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330 reviews
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
3.0
This book was an idealized novel from my childhood that I now am confused about. The touching notions of belonging and home are still so tender to me but it's not a book to aspire to. Anyway, really hate this little white boy not seeing color or being aware of social situation. Especially hate (but this is a children's book after all) how this white family has literal war type trench with guns ready to kill when black people eventually riot and Maniac's solution is to bring a black kid over to this house. Like that could have gone so dangerous if it weren't a fucking children's book. Anyway, I'm not doing my usual summary for this book. I don't want to.
Jeffrey Lionel Magee is 12 years old when he runs away from his aunt and uncle during a school performance. He doesn't stop running until he ends up in Two Mills because he sees Amanda carry a suitcase full of books. She lets him borrow one giving him an excuse to stick around. Their he becomes a legend as he catches an impossible football throw, bats a frogball, and steps into Finsterwald's yard no one dares to even look at. Now he's know as Maniac. Except Two Mills is segregated by the East End and West End and Maniac is the first white to step into and even live in East End. This is his story belonging nowhere and everywhere at once.
Jeffrey Lionel Magee is 12 years old when he runs away from his aunt and uncle during a school performance. He doesn't stop running until he ends up in Two Mills because he sees Amanda carry a suitcase full of books. She lets him borrow one giving him an excuse to stick around. Their he becomes a legend as he catches an impossible football throw, bats a frogball, and steps into Finsterwald's yard no one dares to even look at. Now he's know as Maniac. Except Two Mills is segregated by the East End and West End and Maniac is the first white to step into and even live in East End. This is his story belonging nowhere and everywhere at once.
Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
4.0
Love: jumping into books where the character knows they're gay and we don't need an explanation or an origin of their gayness, they just are.
Hate: mean high school girls that transcend the realm of reality, like I refuse to believe people had high school experiences this dramatic and childish? And if y'all did, I am so sorry. I wish I could have been your friend then.
Summary:
Leila is Iranian with a sister, Nahal, following in their father's footsteps to become a doctor. Leila is the family fuckup, failing science and so fucking gay. She attendsa rich, private school where girls like Ashley and Lisa rule the hallways with their looks and average mean girl tactics. Leila and Lisa used to be childhood best friends until Lisa transferred to the academy in middle school. But Lisa has recently lost her brother and has been sullen and self-isolating. Leila now she spends her day with mousy Tess and and handsome Greg who has a huge crush on her despite her letting him know she's not into him. Tess is the one with the huge crush on Greg.
One day, beautiful Saskia transfers to her school and Leila is instantly attracted to her as is the entire school with her supermodel looks and easy attitude. Surprisingly, Saskia is also drawn to Leila. The two audition for the school play and Saskia gets the lead and Leila understudies for Tess' lead role. Leila takes to the tech booth assisting with lighting and other artistic cues. There she meets the tech crew gays: Christine, Simone, and Taryn (who turn out not to be gay but they fit the lesbian stereotype Leila believes in.)
Saskia is very forward and kisses Leila during one of their sleepovers and the two maybe are a thing. When Tess gets sick on their last opening night, Leila takes on the role and Saskia kisses her (not in the script) and the audience eats it up. After the show, Leila and Saskia kiss in the bathroom where Lisa sees them but keeps quiet. At the after party at Saskia's hotel penthouse which no one from theater were invited, Saskia hooks up with Greg. Leila gets upset and Saskia says that she's not gay. Kissing each other is what girls do during sleepovers and they're just friends. She also reveals she put something into the brownies she gifted Tess so Leila could play the part. Leila discovers how mean she is and calls her sister to pick her up. She starts to learn that her sister isn't the perfect, ass-kisser she thought she was.
During winter break, Leila's mom convinces her to invites some friends over. She invites the tech crew, Tess, and Tomas, an out and proud friend from theater. Lisa comes over as Leila's mom invited her. They play truth or dare and Lisa is asked who her first crush was but she chickens out and goes with dare. The night ends with Leila's mom showing them childhood videos of Lisa and Leila and a Zombie Killers movie. As Lisa is leaving, She confesses to Leila that Leila was her first crush. Leila is shook.
At school, Leila takes to avoiding both Greg and Saskia as they're dating now. Lisa, who saw her and Saskia kiss and then Greg and Saskia dating, is an unlikely ally for Leila. The two get closer and in an essay Lisa reads to her class she subtly tells Leila she is ready if she is. The two talk about it, Lisa is ready to be with Leila now since she always thought she was straight and the reason for their losing touch after middle school. They begin something tentative bordering on a relationship.
Greg thinks Leila is jealous of Saskia but she assures him Saskia just isn't the right person for him. Saskia, however, acts like nothings wrong and befriends Tess and Leila and convinces them to go shopping for the Valentine dance. There, Saskia comes onto Leila again but she rejects her because she doesn't want to hurt Greg. Saskia breaks up with Greg over text to solve that problem. Leila still rejects her and Saskia calls her a "stupid dyke" and says no one is done with her until she says so.
With Saskia angry, Leila is afraid of being outed. She comes out to her mom who shows her love but thinks it may be a phase. She convinces Leila to not tell her dad or sister yet. Greg and Leila work on their friendship and are roped by Tess into going with her to the Valentine dance. Everything goes well until Saskia notices Leila and Lisa holding hands. She kisses Leila and yells that Leila has been harrassing her into kissing her this whole time like the perverted lesbian she is. They take Saskia away and Lisa kisses Leila and everyone knows they're together.
With everyone knowing Leila is gay, Leila is ready for her dad to know. Her sister was already in the loop because of their mom and accepts her. Her dad is surprisingly loving but doesn't bring it up instead her mom and dad are not speaking. Greg is ignoring Leila completely. Tess understands and Saskia has been suspended following similar past behaviors.
At the opening of the middle school play Leila and Tomas have been directing, Greg apologizes to her and the two reconcile. Her dad expresses how proud he is no matter what but still hopes she doesn't consider this a career after accepting she'll never be a doctor. Her family gives her flowers and a note to which her sister advises reading later. In Lisa's car she reads the note that says her family loves her unconditionally. Lisa and Leila cry in the car together and drive off.
Hate: mean high school girls that transcend the realm of reality, like I refuse to believe people had high school experiences this dramatic and childish? And if y'all did, I am so sorry. I wish I could have been your friend then.
Summary:
Spoiler
Leila is Iranian with a sister, Nahal, following in their father's footsteps to become a doctor. Leila is the family fuckup, failing science and so fucking gay. She attendsa rich, private school where girls like Ashley and Lisa rule the hallways with their looks and average mean girl tactics. Leila and Lisa used to be childhood best friends until Lisa transferred to the academy in middle school. But Lisa has recently lost her brother and has been sullen and self-isolating. Leila now she spends her day with mousy Tess and and handsome Greg who has a huge crush on her despite her letting him know she's not into him. Tess is the one with the huge crush on Greg.
One day, beautiful Saskia transfers to her school and Leila is instantly attracted to her as is the entire school with her supermodel looks and easy attitude. Surprisingly, Saskia is also drawn to Leila. The two audition for the school play and Saskia gets the lead and Leila understudies for Tess' lead role. Leila takes to the tech booth assisting with lighting and other artistic cues. There she meets the tech crew gays: Christine, Simone, and Taryn (who turn out not to be gay but they fit the lesbian stereotype Leila believes in.)
Saskia is very forward and kisses Leila during one of their sleepovers and the two maybe are a thing. When Tess gets sick on their last opening night, Leila takes on the role and Saskia kisses her (not in the script) and the audience eats it up. After the show, Leila and Saskia kiss in the bathroom where Lisa sees them but keeps quiet. At the after party at Saskia's hotel penthouse which no one from theater were invited, Saskia hooks up with Greg. Leila gets upset and Saskia says that she's not gay. Kissing each other is what girls do during sleepovers and they're just friends. She also reveals she put something into the brownies she gifted Tess so Leila could play the part. Leila discovers how mean she is and calls her sister to pick her up. She starts to learn that her sister isn't the perfect, ass-kisser she thought she was.
During winter break, Leila's mom convinces her to invites some friends over. She invites the tech crew, Tess, and Tomas, an out and proud friend from theater. Lisa comes over as Leila's mom invited her. They play truth or dare and Lisa is asked who her first crush was but she chickens out and goes with dare. The night ends with Leila's mom showing them childhood videos of Lisa and Leila and a Zombie Killers movie. As Lisa is leaving, She confesses to Leila that Leila was her first crush. Leila is shook.
At school, Leila takes to avoiding both Greg and Saskia as they're dating now. Lisa, who saw her and Saskia kiss and then Greg and Saskia dating, is an unlikely ally for Leila. The two get closer and in an essay Lisa reads to her class she subtly tells Leila she is ready if she is. The two talk about it, Lisa is ready to be with Leila now since she always thought she was straight and the reason for their losing touch after middle school. They begin something tentative bordering on a relationship.
Greg thinks Leila is jealous of Saskia but she assures him Saskia just isn't the right person for him. Saskia, however, acts like nothings wrong and befriends Tess and Leila and convinces them to go shopping for the Valentine dance. There, Saskia comes onto Leila again but she rejects her because she doesn't want to hurt Greg. Saskia breaks up with Greg over text to solve that problem. Leila still rejects her and Saskia calls her a "stupid dyke" and says no one is done with her until she says so.
With Saskia angry, Leila is afraid of being outed. She comes out to her mom who shows her love but thinks it may be a phase. She convinces Leila to not tell her dad or sister yet. Greg and Leila work on their friendship and are roped by Tess into going with her to the Valentine dance. Everything goes well until Saskia notices Leila and Lisa holding hands. She kisses Leila and yells that Leila has been harrassing her into kissing her this whole time like the perverted lesbian she is. They take Saskia away and Lisa kisses Leila and everyone knows they're together.
With everyone knowing Leila is gay, Leila is ready for her dad to know. Her sister was already in the loop because of their mom and accepts her. Her dad is surprisingly loving but doesn't bring it up instead her mom and dad are not speaking. Greg is ignoring Leila completely. Tess understands and Saskia has been suspended following similar past behaviors.
At the opening of the middle school play Leila and Tomas have been directing, Greg apologizes to her and the two reconcile. Her dad expresses how proud he is no matter what but still hopes she doesn't consider this a career after accepting she'll never be a doctor. Her family gives her flowers and a note to which her sister advises reading later. In Lisa's car she reads the note that says her family loves her unconditionally. Lisa and Leila cry in the car together and drive off.
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene Carruthers
5.0
The way I kept forgetting this book wasn't written today but every single issue is still prevalent. History is repeating itself and it'd be ignorant of me to say I wasn't aware of this. Black people are being killed, black trans people are being killed. They matter. We need to change the powers in place.
Like the author said: this is not all the work that is needed. It is a guide to centering yourself and knowing when and how to step back and support those directly involved. We must all have a stake in the movement to bring about transformative change. But we must first recognize how one group's oppression is all of our communities oppression. A must read.
Like the author said: this is not all the work that is needed. It is a guide to centering yourself and knowing when and how to step back and support those directly involved. We must all have a stake in the movement to bring about transformative change. But we must first recognize how one group's oppression is all of our communities oppression. A must read.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
4.0
I have memories of seeing this film in Spanish so often on my mom's favorite channels. Of a boy that is kept hidden away just like the garden that was once so loved. Reading treasures like this, as an adult, I've found, lose all their charm and fall short. Surprisingly, this book help up to my ideals of what I could remember. The magic is inspiring and contagious like the children themselves are. It feels like remembering a forgotten childhood of running and growing and smelling the grass.
Mary is forgotten during the death of her family due to cholera. She is sent to her estranged uncle's manor with a secret rose garden beloved by her aunt until her untimely passing. Ever since, her uncle has kept it locked and buried the key. Mary is spoiled and learns to be a child an independent while looking for the garden. When she finds the key, she also discovers the wailing in the walls that servants are scared to speak of. Her curiosity gets the best of her and she finds her cousin Colin destined to die being so weak. He's even more spoiled than Mary. Mary convinces him to live in spite of everyone's expectations and brings him to the garden that unlocks many wonders for all involved.
Side note: Martha is my absolute favorite character and they did her justice in the film adaptation than I saw immediately after finishing the book. The book is for sure better than the film despite the casual racism and ignorance in the book. People really just can't help themselves huh?
Mary is forgotten during the death of her family due to cholera. She is sent to her estranged uncle's manor with a secret rose garden beloved by her aunt until her untimely passing. Ever since, her uncle has kept it locked and buried the key. Mary is spoiled and learns to be a child an independent while looking for the garden. When she finds the key, she also discovers the wailing in the walls that servants are scared to speak of. Her curiosity gets the best of her and she finds her cousin Colin destined to die being so weak. He's even more spoiled than Mary. Mary convinces him to live in spite of everyone's expectations and brings him to the garden that unlocks many wonders for all involved.
Side note: Martha is my absolute favorite character and they did her justice in the film adaptation than I saw immediately after finishing the book. The book is for sure better than the film despite the casual racism and ignorance in the book. People really just can't help themselves huh?
A Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan
5.0
Such a fun and easy book! Kid steals spider from vampire, spider bites best friend landing him in a coma, kid seeks help from vampire and gives up life to save best friend, best friend finds out kid's a vampire's assistant now and vows revenge because it should have been him.
I remember reading this is middle school and being like, "Damn, when am I going to fake my death to become a vampire?"
I remember reading this is middle school and being like, "Damn, when am I going to fake my death to become a vampire?"
The Odyssey by Homer
2.0
Not fond of all the testing and tales. I don't really have anything to say except cannot believe this is what people decided to share over and over as it was.
The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan
3.0
What is drawing me to this series? The subversion of common vampire lore? he fact that Darren's age is still a mystery except he's still a child? The way I devoured this book to know how it ends is astonishing given it's not a difficult book but still, it's doing something right.
Darren is refusing to drink human blood to preserve the half of him that is still human while attempting to starve his vampire half. Of course, this means death to all of him but it might be worth it to him. He realizes as a half-vampire he'll never truly have a friend again so Mr. Crepsley takes him to the Cirque du Freak where he meets Evra, the snake boy, and Sam a human that is just curious about them. Unfortunately, Darren learns the hard way that his life will always lead up to danger for those he cares about.
Darren is refusing to drink human blood to preserve the half of him that is still human while attempting to starve his vampire half. Of course, this means death to all of him but it might be worth it to him. He realizes as a half-vampire he'll never truly have a friend again so Mr. Crepsley takes him to the Cirque du Freak where he meets Evra, the snake boy, and Sam a human that is just curious about them. Unfortunately, Darren learns the hard way that his life will always lead up to danger for those he cares about.
The Stonewall Reader by The New York Public Library
5.0
I'm taking a greater effort to educate myself on struggles that came before me. Struggles that continue to affect me and my LGBT+ community.
This anthology brings in several perspectives, fears, and triumphs I dearly value. Stonewall is a topic I've easily coasted on and not bothered to educate myself too much on because it's a given what it stands for. This book shares pieces from several genders, sexual orientations, races that highlight why it matters to diversify the movement and to understand the struggles of all not just the white patriarchy. Fear and violence aside, it was also important that this book also gave voice to the beauty and inspiration of being gay and in love with yourself. And that was everything.
Also what a power move to end with a black lesbian piece. Recommend to everyone because I cannot possibly cover all that this book provided me with.
This anthology brings in several perspectives, fears, and triumphs I dearly value. Stonewall is a topic I've easily coasted on and not bothered to educate myself too much on because it's a given what it stands for. This book shares pieces from several genders, sexual orientations, races that highlight why it matters to diversify the movement and to understand the struggles of all not just the white patriarchy. Fear and violence aside, it was also important that this book also gave voice to the beauty and inspiration of being gay and in love with yourself. And that was everything.
Also what a power move to end with a black lesbian piece. Recommend to everyone because I cannot possibly cover all that this book provided me with.
Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan
2.0
Felt predictable but nice to see Darren connecting with humans again. Really looking forward to the inevitable meet with childhood best friend and hope he gets to see his sister agai.
Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen
3.0
(2020 Update:) First, and most importantly, every passage tying into biblical references are done so beautifully I forget that religion isn't warming to everyone. Especially to some LGBT+ who cannot find themselves welcomed in religion or specifically Catholicism. But the beauty of the original shame and God not wanting us to hide from what He made us hits home for me. Because I want to find the balance and this book does that for me.
Second, the book's conflict is awful. The worst that can happen to two teenaged girls discovering their love in an extremely conservative and religious school and community can and does happen. There is shame and violence and shunning. There is guilt and stolen kisses. There is friendship and there is loss. It is sometimes unbearable to get through, so much pain that could have been avoided but I can understand fear.
Third, Hannah and Baker are perfect. Their love grows naturally and it's filled with fear of what this means to them and outside of them. Hannah is so self-less it hurts. Baker is selfish and in attempting to lessen her own pain unleashes a world of hurt on Hannah that is hard to read. Glad Baker came to her senses a little too late but she comes around. And sometimes that's enough.
(2016 Original Review:) Maybe reading that terrible review about a woman's horrible confession misguided me with this book but it it truly is beautiful. It's so real and heartwarming and heartbreaking but so real. And the tie-ins with faith and religion truly make this book even more beautiful.
Second, the book's conflict is awful. The worst that can happen to two teenaged girls discovering their love in an extremely conservative and religious school and community can and does happen. There is shame and violence and shunning. There is guilt and stolen kisses. There is friendship and there is loss. It is sometimes unbearable to get through, so much pain that could have been avoided but I can understand fear.
Third, Hannah and Baker are perfect. Their love grows naturally and it's filled with fear of what this means to them and outside of them. Hannah is so self-less it hurts. Baker is selfish and in attempting to lessen her own pain unleashes a world of hurt on Hannah that is hard to read. Glad Baker came to her senses a little too late but she comes around. And sometimes that's enough.
(2016 Original Review:) Maybe reading that terrible review about a woman's horrible confession misguided me with this book but it it truly is beautiful. It's so real and heartwarming and heartbreaking but so real. And the tie-ins with faith and religion truly make this book even more beautiful.