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roseleaf24's review
3.0
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book, but I enjoyed it and appreciated the further look at the effects of the US prison system.
kaitlinthern's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
gumihoreviews's review against another edition
5.0
A father-daughter’s loving journey through food, helping others, and a daughter’s voice.
On the Air with Zoe Washington by [a:Janae Marks|17759336|Janae Marks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1639153732p2/17759336.jpg] is the second in the Zoe Washington Series and is a beautiful story of a daughter determined to help her father live his dream. Zoe wants to help her newly released father to fulfill his dream of having his own restaurant. She plans to be his pastry chef and they will hire formerly incarcerated people. The downside is that it’s not that easy to open a restaurant. Will they succeed in their dream?
This story was so good. It had lots of things to love about it. One, it is a story of people of color who have struggled through things that were not their fault, and recovering from that. Marcus represents such a deep example of what a lot of Black men have gone through over the years. I love that he wants to work with formerly incarcerated people, so he can help them. Finally, I love that this is ultimately a father-daughter story. It was also expressed in a way that younger audiences can absorb and understand.
I highly recommend this novel! It is filled with lots of real life experiences that will educate and motivate readers.This is for 12+ readers. It’d be best to read the first novel,
[b:From the Desk of Zoe Washington|45169415|From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1)|Janae Marks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560957404l/45169415._SY75_.jpg|60426059] by [a:Janae Marks|17759336|Janae Marks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1639153732p2/17759336.jpg]
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of On the Air with Zoe Washington from Janae Marks via NetGalley
On the Air with Zoe Washington by [a:Janae Marks|17759336|Janae Marks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1639153732p2/17759336.jpg] is the second in the Zoe Washington Series and is a beautiful story of a daughter determined to help her father live his dream. Zoe wants to help her newly released father to fulfill his dream of having his own restaurant. She plans to be his pastry chef and they will hire formerly incarcerated people. The downside is that it’s not that easy to open a restaurant. Will they succeed in their dream?
This story was so good. It had lots of things to love about it. One, it is a story of people of color who have struggled through things that were not their fault, and recovering from that. Marcus represents such a deep example of what a lot of Black men have gone through over the years. I love that he wants to work with formerly incarcerated people, so he can help them. Finally, I love that this is ultimately a father-daughter story. It was also expressed in a way that younger audiences can absorb and understand.
I highly recommend this novel! It is filled with lots of real life experiences that will educate and motivate readers.This is for 12+ readers. It’d be best to read the first novel,
[b:From the Desk of Zoe Washington|45169415|From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1)|Janae Marks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560957404l/45169415._SY75_.jpg|60426059] by [a:Janae Marks|17759336|Janae Marks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1639153732p2/17759336.jpg]
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of On the Air with Zoe Washington from Janae Marks via NetGalley
anxiouslybooked's review
4.0
Two years ago, Zoe Washington (with the help of others) proved that her biological father was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. Now after being released from prison and working to start over, Zoe witnesses first-hand how difficult it can be for someone who was incarcerated, even wrongfully incarcerated, to truly start over. Zoe and her biological father Marcus have a dream of opening a restaurant where Marcus can sell the food he makes, and Zoe can bake and sell desserts. However, when they run into problems such as not being able to secure funding to make this dream a reality, Zoe digs into why this is happening and decides to start a podcast interviewing and sharing exonerees’ experiences after being released from prison. Zoe knows how powerful her voice is when it is, and now she is using it to share these exonerees’ experiences and to hopefully fundraise for her and Marcus' culinary endeavor!
Personal opinion:
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it shined a light on a really important topic! I also think that Marks did a great job sharing this story in a way that is accessible for middle level readers! Those who enjoyed From the Desk of Zoe Washington with undoubtably enjoy this sequel!
Personal opinion:
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it shined a light on a really important topic! I also think that Marks did a great job sharing this story in a way that is accessible for middle level readers! Those who enjoyed From the Desk of Zoe Washington with undoubtably enjoy this sequel!
sbecks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
lt_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
sara_hudson's review
4.0
I loved From the Desk of Zoe Washington, so I was thrilled with the release of the sequel. On Air does a wonderful job of picking up the story of Zoe and Marcus and moving it forward.
Zoe still has her irrepressible spirit, throwing herself into her job at the bakery (with Marcus), a podcast, her baking, and a new friendship. She is also navigating how ti fold Marcus into her family life with the always-spot-on help of her Grandmother. Janae adds a romance story arc with Zoe playing third wheel that is nicely done.
Readers will love hanging out with Zoe again. For me as an adult reader, this installment lacks some of the charm of the first one. Zoe learned her lessons in the first book, so she doesn't make the blunders that make the first book so charming. And, her grandmother plays a much smaller role in this book, and that relationship was so special in the first one. Nevertheless, the story is strong and the characters are a delight.
Zoe still has her irrepressible spirit, throwing herself into her job at the bakery (with Marcus), a podcast, her baking, and a new friendship. She is also navigating how ti fold Marcus into her family life with the always-spot-on help of her Grandmother. Janae adds a romance story arc with Zoe playing third wheel that is nicely done.
Readers will love hanging out with Zoe again. For me as an adult reader, this installment lacks some of the charm of the first one. Zoe learned her lessons in the first book, so she doesn't make the blunders that make the first book so charming. And, her grandmother plays a much smaller role in this book, and that relationship was so special in the first one. Nevertheless, the story is strong and the characters are a delight.