In Case You Read This follows Gabe and Arden, two trans boys who meet at a hotel in Nebraska while road-tripping in opposite directions when their famIn Case You Read This follows Gabe and Arden, two trans boys who meet at a hotel in Nebraska while road-tripping in opposite directions when their families move across the country. They form a bond over their identities and their shared favorite band, Damaged Pixie Dream Boi (awesome band name, by the way), but don't share contact information. However, both feel understood by the other, and they wish they hadn't left how they did. Beautiful, human chaos ensues as they try to track each other down -- all amidst carving out spaces for themselves in their new homes, and grappling with how it feels to be trans in a place that, for each boy, is radically different than his home.
This was lovely - reminiscent of Alice Oseman's I Was Born For This or Radio Silence in its portrayals of fan community and various family structures, as well as its queer ensemble cast. DPDB being a throughline was also really nice, and I loved getting a sense for their sound, vibes, and fandom through the interstitials and the characters' descriptions. As well, I appreciated that this book dove into deeper topics--such as family drama and expectations, small town life as a queer person / the perception of trans people in rural areas, and the different ways labels and identities can function for each individual. I did feel that the side characters could be a bit one-dimensional and at times blended together a bit, but that's honestly a given with such a large cast. I wish Gabe and Arden's voices and narration had been just the slightest bit more distinguishable, because given that they both know LA and their friend groups end up meshing, I sometimes got confused.
All said, this was a lovely light-hearted summer read with a lovable set of characters and a compelling premise. Well executed, and I will be recommending. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's, and Edward Underhill for the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Spelling It Out follows spelling bee competitor Ben's experience staying with his grandmother during the summer before seventh grade. After placing twSpelling It Out follows spelling bee competitor Ben's experience staying with his grandmother during the summer before seventh grade. After placing twelfth in the 1985 Southern California regional spelling bee, Ben convinces his parents to let him spend the summer with his Nan in San Francisco studying for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. However, when he arrives, he sees that not everything is what it seemed: Nan is acting strange, and his coach is a bit of a jerk. He befriends a fellow Scripps hopeful, Asha, and has a whirlwind of a summer learning about prefixes, suffixes, and the South Asian American experience; reckoning with concepts of masculinity and memory; and working out what is going on with Nan.
This was lovely. Spelling It Out wrestles with lots of important, relevant topics: memory (collective memory, rote memory, the loss of memory); racism, sexism, and their interlacings; the fallible bully vs the strong "web" of one's inner circle; the inevitable grasp toward freedom made by many a rising seventh grader; the sickness and imminent death of a family member. On top of feeling very grounded in its 1985 San Francisco setting, the novel's prose shifts effortlessly to frame the story as appropriate. We variously hear the voice of 12-year-old Ben narrating events as they happen, and an older, adult Ben looking back, telling his story. As a framing device, I loved this, and felt that it really helped drive home the theme of memory, aging, and family. It reminded me a lot of an oral history project, actually. I can picture this book being an edited version of a transcript from a grandchild's college oral history project; at times you can hear the fondness creeping through from Adult Ben as he describes what must have been a truly transformative summer.
Ben grapples throughout with so many themes, but the one that sticks out most to me now is his process of discovering his definition of masculinity, and the responsibility that "comes with" being a man. It was delivered in a way that made a lot of sense to me - there's this recurring comparison of three stereotypes of men in three films released in 1985-6ish that I (a 2003 baby) know at least peripherally - but I wonder how that will resonate with today's 12-year-olds. Are the kids still watching Back To The Future? They'd better be. Parts of Ben's musings also came about after having heard about Asha's experiences as the only South Asian student she knows in the area, and those she gained as a girl growing up on that intersection of being othered for her race and her gender.
The only minor gripe I had was that the ending seemed to sneak up on me, and I wanted a little bit more developed closure for Ben, Asha, and the family. And, I know what happened to Nan, but I think it's an interesting choice not to really delve into it. I don't think it would have been the hardest sell of the themes in this one.
Overall, beautifully done, and I'm excited to have read it now, since I'll just have returned from my first trip to San Francisco when this one releases. :)
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
In Foreign Fruit, author Katie Goh covers the history of the orange fruit. It's intertwined with recollections & musings from her own experiences as aIn Foreign Fruit, author Katie Goh covers the history of the orange fruit. It's intertwined with recollections & musings from her own experiences as a Malaysian-Chinese-Irish writer during the COVID pandemic, and other parts of her identity connected with her Asian heritage.
This one was good - I enjoyed it and thought a lot of the connections were really expertly drawn. I found several anecdotes really interesting, some new to me: I had no idea, for example, about the process of grafting & how it's given rise to all these varied citrus fruits from just three original "parent" fruits! The author talks candidly and vulnerably of her own cultural heritage and I really appreciated seeing that developed throughout.
I did struggle, quite a bit, to sit down and start it every time I tried. I think it probably took me a whole month and a half, start to finish, despite it only being about a 200 page book. I think I had some issues with the pacing, maybe? Like, it was all so connected that I sometimes struggled to take a breath and digest everything. I also found some of the historical information quite unengaging, so I would sometimes sit and read 5 or 6 pages before putting it down and getting distracted by other things. All of this is strange, given this style of informational/personal prose is typically exactly what works for me?
Overall, I liked this book, but it didn't quite hit enough for me. I'll be recommending to people interested in Asian diaspora stories, food history, journalists, and/or folks who express interest in postcolonial personal narratives.
3.25 rounded down. Thanks to the author Katie Goh, the publisher Tin House Books, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Espada: The Will of the Blade is a translation from Spanish (Castilian) of a gorgeous graphic novel, following a young princess, heir to the throne. SEspada: The Will of the Blade is a translation from Spanish (Castilian) of a gorgeous graphic novel, following a young princess, heir to the throne. She is the only one of the queen's descendants who is able to use magic -- but, instead of bending to the will of her family when sent on a quest, she rebels against her society's norms.
I'm.... mixed on this one. I really liked the art. The colors lent themselves really well to the fantastical setting, and I think the drawings helped really immerse you in the world -- which I appreciated, because otherwise I honestly didn't find too much about this one to draw me in. The relationship between the princess and the healer was the other part I wanted to hear more on. Their ending was sweet but I wished for more closure.
As far as the story goes, I found it intriguing, but at times quite flat. I honestly think I'll be seeking out the original Spanish because the tone of this translation didn't really help pull me in... I'm curious whether that was an effect of the translation process. I find often translation can smooth out the more compelling "vibes" of the story if not done extremely well, so I'd love to read the original and see if the same tone is present there too. It wouldn't surprise me: I would be 100% unsurprised to find out the tone is intentionally literary and aloof. It came off almost archaic to me. I think it works with the setting, but it's not for me.
I'd recommend to fantasy fans, folks looking for a subtle WLW story in an unfamiliar but fun setting, and fans of beautiful, fresh art who can let that carry them through a less compelling story.
2.5 rounded down. Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
I was super excited to see this one -- Albertalli's other works and particularly Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda helped me come to peace with my o4.0
I was super excited to see this one -- Albertalli's other works and particularly Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda helped me come to peace with my own identity as a high schooler. I'm also a huge fan of books that explore internet fame, parasocial relationships, etc. So... Albertalli + wlw + exploration of YouTube fame? I was 100% in from the start.
I do think the first ~60% of the book dragged a tad and was quite predictable. I also think that's kind of the point. Amelia is the ONLY one in her life who doesn't get what's happening around her and her friends are like, "yes we get it," and honestly? I've been there. It's so real. I think the slow start worked out pretty well, but teens might be less inclined to push through it than some of Albertalli's other books. I certainly wasn't as drawn in as I have been in the past.
Once the action began to pick up, though, I flew through this one. Particularly enjoyed Walter's character (& the way Albertalli uses him to comment on parasocial relationships, queerbaiting & whatever that has been twisted to mean, and chronically-online shipping discourse. I'm reading it as a commentary on her own experience coming out. Huge power move on her part and so incredibly necessary). Also a big fan of the way Albertalli's characters FEEL so high-school. Like, at times over the top, at times a bit exaggerated? Yes. But also -- I saw a lot of what was bouncing around in my own tumblr high school brain reflected here. I also loveeeed Zora's verb tense thing. Such a fun character quirk. Big fan.
Overall, recommended, especially for preexisting Albertalli fans. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
(english) This charming bilingual picture book follows a young girl and her older sister on a hot, then rainy day out. Kids will discover the value of (english) This charming bilingual picture book follows a young girl and her older sister on a hot, then rainy day out. Kids will discover the value of flexibility and resilience as they read about the sisters' plans -- and what ends up happening instead. The characters are not named, which I appreciated as a narrative choice: reading it, I was able to imagine myself as the older girl, zipping my own little sister around town in the way we used to as kids. So cute!
With vibrant illustrations and short, catchy parallel text in Spanish & English (& the Spanish text is centered!), it's a good choice for a Family or Weather storytime. I'm excited to share this with the families who attend my Spanish/English storytime.
5 stars. I received this book from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books in exchange for an honest review.
(±ð²õ±è²¹Ã±´Ç±ô) Este encantador libro ilustrado bilingüe sigue una niña y su hermana mayor durante un dÃa caluroso y eventualmente lluvioso. Los niños pueden descubrir el valor de la flexibilidad y la resiliencia al leer sobre los planes de las dos hermanas -- y lo que sucede en cambio. No se presenta nombres para las hermanas, una elección narrativa que me gustó mucho. Mientras lo leÃa, me imaginaba a mà mismo siendo la hermana mayor, paseando por la ciudad con mi hermanita como hicimos de niñas. ¡Que lindo!
The Unmapping follows Esme and Arjun, coworkers in NYC's emergency management department, who find themselves in the midst of social ch3.5, rounded up
The Unmapping follows Esme and Arjun, coworkers in NYC's emergency management department, who find themselves in the midst of social chaos after New York's buildings begin to rearrange nightly. On top of their work responsibilities -- greatly augmented by the number of missing/lost people and the disasters caused by the buildings' movements, as well as growing social unrest -- Esme's searching for her missing fiance, and Arjun's searching for a place he can feel useful and wanted. The novel also follows an entire cast of supporting characters whose stories are at once connected and completely disparate from Esme and Arjun: the mayor, a stranded young boy, a news reporter, and so many more. It follows Esme & Arjun & this supporting cast and also, simultaneously, somehow, the story of all of New York City.
This book seemed like it would be perfect for me --and I did enjoy reading it, and I can't figure out WHY it didn't quite blow me away. The writing was a great blend of conversational and literary: very accessible. The concept of the Unmapping itself: surreal, funky, and somehow just believable enough. It's a story about climate change, and cults, and the structural misuse of power, and the power of the citizen, and work-life balance, and individual stories in a mass panic. All things I'm super into.
That said, it wasn't quiiiiite it for me. I don't know why: maybe I wished for a little more quirk, or maybe I was too annoyed with the frustrating, but understandable decisions the characters (particularly Esme and Arjun, but all of them) kept making. Ultimately I think I went into it thinking it would be So For Me and it was, but the expectations were maybe a little high on my end.
Regardless, I will absolutely be recommending this book. At the end of the day it wasn't perfect for me, but it was beautiful, interesting, and really relevant -- and I enjoyed it! (I will be seeking out more of Robbins' work because I think she's probably got other stories that will resonate with me more.)
Thanks to Bindery Press & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
I'd describe Yellow Singing Sail as a sweet, quick read with beautiful art and interesting insights into what childhood was like for the author liv3.o
I'd describe Yellow Singing Sail as a sweet, quick read with beautiful art and interesting insights into what childhood was like for the author living and attending elementary/middle school in 1990s China. I really resonated with the art style: the orange and green palette made this stand out from other graphic novels where the color can feel overwhelming, and the softness of the illustrations gave the story a sweet, nostalgic tint, like a memory. I think that this helped the illustrations reflect the reflective and gentle tone of the memoir.
I will say that I felt this memoir was quite surface-level, and I often found myself wishing for much more. I wanted to know more about the friend Yinfan makes and bikes with. The scene set at the military camp was so striking, and I wished we'd lingered there longer. Even some of the descriptions of and interactions with Yinfan's family members, particularly the aunt with whom her family lives for some time after moving to Guangzhou, felt a little too rushed for me. I did really appreciate the exploration of the various dialects spoken in the various communities Yinfan is part of, and particularly the transformation Cantonese makes: beginning as a language associated with crass humor because the numbers 9 and 10 sound like the Mandarin for dog poop, it transitions to represent the "cool kids" when Yinfan starts at a middle school where more students speak Cantonese at home. Again, though, I wished to delve more into this topic through Yinfan's eyes.
All said, I would probably best recommend this to an older elementary student or a younger middle schooler who's interested in learning about other cultures in a slice-of-life, memory-based way.
Thanks, NetGalley and Kids Can Press, for the eARC....more
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