When I’m heartbroken, I write. I write all the things I can’t say. I write as a way to soothe my aching heart. Writing is my way of scBook 344 of 2021
When I’m heartbroken, I write. I write all the things I can’t say. I write as a way to soothe my aching heart. Writing is my way of screaming into the void. Writing numbs the pain to an extent. The pain takes many forms, but does it ever go away? After writing, for the most part, I tuck away the evidence of my pain � away from the world because my pain is mine alone.
Omolara Agbaje gave her pain shape with words and gave them a home in this book. This book is a memoir in letters, unsent letters to the recipient of her unrequited love. I flipped the pages of this book asking an unseen author, “Are you me?� It was wild how much I could relate to what was written in this book, and it made me cry so much. I haven’t bawled my eyes out to a book in a hot minute so it was a refreshing and much-needed cry.
This is a collection of letters and vignettes that reflect pain, heartbreak, and the struggle that is ‘moving on�. Moving on is hard and time does not, in fact, heal all wounds. Heartbreak and the grief that comes with it are so wild. It could be days, weeks, and months, and you think you’re okay, but one little trigger and you’re undone again.
We pick up and get used to so much during the process of falling in love. You don’t just fall in love with a person; you fall in love with their essence and everything that makes them what they are. You get used to their presence, you get used to talking to them every day. Something happens and they’re the first person you want to tell (this is when I know I’m gone, tbh). Then that love is ripped out from your heart and you’re falling into a chasm of pain and what next? How do you stop yourself from texting/calling them because it’s now become a reflex action? How do you do the things you associate with them without thinking of them and getting hurt all over again? For years after a breakup, I couldn’t listen to a particular song because I would just break down in tears. This was a dancehall song, btw. Pain is crazy.
Omolara Agbaje wrote about all of this with such finesse and when I say I could relate, I mean I could relate. Wholeheartedly. This book took my heart and squeezed it and it did not let go for one second. I was in tears for more than half of the book.
So should I say “TW: Heartbreak and unresolved trauma�?
This was a well-written collection that I related to heavily and connected with emotionally. It’s the emotional connection for me....more
Many thanks to Rebel Girls for inviting me to read a digital ARC of this book via Netgalley! I’m a fan of biography vignettes like thiBook 273 of 2021
Many thanks to Rebel Girls for inviting me to read a digital ARC of this book via Netgalley! I’m a fan of biography vignettes like this one that showcases women being amazing in whatever they choose to do! When I saw that this one was themed “Black Girl Magic�, I knew I just had to read it ASAP! I read it in one sitting and I fell head over heels in one.
This book shone in so many ways, like- The foreword: I love that when they decided to do a Black Girl Magic themed edition, they acknowledged the creator of the term, CaShawn A Thompson, and invited her to write a heartwarming foreword.
The diversity/inclusivity: This is a list of black women, but even within that frame, this list is very diverse! They didn’t just feature black women from the Western world/ Global North, but they included black women from so many parts of the world, and of various heritages. There are African women, Afro-Latinx women, black Asian women, and so many more. They also included trans women in the list of 100 and that warmed my heart so much!
The illustrations and illustrators: The illustrations in this book were drawn by women and nonbinary people from various parts of the world, including Nigeria! The illustrations vary in style and give the book just a vibrant feel.
The writing: Apart from the illustration in each entry, the writing is also very worthy of applause. In a limited number of words, they were able to encapsulate a lot of the women’s lives and write it in a way that’s empowering to young readers.
After reading the list of 100+ women, I was wondering where some iconic black women were, and why they were left out of this list, but at the end of the list of 100, there is a section that features black women featured in other Rebel Girls series and I found that so cool! There is also a section at the end for readers to write about themselves and that’s really great.
This is such an amazing book that I will recommend a million times over....more
This was a beautifully done book. I enjoyed the plot, the stakes, the characters, and the writing. The writing was vivid and sucked meBook 257 of 2021
This was a beautifully done book. I enjoyed the plot, the stakes, the characters, and the writing. The writing was vivid and sucked me in. In a time when I wasn't reading any paperbacks, this one had me going back to it every chance I got.
Dahlia is the main character of this book, and just like most characters in this book, she's complicated. She isn't inherently good or bad, and to some extent she's selfish. But it's a selfishness borne of desperation because she's fighting for her life and freedom. She's light skinned enough to pass as white, but she's the daughter of a slave and after her chance escape, her father/master sends a bounty hunter after her. She has to take some steps to ensure her survival.
The story is told through two POVs. Dahlia's first person POV and Bo's third person POV.
Bo Carter is a childhood friend of Dahlia's and they grew up on the Holt plantation together. After Dahlia became a house slave, her friendship with Bo was forbidden, but their feelings for each other could never be denied.
Life, reality, and so many years passed by and took their toll on Dahlia and Bo. They change, their circumstances change, and the dynamics between then change as well.
This was a heavy read to some extent. Lots of serious, dark, and heavy themes, scenes, and subject matters were covered over the course of this book and might be triggering to readers.
Fans of slave era historical fiction like Conjure Women, and books that heavily feature a black woman passing as a white woman like The Vanishing Half will love this book.
The book isn't without it's issues, and the biggest one for me was the ending. I wasn't expecting a tidy good triumphs over evil ending, but I feel like we should have gotten some closure to some plot points.
✨✨
I was provided with a copy for review purposes.. this in no way affected my voluntarily written review....more
I just finished this beauty of a book and wow. This was so well written and well crafted.
Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré is Book 205 of 2021
I just finished this beauty of a book and wow. This was so well written and well crafted.
Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré is a middle grade fantasy set in Nigeria, and everyone needs to read it ASAP.
This book is a beautiful mix of family, complicated relationships, the beauty of communal rural life, Yoruba tradition, mythology, and culture, friendship, and the inquisitive nature of children.
I loved reading this a lot and it was a great experience for me. I have always been enthralled with Yoruba mythology and seeing it displayed so well in this book.
Simi is shipped off to her grandmother's village while her mother goes to the UK for a work engagement. She arrives there and it's nothing like Lagos, with no electricity, phone service, or running water. We see different scenes where Simi is learning to adjust to rural life.
There is a running mystery at the heart of the book, tied to a strange lake that swallows children. Some people believe that it is Oshun taking children, while others who have modernized views and no longer believe in Oshun think that children are sinking in the quicksand.
There were many other questions that popped up in my head while I was reading, the top one being - what caused the rift between Simi's mother and Simi's grandma?
I really enjoyed reading all the mysteries and how it all tied into two Yoruba goddesses - Oya and Oshun. I also love that all my questions where answered by the end of the book. I loved the ending a lot.
Another part of this book that shone is the characters. They were so fun and made the book really interesting to read. The writing was so so good and the author knows her onions!
I enjoyed reading this a lot and highly recommend it.
This was a whirlwind read, and I’m grateful to Atria Books for my digital review copy in exchange for an impartial review.
The Book 112 of 2021
3.5 �
This was a whirlwind read, and I’m grateful to Atria Books for my digital review copy in exchange for an impartial review.
The Other Black Girl is primarily set in the workplace, and the reason for this is understood as the story unfolds. I read it all in one day, and I couldn’t put it down � it was a book with powerful themes. Nella is the only black girl working at Wagner Books, a publishing company. When Hazel, another black girl, starts at the company, Nella is over the roof.
Hazel is her new ally and friend in the office, and she feels like she’s found a confidante in Hazel. After taking Hazel’s advice on an issue and having it blow up in her face, she’s sure there’s a logical explanation. Suddenly, she’s receiving notes threatening her to leave Wagner or face the consequences. What could be happening?
This book was a rollercoaster, to say the least. I can’t say much about the plot and my thoughts about the characters without giving a lot away. I loved the writing. The plot was well paced. It was written in a nonlinear timeline, with various chapters taking place over different points in time, and told from different characters� points of view.
The mysteries were well developed and I enjoyed the twists, turns, and big reveals.
At the heart of this book is a story about black women in the workplace, the struggles they face, the adversities stacked against them, and the lengths they will go to make it to the top. This book is compared to Get Out in the blurb and it wasn’t a reach at all.
Many thanks to Oni Press, Crystal Frasier, and Netgalley for my DRC of Cheer Up in exchange for an impartial review.
Cheer Up tells the story of Bebe, Many thanks to Oni Press, Crystal Frasier, and Netgalley for my DRC of Cheer Up in exchange for an impartial review.
Cheer Up tells the story of Bebe, a girl who recently made the transition from being a boy. In many ways, Cheer Up deals with different forms of transphobia, and is also a celebration of trans identity.
We see Bebe deal with blatant transphobia from strangers and people in her school; and we also see her deal with subtle transphobia from people who don't even know their actions are transphobic.
This is a story of growth and self acceptance, and I love the character development in this graphic novel. It was pretty short and some things felt rushed but it was still very well done.
I absolutely enjoyed the friendship and romance between Bebe and Annie, and the questions that came up about sexuality.
The illustrations in this graphic novel were simply divine and I wholeheartedly love them.
I enjoyed this and definitely recommend it....more
First read - Book 71 of 2021 Second read - Book 252 of 2021
Full review: Ace of Spades is a YA Thriller/Dark Academia novel by debut author Faridah AbikeFirst read - Book 71 of 2021 Second read - Book 252 of 2021
Full review: Ace of Spades is a YA Thriller/Dark Academia novel by debut author Faridah Abike-Iyimide. It is such an amazing book and I love EVERYTHING about this book! Set in and around Niveus Academy, an elite school with a mostly white student body, it is marketed as “Gossip Girl meets Get Out� and boy, is that apt?
Students at Niveus are on a set path to top colleges and sterling career. The book revolves around Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, the only black students at NA, and the story is told from their alternating first-person perspectives. The book kicks off on the first day of their senior year, and what starts out as the perfect year soon comes crashing down. An anonymous texter only known as “Aces� starts spilling secrets about the student body, targeting Dev and Chi.
A black boy from the poor side of town and only at NA thanks to a scholarship, Devon has plans of going on to Julliard to study music. He’s a recluse at school and his only friend is his childhood friend Jack, a white boy who’s also a scholarship recipient. He has many secrets that Aces is quick to spill, and that not only messes up his school life, but his home and romantic life as well. Dev is one of my favorite characters in this book, and I love how he was used by the author to represent black boyhood and resilience in the midst of adversity.
Queen bee and total badass, Chiamaka knows what she wants and does whatever is needed to get it! She is my absolute favorite and I love everything about her. She’s the daughter of a Nigerian mom and an Italian dad and she’s loaded, with hella designer items in her wardrobe. I love that she is not a damsel in distress or a perfect girl with a squeaky-clean background. She is mean and she is devious and she is cut-throat, and she is not sorry about it. She’s also very sweet and amazing to the people in her corner so there’s that. She has the most plastic friends and she knows it, but as long as she’s on top and they know who the HBIC is, she’s Gucci. She has the deepest and darkest secrets of all, and she’s not ready to let them get out.
Circumstances force Dev and Chi together, and an unlikely friendship is formed as they come together to try and take down Aces. Towards the end, the book takes on a very dark turn and the mystery gets super scary. I had a lot of guesses about what was going on, and while I was right about some of them, I was so unprepared for what was actually going on in this book.
I loved the topics brought up in this book. As a YA novel set in a school, there’s a lot of teenage drama, which is not overdone or cringeworthy. The book takes a deep dive into race and racism, and just how wide the network of white supremacy is. Other issues like life in the hood, changing yourself to fit in, toxic friendships and relationships, and incarceration are discussed in this book.
This book is amazing and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. It’s out in June, so you know what to do!
Initial reaction upon completion : It is a couple of minutes to 4am where I live right now and I just finished this perfection of a book. Whoa. I loved this book s damn much yo! I was not able to put it down.
I need to sleep now and will try to write something close to a review in the morning....more
5 beautiful stars for Tarisai Kunleo, Empress Redemptor.
Very many thanks to Abrams Books for making my dreams come true by giving me tBook 86 of 2021
5 beautiful stars for Tarisai Kunleo, Empress Redemptor.
Very many thanks to Abrams Books for making my dreams come true by giving me the opportunity to read this book SO early on via Netgalley. Raybearer is one of my favorite 2020 reads, and I was so hyped for this book. fun fact, I also got to listen to an audiobook of Raybearer early, back in July thanks to Blacksone Audio via Netgalley. I love Raybearer a lot and Redemptor did not disappoint.
This was an action-packed and emotion-filled book, and Raybearer got a well-deserved sequel. From the opening chapter, Jordan Ifueko brought us up to speed with how the first book ended, and in a couple of pages, the action was underway. This book introduced a myriad of new characters, and elevated the importance of some characters (much like how a series takes a character from recurring to regular) by giving them a prominent storyline or making them more integral to the central storyline. I loved some of the characters and hated others.
SO MANY important themes were discussed in this book. With Tar and her council siblings at the helm of power, they are exposed to the unjustness of the ruling system and the divide between the rich and the poor. Tar is especially sympathetic towards the plight of the poor. Depression and anxiety are also examined through a very unique angle with the use of the ‘ojiji�. It broke my heart for Tar, but also warmed my heart the way the author handled it. Dayo’s asexuality was also explored more in this book. Family, friendship, love, loyalty, sacrifice, grief, loss, healing, and a number of other themes were also key to Redemptor.
Tar’s journey towards creating her own council was tough and filled with bumps, and the author added a very unique twist at the beginning of it. My poor baby Tar had to deal with a lot in this book, and she faced a lot of fears and inner demons. Her journey in this book was so awe-inspiring and motivating. I learnt a lot from Tar and this book just elevated her status on my list of favorite book heroines.
A lot about the past and history of the Kunleo family and the powers they possessed were examined in this book. We also learnt more about the ‘abiku� and the first Treaty.
This book made me laugh, cry, swoon, giggle, get hurt, scream, and fall in love. The action and pacing were great, the characters were exquisite, and the writing was excellent. Just as with Raybearer, this book was infused with so many beautiful aspects of West African (especially Yoruba) culture.
If you thought I loved Raybearer and wouldn’t shut up about it before, my Redemptor campaign would ecen be more massive. Out on the 17th of August, I want everyone to preorder this and I can’t wait for you all to love it as much as I do....more
Kaleidoscope of Creatures Written by Cath Ard Illustrated by Greer Stothers
Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group � Wide Eyed Editions forKaleidoscope of Creatures Written by Cath Ard Illustrated by Greer Stothers
Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group � Wide Eyed Editions for my DRC of this book in exchange for an impartial review. This review was written voluntarily and all opinions herein are my own.
I loved this so much. Even before reading it � just by seeing the cover and blurb, I knew I was going to love it and that’s why I requested it. It was a very informative, vibrant, and exciting book to read, and it’s a great resource for all readers � especially young readers.
SO MUCH research went into this book, and it’s really clear to see. This book essentially details, explores, and explains why animals appear the way they do. Why are some animals striped or spotted? Why are some animals green, yellow, or pink? Why do some have fur or scales? I personally learnt a lot from this book, and it’s a resource I’ll be holding on to for a long time.
The illustrations are top notch! They are really vivid and detailed, and the text is legible as well. I appreciate the index in the back, as it has a list of all animals mentioned and the pages you can find them.
Title: Long Way Down Author: Jason Reynolds Rating: � � � � � Pub Date: 13 Oct 2020
Many thanks to Hear Our Voices Tour, Simon & Schuster, and Athenem/CTitle: Long Way Down Author: Jason Reynolds Rating: � � � � � Pub Date: 13 Oct 2020
Many thanks to Hear Our Voices Tour, Simon & Schuster, and Athenem/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books for my gifted e-ARC.
This was a powerful and heartbreaking loss about a loss of a brother and the quest for revenge. Will and his mom try to deal with Shawn’s loss to gang rivalry in different ways � his mom turns to bottles and Will gets out Shawn’s gun to go kill who he believes was responsible for Shawn’s death. On his way, he gets into the elevator and during the long ride down, different people come on and they give Will new perspectives and insights.
The peculiar thing about all the fellow passengers is that they’re all dead. They all died as a result of gun violence and gang rivalry, and they’re all related to Will in one way or another. I won’t be giving any more spoilers to who the passengers are, you’ll have to read for yourself to find out. I’m really glad I read this and I believe everyone else should read it, because it’s so important.
One of the central points in this book is a set of rules that’s supposed to guide your reaction to a person getting shot/killed. I felt it was very full of toxic masculinity, as crying is supposed to be a natural and welcome reaction to death and loss.
The illustrations in this book were very beautiful, graphic, and detailed. I highly recommend this book, and everyone should check it out!...more
Many thanks to Netgalley and Rebel Girls for my DRC of this book in exchange for an impartial review. This review was written voluntarily and all opinMany thanks to Netgalley and Rebel Girls for my DRC of this book in exchange for an impartial review. This review was written voluntarily and all opinions herein are my own.
I have had a couple of Rebel Girls books on my TBR for a while now, and I was glad to see this one on Netgalley. I read it and really enjoyed it. It reminded me of books like She Represents by Caitlin Donohue and Nevertheless, She Wore It by Ann Shen.
As the title suggests, this book features 25 amazing women who have broken/ are breaking glass ceilings in spite of their gender, sexuality, religion, and race. I love how the author(s) gave insight into each woman’s background, and ended each entry with their most prominent achievement. I love this as a resource for young readers because it teaches them that they can achieve anything regardless of the color of their skin. This book was really diverse, and I highly appreciate that.
The illustrations were so vivid and detailed, and they made the book really fun to read. I enjoyed this one and I highly recommend it....more
Many thanks to Netgalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for my digital review copy of this book in exchange for aExpected Publication: 21st June 2021
Many thanks to Netgalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for my digital review copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review. This review was written voluntarily and all opinions herein are my own.
I saw this book on Netgalley while browsing through and I was like, "what?! A book about various gender identities for the youngest demographic of readers?! Yes, please". It reminded me a lot of The ABC's of LGBT+ and I knew I wanted to read it ASAP! Luckily it was available to "Read Now" and I got it immediately.
The book is very colorful and amazing, with 26 gender identities listed within it. This is SUCH an important resource to teach kids that gender is a wide spectrum and definitely goes beyond the female-male binary. I also believe that this is a great resource for people of every age, especially if they are just being introduced to the idea of a gender spectrum or just need to do more reading. I myself discovered identities like "Kynigender" and "Yinyang Ren" for the first time.
Many thanks to Netgally and Harper Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook inExpected Pub Day: Jan 21 2021
3.5 stars rounded up!
Many thanks to Netgally and Harper Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review. This review was written voluntarily and all opinions herein are my own.
Look, when I saw the blurb of this book, I knew it was something I'd want to read because it was right up my alley! I put in a request immediately and when I got the approval email, I was so excited. I went into this with a lot of expectations, and it mostly lived up to them. This is my first C.L. Taylor book, and I might just check out more in coming months.
This book was well written with an insane amount of adventure and it messes with your mind. I was really invested in the mystery and wanted so desperately to get to the end of things. It started on such a high and there was so much mystery built around the characters which ultimately fell flat for me. I would have enjoyed a different and darker ending, but at the end of the day I also appreciate the issues the author brought to light though the ending. Issues such as PTSD, dealing with the death of a loved one, and feeling left out were highlighted throughout the book.
I had a lot of trouble connecting to the characters and I can't even say for certain if there was any racial diversity among the friends. They all seemed to me like a bunch of spoilt rich kids whining the week away.
The blurb also seemed to oversell the mystery of the book. The mystery and events of the book are strong enough to keep the reader immersed - I could not put it down at all. I expected something very different going in, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story I got.
If you're looking for a fun and fast paced YA Thriller, I can definitely recommend this one!...more
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