sarahrahrah's reviews
98 reviews

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

In the acknowledgements, Warga writes, "I would like to thank every bookseller and librarian who places books into the hands of kids who need them." I think that this is a fantastic middle grade story that would be especially meaningful to an Arab-American, but I also wish the everyone in the world would read it too -- it would certainly help build more empathy.

Among many poignant lines, this was one of my favorites:

There is an Arabic proverb that says:
She makes you feel
Like a loaf of freshly baked bread.

It is said about 
the nicest
kindest
people.
The type of people
who help you
rise.

I loved the esl teacher And the four students in the class, and wish to one day have the bravery to return to the classroom to have such an impact on my students 

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I liked the Ex Talk a ton (and loved the throwaway reference in this book) and I enjoyed this one too. I like how the author authentically includes things personal to her - Jewish characters, PNW love, etc. The characters are real and genuine, and reading them shares a delightful perspective I myself am not too familiar with and don't really see in my other reads, in a way that feels inviting and informative without getting overly cliché or stereotypical 

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

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

3.0

Read in a sitting. Odd but intriguing premise, and though I had kinda guessed it quite early on, the reveal of the misunderstandings was still satisfying to read

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

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

"I love you, and I love you, and I want to find out what that means together."

Wow, what a lovely read! Intriguing, poetic, funny, smart, and SUCH beautiful prose. I am eager to reread this one again and again.

Completely agree with this review by storygrapher ellievn. Surrender is exactly the word I would use to describe my experience reading this:
"I’ll never regret surrendering to the book and allowing myself to feel confused and lost. I hunger for more."

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food: Step-By-Step Vegetable Gardening for Everyone by Joseph Tychonievich

funny hopeful informative lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Anna K by Jenny Lee
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.

Lost interest and never came back to it. Probably would have appreciated it better if I'd read Anna Karenina, which I have not 

Man Card by Tanya Eby, Sarina Bowen

1.5

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

LOVE the Diné representation and all the stories woven in to this unique saga. The story kept me intrigued throughout, and I am eager to read the next in the series. However, it was hard to follow the pacing and the goal of the MC's evolving journey. It felt like jumping from action scene to action scene with lulls of exposition in between and I didn't follow how the "enemy/target" changed as the characters got more information. I expect that the bigger picture of the story will become clearer in subsequent books, and because the premise and characters are so interesting, I am willing to push through the awkward pacing.