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spacerkip's reviews
269 reviews
Lumberjanes, Vol. 10: Parents' Day by Kat Leyh, Shannon Watters
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Time Of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Xenophobia, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Quiver by Julia Watts
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a good book, an easy read, and really quick once I sat down and dedicated time to finishing it. I really appreciated the nuanced approach to the "middle ground" mindset that gets mentioned any time there are people from two opposing "sides" - accept people as they are and don't try to change them. I feel like not enough emphasis was made on why that argument often falls short, but I don't disagree with the lesson both girls learned by the end.
I will say, as a religious person who grew up well-aquainted with people like Libby's family, the book didn't grasp just how insidious and far-reaching spiritual abuse is. The core of their beliefs and family dynamics were true, but I felt more subtlety was necessary. At times, Libby's father and siblings sounded like cartoon villains. Which, yes, people do say all of the things that pop up throughout the book. But not all the time, and not quite so frankly. I would've appreciated more story time devoted to what it looks like to extricate yourself from that kind of thinking. The work you need to put into healing and building a better understanding of the world. The epilogue was nice, but I would have loved to see the actual process it took Libby and her family to get there instead of a time skip.
Ultimately though, I enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone curious about what it's like to grow up conservative Christian.
I will say, as a religious person who grew up well-aquainted with people like Libby's family, the book didn't grasp just how insidious and far-reaching spiritual abuse is. The core of their beliefs and family dynamics were true, but I felt more subtlety was necessary. At times, Libby's father and siblings sounded like cartoon villains. Which, yes, people do say all of the things that pop up throughout the book. But not all the time, and not quite so frankly. I would've appreciated more story time devoted to what it looks like to extricate yourself from that kind of thinking. The work you need to put into healing and building a better understanding of the world. The epilogue was nice, but I would have loved to see the actual process it took Libby and her family to get there instead of a time skip.
Ultimately though, I enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone curious about what it's like to grow up conservative Christian.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Homophobia
religious trauma, spiritual abuse
Over The Garden Wall (2016-) #5 by George Mager
lighthearted
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Over The Garden Wall (2016-) #4 by Amalia Levari, Jim Campbell, Cara McGee
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Autism Translated: 5 Keys to Help You Understand & Connect With Teens and Adults on the Spectrum by Toni Boucher
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Fantastic overview of what autism looks like past childhood. Highlights the main struggles in their lives and how their minds work from the perspective of the autistic person itself, not from a clinical diagnosis. "Traits" are broken down to a human level through the words of real autistic people, removing stigma and pathology. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about ASD - teachers, psychology students, parents, or even an autistic person who wants to learn more about themselves.
The Eleventh Trade by Alyssa Hollingsworth
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't know if I have the words to say how beautiful this book was.
At it's core, it's a simple story, really, about a boy who wants to get back something that was stolen from him, and ends up reaching more people than he could have hoped. But the realness of Sami and his grandfather, the tragedy of his story, the sincerity of his friends, and absolute humanity of it all really made it unforgettable. It was a quick read for me, but even though it was Middle Grade it didn't really read like it. The story showed respect to its readers and presented hard, emotionally charged topics in a way that was easy to understand, yet still beautifully subtle. The story (at least in my opinion) remains age-appropriate, but it doesn't pull any punches.
Emotion runs strong in this book. It connected me to Sami, Sami to his grandfather and his friends, and all the characters to the words on the page. There are so many moments of absolute, simple heartbreak contained in a single word or line. (The constant recall to the word "friend" and how the kids from the rec center use it about Sami come to mind.) Every mention of Sami's past and his trauma as a refugee felt authentic and real, drawing empathy rather than pity. He is given the same respect as the readers are to listen to and understand his story without needing to be explicitly told. Emotion removes the politics of a complicated situation and lays out the heart of what this story is really about: someone who has lost everything, and must find the strength within themselves and the people around them to keep going.
An excellent book, I'm expecting to reread my copy until the cover is worn out.
At it's core, it's a simple story, really, about a boy who wants to get back something that was stolen from him, and ends up reaching more people than he could have hoped. But the realness of Sami and his grandfather, the tragedy of his story, the sincerity of his friends, and absolute humanity of it all really made it unforgettable. It was a quick read for me, but even though it was Middle Grade it didn't really read like it. The story showed respect to its readers and presented hard, emotionally charged topics in a way that was easy to understand, yet still beautifully subtle. The story (at least in my opinion) remains age-appropriate, but it doesn't pull any punches.
Emotion runs strong in this book. It connected me to Sami, Sami to his grandfather and his friends, and all the characters to the words on the page. There are so many moments of absolute, simple heartbreak contained in a single word or line. (The constant recall to the word "friend" and how the kids from the rec center use it about Sami come to mind.) Every mention of Sami's past and his trauma as a refugee felt authentic and real, drawing empathy rather than pity. He is given the same respect as the readers are to listen to and understand his story without needing to be explicitly told. Emotion removes the politics of a complicated situation and lays out the heart of what this story is really about: someone who has lost everything, and must find the strength within themselves and the people around them to keep going.
An excellent book, I'm expecting to reread my copy until the cover is worn out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Violence
The Invisible Boy by Alyssa Hollingsworth
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A light-hearted read about an incredibly heavy topic.
When I was a kid, "important" books were always too heavy for me to enjoy. They often left me feeling strange and joyless, with an uneasy pit in my stomach. The Invisible Boy is an "important" book - but one that knows kids can handle much more than we adults might think they can, if we simply give them the tools to do it. Love, care, and just enough safety to step out into the real world for themselves.
I loved Nadia's energy, from her boundless enthusiasm for reporting to her pursuit to always to the right thing.Eli (aka Invisible Boy) was as compelling a character as he was heart-breaking. And Kenny (aka Paddle-Boy). What a good, thoroughly pre-teen boy.
I would have liked a few more emotional threads addressed (Nadia and her parents never DID have that discussion about her mom's livestream), but overall this was a thoughtful and memorable read. Kids, man. They'll take over the world.
When I was a kid, "important" books were always too heavy for me to enjoy. They often left me feeling strange and joyless, with an uneasy pit in my stomach. The Invisible Boy is an "important" book - but one that knows kids can handle much more than we adults might think they can, if we simply give them the tools to do it. Love, care, and just enough safety to step out into the real world for themselves.
I loved Nadia's energy, from her boundless enthusiasm for reporting to her pursuit to always to the right thing.
I would have liked a few more emotional threads addressed (Nadia and her parents never DID have that discussion about her mom's livestream), but overall this was a thoughtful and memorable read. Kids, man. They'll take over the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking