barberchicago_books's reviews
1014 reviews

A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

Loved this action-packed spy mystery with an incredible cast of characters young readers will be rooting for! Lisa Yee is such a gifted writer and her range is something to behold. Illustrations by Santat helped bring the characters to life!
Kids will love the banter, the quick pace, and all the amazing reveals at the end! Can’t wait for more in this series!

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.25

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

adventurous mysterious tense fast-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

4.75

It’s been a while since I’ve been THIS excited about a new series! The Liars Society kept me riveted. Alyson Gerber sent me on a wild ride filled with secrets, mysteries, and codes that kept me guessing and gasping. I loved the careful peeling of both Weatherby & Jack’s layers as Gerber revealed their secrets, many of which even they didn’t know. Both characters were developed so beautifully and I absolutely cannot wait to see where she takes them - and their friends and families - next.

Love Is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace

challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

There is so much in this informational picture book - from Diane Nash’s story to the incredible mixed media art that accompanies it, to the vocabulary to the back matter. Perfect for Black History Month and every other month of the year. Age says PK-3 but this books should be accessible to kids up through grade 8. 

Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love by Saira Mir

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

4.0

Losing a sibling is really hard, even when they have yet to be born. This book helps kids (and their families) navigate through a sad time by expressing their feelings through words, art, and actions. 

The Together Tree by Aisha Saeed

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

This is one of the best picture books I’ve read this year. Based on the author’s experience with her young son, The Together Tree will be perfect as a beginning-of-the-year read aloud about community, inclusion, and ways bystanders can move past watching and into action. After all, kindness is a verb. 

Empanadas for Everyone by Lenny Wen, Jackie Azúa Kramer

emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.5

Loved this picture book that helps the reader understand - through empanadas and their cultural cousins - that we’re all the same and different, too. 

Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Another masterpiece from Doerrfeld. 
"Everyone is more than what you see.
"Beneath appearances are experiences.
"Beneath actions are explanations.
"Beneath what's different is what's the same."
There is so much to unpack, talk about, and share: from the shadows and healing of grief, to empathy for others, to thinking about what's below the surface. Illustrations are poignant & gorgeous - love the endpapers. A must read!

The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winans

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.5

River, 12, has seen monsters their entire life. This power has made them isolate themselves so no one around them gets hurt, and has also made them live in fear. But when their new friend, Avery, is taken by a monster into The Otherwoods, a spirit realm, River chooses to save her, even at the expense of their own life. Aided by Xavier, a spirit unable to pass on from The Otherwoods, River must complete a series of life-threatening tasks to get their friend back. But in order to do that, River will need to bravely move through their fear. 
Likes: the main character. River is thoughtful, funny, unique, and tries hard to belief in themself even when others don’t. The relationship between River & Xavier - while fraught with tension & danger - had a sweet sibling vibe to it that added dimension and so much more to the story. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. And I loved the underlying feeling of acceptance that was present throughout the story. 
Dislike: only one: had a hard time visualizing The Otherwoods’ residents. 
Middle grade readers looking for a fright will end up with that and so much more. I’d put this one on shelves for ages 9 and up! 

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

4.0

The Davenports is nothing like I’ve read before: a historical book set in my hometown with a touch of romance, told from the perspectives of four women on the precipice of beginning their lives. 
Things I liked:

• The multiple points of view that kept the pace crisp and varied
• The slow burn of the budding romances with all of their complexities
• The sibling relationships
• The underlying tension of post-enslavement/new Jim Crow era Black America and what that means for Black people, from the wealthiest to the poorest. 

I’m very much looking forward to the next books in this series!