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tatyana_'s reviews
164 reviews
Why We Need Vaccines: How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases by Rowena Rae
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Rowena Rae is a biologist and the daughter of an infectious disease doctor. Throughout her childhood, her mother shared her experiences and knowledge with her children which helped to shape her confidence in vaccines. So when she learned that her friend did not believe in vaccinating her children, Rae decided to learn more about the history of vaccines in our society to understand vaccine hesitancy and mistrust of science better.
While this book seems to be targeted towards a middle school audience, I can see readers of all ages benefitting from reading this. Topics covered include the history of infectious diseases, the history of vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine accessibility, ethics, and how vaccines have shaped our relationship with diseases over time. One of the many topics discussed was how it is a privilege to live in a world where we are protected from many diseases that our parents and older generations had to fight.
I enjoyed this book because it reminded me of the infectious disease biology course that was one of my inspirations for studying biology and public health. I particularly enjoyed that the author included a collection of profiles highlighting different professionals and their connection to vaccines, including medical historians, medical ethicists, clinical trials managers, students, research technicians, epidemiologists, and many more. This was a highlight because I believe it is very important to introduce people to different careers outside of the typical ones we associate with each field. This book also features short, straightforward chapters, a thorough glossary, and illustrations by Paige Stampatori that greatly enhance this resource. I can see this being supplemental reading for many courses from middle school through college and for readers starting to explore this topic.
Thank you to Netgalley, author Rowena Rae, illustrator Paige Stampatori, and Orca Book Publishers for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Love is a messy thing…”
Venus Stoneheart brews illegal love potions to help her family in a country divided on how to move forward in a world between humans and witchers. Her family business forces her to brew potions that can reunite families or tear people apart. It is a dangerous practice that takes a toll on her mentally and physically and deeply strains her relationship with her mother. She also struggles with the guilt and shame she harbors from a dreadful night that has permanently affected her magic and her relationship with her best friend. Everything changes when Venus’ mother is killed and she is sucked into a world she is ill-prepared for. All of the danger and responsibility she previously felt is multiplied tenfold as she now serves the Grand Witcher. Now she must grieve, navigate a new world of politics and betrayal, and figure out how to avenge her mother.
I really enjoyed this book and was hooked from the start. Once I saw the book was dedicated to Baptiste’s haters I knew I was going to love it. I loved the layers and character dynamics. The plot twists were well done and satisfying to read. Love is a major theme in the book, from self-love to familial love, to love of ideas. Venus’ relationships with her mother, sister, cousin, best friend, and uncle are pivotal to her development and the plot. She is angry and grief-stricken, and trying to do everything on her own as a young 18-year-old who needs to take care of her sister. This makes her rash and closed off at times, but the love and loyalty she has for her family and friends shines brightly. The world building is a major strength. The way the author details the magic system, politics, and local history is excellent. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Lynette R. Freeman. The narration deeply enriched the atmosphere and characters.
Thank you to the Netgalley, author Bethany Baptiste, and, RB Media for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Grief
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: Xenophobia
The Lost Sisters by Holly Black
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book brought me no closer to understanding, let alone forgiving, Taryn. I'm sorry 🤷🏾♀️
The Anti-Racist Vocab Guide: An Illustrated Introduction to Dismantling Anti-Blackness by Maya Ealey
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Digestible and straightforward, this engaging vocabulary guide can be a companion to other works to learn about anti-racism and advocate for change. Each concept is explained in one to three pages with definitions, historical events, and further reading. An illustration and thought-provoking reflection questions then accompany them to keep readers engaged and foster critical thinking. I found that these questions would be great for personal reflections as well as larger discussions. This would be great to read no matter where you are in your learning journey, and I’m happy I picked it up!
<i>Thank you to the Netgalley, author Maya Haley, and, Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own. Available as of January 30, 2024. </I>