papercraftalex's reviews
356 reviews

A Song For You And I by K. O'Neill

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

K. O'Neill never misses! "A Song For You And I" has a similar melancholia that was present in "The Moth Keeper," but instead of burnout, this story explored self-doubt and the burden of expectation. It was the first of their novels that explored difficulty in queer identity (most are queer normative) and it felt so genuine without being depressing. The art is spectacular as always! I've heard horses are difficult to draw, but they looked very lifelike. And the scenery is just stunning and adds to the overall mood of the story. Every single story K. O'Neill writes reaffirms my optimism and I feel so grateful they share their gift with the world.

I was given a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill

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dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've read every K. O'Neill book for a reason! They never miss. "The Moth Keeper" is an excellent take on expectations (personal, familial, and societal), otherness, and burn out. The art, like always, was absolutely stunning. I love how they can craft a complex world where all of the characters are distinct, while also keeping it to a single story. I'd love to read more in this world, but it felt like a complete narrative. I would absolutely recommend. 
The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lynne Kelly is the best at writing the isolating loneliness of being a weird girl. "The Secret Language of Birds" was a great follow up to "Song For a Whale." It has such great and realistic characters and a wonderful message about how to stay true to yourself while you grow. I also love all the environmental messages in Kelly's stories. Even if this is a middle grade novel, it works for all ages and can help heal an adult's inner child. I can't wait to see what comes next from this author!
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Women! In! Peril! by Jessie Ren Marshall

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medium-paced

3.5

Jessie Ren Marshall is a very talented writer. Like most anthologies, there was mixed quality, but the stories that didn't work for me were still very well written. She has unique plots for a lot of the stories, but I really appreciate the ones that are subtle sad girl vignettes. My favorites were Annie 2, Dog, Late Girl, and The Birds in Trafalgar Square. My least favorite were My Immaculate Girlfriend, Mrs. Fisher, and Sister Fat. Some of the stories felt a bit like "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" where the characters are supposed to be reprehensible, but I don't think it worked in these stories. I'm interested to see what she'll write in the future.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 
Creepy Cat, Vol. 1 by Cotton Valent

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dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A cute gothic slice-of-life that all cat owners can somehow relate to even if our cats can't make multiple copies of themselves.
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Doppelganger is a book about doppelgangers, obviously, and about COVID, misinformation, AI, Israel, autism, MAGA, but it's also so very much about community and reflection. This wasn't an easy book to read, but it was so amazing. It brought back some of the optimism I lost from COVID and made me see what I would think of as my political opponents as holistic, confused, and afraid human beings. Naomi Klein has so many great things to say. The way she ties her doppelganger story into so many topics is quite fantastic. I highly recommend this book. 
A Polar Bear in Love, Vol. 1 by Koromo

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

It's a cute and funny parody of popular BL tropes. 
Sierra Garcia: The Mystery Relative by Keana Lapp

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I'm very impressed that this was written by a 12 year old! I think a lot of middle-grade and young adult readers will love this thrilling adventure.
Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker: A Humble Stumble Toward Simplicity and Grace by J. Brent Bill

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funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It is very well organized and so easy to read in chunks. I read a little bit before bed each night and it was a great way to relax and reflect. The lessons in it are for all people, not just Christians, not just people interested in Quakers (although I did learn a lot about Quakers). It has very actionable tips to lead an overall better life. He does incorporate god and Christianity often, but it wasn't preachy and things like being a good steward to the Earth, speaking kindly, treating others well, are all essential to being a good person. I will absolutely be reading this again in the future!
Spring Essence: The Poetry of Hô Xuân Huong by John Balaban, Hồ Xuân Hương

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funny informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I picked up this collection of poetry at a library's used book sale not expecting a lesson in Vietnamese history and a fantastic introduction to Hô Xuân Huong. Hô Xuân Huong was a 18th and 19th century concubine that wrote poetry in a way that fought against social norms, specifically by having each poem be a double entendre. None of the poetry felt crass, it always felt like a way of embracing humanity and femininity. While I am only capable of reading the translation, I was blown away by her talent. It reminded me of the Persian poet Forough Farrokhzad. I highly recommend.