anniefwrites's reviews
388 reviews

If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

What can I say? I’m devastated. Jacqueline Woodson is an absolute genius—one of the best naturalistic writers there is. Exquisite yet simple details, crystal clear atmosphere, expert weaving of big questions and little moments, characters you know and love immediately. It was so poignant and so heartbreaking and I think I’m gonna be sad about this for a while. 
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Not my cup of tea!
Nothing Personal: An Essay by James Baldwin

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hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

Absolutely masterful. This essay is so well-crafted, so incisive, so grim and yet hopeful. I had to read the last section twice and already want to read the whole thing over again. It astonishes me how his observations ring true decades later. There really wasn’t—and isn’t—another writer like Baldwin. 
Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea Glassman

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informative reflective fast-paced
This was such a fun and informative read! I’m very much in the camp that believes teens are much more complex and interesting than we give them credit for, and that goes for the media we create for them. This book really operates from that standpoint and makes the argument that, often, teen media is groundbreaking. Three of the shows are ones I know and love dearly, and the other four I got just as much out of. This is a great read for anyone interested in TV, pop culture, or how-it’s-made type narratives. 
The Martian by Andy Weir

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adventurous funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
This was a really fun read! I sort of skimmed a lot of the science, but the voice jumped off the page and the humor was laugh-out-loud funny. I do think some lines here and there didn’t age well but generally it’s an exciting and engaging read. Having only seen the movie before, I think they’re both very enjoyable and it’s a pretty faithful adaptation aside from the ending. 
Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne

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adventurous informative lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
Still a delightful page-turner after all these years. And when your name is Annie and you and your older brother Jack grew up in Pennsylvania, you’re legally obligated to love these books. What a fun start to the series. 
The Color Purple by Alice Walker

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There's a reason this book is considered a modern classic. Walker's novel is a masterful piece of literature, as devastating as it is hopeful. The characters are so real, and she uses their distinct voices to explore so many complicated issues, from race relations to FGM, from gender roles to sexuality. She's created a hero of literature in Celie, not because she acts like a man, but precisely because she acts as a woman, with all of the complexities that come with it: her tenderness, her boldness, her desire to care and to be cared for. While this is at times a difficult read, I think it is absolutely worth it, especially for the beautiful ending. A masterpiece.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No

1.5

Not for me. In particular, I found the excessive sexual violence to further plot (and sometimes not really accomplish anything) without any real concern for the survivors incredibly difficult to swallow. In general, misogyny is baked into this society and book, and I don’t want to read about a future where patriarchy—and by extension, violence—still wreak havoc on the world. 
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Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson

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emotional funny reflective fast-paced
This was such a pleasant, easy read despite some of the difficult subject matter. I, like so many, loved Mara Wilson growing up, and it was fascinating to read about her more unique experiences as a child actor and also her more universal experiences of girlhood. She’s such a strong voice for unpacking the complexities of child acting—I’d definitely read more from her in the future. 
Exploring Philly Nature: A Guide for All Four Seasons by Bernard S. Brown

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informative lighthearted fast-paced
This was a really nice introduction to getting to know the flora and fauna of my city. It’s super accessible and has concrete activities to do, as opposed to a book of animal or plant species. There’s some overlap in the seasons generally, but I think that structure will be useful when referring back. This book made me excited to explore the parks and green spaces in Philly in the near future.