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sallenreads's reviews
101 reviews
I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child by Kristina Kuzmic
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
The Cure for Women: Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the Challenge to Victorian Medicine That Changed Women's Lives Forever by Lydia Reeder
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
The Cure for Women was a very informative look at many facets of Gilded Age medicine, including how female doctors broke into the field, their role in the development of gynecology and obstetrics, and how it all intersected with the broader women's rights and suffrage movements. It also feels like an incredibly timely book, given the current landscape of reproductive rights in the United States -- the book also touches on how abortion, a previously accepted medical procedure, was turned by white, male doctors into a controversial issue (hint: it was racism).
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was that while it was well-researched and full of information, it was extremely readable, making it accessible to readers who aren't necessarily historians. Based on that, I look forward to recommending this book to colleagues and my older students who are interested in reproductive rights and Victorian history.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a review copy.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was that while it was well-researched and full of information, it was extremely readable, making it accessible to readers who aren't necessarily historians. Based on that, I look forward to recommending this book to colleagues and my older students who are interested in reproductive rights and Victorian history.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a review copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Racism, Antisemitism, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, and Abortion
Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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
5.0
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
We're Never Getting Home by Tracy Badua
funny
reflective
fast-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
4.0
WE'RE NEVER GETTING HOME was a fun romp through a California music festival, featuring a group of friends looking for missing keys, mischievous younger siblings, and repaired relationships with best friends. The whole book takes place over the course of about 12 hours, but there is no shortage of problems for the characters to run into, keeping the pace moving.
My one complaint would be that I did find Jana, the main character, a little annoying as the book went on. Jana worries a lot about what other people want from her and thinks it's her job to solve all the world's problems -- which are definitely things I could've related to as a teen -- but at the same time, doesn't trust that anyone else is capable of picking up some of that slack. She also has a really hard time recognizing her part in causing the fight she's currently in with her best friend, Maddy. On the other hand, all of this read as realistic to me, so even though I found myself feeling annoyed with Jana, a lot of it also came from a place of feeling sad for her, too.
Overall, I enjoyed WE'RE NEVER GETTING HOME, and found it to be fun and fast-paced with a dose of friendship truths.
Thank you to HarperCollins for providing a review copy.
My one complaint would be that I did find Jana, the main character, a little annoying as the book went on. Jana worries a lot about what other people want from her and thinks it's her job to solve all the world's problems -- which are definitely things I could've related to as a teen -- but at the same time, doesn't trust that anyone else is capable of picking up some of that slack. She also has a really hard time recognizing her part in causing the fight she's currently in with her best friend, Maddy. On the other hand, all of this read as realistic to me, so even though I found myself feeling annoyed with Jana, a lot of it also came from a place of feeling sad for her, too.
Overall, I enjoyed WE'RE NEVER GETTING HOME, and found it to be fun and fast-paced with a dose of friendship truths.
Thank you to HarperCollins for providing a review copy.
Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
BRYNN AND SEBASTIAN HATE EACH OTHER was a really sweet romcom with two characters working through their own issues, with the backdrop of a small Colorado town with a colorful cast of characters. I would've loved a little more time for the romance to develop, but overall, this would be a fun read for someone who is looking for a romance without the spice.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing a copy for review.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing a copy for review.