sarahrahrah's reviews
98 reviews

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I absolutely loved this short story collection, and I'm very grateful for the DPL's Winter of Reading program for promoting me to search out a Coloradan author.

The audiobook was a lovely experience, with each chapter read by one of the six narrators. Each story was uniquely poignant and on a spectrum of emotional depth. I particularly loved listening to Remedies, Galapago, Tomi, All Her Names, and Ghost Sickness, but I liked each story in the collection, as well as how they connected but didn't overlap directly (similar mentions of streets, clubs, names at cemeteries, etc.)

The way Fajardo-Anstine beautifully writes descriptions of the various neighborhoods and experiences across time made my heart ache with nostalgia for a Denver that no longer exists. The characters, their struggles, and the violence often present in their lives were presented with such love and care. I know I'll remember this one for many years to come.

She was young and blonde, with a sheen to her skin that only comes from years of good nutrition, expensive moisturizers, and generations of tragedy-free living. -Sabrina and Corina

[His] cowboy boots lined the closet floor, a pointed row of ancient leather. All of it junk, and all of it precious. -Galapago

They're both blonde with sharp features and lengthy, ivory necks. Ana often wonders about students like Colleen, Denver newcomers with trust-funds and loft apartments. They came with the tech jobs, and legalization of weed. 'The Great Green Rush,' Ana thinks. 
Clifton says they aren't too bad. They have nice apartments with new paint, all their cars run, and they rarely speak to you in public. Two worlds in one space. The longer they stay, however, the more Ana worries their world is collapsing her own. -Ghost Sickness

For the remainder of class, Brown lectures, answers appropriate questions, and shakes her head, "No, not quite," when a front-row student compares the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde to the grandeur of Notre Dame. -Ghost Sickness.

Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I vaguely remember reading this as a webtoon, and how frustrating it was to have to wait to read each next section - I never did end up finishing it...

I am eager to finally get to read the whole thing in one go, and will continue on. That said, it is really confusing and unfocused with how each scene is just the smallest snippet to advance the story forward, and how the characters and various plotlines are randomly introduced. I feel like maybe this is going to be quite the chore to get through... It's also quite YA-obvious-tropes heavy and I feel a bit childish to be reading it

But if I'm able to put aside my hopes for a narrative through line and just surrender to the vibes, I think it'll be an enjoyable time 

Lies My Teacher Told Me: A Graphic Adaptation by James W. Loewen

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Tough read, but incredibly insightful. Powell's illustrations enhance the adaptation on Loewen's original writing. It was hard not to fall into a deep hopelessness, though I do think the final chapter, the afterword, and especially the acknowledgements helped end it on a message of hope. 

I feel such a call to action, and wish I was strong enough to remain a classroom teacher... 

James by Percival Everett

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Very impactful read, and now I need to return to Huckleberry Finn and reread it with a critical and more mature lense. Eager to tackle Everett's backlist as well, loved American Fiction and didn't know it was based on a book

I can't feed your fantasy that you're a good, kind master.

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

3.0

Fun and easy read. A bit too much telling instead of showing, with the characters explaining exactly how they're feeling/what they're thinking to move the plot forward. I read #2 and #3 of the series first, and liked reading this one finally to see how the rebel blue family got started 

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed reading this, but found it super confusing with all of the various characters' back stories and how it all came together in the end.

The writing was beautiful and the look at the various communities and their interactions was interesting. McBride also used moments of the fictional look to the past to reflect on present social issues, sometimes a bit too obviously beating over the head, but still thought-provoking.

Mostly I just feel confused and too stupid for these complex intellectual-type stories, but I still enjoyed the read