Category: review

Joyful by Indrid Lee Fetell [Non-fiction Review]

10 June 2023 / review / 11 Comments
Joyful by Indrid Lee Fetell [Non-fiction Review]

Joyful: The Surpring Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happinessby Ingrid Fetell LeeSource: Hardcover/libraryPublished: Sept. 2018Publisher: Little, Brown Spark (Hachette) Length: 359 pagesGenre: Non-fiction (design psychology)Target Age: Adult (suitable for +14) Summary 💬 Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring? Is there a reason that people–regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity–are mesmerized […]

Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber [MG Review]

29 January 2023 / review / 1 Comment
Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber [MG Review]

Taking Up Spaceby Alyson GerberSource: Hardcover/libraryPublished: May 2021Publisher: Scholastic IncLength: 272 pages Genre: ContemporaryTarget Age: +9Representation: Protagonist develops disordered eating Summary 💬 Sarah loves basketball more than anything. Crushing it on the court makes her feel like she matters. And it’s the only thing that helps her ignore how much it hurts when her mom forgets to feed her. But lately Sarah can’t even play basketball right. She’s slower now and missing shots she […]

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi [MG Review]

5 January 2023 / review / 2 Comments
Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi [MG Review]

Spell Sweeperby Lee Edward FödiSource: Hardcover/libraryPublished: Nov 2021Publisher: HarperCollinsLength: 368 pages Genre: FantasyTarget Age: +9 Summary 💬 Most students at Dragonsong Academy spend their days practicing spells and wielding wands, but after flunking her sixth-grade standardized tests, Cara Moone is on the fast track to becoming a MOP (a.k.a. Magical Occurrence Purger). See, when a real wizard casts a spell, it leaves behind a residue called spell dust—which can be dangerous if not disposed […]

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo [Review]

23 December 2022 / review / 6 Comments
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo [Review]

Siren Queen by Nghi VoSource: ebook/NetGalleyPublished: May 2022Publisher: Tordotcom (Macmillan)Length: 288 pages Genre: Historical fantasyTarget Age: AdultRepresentation: Protagonist is wlw Chinese American Summary 💬 “No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.” Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. […]

Raybearer and Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko [YA Review]

26 November 2022 / review / 9 Comments
Raybearer and Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko [YA Review]

Raybearer / Redemptorby Jordan IfuekoSource: Hardcover/libraryPublished: Aug 2020/Aug 2021Publisher: Amulet Books (ABRAMS)Length: 368/325 pages Series: Raybearer duologyGenre: FantasyTarget Age: +13Representation: Black protagonist, Black asexual supporting character, additional queer and POC supporting characters (author is Nigerian American) Summary 💬 Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global […]