Scan barcode
elainasbookshelf's reviews
22 reviews
Written In The Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Darcy kinda reminded me of Helena from the L Word… anyone else? (I guess in that vein Elle was kind of like Alice)
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
so cute!! The perfect queer prom story.
In Clothes Called Fat by Moyoco Anno
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
funny
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Transphobia
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
This Is My America by Kim Johnson
I hadn't seen this book until my mom got it for me in November, saying "this book is SO you" (I'm currently working towards becoming an indigent defense attorney, AKA the lawyer assigned to people who can't afford one). What I mean to say is that this book isn't getting far enough love. Why hadn't I heard of it?
This book is what we all need right now. We've just watched our previous federal administration murder 13 people who'd been on death row. Black people make up 13% of the population but 41% of the people on death row. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center + Kim Johnson's note in the back of the book). 173 people have been exonerated from death row, the majority of which are Black.
This book showcases the issue from the personal level. You see the people our systems impact. It follows Tracy Beaumont, a high school student who has written letters to Innocence X (fictional Equal Justice Initiative x The Innocence Project) to work on her father's case, who is sitting on death row. She is convinced her father is innocent and works tirelessly to prove as such, but almost everyone else seems to have given up. Did I mention there's a character modeled after Bryan Stevenson!!!
I did not expect all this from a YA book, but I love that Johnson is writing young adult content about difficult topics that impact young adults.
Even though I felt sick to my stomach a large part of the time I was reading it, this book is un-put-down-able. Highly recommend.
CW: Racism, violence, KKK, lynching, cops working with the KKK
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I hadn't seen this book until my mom got it for me in November, saying "this book is SO you" (I'm currently working towards becoming an indigent defense attorney, AKA the lawyer assigned to people who can't afford one). What I mean to say is that this book isn't getting far enough love. Why hadn't I heard of it?
This book is what we all need right now. We've just watched our previous federal administration murder 13 people who'd been on death row. Black people make up 13% of the population but 41% of the people on death row. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center + Kim Johnson's note in the back of the book). 173 people have been exonerated from death row, the majority of which are Black.
This book showcases the issue from the personal level. You see the people our systems impact. It follows Tracy Beaumont, a high school student who has written letters to Innocence X (fictional Equal Justice Initiative x The Innocence Project) to work on her father's case, who is sitting on death row. She is convinced her father is innocent and works tirelessly to prove as such, but almost everyone else seems to have given up. Did I mention there's a character modeled after Bryan Stevenson!!!
I did not expect all this from a YA book, but I love that Johnson is writing young adult content about difficult topics that impact young adults.
Even though I felt sick to my stomach a large part of the time I was reading it, this book is un-put-down-able. Highly recommend.
CW: Racism, violence, KKK, lynching, cops working with the KKK
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Murder