xangemtheelibrarian's reviews
985 reviews

The Braid Girls by Sherri Winston

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challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.0

I liked how this book had the ability to talk about some very hard topics without feeling like a heavy book. Liked this, didn't love it.
Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera

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challenging emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I don't like all the lying. I don't like Nat's aunt. I don't like so much of this book. And I don't like how absolutely none of the kiddos here felt safe to truly express themselves and what they love.
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Claimed by My Bodyguard by Melinda James

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

3.0

This was decent. I didn't like how many times the FMC lost her memories. I also thought that they fell into a relationship fairly quickly, but I get that the author was trying to make time pass by quickly. I just wish they hadn't've glossed over the characters' pre-relationship interactions so much.
Select by Christie Matheson

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challenging informative inspiring 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

This is an incredible book every girl needs to read. Never apologize for existing or taking up space as a female! 
The Order of Things by Kaija Langley

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emotional reflective 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? No

4.0

This was a sad and somber story. I felt so much for April after all that happened. Learning to speak up before it's too late is never a good lesson to learn and often hurts more than I would care to admit. All of the what ifs that she battles throughout the story are so real. I felt for every character in this story.
Trashed! by Martha Freeman

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Was reading this for the Lone Star list, but because the father is briefly mentioned drinking beer, I just don't think this would make the list if nominated.
Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood, Greg Dawson

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emotional informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

Just sort of "meh." I liked this, but I wasn't blown away by it. I'm really tired of all the WWII literature out there. I wish there was as much historical fiction about other points in history.
Don't Want To Be Your Monster by Deke Moulton

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challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

This book has been WILD from start to finish. It is so odd, and also so good.

Look. Victor and Adam give off Dean and Sam Winchester vibes, except they're the monsters instead of the monster slayers. I thought that the lore was really cool. I adored how Moulton expanded vampires to be everywhere all over the world since the beginning of time. I thought that occasionally the message he was pushing was a little obvious, but it didn't stop me from having a good time reading Adam and Victor's story. 
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The Worlds We Leave Behind by A.F. Harrold

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This. Was. So. Odd. Everyone sucks here. Everyone's a bully. And everyone has really crappy parents. I really liked the element of magic witch who can promise to Thanos your enemy who's done you wrong, but... The fact that literally the only sort of likeable character is Tommo, couples with the strange turn of events in this book, and the unsatisfying ending. Idk. It's mid. Enjoyed certain elements, didn't like others.
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A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner, Jarrett Lerner

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Holyyyy this gave me chills. The scribbles as they changed and got worse. The candid look inside Will's mind as he falls into an eating disorder... this book hurts so much.
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