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modernmatilda's reviews
94 reviews
Cat's Cafe by Matt Tarpley
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
ADORABLE comic with cute little sassy and sweet and coffee-loving animals. Great representations of mental health, asking for help, lending a hand, and being a good neighbor. Also features animals communicating by signing!
Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another incredible "girl is missing, flowers on the cover" book, this time by a debut author!
If you love...
Witches
Stories of sisters
Moth man
That scene in Kiki's delivery service where she lives above and works in a bakery (but make it magic)
...you need this book!
I loved the main character and her ability to taste emotions. The sister/female witch family vibes were *chefs kiss* and the twist was amazing.
If you love...
Witches
Stories of sisters
Moth man
That scene in Kiki's delivery service where she lives above and works in a bakery (but make it magic)
...you need this book!
I loved the main character and her ability to taste emotions. The sister/female witch family vibes were *chefs kiss* and the twist was amazing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child death, Murder, and Death of parent
Out of the Blue by Jason June
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I absolutely loved Out of the Blue! It was a perfect, predictable, lovely queer summer romance that just felt like a warm hug. I loved the discussion around depression, especially because it came from an adult parent character. If you want another fantastic read about mermaids (of the Renaissance Faire variety), check out Breathe and Count Back From Ten, it's one of my favorite YA books of all time.
One thing really bothered me about the book. Crest/Ross repeatedly talks about the fact that Mer don't have genders, they are all fluid and nonbinary, but then gives every single human he meets a gender-specific description, like "female-presenting". It bothered me and I'm not sure why the author chose to do this?
Can't wait for next months book!
One thing really bothered me about the book. Crest/Ross repeatedly talks about the fact that Mer don't have genders, they are all fluid and nonbinary, but then gives every single human he meets a gender-specific description, like "female-presenting". It bothered me and I'm not sure why the author chose to do this?
Can't wait for next months book!
Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
A sweet, lovely, adorable "swoon" of a book, perfect for fans of The Princess Bride, road trip romances, and second-chance love. Also, at only 131 pages, it's a perfect little read.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
My favorite book of all time! This time I read it as an audiobook and loved it.
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
"Like a garden in full bloom: vibrant and sweet, whimsical and wondrous." -@allisonhsaft
THIS BOOK 😍😭💐 If I made a list of the top three books that have impacted my life and helped my mental health, FLOWERHEART by @catbake would be there.
I like to dub this book "a cottagecore essential with friends to lovers romance and studio ghibli vibes where the main character's magic is tied to her emotions, which are big and messy (#relatable) and her magic can grow FLOWERS".
Watching Clara, our main character, grow into her magic was absolutely beautiful and healing. The romance was squeal-worthy adorable (the scene in the rain?? 😭😍). And the world Cat built is one I want to live in forever.
If you're looking for a soft fantasy with a fierce bi female protagonist in a queernormative world, PICK THIS ONE UP!
THIS BOOK 😍😭💐 If I made a list of the top three books that have impacted my life and helped my mental health, FLOWERHEART by @catbake would be there.
I like to dub this book "a cottagecore essential with friends to lovers romance and studio ghibli vibes where the main character's magic is tied to her emotions, which are big and messy (#relatable) and her magic can grow FLOWERS".
Watching Clara, our main character, grow into her magic was absolutely beautiful and healing. The romance was squeal-worthy adorable (the scene in the rain?? 😭😍). And the world Cat built is one I want to live in forever.
If you're looking for a soft fantasy with a fierce bi female protagonist in a queernormative world, PICK THIS ONE UP!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Near death of parent
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
5.0
Wow! I don't read a lot of long fantasy books, but this one blew me away and I'm so glad I read it. The audiobook narrator is amazing, the writing is stunning, the fierce female protagonist is amazing, and there are dragons!!
Definitely one of those emotional damage kinds of books, but in the best way. So glad my book club read this book.
Definitely one of those emotional damage kinds of books, but in the best way. So glad my book club read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
If you're going to read this book, PLEASE do yourself a favor and listen to the author read via audiobook while reading a physical copy. Her performance and delivery should be heard and her word choices should be treasured.
I felt seen and I saw others because of this book. Would DEFINITELY recommend to everyone, especially high schoolers.
I felt seen and I saw others because of this book. Would DEFINITELY recommend to everyone, especially high schoolers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Drug use
PET by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Hmm I have mixed feelings about this.
On one hand, NPR compared it to Wrinkle in Time (my fav) and I very much think it's a readalike. It has biblical undertones, kids having to handle things with the adults help, and this overall feeling of doom.
As another reviewer wrote, "Pet is the gorgeous story of a young black trans woman taking it into her own hands to see the unseen, and to protect the vulnerable, even when it means upsetting the balance of her life.".
I loved the first half; watching Pet come out of the painting, getting to know Jam, seeing them interact with other characters through sign language, it was all fantastic.
But I had no idea this story was explicitly about child abuse. The emotions in this book were heartbreaking and big and messy and raw and HEAVY. I don't know if the message was clear and helpful for a middle grade reader...
I thought the "perfect world can still be impect, need to grow, and have hidden flaws" was another sad part of the book. The story deserves the accolades it has received for its originality, representation, and heart.
But overall, it made me feel hopeless...
On one hand, NPR compared it to Wrinkle in Time (my fav) and I very much think it's a readalike. It has biblical undertones, kids having to handle things with the adults help, and this overall feeling of doom.
As another reviewer wrote, "Pet is the gorgeous story of a young black trans woman taking it into her own hands to see the unseen, and to protect the vulnerable, even when it means upsetting the balance of her life.".
I loved the first half; watching Pet come out of the painting, getting to know Jam, seeing them interact with other characters through sign language, it was all fantastic.
But I had no idea this story was explicitly about child abuse. The emotions in this book were heartbreaking and big and messy and raw and HEAVY. I don't know if the message was clear and helpful for a middle grade reader...
I thought the "perfect world can still be impect, need to grow, and have hidden flaws" was another sad part of the book. The story deserves the accolades it has received for its originality, representation, and heart.
But overall, it made me feel hopeless...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.5
Things I love
-female character who aren't perfect and who's flaws and mistakes are a struggle
-books with covers featuring girls faces with flowers growing out of their mouths
-explorations on topic like what parents owe their children, what older siblings do to project their younger siblings and is it good, first vs second generation kids, cultural identify, belong/not belonging
This book was a wild ride with cottageGORE vibes that I treasure. But more than that, it was this gorgeous exploration of families, parents, multigeneration trauma, colonization, and ghosts. I don't think I understood everything, but I loved everything.
The dream/not dream scenes were wonderful because I did not know which parts were real and which ones weren't. The sleep paralysis creeped me the F out. The bug scenes were fantastically gorey but I think I needed more explanation.
I feel like this would make a fantastic book discussion choice and I'm so thankful to my local bookstore employee for recommending it.
-female character who aren't perfect and who's flaws and mistakes are a struggle
-books with covers featuring girls faces with flowers growing out of their mouths
-explorations on topic like what parents owe their children, what older siblings do to project their younger siblings and is it good, first vs second generation kids, cultural identify, belong/not belonging
This book was a wild ride with cottageGORE vibes that I treasure. But more than that, it was this gorgeous exploration of families, parents, multigeneration trauma, colonization, and ghosts. I don't think I understood everything, but I loved everything.
The dream/not dream scenes were wonderful because I did not know which parts were real and which ones weren't. The sleep paralysis creeped me the F out. The bug scenes were fantastically gorey but I think I needed more explanation.
I feel like this would make a fantastic book discussion choice and I'm so thankful to my local bookstore employee for recommending it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Car accident, Gore, Body horror, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Slavery