bitsandbobsdivination's reviews
214 reviews

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

challenging informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

“Actually, my sign didn’t make sense without Roberta’s…” this line was so pivotal for me. A reminder of the needed duality for ‘sides’ to exist, for extremes to emerge, for hate from either side to ensue. I can’t say I know how to fix it other than to find the center of both or more viewpoints and see the humanity in both, but this book definitely has me thinking in new ways I’m sure I will revisit. Especially since I listened to it twice in one sitting. Highly recommend! ✨

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

funny hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

I found this book to be very funny and mysterious, but also found the side characters more interesting to me than the main two. 

The threads of found friendship and deeper understanding of one another was beautiful to see unfold, but I will say the main romance felt unearned and fast, but that is High School so I suppose it makes sense. 

Overall, I would recommend this book as it was a fun time and definitely had me laughing. 💚📖✨

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

Really enjoyed this one! Wasn’t sure where it was going to go as it went down different paths than the typical enemies to lovers trope. Definitely a solid read! 🌈✨

North and South by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Gene Luen Yang

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? No

4.5

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Smoke and Shadow by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Gene Luen Yang

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

Loving reading these! This one was definitely a bit darker in themes but still an interesting mystery and funny too. Excited to continue on!

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Gene Luen Yang

adventurous funny hopeful reflective tense 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

4.75

Really enjoying these!! This one really brought up some very real tensions that happen even today when it comes to the past and future and how they fit together. Excited for the next one! 

The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman

hopeful informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed this a lot and found it fun reading the little character profiles and Alice’s pov. I took away one star just because I thought there might be more BTS snippets and unseen mini comics or illustrations, but 85% of the book is Alice’s POV of artwork I’ve already seen and read online. 

That being said, I still enjoyed rereading and revisiting them! Plus I did draw Charlie and Nick with her help. Plan to draw Elle too! ✨

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Gene Luen Yang

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-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

5.0

Loved this one!!! Learned so much more about Zuko and Azula. I found the mystery adventure to be really beautiful to read as well as enjoy the illustration! Would read again! 🥹💛✨

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise by Gene Luen Yang

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

3.75

Solid read! I enjoyed it, but it didn’t grip me as much as TLOK’s continuation did and probably because I’m not the middle grade audience. The main themes here though were still very relevant even today, and I enjoyed seeing how things played out. Will continue to the next installments!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent

The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

adventurous challenging dark sad 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

4.25

I found I did enjoy this one more than the first one, but it still wasn’t without flaws. 

The beginning was very intriguing and so was the end but the middle (much like end in the first book) felt kinda all over the place in pacing. It just kinda flew us in different directions but nothing stuck and I was just waiting for the end to help me and the character arch’s find their footing. 

That all being said, the story definitely hit deeper and with more maturity and I enjoyed the darker turns into the characters arch’s and choices. 

Overall, I would recommend these books if you love this world and I hope to be able to read further! ✨