Scan barcode
bookdragon217's reviews
567 reviews
Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Rape, Miscarriage, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Racism, Colonisation, and Panic attacks/disorders
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"I feel like I've been betraying them every time I'm not miserable. And I know that's not how grief works. One second of being happy doesn't erase all the other moments of mourning. I know that I can't stay sad all day, every day. But I can't help but feel like people are looking at me judging me for not being sad enough. Or for being too sad. I can't figure out what the normal amount is.
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson was a lighthearted read that touched on themes of found family, grief, fatphobia, microagressions, racism and religious discrimination. Mila Flores is a fat, body positive Mexican teenager who loves Doc Martens and practicing wicca with her best friend Riley. When her best friend and the two resident mean girls are found dead under suspicious circumstances, Mila struggles with her grief and won't accept that they committed suicide. Mila casts a spell to bring Riley back to life so she could find out the truth but instead all three girls are resurrected as zombies.
This was a quick, easy read that didn't delve too heavily into harder topics. Mila did experience fatphobia but I like that author made her a very layered character beyond her fatness. Mila didn't shy away from speaking her mind and calling out racism and fatphobia. She didn't shy away from having tough conversations with the mean girls and school counselor. Grief was a main theme in the novel and I think it was explored the best because Mila was constantly contemplating her process and seeing how others were dealing with their grief in different ways. The tone of the writing was optimistic and it never felt didactic. Because there were so many side characters with back stories, I think the story remained focused on the relationship between characters, rather than the overarching big themes. Overall this was a cute and fun read with witchy, girl power vibes.
I read this one for The Diverse Baseline Challenge February Prompt: BIPOC author w/ Fat Main Character. Read this one if you like:
✨️ Girl Power Narratives
✨️ Found Family
✨️ Grief Process
✨️ Zombie Stories
✨️ Witchy vibes & plant magic
#UndeadGirlGang #LilyAnderson #thediversebaseline #tbr #bookstagram #ReadPuertoRican
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson was a lighthearted read that touched on themes of found family, grief, fatphobia, microagressions, racism and religious discrimination. Mila Flores is a fat, body positive Mexican teenager who loves Doc Martens and practicing wicca with her best friend Riley. When her best friend and the two resident mean girls are found dead under suspicious circumstances, Mila struggles with her grief and won't accept that they committed suicide. Mila casts a spell to bring Riley back to life so she could find out the truth but instead all three girls are resurrected as zombies.
This was a quick, easy read that didn't delve too heavily into harder topics. Mila did experience fatphobia but I like that author made her a very layered character beyond her fatness. Mila didn't shy away from speaking her mind and calling out racism and fatphobia. She didn't shy away from having tough conversations with the mean girls and school counselor. Grief was a main theme in the novel and I think it was explored the best because Mila was constantly contemplating her process and seeing how others were dealing with their grief in different ways. The tone of the writing was optimistic and it never felt didactic. Because there were so many side characters with back stories, I think the story remained focused on the relationship between characters, rather than the overarching big themes. Overall this was a cute and fun read with witchy, girl power vibes.
I read this one for The Diverse Baseline Challenge February Prompt: BIPOC author w/ Fat Main Character. Read this one if you like:
✨️ Girl Power Narratives
✨️ Found Family
✨️ Grief Process
✨️ Zombie Stories
✨️ Witchy vibes & plant magic
#UndeadGirlGang #LilyAnderson #thediversebaseline #tbr #bookstagram #ReadPuertoRican
Searching for Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many by Mona Gable
challenging
informative
sad
2.75
A Delicate Marriage by Margarita Barresi
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Tiger Came to the Mountains by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Christmas Night of the Scurry Furries by E Reyes
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Happy New Years Eve! I recently read Christmas Night of the Scurry Flurry by E. Reyes and I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect read for the season. Who doesn't love some Christmas horror?
This was a wild, fast-paced novella that will have you experiencing the right amount of gore but get you in all the nostalgic feels of classic 80's and 90's horror films. I loved seeing the references to some of my childhood favorites. If you love Gremlins, Critters, and Child's Play, just to name a few, then you will totally adore this one.
Although this was a short one, I felt like the pacing and character development were perfect. I got to know enough about the characters to be fully invested and appreciate their unique personalities. I love a good foodie book and this one had me craving all the Mexican holiday foods. Overall, I adored this one and can't wait to read more or E. Reyes' stories. Latinx horror is underrated and I hope you will read this one and give diverse horror try.
This was a wild, fast-paced novella that will have you experiencing the right amount of gore but get you in all the nostalgic feels of classic 80's and 90's horror films. I loved seeing the references to some of my childhood favorites. If you love Gremlins, Critters, and Child's Play, just to name a few, then you will totally adore this one.
Although this was a short one, I felt like the pacing and character development were perfect. I got to know enough about the characters to be fully invested and appreciate their unique personalities. I love a good foodie book and this one had me craving all the Mexican holiday foods. Overall, I adored this one and can't wait to read more or E. Reyes' stories. Latinx horror is underrated and I hope you will read this one and give diverse horror try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Death
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Whenever she falls, they will prepare the space for her to land. Just as she will for them, your mother, your sister, and you. This is the connection and love that slides between all hardships and gives even the toughest life humor, meaning, heart, heft. This is the unspoken covenant of Native women."
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott was an incredible read. Elliott's storytelling was spellbinding and I enjoyed the way she blended elements of horror, sci-fi and mystery I to this tale. Alice was a captivating protagonist and one I won't easily forget. This one tackled heavy themes of Native motherhood, mental illness, racism, alcoholism, forced removal and adoption of babies, MMIW2S issues, cultural appropriation and erasure of history in academia and white savior complex. The way Eliott personified these as true horror was so vivid that I felt like I was in Alice's mind and thoughts the while time. I felt her dread and mistrust. I couldn't help but relate to her concerns about her sanity and motherhood because BIPOC people always have their fitness to parent scrutinized by racist white people. Native peoples especially have a long history of having rheir children taken away forever.
I was not expecting the time shift and plot twist towards the last section of the book, but this was brought the main themes full circle. This is where you see the resilience of Native women and their unwavering support for each other. Here is where you see how it is through their Native ways of life and connection to their community that they support each other through healing their traumas. It is also how they support and protect each other. Elliott also notes that Native women also get hurt by Native men, not just outsiders. For the women in this story, their medicine is each other and this is the legacy they leave to future generations. The key to their survival is to stay connected to their roots.
This is the first of Elliott's books I read but I am so excited to read her other books because her writing style really spotlights the power of Native storytelling. Her voice is commanding, authentic and takes up all the space in a room. I highly recommend you read this one.
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott was an incredible read. Elliott's storytelling was spellbinding and I enjoyed the way she blended elements of horror, sci-fi and mystery I to this tale. Alice was a captivating protagonist and one I won't easily forget. This one tackled heavy themes of Native motherhood, mental illness, racism, alcoholism, forced removal and adoption of babies, MMIW2S issues, cultural appropriation and erasure of history in academia and white savior complex. The way Eliott personified these as true horror was so vivid that I felt like I was in Alice's mind and thoughts the while time. I felt her dread and mistrust. I couldn't help but relate to her concerns about her sanity and motherhood because BIPOC people always have their fitness to parent scrutinized by racist white people. Native peoples especially have a long history of having rheir children taken away forever.
I was not expecting the time shift and plot twist towards the last section of the book, but this was brought the main themes full circle. This is where you see the resilience of Native women and their unwavering support for each other. Here is where you see how it is through their Native ways of life and connection to their community that they support each other through healing their traumas. It is also how they support and protect each other. Elliott also notes that Native women also get hurt by Native men, not just outsiders. For the women in this story, their medicine is each other and this is the legacy they leave to future generations. The key to their survival is to stay connected to their roots.
This is the first of Elliott's books I read but I am so excited to read her other books because her writing style really spotlights the power of Native storytelling. Her voice is commanding, authentic and takes up all the space in a room. I highly recommend you read this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming and Alcoholism
My AfroRican State of Soul by Lucas Rivera
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
3.25
"I'm begging us all to begin
Make initial contact
Not let government dictate how we give back
An ancestral lineage of generations
That spoke up and woke up to reclaim and take back
Life"
My Afro-Rican State of Soul by Lucas Rivera was a poetic journey through Afro-rican identity, masculinity, fatherlessness, forgiveness, spirituality, solidarity with humanity, oppression and redefining love in all its forms. I loved how the collection was structured because it takes you through the different stages of the poet's growth. Some of the poems have a bar code that links you to the musical performance piece that accompanies that selection. It made for a greater reading experience because you get to hear and feel the rhythm of certain pieces and they're really brought to life. The collection is cohesive and as a reader you can relate to the author's healing journey. You get to know the places where Rivera grew up because he gives them a life of their own. The collection is an insightful view of what it means to be Puerto Rican in the diaspora and how community and love get you through the hard times.
Some stand out pieces for me were:
🪇 Defining Love: connecting how societal oppression has shaped ideas of masculinity
🪘 The Many Shades of My Ghetto: how being born Black marks you a suspect before your accent has a chance to mark you as othered
🪇 A Retrospective of Regret: how the path to find your own sense of faith does not happen without rebellion
🪘 An American Dilemma: examines the state of the U.S. soul
If you are looking to add more diasporican poetry to your collection, pick this one and enjoy the ride. Thanks to @lucasrivera247 for sending me a copy.
Make initial contact
Not let government dictate how we give back
An ancestral lineage of generations
That spoke up and woke up to reclaim and take back
Life"
My Afro-Rican State of Soul by Lucas Rivera was a poetic journey through Afro-rican identity, masculinity, fatherlessness, forgiveness, spirituality, solidarity with humanity, oppression and redefining love in all its forms. I loved how the collection was structured because it takes you through the different stages of the poet's growth. Some of the poems have a bar code that links you to the musical performance piece that accompanies that selection. It made for a greater reading experience because you get to hear and feel the rhythm of certain pieces and they're really brought to life. The collection is cohesive and as a reader you can relate to the author's healing journey. You get to know the places where Rivera grew up because he gives them a life of their own. The collection is an insightful view of what it means to be Puerto Rican in the diaspora and how community and love get you through the hard times.
Some stand out pieces for me were:
🪇 Defining Love: connecting how societal oppression has shaped ideas of masculinity
🪘 The Many Shades of My Ghetto: how being born Black marks you a suspect before your accent has a chance to mark you as othered
🪇 A Retrospective of Regret: how the path to find your own sense of faith does not happen without rebellion
🪘 An American Dilemma: examines the state of the U.S. soul
If you are looking to add more diasporican poetry to your collection, pick this one and enjoy the ride. Thanks to @lucasrivera247 for sending me a copy.