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atreegrowsinbooks's reviews
281 reviews
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
It’s going a little slow for me, and I’m finding myself wanting to pick up other books. Trying to DNF more. Liked what I read and will likely come back another time when I want a slower paced book
I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl's Notes from the End of the World by Kai Cheng Thom
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Wow overall a very interesting and informative book. At times I felt like the content was very heavy and dark, and as such had to take breaks from listening to the audio. But was a necessary read. Will be reading more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist by Jasmin Graham
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.0
I was drawn to this book because I love to see women (especially women of color) in STEM. I can understand what it’s like being a woman in STEM since that’s what field I was in but obviously things are even more difficult for persons of color.
I thought the premise of this book sounded really cool and I was looking forward to learning about sharks. And there is some information about sharks but not as much as I wanted there to be. I also wanted the writing to be more scientific. The book had more memoir writing than science talk, which is fine. But I felt like those chapters were a little slow. Graham had important background to include to help drive her point across and to help illustrate the struggles that she’s had in the field. But I felt that there was still some content that could have been edited.
Forever grateful for strong smart women like Graham to be in the STEM field. To be role models for the next generation.
Thanks to Pantheon and NetGalley for the ARC!
Chef's Kiss by TJ Alexander
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
AHHH I loved this book! I think I liked this one just slightly better than its sequel (I read them out of order but you can really read them in either order).
I loved the banter between characters, especially between Simone and Ray. At first Simone got on my nerves. It first appears that she has somewhat of an ego, but we soon learn that she's of course a flawed human and doesn't like change to her workplace. They also struggle with changing pronouns for Ray when Ray comes out as enby at work. Simone struggles with misgendering at first, and those bits are really enjoying. I get that when Simone first meets Ray, they haven't come out so their pronouns are unknown. But, I am glad that the misgendering doesn't take over the story. The slow burn between Ray and Simone is SLOW. You almost don't notice it until right at the end. Personally would have liked a little more burn.
I wish that we got a dual POV in this story, because I'd really like to hear what is going on in Ray's head. We don't get a ton of inner thoughts from them, and I think the story would have benefited from their perspective a bit more.
I thought it was really interesting to have a top surgery be a main plot point. I enjoyed that there are people around Ray that root for them and are on their side.
Also it goes without saying, but this story was very funny. I laughed so many times. I think the funniness also benefited from having a great narrator! Overall such a cute story, would recommend for those looking for diverse queer romances.
I loved the banter between characters, especially between Simone and Ray. At first Simone got on my nerves. It first appears that she has somewhat of an ego, but we soon learn that she's of course a flawed human and doesn't like change to her workplace. They also struggle with changing pronouns for Ray when Ray comes out as enby at work. Simone struggles with misgendering at first, and those bits are really enjoying. I get that when Simone first meets Ray, they haven't come out so their pronouns are unknown. But, I am glad that the misgendering doesn't take over the story. The slow burn between Ray and Simone is SLOW. You almost don't notice it until right at the end. Personally would have liked a little more burn.
I wish that we got a dual POV in this story, because I'd really like to hear what is going on in Ray's head. We don't get a ton of inner thoughts from them, and I think the story would have benefited from their perspective a bit more.
I thought it was really interesting to have a top surgery be a main plot point. I enjoyed that there are people around Ray that root for them and are on their side.
Also it goes without saying, but this story was very funny. I laughed so many times. I think the funniness also benefited from having a great narrator! Overall such a cute story, would recommend for those looking for diverse queer romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual content
Stone Fruit by Lee Lai
4.0
Family both blood and found. Queer and messy. How love and adventure runs through us all but it can look different. The art was interesting. Wanted a little more from the story, didn’t dive as deep into the characters to fully understand their motives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Transphobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Deadnaming and Toxic relationship
None of the Above: Reflections on Life Beyond the Binary by Travis Alabanza
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Wow wow wow. Simply incredible! I don’t feel like my review will do this book justice but I will try.
Alabanza’s words were sad and also inspiring. I don’t know what it’s like to live as a black gender non conforming person but I can empathize with them and other folks who don’t fit into the binary box. I thought it was a unique approach to the book formatting, to have each chapter be a reflection on a phrase that at one point was spoken to or about them.
I can’t believe that we live in a world where we have so much focus on our gender and the gender binary. Why put us in a box. We need to love and accept our gender non conforming siblings because they deserve to live and thrive as humans.
Such a profound book! Alabanza is a fantastic writer. I would love to read more from them. One concept that they brought up that I thought was interesting was that they thought they might not be trans, if they didn’t grow up in a world with a gender binary. I hadn't thought about it like that before. Since we have a binary, we have words like trans and non binary for all the folks that aren’t in the binary. But what if we lived in a world where there wasn’t a binary and we just were.
I will be thinking back to this book a lot as I continue to push myself into thinking outside the binary.
Alabanza’s words were sad and also inspiring. I don’t know what it’s like to live as a black gender non conforming person but I can empathize with them and other folks who don’t fit into the binary box. I thought it was a unique approach to the book formatting, to have each chapter be a reflection on a phrase that at one point was spoken to or about them.
I can’t believe that we live in a world where we have so much focus on our gender and the gender binary. Why put us in a box. We need to love and accept our gender non conforming siblings because they deserve to live and thrive as humans.
Such a profound book! Alabanza is a fantastic writer. I would love to read more from them. One concept that they brought up that I thought was interesting was that they thought they might not be trans, if they didn’t grow up in a world with a gender binary. I hadn't thought about it like that before. Since we have a binary, we have words like trans and non binary for all the folks that aren’t in the binary. But what if we lived in a world where there wasn’t a binary and we just were.
I will be thinking back to this book a lot as I continue to push myself into thinking outside the binary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Suicide, Dysphoria, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Medical content
A Family Tree by Staci Drouillard
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
A precious tale, a sort of retelling of The Giving Tree. Beautifully illustrated and filled with kind words. I enjoyed that the book included words spoken by the Ojibwe (language known as Ojibwemowin). Particularly liked also having a glossary in the back!
The Land Is Holy by noam keim
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I wrote this long review. But I’m not posting it yet. I need this book to sit with me. To soak into my skin and flow through my body.
Incredible.
Incredible.
Inverse Cowgirl: A Memoir by Alicia Roth Weigel
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
I find this kind of book so difficult to rate. I am so grateful that this book exists, for highlighting intersex stories. This was the first book I’ve read written by an out intersex person and I hope to continue to find more to read.
I’m grateful that Weigel has done so much for the intersex community, including coming out to the world in a very public way. She acknowledges her extreme privilege multiple times, and at times this kinda felt over the top in her experiences being white but that’s her story and we need it.
The audio was a fun format to read.
I’m grateful that Weigel has done so much for the intersex community, including coming out to the world in a very public way. She acknowledges her extreme privilege multiple times, and at times this kinda felt over the top in her experiences being white but that’s her story and we need it.
The audio was a fun format to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Drug use
Roaming by Jillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
4.0
Beautiful illustrations coupled with messy friendships. I loved the scenery of 2009 NY. Reading through their travels made me think of the last time I was a tourist in NY, likely between 2005-2007. The awe and overwhelming feeling of NY is so easily found in this graphic novel. I loved the inclusion of the correct way to eat a NY slice. Definitely want to read more from the Tamaki cousins.