jaimek926's reviews
304 reviews

The Hills of Estrella Roja by Ashley Robin Franklin

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A dark graphic novel about secrets, paranormal activity, and magic. 

Kat is an almost too adventurous character, jumping head first into situations like she’s never seen a horror film. Mari is reserved and tense around her family members she hasn’t seen in years. It’s a twist after twist story but so well done. 

The images with the story really build the tension. It’s dark and eerie and you often question who to trust. 

Overall, a fantastic read!

The Bawk-ness Monster by Sara Goetter, Natalie Riess

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

A fun, quick read. Penny wants one more adventure with her friends before she and her mom move out of town. An adventure that is both silly and chaotic. And I’ve never related to a character as much as Penny’s mom.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a cute one that I’ve meant to read for awhile. It has the fun of a delightful fall adventure and the images match that to a tee.

Josiah and Deja are a great pair. Josiah is the anxious do-gooder and Deja is the carefree troublemaker. I didn’t love how the characters ended the story, as it felt a bit out of nowhere. But, it was still a fun story overall.

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

This was a great nonfiction graphic novel. It tells the authors’ story of growing up in Korea before her mother springs a move to America on her. From there, it’s a story of Robin trying to find her place in a new country where she doesn’t even know the language.

It was an emotional and reflective novel on her pre-teen and teen years, but one my favorite images was Robin trying to understand English and gibberish characters appearing in the place of words she didn’t understand. It was an amazing way to show a non native English speakers struggle with the language. I would definitely recommend this one.

Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe

dark emotional tense fast-paced

3.5

While the story did pick up and get interesting after a while, the beginning of volume 2 felt a little jumbled. I kept flipping back to other pages, wondering if I had missed something. But after a few chapters, the story felt clear again. I’m very curious where the next volume will take the story.

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

emotional funny 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

Remember Love by Cleo Wade

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Horton Booth, Stephanie Kate Strohm

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

If you ever thought "what if Twelfth Night was a graphic novel about magical and non-magical teens", then you'll like this book!

Sounds Fake But Okay: An Asexual and Aromantic Perspective on Love, Relationships, Sex, and Pretty Much Anything Else by Sarah Costello, Kayla Kaszyca

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0