kindredbooks's reviews
3399 reviews
The House on Mulberry Street, by Jeannie Chin
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I received a copy of The House on Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin from Forever Books in exchange for an honest review.
In this third book in the Blue Cedar Falls series, we return to this little town, following the story of the third Wu sister. Elizabeth is the artist in the family - and has always felt like the black sheep in the family - something that she feels that her family and the town still holds against her. But Elizabeth is determined to contribute to the town and to her artist community by launching an arts festival. She meets resistance from Patty Boyd, the local gallery art owner who has refused to show Elizabeth and her friends' art in the gallery. On top of these troubles, her relationship with her best friend, Graham also seems to be shifting in weird ways when Graham announces that he has bought a house and will be moving out soon. Little does Elizabeth know that Graham has been in love with her forever and he feels that moving out is the first step to moving on from Elizabeth. As the two discover what sort of relationship they can have between them, they work together to bringing Elizabeth's art festival to life.
As you know, I love a good small town romance and Blue Cedar Falls has been such the perfect little series. It has all the elements I like in these reads - while featuring these strong and complicated Chinese American women. It's the first small town romance series where I could finally see myself reflected in the heroine and resonated so much with the character. It's been so amazing to see the diversity being represented in this genre of books.
In this third book in the Blue Cedar Falls series, we return to this little town, following the story of the third Wu sister. Elizabeth is the artist in the family - and has always felt like the black sheep in the family - something that she feels that her family and the town still holds against her. But Elizabeth is determined to contribute to the town and to her artist community by launching an arts festival. She meets resistance from Patty Boyd, the local gallery art owner who has refused to show Elizabeth and her friends' art in the gallery. On top of these troubles, her relationship with her best friend, Graham also seems to be shifting in weird ways when Graham announces that he has bought a house and will be moving out soon. Little does Elizabeth know that Graham has been in love with her forever and he feels that moving out is the first step to moving on from Elizabeth. As the two discover what sort of relationship they can have between them, they work together to bringing Elizabeth's art festival to life.
As you know, I love a good small town romance and Blue Cedar Falls has been such the perfect little series. It has all the elements I like in these reads - while featuring these strong and complicated Chinese American women. It's the first small town romance series where I could finally see myself reflected in the heroine and resonated so much with the character. It's been so amazing to see the diversity being represented in this genre of books.
Smile So Big, by Sunshine Quem Tenasco
fast-paced
3.0
I received a copy of Smile So Big by Sunshine Quem Tenasco and Chief Lady Bird from Scholastic Canada in exchange for an honest review.
In this heartwarming story about love for oneself and others, Smile So Big follows a young girl Challa as she discovers that magic in loving herself. When she returns home upset one day because she was teased because of her smile, her mother gifts her a mirror that reflects one's true self. Through the mirror, Challa starts to see the beauty in herself. But she can't seem to quite bring out the magic in the mirror. As she shares the mirror with her friends, and witnesses their experiences with it, Challa soon discovers that there is true magic that comes with seeing and loving yourself.
Smile So Big is a story that features a young Indigenous girl and her friends as she learns to love herself for all that she is. This lesson of self love is so relevant to everyone - young and old - and will be a great story to share and remind all readers that they are beautiful and the magic of self-love is truly amazing.
In this heartwarming story about love for oneself and others, Smile So Big follows a young girl Challa as she discovers that magic in loving herself. When she returns home upset one day because she was teased because of her smile, her mother gifts her a mirror that reflects one's true self. Through the mirror, Challa starts to see the beauty in herself. But she can't seem to quite bring out the magic in the mirror. As she shares the mirror with her friends, and witnesses their experiences with it, Challa soon discovers that there is true magic that comes with seeing and loving yourself.
Smile So Big is a story that features a young Indigenous girl and her friends as she learns to love herself for all that she is. This lesson of self love is so relevant to everyone - young and old - and will be a great story to share and remind all readers that they are beautiful and the magic of self-love is truly amazing.
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys, by Mae Coyiuto
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
I received a copy of Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe Liang grew up in the Philippines with her father and the family's expectations are that she stay in Manila and join the family business. Her dream, however, is to become an animator and she believes that her best opportunities are across the ocean, in the United States, where her mother also lives. As she struggles with wanting to please her father while also wanting to pursue her dreams and prove her abilities, her dad and aunt seem to be plotting to keep her in Manila. Her aunt is planning a traditional and elaborate eighteenth birthday party for her - despite Chloe's protests - and now her father seems to be in on setting Chloe on kaishao (arranged dates) to find her an escort to this big party. It seems that the family's plan is to set her up with a guy so that she may give up on going to USC to pursue an education in animation. As the summer progresses and these dates lead to unexpected connections and revelations, Chloe must figure out what she wants and how her decision cannot make everyone happy.
I really enjoyed this story that was set in Manila and featuring such a fun family that is part of the Chinese diaspora. Chloe's struggle to follow her dreams as it conflicts with her family's desires was an interesting theme to read about. As was the topic of the racism that exists within the Chinese community in the Philippines. The topic of dating outside of one's ethnic culture is discussed as Chloe's best friend, Cia, has to deal with her boyfriend's family who frowns upon their Hokkien-Chinese children dating a non-Chinese person. Despite them living in the Philippines. I thought that the tensions and familial pressures that arise from these issues brought a different dynamic to the relationships between the younger generation and the older generation. All the very real parts of growing up, the different communities reflected in this story, and the typical young adult romance worked well together in Chloe and the Kaishao Boys - I quite enjoyed this read and would love to read more contemporary young adult fiction in English that is set in different parts of the world.
Chloe Liang grew up in the Philippines with her father and the family's expectations are that she stay in Manila and join the family business. Her dream, however, is to become an animator and she believes that her best opportunities are across the ocean, in the United States, where her mother also lives. As she struggles with wanting to please her father while also wanting to pursue her dreams and prove her abilities, her dad and aunt seem to be plotting to keep her in Manila. Her aunt is planning a traditional and elaborate eighteenth birthday party for her - despite Chloe's protests - and now her father seems to be in on setting Chloe on kaishao (arranged dates) to find her an escort to this big party. It seems that the family's plan is to set her up with a guy so that she may give up on going to USC to pursue an education in animation. As the summer progresses and these dates lead to unexpected connections and revelations, Chloe must figure out what she wants and how her decision cannot make everyone happy.
I really enjoyed this story that was set in Manila and featuring such a fun family that is part of the Chinese diaspora. Chloe's struggle to follow her dreams as it conflicts with her family's desires was an interesting theme to read about. As was the topic of the racism that exists within the Chinese community in the Philippines. The topic of dating outside of one's ethnic culture is discussed as Chloe's best friend, Cia, has to deal with her boyfriend's family who frowns upon their Hokkien-Chinese children dating a non-Chinese person. Despite them living in the Philippines. I thought that the tensions and familial pressures that arise from these issues brought a different dynamic to the relationships between the younger generation and the older generation. All the very real parts of growing up, the different communities reflected in this story, and the typical young adult romance worked well together in Chloe and the Kaishao Boys - I quite enjoyed this read and would love to read more contemporary young adult fiction in English that is set in different parts of the world.
Squished: A Graphic Novel, by Megan Wagner Lloyd
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I received an ARC of Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter from Scholastic Canada in exchange for an honest review.
In Squished, Avery Lee is one of seven siblings and while she does love her siblings (most of the time), she would really like her own space. Except that when she drafts up a plan to have her own space in the house, her parents let her know that her older brother will actually be getting his own room, and Avery will be getting a new roommate, her baby brother, who will be now staying in the room that Avery sleeps in with her little sister Pearl. Avery finds these new arrangements frustrating. She'd already been feeling squished before, and now with Max having trouble sleeping at night, Avery is exhausted. Things keep changing - and it doesn't seem like it's for the better - and when she hears that her family is considering moving across the country, Avery is fed up.
Squished is such a funny and heartwarming graphic novel story about family and growing up. I loved the chaos that reigned in Avery's house and the cast of personalities that made up her siblings. The uncorrected proof I'd received from Scholastic Canada only included a few of the pages in colour and I would love to read this graphic novel again in its published form. Even so, without the colours, I was still able to appreciate Avery's story.
In Squished, Avery Lee is one of seven siblings and while she does love her siblings (most of the time), she would really like her own space. Except that when she drafts up a plan to have her own space in the house, her parents let her know that her older brother will actually be getting his own room, and Avery will be getting a new roommate, her baby brother, who will be now staying in the room that Avery sleeps in with her little sister Pearl. Avery finds these new arrangements frustrating. She'd already been feeling squished before, and now with Max having trouble sleeping at night, Avery is exhausted. Things keep changing - and it doesn't seem like it's for the better - and when she hears that her family is considering moving across the country, Avery is fed up.
Squished is such a funny and heartwarming graphic novel story about family and growing up. I loved the chaos that reigned in Avery's house and the cast of personalities that made up her siblings. The uncorrected proof I'd received from Scholastic Canada only included a few of the pages in colour and I would love to read this graphic novel again in its published form. Even so, without the colours, I was still able to appreciate Avery's story.
This Is How I Roll: A Wish Novel, by Debbi Michiko Florence
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I received a copy of This is How I Roll by Debbi Michiko Florence from Scholastic Canada in exchange for an honest review.
Sana wants to be a sushi chef like her famous dad but he refuses to teach her. This summer, she's determined to go about things her way and convince him as he is busy with the documentary crew filming his restaurant. Opportunities to learn more arise as she meets Koji, a cute boy with a bad reputation. But Sana wants to give Koji the benefit of the doubt, especially when she is also able to learn more about cooking from Koji's mom. As Sana works towards her dream, she also needs to deal with her relationship with her parents and the lack of communication in the family.
This is How I Roll is a cute and fun middle grade story about a young Japanese American girl as she is growing up, chasing her dreams, and finding ways to connect to her parents. I really enjoyed the character development that we see in Sana and also how her relationship with her parents develop in this story. I really enjoyed the cooking scenes in the story and the descriptions of the food that Sana cooks and creates for her cooking channel.
Sana wants to be a sushi chef like her famous dad but he refuses to teach her. This summer, she's determined to go about things her way and convince him as he is busy with the documentary crew filming his restaurant. Opportunities to learn more arise as she meets Koji, a cute boy with a bad reputation. But Sana wants to give Koji the benefit of the doubt, especially when she is also able to learn more about cooking from Koji's mom. As Sana works towards her dream, she also needs to deal with her relationship with her parents and the lack of communication in the family.
This is How I Roll is a cute and fun middle grade story about a young Japanese American girl as she is growing up, chasing her dreams, and finding ways to connect to her parents. I really enjoyed the character development that we see in Sana and also how her relationship with her parents develop in this story. I really enjoyed the cooking scenes in the story and the descriptions of the food that Sana cooks and creates for her cooking channel.
Awesome Orange Birthday: A Branches Book, by Mitali Banerjee Ruths
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
I received a copy of Awesome Orange Birthday by Mithali Banerjee Ruths and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel from Scholastic Canada in exchange for an honest review.
Awesome Orange Birthday is a fun book for young emerging readers that follows Priya as she starts her party planning business. After seeing what a great job she did in planning her baby brother’s birthday party, her Aunty requests for Priya to plan her birthday party. While Priya doesn’t want money as compensation, she asks that Aunty donate money to help Priya’s favourite animal, the quokka, that lives in Australia and is endangered. Written like a journal with diagrams and to-do lists, readers will follow along on Priya’s journey as a party planner.
Awesome Orange Birthday is a fun book for young emerging readers that follows Priya as she starts her party planning business. After seeing what a great job she did in planning her baby brother’s birthday party, her Aunty requests for Priya to plan her birthday party. While Priya doesn’t want money as compensation, she asks that Aunty donate money to help Priya’s favourite animal, the quokka, that lives in Australia and is endangered. Written like a journal with diagrams and to-do lists, readers will follow along on Priya’s journey as a party planner.
Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery, by Cynthia Yuan Cheng, Ann M. Martin
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
I received a copy of Mary Anne’s Bad Luck Mystery by Cynthia Yuan Cheng, based on the novel by Ann M. Martin from Scholastic Canada in exchange for an honest review.
In this graphic novel of The Baby-Sitters Club, Mary-Anne receives a chain letter in the mail that she proceeds to ignore despite its warning of bad luck. Pretty soon afterwards, a string of bad luck does seem to follow her and her friends. The group gets worried that this is a result of Mary-Anne ignoring the chain letter and as mysterious letters and a bad-luck charm shows up in Mary-Anne’s mailbox, the friends must figure out how to reverse the bad luck. But perhaps there is more going on that meets the eye.
I loved this little mystery that revolved around Mary-Anne. As always, at the heart of these stories, is one of friendship and trust that is shared between the members of the Baby-Sitters Club that I continue to enjoy.
In this graphic novel of The Baby-Sitters Club, Mary-Anne receives a chain letter in the mail that she proceeds to ignore despite its warning of bad luck. Pretty soon afterwards, a string of bad luck does seem to follow her and her friends. The group gets worried that this is a result of Mary-Anne ignoring the chain letter and as mysterious letters and a bad-luck charm shows up in Mary-Anne’s mailbox, the friends must figure out how to reverse the bad luck. But perhaps there is more going on that meets the eye.
I loved this little mystery that revolved around Mary-Anne. As always, at the heart of these stories, is one of friendship and trust that is shared between the members of the Baby-Sitters Club that I continue to enjoy.