shanyeahh's reviews
116 reviews

Smoke N' Stroke by Aja

adventurous emotional inspiring

• 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? Yes

4.5

I absolutely loved the advocacy of cannabis and exploring of mental health within the Black community in this story. Not to mention the pacing was excellent, Nala was relatable, and Zaire was a deliciously well-crafted male love interest. Peaked my interest for more Aja's work and the rest of the series.

The Steal Like an Artist Audio Trilogy: How to Be Creative, Show Your Work, and Keep Going by

informative inspiring

3.25

This trilogy is pretty straightforward, not exactly earthshattering. I came across several gems to jot down though.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

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

3.0

Initially I really liked this story. I enjoyed the general story line and bookish topics, but could not get behind the ultimate execution of it all. The delivery of the plot fell flat for me and often times it was hard to root for either main character, but especially Nick.

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney

informative slow-paced

4.0

A great educational piece! I appreciated the various analysis of Black experiences with the environment and the outdoors. It opened my eyes to many timeline comparisons in history I was unaware of prior. An encouraged read for even the least outdoorsy person.

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

adventurous dark mysterious

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

4.0

This was a good follow up to book one! Olivie continues to write a story that is nowhere predictable while still giving a little bit of adventure, mystery, romance–you name it. There were some storylines wrapped up at the end of this book that I didn't agree with, characters I wanted more from, but hopefully book three will satiate that feeling. I absolutely loved the cast for the audiobook tho! Highly recommend to check out that edition over physical/digital.

Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans

emotional

4.5

Jasmine Mans weaved together an excellent poetry collection which is extremely relatable to all Black women, no matter their age. I enjoyed her versatility in regards to poetry forms, some of which I had never seen before and found refreshing.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

adventurous dark mysterious

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

5.0

While it starts off as a cozy, academic read, the plot has great pacing and becomes engaging. Once I got in there, the characters were complex and the twists intriguing. The ending also wasn't jarring as some first-of-the-series books can be; it wrapped things up well while leaving me with plenty of questions for book two.

Poemhood: Our Black Revival: History, Folklore & the Black Experience: A Young Adult Poetry Anthology by Amber McBride, Erica Martin, Taylor Byas

inspiring

5.0

A wonderful collection that does a great job of weaving the new with the timeless. I really appreciated how light was shed on many myths and folklore that aren't commonplace in literature but should be. Checked this out at the library but since reading it, I want to purchase a copy for myself to read over and over again. 

Rifqa by Mohammed El-Kurd

challenging informative

5.0

This collection had me immersed from aja's foreward to Mohammed's acknowledgements. It pulls you directly into how day-to-day life looks from the eyes of Palestinians and the overwhelming emotions they have faced and continue to face. His grandmother embodies more than just the title or theme of this work, she is the very heart and it's impossible not to feel her conviction echoing in his words. I encourage not only reading this but also sharing with others so we can all take the time to view the realities of others.

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman

informative reflective

5.0

A powerful thesis that examines the mentality of Jesus while working to define tools used against the underprivileged, such as hatred and fear. I also found the chapter on love to raise a series of questions we absolutely have to ask ourselves. Truly a timeless work. It was relevant when first published and even more so today.