suzyvee's reviews
228 reviews

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

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challenging informative fast-paced

4.25

For Every One by Jason Reynolds

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hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

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adventurous funny informative lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

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informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

I thought this was delightful and timely. The only negative I can say about it was there were eleventy billion characters who were sometimes difficult to keep straight. I ended up writing down a character list to refer back to when I couldn’t remember who someone was. 

I think the negative reviews about this book probably don’t understand that as over the top as this book may seem, the characters are materializing before our very eyes across the US with book challenges and bans by people very much like in Troy, GA. 

I recommend this for anyone worried about book challenges and bans. 
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Fallen Grace by Sadeqa Johnson

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

4.5

Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again by Kimberly Williams-Paisley

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

This story was heartbreaking. My mom passed away 2 1/2 years ago, and we suspect that she had dementia. This book brought a lot of my thoughts and emotions to the surface. 
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

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challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

This was a terrifying read, as the author connects history to current events and the rise of fascism. Anyone interested in saving the US should read this book. 
The Maid by Nita Prose

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funny lighthearted mysterious 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

This book was delightful. I loved Molly the Maid - both as an unreliable narrator and as an ND character. All the gold stars to the author for portraying Molly in a realistic and respectful way. 
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The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

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dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was a heart-wrenching middle grade novel, which follows Zoey, a 7th grade girl who lives in poverty with her mom, 2 brothers, one sister, and her mom’s boyfriend. She is responsible for much more than any 7th grader should be. The portrayal of Zoey’s family seem really accurate, given my previous experience working with families who lived in poverty. 
The Reason I Jump: one boy's voice from the silence of autism by Naoki Higashida

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emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

Approachable and easy to read Q&A with a teenaged autistic boy. I recommend that everyone read this to have a bit of insight into autistic folx’s mind.