bookdragon217's reviews
591 reviews

"What does it mean to be a mother? But that was the trick. There was no one meaning." 

Reading Nestlings by Nat Cassidy was such an amazing experience. There were moments when I was scared to death and triggered by some of my biggest fears but the payout was so worth it. Cassidy managed to play on the readers' fears with the horror aspects while at the same time delivering such depth and substance. So many of these moments will live rent-free in my brain and still give me the creeps. I don't know about y'all, but creepy babies, bugs, gargoyles, and old, tall buildings with loads of secrets give me so much anxiety. When I finished this one, I literally exhaled and said, "Wow! This book was great!" 

The best part of this one was how Cassidy was able to weave in important themes to a NYC horror story without making it feel super heavy. The sweet spot was in the balance for sure. He showcased the horrors of the predatory housing system in NYC, the trauma of bed bug infestations, and the economic inequalities, especially in the healthcare system. I love how he explored Jewish identity and religiousness and wasn't afraid to challenge some longstanding beliefs or "curses." I could tell a lot of research and thought went into the representation of disability, motherhood, post-birth trauma and post-partum depression. It was handled with care and felt very personal. He really makes the reader take a deeper dive into ableism, grief from becoming disabled and parenthood based on one's own experiences with their parents. There was just so much to love about this one. 

If you love horror stories that are going to fill you with dread, make you feel uneasy in your own home and make your skin crawl then run and grab yourself a copy. Turn off the lights, light a candle, get a warm blanket and hot drink, and enjoy the ride. This is one of the best horror books I've read this year. Nat Cassidy is an official auto-buy author from now on. I've gotten to meet Cassidy on three occasions and he is such a genuinely nice person.

#Nestlings #NatCassidy #horror #bookstagram #bookish #books
#reading #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #bookphotography #horrorbooks #nyc #bookworm #jewish

"We cannot successfully address the physical global climate change facing us until we have a cultural climate change."

Thanks to @fulcrumpublishing for the gifted copy. This is perfect for Indigenous Heritage Month.

In 'On Indigenuity: Learning the Lessons of Mother Earth' Daniel R. Wildcat provides a framework with which to start the work of restoring our relationship to the Earth through environmental activism. He posits that viewing humanity as separate from the Earth and viewing the Earth as a transactional space where humans get to extract resources without ever replenishing is essentially the root of the problem. Wildcat throughout the book reminds us that Indigenous ways have always honored the sanctity of all living beings on the planet, not just humans. Because of this interconnected personal relationship with the Earth, Indigenous peoples have always been protectors of the planet and makes their unique perspectives essential for reversing the damage done by settler colonialism, empire and capitalism. 

Wildcat believes that in order to save the planet, their needs to be a cultural shift where humans once again begin to view the natural world as their relative and will therefore consider that relationship most important when living life. To care for the Earth is to be one with it and not think oneself superior to non-human organisms and destroy resources and habitats for profit without considering the consequences for the future generations. Wildcat also identifies that it is the settler colonialist that has created the climate emergency we are living everyday, which he calls the era of Anthropocene aka global burning.

The book is brief and concise and is a great overview of Indigenous knowledge and  some cultural lenses, which have always informed their life ways. He references other relevant works and offers different tribal perpsectives. It does become repetitive after a while but it does provide a good foundation with which to begin to understand the work of climate change and to understand the immense cultural shift that has to take place. 

As I was reading, I couldn't help but think about how the plight of Palest*ne directly relates to this work. I think about the pictures of olive trees being bulldozed and non-native plants being planted. I think about what the effects of all the bomb*ing will have on the environment and on people's health. I think about the cactuses that refuse to die no matter how much they build settler colonies on the land. I think about how the extraction of natural resources will devastate the area. I think about the wildlife that lives in water and how all this chemical waste will cause decline in populations of people and animals. I can't help but keep reflecting on the question of what will happen to the Earth if the genoc*de of Indigenous people, who are the protectors of the land, continues to occur. These are the some of the questions that Wildcat wants us to think about while also reminding us that Indigenuity must be at the forefront of the work.

"I've spent all this time trying to get rid of you, when maybe we should  have faced our fears together."

Timid by Harry Woodgate was a cute tale about a non-binary child named Timmy dealing with anxiety. They love performing but when it's time for the school play their fears take over. Timmy loves performing at home but the thought of a public audience brings out the inner voice called "Roar" that fills them with doubt.

I love how this book personifies what it feels like to have anxiety and how the inner voice of fear manifests. I loved Timmy's friendship with Nia. Nia's unconditional acceptance and support helped Timmy overcome their fears and perform. Nia was patient and provided different ways that Timmy could deal with their anxiety and her support ultimately made the difference. This is so important because many people do not understand anxiety and don't know how to help someone when they are experiencing anxiety episodes. 

This book also models for children how to be a great friend and how to be proactive in a crisis. Timmy was very shy and Nia extending her friendship and trying to get to know Timmy really healed to put them at ease and be able to open up about their fears. I also appreciated how Timmy being non-binary wasn't the central focal point of the story and was just accepted as their identity.

I recommend this one for children who are extremely shy and dealing with feelings of fear and anxiety. It's also great for teaching about acceptance and friendship. Thanks to @hearourvoicestours for the opportunity to be on tour for this one.

#Timid #HarryWoodgate #books #bookstoread #bookstagram #tbr #reading #childrensbooks #libros #anxiety #mentalhealth #nonbinary #lgbtqia #bookrecommendations #igreads #picturebooks #HOV

La Noche Before Three Kings Day by Sheila Colon-Bagley was such a delight. It was a trip to my childhood when Mamí would tell me stories about how she grew up celebrating Three Kings Day. She would leave a box with straw and hay for the camels, and she and her siblings would go to bed early from the excitement of anticipating the arrival of the Three Kings. I always wanted to spend the holidays in Puerto Rico as a child just so I could leave hay for the camels, but I never got to spend the Christmas season in Puerto Rico. Many people don't know this but Three Kings Day. For Puerto Ricans is a big deal and it ends the holiday season for us.


The author did a great job about conveying the excitement for Three Kings Day throughout the story. I loved how she showed the importance of family coming together in celebration and the wonder of children. The illustrations by Alejandro Mesa were gorgeous. The highlight for me was seeing that the family was Afro-Boricua. We don't get this representation a lot in books and it made me smile to see pictures that looked like my own family. I will treasure this one forever because it got me all in my feels and transported me back to my childhood. This was a perfect read for Puerto Rican Heritage Month.

If you're looking for more Three Kings Day stories, check out:

📚 Un Coquí de Borinquén Con Los Reyes a Belén by Lara Mercado

📚 Celebrate Christmas  and Three Kings Day with Pablo and Carlitos by Alma Flor Ada

Thanks to @harperkids and @hearourvoicestours for the gifted copy.

"The internet never forgets, until it does."

The List by Yomi Adehoke was a quick, propulsive read that kept me turning the pages non-stop. I binge this one in a day because I was obsessed with finding out the truth. I enjoyed Adegoke's writing style and I can see why this was picked up for TV. There are so many possibilities for some of the themes to be explored more deeply on screen. The author was bold in her choices and showcased a lot of serious themes in this one. The plot twist at the very end was jaw dropping.

I do wish Ola and Michael's fame was a little more fleshed out in the beginning so that the scandal felt a little more credible. However, I do commend Adegoke for taking risks and tackling toxic masculinity, patriarchy and misogyny, abuse of women, ways in which women aren't believed when they report abuse, the dangers and consequences of fame and the internet, the responsibility of reporters, the dangers of reporting rumors, Black men's mental health, feminism and the erasure of celebrities humanity. Reading this one makes me curious to see how the show will fill in the blanks and add depth to some of these topics because there was a lot to take in. 

This is one you will definitely want to read with a friend because there is so much to talk to about. When I finished it, I immediately discussed it with my husband because it opens the door for so much conversation. If thrillers with social commentary are your jam, give this one a try. You will be entertained the whole way through. Thanks to @williammorrowbooks and to @cocoachapters for the gifted copy and tour opportunity.

"But the good thing is that we're a campaign of the people!" 

I went into Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder thinking it was going to be a mystery but it turned out to be such a heartwarming story about Black history and community and the ways Black people show up for each other. It was a celebration of the hidden history that gave this Southside Chicago neighborhood its flavor and the people that still fight to protect it. 

This was a lighthearted tale, but it still contained so many relevant themes. Monty's pride was his afro and this book had so much Black hair love. Monty viewed the world through a scientific lens and that was so great to see especially since it tied in to so much of this neighborhood's rich history. There is not enough Black representation in STEM and this was a breath of fresh air.  You also reverence of elders and how their wisdom is respected and is the fabric that keeps communities safe and thriving. I loved that when it came to activism against gentrification, the youth played a vital, active role and were part of solution planning. Youth were also exposed to voting and campaigning, and it helped to instill the importance of Black people being informed and active in politics since it affects so many aspects of their lives. This was a cute, enjoyable read for a younger middle grade audience to learn about STEM, agriculture, Black history, gentrification, community and activism. Thanks to partners, @leeandlow & hearourvoicesbt for the gifted copy.

Here are some other books that would male great pairing for this one:

📚 Take Back the Block- Chrystal Giles
📚 Ruby Lost and Found- Christina Li
📚 Justice Makes a Difference- Dr. Artika R. Tyner
📚 The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora- Pablo Cartaya

Clued in Christmas by Mia Heintzelman is the feel good read I've been craving. Who doesn't love a story where the two protagonists are sexy nerds? Nadia loves all things board games and Micah is a booklover. Both love mysteries and thrillers and both own small businesses where they get to pursue their biggest passions. 

This was such a joy to read because the characters were interesting and fun, complex, layered, and all about friendship and family. The longing and tension between Micah and Nadia held my complete attention until the very end. I could not wait until they finally got their second chance at love. Micah's love for his daughter, Gilly had me all swoony and he's definitely book boyfriend material. The friendships were loving, honest, supportive and really added a sweetness to the story. Heintzelman's writing was so good you could feel the love between Micah and Nadia simmering through the pages. This one had the perfect balance of storytelling and sizzle that I like in romcoms. The author made me believe in their love. I can't wait to read the other books in this series because I'm hooked on these characters. If you love board game, bookstores, thrillers, whodunits, and mystery mixed into your romance ,hen you are going to love this one. 

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
🔎 "Rejection doesn't always mean 'messy'. Not everyone uses love as a tool to get what they want."

🔎"Nah, it's a comfort thing. Nothing like the feel of a good book in my hand. The smell of fresh ink and paper with the new ones. Or the sweet musky scent of classics..."

🔎 "I know love exists. The kind of 'choose each other love' just hasn't been in the cards for me."

🔎 "Never believe a word that comes out of man's mouth in the beginning. At least, not before he tells you he loves you. We are 'show' creatures. We show with our actions. Change a tire, take care of you when you're sick, show up to your events when you are important..."

Thanks to @tulepublishing @miaheintzelmanauthor,  @hearourvoicestours for the gifted signed & opportunity to be on this book tour. This book was an absolute delight and made my nerdy heart smile so much. Board games and books forever!

"There is an unspoken understanding of loss here in Jamaica, where everything comes with a rude bargain—that being citizens of a 'developing nation', we are born already expecting to live a secondhand life, and to enjoy it. But there is hope, too, in our scarcity, tolerable because it keeps us constantly reaching for something better." 

There are not enough words to describe the beauty that is found within the pages of How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair. She cracks herself open to show us the deep roots of her family trauma but still manages to hold the ones she loves tenderly with her poetic prose.  Her words are captivating & in true poet form, she delivers magical sentences that dance off the page & stick with you. She interrogates the misogyny of the Rastafarian lifestyle her father subjected their family to while at the same time connecting it to the history of colonialism in Jamaica. She calls out the mental abuse she was subjected to but also gives greater context & explanation about how her father could also be viewed as vulnerable to a corrupt system that is fueled by patriarchy. 

What struck me deeply was how Sinclair explores such deep themes through a child's perspective. She places us in her stream of conscience and allows us to see her observations and how she comes to make sense of her world in order to save herself. You see Sinclair develop an astute emotional intelligence that allowed her to survive her circumstances on a daily basis. Sinclair's mother offers poetry & literature as a form of liberation & this was so beautiful to see, especially since her own choices were limited by her own father. The books she read opened doors to understanding the world & provided the keys to free herself from her circumstances. This act of love from her mother is what ultimately helps her find her voice in the midst of chaos. 

I can still feel the power of Sinclair's narrative voice. This memoir is not only a testimony but an indictment on the systems of oppression that enforce & perpetuate patriarchy. It also serves a reminder that the consequences of colonialism are still being felt today. Sinclair is an author to watch in the future.