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sarahbythebook's reviews
338 reviews
Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit & Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction by Joshua Whitehead
4.5
#5 Andwanikadjigan (importance of power and storytelling) [5*]
#9 Eloise (hopeful, memory, bringing others into community, second chances; like the first, didn't feel very post-climate apochalypse) [4.5*]
#4 How to Survive the Apocalypse for Native Girls (what is Kinship, how is power abused, and making strangers kin) [4.5*]
#6 Story for a Bottle (another sweet and sad one; very similar to #4, but I cared more about the relationships in that one than this one) [4*]
#2 History of the New World (very timely & comforting in a dreadful sort of way; powerful portrayal of white allyship [not in a good way, but probably a realistic one]) [4*]
#7 Seed Children (this was fine, not my favorite, not my least favorite; reminded me a bit of Murderbot Diaries) [4*]
#3 The Ark of the Turtle's Back (kind of the opposite of #2; choosing to leave instead of stay; hopeful) [4*]
#8 Nameless (didn't really feel much of anything about this one) [3*]
#1 Abacus (I can't get past the fact that the AI lives in a rat; this was just weird) [2*]
#9 Eloise (hopeful, memory, bringing others into community, second chances; like the first, didn't feel very post-climate apochalypse) [4.5*]
#4 How to Survive the Apocalypse for Native Girls (what is Kinship, how is power abused, and making strangers kin) [4.5*]
#6 Story for a Bottle (another sweet and sad one; very similar to #4, but I cared more about the relationships in that one than this one) [4*]
#2 History of the New World (very timely & comforting in a dreadful sort of way; powerful portrayal of white allyship [not in a good way, but probably a realistic one]) [4*]
#7 Seed Children (this was fine, not my favorite, not my least favorite; reminded me a bit of Murderbot Diaries) [4*]
#3 The Ark of the Turtle's Back (kind of the opposite of #2; choosing to leave instead of stay; hopeful) [4*]
#8 Nameless (didn't really feel much of anything about this one) [3*]
#1 Abacus (I can't get past the fact that the AI lives in a rat; this was just weird) [2*]
Her First Palestinian by Saeed Teebi
4.25
#7 Woodland (this story is the most beautiful and touching, even though the Palestinian character seems only a side note; idea of exodus and the difference in kinds between the two characters is stark) [5*]
#9 Enjoy Your Life, Capo (tied for my favorite; what do you do when you're facing two impossible choices? how far do your morals supersede your needs?) [5*]
#5 Ushanka (the most beautiful and the most sad so far in a way) [4.5*]
#2 Do Not Write About the King #2 (left a feeling of dread) [4.5*]
#6 At the Benefit (what is a "good refugee"; pain on display to beg for help) [4*]
#1 Her First Palestinian (somewhat confusing [I don't understand the fighting], but interesting look at allyship from the other side) [4*]
#4 The Body (no real thoughts on this one) [3*]
#8 The Reflected Sky (another one that really makes me dislike men, and I don't understand the ending; at least the woman in this one was real) [2*]
#3 Cynthia (this just makes me dislike men) [2*]
#9 Enjoy Your Life, Capo (tied for my favorite; what do you do when you're facing two impossible choices? how far do your morals supersede your needs?) [5*]
#5 Ushanka (the most beautiful and the most sad so far in a way) [4.5*]
#2 Do Not Write About the King #2 (left a feeling of dread) [4.5*]
#6 At the Benefit (what is a "good refugee"; pain on display to beg for help) [4*]
#1 Her First Palestinian (somewhat confusing [I don't understand the fighting], but interesting look at allyship from the other side) [4*]
#4 The Body (no real thoughts on this one) [3*]
#8 The Reflected Sky (another one that really makes me dislike men, and I don't understand the ending; at least the woman in this one was real) [2*]
#3 Cynthia (this just makes me dislike men) [2*]
My Life: Growing Up Native in America by IllumiNative
5.0
This is such an excellent collection of Native voices and experiences! While brief, readers are given glimpses into so many of the ways Native people are living in America today-- from grappling with the idea of being "Native enough" to struggling with being the only Native in university classes or board rooms. This collection does not aim to share a unified Native experience because that doesn't exist. Instead, we are given personal insights, encouragement, confessions, beauty, and challenges through each contribution.
If you are looking for something that has a cohesive story, this isn't it. But if you read this book and still believe there is one single story about the life of Native people in America, you missed the point.
As with any collection, some stories stand out more than others. Unlike a lot of collections, though, there isn't a single one I didn't enjoy.
My Favorites:
• Growing Up Pueblo (and White) in America by Somah Toya Haaland
• Primitive by Vera Starbard
• The Ag Worker's Daughter by Cece Meadows
• The Birth of an Indigenous Food Warrior by Crystal Wahpepah
• My Future Began in the Past by Sherri Mitchell Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset
If you are looking for something that has a cohesive story, this isn't it. But if you read this book and still believe there is one single story about the life of Native people in America, you missed the point.
As with any collection, some stories stand out more than others. Unlike a lot of collections, though, there isn't a single one I didn't enjoy.
My Favorites:
• Growing Up Pueblo (and White) in America by Somah Toya Haaland
• Primitive by Vera Starbard
• The Ag Worker's Daughter by Cece Meadows
• The Birth of an Indigenous Food Warrior by Crystal Wahpepah
• My Future Began in the Past by Sherri Mitchell Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset
X Marks the Scot by Kaitlyn Dunnett
2.0
I really hated the main character, but the actual mystery wasn’t terrible
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
dark
funny
tense
4.5
I didn’t expect this book to make me teary, so an extra half star for that.
I found the ending to be a little cheesy, though a very impressive story overall!
I found the ending to be a little cheesy, though a very impressive story overall!
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
4.0
I don't know how to rate this book.
I enjoyed it, I didn't find it that confusing (I'm really not sure what was supposed to be confusing about it?), and shockingly for me, I was able to guess one of the reveals pretty early on (though without context).
I feel like I missed something that lots of other people have found in this book, and that's leaving me at a 4 star rating.
This book has beautiful prose, and I love the details the authors wove into their letters. I am left with quite a few questions about the world in general, which I can accept, but also about more specific things that are mentioned and then never explained.
I also hate open endings, but I recognize that that's a me problem.
I enjoyed it, I didn't find it that confusing (I'm really not sure what was supposed to be confusing about it?), and shockingly for me, I was able to guess one of the reveals pretty early on (though without context).
I feel like I missed something that lots of other people have found in this book, and that's leaving me at a 4 star rating.
This book has beautiful prose, and I love the details the authors wove into their letters. I am left with quite a few questions about the world in general, which I can accept, but also about more specific things that are mentioned and then never explained.
I also hate open endings, but I recognize that that's a me problem.
Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee
5.0
I had to set this one down for a few minutes so I could finish because I was crying so hard 🫠
Lights by Brenna Thummler
5.0
This is my favorite of the series, and it made me cry. Automatic 5 stars