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raethereviewer's Reviews (862)
I was a little hesitant of this one at the beginning but it really took me by surprise. It’s very gory, which I usually don’t go for, but I found the mystery aspect intriguing and I’ve already started the second volume.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was so good! It was a little slow for the first half, which isn’t uncommon for mystery, but that last 30% took a major turn. I love the angle of “what if the missing person wasn’t a perfect angel.” The switch between perspectives was really good for adding context and showing that both narrators could be unreliable because of how their perspectives were clouded. I wish the story leaned into the hoodoo elements a bit more but other than that, great read and definitely one I’d recommend to high schoolers.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
This story was incredibly well crafted and I loved the way these poems were structured. A lot of the poems hold up really well on their own, outside of the story, but together they craft such a transformative narrative. It’s honestly one of the most creative novels-in-verse I’ve ever read. I think the author handles the portrayal of depression and mental illness so well. There were a few times I had to take a break but there weren’t any overly gruesome moments.
These poems were absolutely beautiful. I reread several of them multiple times and annotated quite a lot. This is a collection I’ll come back to, time and again.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I decided to pick this up because I’ve seen so many people speaking about it and I’m always down for a multiverse story. I think this was a really cool take on alternate realities and I really like the commentary of what capitalism expects from us. Ava is a multi-faceted MC who isn’t necessarily good or bad in a way that’s so relatable.
informative
I read Taproot a few years ago and loved it so decided to read this. It’s so beautifully illustrated. Keezy Young gives us a bit of insight into their personal experience living with Bipolar 1 Disorder. It was a short but incredibly impactful read.
As the title suggests, it is a quick and easy guide to they/them pronouns, specifically. There’s also a general overview of pronouns and the importance of gender neutral language. I think this would be especially helpful for readers who don’t know many (or any) people who identify outside the gender binary. I think it could also be a good teaching tool.
I’ve read some of Noor Hindi’s poems online over the years and the one about craft is one I find myself going back to often. I’m glad I finally read this collection. She has such a great range of styles and I love the way she plays with form.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
This was such a lovely story about life, death, grief, and being remembered. I think it tackles these questions in such an age appropriate way for late elementary and middle schoolers. Definitely one I’d add to a classroom library.
emotional
hopeful
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
This was such an excellent novel and so greatly needed. I think it would be perfect for classroom read-alongs in 5th and 6th grade classrooms because it could be very helpful for kids going through something similar and open up kids outside of that experience to what their classmates may be going through. It’s also a great read for reluctant readers and I’d highly recommend accompanying the physical book with the audiobook. The narration adds to the story wonderfully.