rubybereading's reviews
70 reviews

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.

Just wasn’t that into it.

Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith

challenging dark emotional sad 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

3.75

I don't really know what to say about this because I'm actually kind of torn. On the one hand, I don't think it's that appropriate for a "middle-grade" book. I just found out there were no content warnings, & the content is pretty intense. Though the MC is 12 & it's written in a childish voice, the themes are heavy & can be polarizing, especially with regard to your religious beliefs. Unless you believe children should be able to explore art/literature in whichever way the wind blows them, this might not be the best book for kids. HOWEVER (!!!), as an adult, I really enjoyed it. It took about 1/4 of the book for it to really pick up for me but, once it did, was hooked. I was on the edge of my seat & really rooting for Hoodoo. And I was so proud of him by the end. One small petty thing was annoying though. Every time he explained the meaning of something, he ended it with "if you didn't know". It's clearly supposed to be his little catchphrase or whatever, but the writer was so heavy handed with it. Within just a few chapters, was rolling my eyes every time I read it. Like damn we get it! It could've even been a 4 without all that. I know it's petty, but still. I was annoyed.

If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
Did not finish book.

It was just too corny and stupid for me. Also, very boring.

Broken Bayou by Jennifer Moorhead

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

1.5 k…..I guess. 

This book was not what the writer thinks it is. Wasn't clever or poetic or interesting at all. Where she thought she was building suspense, she was just making it more predictable. 

And it made it more annoying to read. The writing wasn't the most horrible ever, but it was very elementary and followed a very remedial formula. This felt like something a teenager who hasn't experienced life yet would write, but a teenager whose teachers believe has great potential. You know? And it was the most boring "thriller" I've ever read. Also, the chapters were too long. The story, itself, was too long. It could've been a short story—maybe even a quarter of its length—and it wouldn't have made any difference. It needed way less words to tell the extremely predictable story it told. Actually, it would be fine if it just didn't exist at all. This book is so unnecessary. If I didn't need this for a prompt in a reading challenge I'm doing, I definitely would've dnf'd it. Fuck my life.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

This didn’t “feel” necessarily like a 5 ⭐️ read, but I literally have no complaints about it. Like, literally none. It was cute, funny, heartfelt, heartbreaking, but also thought-provoking and inspiring. The love story was adorable. The banter was top tier. I laughed and swooned throughout the development of their relationship so much that I wasn’t even bothered when things started to fall apart. I was just so happy for Maddy to finally have been able to experience life. Especially with someone like Olly. And even though the mom had her thing, I could completely understand where she was coming from, as a mama bear myself. Love really can make you crazy. But, yeah, I loved every bit of this. And it’s hard to believe this was a debut. It was so creative, unique, well thought out, and well written. Definitely one I could see myself rereading in the future.

When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone
Did not finish book.

I’ll come back to it. I’m reading too many other books with my fable app clubs, so I’m not making any progress with this one. I’ll hit it later.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ok...At the risk of sounding corny AY. EFF!!..l have to say, this was not just a love story (in my opinion). Once I really started understanding it and intentionally following the patterns and nuances in their wordplay, this felt like it was also a love letter to language itself. The way they manipulated words and honored the use of communication, both verbal and especially nonverbal-how it's expressed, processed, delivered, deciphered, interpreted, felt and received was done is such a complex yet poetic, beautiful and profound way. And the love story showed how words and various forms of communication can unite, form strong bonds, create deep relationships and understanding, and even change the world. The relationship formed and cultivated between the two MCs was just the cherry on top.
This was excellent! I've never read anything like it and, likely, never will again. And, of course, it made me cry! Lol!
And the fact that I hated it after the 1st couple of chapters and was about to dnf it, until reading a 4 or 5 star review that said to stop overthinking it, just to turn around and fall in love with it?? It's a 6⭐️  read for me just for that alone. It felt like a pile of poop turned into gold right in my hands right before my eyes! I'm still flabbergasted! Lol! & Yes, it was overly complicated with the wording. Yes, it was over the top, even to the point that I thought they were trolling us at first! Lol (bvs)! Yes, it'll probably take a few rereads to truly understand it in its entirety. But that's another hidden beauty of it. All its layers and everything in between. Omg! 😍😍😍

Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

I’ll circle back. 

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

emotional inspiring 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? N/A

3.75

Rating/reviewing, or even adding to my "finished/read" lists, any children's books I read to/with my daughter (8y.o.) isn't really my thing. They're typically so short that I don't feel like it "counts". However, this book did something to me. As a child who grew up in a Muslim's woman's household & was given a Muslim last name, I can relate to feeling shame, embarrassment & outcasted for having a non-American, "unusual" name & wishing you had one that helped you fit in better with your peers. Even my first name, Ruby, stood out as odd in early childhood & I was often teased for having an "old lady" name. So it broke my heart when she first felt shame about it, but then warmed my heart to see the support her classmates gave her & how they accepted her, which lead her to accept the beauty and uniqueness of her own name & the story, meaning & cultural significance it holds. It even brought a tear or 2 to my eyes. I suggest this book for any child who feels too different to help them start to learn to love, be proud of, & accept their differences-especially the cultural ones. 

A few minor issues: the kids mispronouncing her name in the ways they did when they heard it instead of seeing it written didn't make sense, and the explanation for the reader (us) on how to pronounce it was confusing. Also, I'm pretty sure there was a continuity error at the end (the paper from her pocket she offered to give back??). Also, the boy stealing the jar didn't end up being necessary. I was hoping he took it to replace all the name options with cutouts of the stamps he and she had made of the Korean spelling of her name to say that her given name should be her only choice. Still would've been a kind of messed up way to do it, but it would've been nicer. But by the time he admits to taking it, she had already decided to keep her name, so it ended up being a pointless plot point. Either way, I still found it heartfelt, relatable, and a good read for young kids who can relate

Maame by Jessica George
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

It’s just not gripping me enough. I’ll circle back to it eventually. I own a physical copy, so I might as well.