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1037 reviews
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Bullying, sexism, mentions of vomit, xenophobia, and sexual assault.
Rep: Nora is either Persian or Afghani, if someone could please specify in the comments that would be great. Hansani is Sri Lakan. Glory is half Filipino. Mariko is Chinese-Japanese. Izumi and her mother are Japanese American. The rest of the characters are Japanese.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book floating around Twitter for sometime. I had initially no interest in reading. I had changed my mind after seeing someone comparing it to The Princess Diaries.
I am happy to say that I really enjoyed it!
What I Liked: The writing style was so good! I was sucked in from the first page. I also really enjoyed reading the various magazine articles.
I loved Izumi’s relationship with her mother! They were so close to each other. I could feel the love through reading their interactions.
I adored reading about the AGG! Jean did such a fabulous job bringing all of Izumi’s friends personalities to life. The back and forth that was in all of Glory and Noora’s conversations, Hansani’s quiet but supportive personality, and Mariko’s tough love. It’s always such a pleasure to read about supportive female friendships.
Akio and Izumi’s romance was entertaining to read about. I liked how they looked out for each other. I did enjoy reading about their relationship progression.
Izumi’s relationship with her father was the driving force of the novel. You see them try to communicate and find a common ground. And of course that was very difficult in the beginning as they didn’t know each other. Izumi was convinced that she would be thrown out for a mistake due to her background (not coming from a rich family). Her father also didn’t make any extra time to spend with Izumi. When they finally did make an effort to communicate it was lovely and so heartfelt. I grew to love reading their scenes together!
I loved reading about Izumi’s character development! How she came to terms with both her backgrounds, how she decided that she was enough. She really grew into herself with the help of those around her. Especially her friends and her mother.
My Criticism(s): I wasn’t that invested in the romance. I just found that I cared more about Izumi’s relationships with her friends and family more than the romance.
What I’m Looking Forward To: I’m so excited to read the sequel Tokyo Dreaming!
Conclusion: Overall I really liked Tokyo Ever After! I highly recommend it if you love The Princess Diaries and What a Girl Wants.
Trigger Warning(s): Bullying, sexism, mentions of vomit, xenophobia, and sexual assault.
Rep: Nora is either Persian or Afghani, if someone could please specify in the comments that would be great. Hansani is Sri Lakan. Glory is half Filipino. Mariko is Chinese-Japanese. Izumi and her mother are Japanese American. The rest of the characters are Japanese.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book floating around Twitter for sometime. I had initially no interest in reading. I had changed my mind after seeing someone comparing it to The Princess Diaries.
I am happy to say that I really enjoyed it!
What I Liked: The writing style was so good! I was sucked in from the first page. I also really enjoyed reading the various magazine articles.
I loved Izumi’s relationship with her mother! They were so close to each other. I could feel the love through reading their interactions.
I adored reading about the AGG! Jean did such a fabulous job bringing all of Izumi’s friends personalities to life. The back and forth that was in all of Glory and Noora’s conversations, Hansani’s quiet but supportive personality, and Mariko’s tough love. It’s always such a pleasure to read about supportive female friendships.
Akio and Izumi’s romance was entertaining to read about. I liked how they looked out for each other. I did enjoy reading about their relationship progression.
Izumi’s relationship with her father was the driving force of the novel. You see them try to communicate and find a common ground. And of course that was very difficult in the beginning as they didn’t know each other. Izumi was convinced that she would be thrown out for a mistake due to her background (not coming from a rich family). Her father also didn’t make any extra time to spend with Izumi. When they finally did make an effort to communicate it was lovely and so heartfelt. I grew to love reading their scenes together!
I loved reading about Izumi’s character development! How she came to terms with both her backgrounds, how she decided that she was enough. She really grew into herself with the help of those around her. Especially her friends and her mother.
My Criticism(s): I wasn’t that invested in the romance. I just found that I cared more about Izumi’s relationships with her friends and family more than the romance.
What I’m Looking Forward To: I’m so excited to read the sequel Tokyo Dreaming!
Conclusion: Overall I really liked Tokyo Ever After! I highly recommend it if you love The Princess Diaries and What a Girl Wants.
Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? No
3.0
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch by Julie Abe
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Death, grief, violence, and confinement.
Reading Challenge: PondathonII
Rep: All of the characters are Japanese.
My Thoughts Before Reading: After that dreadful cliffhanger in the previous installment I was desperate to read this novel! I needed answers and was hoping to be satisficed with this conclusion to the series.
I am happy to say that I loved this book!
What I Liked: The plot was fast paced and I was on the edge of my seat while reading! The book begins with Eva and her mother racing to the castle to make sure that Queen Alliana is safe. Grottel appears while Eva is performing her spell and the plot picks up from there. Those first 50-70 pages were a wild ride.
The magic system was expanded upon. Rogue magic was such an interesting concept, I really enjoyed watching it all play out.
Eva’s relationship with her family played a huge part in this book. Particularly her relationship with her mother. Her mother has always been Eva’s biggest supporter, she has never doubted Eva’s magical abilities. Eva relies on her mothers (and her fathers) support even more so in this installment. It was such a lovely relationship to read about!
Eva’s relationship with Davy and Charlotte were a delight to read about! I was so happy when they made an appearance and started to help Eva in her plans. Charlotte and Davy are definitely ride-or-die friends. They have supported Eva and believed in her since the first book. Eva and Ember just like the previous book had a wonderful relationship. I loved reading about their relationship!
Eva and Conroy’s relationship surprised me. I didn’t expect for them to form a tentative truce let alone become friends. That being said I was happy that Conroy was developed. I did enjoy reading and learning more about Conroy. I even liked reading about his friendship with Eva!
The big plot twist with Grottel and Maika was completely unpredictable. The history with the culling, and how it all tied to the rogue witch was mindblowing. It was so painful and heartbreaking to read about. Abe really outdid herself with this installment.
Eva’s character development was beautifully done! Eva as seen in the previous novel has insecurities with her magic. Her family and friends believe in her but Eva doesn’t believe in herself. Through the events of this novel Eva learns to believe in herself. She really grew into herself.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: I’m really excited to read Alliana, Girl of Dragons. I really enjoyed reading about Queen Alliana (she had a large role in this novel). I’m also very excited to read about a young Nela.
Conclusion: Overall I loved Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a witchy middle grade series.
Trigger Warning(s): Death, grief, violence, and confinement.
Reading Challenge: PondathonII
Rep: All of the characters are Japanese.
My Thoughts Before Reading: After that dreadful cliffhanger in the previous installment I was desperate to read this novel! I needed answers and was hoping to be satisficed with this conclusion to the series.
I am happy to say that I loved this book!
What I Liked: The plot was fast paced and I was on the edge of my seat while reading! The book begins with Eva and her mother racing to the castle to make sure that Queen Alliana is safe. Grottel appears while Eva is performing her spell and the plot picks up from there. Those first 50-70 pages were a wild ride.
The magic system was expanded upon. Rogue magic was such an interesting concept, I really enjoyed watching it all play out.
Eva’s relationship with her family played a huge part in this book. Particularly her relationship with her mother. Her mother has always been Eva’s biggest supporter, she has never doubted Eva’s magical abilities. Eva relies on her mothers (and her fathers) support even more so in this installment. It was such a lovely relationship to read about!
Eva’s relationship with Davy and Charlotte were a delight to read about! I was so happy when they made an appearance and started to help Eva in her plans. Charlotte and Davy are definitely ride-or-die friends. They have supported Eva and believed in her since the first book. Eva and Ember just like the previous book had a wonderful relationship. I loved reading about their relationship!
Eva and Conroy’s relationship surprised me. I didn’t expect for them to form a tentative truce let alone become friends. That being said I was happy that Conroy was developed. I did enjoy reading and learning more about Conroy. I even liked reading about his friendship with Eva!
The big plot twist with Grottel and Maika was completely unpredictable. The history with the culling, and how it all tied to the rogue witch was mindblowing. It was so painful and heartbreaking to read about. Abe really outdid herself with this installment.
Eva’s character development was beautifully done! Eva as seen in the previous novel has insecurities with her magic. Her family and friends believe in her but Eva doesn’t believe in herself. Through the events of this novel Eva learns to believe in herself. She really grew into herself.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: I’m really excited to read Alliana, Girl of Dragons. I really enjoyed reading about Queen Alliana (she had a large role in this novel). I’m also very excited to read about a young Nela.
Conclusion: Overall I loved Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a witchy middle grade series.
Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.0
You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Disclaimer: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. However this review is based on the final copy.
Trigger warning(s): Islamophobia, racism, racial slurs, bullying, hate crime, panic attacks, and body shaming. There are also content warnings included in the final copy.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Zakat and her family are Black Muslims. Sabriya, her sister Nuri, and her father are Black Muslims. Sabriya’s mother is a Black Christian. Farah, her mother, and maternal grandparents are Black Muslims. Tommy is Black. Riley is a white Christian. Aafreen is a Muslim. I’m not sure if she is Black, or an Arab, if anyone knows please leave a comment and I will edit this post. Hayat, his siblings and (I think) his mother are Black Muslims. Hayat’s father (might be) a Black Christian. Morgan is Black. Please let me know in the comments if I have missed someone.
My Thoughts Before Reading: When I had seen this book on Twitter I knew I had to read it! I am always looking to read more book by Muslim authors from different cultures than my own (I am a Pakistani). Plus this seemed right up my alley.
I am so happy to say that I loved it!
What I Liked: The writing style was superb! Sabreen effortlessly switched between Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah’s point of view. Each girl had a distinctive voice, readers will be able to tell them apart. The blog posts were a delight to read about as well! I loved how well written they were. And as a blogger it was a nice touch. I really loved how they were able to build a safe community for Muslim women.
As a Muslim I always look forward to books by Muslim authors with Muslim characters. I was so excited when I heard about this book! It made me so happy to see that the author is a Black Muslim writing about Black Muslim characters. Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah all have a different relationship with Islam. But you can tell that the author cares about Islam and it shows in each of the girls characters. It was done so effortlessly and beautifully!
The Islamophobia was handled really well. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t painful to read about. I did have to take some breaks in between reading. But I still finished the book feeling hopeful.
Sabriya’s relationship with her family was great! I really loved reading about how close she was to her younger sister Nuri. It was so nice to read about the older sibling going to the younger sibling for advice. I do that all the time with my little sister and I really felt seen. Sabriya’s mother is a Christian so there were many times she felt that her mother couldn’t understand her experiences as a Muslim. Which did leave a strain on their relationship. But her mother came to her defense towards the end of the book and it was such a beautiful moment to read about. Sabriya’s father was really sweet and optimistic. I loved how he would use the Quran to give advice to Sabriya.
I really liked reading about Sabriya’s relationship with Morgan and Hayat. Morgan was such a sweet friend and the two of them were there for one-another. Hayat unexpected grew on me. Like Sabriya I did find him a bit annoying, but as I continued to read I really liked getting to know him better. I thought he was really sweet. I loved their romance!
Zakat’s relationship with her family was nice to read about! Her parents were very protective of her and wanted the best for her future. Zakat felt that her parents were a bit much at times, and they were. However their reasoning makes sense and they communicated openly with their daughter. I love it when parents are willing to communicate with their children! Please we need to see more of this in other novels.
Zakat’s friendship with Aafreen was so sweet to read about! They were so close to one-another and trusted each other. Aafreen was Zakat’s biggest supporter but also willing to call her out when it needed to be done. Readers will feel the love and trust these two have for each other.
Farah’s relationship with her mother and maternal grandparents was wonderful to read about! I loved how they were there for one-another and how Farah’s mother pushed her out of her comfort zone. It was just also nice to read about how close they were. Farah was comfortable with her mother that she could tell her anything and everything. Her grandparents didn’t come in that many times but you could tell how close knit this family was.
Farah’s relationship with Tommy (her father) and his family was a bit complicated. Tommy doesn’t really visit Farah and barely makes any attempts to keep in touch. Despite this Tommy invites Farah to stay with him, his wife and children for one month. Understandably Farah isn’t pleased with this decision but her mother pushes her to go and that she does. Throughout the month Farah develops beautiful relationships with her siblings and even Tommy. It was such a joy to read about! I love reading about children and siblings.
Farah’s relationship with her boyfriend Riley was so cute to read about! I loved how they were both nerds, and they made each other so happy. Farah is a bit reluctant about their relationship. Riley will be going to college after summer and Farah doesn’t think they can do a long distance relationship. She does decide to give it a chance though. Which I was very happy to read about.
I adored Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah’s relationship! They formed such a beautiful friendship over the course of one month. They were also able to grow throughout the book. Each girl grows more confident and stronger through their friendship with one-another, their experience from the blog and of course their own personal relationships with the people around them.
My Criticism(s): There was an error in the beginning when Zakat was making wudu. The order was wrong. But aside from that I have nothing else to say.
Conclusion: Overall I loved You Truly Assumed! I highly recommend it for anyone looking for more Muslim representation.
Trigger warning(s): Islamophobia, racism, racial slurs, bullying, hate crime, panic attacks, and body shaming. There are also content warnings included in the final copy.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Zakat and her family are Black Muslims. Sabriya, her sister Nuri, and her father are Black Muslims. Sabriya’s mother is a Black Christian. Farah, her mother, and maternal grandparents are Black Muslims. Tommy is Black. Riley is a white Christian. Aafreen is a Muslim. I’m not sure if she is Black, or an Arab, if anyone knows please leave a comment and I will edit this post. Hayat, his siblings and (I think) his mother are Black Muslims. Hayat’s father (might be) a Black Christian. Morgan is Black. Please let me know in the comments if I have missed someone.
My Thoughts Before Reading: When I had seen this book on Twitter I knew I had to read it! I am always looking to read more book by Muslim authors from different cultures than my own (I am a Pakistani). Plus this seemed right up my alley.
I am so happy to say that I loved it!
What I Liked: The writing style was superb! Sabreen effortlessly switched between Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah’s point of view. Each girl had a distinctive voice, readers will be able to tell them apart. The blog posts were a delight to read about as well! I loved how well written they were. And as a blogger it was a nice touch. I really loved how they were able to build a safe community for Muslim women.
As a Muslim I always look forward to books by Muslim authors with Muslim characters. I was so excited when I heard about this book! It made me so happy to see that the author is a Black Muslim writing about Black Muslim characters. Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah all have a different relationship with Islam. But you can tell that the author cares about Islam and it shows in each of the girls characters. It was done so effortlessly and beautifully!
The Islamophobia was handled really well. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t painful to read about. I did have to take some breaks in between reading. But I still finished the book feeling hopeful.
Sabriya’s relationship with her family was great! I really loved reading about how close she was to her younger sister Nuri. It was so nice to read about the older sibling going to the younger sibling for advice. I do that all the time with my little sister and I really felt seen. Sabriya’s mother is a Christian so there were many times she felt that her mother couldn’t understand her experiences as a Muslim. Which did leave a strain on their relationship. But her mother came to her defense towards the end of the book and it was such a beautiful moment to read about. Sabriya’s father was really sweet and optimistic. I loved how he would use the Quran to give advice to Sabriya.
I really liked reading about Sabriya’s relationship with Morgan and Hayat. Morgan was such a sweet friend and the two of them were there for one-another. Hayat unexpected grew on me. Like Sabriya I did find him a bit annoying, but as I continued to read I really liked getting to know him better. I thought he was really sweet. I loved their romance!
Zakat’s relationship with her family was nice to read about! Her parents were very protective of her and wanted the best for her future. Zakat felt that her parents were a bit much at times, and they were. However their reasoning makes sense and they communicated openly with their daughter. I love it when parents are willing to communicate with their children! Please we need to see more of this in other novels.
Zakat’s friendship with Aafreen was so sweet to read about! They were so close to one-another and trusted each other. Aafreen was Zakat’s biggest supporter but also willing to call her out when it needed to be done. Readers will feel the love and trust these two have for each other.
Farah’s relationship with her mother and maternal grandparents was wonderful to read about! I loved how they were there for one-another and how Farah’s mother pushed her out of her comfort zone. It was just also nice to read about how close they were. Farah was comfortable with her mother that she could tell her anything and everything. Her grandparents didn’t come in that many times but you could tell how close knit this family was.
Farah’s relationship with Tommy (her father) and his family was a bit complicated. Tommy doesn’t really visit Farah and barely makes any attempts to keep in touch. Despite this Tommy invites Farah to stay with him, his wife and children for one month. Understandably Farah isn’t pleased with this decision but her mother pushes her to go and that she does. Throughout the month Farah develops beautiful relationships with her siblings and even Tommy. It was such a joy to read about! I love reading about children and siblings.
Farah’s relationship with her boyfriend Riley was so cute to read about! I loved how they were both nerds, and they made each other so happy. Farah is a bit reluctant about their relationship. Riley will be going to college after summer and Farah doesn’t think they can do a long distance relationship. She does decide to give it a chance though. Which I was very happy to read about.
I adored Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah’s relationship! They formed such a beautiful friendship over the course of one month. They were also able to grow throughout the book. Each girl grows more confident and stronger through their friendship with one-another, their experience from the blog and of course their own personal relationships with the people around them.
My Criticism(s): There was an error in the beginning when Zakat was making wudu. The order was wrong. But aside from that I have nothing else to say.
Conclusion: Overall I loved You Truly Assumed! I highly recommend it for anyone looking for more Muslim representation.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger warning(s): Bullying, grief, racism, racial slurs, kidnapping, hate crime, and classism.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Amari and her family are Black-American. There are several POC side characters.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book all over social media in December 2020. I had heard so many positive things about this book. What really sold me was the pitch (I love the Artemis Fowl series!) and the pictures of the gorgeous UK edition.
I am happy to say that I loved this book!
What I Liked: The magic system was so unique! I loved the mix of fantasy and sci-fi. And all the magical elements added in, like the talking elevators. Honestly who wouldn’t want an elevator that can talk?
The plot was so interesting! I was on the edge of my seat reading about the trials Amari was taking whilst her trying to find information about Quinton and Maria’s disappearance.
I really liked how Alston handled the racism in a fantasy setting. I usually don’t like reading about racism in fantasy because of the lack of nuance. Which was thankfully not the case with this novel. The racism was presented in a nuanced way which is a testament to Alston’s writing.
Amari’s relationship with Quinton was so sweet to read about! Quinton is 10 years older than Amari but they are still very close to one-another. Amari idolizes Quinton and has spent a lot of her childhood comparing herself to him. When she enters the Supernatural Bureau, Amari feels lost, and doesn’t think the she can bring her brother back home (she isn’t the sibling that is a genius after all). She is scared and confused in the beginning, but for the sake of her brother she decides to persevere and continue to fight for her spot in the Bureau.
Amari’s relationship with her mother is strained in the beginning. Her mother is trying to understand and sympathize with what Amari is going through, but she has a lot on her plate and it isn’t always easy. Amari misses the days when her mother would smile more and stress less. Which is another reason she wants to bring Quinton back home.
Amari’s relationships with Agent Magnus, Agent Fiona, and her roommate Elsie were a delight to read about! Agent Magnus and Agent Fiona were always encouraging Amari to try her best and ignore the people who wanted to see her fail. Elsie was a ball of sunshine! I fell in love with her from her first scene onwards. I loved how even before knowing Amari, Elsie offered to help her look for Quinton.
I loved reading about Amari’s character development! Her resilience, her confidence in her own abilities, relying on friends when needed, and so much more. I fell in love with Amari from the first page, and as I continued to read I loved her even more. She was sweet, and fierce. Amari never let anyone put her down, she always got back up.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: I was not expecting that reveal with Dylan. I probably should’ve seen it coming from that spell book scene but still. In part it’s because Maria is his older sister, but also narratively I can’t really see his character arc going any other way.
I still have so many questions about the magic system, especially with the League of Magicians being introduced. I am really excited for Amari and the Great Game! I want answers and I really need Quinton to wake up soon.
Conclusion: Overall I adored Amari and the Night Brothers! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a middle grade fantasy series.
Trigger warning(s): Bullying, grief, racism, racial slurs, kidnapping, hate crime, and classism.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Amari and her family are Black-American. There are several POC side characters.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book all over social media in December 2020. I had heard so many positive things about this book. What really sold me was the pitch (I love the Artemis Fowl series!) and the pictures of the gorgeous UK edition.
I am happy to say that I loved this book!
What I Liked: The magic system was so unique! I loved the mix of fantasy and sci-fi. And all the magical elements added in, like the talking elevators. Honestly who wouldn’t want an elevator that can talk?
The plot was so interesting! I was on the edge of my seat reading about the trials Amari was taking whilst her trying to find information about Quinton and Maria’s disappearance.
I really liked how Alston handled the racism in a fantasy setting. I usually don’t like reading about racism in fantasy because of the lack of nuance. Which was thankfully not the case with this novel. The racism was presented in a nuanced way which is a testament to Alston’s writing.
Amari’s relationship with Quinton was so sweet to read about! Quinton is 10 years older than Amari but they are still very close to one-another. Amari idolizes Quinton and has spent a lot of her childhood comparing herself to him. When she enters the Supernatural Bureau, Amari feels lost, and doesn’t think the she can bring her brother back home (she isn’t the sibling that is a genius after all). She is scared and confused in the beginning, but for the sake of her brother she decides to persevere and continue to fight for her spot in the Bureau.
Amari’s relationship with her mother is strained in the beginning. Her mother is trying to understand and sympathize with what Amari is going through, but she has a lot on her plate and it isn’t always easy. Amari misses the days when her mother would smile more and stress less. Which is another reason she wants to bring Quinton back home.
Amari’s relationships with Agent Magnus, Agent Fiona, and her roommate Elsie were a delight to read about! Agent Magnus and Agent Fiona were always encouraging Amari to try her best and ignore the people who wanted to see her fail. Elsie was a ball of sunshine! I fell in love with her from her first scene onwards. I loved how even before knowing Amari, Elsie offered to help her look for Quinton.
I loved reading about Amari’s character development! Her resilience, her confidence in her own abilities, relying on friends when needed, and so much more. I fell in love with Amari from the first page, and as I continued to read I loved her even more. She was sweet, and fierce. Amari never let anyone put her down, she always got back up.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: I was not expecting that reveal with Dylan. I probably should’ve seen it coming from that spell book scene but still. In part it’s because Maria is his older sister, but also narratively I can’t really see his character arc going any other way.
I still have so many questions about the magic system, especially with the League of Magicians being introduced. I am really excited for Amari and the Great Game! I want answers and I really need Quinton to wake up soon.
Conclusion: Overall I adored Amari and the Night Brothers! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a middle grade fantasy series.
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Trigger Warning(s): Bullying and racism.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Yumi and her family are Korean American. Ginny is Korean American. Manuel is Salvadoran American. Felipe is Mexican American.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book floating around Twitter in 2020. I love middle grade books and was so excited about this one! I have never read a book which follows an aspiring comedian.
I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
What I Liked: The comedy aspect was so much fun! I loved reading from Yumi’s secret comedy notebook. The Haha club’s meetings and improvs were so cool and innovative. I almost wished I was there with Yumi and doing the same activities! I also really liked reading about the Korean restaurant. The food descriptions will definitely leave readers hungry!
Jessica Kim was able to capture Yumi in her entirety. From her awkward thoughts and feelings, to the deeper side of Yumi-wherein she was afraid to disappoint herself and her parents. I was so in awe over how well the book was written! I truly do believe it takes a certain creativity to capture a childs voice and Kim definitely succeeded.
Yumi’s relationship with her parents were complicated. Like many immigrant parents her parents want the best for her and don’t really see her interest in comedy as anything more than a hobby. When her mother suggests the taking the exam in order to get a scholarship, she is un-surprisingly not very happy about it. However Yumi doesn’t feel she can say so because of the familial guilt that comes with being the child of immigrant parents. The need not to disappoint her parents, to work hard and fulfill their dreams for her.
I really appreciated that Kim never portrays Yumi’s parents as the horrible and stereotypical ones that you see in a lot of media. They are fully fleshed out and have some really deep moments with Yumi. That specific scene with Yumi and her father towards the end brought tears to my eyes. And Yumi’s mother supporting her by rehashing advice that Yumi got from watching comedy videos, really touched my heart and made me root for Yumi even more.
I loved reading about Yumi and her sister Yuri’s relationship! Yuri is almost like a second mom to Yumi (there is a large age difference). Yumi idolizes Yuri. She thinks that Yuri is untouchable and someone who has it all figured out. Of course she doesn’t, and has her own story arc. Which was done beautifully.
Yuri supports Yumi’s love for comedy and tries to come to her defense when she can. Even so much as trying to convince their parents to let Yumi attend the Haha club. When Yumi is inevitably in way over her head she even gives Yumi the means to get out of the situation before it all blows up. Yumi in turn also supports Yuri’s new career direction. Not immediately but she comes around and what counts is that Yumi supports her sister.
Yumi had some really solid friendships in this book! Like with the restaurants cook Manuel, who loves hearing about Yumi’s jokes. Ginny who supports Yumi not necessarily in a way Yumi wants but is still there for her. Felipe and Sienna whom attend the Haha club and had such sweet moments with Yumi. These three were constantly cheering each other and I lived for it!
Yumi’s character development was done so beautifully! I loved reading about her growth, her newfound confidence in herself, and letting go of the fear of disappointing herself and others around her. It was spread throughout the entire novel, stemming from her experience in the haha club. And even the relationships she had with everyone in her life.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
Conclusion: Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Stand Up, Yumi Chung! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a light middle grade novel.
Reading Challenge: #PondathonII
Rep: Yumi and her family are Korean American. Ginny is Korean American. Manuel is Salvadoran American. Felipe is Mexican American.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I had seen this book floating around Twitter in 2020. I love middle grade books and was so excited about this one! I have never read a book which follows an aspiring comedian.
I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
What I Liked: The comedy aspect was so much fun! I loved reading from Yumi’s secret comedy notebook. The Haha club’s meetings and improvs were so cool and innovative. I almost wished I was there with Yumi and doing the same activities! I also really liked reading about the Korean restaurant. The food descriptions will definitely leave readers hungry!
Jessica Kim was able to capture Yumi in her entirety. From her awkward thoughts and feelings, to the deeper side of Yumi-wherein she was afraid to disappoint herself and her parents. I was so in awe over how well the book was written! I truly do believe it takes a certain creativity to capture a childs voice and Kim definitely succeeded.
Yumi’s relationship with her parents were complicated. Like many immigrant parents her parents want the best for her and don’t really see her interest in comedy as anything more than a hobby. When her mother suggests the taking the exam in order to get a scholarship, she is un-surprisingly not very happy about it. However Yumi doesn’t feel she can say so because of the familial guilt that comes with being the child of immigrant parents. The need not to disappoint her parents, to work hard and fulfill their dreams for her.
I really appreciated that Kim never portrays Yumi’s parents as the horrible and stereotypical ones that you see in a lot of media. They are fully fleshed out and have some really deep moments with Yumi. That specific scene with Yumi and her father towards the end brought tears to my eyes. And Yumi’s mother supporting her by rehashing advice that Yumi got from watching comedy videos, really touched my heart and made me root for Yumi even more.
I loved reading about Yumi and her sister Yuri’s relationship! Yuri is almost like a second mom to Yumi (there is a large age difference). Yumi idolizes Yuri. She thinks that Yuri is untouchable and someone who has it all figured out. Of course she doesn’t, and has her own story arc. Which was done beautifully.
Yuri supports Yumi’s love for comedy and tries to come to her defense when she can. Even so much as trying to convince their parents to let Yumi attend the Haha club. When Yumi is inevitably in way over her head she even gives Yumi the means to get out of the situation before it all blows up. Yumi in turn also supports Yuri’s new career direction. Not immediately but she comes around and what counts is that Yumi supports her sister.
Yumi had some really solid friendships in this book! Like with the restaurants cook Manuel, who loves hearing about Yumi’s jokes. Ginny who supports Yumi not necessarily in a way Yumi wants but is still there for her. Felipe and Sienna whom attend the Haha club and had such sweet moments with Yumi. These three were constantly cheering each other and I lived for it!
Yumi’s character development was done so beautifully! I loved reading about her growth, her newfound confidence in herself, and letting go of the fear of disappointing herself and others around her. It was spread throughout the entire novel, stemming from her experience in the haha club. And even the relationships she had with everyone in her life.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
Conclusion: Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Stand Up, Yumi Chung! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a light middle grade novel.
Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0