javalibrarian's reviews
1516 reviews

Twenty-Four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

"PS: Black boys deserve love stories too." - Jason Reynolds

A sweet, sassy, humor-filled, honest, and full of light love story. Everyone deserves a first love like Neon! 

Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Evans’ writing is brilliant, at times brutally difficult to read & to process, but always made me think & feel.

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.

Too dark for me right now, 3/25/25.

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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

Utterly amazing and unputdownable!

The Body Papers: A Memoir by Grace Talusan

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Grace Talusan’s extraordinary voice & soul shines throughout her intimate memoir. I was immersed in her powerful & personal prose!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence

Minor: Racism, Xenophobia

Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff

emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I love Bug, and this ghost story about love, loss, & figuring out who you are!

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined by Marcus Kwame Anderson, David F. Walker

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Pair this with Percival Everett’s,  James - dynamic, compassionate, and mind expanding!

Ruins by Peter Kuper

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0