Katrina

I've probably listened to this book 5 times and it's like my spooky little comfort food =)

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

Exactly the type of heart-rending, hard-truth, grief-beauty I was expecting from Bryan Washington. Complex characters wonderfully written make for a fast-paced read. Excellent audio production.

Brilliant collection with so many intense and lovely poems, both old and new. Could really see this being used in a classroom setting. Damn I love everything Amber McBride does.

Very impressive novel in verse. Highly engaging, thoughtful, heart-breaking, healing. Highly recommend.

No idea why I would torture myself by burning through the first two when the third isn't coming out until January, but I did it anyway.

This book was a bizarre trip. The writing style was unique and intriguing...I'm still not sure if it worked for me or not? The teen characters do not speak/interact like normal teenagers, so if you're looking for realism in that sense you will be disappointed. In any case, I couldn't put it down. Give this to the teens that really want something dark and strange.

I kind of wish I didn't read any of the other reviews on here, because they were way more negative than I felt about it (but also not totally wrong). At any rate, I think it's weird to rate memoirs. At the end of the day, her stories kept me interested. There is some really lovely food writing in here, along with some meditations on love and family that I also found engaging if not totally agreeable.

Strong voices from interesting characters with a bunch of twists and banter. Might pick up another one in the series if I'm in the mood.

Charming and affirming.

A very fun take on Jekyll & Hyde. Loved the atmosphere and the art, and would pick up the next installment (cliffhanger!!). I got a little lost in the sauce with some of the action sequences, but otherwise had no problem following the story, metaphors, or the large cast of loveable and odd characters.

Lovely and terrifying. This well-researched and creative novel travels beyond the norm, and the audiobook will make you quiver. Guaranteed.

Absolutely gorgeous, powerful verse. I want to throw a copy at every teen girl I know.

A well written and relevant book that covers many topics of interest to teens.

Really stunning and unique. The fact that one person went through all of this and accomplished so much is staggering. I loved the found verse. It was so authentic and accessible. While I really appreciated the additional historical context in between poems, it also had the effect of taking me out of the narrative. I'm not sure how I would solve that problem, since I really appreciated the added explanations. Highly recommend.

Exactly as advertised! I'm excited for the sequel. Really enjoyed the audio.

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

I enjoyed the twisty mystery with some light fantastical elements. Ruby is a great character, and the supporting cast made for a fun collection of people. I would pick up the sequel!

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

I came for the wolves and stayed for the characters. In another timeline I was definitely a wolf biologist in a National Park, so the premise had me. It was a short and well-plotted book that gave itself some effective time with the characters and the setting without being overwritten. I really loved all the little touches of pack life in Yellowstone. Overall, I enjoyed my listening experience and would recommend it.

I have a lot of thoughts and feelings. Amber McBride will forever be an auto-read for me even though she leaves me in tears every damn time. This one was even more of a gut punch than I anticipated. Like it physically hurt me to read some of it and I had to put it down for a while. I hope this book finds everyone who needs it.

Hicks never disappoints me. A sweet story about relationships and finding your own strength. There was only one plot point I didn't think was really handled with as much care as the others.how is Alix so calm about seeing her dad after that many years? and then they just go their separate ways? bizarre.

Overall, a great teen read.

Thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for the audio arc!

Another hit from Acevedo! I loved getting to know these women, and her writing is brilliant. I did get a little lost in the sauce sometimes, because there are quite a few characters and their stories are not told in a linear fashion. Despite that, Acevedo is a wonderful narrator who added a lot to the experience. Would definitely recommend.

Thanks to the publisher for the digital arc!

A bit uneven, but I was invested in Dylan and Leighton. I thought the end could have used a little bit more of a resolution. I enjoyed the formatting, it wasn't difficult to keep track of the time or the narrator because the art supported all the shifts. I was enjoying it, but it left me a little wanting.

Fun and interesting, I would have appreciated either a little more or a little less world building? There was a lot going on plus flashbacks. Villain's motives were unconvincing. I loved Brig though!

This one seemed a little choppy, but still loving this story.

I took my time with this one, and I'm glad. The most remarkable thing about it for me was seeing certain similarities crop up among all of these different people. Nearly every, if not all, of the interviewees reflected on two specific circumstances that caught my attention. 1) The positive aspects of segregation. Obviously none of them were fans of Jim Crow, but there was a feeling of safety and community that simply was not available to them after instances of integration. This fracturing of community resulted in additional negative outcomes for local Black economies. 2) A smaller thing, but again almost every interviewee brought up that they were aware of only receiving second-hand (or third or fourth...) books at school. Another common thread was vastly positive experiences while attending Black schools with Black teachers who supported and cared for them. Unsurprisingly, that experience did not continue after attending predominantly white schools.

A wonderful collection spotlighting specific experiences that I hope will be widely read.

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

An engaging collection of horror featuring Black girls. Some stories were definitely stronger than others, but there was a good variety. Would definitely recommend.