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bookdragon217's reviews
591 reviews
An Appetite for Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"Because there are people in our lives;
rare
unexpected
people
that don't just walk
beside us
through life
they witness
our lives
too."
Laekan Zea Kemp knocked it out of the park again with this YA novel in verse, An Appetite for Miracles. This one explores young love, mother-daughter relationships, the process of dementia, incarceration of a parent and trauma, fatphobia and the gift of food and music. This story made my heart hurt from the very beginning and the way Kemp still managed to weave beauty into despair, and grief won me over. The way Kemp writes about healing through food is unmatched.
Novels in verse are becoming a favorite because they give the option to take in so much emotion and storytelling in pieces. Poetry makes language come to life in unique ways. This one is perfect for National Poetry Month and for fans of foodie books. Thanks to @littlebrown @hearourvoicestours for the gifted copy.
Books that are in coversation with this one are:
📕 Iveliz Explains It All by @andreabeatrizarango
📗 A Cuban Girls Guide to Tea and Tomorrow @laurataylornamey
📙 With the Fire on High by @acevedowrites
rare
unexpected
people
that don't just walk
beside us
through life
they witness
our lives
too."
Laekan Zea Kemp knocked it out of the park again with this YA novel in verse, An Appetite for Miracles. This one explores young love, mother-daughter relationships, the process of dementia, incarceration of a parent and trauma, fatphobia and the gift of food and music. This story made my heart hurt from the very beginning and the way Kemp still managed to weave beauty into despair, and grief won me over. The way Kemp writes about healing through food is unmatched.
Novels in verse are becoming a favorite because they give the option to take in so much emotion and storytelling in pieces. Poetry makes language come to life in unique ways. This one is perfect for National Poetry Month and for fans of foodie books. Thanks to @littlebrown @hearourvoicestours for the gifted copy.
Books that are in coversation with this one are:
📕 Iveliz Explains It All by @andreabeatrizarango
📗 A Cuban Girls Guide to Tea and Tomorrow @laurataylornamey
📙 With the Fire on High by @acevedowrites
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
4.0
It's #feelgoodfriday and I have the perfect book to put a smile on your face. Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas was such a joy to read. It was a fun, fast-paced adventure from start to finish.
What I loved about this one was that it featured so many facets of Black culture, from spirituality to folklore and history. I loved how Black history was re-imagined and allowed formmoments of joy and hope for the future. Black nerdy kids are a vibe and I was overjoyed that they were front and center in this story and especially appreciated how they learned to collaborate, compromise and played off each other's strengths. I cannot wait to see where the next installment takes their journey. I would love to see more stories like this one where middle schools kids are tapping into emotional intelligence and exploring uncertainty through friendship, history and family.
I highly recommend this one, especially for classroom libraries and anyone who loves stories that include:
🪄 Black History
🪄 Magic, monsters & mayhem
🪄 World building and fantasy
🪄 Family & Friendship
🪄 Celebration of Gifts
🪄 Black nerds who love science and reading
Thanks to @theshelfstuff for the gifted copy. This one published 4/4 so run and grab a copy for yourself and a fun, loving kid in your life.
What I loved about this one was that it featured so many facets of Black culture, from spirituality to folklore and history. I loved how Black history was re-imagined and allowed formmoments of joy and hope for the future. Black nerdy kids are a vibe and I was overjoyed that they were front and center in this story and especially appreciated how they learned to collaborate, compromise and played off each other's strengths. I cannot wait to see where the next installment takes their journey. I would love to see more stories like this one where middle schools kids are tapping into emotional intelligence and exploring uncertainty through friendship, history and family.
I highly recommend this one, especially for classroom libraries and anyone who loves stories that include:
🪄 Black History
🪄 Magic, monsters & mayhem
🪄 World building and fantasy
🪄 Family & Friendship
🪄 Celebration of Gifts
🪄 Black nerds who love science and reading
Thanks to @theshelfstuff for the gifted copy. This one published 4/4 so run and grab a copy for yourself and a fun, loving kid in your life.
Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
4.5
"People are capable of anything when they're desperate."
Thanks to @williammorrowbooks and @bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy.
Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal was a lighthearted and captivating read that I really enjoyed. It's the story of 3 Filipina domestic workers who go to Singapore for better work opportunities and end up trying to find justice for another domestic worker, Flor, who has been falsely accused of murder. Jaswal introduces us to Cora, Donita and Angel, their lives before Singapore and the plight of Filipina domestic workers. I couldn't help but fall in love with them, their humor and their love of their culture. Jaswal's wittiness and sharp writing kept me invested in their unique story arcs above the mystery.
Visibility is a strong theme in this one. On the one hand, the Filipinas yearn to be seen in their full humanity, but the classist society in Singapore relegates them to permanent outsider status and poor treatment. On the flip side, they have to try to be invisible because they are immigrants and stereotyped negatively. Jaswar really does a nice job of showing how invisible service workers are to the rich. They only notice them when they want something done.
Feminism, religious intolerance, trans and homophobia, and xenophobia are other important themes explored. Jaswal illuminates the struggles of women as a global issue and shows how religion continues to promote anti-LGBTQIA sentiment and eliminates body autonomy for women. I loved to see how poetry and arts movements are always at the forefront of civil rights movements. Filipino politics and history were also woven into the story but never felt loaded or distracting. The star of the show was Jaswal's storytelling and the character driven angle of the story.
Overall this was an engrossing contemporary tale with mass appeal. The character voices were so rich and lush that solving the murder took a back seat.
If you love female driven stories, Filipino culture, humor mixed with mystery and a little bit of history with social commentary, then pick this one up. I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to read the author's previous work.
Thanks to @williammorrowbooks and @bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy.
Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal was a lighthearted and captivating read that I really enjoyed. It's the story of 3 Filipina domestic workers who go to Singapore for better work opportunities and end up trying to find justice for another domestic worker, Flor, who has been falsely accused of murder. Jaswal introduces us to Cora, Donita and Angel, their lives before Singapore and the plight of Filipina domestic workers. I couldn't help but fall in love with them, their humor and their love of their culture. Jaswal's wittiness and sharp writing kept me invested in their unique story arcs above the mystery.
Visibility is a strong theme in this one. On the one hand, the Filipinas yearn to be seen in their full humanity, but the classist society in Singapore relegates them to permanent outsider status and poor treatment. On the flip side, they have to try to be invisible because they are immigrants and stereotyped negatively. Jaswar really does a nice job of showing how invisible service workers are to the rich. They only notice them when they want something done.
Feminism, religious intolerance, trans and homophobia, and xenophobia are other important themes explored. Jaswal illuminates the struggles of women as a global issue and shows how religion continues to promote anti-LGBTQIA sentiment and eliminates body autonomy for women. I loved to see how poetry and arts movements are always at the forefront of civil rights movements. Filipino politics and history were also woven into the story but never felt loaded or distracting. The star of the show was Jaswal's storytelling and the character driven angle of the story.
Overall this was an engrossing contemporary tale with mass appeal. The character voices were so rich and lush that solving the murder took a back seat.
If you love female driven stories, Filipino culture, humor mixed with mystery and a little bit of history with social commentary, then pick this one up. I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to read the author's previous work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Murder
The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
I Will Find You Again by Sarah Lyu
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Responsibility is simply the ability to respond to respond...It's understanding our lack of control and then choosing to act anyway, choosing how we want to act."
I Will Find You Again by Sarah Lyu was a heart wrenching read that left a pain in my heart after reading it. It's a YA story that will appeal to all ages, especially anyone who has felt the pain and crushing anxiety of trying to live up to others' expectations. The main "mystery" is revealed early on but the real story unravels slowly, revealing all the little things that send our two main protagonists spiraling. The writing is so captivating that by the time the heart of the conflict is revealed you are left reeling wondering what is really the truth and who is responsible.
What really makes this book so special is how the author highlights the experience of being a trans-racial adoptee and how that affects Asian self identity and how others perceive Asian identity. Lyu also does a fantastic job of showing how the pressure to perform shapes teenagers' ideas about the future and success and how that immense pressure deteriorates self esteem and mental health. Grief is also a big theme in this one and manifests differently for the characters. Chase finally coming to terms with Lia's suicide, her sexuality and her own survivor's guilt in therapy brought me to tears because I know personally how hard it is to ask for help when you're used to being strong all the time & you feel undeserving. I loved that was intentional & included resources for mental health.
Thank you for the gifted copy @ireadya & @coloredpagesblogtours. I really loved this one and the emotional journey that it took me through. This book had so much heart
This book would pair nicely with:
📗 History is All You Left Me- Adam Silvera
📕 Searching for Sylvie Lee- Jean Kwok
📘 Everything I Never Told You- Celeste Ng
📙 Iveliz Explains It All- Andrea Beatriz Arango
I Will Find You Again by Sarah Lyu was a heart wrenching read that left a pain in my heart after reading it. It's a YA story that will appeal to all ages, especially anyone who has felt the pain and crushing anxiety of trying to live up to others' expectations. The main "mystery" is revealed early on but the real story unravels slowly, revealing all the little things that send our two main protagonists spiraling. The writing is so captivating that by the time the heart of the conflict is revealed you are left reeling wondering what is really the truth and who is responsible.
What really makes this book so special is how the author highlights the experience of being a trans-racial adoptee and how that affects Asian self identity and how others perceive Asian identity. Lyu also does a fantastic job of showing how the pressure to perform shapes teenagers' ideas about the future and success and how that immense pressure deteriorates self esteem and mental health. Grief is also a big theme in this one and manifests differently for the characters. Chase finally coming to terms with Lia's suicide, her sexuality and her own survivor's guilt in therapy brought me to tears because I know personally how hard it is to ask for help when you're used to being strong all the time & you feel undeserving. I loved that was intentional & included resources for mental health.
Thank you for the gifted copy @ireadya & @coloredpagesblogtours. I really loved this one and the emotional journey that it took me through. This book had so much heart
This book would pair nicely with:
📗 History is All You Left Me- Adam Silvera
📕 Searching for Sylvie Lee- Jean Kwok
📘 Everything I Never Told You- Celeste Ng
📙 Iveliz Explains It All- Andrea Beatriz Arango
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Suicide attempt
That Dangerous Energy by Aya de León
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
4.25
"But in reality, as our country is finally coming to understand, that level of wealth had the danger of leading to corruption, leading individuals to believe they can do anything and are exempt from the laws of our nation."
Thank you @cocoachapters and @kensingtonbooks for the gifted copies. Check out my stories for a chance to win a copy.
That Dangerous Energy by Aya DeLeon was a fast paced, crime novel that dealt with many contemporary and historical themes. I loved that it was female driven spy story that dealt with the climate crisis. DeLeon introduces the characters layer by layer and once the action kicks in, it's non-stop heart thumping until the end. DeLeon's writing is insightful and revelatory. The character development is strong and the fast-paced plot will keep you glued to the pages. The flashbacks to the main protagonist's family history added a nice touch to her personal growth story. I loved that this one was oozing with feminist energy throughout and showed how women can also be complicit in patriarchy and misogyny. It was interesting to see how DeLeon weaves identity and poverty into this story and shows how they affect choices women are forced to make.
I highly recommend this one if you're interested in:
💥 Afro-Boricua authors or Afro-Latinx representation/identity
💥 climate crisis and activism
💥intersectional feminism
💥 crime fiction & spy stories
💥 the role of Black women in activist movements
💥 anti-racism work
💥 corruption of power
💥 female driven thrillers & suspense
💥 Brooklyn, NY flavor
💥 fast paced crime fiction with a noir feel
Thank you @cocoachapters and @kensingtonbooks for the gifted copies. Check out my stories for a chance to win a copy.
That Dangerous Energy by Aya DeLeon was a fast paced, crime novel that dealt with many contemporary and historical themes. I loved that it was female driven spy story that dealt with the climate crisis. DeLeon introduces the characters layer by layer and once the action kicks in, it's non-stop heart thumping until the end. DeLeon's writing is insightful and revelatory. The character development is strong and the fast-paced plot will keep you glued to the pages. The flashbacks to the main protagonist's family history added a nice touch to her personal growth story. I loved that this one was oozing with feminist energy throughout and showed how women can also be complicit in patriarchy and misogyny. It was interesting to see how DeLeon weaves identity and poverty into this story and shows how they affect choices women are forced to make.
I highly recommend this one if you're interested in:
💥 Afro-Boricua authors or Afro-Latinx representation/identity
💥 climate crisis and activism
💥intersectional feminism
💥 crime fiction & spy stories
💥 the role of Black women in activist movements
💥 anti-racism work
💥 corruption of power
💥 female driven thrillers & suspense
💥 Brooklyn, NY flavor
💥 fast paced crime fiction with a noir feel
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse and Classism
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"It fired me up how easy it was for boys to slip away and the leave the girl with all the responsibility of carrying the baggage."
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson was absolutely fantastic. Historical fiction is my heart and this one did not disappoint. Johnson's storytelling is masterful and she weaves a story that wraps itself around you and beckons you closer. Both Ruby and Eleanor had unique voices and both their POV's were distinct and strong in presence. I was totally captivated by both their stories and how they eventually came to intersect. Johnson easily became an auto-buy after reading this one.
The novel was full of Black history in both Philadelphia and D.C. The story had elements of the Civil Rights beginnings blended in with women's reproductive history before the legalization of abortion. The story takes place in the 1950's when religion and "morality" rule and women are forced to take the blame for men's behavior. Black women have been at the center of these issues and had the harshest policing of their bodies since the very beginning. It wasn't surprising to read how the churches were complicit in forced adoptions and enforcing patriarchal beliefs about unwed women. I really learned a lot about these homes for unwed girls.
Johnson's writing style evoked so many emotions in me. Miscarriage and infertility are always hard topics for me to read but Johnson's writing style provided plenty of opportunities to process some of the heaviness. I really appreciated that it discussed classism and colorism among Black elites, as well as, racism. This story illuminates the hypocrisy of religion and how it reinforces misogyny and blames women for the poor behavior of men. It also spotlights how girls are sexualized at a very young age and have their bodies policied and shamed but men can rape, commit pedophilia and groom young girls without repercussions. This is a perfect read for Women's History Month since Johnson brings to the light so much unknown history.
Thanks to @simonandschuster and @tlcdiversity for the gifted copy. I know that this will be one of my top reads of the year.
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson was absolutely fantastic. Historical fiction is my heart and this one did not disappoint. Johnson's storytelling is masterful and she weaves a story that wraps itself around you and beckons you closer. Both Ruby and Eleanor had unique voices and both their POV's were distinct and strong in presence. I was totally captivated by both their stories and how they eventually came to intersect. Johnson easily became an auto-buy after reading this one.
The novel was full of Black history in both Philadelphia and D.C. The story had elements of the Civil Rights beginnings blended in with women's reproductive history before the legalization of abortion. The story takes place in the 1950's when religion and "morality" rule and women are forced to take the blame for men's behavior. Black women have been at the center of these issues and had the harshest policing of their bodies since the very beginning. It wasn't surprising to read how the churches were complicit in forced adoptions and enforcing patriarchal beliefs about unwed women. I really learned a lot about these homes for unwed girls.
Johnson's writing style evoked so many emotions in me. Miscarriage and infertility are always hard topics for me to read but Johnson's writing style provided plenty of opportunities to process some of the heaviness. I really appreciated that it discussed classism and colorism among Black elites, as well as, racism. This story illuminates the hypocrisy of religion and how it reinforces misogyny and blames women for the poor behavior of men. It also spotlights how girls are sexualized at a very young age and have their bodies policied and shamed but men can rape, commit pedophilia and groom young girls without repercussions. This is a perfect read for Women's History Month since Johnson brings to the light so much unknown history.
Thanks to @simonandschuster and @tlcdiversity for the gifted copy. I know that this will be one of my top reads of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Minor: Racism and Classism
A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Caña
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
"You need to realize that 'family first' doesn't mean at the expense of everything else. It means that we all look out for one another, support one another, and respect one another because the love we feel for each other is first in our hearts."
A Proposal They Can't Refuse By Natalie Caña was this month's #ReadPuertoRican book club pick and it was a hit. This one took me through all the emotions. I laughed out loud, nodded in agreement to the things that hit close to home and cried at some emotional parts. Never did I think I would be bawling over whiskey. I live for the longing and the tension and the burning fires between Kamilah and Liam were intense.
Rom-coms are definitely my favorite in the romance world and Caña gave me a story I will forever be in love with. She gave us loads of tropes that weren't cheesy, fantastic writing and characters that win your heart over. The Puerto Rican representation was EVERYTHING! From the food, to depiction of family, to specific aspects of culture and all the refranes, it was pure perfection. Caña was unapologetic in the ways she wrote for boricuas and placing this story in a historically Puerto Rican Humboldt Park, Chicago and making it so authentic was bliss. Featuring an introvert as the male love interest made my heart smile so big because it reminded me of the dynamic with my husband. There's just so much to love about this one.
If you love stories with themes of gentrification, grief, mental health, family, cultural pride, communication and love then this one is for you. I'm excited for Caña's next installment of The Vega Family series. I'm not ready to let go of them just yet. Foodie love stories are easily winning me over every time. Shout to Natalie Caña for joining us for an amazing book club chat! I'm forever a fan now!
A Proposal They Can't Refuse By Natalie Caña was this month's #ReadPuertoRican book club pick and it was a hit. This one took me through all the emotions. I laughed out loud, nodded in agreement to the things that hit close to home and cried at some emotional parts. Never did I think I would be bawling over whiskey. I live for the longing and the tension and the burning fires between Kamilah and Liam were intense.
Rom-coms are definitely my favorite in the romance world and Caña gave me a story I will forever be in love with. She gave us loads of tropes that weren't cheesy, fantastic writing and characters that win your heart over. The Puerto Rican representation was EVERYTHING! From the food, to depiction of family, to specific aspects of culture and all the refranes, it was pure perfection. Caña was unapologetic in the ways she wrote for boricuas and placing this story in a historically Puerto Rican Humboldt Park, Chicago and making it so authentic was bliss. Featuring an introvert as the male love interest made my heart smile so big because it reminded me of the dynamic with my husband. There's just so much to love about this one.
If you love stories with themes of gentrification, grief, mental health, family, cultural pride, communication and love then this one is for you. I'm excited for Caña's next installment of The Vega Family series. I'm not ready to let go of them just yet. Foodie love stories are easily winning me over every time. Shout to Natalie Caña for joining us for an amazing book club chat! I'm forever a fan now!