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ashylibrarian's reviews
970 reviews
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this. What a wild ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Sexism
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Body horror
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
4.25
Still one of the top YA dystopians I’ve read. I’m looking forward to finally continuing on with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
On the Block: Stories of Home by Ellen Oh
emotional
funny
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? No
4.75
Immerse yourself in the interconnected stories of multigenerational immigrant families. From ghost hunters to new kids to lion dancers, the Entrada brings readers a complex cast of characters ready to celebrate family, friendship, and culture.
Thief of the Heights by Robin Yao, Son M
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
Enter a unique fantasy world where lifelong friends and inventors Basem, Mustafa, and Aarfah dream of climbing their way up from the disease-infested life they know to the top of their vertical city to save their families.
Fairy Godmother by Jen Calonita
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Hello: How Nüwa Created the World by Viola Wang
informative
inspiring
reflective
4.0
This beautiful picture book shares the importance of communication, language, and community through vibrant illustrations and accessible text. Inspired by Chinese mythology, Nuwa is a lonely young goddess with a handful of clay, and single greeting, and a powerful determination to find connection. She loved to play with the animals and explore nature, but she also yearned for someone to talk with. One day, she discovers how to make a simple friend who offers a simple, “Hello”, and magic happens!
The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
We Are Big Time: (A Graphic Novel) by Hena Khan
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.5
Inspired by a true story, this graphic novel cheers and roots for an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team who are learning how to work together as a team while also discovering who they are as individuals. Alyia and her family recently moved to Wisconsin from Florida. Alyia and her sister will be attending an Islamic school in a bigger, colder city, and she doesn’t even have a good basketball team to keep her mind off the move. This story beautifully captures a teen's growth and self-development over the course of a basketball season. Readers watch as Alyia navigates learning that she is so much more than just a basketball score, and as the team decides how they want the community to see team. This is truly a stellar book that should be on everyone’s shelves.