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Born Sacred: Poems for Palestine by Smokii Sumac
emotional
reflective
4.0
Born Sacred: Poems for Palestine is a collection of 100 poems by Smokii Sumac (they/he). These poems, written between October 2023 and April 2024, reflect on Palestine, colonial violence, and the struggles of Indigenous people around the globe. Most importantly, this book refuses to normalize this violence, and instead commits to empathy, solidarity, and truth.
As a member of the Ktunaxa nation, Sumac aptly draws parallels between the struggles of Palestinians and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The poet points out the similarities between residential school denialism and denialism of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, noting that what we are witnessing is settler colonialism and empire in action. This is important to recognize because settler colonialism is a part of the history of so-called Canada—it’s how the country was created. Understanding the interconnected nature of these struggles is crucial to standing in solidarity and working towards liberation.
Not a day goes by where I don’t think about Palestine, and Sumac captured a lot of own feelings in their poems. This book reads like a diary and I think it effectively conveys the everyday grief that comes with bearing witness to a live-streamed genocide. I’m grateful to see work like this because it’s a reminder that I’m not alone in my grief and anger. This book is also unwavering in its belief that change is possible, providing hope and solace to help us carry on.
These poems hold space for the world’s collective grief, and refuse to give in to apathy. Born Sacred invites us to sit with our grief and remember that we can all take action to create a better world.
Thank you Fernwood Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC of this book to review.
As a member of the Ktunaxa nation, Sumac aptly draws parallels between the struggles of Palestinians and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The poet points out the similarities between residential school denialism and denialism of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, noting that what we are witnessing is settler colonialism and empire in action. This is important to recognize because settler colonialism is a part of the history of so-called Canada—it’s how the country was created. Understanding the interconnected nature of these struggles is crucial to standing in solidarity and working towards liberation.
Not a day goes by where I don’t think about Palestine, and Sumac captured a lot of own feelings in their poems. This book reads like a diary and I think it effectively conveys the everyday grief that comes with bearing witness to a live-streamed genocide. I’m grateful to see work like this because it’s a reminder that I’m not alone in my grief and anger. This book is also unwavering in its belief that change is possible, providing hope and solace to help us carry on.
These poems hold space for the world’s collective grief, and refuse to give in to apathy. Born Sacred invites us to sit with our grief and remember that we can all take action to create a better world.
Thank you Fernwood Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC of this book to review.
Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic by Sangu Mandanna
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
5.0
Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions by Nalo Hopkinson
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
4.5
Nalo Hopkinson’s newest short story collection, Jamaica Ginger & Other Concoctions, is an immersive and enjoyable read. Within these fifteen stories you’ll find ghosts, aliens and cyborg pigs alongside discussions about the impact of climate change on the Caribbean and anti-Black racism. Amidst it all is the importance of hope, which is woven through the stories alongside queerness, humour, and grief.
I love the unique concepts of these stories—they captivated and fascinated me. Many of the stories focus on creating something new, whether it’s new cities or worlds, or new opportunities for a different life. The characters embrace wonder and possibility, and the stories are more hopeful because of it. This is especially true of the title story “Jamaica Ginger,” a story that’s about defying expectations and forging your own path. Other stories, like “Can’t Beat ‘Em,” “Covenant,” “Repatriation,” and “Propagation: A Short Story” defy reader expectations and imagine new futures.
I love most of these stories and my favourites are:
“Child Moon,” a story about motherhood and sacrifice.
“Covenant,” a story that focuses on community and healing the earth.
“Clap Back,” a story about injustice and truth that addresses anti-Black racism.
Overall, this is a well balanced and exciting collection full of inventive stories that dream of new futures and contemplate healing during times of grief and climate catastrophe. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve never read any of Nalo Hopkinson’s other works. This is a great introduction to her imagination!
Thank you Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to review.
I love the unique concepts of these stories—they captivated and fascinated me. Many of the stories focus on creating something new, whether it’s new cities or worlds, or new opportunities for a different life. The characters embrace wonder and possibility, and the stories are more hopeful because of it. This is especially true of the title story “Jamaica Ginger,” a story that’s about defying expectations and forging your own path. Other stories, like “Can’t Beat ‘Em,” “Covenant,” “Repatriation,” and “Propagation: A Short Story” defy reader expectations and imagine new futures.
I love most of these stories and my favourites are:
“Child Moon,” a story about motherhood and sacrifice.
“Covenant,” a story that focuses on community and healing the earth.
“Clap Back,” a story about injustice and truth that addresses anti-Black racism.
Overall, this is a well balanced and exciting collection full of inventive stories that dream of new futures and contemplate healing during times of grief and climate catastrophe. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve never read any of Nalo Hopkinson’s other works. This is a great introduction to her imagination!
Thank you Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to review.
Pigs Will Fly by Sunny D.
3.0
Pigs Will Fly follows 11 year old Kessie Fergusson as she begins a new year at school. Kessie recently lost her hearing and is having difficulty adjusting to her disability. She reluctantly returns to school and faces new challenges, including being placed in a class that she thinks isn’t the right fit for her. But Kessie learns that not everything is what it seems and comes to embrace her new classmates and her disability.
Kessie is an endearing character and overall the book is a playful and funny middle grade novel about acceptance, friendship and disability. I love the focus on Kessie’s relationships with the adults in her life, including her mother and favourite teacher. Their support for Kessie grounds the book and helps her on her journey towards believing in herself and regaining her confidence.
Kessie also grows as a character as she gets to know her new classmates and accepts them for who they are. I love that this book recognizes that students have different needs—one method of teaching might not work for every student but that doesn’t mean we should think less of the students who need more support or different learning methods. Embracing differences is one of the main strengths of this book and this is something Kessie grapples with.
I also appreciate that this book attempts to have serious discussions. However, I found that this didn’t always work because of the playful and humorous tone. In some instances, more nuance or details would have made the serious moments more impactful.
Overall, I appreciate Kessie’s journey to accepting herself and her new friends. Pigs Will Fly is a playful story that explores disability and differences that will resonate with young readers who may also be struggling with making friends or adjusting to major life changes.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
Kessie is an endearing character and overall the book is a playful and funny middle grade novel about acceptance, friendship and disability. I love the focus on Kessie’s relationships with the adults in her life, including her mother and favourite teacher. Their support for Kessie grounds the book and helps her on her journey towards believing in herself and regaining her confidence.
Kessie also grows as a character as she gets to know her new classmates and accepts them for who they are. I love that this book recognizes that students have different needs—one method of teaching might not work for every student but that doesn’t mean we should think less of the students who need more support or different learning methods. Embracing differences is one of the main strengths of this book and this is something Kessie grapples with.
I also appreciate that this book attempts to have serious discussions. However, I found that this didn’t always work because of the playful and humorous tone. In some instances, more nuance or details would have made the serious moments more impactful.
Overall, I appreciate Kessie’s journey to accepting herself and her new friends. Pigs Will Fly is a playful story that explores disability and differences that will resonate with young readers who may also be struggling with making friends or adjusting to major life changes.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny
Minor: Fatphobia, Transphobia