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ballgownsandbooks's reviews
59 reviews
The Haunted House by Annabelle Sami
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
So fun!! I binged this whole series in a weekend and I love it so much: Zaiba's British-Pakistani identity is absolutely fantastically portrayed and I adored seeing a smart, determined girl solve mysteries while also being so connected to her cultural heritage! Zaiba's sidekicks, best friend Poppy and little brother Ali, are also fantastic, and I love that Poppy is interested in fashion and food and that that's shown to be an asset rather than trivial or silly! I've also passed the books on to my seven year old sisters (the actual target audience!) and they're absolutely hooked too!
With regard to this book specifically, I thought the mystery was the most compelling of the three (so far - I don't know if there are plans for more books), and it took me the longest to solve myself. The stakes seemed slightly higher than in the previous two books, and the general atmosphere felt a little creepier, which was fun!
With regard to this book specifically, I thought the mystery was the most compelling of the three (so far - I don't know if there are plans for more books), and it took me the longest to solve myself. The stakes seemed slightly higher than in the previous two books, and the general atmosphere felt a little creepier, which was fun!
Activists Assemble--Save Your Planet by Ben Hoare
hopeful
informative
inspiring
4.5
Such a wonderful and surprisingly thorough overview of the major causes of climate change - with gorgeously colourful illustrations!
It's a very hopeful book, with the focus on things that people can do to make a difference, and I loved that there were so many suggestions for things children specifically could do, and I absolutely love the interactive section at the end, that has really specific prompts for children to think and research further.
I appreciated the profiles of individual activists too, and glad to see a variety of people from around the world, as well as your expected Greta Thunbergs and David Attenboroughs,
My only criticism might be that it feels a little numbers-heavy in places: e.g. 250 million tonnes of rubbish is pretty difficult to conceptualise, especially for a child!
It's a very hopeful book, with the focus on things that people can do to make a difference, and I loved that there were so many suggestions for things children specifically could do, and I absolutely love the interactive section at the end, that has really specific prompts for children to think and research further.
I appreciated the profiles of individual activists too, and glad to see a variety of people from around the world, as well as your expected Greta Thunbergs and David Attenboroughs,
My only criticism might be that it feels a little numbers-heavy in places: e.g. 250 million tonnes of rubbish is pretty difficult to conceptualise, especially for a child!
The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
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
The Theft of Sunlight is the first in a companion duology to Intisar Khanani’s Thorn, a continuation of her short story The Bone Knife, originally published in 2012. We follow Rae, a country horse farmer’s daughter who visits her cousin at court and gets embroiled in various plots and mysteries.
Though Thorn dealt with some important issues, the driving force of the story was really Alyrra’s internal growth, and the story overall really revolved around her. But while this is also first-person from Rae’s POV, and her emotional arc is a big part of the story, it’s somehow so much more expansive, with a much bigger and more fully-developed world. I wouldn’t call it political fantasy as such, but we do get to see so much more of the mechanics of power and control, which I loved, as well as themes of injustice, greed, inequality, and freedom.
It’s subtle, but if you know what you’re looking for, you can definitely see Khanani’s South Asian influences coming out in the worldbuilding details too, from the clothes to the wedding traditions! (And I have to say, it was very satisfying to see the European-inspired country be awed and intimidated by the much more powerful South Asian-inspired one!)
I absolutely loved Rae! She’s clever and determined and resourceful and so brave, and fiercely loyal and protective towards the people she cares about. At the same time, the near-constant ableism she faces due to her clubfoot has left her just full of anger, and automatically distrustful. A big part of her emotional arc is learning to be kind to herself and comfortable in her own body, and I loved that, though I can’t speak to the disability representation. Her resentment has made her particularly wary of conventionally beautiful people, and I also found the thread of her having to learn not to judge people based on their beauty, in the same way she wants them not to judge her for her disability, so interesting.
The side characters were also lovely, especially Rae’s family, who are so close and loving (with both parents alive!) – I was disappointed that we don’t see much of them once Rae comes to court, but certain plot threads make me certain that we’ll get more of them in the next book, and I can’t wait!
Alyrra and Kestrin are also prominent characters, and quite a lot of references are made to their backstory, so though this is technically a companion novel, it would definitely help to have read Thorn. Although this is Rae’s story, it’s also a satisfying continuation of theirs – I really liked seeing how their relationship has progressed and how Alyrra is settling into her place as princess.
I will say that this book absolutely does not stand alone: the cliffhanger at the end is BRUTAL, and there are a lot of plot threads, not all of which seem to be too connected at the moment – though I assume they will be tied together eventually, and I’m so excited to see how!
Though Thorn dealt with some important issues, the driving force of the story was really Alyrra’s internal growth, and the story overall really revolved around her. But while this is also first-person from Rae’s POV, and her emotional arc is a big part of the story, it’s somehow so much more expansive, with a much bigger and more fully-developed world. I wouldn’t call it political fantasy as such, but we do get to see so much more of the mechanics of power and control, which I loved, as well as themes of injustice, greed, inequality, and freedom.
It’s subtle, but if you know what you’re looking for, you can definitely see Khanani’s South Asian influences coming out in the worldbuilding details too, from the clothes to the wedding traditions! (And I have to say, it was very satisfying to see the European-inspired country be awed and intimidated by the much more powerful South Asian-inspired one!)
I absolutely loved Rae! She’s clever and determined and resourceful and so brave, and fiercely loyal and protective towards the people she cares about. At the same time, the near-constant ableism she faces due to her clubfoot has left her just full of anger, and automatically distrustful. A big part of her emotional arc is learning to be kind to herself and comfortable in her own body, and I loved that, though I can’t speak to the disability representation. Her resentment has made her particularly wary of conventionally beautiful people, and I also found the thread of her having to learn not to judge people based on their beauty, in the same way she wants them not to judge her for her disability, so interesting.
The side characters were also lovely, especially Rae’s family, who are so close and loving (with both parents alive!) – I was disappointed that we don’t see much of them once Rae comes to court, but certain plot threads make me certain that we’ll get more of them in the next book, and I can’t wait!
Alyrra and Kestrin are also prominent characters, and quite a lot of references are made to their backstory, so though this is technically a companion novel, it would definitely help to have read Thorn. Although this is Rae’s story, it’s also a satisfying continuation of theirs – I really liked seeing how their relationship has progressed and how Alyrra is settling into her place as princess.
I will say that this book absolutely does not stand alone: the cliffhanger at the end is BRUTAL, and there are a lot of plot threads, not all of which seem to be too connected at the moment – though I assume they will be tied together eventually, and I’m so excited to see how!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya Hafiza
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this!! It was a lot shorter (I read it in an hour!) and more simplistic than I was expecting - I would categorise it as a borderline chapter book, so there isn't masses of character development or introspection, but it's just so much fun!
I loved the way Hafiza reimagined the three fairytales, and the way the girls really save themselves and each other. I love that Rumaysa's hijab provides a key part of her escape, and the mention of how her daily prayers calm her and give her structure in her days! Rumaysa herself was so determined and kind, and I loved her (and I also loved that the witch mispronouncing her name one too many times is the thing that finally unlocks her anger and her magic - because I relate! And a lot of children reading this sadly will too.)
Definitely a book I plan to get for my 7yo sisters!
I loved the way Hafiza reimagined the three fairytales, and the way the girls really save themselves and each other. I love that Rumaysa's hijab provides a key part of her escape, and the mention of how her daily prayers calm her and give her structure in her days! Rumaysa herself was so determined and kind, and I loved her (and I also loved that the witch mispronouncing her name one too many times is the thing that finally unlocks her anger and her magic - because I relate! And a lot of children reading this sadly will too.)
Definitely a book I plan to get for my 7yo sisters!
The Place Beyond Her Dreams by Oby Aligwekwe
dark
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
2.0
This was such a disappointment.
Right from the first chapter I didn't click with the writing style, which feels very... fanfic-y? There was just a lot of telling instead of showing, which isn't <i>necessarily</i> a bad thing but I just expect more from published books - and it did become a problem when the things that <i>were</i> shown contradicted the telling? Besides which the plot was just full of inconsistencies - even from sentence to sentence sometimes!
I also think this book is mis-marketed as fantasy. Luenah and Ona's quest were barely relevant to the plot - I'm pretty sure she only goes there four or five times, and absolutely nothing would have changed if those elements hadn't been there. There were some interesting nuggets about finding your purpose in life, but they were really confusingly written so I couldn't quite grasp what the point was supposed to be? The worldbuilding was also really confusing: something about the the combination of modern society with kings just didn't make sense to me at all.
The primary focus of the story (which you'd never guess from the branding!) is actually the romance... which was another problem because I hated both love interests in the triangle. They were both incredibly controlling and never gave Ona space to make her own choices. One was a literal abuser so the other was obviously better, but that's a low bar... I wasn't too keen on Ona either, since she has no agency at all and is constantly just waiting for someone to fix her problems or give her all the answers.
Right from the first chapter I didn't click with the writing style, which feels very... fanfic-y? There was just a lot of telling instead of showing, which isn't <i>necessarily</i> a bad thing but I just expect more from published books - and it did become a problem when the things that <i>were</i> shown contradicted the telling? Besides which the plot was just full of inconsistencies - even from sentence to sentence sometimes!
I also think this book is mis-marketed as fantasy. Luenah and Ona's quest were barely relevant to the plot - I'm pretty sure she only goes there four or five times, and absolutely nothing would have changed if those elements hadn't been there. There were some interesting nuggets about finding your purpose in life, but they were really confusingly written so I couldn't quite grasp what the point was supposed to be? The worldbuilding was also really confusing: something about the the combination of modern society with kings just didn't make sense to me at all.
The primary focus of the story (which you'd never guess from the branding!) is actually the romance... which was another problem because I hated both love interests in the triangle. They were both incredibly controlling and never gave Ona space to make her own choices. One was a literal abuser so the other was obviously better, but that's a low bar... I wasn't too keen on Ona either, since she has no agency at all and is constantly just waiting for someone to fix her problems or give her all the answers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Grief
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I absolutely could not put this book down; I flew through the entire thing in a day and I have SO MANY feelings. Do not be surprised when you see this on my ‘favourites of 2021’ list!
We follow Daunis, whom we meet as she’s struggling to come to terms with the recent death of her uncle, and her grandmother’s subsequent stroke. Daunis is definitely a new favourite character: her character is so well-developed and I loved being inside her head! She’s so intelligent and has so many dreams, but she also loves her family and community, and takes her responsibilities towards them so seriously.
I can’t speak on the accuracy of the Ojibwe representation (though ownvoices reviews suggest it’s done well) but I certainly learned a lot, and I will say that I loved the community dynamic! The cast of side characters is absolutely huge, which served to really flesh out the community and present so many different kinds of people and families and ways of being Ojibwe – which is really the kind of representation I want all marginalised groups to have! There were a couple of characters whom I got mixed up on occasion, but for the most part every character is so vibrant and unique, especially all the Elders (I don’t want to spoil anything, but several of the scenes which made me cry the hardest were ones involving the Elders!), and also Daunis’ Aunt Teddie, who takes no shit from anyone and whom I adored.
The book deals with so many different issues that Indigenous communities face – most notably addiction, and violence at state, community, and interpersonal levels – as well as themes like grief and identity: underpinning Daunis’ entire arc is the thread of her wrestling with her place between her white and Ojibwe heritages. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and painful to read at times (the content warnings are extensive so please be safe!), but every issue is dealt with sensitively and in way that gives each of them the appropriate space and consideration.
I don’t want to say much about the plot or the rest of the characters, to avoid spoiling the mystery – though I will say that I didn’t see the reveals coming at all! (Guessing the plots of books isn’t something I’m particularly good at in general, but I do think this will be a satisfying one if that’s the aspect you’re looking for!). As a final point, I will say that the audiobook is wonderful – there’s a lot of Ojibwe language scattered through the book, so it was great to be able to hear it! (The downside is that I now can’t spell any of it… but that’s why I’ve also ordered a physical copy!)
Overall, I absolutely adored this book. I cannot wait for it to be a breakout star, and I’m so excited for whatever Angeline Boulley writes next!
We follow Daunis, whom we meet as she’s struggling to come to terms with the recent death of her uncle, and her grandmother’s subsequent stroke. Daunis is definitely a new favourite character: her character is so well-developed and I loved being inside her head! She’s so intelligent and has so many dreams, but she also loves her family and community, and takes her responsibilities towards them so seriously.
I can’t speak on the accuracy of the Ojibwe representation (though ownvoices reviews suggest it’s done well) but I certainly learned a lot, and I will say that I loved the community dynamic! The cast of side characters is absolutely huge, which served to really flesh out the community and present so many different kinds of people and families and ways of being Ojibwe – which is really the kind of representation I want all marginalised groups to have! There were a couple of characters whom I got mixed up on occasion, but for the most part every character is so vibrant and unique, especially all the Elders (I don’t want to spoil anything, but several of the scenes which made me cry the hardest were ones involving the Elders!), and also Daunis’ Aunt Teddie, who takes no shit from anyone and whom I adored.
The book deals with so many different issues that Indigenous communities face – most notably addiction, and violence at state, community, and interpersonal levels – as well as themes like grief and identity: underpinning Daunis’ entire arc is the thread of her wrestling with her place between her white and Ojibwe heritages. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and painful to read at times (the content warnings are extensive so please be safe!), but every issue is dealt with sensitively and in way that gives each of them the appropriate space and consideration.
I don’t want to say much about the plot or the rest of the characters, to avoid spoiling the mystery – though I will say that I didn’t see the reveals coming at all! (Guessing the plots of books isn’t something I’m particularly good at in general, but I do think this will be a satisfying one if that’s the aspect you’re looking for!). As a final point, I will say that the audiobook is wonderful – there’s a lot of Ojibwe language scattered through the book, so it was great to be able to hear it! (The downside is that I now can’t spell any of it… but that’s why I’ve also ordered a physical copy!)
Overall, I absolutely adored this book. I cannot wait for it to be a breakout star, and I’m so excited for whatever Angeline Boulley writes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, and Grief
Moderate: Racism and Suicide
Minor: Domestic abuse
The Muslim Problem: Why We're Wrong About Islam and Why It Matters by Tawseef Khan
informative
fast-paced
3.0
I read this book weeks ago and have been putting off this review because I'm still SO conflicted... but today is release day so... here we go? Just let it be known that my thoughts are very much still in flux!
This book debunks five common misconceptions used against Islam, and it does so by making two major points, one of which I loved, and the other I really struggled with.
On the one hand, the parts where Khan broke down structural Islamophobia in Western society was fantastic. He's so explicit about naming the the double standards and hypocrisy that make it all but impossible for Muslims to successfully navigate British/Western society, as well as the ways in which the West paved the way for terrorism, and how harmful the subsequent anti-terror legislation, such as Prevent (which I've only recently realised that a lot of white Brits don't even know about!), has been. I learned so much about the historical origins of the five stereotypes too - I'd had no idea of the ways they've been weaponised by European nations over the centuries to prop up racism and colonialism!
On the other hand, he also talked about the ways in which the Muslim community sometimes plays into those harmful stereotypes, in a way that came across a little... victim blame-y, at times? (Not that the Muslim community doesn’t have its issues, just that his phrasing felt a bit accusatory in a way I didn't love.) And more than that, I felt like his ultimate point on that front was that Muslims can cherry pick the Islamic teachings they like and interpret them however they choose, in order to fit modern standards. Of course, you should always think critically and not accept anything 'just because', but equally there are parts of Islam that you can't actively make judgements on without the full context of deep research - you can't just decide a verse doesn't mean what qualified scholars say it does, just because it doesn't suit your lifestyle or you want to make it seem more acceptable to Western audiences.
I struggled particularly with his wholesale rejection of all hadith (narrations of the Prophet Muhammad, which are separate from the Quran). There is debate about hadith, and a scale of how reliable different narrations are considered to be, but blanket discrediting them all rocks the entire foundations of Islam in a way he didn't really seem to have considered. Islamic scholars have carried out centuries of research, and compiled books upon books of evidence to determine which hadith are authentic, and making a judgement on the issue requires extensive study, which I don't think Khan has done. (I could be wrong on that! But based on the information I could find about him, I didn't see any mention of him having studied Islamic sciences in detail).
Having said that, the fact that I disagree with Khan's own philosophy doesn't necessarily make this objectively a bad book, or negate the value that it does have. I don't actively not recommend it, but I do hope that anyone reading it will focus on the more secular, political/sociological aspects, and take the doctrinal pronouncements under advisement/in conjunction with other sources of information.
This book debunks five common misconceptions used against Islam, and it does so by making two major points, one of which I loved, and the other I really struggled with.
On the one hand, the parts where Khan broke down structural Islamophobia in Western society was fantastic. He's so explicit about naming the the double standards and hypocrisy that make it all but impossible for Muslims to successfully navigate British/Western society, as well as the ways in which the West paved the way for terrorism, and how harmful the subsequent anti-terror legislation, such as Prevent (which I've only recently realised that a lot of white Brits don't even know about!), has been. I learned so much about the historical origins of the five stereotypes too - I'd had no idea of the ways they've been weaponised by European nations over the centuries to prop up racism and colonialism!
On the other hand, he also talked about the ways in which the Muslim community sometimes plays into those harmful stereotypes, in a way that came across a little... victim blame-y, at times? (Not that the Muslim community doesn’t have its issues, just that his phrasing felt a bit accusatory in a way I didn't love.) And more than that, I felt like his ultimate point on that front was that Muslims can cherry pick the Islamic teachings they like and interpret them however they choose, in order to fit modern standards. Of course, you should always think critically and not accept anything 'just because', but equally there are parts of Islam that you can't actively make judgements on without the full context of deep research - you can't just decide a verse doesn't mean what qualified scholars say it does, just because it doesn't suit your lifestyle or you want to make it seem more acceptable to Western audiences.
I struggled particularly with his wholesale rejection of all hadith (narrations of the Prophet Muhammad, which are separate from the Quran). There is debate about hadith, and a scale of how reliable different narrations are considered to be, but blanket discrediting them all rocks the entire foundations of Islam in a way he didn't really seem to have considered. Islamic scholars have carried out centuries of research, and compiled books upon books of evidence to determine which hadith are authentic, and making a judgement on the issue requires extensive study, which I don't think Khan has done. (I could be wrong on that! But based on the information I could find about him, I didn't see any mention of him having studied Islamic sciences in detail).
Having said that, the fact that I disagree with Khan's own philosophy doesn't necessarily make this objectively a bad book, or negate the value that it does have. I don't actively not recommend it, but I do hope that anyone reading it will focus on the more secular, political/sociological aspects, and take the doctrinal pronouncements under advisement/in conjunction with other sources of information.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Islamophobia
The Conductors by Nicole Glover
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The premise of this was so fantastic, but the execution was just... clunky? I think the main problem is just a lack of development: I almost felt like this should be the second book in a series, after we'd already got to know the characters and the world. I loved Hetty's resourcefulness and impulsiveness (I saw one reviewer compare her to Lizzy Bennet, and I never would have made that connection but I totally see it!) but I wanted so much more of her backstory than what we got in the few flashbacks. I also found the magic system quite confusing - I loved the concept of the two different magic systems and how they were practiced differently by Black and white people, but the rules of Celestial magic were never really explained and I couldn't quite get a grasp of how the different sigils worked and who could do what with them.
I did really appreciate the discussions around racial tensions and the dynamics of the Black community. This is set immediately post-slavery so that pretty much all the characters were slaves at least in childhood, if not longer, and I thought the exploration of the different ways people navigate life after this was so interesting. I also loved the way Hetty and Benjy's marriage of convenience/friends to lovers relationship developed, and I loved the little found family they'd built around them, but I did think there were a few too many side characters, whom I found tricky to keep track of.
I will mention that there were a LOT of typos and grammar errors - which I'm usually willing to ignore, especially in an arc, but this was particularly bad: there were mistakes every few pages, so much so that in some cases I had to really work to figure out what the sentences were meant to say. I'm hoping this will be cleared up in the final version, but I bring it up only because it did impact my enjoyment.
But for all this, and despite the fact that the first ~40% was a slog, the mystery did pick up as it went along: I was eventually engrossed enough to read the last 75% all in one sitting, with several moments towards the end where I could feel the tension in my body! So even though it wasn't the most well-crafted story, I did enjoy it overall and am keen to see where the story goes next!
I did really appreciate the discussions around racial tensions and the dynamics of the Black community. This is set immediately post-slavery so that pretty much all the characters were slaves at least in childhood, if not longer, and I thought the exploration of the different ways people navigate life after this was so interesting. I also loved the way Hetty and Benjy's marriage of convenience/friends to lovers relationship developed, and I loved the little found family they'd built around them, but I did think there were a few too many side characters, whom I found tricky to keep track of.
I will mention that there were a LOT of typos and grammar errors - which I'm usually willing to ignore, especially in an arc, but this was particularly bad: there were mistakes every few pages, so much so that in some cases I had to really work to figure out what the sentences were meant to say. I'm hoping this will be cleared up in the final version, but I bring it up only because it did impact my enjoyment.
But for all this, and despite the fact that the first ~40% was a slog, the mystery did pick up as it went along: I was eventually engrossed enough to read the last 75% all in one sitting, with several moments towards the end where I could feel the tension in my body! So even though it wasn't the most well-crafted story, I did enjoy it overall and am keen to see where the story goes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs
When We Went Wild by Isabella Tree
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Such a lovely story about valuing the Earth and farming naturally. Instilling care for the environment in children early is so important, and this will definitely contribute to that: I love the message of persevering even if other people think what you're doing is ridiculous, and that they'll eventually come to realise the value in what you're doing! Plus the illustrations are just beautiful.
Temple of Sand by Barbara Kloss
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape
Forced prostitution