ashylibrarian's reviews
975 reviews

Cress by Marissa Meyer

adventurous challenging emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.5

So far, this is my favorite book in the series. Cress really takes off with the political unrest in an accessible way for YA readers. The characters have all become so dynamic, and readers are left with an exciting and tense cliffhanger. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping

Moderate: Torture, Blood, Death of parent

I Died on a Tuesday by Jane Corry

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

The book kept my attention, but it felt like it was going to end multiple times and instead, it just kept going...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence

Doughnuts and Doom by Balazs Lorinczi

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.75

Stanley gets all the stars. The book as a whole? Didn’t offer anything new, the dialogue felt stilted, and Margot was just…not the vibe. 

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story by Pagan Kennedy

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Mental illness

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

lighthearted 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

3.0

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I don’t know why I waited so long to read this. What a wild ride. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death

Minor: Sexism

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood

Moderate: Body horror

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Still one of the top YA dystopians I’ve read. I’m looking forward to finally continuing on with the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail

On the Block: Stories of Home by Ellen Oh

emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

4.75

Immerse yourself in the interconnected stories of multigenerational immigrant families. From ghost hunters to new kids to lion dancers, the Entrada brings readers a complex cast of characters ready to celebrate family, friendship, and culture.  

Thief of the Heights by Robin Yao, Son M

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Enter a unique fantasy world where lifelong friends and inventors Basem, Mustafa, and Aarfah dream of climbing their way up from the disease-infested life they know to the top of their vertical city to save their families.