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katiemack's reviews
1406 reviews
Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra
3.0
It's a tough year to publish a retelling of Little Women.
I started out being irritated with Meg's spinelessness and Jo's stubborn nature--and the split nature of the narrative--but these traits grew on me over time. The touches Kantra made to bring the story into the twenty-first century were actually enjoyable.
I still hated the way the March patriarch was portrayed, though. I don't think I found a single redeeming quality about him throughout the whole book.
I started out being irritated with Meg's spinelessness and Jo's stubborn nature--and the split nature of the narrative--but these traits grew on me over time. The touches Kantra made to bring the story into the twenty-first century were actually enjoyable.
I still hated the way the March patriarch was portrayed, though. I don't think I found a single redeeming quality about him throughout the whole book.
On the Corner of Hope and Main: A Blessings Novel by Beverly Jenkins
4.0
This was such a cozy read. Even though I didn’t read the description carefully enough to realize that this was part of a series (since it was my own fault, this did not affect my rating), I felt like I got to know all of the characters really well. This is a great pick if you’re going through a stressful time or a period of transition—it’s a warm hug of a book.
Princeless, Vol. 1: Save Yourself by Jeremy Whitley
5.0
I love this so much! It does a great job showcasing not only diversity and feminism, but also the ridiculousness of the traditional damsel-in-distress narrative.
NB: I feel like this would work well for middle school and up; for some reason, our library cataloged this as jFic, which seems a bit young.
NB: I feel like this would work well for middle school and up; for some reason, our library cataloged this as jFic, which seems a bit young.
Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Liu, Andrés Vera Martínez
4.0
This graphic memoir highlight Na Liu's childhood during China's Great Leap Forward. The art is really rich, and the history is informative. There are some depictions of animal death that may be upsetting to younger kids.
The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season by Molly Fader
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars. I'm a sucker for gentle books about family drama, and this one was no exception.
Molly Fader, who has written fifty (!) books, effectively conveys the trauma of Hope and Tink, who have escaped from an abusive sitation, and that of Peg, who has secrets of her own. I loved Fader's depiction of this small town; she conveyed the warmth and the distinct cast of characters without making it twee or cheesy.
It is a cozy book, but it also contains a great deal of depth. Read for an experience that is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching.
4.5 stars. I'm a sucker for gentle books about family drama, and this one was no exception.
Molly Fader, who has written fifty (!) books, effectively conveys the trauma of Hope and Tink, who have escaped from an abusive sitation, and that of Peg, who has secrets of her own. I loved Fader's depiction of this small town; she conveyed the warmth and the distinct cast of characters without making it twee or cheesy.
It is a cozy book, but it also contains a great deal of depth. Read for an experience that is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching.
Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen
4.0
3.5, rounded up. This was a really quick, addictive YA read that reminded me of a cross between Crazy Rich Asians and Anna and the French Kiss in the way it dealt with cross-cultural values and teenage romance.
While decadent and compelling, I wish it dealt with mental illness in a more productive way; for example, one character with depression was depicted as "crazy" and clingy for most of the story.
While decadent and compelling, I wish it dealt with mental illness in a more productive way; for example, one character with depression was depicted as "crazy" and clingy for most of the story.
The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis
2.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 33%, which makes me so sad!
On the surface, this book should have been perfect for me--fantasy, a new race of winged humans, romance, Tristan and Isolde vibes--but the great ideas weren't executed well. The pacing felt stiff, and the characters weren't compelling; when I wasn't bored, I was confused by the amount of exposition happening.
DNF at 33%, which makes me so sad!
On the surface, this book should have been perfect for me--fantasy, a new race of winged humans, romance, Tristan and Isolde vibes--but the great ideas weren't executed well. The pacing felt stiff, and the characters weren't compelling; when I wasn't bored, I was confused by the amount of exposition happening.