Kate Mester
Definitely do the audiobook, as Lindy reads it and her delivery of her own hilarity is excellent. Smart, incisive, and funny in analyzing some hard cultural truths. The Adam Sandler essay in particular was a GEM. Thought this was even better than Shrill.
Not sure that an audiobook is the best format to listen to her early writing and speeches. Perhaps will give this another shot in physical form. Doesn't detract my pure love for her, but after reading kid & teen bios of her, I was ready for her memoir, and this isn't it (yet).
Might be the best JR yet. Stunning and very powerful. Finally got these copies in our latest library order, can't wait to booktalk and get this into the hands of kids to see their reactions!
3.5 Really enjoyed her audio reading because she added so many asides that weren't in the print book. Uneven in the quality of the essays, but overall enjoyable time spent with her.
3.5 As one of my Battle kids said, it starts sad and doesn't go up from there and she wasn't kidding! I liked but didn't love this. I think it will be interesting for kids who don't know much about the 1930s and predatory child adoption agencies (maybe that's most kids?). Readable and interesting, but there were a few lame/overused plot points.
I'm not sure why this was in verse. The poems didn't stand on their own and it's like he was telling the story in a choppier way, rather than actually writing verse that told a story. And speaking of story, it was pretty slight. I read great reviews and the ideas were there but the execution was shallow. I'd hand this to strong novel0in-verse readers but I'm not sure who else.
Told in multiple timelines and points of view, this book looks at the effects of generational and systemic racism while also mining complicated family dynamics and even gives a window into the life of a YouTuber.. I didn't understand how the “The Hate U Give meets Get Out” blurb made any sense until the twist hit in the last quarter of the book. Though I appreciate what the Moulite sisters were trying to do here, I think the book would have been stronger and more emotionally impactful without the twist; however I know lots of YA readers will appreciate the twist, the impact of the justice(?)/revenge the twist brings, and an ending with a sense of completion. The twist felt too convenient as a device for a book that was otherwise really nuanced and emotionally thoughtful, especially around complicated familial dynamics, the tension between religion and progressive beliefs, the exploration of the theme of being labeled a “good one', and the generational effects of trauma and violence (this thread was my favorite plot of the book).
An important and necessary topic that's unfortunately done pretty poorly here. The whole thing lacks nuance...and the dialogue, oooof. The director is a cartoon villian, Layla's only emotion is anger, Jake is only the martyred hero, others aren't even really given motivations. Also, the trope of the one teen who solves everything doesn't work at all in this scenario. The premise is so strong and so needed and now still needed with better execution.
Solid 4.5. Teens will EAT THIS UP! The audio was fantastic (as is ALL Bahni Turpin - what can't she do?!) and the twists were surprising. My feelings for Mary were constantly changing and Jackson doesn't ease up on the drama and tension, sliding in a few devastating lines at the end. The characters aren't real but the horrors of teen incarceration, the foster system, and teen violence, especially to TOC are. Look forward to book talking this and hearing students' reactions to the book!
ARC from NetGalley. 4.5 Teens will love this as much if not more than Dear Martin. You don't have to have read Dear Martin before reading this, but it's a direct continuation of characters and story, so it'll make more sense & increase your enjoyment of you have. You'll see updates on not just Quan but Justyce, SJ, Doc, and Jared, and on Quan's side, Martel, Trey, and Brad. I knocked of half a star because there's some weirdly abrupt plot explanation (especially the scene with Justyce, SJ, & Jared in car). The story is ultimately hopeful, and though you want it to be true, it's unfortunately not that believable, so I'm glad Nic addressed that in her note at the end. A great discussion book and class read for 8th - 10th ELA. This will definitely be on the next Project Lit list! I plan to get multiple copies for the library, because demand is going to be HIGH.
Didn't go as deeply into reflection as similar memoirs in this vein. The second half was a tribute to his mother, which was lovely. Good, not great overall.
The shifts in time and narrator were a little jarring at first in the audiobook, but once settled in it's a gorgeous and moving ride. A contender for one of the best audiobooks of the year, for sure. These actors (including Jackie herself) absolutely make these characters live. A quick but sweeping 3 hours, strongly recommend.
Everything she writes is gorgeous and lives in your heart and gut. When you're looking for your next grad gift, this is the one.
Her writing is genuinely exquisite and compulsively readable, with beautiful word choices. That she is a talented writer is not in question. She doesn't have to be likable and has fully opened herself up to judgement, however in a memoir meant to question her own choices, she doesn't seem to do much true examination of her motives. I found it incredibly problematic that that she was still referring to her former (trans) lover as she or glossing over in a sentence or two about the cushiony pillow of her privilege, as if that didn't play a major part in the outcome of her story. Also, ending her story in a marriage plot trope really lost much of my goodwill towards the story.
Read so slowly because I was taking so many notes. Will be returning to this genius work again and again. Incredibly well researched and organized, but also very personal, so it should be highly accessible to any reader. Can't recommend enough, a crucial must-read for everyone.
The audio version is excellent, with the narrator seemlesssly switching between Russian, Cameroonian, and American accents all in one conversation. So many timely themes to dig into here and truly well written.
Totally charming and fun. Noelle Stevenson continues to create hits! Loved the strong female characters, normative budding lady romance, and the hilariously feminist “swears.” The fantasy elements were a little scattershot, but unlike Vol II, followed at least some through-line of sense.
Fun, fast, and clever. I wanted more of a twist at the end, and definitely don't agree with the reviews that called it hilarious, but an interesting commentary on gender roles and family obligations.
2.5 Meh. Not much happens until the last third of the book. The descriptions of the world continue to be lush but the pacing felt off and the plot was lacking. I would have liked to have learned more about the Belles and deeper elements of the world, but like the beauty world she created, much remained surface. This could serve as a conclusion to the story, but enough is left open that maybe there's space for another one...though I'm not sure what the demand for that would be.
Think the experience was improved by his reading, as I most likely would have quit the written book after the monkey brains scene (though I guess a testament to his quality writing that it made me so nauseated?) I can see why it's winning awards, but I wanted more of a story to hold this shimmering gossamer web of sadness together.
If not the whole book, than the first section should be essential and required reading for anyone in our country. Really lets you live and feel the experience of aggressions. Powerful.
Goodreads description: Cassandra Clare meets Caribbean legend in SHADOWSHAPER, an action-packed urban fantasy from a bold new talent. Comparing this to Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments is a disservice to Older. Everything here is BETTER, from the dialogue to the authentic and believable characters to the quick plot pacing. This will be such an easy sell to 8th-HS. Kids will see themselves in Sierra and her friends and family and hopefully this won't be the last we see her. Highly recommend the audio book - Anika Noni Rose gave a tone-perfect performance.
Definitely not as strong as the first book, lots of confusing/non-sensical character choices, and seems pretty unsure of where she wants the story to go, but hoping she can stick the landing for book 3.