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aylea's reviews
1400 reviews
Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Four twelve-year-old girls experience the difficulties of migration while sharing a common bond of family, poetry, and heritage. First Benvenida and her family have to flee Spain because they are Jewish during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Hundreds of years later in 1923, Reina is sent from Istanbul to live with her aunt in Cuba and later be in an arranged marriage. Reina's daughter, Alegra, becomes a brigadista teaching literacy for Fidel Castro until she has to flee to Miami without her parents. Finally, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, goes on a trip to Spain that will tie her family stories together.
I loved the concept of this book. I love the concepts of heritage and finding the things that you love that have also been important to your ancestors. I love books that talk about groups of people who are marginalized, banished, or otherwise suffer poor treatment and how they manage to keep the things important to them in spite of tragedy and pain. I also love books about Jewish people that aren't centered around the Holocaust because there is so much more to the rich cultural and religious Jewish heritage than that.
I very much appreciated the research and details that went into each of the times of the girls. My favorite part was actually the afterward with resources to learn more about the time periods in the book. I love that these stories are inspired by the writer's own family, and it's clear that this book was written with a lot of love for those elements.
I also appreciate how hopeful the book is in spite of the terrible things that each girl is going for, especially considering how dark the world can seem today. I imagine that this book will be a breath of fresh air and a ray of hope for many readers. The book covers topics like antisemitism, misogyny, death, exile, and arranged marriages but the tone overall is still hopeful, mostly due to the continuing generations of girls finding comfort in songs and heritage.
Unfortunately, although I loved so many aspects of the book's concept, I didn't enjoy reading the book as much as I hoped. There were two reasons for this. First, because we spend such a short time with each girl and the book emphasizes what they have in common, they all seem the same. I couldn't remember their names or how they were different even in the middle of reading the book. The writing style is also, understandably, the same for each girl, which makes it even harder to tell them apart. Because the writing style is somewhat unique and sounds like an individual voice, when it's the same voice for four girls, it made the girls seem less developed to me.
I'm very much a character reader. If I'm not feeling connected to the characters, it's harder for me to engage in a book. Because of the switch in perspectives and the relatively short length of the book, I was losing interest and started skimming through sections toward the end of the book.
However, I do think this is an incredibly important book. With the rise of public and private antisemitism, more parents are trying to find ways to talk to their kids about antisemitism. This book is an age-appropriate and historical look at how anti-semitism has affected generations. It also shows how Jewish people have been able to hold on to their religion and even language and cultural elements like poetry and music in spite of that hate.
I also love that this book covers Latino Sephardic Jewish heritage, something you rarely see in literature but especially literature for young people. Along the way, it also shows these girls developing close ties to people of other races and religious traditions, making the book diverse and inclusive.
Although I didn't love this book personally because of the writing style and the difficulty relating to the multiple POV characters, there is certainly a lot to love about it. I would happily recommend it to young (and older!) readers who want to read about migration from the perspective of young people or people who are interested in family and cultural ties. The hope and connection of these girls through time is a wonderful concept especially when things today can be so uncertain and alarming.
I didn't love this book, but I am certain that many people will. More importantly, this is the kind of book and the kind of stories that help make the world better by showing the things that tie us together across generations, religions, cultures, countries, and races.
I loved the concept of this book. I love the concepts of heritage and finding the things that you love that have also been important to your ancestors. I love books that talk about groups of people who are marginalized, banished, or otherwise suffer poor treatment and how they manage to keep the things important to them in spite of tragedy and pain. I also love books about Jewish people that aren't centered around the Holocaust because there is so much more to the rich cultural and religious Jewish heritage than that.
I very much appreciated the research and details that went into each of the times of the girls. My favorite part was actually the afterward with resources to learn more about the time periods in the book. I love that these stories are inspired by the writer's own family, and it's clear that this book was written with a lot of love for those elements.
I also appreciate how hopeful the book is in spite of the terrible things that each girl is going for, especially considering how dark the world can seem today. I imagine that this book will be a breath of fresh air and a ray of hope for many readers. The book covers topics like antisemitism, misogyny, death, exile, and arranged marriages but the tone overall is still hopeful, mostly due to the continuing generations of girls finding comfort in songs and heritage.
Unfortunately, although I loved so many aspects of the book's concept, I didn't enjoy reading the book as much as I hoped. There were two reasons for this. First, because we spend such a short time with each girl and the book emphasizes what they have in common, they all seem the same. I couldn't remember their names or how they were different even in the middle of reading the book. The writing style is also, understandably, the same for each girl, which makes it even harder to tell them apart. Because the writing style is somewhat unique and sounds like an individual voice, when it's the same voice for four girls, it made the girls seem less developed to me.
I'm very much a character reader. If I'm not feeling connected to the characters, it's harder for me to engage in a book. Because of the switch in perspectives and the relatively short length of the book, I was losing interest and started skimming through sections toward the end of the book.
However, I do think this is an incredibly important book. With the rise of public and private antisemitism, more parents are trying to find ways to talk to their kids about antisemitism. This book is an age-appropriate and historical look at how anti-semitism has affected generations. It also shows how Jewish people have been able to hold on to their religion and even language and cultural elements like poetry and music in spite of that hate.
I also love that this book covers Latino Sephardic Jewish heritage, something you rarely see in literature but especially literature for young people. Along the way, it also shows these girls developing close ties to people of other races and religious traditions, making the book diverse and inclusive.
Although I didn't love this book personally because of the writing style and the difficulty relating to the multiple POV characters, there is certainly a lot to love about it. I would happily recommend it to young (and older!) readers who want to read about migration from the perspective of young people or people who are interested in family and cultural ties. The hope and connection of these girls through time is a wonderful concept especially when things today can be so uncertain and alarming.
I didn't love this book, but I am certain that many people will. More importantly, this is the kind of book and the kind of stories that help make the world better by showing the things that tie us together across generations, religions, cultures, countries, and races.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, War, and Sexism
These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Tabatha Zeng expects to hear and see strange things as the apprentice of one of the world's most famous sorcerers, but she didn't know murder would be one of those things. She is determined to keep the promise she made to Sorcerer Solomon before he is murdered, which means sticking close to his youngest son. But sticking around Callum is tricky when both of them are the top suspects unless they decide to work together to find the killer.
The book takes place in the modern day as if sorcery existed now, which makes for some interesting elements. It allows for normal things like lawyers, police officers, and women's self-defense classes. It also allows us to have a typical snarky teenage main character, which helps the book's tone stay light even with some of the more macabre elements. It allows a lot of the way things function to not need to be explained, but some of the magical elements are put in without a lot of explanation. Why are some parts of magic explained in schools but it still doesn't seem like something that is used widely? It's not essential to enjoying the book, but it does make me wish there were more answers. In a book that's partly based on my world, I like to imagine what it would be like to have those magical elements in my life. It's difficult to do that in this book.
The mix of characters had some delightful and frustrating elements. One of Sorcerer Solomon's sons is supposed to be popular and charming, but Tabatha doesn't seem to approach him any differently in spite of the fact that her inner dialogue suggests she might. I never felt like I got to know him. The paranormal detective also seemed like she should have been more important than she was. Apparently, she's been around investigating this family for years, but most of what we see of her is Tabatha's mom getting Tabatha away from the detective. I also never quite got what Sorcerer Solomon's character was supposed to be like. Yes, he's dead for most of the book, but I couldn't tell what the characters felt about him for most of the book in spite of them all trying to figure out who murdered him. One character who dies later feels so out of place because, on the one hand, she seems really important, but it's never entirely clear what her relationship with Sorcer Solomon and the rest of the family was like. These are some examples of characters lacking just a little more depth that would have made the book soar.
However, some of the character elements are really nice. I thought the relationships between siblings all trying to compete for their parent's attention was nice, and I thought some of the character dynamics of what children growing up around sorcery would be like. I also loved that parents are more involved in this story than is typically common for YA books. I love how protective and still ultimately supportive Tabatha's mom is.
Some other elements are frustrating too. In the end, the true answer to the mystery is never fully revealed. Considering how much of an emotional weight the answer to that question would hold, it's weird and unsatisfying that it's never completely unveiled. I'm also not sure why it was necessary to have a weird quippy comment about Mormon funerals (which would also be obviously incorrect to anyone who has been to a Mormon funeral) to try to make a joke or to use, "I'm gay" as a snarky comeback to accusations of being someone's mistress. Those little details might not have bothered me as much if there weren't also things like the character sighing a truly record-breaking amount of times within a few pages or even the nickname for her being "squishy wizard." Some of the snarkiness worked well, but some of it came off as somewhat amateurish to me, which is a shame considering how much I enjoyed the book otherwise.
In spite of those weaknesses, I enjoyed my experience reading the book. The plot kept me guessing, and there were times when I was shocked or surprised by the turn of events. I thought the mystery was well done overall (except for not revealing a central aspect of it).
The book does contain some light gore elements. Magical murder can still be messy, so keep that in mind if that's something you are sensitive to.
My initial reaction to this book right after reading it was 4 stars, which then lowered to 3 as I thought about it a little more. It's a fun, but sometimes spooky, paranormal murder mystery that fans of things like Knives Out may enjoy. It has just a tiny bit of teen romance, a dash of macabre, and a lot of fun.
The book takes place in the modern day as if sorcery existed now, which makes for some interesting elements. It allows for normal things like lawyers, police officers, and women's self-defense classes. It also allows us to have a typical snarky teenage main character, which helps the book's tone stay light even with some of the more macabre elements. It allows a lot of the way things function to not need to be explained, but some of the magical elements are put in without a lot of explanation. Why are some parts of magic explained in schools but it still doesn't seem like something that is used widely? It's not essential to enjoying the book, but it does make me wish there were more answers. In a book that's partly based on my world, I like to imagine what it would be like to have those magical elements in my life. It's difficult to do that in this book.
The mix of characters had some delightful and frustrating elements. One of Sorcerer Solomon's sons is supposed to be popular and charming, but Tabatha doesn't seem to approach him any differently in spite of the fact that her inner dialogue suggests she might. I never felt like I got to know him. The paranormal detective also seemed like she should have been more important than she was. Apparently, she's been around investigating this family for years, but most of what we see of her is Tabatha's mom getting Tabatha away from the detective. I also never quite got what Sorcerer Solomon's character was supposed to be like. Yes, he's dead for most of the book, but I couldn't tell what the characters felt about him for most of the book in spite of them all trying to figure out who murdered him. One character who dies later feels so out of place because, on the one hand, she seems really important, but it's never entirely clear what her relationship with Sorcer Solomon and the rest of the family was like. These are some examples of characters lacking just a little more depth that would have made the book soar.
However, some of the character elements are really nice. I thought the relationships between siblings all trying to compete for their parent's attention was nice, and I thought some of the character dynamics of what children growing up around sorcery would be like. I also loved that parents are more involved in this story than is typically common for YA books. I love how protective and still ultimately supportive Tabatha's mom is.
Some other elements are frustrating too. In the end, the true answer to the mystery is never fully revealed. Considering how much of an emotional weight the answer to that question would hold, it's weird and unsatisfying that it's never completely unveiled. I'm also not sure why it was necessary to have a weird quippy comment about Mormon funerals (which would also be obviously incorrect to anyone who has been to a Mormon funeral) to try to make a joke or to use, "I'm gay" as a snarky comeback to accusations of being someone's mistress. Those little details might not have bothered me as much if there weren't also things like the character sighing a truly record-breaking amount of times within a few pages or even the nickname for her being "squishy wizard." Some of the snarkiness worked well, but some of it came off as somewhat amateurish to me, which is a shame considering how much I enjoyed the book otherwise.
In spite of those weaknesses, I enjoyed my experience reading the book. The plot kept me guessing, and there were times when I was shocked or surprised by the turn of events. I thought the mystery was well done overall (except for not revealing a central aspect of it).
The book does contain some light gore elements. Magical murder can still be messy, so keep that in mind if that's something you are sensitive to.
My initial reaction to this book right after reading it was 4 stars, which then lowered to 3 as I thought about it a little more. It's a fun, but sometimes spooky, paranormal murder mystery that fans of things like Knives Out may enjoy. It has just a tiny bit of teen romance, a dash of macabre, and a lot of fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Murder, and Violence
The Widely Unknown Myth of Apple & Dorothy by Corey Ann Haydu
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
In a small, special town, the descendants of the Greek gods and mythological figures get to live forever in exchange for a once-a-year visit to Olympus to visit and thank the gods. When Dorothy's mother refuses to go, she dies in an accident soon after. Dorothy and her best friend Apple now have a lot of questions about what it means to be part human, part god, and all grieving. Before the next visit to Olympus, the gods declare that everyone has to decide if they want to return to Olympus to live there or if they want to live human lives. Dorothy never felt like she fit in well as the decedent of Pandora, and without her mother, it's hard to make sense of anything. Her best friend Apple is the decedent of Zeus and Hera and is terrified that maybe Dorothy might make the wrong choice when the time comes.
A major theme of this book is grief. Most of the story involves Dorothy and Apple dealing with grief and change, but as a result, not a lot happens for most of the book. It felt like a strange contrast to the interesting premise about being descendants of gods and mythic heroes. For most of the book, there aren't real goals or actions. When they do happen, the book is almost over, so the action of the book takes place almost all in the last third of the book. I understand that things need to be set up, but it's an odd choice to spend so much time establishing character and grief without action in a middle grade book.
The book does spend a lot of time with character arcs, which are interesting and well developed. Unfortunately, one of the main characters is so much in grief that she doesn't have a lot of agency or spirit. That's understandable for a character who lost a parent, but it doesn't make for a very interesting read in this case. The end gives a nice message about what both girls and the reader are supposed to learn, and the message is very sweet, but it takes forever to get to that sweetness. It's hard to appreciate it with how slow and not very sweet the first half of the book is.
I think the premise of the book is fascinating, but the execution and focus on grief makes it a difficult book to recommend to most middle grade readers. It's not anything like Percy Jackson except for the similar Greek mythological figures, and its slow build with a lot of grief will be hard for a lot of kids to get into. The writing can be really beautiful, and the concepts are interesting.
Overall, I think this is a book that will speak to some people in a special way and for others will fall flat. For me, it fell somewhat flat.
A major theme of this book is grief. Most of the story involves Dorothy and Apple dealing with grief and change, but as a result, not a lot happens for most of the book. It felt like a strange contrast to the interesting premise about being descendants of gods and mythic heroes. For most of the book, there aren't real goals or actions. When they do happen, the book is almost over, so the action of the book takes place almost all in the last third of the book. I understand that things need to be set up, but it's an odd choice to spend so much time establishing character and grief without action in a middle grade book.
The book does spend a lot of time with character arcs, which are interesting and well developed. Unfortunately, one of the main characters is so much in grief that she doesn't have a lot of agency or spirit. That's understandable for a character who lost a parent, but it doesn't make for a very interesting read in this case. The end gives a nice message about what both girls and the reader are supposed to learn, and the message is very sweet, but it takes forever to get to that sweetness. It's hard to appreciate it with how slow and not very sweet the first half of the book is.
I think the premise of the book is fascinating, but the execution and focus on grief makes it a difficult book to recommend to most middle grade readers. It's not anything like Percy Jackson except for the similar Greek mythological figures, and its slow build with a lot of grief will be hard for a lot of kids to get into. The writing can be really beautiful, and the concepts are interesting.
Overall, I think this is a book that will speak to some people in a special way and for others will fall flat. For me, it fell somewhat flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent