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me_alley's reviews
1110 reviews
The Garden by Nick Newman
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Tilda Is Visible by Jane Tara
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A fun quirky book with a symbolic premise. Tilda is turning invisible. First her pinky and her ear. Then her thumb. She has a known disease that affects mostly women over 50- they are still there but unable to be seen. Tilda has stage 2 but stage 4 is completely invisible.
If you like a heartwarming, yet somewhat snarky symbolic and fun read, this is a good Australian book
If you like a heartwarming, yet somewhat snarky symbolic and fun read, this is a good Australian book
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The Diviners by Libba Bray
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
YA book for any gay kid that felt like they were not "enough" or that being gay is a sin. It isn't. God doesn't make mistakes. Not all church people think being gay is a sin, and there are lots of devout Christians that interpret a lot of "clobber" verses differently than you may have been told. The church has been terrible to gay people, especially our youth. If your church is teaching you that, I am so so sorry. You can leave or find another church or attempt to change things from the inside.
This is Riley's story, she was in a fight at school and she was given the chance to make amends by attending church camp. The Pastor is a bad guy who often preaches that being gay is terrible and sinful. He also takes action to kick people out of the church, like excommunicating them, if they don't follow his rules.
The theme of the camp is the "seven deadly sins" (which are not in the Bible and were invented 400 years AFTER Jesus died, by the way) and so Riley tries to practice each of the deadly sins and journal about it to prove the concept wrong. She has a crush on the pastor's daughter, who she has been friends with for years.
Narrative is best for middle grades, I hope libraries will carry it and kids will steal it from the libraries if their parents won't let them check it out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking books for the ARC. Book to be published March 4, 2025.
This is Riley's story, she was in a fight at school and she was given the chance to make amends by attending church camp. The Pastor is a bad guy who often preaches that being gay is terrible and sinful. He also takes action to kick people out of the church, like excommunicating them, if they don't follow his rules.
The theme of the camp is the "seven deadly sins" (which are not in the Bible and were invented 400 years AFTER Jesus died, by the way) and so Riley tries to practice each of the deadly sins and journal about it to prove the concept wrong. She has a crush on the pastor's daughter, who she has been friends with for years.
Narrative is best for middle grades, I hope libraries will carry it and kids will steal it from the libraries if their parents won't let them check it out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking books for the ARC. Book to be published March 4, 2025.