I loved Inside Out and Back Again which is the first book in this poetry duology about Vietnamese refugee Hà and her family. So, when I saw the news tI loved Inside Out and Back Again which is the first book in this poetry duology about Vietnamese refugee Hà and her family. So, when I saw the news that a sequel was being written, I jumped on it! Set in the 1970s, this autobiographical novel in verse details how Hà and her family traveled from Vietnam to Alabama to Texas for safety and better opportunities. This is such a beautiful perspective and paints a beautiful picture of resilience and hope. The author perfectly captured feelings of middle school friendships and the desperation to fit in, too. After reading this, I will never be able to look at a Lantana flower the same way either. This makes you adjust your perspective and really consider what the refugee experience must be like.
I did prefer the first book in this series, and I felt like I couldn't follow this one as well. It's been a while since I read the first book, so maybe I was forgetting some things from book one that would have filled in the gaps. Maybe the writing style slightly changed. I'm not sure. This is still an important book about the refugee experience and was beautifully done! ...more
I read this because it was the middle grade book that Read Across America recommended for March. I was pleasantly surprised that RAA is focusing on maI read this because it was the middle grade book that Read Across America recommended for March. I was pleasantly surprised that RAA is focusing on marginalized perspectives.
This book follows Omar and Hassan, two brothers who are refugees from Somalia and currently living in a refugee camp ("open prison") in Kenya. The story is told from Omar's perspective and follows him as he manages taking care of his brother with disabilities, taking care of daily chores, going to school to learn, and hoping for his mom who they had to leave in Somalia. As a background worry, every person in the camp is hoping that his/her name shows up on the list of refugees who have interviews with the UN to go to America.
This is such an eye opening book. There's a difference between knowing refugees have intolerable conditions, and then seeing the examples told from a perspective that has lived through it. There is also so much hope, perseverance, and grit displayed. It makes you realize how few barriers we have in America and how little we really have to complain about or blame for our issues. This is an inspiring as well as entertaining and hopeful read.
Spoiler/Warning - There is one mention of a man killing himself, but nothing is shown on the page or explained/described. ...more
As I was reading this, I couldn't help but think that middle school Amy would have LOVED this. Lu is an Argentine immigrant who has struggles with cruAs I was reading this, I couldn't help but think that middle school Amy would have LOVED this. Lu is an Argentine immigrant who has struggles with crushes, ambitions to win the field day track meet, and also struggles to stand up for what's right during the de-segregation movement in Alabama. The backdrop to all of Lu's typical struggles is the 1970 election between main candidates George Wallace and Brewer. Most of the school is in the "us vs. them" mindset and preparing to transfer to the new private school. Lu has always been open to all races, but she also has the message that immigrants should not draw attention to themselves and get involved. Throughout the book, she learns lessons of standing up for what's right, having gumption, and working hard to reach your goals.
I just loved this. It was such a solid story and had such great messages. It was also just all around entertaining with great characters. ...more
This was a great first hand account of living with autism. I do think the book was very short. I wanted more from it, but overall this is a valuable sThis was a great first hand account of living with autism. I do think the book was very short. I wanted more from it, but overall this is a valuable starting point for people to learn more. ...more
This was a great story of York, an enslaved man who journeyed with Lewis and Clark on their westward expedition. The story hops around through a few mThis was a great story of York, an enslaved man who journeyed with Lewis and Clark on their westward expedition. The story hops around through a few major events of the expedition while focusing on how York remained enslaved throughout the expedition and upon the return. It focuses on how although York contributed more than most other men and was one of the key men to gain the Native American's trust, he was still given no attention, recognition, or payment. This is a fantastic addition to our westward expansion unit to start focusing on marginalized voices. ...more
What a great story of perseverance and self-assuredness this is. I really loved that most of this story is based on Kelly Yang's personal experience.What a great story of perseverance and self-assuredness this is. I really loved that most of this story is based on Kelly Yang's personal experience....more
Drama-filled fluff with the bonus of interesting Singaporean culture. Win/win.
This actually reminded me of Behold the Dreamers that I read recently. TDrama-filled fluff with the bonus of interesting Singaporean culture. Win/win.
This actually reminded me of Behold the Dreamers that I read recently. There were marital affairs and catty cousins hiring private investigators and high society balls. This was definitely more drama-focused than romance-focused which I appreciated. Very fluffy story that I enjoyed for what it was. It was so fun to see a book full of diverse and intriguing asian characters. ...more
I'm amazed by how many peoples' stories out there haven't been told. I'm so happy I came across this one.
Nez details his life from childhood on the reI'm amazed by how many peoples' stories out there haven't been told. I'm so happy I came across this one.
Nez details his life from childhood on the reservation to creating the Navajo Code used in WWII. He actually tells about specific battles to the point where it felt like I was watching a movie. This was fascinating to read about. I wish there were more accounts. ...more
This was a cute, fluffy YA featuring a protagonist who is a asexual biromantic black girl. Alice has to navigate declaring a college major (one her faThis was a cute, fluffy YA featuring a protagonist who is a asexual biromantic black girl. Alice has to navigate declaring a college major (one her family doesn’t agree with), keeping the peace with her friends, and figuring out how she really feels about the new guy at work, Takumi. This is the first time I've ever read a book with an asexual perspective, and I know it is going to be so important for many readers.
I could pick this apart if I wanted to. As a debut, it definitely had some pacing issues and I couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing much really happened in the plot. At the same time, there were parts that were really cute, and I’m pretty sure my younger romance-loving self would have loved this. I’m not going to judge it too harshly.
I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
3.5 stars... Michel Kichka's father was an Auschwitz survivor who lost his entire family, making Michel part of the second generation to process the t3.5 stars... Michel Kichka's father was an Auschwitz survivor who lost his entire family, making Michel part of the second generation to process the trauma of the Shoah (Holocaust). This memoir graphic novel details his childhood growing up with a father who was constantly fixated on proving himself and his worth because having a son who was best in his class would "show Hitler". It also references Michel's adulthood as he tries to relate and understand the man his dad has become in response to the trauma he's survived.
It was really intriguing, and an incredibly insightful look into one family's experience with the Holocaust. The only problems I had with it were the weirdly fragmented and abrupt ending and a few strangely placed anecdotes that I feel could have been left out. It was not the most seemless memoir, but I was captivated by it all the same.
I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Suki Kim went undercover not only as a reporter posing as an English teacher, but also as a non-religious person posing as a missionary. I appreciate Suki Kim went undercover not only as a reporter posing as an English teacher, but also as a non-religious person posing as a missionary. I appreciate the viewpoint of this story. Kim grew up in South Korea and the US, and her grandmother lost her oldest son in North Korea as their family fled during the division of North and South in the 1950s. She had a sense of familiarity that kept this from feeling like Good American renounces Bad North Korea, and the way she described her interactions with the boys and citizens of the country felt so real. Kim’s perspective also helps her analyze how North Korean culture and architecture has been influenced by Chinese culture while South Korean culture has become very Americanized. Reflecting on how two countries so close together have drastically changed in just a few decades was interesting.
Kim had a love for her North Korean students that was evident in all of the anecdotes she shared. She told her story from a place of wanting the men to be better and to be aware. Her great descriptions not only made me feel like I was in the classroom with her, but also that I could understand the perspectives of her students. There was just a great balance of information while also communicating how manipulative and disconcerting the North Korean culture is in order to keep its citizens united and loyal. There was clearly a bias in the story telling, but I didn’t mind it too much.
The ending was abrupt and didn't draw many of its own conclusions. It was still interesting to read these anecdotes and conversations that gave insight into the perspectives of North Koreans....more
Will's brother was murdered, and he knows the rules are that he has to be the one to get revenge. But as he's riding the elevator down to the street tWill's brother was murdered, and he knows the rules are that he has to be the one to get revenge. But as he's riding the elevator down to the street to seek out his brother's murderer, the elevator stops on each floor, and he encounters another ghost from his past who helps him reflect on what revenge really means.
This was an incredible story told in verse. The imagery and wordplay is phenomenal, and the characters jump off the page as three dimensional creations. The ONLY thing I didn't love was the ending. (view spoiler)[I just like my endings to be a bit more concrete, and leaving it as an open-ended "Who knows what happens next?" was annoying to me. (hide spoiler)] I'm hoping to listen to the audiobook of this one soon, too, because the lyricism of the verse definitely deserves to be heard....more
I learned a lot from this book! The content doesn't exactly match the blurb or marketing. This is more of a memoir and investigative reportin3.5 stars
I learned a lot from this book! The content doesn't exactly match the blurb or marketing. This is more of a memoir and investigative reporting piece that is all loosely connected by the topic of Korean pop culture. It was still very intriguing....more
I was not prepared for how emotionally vulnerable and deep Hannah went in this book. She went deep into discussions of her grapplings with sexuality, I was not prepared for how emotionally vulnerable and deep Hannah went in this book. She went deep into discussions of her grapplings with sexuality, dealings with the mental health of her mother and subsequently her own PTSD and mental health, and challenges with self harm. There were some light hearted memories shared, but this was overall a much more serious memoir.
And I LOVED it. I love this side of Hannah. She definitely shows it in her more chatty videos. If her first book was a perfect physical version of her My Drunk Kitchen episodes, then this book was the perfect physical version of all her self help and advice videos where she cries and I sob along with her. I spent the last third of this book crying, and I am so appreciative that she allowed herself to be this open and vulnerable. This book is amazing. ...more
Lila moved from Argentina to Alabama when she was five years old in the height of the Civil Rights Movement. This was such an interesting perspective Lila moved from Argentina to Alabama when she was five years old in the height of the Civil Rights Movement. This was such an interesting perspective on the Civil Rights Movement. The child's perspective in this had such fractured information, and that made the story more realistic. My adult knowledge filled in the blanks and made me connect with this reflective story. ...more
Abouet's goal in writing this was to show the "real" Africa that extends beyond the Western image of "swolen bellied children, machete wielding janjawAbouet's goal in writing this was to show the "real" Africa that extends beyond the Western image of "swolen bellied children, machete wielding janjaweeds, and too many men and women dying of AIDS".
This was a comedic look at teen life in the Ivory Coast in the 1970s. It's filled with dating highjinks and some progressive commentary on sexism of the 70s. This book was funny and sharp. The plot and panels seemed very choppy at times, and overall the story was short, but I still enjoyed it....more
This is the story of an Arab-American college student, Isaac, who struggles with living his life with epilepsy which is represented in the story by a This is the story of an Arab-American college student, Isaac, who struggles with living his life with epilepsy which is represented in the story by a chain of knives constantly pointed at him, ready to strike at any moment. Balancing the weight of an unsupportive family, a college courses, disbelieving doctors, and day-to-day responsibilities, Isaac is constantly under stress and feels at the end of his rope. The title, Mis(h)adra, is a play on the Arabic words “misadra,” which means “seizure,” and “mish adra,” which is slang for “I can not.”
The art in this was absolutely perfect. I think it honestly may be the best art I’ve seen in a graphic novel ever, and I bumped this book up to 5 stars for that alone. The story pacing was a bit off in some places and the ending didn’t strike as hard as the rest of the story, but the overall message and plot were solid.
+ The color scheme is gorgeous. The pinks, purples, and blues worked well together, and I really like how the shade of color shifted to show different scenarios. (e.g. When Isaac experiences one type of attack, the shades got lighter, but a different type of attack and the shades became very saturated.) + The art is really well done. The text becomes part of the story. The angles are fresh and interesting. If Ata needed to show flashbacks or time jumps or relay the + Great commentary on mental health as well as invisible illness.
Triggers: detailed suicidal thoughts, condescending doctors, some graphic medical situations
I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Set in 1980s Kenya, 13 year old Auma has aspirations of becoming a track star so that she can get a scholarship to med school and help support her famSet in 1980s Kenya, 13 year old Auma has aspirations of becoming a track star so that she can get a scholarship to med school and help support her family. When people in her village begin dying suddenly and mysteriously, she’s even more inspired to find a way to help.
This was a really interesting look at a time period and location that aren’t given a lot of focus in books. I’ve always learned about AIDS history and stories from people in the USA or the UK during the 80s, most of which cases were tied strongly to the gay community. This book shows how the devastating virus spread throughout the village and how stigmas and worries were closely tied to AIDS in this area but in a different way. I also liked that the book showed the traditions of mourning and burial. Odhiambo wrote what she experienced, and it shows with how vividly things were described and crafted.
The only thing that I really struggled with during the book was the weird tone of misogyny and victim-blaming. Auma’s brothers have to come and stand guard while she collects fire wood. Boys at school taunt her about not having a boyfriend and when one boy chases after her, she runs away from him. She later says that she couldn’t tell her parents about it because they would whip her if they knew how close the boy got and blame her for egging him on somehow. She has to run away from rapists and hope that her family doesn’t whip her for disrespect. I know it was an accurate depiction of that time, so maybe it was meant to make the reader feel upset, but I couldn’t help but feel like the way something were described condoned or dismissed them as normal. It left me feeling very uneasy that a young girl may pick up this book and somehow glean those same ideas from it.
Overall, this was an interesting book that exposed me to a lot of culture, customs, and history that I did not know about before.
I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
An open letter verbalizing all the things "your black friend" wishes they could say about various topics, including appropriating black culture, you bAn open letter verbalizing all the things "your black friend" wishes they could say about various topics, including appropriating black culture, you being unable to identify microaggressions, and requesting that "your black friend" become your dictionary and guide to the black world. Very honest and well illustrated.
In summary: talk less, listen more, stand up for people. If you think there are no opportunities for you to stand up, then go back to step one and keep learning. ...more