Are! You! Kidding! Me! This was so cute I actually started tearing up–multiple times. I cannot get over how healthy the pairing was! Each character devAre! You! Kidding! Me! This was so cute I actually started tearing up–multiple times. I cannot get over how healthy the pairing was! Each character developed through motivation from their partner AND themselves to be their best self. Pass me the tissue, I can’t handle such beauty. I will say that I wasn’t wild about the climax (or relative lack thereof). But, then again, I felt this book and Chloe & Red’s relationship was too solid for unnecessary ~drama~. This will 100% be a re-read in the future. I need more Redford Morgan in my life. Can’t wait to continue the series!...more
e-ARC provided by Oni Press in exchange for an honest review It's common knowledge amongst my friends, family, and many people who watch my videos thate-ARC provided by Oni Press in exchange for an honest review It's common knowledge amongst my friends, family, and many people who watch my videos that I'm more than a little in love with the Tea Dragon series. Katie O'Neill's art style is my absolute favorite of all time. I love the dreamy, cozy atmosphere and the soothing color palette. I love the wholesome characters and, most of all, the tea dragons. (I even bought myself a Chamomile plushie because I am a responsible adult who wants to pretend she lives in a fictional world.) All of these wonderful qualities are present in The Tea Dragon Tapestry, the conclusion to the series. It's like living inside of an autumnal paradise. The one thing that was lacking, unfortunately, was the plot. These graphic novels aren't plot-heavy to begin with. They are a lovely, meandering walk through a central theme. In this conclusion's case, that theme is growing from loss and finding a new purpose, which I loved. However, especially as this was a conclusion, I didn't feel like everything was explored enough. We get glimpses into characters' struggle with finding a purpose and ultimately get an epilogue with how everything pans out - but we don't get much of the internal journey. I wasn't satisfied. This is a middle grade graphic novel, and I'm nitpicking! I do ultimately 100% recommend this entire series....more
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. More addictive than if it was a real Netflix show! I'm not usually a fan of books about ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. More addictive than if it was a real Netflix show! I'm not usually a fan of books about famous people, but this was an exception as we focus on the main characters actually doing their jobs rather than just being ~famous~. I loved that both characters were unabashedly ambitious and took their work seriously. Though the show they were filming was pretty cheesy and definitely cliche at times, I could forgive that due to the wonderful behind-the-scenes tension (the kissing choreography killed me). The ending somehow dragged while also wrapping up a little bit too quickly? But I still highly enjoyed my time with Jasmine and Ashton! I am for sure going to dive into Alexis Daria's backlist ASAP....more
[Book #5 for my grad school YA class: our own choice of realistic fiction book!] This was such a delight to read! I honestly couldn't put it down and h[Book #5 for my grad school YA class: our own choice of realistic fiction book!] This was such a delight to read! I honestly couldn't put it down and had a smile on my face for most of it. Totally recommend it if you are looking for a fluffier contemporary that still has a great message and representation!...more
This was phenomenal. I've been a big fan of graphic memoirs ever since reading Persepolis, and this book is the perfect example of why.
We follow a fouThis was phenomenal. I've been a big fan of graphic memoirs ever since reading Persepolis, and this book is the perfect example of why.
We follow a four-year-old George Takei and his family as they are forced into concentration camps during WWII because of their Japanese ancestry. Seeing this all through a young child's eyes was even more heart-wrenching. While his parents are just trying to get through the day and keep their family safe, young George and his brother Henry think they are going on a vacation or an adventure. Through flash forwards from the '40s to present day, we see the repercussions this terrible experience has on George as he finds his voice while processing what his country put him through.
We are also shown the repercussions this period has on American politics. Our history books are notoriously white-washed, never delving into the parts of our past that makes white Americans look like the "bad guys." For example, I was never taught about these American concentration camps in my public school history class, though we spent every year of middle and high school learning about those in Europe. Takei touches on that throughout this graphic memoir. He desperately tries to research his past, though no book makes any mention of it. America has pushed this period of its history under a rug, thereby silencing all those who were there to witness it. Only through stories from his father, was he able to process the atrocities they went through.
As we never fully addressed this atrocity (or hundreds more that we committed), we are thereby doomed to repeat them. This is evident by the last couple of pages, which illustrate ICE detention centers along the U.S.-Mexico border and Trump's 2018 ban on immigration from Muslim countries.
I thought this was an excellent graphic memoir that should be required reading in history classes! I highly suggest you also check out George Takei's TED Talks on YouTube....more
Angie Thomas and Nic Stone recommended this book in a recent Instagram live, so of course I picked it up. When I started this, I was naïve in thinking Angie Thomas and Nic Stone recommended this book in a recent Instagram live, so of course I picked it up. When I started this, I was naïve in thinking that such a short book would not have much of an impact. I'm happy to report that it totally did. (I teared up multiple times.) Our main character, Bobby, is a teenage single father - a perspective I've never read from. There are no stereotypes or stigma placed on him. Instead, this is a tenderhearted look into his life before and after his daughter is born. It's told non-chronologically (as you could probably decipher from the title), switching between before and after the birth. This allows us to see Bobby's internal battle of wanting to stay a carefree kid but also wanting to be there for his baby, whom he has come to fiercely love. I love that this young father's relationship with his child was at the forefront, but we were still given snapshots of the rest of his life. This was a perfect example of showing the important aspects rather than telling. I feel really satisfied after reading this book, which doesn't often happen. Recommend!...more
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