill find, and I was intrigued. (Also, the TV series sucked.)

I'm in love with the world Clare has created. I adore the long game she plays with her plot lines. The characters are so beautifully crafted and wide-ranging in their personalities, flaws, and development. She isn't a favorite author yet, but she's a brilliant writer.

The Institute is out of bitter revenge? But it's full of Herondales and Lightwoods! Impossible!

Why is no one talking about this?!?

I have always enjoyed retellings of Beauty and the Beast. Different authors put their own unique spins on the classic fairytale, so that no two retellings are ever the same. This one is stunning in its retelling. Beautiful, fierce, heart-wrenching, gritty, and absolutely fantastic. Devoured it about a day, regardless of it being nearly 500 pages. I have no issues with this one. It is a solid pleasure read.

An astute observation about children in general. Loving this brand new rendition of Beaity and the Beast that I stumbled upon the other day in the library!

This was an intriguing look into how kids with autism think. Of course, this isn't a "one size fits all" telling; this is just one example of a high-functioning boy with autism who is learning how to engage with neurotypical people in a trial by fire.

This was a good, important book to read. While I may not have enjoyed it as much as others I've read this year, Martin's story & learning more about how non-neurotypical people think is important.

Getting out of my comfort zone can be difficult. Starting small by reading a genre that I dont venture into very often. #risingstrong #embracevulnerability #leanintodiscomfort

I'm sad to announce that I was disappointed in the structure of this story. Bardugo still creates an amazing plotline and an ending that will leave you feeling. However, for this supposedly being the start of a Nikolai duology, there were very few Nikolai chapters. Several other characters experienced important character development, but I was left wanting more from my favorite privateer-turned-king. Hopefully the next one is better.

Reading "King of Scars" by Bardugo and come across this line. Good old Kaz Brekker!! Six of Crows is still one of my all-time faves...which be up for a reread here soon! ?? #ignoretheTBRpile #rereadoldfavoritesinstead