Scan barcode
katiemack's reviews
1409 reviews
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
4.0
This reimagining of Beauty and the Beast was gratuitously romantic at times (i.e., there were romantic moments that didn’t mesh well with the plot), but Hodge delivers an intelligent, strong heroine with a will of steel, and she excels when outlining schemes and the lore of Nyx’s world.
The Kitchen Without Borders: Recipes and Stories from Refugee and Immigrant Chefs by The Eat Offbeat Chefs
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a refreshing cookbook to read. Rather than listing recipes, the Eat Offbeat chefs have used this opportunity to not only introduce recipes from various cultures around the world, but also to create loving profiles of their own chefs and employees, which really added to the richness of the book. My one criticism would be that the profiles were a bit distracting; it was tough to tell how they were organized among the recipes. I would have enjoyed it more had the profiles been compiled into one section.
If you're looking for some bold new recipes to try and have access to some of the more elusive ingredients, I would highly recommend picking this up when it's published and trying some recipes. (I recently made the hummus; it's very tasty!)
This is a refreshing cookbook to read. Rather than listing recipes, the Eat Offbeat chefs have used this opportunity to not only introduce recipes from various cultures around the world, but also to create loving profiles of their own chefs and employees, which really added to the richness of the book. My one criticism would be that the profiles were a bit distracting; it was tough to tell how they were organized among the recipes. I would have enjoyed it more had the profiles been compiled into one section.
If you're looking for some bold new recipes to try and have access to some of the more elusive ingredients, I would highly recommend picking this up when it's published and trying some recipes. (I recently made the hummus; it's very tasty!)
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices by S.K. Ali, Aisha Saeed
5.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I usually find it difficult to rate anthologies because the quality varies so much between stories, but I'm pleased to say that wasn't the case here. The fifteen authors who write these short stories about Eid effectively convey the challenges and struggles Muslim children might experience, especially during Ramadan (fasting when all one can think about is hunger, having to be generous when it isn't easy, celebrating when one's family is falling apart, or having recently converted and trying to fit into a new culture). They also, however, imbue each story with a sense of hope and the notion that, as Saeed and Ali note in their introduction, Eid evokes a "shared faith and shared joy at celebrating this festive day."
I would recommend this book to middle-grade readers who want to know more about Eid, Ramadan, or Islam in general--the authors are careful to define unfamiliar terms and introduce different cultural celebrations--as well as readers who want to see themselves represented in the books they read. This would be a great Eid present.
I usually find it difficult to rate anthologies because the quality varies so much between stories, but I'm pleased to say that wasn't the case here. The fifteen authors who write these short stories about Eid effectively convey the challenges and struggles Muslim children might experience, especially during Ramadan (fasting when all one can think about is hunger, having to be generous when it isn't easy, celebrating when one's family is falling apart, or having recently converted and trying to fit into a new culture). They also, however, imbue each story with a sense of hope and the notion that, as Saeed and Ali note in their introduction, Eid evokes a "shared faith and shared joy at celebrating this festive day."
I would recommend this book to middle-grade readers who want to know more about Eid, Ramadan, or Islam in general--the authors are careful to define unfamiliar terms and introduce different cultural celebrations--as well as readers who want to see themselves represented in the books they read. This would be a great Eid present.
Astrid and Apollo and the Starry Campout by V.T. Bidania
5.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Recommended for grades 2-4. I can't think of many children's books that explore a Hmong-American family--I feel like I learned something while reading this because the author includes a list of Hmong words and facts at the beginning and the end of the book. The writing is concise in a way that would make this appropriate for younger readers, and the vibrant illustrations are compelling and add to the "kid appeal."
Recommended for grades 2-4. I can't think of many children's books that explore a Hmong-American family--I feel like I learned something while reading this because the author includes a list of Hmong words and facts at the beginning and the end of the book. The writing is concise in a way that would make this appropriate for younger readers, and the vibrant illustrations are compelling and add to the "kid appeal."
Hocus & Pocus: The Search for the Missing Dwarves: The Comic Book You Can Play by Gorobei
3.0
I love the concept of a “choose your own adventure” comic book, and I think the puzzles are a great way for middle-grade readers to build logic comprehension, but I found this to be tough to follow as an adult—I got lost at sea (you’ll know if you read this) and gave up; there’s also a lot of flipping back and forth. I’ll give the first book a try and see if it goes more smoothly.
Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta
4.0
3.5, rounded up. This was a really quick, fun read and had more depth than I was expecting (though Brendan was a little shit . I'm curious to see how the HBO series is formatted, given all the third-person POV and introspection (or attempted introspection) that happens.
Spoiler
throughout the book, even when he was talking with his soon-to-be-stepsister about his career choices
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
4.0
3.5, rounded up. Ultimately, the romance was really sweet and surprisingly steamy, but there were some problematic elements that prevent this from being a book I ultimately loved. (e.g., perpetuating stereotypes about autism, lack of characterization in some parts, etc.)
Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola
4.0
The story wasn't engaging the entire time, but I loved the use of magic. The ending was a surprising delight. Overall, this is a refreshing, updated take on the Baba Yaga fairytale.
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
3.0
2.5, rounded up. I was expecting to love this because it has several elements in which I am interested (fantasy, YA, South Asian lore and history), but the writing felt flat to me. Mehr's background and story starts off strong, but the narrative drive falls off after that; I definitely missed some of the characterization of the side characters (her sister, her father, her step-sister, and her friend Lalita) after Suri stopped writing about them. As a result, it took me longer than usual to get through this.