hickorynut's reviews
287 reviews

The Accursed Vampire #2: The Curse at Witch Camp by Madeline McGrane

adventurous challenging 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? No

3.25

This was a very chaotic sequel to a fairly simple debut book. I found it difficult to follow the storyline and the pacing/time period over which things were happening. The art was vivid but chaotically energetic which made the magical beings swirly and wispy. While it was a cool style, I just didn't find it connected me to the plot and helped guide me along the story. 

The Accursed Vampire by Madeline McGrane

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

A sweet tale about a group of three vampiric children finding their way in the world together. There are flashes into their past and memories, and many unique characters. The artwork is simple and fun and I'm looking forward to the next book.

When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed, Victoria Jamieson

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

An incredibly powerful graphic memoir of Somalian refugees Omar and his disabled nonverbal brother Hassan. It begins with their adolescent life in the refugee camp, and as the book progresses it fills us in on the boys' story and how they came to be there. We are introduced to a wide variety of individuals within their surrounding community, and witness as their found family bonds deepen.

This follows the boys up until Omar is 19 and they are finally selected to resettle in America.

This was so well done and emotive in the most heart wrenching ways. The realities of open-air prison life are not sugar coated and the emotional and physical struggles to live in such conditions are deeply explored. The tragic reality of how the boys came to be in a refugee camp was sobering and painful. Overall it was incredibly well done and such a poignant, important piece of history.

Find Me There by Sara Rian

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.75

Another lovely somber collection of grief and love after loss. 

Loving the Gone by Sara Rian

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

My favorite collection from this author so far. A beautiful exploration of grief and how we can continue to love the gone as we move forward in life. 

We Are Carried by Sara Rian

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

Another beautiful collection on grief. The first half focuses more on loss and life after loss, and the second half focuses on the difficulty of entering motherhood when one's own mother is already gone.

When Bones Bloom by Sara Rian

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

3.75

The first half of this focuses on the loss of a mother and the processing of that transition and grief. The second half focuses on finding romantic love after loss, and learning to let one's heart open again.

Summer in Orcus by T. Kingfisher
Did not finish book. Stopped at 57%.

This was just not for me, or perhaps not for me in my current headspace. I usually adore T Kingfisher novels but this one feels vague, chaotic, and I am both under and overwhelmed at the world building and character creation.

Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I was a bit disappointed by this. It follows the story of Cassidy, a young indigenous girl who loses both her mother and best friend. She is struggling to find her place in her family, school, Native American camp, and local community. I felt very disconnected from Cassidy as she mostly spoke of her emotions in a factual way rather than letting us experience her feeling them and processing. There was a lot going on which made the plot feel unguided and chaotic.

Knots on a Counting Rope, Book 1987 by Bill Martin, John Archambault

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

A beautifully illustrated story about an indigenous boy who is blind. His grandfather shares the story of his birth, childhood, and recounts the way the boy has grown and adapted on horseback.