libscote's reviews
6301 reviews

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

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emotional informative medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Selah has so many rules about how to be normal. She's trying so hard to hold it all in. One day, she snaps and lashes out, and everything changes. I thought this story did a good job of illustrating how "easy" it is for women-identified autistic people to pass as "normal" and how hard it can be for them to get diagnosed. I also think it illustrates some issues with schools and accommodations. I wanted to make some comments about charter versus public, but I'm not sure it's that simple. 
A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Hope Larson, Madeleine L'Engle

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inspiring mysterious medium-paced

3.5

I don't think that this book is bad, but it didn't work as well as the original text for me. I went in with very high expectations, though.
Vivian Lantz's Second Chances by Kathryn Ormsbee

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Vivian Lantz has a history of horrible first days of school, but this year is going to be different. She's going to have the perfect style and get her crush to notice her. It all goes wrong that first day, but then she miraculously gets a do-over. And another. And another. Before she knows it, she's in a loop!  She can get the perfect first day, but can she also get out again?

I love the way Vivian reacts to the different situations. They aren't all perfect, but they feel real and very middle-school appropriate. My favorite reactions were the ones where she forgot that she learned information in a different loop and so the person wouldn't know what she was talking about. A cute read.
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A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

Santat's memoir about his trip to Europe in middle school is hilarious and also a bit eye-opening, as I cannot imagine some of the kids being allowed to do what they did today. It's totally relatable to anyone who has been through middle school and a good read for all.
Sunpainters: Eclipse of the Navajo Sun by Baje Whitethorne

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informative

3.5

This is the Navajo version of why eclipses happen.
We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

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4.0

What an interesting way to look at mental health and going through the process of healing.
Farther Than the Moon by Lindsay Lackey

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Houston wants to be an astronaut. So does his younger brother, Robbie. There's just one difference between the two of them: Robbie has cerebral palsy. Houston has promised to go to space WITH his brother, and when he's accepted into the Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program, there's a little bit of tension between the two. Houston gets to experience life with a crew, and meet his mysterious grandfather. Can Houston find a way to get his brother into space? Why does his mother and grandfather not speak? 

I think one of my favorite parts of the book is how the crew resolves conflict between them. They end up having a group conversation, and it really showed how fabulous something like that can be. 
The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book WRECKED ME in the best way possible. I spent a lot of time wondering how I would react if I knew the world was ending in four days. Would I also want to make a time capsule? How would I react? Kemi's reactions are honest and so clear. Just love.
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Outside the Jukebox: How I Turned My Vintage Music Obsession Into My Dream Gig by Scott Bradlee

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informative medium-paced

3.25

A look at how Scott Bradlee made Postmodern Jukebox. I feel like most of my complaints aren't necessarily about this book itself, but about society at large and forces around it. 
The Pearl Hunter by Miya T. Beck

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adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I really enjoyed reading about Kai, the twin who feels like she isn't quite as good as her sister. The journey she goes on to save her and the growth she shows in the story is quite good. I especially like how she learns to do archery and thinks her way through her problems. I feel like the ending leaves it open for a sequel, and I would be interested to know where her story goes.