Narrative poetry and a very quick read. Iloh jumps between her early childhood and present day as a high school graduate and college freshman. I wouldNarrative poetry and a very quick read. Iloh jumps between her early childhood and present day as a high school graduate and college freshman. I would’ve liked more development of the character. We got little insights but I constantly wanted more....more
I very much appreciated Kendi’s approach in sharing his own anti-racist learning and journey. It made this dense, challenging topic more raw and autheI very much appreciated Kendi’s approach in sharing his own anti-racist learning and journey. It made this dense, challenging topic more raw and authentic. ...more
The audiobook was LONG! To get it done within my library checkout period, I had to listen for more than an hour a day...but listening to Obama read hiThe audiobook was LONG! To get it done within my library checkout period, I had to listen for more than an hour a day...but listening to Obama read his own words was a treat. The words of my high school history teacher kept coming to mind though, “Consider the bias.” Obama covers some failings and mistakes but he’s still going to paint things in the best possible light. Even so, it feels wildly different from what was happening politically in the first weeks of 2021. I just kept thinking, “How did we go from that to this in just 10 years?!”
I loved thinking about Michelle’s book while listening to this one too and hearing their two different perspectives on the same events. Looking forward to the next book!...more
Fast-paced fantasy novel. I can see why it's a popular one in our library. A little bit of romance but nothing too intense in the first novel. Fast-paced fantasy novel. I can see why it's a popular one in our library. A little bit of romance but nothing too intense in the first novel. ...more
I just cringed with embarrassment for Alix numerous times. What on earth was she thinking?! Continuing to process the intersections of race and womanhI just cringed with embarrassment for Alix numerous times. What on earth was she thinking?! Continuing to process the intersections of race and womanhood and the definitions of success and motherhood as they play out in the book. And I'm definitely going to finally listen to Book Riot's podcast on this book!...more
Fluffy summer read...although it was a bit sad to read about a White House that’s rocked by a scandal of a bisexual First Son. If only that was the tyFluffy summer read...although it was a bit sad to read about a White House that’s rocked by a scandal of a bisexual First Son. If only that was the type of scandal we had to deal with these days......more
A couple of months ago, I was wracking my brain for books dealing with divorce or living with parents who were divorced. I just couldn’t think of onesA couple of months ago, I was wracking my brain for books dealing with divorce or living with parents who were divorced. I just couldn’t think of ones where that was the primary plot point.
This book doesn’t deal with divorce but it does deal with a kid watching his parents’ marriage crumble as he finds out about his mom’s affair. So much takes place in his head as he sorts through his own feelings about the loss of all that’s “normal” in his life and then exacerbated by changes to his extended family as well....more
Another one of my teen murder books. I’ve read a few during quarantine. I can see why this one is quite popular among students. Unsolved small-town muAnother one of my teen murder books. I’ve read a few during quarantine. I can see why this one is quite popular among students. Unsolved small-town murders. Twins whose mom grew up in the small-town. One of the twins who is obsessed with solving murders...but isn’t very good at it....more
This is a popular book in my library but I’ve never read it despite recommending it to many teens. Dysfunctional doesn’t even begin to describe this fThis is a popular book in my library but I’ve never read it despite recommending it to many teens. Dysfunctional doesn’t even begin to describe this family. Wow. So many times I just shook my head, shocked that anyone could make it out of that life with any kind of normalcy moving forward....more
Fascinating. Powerful to see how in intentional relationships we can care enough to see someone’s belief system change. It’s not always the case but fFascinating. Powerful to see how in intentional relationships we can care enough to see someone’s belief system change. It’s not always the case but fascinating to read how David Black’s college friends were the impetus for him leaving the white nationalism movement....more
So many great things about this book. The experience of adolescence and trying to figure out your place and how friendships work with everything changSo many great things about this book. The experience of adolescence and trying to figure out your place and how friendships work with everything changing is spot-on. There’s a historical thread running through when the girls discover journals hidden in an attic. Their quest for information is a great independent inquiry project....more
I’m a big fan of memoirs by authors. They’re so much more pleasant to read. This one wasn’t a pleasant read though. It was hard with a lot of hard conI’m a big fan of memoirs by authors. They’re so much more pleasant to read. This one wasn’t a pleasant read though. It was hard with a lot of hard content. It’s a coming of age story made more difficult by not only trying to grow up but to grow into someone that you don’t have a plethora of established role models. As a queer kid, Shaun struggled to see what his happily ever after might look like. He didn’t see it in people around him. He didn’t see it in books or movies or pop culture. There’s cutting, destructive choices, suicide ideations and an attempt. It’s hard. But it’s just so good too....more
Norris thinks he has all Texas teenagers pegged. For this Canadian transplant, they all fit their stereotypes and his preconceived notions...until theNorris thinks he has all Texas teenagers pegged. For this Canadian transplant, they all fit their stereotypes and his preconceived notions...until they don’t. Maybe he doesn’t have them all figured out.
This book deals with such a wide variety of teen struggles - divorce, step-parents, moving to a new place, new job, mental wellness, defying parental expectations, alcohol abuse. The author packed it in with some additional twists in the learning and growing up that Norris must do....more
You know those books that you just can’t get out of your head? This would be one of them for me. Similar to my reaction to On the Beach by Nevil ShuteYou know those books that you just can’t get out of your head? This would be one of them for me. Similar to my reaction to On the Beach by Nevil Shute while I was in college. I was in line at the grocery store last week and was shocked that all the bottled water hadn’t been bought up in a frenzy. I think this book is going to appeal to my students interested in survival stories....more
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