ashylibrarian's reviews
891 reviews

Dinosaur Sanctuary Vol. 4 by Itaru Kinoshita

lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki

emotional informative reflective medium-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? Yes

4.5

Invisible Son by Kim Johnson

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle

informative medium-paced

5.0

Did you know that a whale can live to around 90+ years old, but that its life is only the beginning of its impact on the ecosystem?  

This is a beautifully illustrated informational picture book that tells the story of what happens to the ecosystem after a blue whale dies. 

One of my favorite aspects of this book is how well the text and illustrations partner to tell the story.  Caldecott Medalist Jason Chin supports the brilliant text with detailed and eye-catching illustrations. Lynn Brunelle offers bite-sized chunks of information to keep readers wanting more. For example, when Brunelle is explaining the various organisms that benefit from the whale fall, Chin partners the text with illustrations of those organisms to further understand how everything is connected. 

The backmatter is filled with even more facts about blue whales, ecosystems, and the four phases of whale fall. 

I'm the Catlords' Manservant, Vol. 1 by Rat Kitaguni

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Sometimes I felt like I got lost in the characters and thus got lost in the plot. Still as silly read with cat shapeshifters. 

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

A nice addition to middle-grade graphic novels. The artwork is unique, and the story is informative and likely relatable for younger readers. 

I do wish some of the plot was built out a bit more, including the resolution at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Islamophobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Without picking things apart, this was a good zombie book. I feel those describing it as The Last of Us meets Warms Bodies were exactly right. 

I do really wish the pacing was better on this book, though. I think that would have helped me enjoy the details of this story much more. The ending grabbed my attention, but the first half to three quarters felt a little off. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely lovely! I am living in my Cozy Fantasy Era and this book brought me everything I needed. 

I move to say that we all need Tea Monks in our lives. And a 7-foot robot friend who is looking to explore the world with us. 

This is my first Becky Chambers book, and I cannot wait to read more of their work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya

informative fast-paced

4.75

A beautiful and uniquely illustrated picture book about the inventor of the Rubki's Cube. Written in short phrases with nice breaks, this book lends itself to being a great read-aloud. One of my favorite features is the way the art style changes as we learn more about how Erno came up with the idea for the Rubik's Cube. At one point, Erno's head becomes a cube as the text tells how much he was thinking about the puzzle.

Back matter supplies readers with more information about the Rubik's cube and its creator.