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lcl_reads's reviews
140 reviews
The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
This is my second book by Jason Reynolds and after A Long Way Down, I was a little disappointed. Overall it is a good read, although I did find myself cringing a few times (women are referred to as "females" once). I thought the overall premise is as interesting, particularly in thinking about how one deals with grief, but certainaspect were a little unbelievable (a teenager living alone with very little income? How was he paying rent?) I wish it would have dived a little deeper into Matthew's thoughts on attending funerals.
Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code by Ruha Benjamin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Might come back to, but getting bored
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
I particularly liked the beginning when everyone is introduced. It is clear that care was taken to provide a careful and full portrayal.
I did not like how restorative justice was approached and there is a section about the use of restorative justice in a school setting, but I don't think the connection was there to the crime in this book. I think I would have like a more balanced approach to restorative justice because while I do believe it can be powerful and useful, I think it is important to confront the reasons some are hesitant. I wish an example of the use of restorative justice with the criminal system was used (I wonder if that example was not available)
I did not like how restorative justice was approached and there is a section about the use of restorative justice in a school setting, but I don't think the connection was there to the crime in this book. I think I would have like a more balanced approach to restorative justice because while I do believe it can be powerful and useful, I think it is important to confront the reasons some are hesitant. I wish an example of the use of restorative justice with the criminal system was used (I wonder if that example was not available)
Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall
informative
fast-paced
4.0
This is not my typical genre, but I think it did a very good job of weaving information into stories that are interesting. I don't know that I will retain all of the detailed information because there is a lot, but th broader strokes are easy to retain and I appreciate knowing I can go back to specific chapters (they are organized by countries/regions) to refresh my memory.
The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 by Zusha Elinson, Cameron McWhirter
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Overall, a very comprehensive history of the AR-15 and related guns. It is a bit slow, especially at the beginning and spares no detail at all (almost to a fault. I nearly put it down in the middle because it was just so detailed, to the point of starting to become boring).
The second half picks up a bit as it shifts from the invention of the gun to politics and mass shootings. Understanding the history of the gun does underscore the major point that this gun was never meant for civilian use and the explanation of gun mechanics also helps to understand how attempts at gun regulation have fallen short.
As someone who is not as interested in guns or how they work some parts felt very in the weeds for me. It definitely felt like it was written for a gun history buff, which I am not.
I also struggled with references to gangs, gun regulation, and the War on Crime without any connections to race. Some reviews laude the book as "unbiased" (I don't believe a book can be unbiased) which is what I think the authors were going for by not mentioning race, but it made the political discussion feel sanitized and superficial.
The second half picks up a bit as it shifts from the invention of the gun to politics and mass shootings. Understanding the history of the gun does underscore the major point that this gun was never meant for civilian use and the explanation of gun mechanics also helps to understand how attempts at gun regulation have fallen short.
As someone who is not as interested in guns or how they work some parts felt very in the weeds for me. It definitely felt like it was written for a gun history buff, which I am not.
I also struggled with references to gangs, gun regulation, and the War on Crime without any connections to race. Some reviews laude the book as "unbiased" (I don't believe a book can be unbiased) which is what I think the authors were going for by not mentioning race, but it made the political discussion feel sanitized and superficial.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Violence, War, Murder, Death, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Self harm
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
reflective
sad
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? No
4.75
It starts off a little slow, but the alternating perspective keeps the build up interesting. What u love most about this book is how the climax is a sudden crescendo and fall. The climax and falling action are all packed into the last few pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Torture, Stalking, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon
challenging
emotional
informative
4.5