vineyivy's reviews
775 reviews

Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
Did not finish book. Stopped at 75%.

It was interesting, but I had to return the book to the library and didn't feel interested in checking it out again. I felt like I'd gotten the main gist of it from the majority that I read. 

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Steven L. Hopp, Camille Kingsolver, Barbara Kingsolver
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

I liked the book concept, the information, and the "family-style" way it was written...I just didn't get through the whole thing and had a hard time picking it up again. 

Gardening with Emma: Grow and Have Fun: A Kid-To-Kid Guide by Emma Biggs, Steven Biggs
Did not finish book.

I like this book, and think it's great for kids interested in gardening. I just didn't have time to read the whole thing in-depth. Would refer to it again as needed--useful resource!

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the most fun children's graphic novels I've read. I thought I knew where it was going, but I DID NOT know where it was going, and I loved every minute of the emerging, whimsical story. 

Weyward by Emilia Hart

dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

This book needed lots of CONTENT WARNINGS at the beginning. It was especially upsetting to me that the author uses , and if I had known that, I wouldn't have read it. It really seems like the author is using it as a way to link the characters, make things hard for them, and create drama. It wasn't handled with care and trauma-recovery in mind.

My Maddy by Gayle E. Pitman

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

Truly lovely book! A wonderful way for people to understand gender fluidity in a gentle way. 

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Check the content warnings before reading! Great book, but some triggering due to themes could occur. 

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Land of Outcasts by Josh Gauthier

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

5.0

So fun! A mix of fairytale, adventure, humor, and swamp animals with large teeth. The main characters are two mercenaries, one a human named Eli and the other, a battle unicorn named Sasha. On page 41, there's a snippet of conversation between the two that is a good example their dynamic and the tone of the book: 

(Eli) "...I don't like The Green either, but this is as good a job as we're likely to find, so let's go out there and do what we're good at."
(Sasha)"Rush into situation we don't understand, surviving by luck and mad schemes?"
Eli adjusted his hat. "Exactly."

There's also a hint that the series will continue, and I look forward to reading more of the adventures of Eli and Sasha!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood and Abandonment