casieb's reviews
157 reviews

The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This book was incredible! I think I will need to come back and write a review after I've had time to process. I have so many thoughts and emotions after reading this book. But I highly,  highly recommend. I think everyone who reads this will feel it definitely. Within the first couple pages she says " My first addition was books..." I think a lot of us on this app might be able to relate to that. 😉 I'll be back to review deeper....

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

adventurous challenging emotional informative fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a wonderful book! I read it from my kids school library (I volunteer there and I'm reading books to highlight and recommend each week). I would recommend this books to both kids and adults it was phenomenal. 

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

adventurous emotional informative reflective 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

5.0

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone

adventurous funny informative mysterious 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? No

4.5

I read this book because I volunteer at my kids school library and I wanted to start reading books that aren't as well know to talk about and highlight.  Since it's black history month I wanted to focus on books written by black authors. This book is so good! It's such a fun book about an all black girls softball team competing to win the championship. But beyond that it's a great kids books that shows you how kids of color experience the world differently than white kids. Our school although pretty diverse is definitely majority white and I think this is a great book for white kids to learn about kids of colors experience and also learn about black history. 12 year old Shenice has to solve a mystery of something that happened to her Grandpa back when he was playing baseball when black people were just being allowed into the minor and major leagues. As you read about what it was like to be black living through segregation and the rough transition through de-segregation, you also get to experience the emotions and trauma that Shenice feels as she unravels the mystery about how her family members were treated while simultaneously experiencing racism in her daily life. This is all done in an approachable, fun, funny and serious way. All the family and friend supporting characters are amazing! This is a great book for kids of color to have representation but I truly think this book is an awesome book for white kids to help understand how black kids experience life. Also, aside from all that it's a great book! Highly recommend!

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

dark emotional sad fast-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? Yes

4.0

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

By far one of the best books I've ever read! I read this through double immersion (I read the book and listened to the audio at the same time). The audio book is narrated by the author. Her voice is so beautiful and soothing having her read this beautiful book to you is seriously chef's kiss. ❤️ This book is sobering, informative, hopeful and inspiring. It makes you want to go out and be in nature and do better with the world around you. Definitely a book I will reread many times either in whole or pieces at a time to ground myself back to nature. please read! highly recommend. 

Gone Wolf by Amber McBride

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I read this book because I volunteer at my kids school library and I was pulling books to highlight for black history month. I wanted to read a book to talk about and highlight next week. This book was incredible. Such an amazing and creative way to talk about so many different complex traumatic experiences. The age range for this is 10-14 but I would say the lower end of that would need to be a pretty advanced reader in order to really benefit from the full impact and be able to make the connections. This would be such an incredible book for middle and high school kids to read in class. Highly recommend reading it with your kiddos and talking about it as you go. Also, definitely recommend for any grown up to pick this book up and read. It is wonderful!

Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus by Monica Murphy, Bill Wasik

informative medium-paced

3.75

Incredibly interesting!

"They Take Our Jobs!": And 20 Other Myths about Immigration by Aviva Chomsky

emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

Great informative read to have thoughtful conversation about the inhumane and cruel immigration policies in this country. It also shows how both Republican and Democrat leaders are to blame. Highly recommend this as a starting point to understanding this complicated system. 

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl

reflective medium-paced

5.0

Beautifully written. This is a book that makes you want to go outside and read in nature. or go for a walk. slow down. look around and connect. This is a book that I will puck up and reread parts every season change. Absolutely loved it!