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sleuthheroalien's reviews
138 reviews
Nightbird by Alice Hoffman
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
This was the selection in my book club for October. We follow Twig as she tries to hide a magical family secret, make friends, and uncover a historical mystery. If you’ve read Practical Magic, then the vibe of this one will feel familiar. It takes place in Massachusetts and has ties to a witch from the 1600’s. I grew up north of Boston, so it was fun to be back in the New England setting. I would have LOVED this book when I was ten. I would have fallen right into the secret, the mystery, and the little side romance story. But it wasn’t exactly my taste as an adult reader. For most of the book, things moved slowly and thoughtfully, but then there was a hurried and overly-tidy ending. There were also some plot holes I couldn’t let go. I would, however, recommend it to any kid in middle grade or to any Alice Hoffman fan.
Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann, Kristen Joiner
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
If you don’t know much about the disability rights movement from the 60’s - the 90’s, then this is a great place to start. Judith Heumann was a leader of the movement. She had polio as a child and was paralyzed. At that time children who used wheel chairs weren’t allowed to receive an education in public schools. Her fight for her rights started with getting an education, then suing the state of NY to be licensed as a teacher. She moved on to leading sit-ins at federal buildings in San Francisco and Washington DC. She worked all her life fighting for disability rights. Throughout her memoir she offers lessons in how to think about activism and what to do when fighting for your civil rights. Highly recommend!
From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this second installment in Lana Harper’s Witches of Thistle Grove series. Thistle Grove is a town with four families of witches, who don’t always play well together. In this fast-paced and fun novel a necromantic witch clashes with a green witch, with sparks of romance and a splash of mystery. This one will be good for you if you enjoy lovable goth characters and a couple spicy scenes. You can easily read this without having read book #1, Payback’s a Witch.
Master & Apprentice (Star Wars) by Claudia Gray
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is my favorite Star Wars book so far, and I’ve read a few over the summer and fall. This one featured Obi-Wan Kenobi when he was 17 on a mission with Qui-Gon Jinn. This was a compelling story with lots of adventure, a fun cast of characters, and depth to the character development. I recommend this one if you’re looking for a fun book you can sink your teeth into. Also, the audiobook was great because the narrator imitated Ewan McGregor’s and Liam Neeson’s voices perfectly!
Rainbow History Class: Your Guide Through Queer and Trans History by Hannah McElhinney
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This was such a good book. It reads like a romp through queer and trans history from ancient Egypt to the modern internet age. I read the print version, which was beautifully illustrated. Each era of history had short essays and featured queer and trans icons from that time. I learned a lot and couldn’t put it down. This one is for you if you want to learn more about queer and trans culture through the ages and more about the activist movement for queer and trans rights in the 20th + 21st centuries.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I couldn’t put this one down. I loved the cozy Wes Anderson vibes, the charming and confident Count, and the big cast of characters. There was a good blend of story with history about the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. I learned a lot while being engrossed in the world of the hotel. I hesitated to read this one for a long time, because I was afraid it would be too slow for me. It did move kind of slowly, as it covered decades of the Count’s life, but there were so many fun characters and subplots that it ended up being a page turner. I’m excited for the limited TV series coming soon to Paramount+ with Ewan McGregor as the Count. I think he’s perfectly cast, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they adapt the story!
The Princess and the Scoundrel by Beth Revis
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It’s the end of Return of the Jedi. Everyone is celebrating the destruction of the Death Star with the Ewoks, and Han proposes to Leia. They get married, and the rest of the book takes place on their honeymoon. Of course, what they thought would be a simple trip turns into political intrigue and adventure as they learn just how hard it will be to oust the Empire from the Galaxy. I enjoyed this audiobook, but I found Princess Leia’s character much more compelling than Han’s. The chapters moved back and forth between their point of views, and if it was solely focused on Leia, then this would’ve been a 4 star read for me. This one is for you if you enjoy strong character development with a touch of adventure and politics.
A Sentimental Education by Hannah McGregor
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
I love Hannah McGregor on her podcast Material Girls, so I was looking forward to this book. The blend of personal stories and feminist theories is interesting and compelling. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a nonfiction book to sink your teeth into.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a beautiful story about friendship, family, the $20,000 Pyramid show, a Wrinkle in Time, and being 12 in NYC in 1979. This was a compelling and lovely read. I couldn't put it down, but I wish I didn’t read the hype quotes at the beginning. They made me expect it to be more than what it is. What it is, is a story about a young girl’s life as she walks to and from school during grade 6, meeting friends and losing friends, and her thoughts about it all along the way, with a bit of a time travel mystery mixed in. I would have LOVED this book when I was 10.
Grower's Omen by Audrey Faye
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
One thing I liked about this story was how the science and magic of the world blended together. If you read this one you’ll find yourself in a lab, where both data and the main character’s magic are needed to solve a mystery about an experimental psychic tree who is messing with people’s minds. Despite the premise, the story wasn’t too dark or violent, and it had some cozy vibes.