anniefwrites's reviews
397 reviews

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This was unlike anything I’ve read before. I was drawn in by the cover, since I’m into sea creatures and had just read Gina Chung’s excellent book, Sea Change. I’m not much of a scifi reader, but I’ve found I enjoy books that are just outside our current reality. I found this book challenging, not just in the vocabulary but in my orientation to the world. There was very little over-explanation, but as a novice scifi reader I found that difficult at times. The concept was fascinating, and the execution interesting. I grew to love Ha as a character, though

I think the author did her dirty by making her motivation a BOY??

I felt the writing style could have changed to make the twists more impactful, and I felt like the messaging at the end was a bit heavy-handed. All in all, I’m glad I stepped (dove?) out of my comfort zone with this one and would recommend it to slightly more advanced scifi readers. 

Over the Influence by Joanna "JoJo" Levesque

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Damn. I’ve been a fan of Jojo since childhood and knew a bit more about her struggles than the average person, but this was eye-opening to say the least. I loved hearing her tell her story of love, loss, failure, success, and mistakes. She was so radically vulnerable. If you read Britney Spears’s memoir, read this next. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Still not my favorite classic, but I really appreciated Fitzgerald’s command of language and inventive descriptions upon my second read. 

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

A true heartbreaker. King’s story is so vivid in its emotion that you feel everything right alongside him.  The Louisiana setting was so vibrant and real, and the characters complex. This is the kind of book that allows for the nuance that kids so sorely need reflected back at them. Feeling hopeful for King and real kids like him. 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

At least my second time reading, and it’s still so unique in the landscape of kids’ lit. I think a lot of readers today would find the way L’Engle combines  religion and science a bit unsettling (as many have in the past), but she does so with unabashed purpose. I love how flawed and real Meg is and the ways she faces difficulty and fear with unwanted courage. It’s a strange book, but irreplaceable. 

Booked: Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

A strong balance between the lighthearted day-to-day life of an 8th-grade soccer player and his emotional struggles with family, friends, girls, and health. 

A Dickens Anthology by Charles Dickens

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

A nice primer to get a feel for Dickens’s writing style. A bit hard to understand completely out of context, though. 

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

A super interesting dive into the life of a (largely) forgotten woman scientist. Sidman weaves together European history, art history, entomology, religion and more with a clear, compelling narrative. Plus, the imagery is gorgeous. 

Mexikid by Pedro Martín

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

A fun and bittersweet venture into life as a Mexican-American kid in the ‘70s. The humor is irreverent and silly—perfect for the age range of this book’s readers—but the tough parts tug at the heartstrings. I imagine lots of young readers will be able to see themselves in this epic journey!

The Crossover: Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

A vivid, fast-paced story that tackles family, loss, and basketball with lots of heart. The art style suited the tone and pace of the book well.