xandra_lyn's reviews
528 reviews

Sybil Ludington Rides to the Rescue: Courageous Kid of the American Revolution by Jessica Gunderson

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adventurous hopeful informative fast-paced

4.0

Really good info on a little-known historical figure. Great for kids.

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History Smashers: The American Revolution by Kate Messner

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was a really good, critical look at the messiness of a historical event. I think I was most upset that the Betsy Ross story wasn't talked about until the late 1800s and so may or may not be true 😂. She mentioned how people of color were a part of the struggle, but I wish she dedicated more time to this, since most ppl aren't even aware that native and African Americans were involved.

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The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.

I got through the prologue and first chapter before putting this down. My main issue was Gisela's response to the big bad. They had a confrontation, and a survivor of abuse would not have reacted to aggression with defiance (which is what Gisela did). I know everyone wants to write strong women, but it just doesn't have the ring of truth to it.

Also, and reading some of the comments has confirmed this, the big bad seemed like a predator. I just wasn't interested in reading about his threats to an already victimized woman.

Lastly, I'm so tired of book woman proving their strong by refusing to ride side-saddle. The whole point of Cinderella is she wants to dress up and go to a ball and have one night of fun. I think it's safe say she'd be ok with riding side-saddle.

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Women Heroes of the American Revolution: 20 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Defiance, and Rescue by Susan M. Casey

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.

Interesting but dry. I felt I had a lot of questions about their lives still and that this was a very bland look at them.

The Lost Heir (Wings of Fire #2) by Tui T. Sutherland

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adventurous hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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Delphine & the Dark Thread by Alyssa Moon

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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? Yes

4.0

A really good second half! I LOVED cornichone (the cat)! I loved Alexander! This one was a lot darker than the first one, and the end was sad, but still satisfying.

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Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

This was a really great book!!! It was dark, but a lot of the darkness was hinted at rather than explicit. It was faithful to the comics and get a new story. I really liked that she paired Selina and Luke Fox. I've never been a fan of Bruce and Selina (too toxic). But Maas's version of Luke and Selina worked really well because they had some core things in common that Bruce and Selina never really had.

I had a few minor complaints, such as there being a seemingly sudden shift in Selina's goals. I think maas was trying to draw out the suspense, but it came off as inconsistent. Also, Selina made a lot of powerful enemies, and it did make me worried for her future in Gotham. (To be clear, it wasn't a cliffhanger in that it was open for future issues; I just know comics, and the enemies she made are formidable).

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