Katrina

I can't even tell you how many times I listened to this as a kid. This took me back and I loved it! There are a few lines here and there that didn't age particularly well, but tbh this book is kind of hard core. And for multiple plot threads wrapping up neatly? Can't be beat.

I had some very visceral reactions to this story. The ghoulish horror parts are, indeed, horrible. It's just that the real life parts impart their own particular horror, so there's no quarter. My favorite part of this story is Jake finding his strength. A darkly inspiring read, overall.

A difficult topic, but well done. It's clear a lot of research and personal history went into the making of this book.

Mmmm. Bit dark for me. It just didn't feel like Nancy.

This was just such a touching story. I loved the art, and I loved the love.

3.5 rounding up. It took me a bit to get into, but at the end of the day this was a unique read with some really heartfelt moments. There's everything from teen drama to serious consideration of mortality and afterlife. The characters kind of grabbed me at some point, and I think they'll stick with me for a bit.

Loved the art and the mc. I think the plot got a little lost in the sauce sometimes, but I liked the way it ended.

Very cute. Took me a little bit of adjustment for London slang, but overall fairly adorable with engaging characters.

Thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for the alc!

This was a great narration of an impressive set of essays. I appreciated the work overall, and was particularly interested in the thoughtful exploration of the Israel/Palestine conflict. It definitely gives you a lot to think about. Would recommend.

Another very thoughtful and romantic verse novel focused on young people and the environment.

I wanted to like it more than I did. All of the imagery (although some of it was very effective) was so drawn out I got bored. This is one of those books where the teenagers don't act like normal teenagers. Which is understandable in the scope of the genre, but it also meant I couldn't really connect with them. Idk. I definitely feel that some readers will adore this book and I hope those readers find it! It just wasn't my cup of tea.

A broad but clear overview of the history of labor in the US. I appreciated the tone and the short, engaging chapters. There's a lot here for a teen (or any working person) to consider.

I'm not sure how to rate this because I was sick to my stomach/crying/raging the whole time I was reading it. A powerful fever dream of a story that I can't really explain right now but I do recommend it, especially if you were ever remotely interested or invested in any of King's previous work.

An emotional overview of book banning efforts and the teens who are being directly affected by them. I think it comes off a bit “nail on the head” for people who are familiar with the ongoing fight against censorship, but I also think teens will find it inspiring and enlightening.

A mental road trip with all the same thrills and frustrations. While the author's character was occasionally distasteful to me, his writing is engaging and honest.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the alc!
Very cute, as advertised. Great rep, great chemistry. Readers of contemporary romance will enjoy it more than I personally did.

I loved the ending so much that I wish I had enjoyed the journey a bit more. Tegen and Zelda are great characters, realistically frustrating and also adorable. Overall I found it a bit depressing and sometimes repetitive. That being said, this was an engaging and well-written story that's a little more high concept. I think a lot of teens would really enjoy it.

Yup, count me in. Book 1 is such a cliff hanger and I want more! The story is exciting, dangerous, and creative. The art is fantastic. It reminds me of a tech-based Alice in Wonderland with higher stakes. Kind of scary, and very engaging.

Engaging story about a diverse group of young people coming together to resist corruption and work to make their city more livable for all. Rather inspiring honestly, and I loved the art.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the alc!

I will happily recommend this to older teens looking for a magical story with some bite. The audio production was very engaging and I was definitely rooting for Malik. That being said I thought it got a bit repetitive, and I was a little disappointed about how the mystery unfolded. It's still nice to see a fierce Black boy get to do awesome stuff at a magical HBCU!

An inspiration. Lovely and often searing poetry accompanied by gorgeous art.

Thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for the alc!

I enjoyed this listen, I just wanted a little more. A little more thrill, a little more romance, a little more character development. A little more something. I was interested in the story, although I did feel it got a little repetitive at times.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the alc!

I am a sucker for historical fantasy, especially if there's a weird little romance going on. This book was set in a fascinating albeit terrifying era, and I thought Bardugo's historical detail was really well done. I also really liked how she handled the magical elements of the story. Most of the characters were interesting (but not all). I might have had better success in reading this one instead of listening, because I found my attention wandering fairly often. Overall I found it enjoyable, but it didn't knock me over like I wanted it to.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the alc!

It didn't grab me as much as Reid's first novel, but this one was engaging in its own right. Some interesting characters and situations, but not a lot of plot. I'm also not sure I love how it all wrapped up. I really liked the narration though.

Intrigued, not totally sold. Pretty unimaginative world building but solid love triangle with extenuating circumstances plus bonus points for addressing privilege and policy. I get the appeal.