en-US Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:59:59 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7488886542 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:59:59 -0700 /review/show/7488886542 Sirah gave 4 stars to The Whispering Witch (Hardcover) by Lee J Mavin
Once upon a time, the land was mostly sad and ruined. But then the Whispering Witch came, and she brought the world back to life. But the old folks didn't like change, and they blamed her for forcing them to do things differently. So the Witch spoke to the children instead.

This book isn't shy about saying exactly what it wants. I don't think that's a bad thing since environmental justice is imminent and important to us all. But I did find it oddly incongruent that this book creates a fantasy setting that's ideally suited to a metaphor, but instead of working with that more gently, it just said exactly what it would say if there hadn't been any magic involved. I would still give this book 5 stars except that it really missed out on the opportunity to use the lyricism that it had. Line breaks were haphazard, repetitions felt accidental, and the tone felt a little too much like a whisper to match with the message's powerful call to action. The artwork is gorgeous, which is wonderful in one way, but it also served to show the limits of the narration.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has noticed that the world isn't as it should be and is wondering if we can make a difference. We might not have whisper magic, but we will become the adults of the future.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own. ]]> Review7491497805 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:48:37 -0700 /review/show/7491497805 Sirah gave 5 stars to Imaginary Heroes (Paperback) by Michael Seidelman
Matthew would just like the school bullies to stop mocking his tics and leave him and his Tourette's alone, but one day, they chase him until they all find themselves trapped underground. With no better options, they begin to explore, eventually discovering some sinister secrets, including man-eating slime. Learning to work together won't be enough unless the others realize that there's more to Matthew's imaginary friends than pure fiction.

What a wild ride! I love that the protagonist thoughtfully explains Tourette's without breaking the flow of the story. But this book is about so much more than mere representation. It's action-packed from beginning to end, with great characters and a creative premise. I had a lot of fun reading it, and I hope there will be more. ]]> ReadStatus9319851348 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:37:42 -0700 /review/show/7466610160 Sirah started reading The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella
]]> ReadStatus9318826596 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 02:57:04 -0700 /review/show/7495485209 Sirah has read Yotsuba&!, Vol. 4 by Kiyohiko Azuma
]]> ReadStatus9317927858 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:19:10 -0700 /review/show/7494868275 Sirah wants to read Useless Etymology: Offbeat Word Origins for Curious Minds by Jess Zafarris
]]> UserFollowing325526800 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:18:24 -0700 /user/show/157813961-alli-sue Sirah is now following Alli Sue ]]> Review7472629623 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:17:24 -0700 /review/show/7472629623 Sirah gave 5 stars to Leo and the Magic Guitar of the Ozarks (ebook) by Tsvi Jolles
Facing the difficulty of few friends and a scary financial situation at home, Leo receives a very special birthday present. His uncle sends him a guitar, and when Leo plays with his heart, music legends appear in his room to comment and give advice, guiding Leo through some of life's turbulent crises and helping him find the magic that was inside him all along.

Honestly, a really fun concept. The musical artists who show up when Leo plays his guitar are close enough to how I've always pictured them that this book doesn't feel like too much of a stretch. Leo is a fun character, and the mix of Spanish and English in this book makes it a unique reading experience. I'm excited for book 2! ]]> ReadStatus9317920353 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:17:10 -0700 /review/show/7472638650 Sirah started reading Leo and the Crazy Genre Hotel by Tsvi Jolles
]]> Review7472629623 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:14:22 -0700 /review/show/7472629623 Sirah gave 5 stars to Leo and the Magic Guitar of the Ozarks (ebook) by Tsvi Jolles
Facing the difficulty of few friends and a scary financial situation at home, Leo receives a very special birthday present. His uncle sends him a guitar, and when Leo plays with his heart, music legends appear in his room to comment and give advice, guiding Leo through some of life's turbulent crises and helping him find the magic that was inside him all along.

Honestly, a really fun concept. The musical artists who show up when Leo plays his guitar are close enough to how I've always pictured them that this book doesn't feel like too much of a stretch. Leo is a fun character, and the mix of Spanish and English in this book makes it a unique reading experience. I'm excited for book 2! ]]> ReadStatus9316545156 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:16:34 -0700 /review/show/5353452512 Sirah started reading Doodleville by Chad Sell
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