apalubeskie's reviews
233 reviews
Something More by Jackie Khalilieh
lighthearted
4.5
Jessie is a fifteen year old who is Catholic Palestinian - Canadian was just diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder the summer before she enters high school. She had never been popular and is worried so wants to hide her new diagnosis from everyone, even from her siblings. Jessie not only has the navigate the new waters that is high school, friends and boys she also has to decide who she is comfortable with. If she is going to mask or just be herself.
An aspect that I really enjoyed was Jessie is Autistic but it is not what the book is about. She is still just living her life and you see aspects of her autism. A lot of book make it all about the disorder that a character has Khalilieh made it about Jessie.
I cannot wait for Jackie Khalilieh's next book. Her writing makes you feel like the characters are actual people and not just characters in a story. Her storytelling makes you forget that you are reading.
An aspect that I really enjoyed was Jessie is Autistic but it is not what the book is about. She is still just living her life and you see aspects of her autism. A lot of book make it all about the disorder that a character has Khalilieh made it about Jessie.
I cannot wait for Jackie Khalilieh's next book. Her writing makes you feel like the characters are actual people and not just characters in a story. Her storytelling makes you forget that you are reading.
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
5.0
Robbergirl by S.T. Gibson
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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? No
4.0
I really enjoyed the story that Gibson told here. Halvig is the princess of thieves. She is out in the woods one day and sees a girl. She decides she is going to kidnap the girl and bring her back to the tribe. She wants to keep Gerda as a fiend. Gerda is on a mission to kill the Snow Queen.
The story is beautifully written. It is not going to be for everyone. The book may be right under 200 pages but true story unfolds slowly as we find out more about the girls and the backstory of them both. It comes together nicely.
The reason I have it a 4 and not a 5 is because if aspects that happen at the end of the book.
The story is beautifully written. It is not going to be for everyone. The book may be right under 200 pages but true story unfolds slowly as we find out more about the girls and the backstory of them both. It comes together nicely.
The reason I have it a 4 and not a 5 is because if aspects that happen at the end of the book.
Spoiler
The whole time are working up to killing the Snow Queen and finding out who she is. We basically already knew who it was from a dream in the book preview. BUT you would think the Queen would die in a bit more epic of a waySpoiler
Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This surprisingly is the first story I have read by Veronica Roth. I did enjoy the story it just was not spectacular for me. I expected more because of how hyped up of an author she is.
Arch-Conspirator is a futuristic post-apocalyptic retelling of Antigone.
With Earth coming to an end the last city has to rely on the genes of the fallen to repopulate. When ones parents fall it is usually a celebrated thing. Antigone feels nothing but rage as her uncle Kreon is trying to claim her father's empty throne. When he welcomes her sibling and her into his home she sees it as a trap. He quickly learns that he is not unbreakable.
Arch-Conspirator is a futuristic post-apocalyptic retelling of Antigone.
With Earth coming to an end the last city has to rely on the genes of the fallen to repopulate. When ones parents fall it is usually a celebrated thing. Antigone feels nothing but rage as her uncle Kreon is trying to claim her father's empty throne. When he welcomes her sibling and her into his home she sees it as a trap. He quickly learns that he is not unbreakable.