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kmbooks's reviews
61 reviews
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli, Aisha Saeed
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
DISCLAIMER: Before I start the review, I will say that while reading, I gobbled up the book quite quickly and always wondered what’s next. However, after reflecting on the book I realized it’s flaws.
That’s right I rated a book with LGBTQ characters, POC characters, and Muslim and Jewish characters 3.5 stars. Why? Because that’s the problem. No I’m not homophobic, racist, islamophobe, or anti Semitic. The problem is the book was trying too hard to be “trendy”. I get that the authors wanted to be representative of all people but it seemed to forced. We need more gay characters? Ooo, she should come out. I also felt like they targeted republicans way too much. In fact it demonized them. Oh, they’re on the other side? I can’t be friends with them. Also the characters could easily be defined in one word. Jamie? Awkward. Maya? Muslim (literally her whole personality is she’s Muslim). Nolan and Felipe? Gay. This in turn created a very dry plot. The end was the most frustrating because it seemed to squeeze most of the plot in the last 100 pages. I feel like the concept of this book was pretty good but the way it was executed was subpar. However, I did rate this a 3.5 and not a 1 so I’ll list some positives.
***Positives***
•Woke teens
•Explained what it’s like to be Muslim
•Showed what it’s like to be a minority in America and especially the South
All in all, the book was... meh. That’s all it is. I would recommend this book for 12 years olds and up (pretty clean but language was pretty significant, no racial slurs though). Maybe if you are looking for something to speed through quickly to meet your reading goal or something but realistically, I don’t see how someone would LOVE this book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~SPOILERS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was the romance really necessary? This book would have developed just fine if Jamie and Maya stayed as friends and Maya didn’t have to give up parts of her faith just to make out with Jamie. I did feel like Rossum losing was a great point of the book. Even if you give it your all, you might not have the most desirable outcome. It would have been nicer if the whole Sara and Maya situation would have been more of a focus. They were friends in the beginning for a chapter or two, then ghosted each other for a sentence in every other chapter, had a huge fight towards the end, and in like the last chapter, she happens to show up at Scavino’s all the way from Athens to Atlanta to vote and save their friendship. Didn’t really make sense and could have played a bigger and more meaningful part to the story.
That’s right I rated a book with LGBTQ characters, POC characters, and Muslim and Jewish characters 3.5 stars. Why? Because that’s the problem. No I’m not homophobic, racist, islamophobe, or anti Semitic. The problem is the book was trying too hard to be “trendy”. I get that the authors wanted to be representative of all people but it seemed to forced. We need more gay characters? Ooo, she should come out. I also felt like they targeted republicans way too much. In fact it demonized them. Oh, they’re on the other side? I can’t be friends with them. Also the characters could easily be defined in one word. Jamie? Awkward. Maya? Muslim (literally her whole personality is she’s Muslim). Nolan and Felipe? Gay. This in turn created a very dry plot. The end was the most frustrating because it seemed to squeeze most of the plot in the last 100 pages. I feel like the concept of this book was pretty good but the way it was executed was subpar. However, I did rate this a 3.5 and not a 1 so I’ll list some positives.
***Positives***
•Woke teens
•Explained what it’s like to be Muslim
•Showed what it’s like to be a minority in America and especially the South
All in all, the book was... meh. That’s all it is. I would recommend this book for 12 years olds and up (pretty clean but language was pretty significant, no racial slurs though). Maybe if you are looking for something to speed through quickly to meet your reading goal or something but realistically, I don’t see how someone would LOVE this book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~SPOILERS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was the romance really necessary? This book would have developed just fine if Jamie and Maya stayed as friends and Maya didn’t have to give up parts of her faith just to make out with Jamie. I did feel like Rossum losing was a great point of the book. Even if you give it your all, you might not have the most desirable outcome. It would have been nicer if the whole Sara and Maya situation would have been more of a focus. They were friends in the beginning for a chapter or two, then ghosted each other for a sentence in every other chapter, had a huge fight towards the end, and in like the last chapter, she happens to show up at Scavino’s all the way from Athens to Atlanta to vote and save their friendship. Didn’t really make sense and could have played a bigger and more meaningful part to the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Islamophobia, and Hate crime
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
It was a very slow paced book but I might pick it up later. Maybe Christmas in February?
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thea Stilton and the Frozen Fiasco by Thea Stilton
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a pretty solid book. I enjoyed how the Ilara and Varenia seemed familiar even though they were fictitious. The development in this book is also pretty good. The reason why I gave it 3.75 stars is because it took me a while to get into (probably midway was when it started to pick up speed). Also fantasy isn’t exactly my favorite cup of tea so of course it’s not going to rank as highly. I would say this book is suitable for ages 12 and up but I would say those 14 and up would prefer this book. The book itself is quite clean, very few, mild cussing and just kissing. However, I felt like it was implying some harassment and did mention stuff about being a mistress.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Confinement, Kidnapping, Death, Infertility, and Sexism
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is very sad and made me go through an emotional roller coaster. I had to read this book for school and glad I did because it gave me perspective. I’m not one for devastating books like this but did find it quite interesting. I would recommend this book for 15 year olds and up and people that want to learn about Cambodia’s history.
The book does have a happy ending which I’m very glad about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Death, Genocide, and Hate crime
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Rape and Bullying
Night by Elie Wiesel
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.75
I had to read this for school and this book was definitely something I wouldn't choose to read. It was very sad and can be quite triggering for someone who has faced something similar. It's about the holocaust and Elie Weisel's experience in it. It is very informative and great for younger generations who will one day be the ones explaining the holocaust to new generations. While this book might be good for those who seek advice from those who less fortunate in the past, I would only recommend this book for 15-year-olds and up or mature 13 and 14-year-olds. The ending wasn't very satisfying. Of course, this is a memoir so Weisel can't make up the ending but still. I would rate the ending out of 5, a 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Hate crime
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Cursing