nikki_flowers's reviews
164 reviews

I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner

funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-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

4.0

This will certainly be making its way into my classroom bookshelf! It is so important for kids to know that LGBTQ+ people have *always* existed. This is a lovely story, one told with deep love and care in a way I feel only a trans author could. (and very well researched). I won’t spoil anything but there were many scenes that meant so much to me as a nonbinary trans person, several of which brought me to tears (ones of joy). 

My only criticism (a personal preference rather than any *real* criticism of the work) is that I found Eleanore largely unlikeable for most of the book. I of course understand that her flaws were essential early on in showing her privilege and in setting up her necessary character development. And I think that it’s also very important to show her flaws and character development as a lesson for kids (who are the intended audience of this YA graphic novel). So while I, as an adult reader, did not enjoy her character, I do not think it fair to “downgrade” the book for it because it’s a very meaningful aspect of the book, especially for it’s intended audience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Alcohol

More tw: misgendering, anti-Black racism, elitism, anxiety disorder

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War

Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Look, I’m a simple lad, give me childhood friends to enemies to lovers (and a queer/trans normative world!!!!!!) and I’ll eat it up EVERY time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting

The Carrying: Poems by Ada Limón

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

This books has remarked my love of poetry. Limón’s contemplations of womanhood, motherhood, the nation, have seeped deep in my bones. From them, new life has grown. Thank you Limón, for helping me find soul and beauty again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Grief

Minor: Animal death, Death, Racism, Sexism, Dementia, Abortion, Death of parent, Deportation

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Cursing, Dysphoria

Minor: Child death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

More CW: fantasy racism/xenophobia, ritual sacrifice

Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Infertility, Sexual content, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship

Darker by Four by June CL Tan

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Hearts That Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Kika Hatzopoulou does it again! Such an amazing read!!!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Classism

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Deadnaming, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail