Tumgik
#teen book review
cheshirelibrary · 1 year
Text
One Book, Two Readers - Teens Review "It Ends With Us"
https://cheshirelibraryblog.com/2022/12/06/one-book-two-readers-teens-review-it-ends-with-us/
Teens: did you know that you can earn community service credit for writing a book review and submitting it to us? Today, we’ll hear from two teens who did just that, and get their takes on the same book. Find out more about how to earn community service hours from home at cheshirelibrary.org/teens/.
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. Reviewed by Anja J.
This book had me in actual tears by the end of it, and I finished it in less than 2 days. Colleen Hoover did an outstanding job at portraying the hard-to-hear truths of domestic violence in this book. The story outlines the childhood of Lily Bloom living and growing up in an unstable household, with a father that got angry at her mother very easily. At the same time, she falls in love with a boy, Atlas, with whom she found refuge and comfort. The two, however, part ways.
Everything is written so personally and eloquently that it is like you are literally in Lily’s shoes and experiencing everything firsthand. This book has recently gained a lot of popularity, and it is justifiable, as it truly lives up to all of the hype.
5 stars.
Tumblr media
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. Reviewed by Jocelyn C.
Lily Bloom grew up in a traumatizing household. She never had it the same as some of her classmates and friends. When she meets a handsome neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincade, her whole life is turned around. She falls in love with him. As Lily navigates through her crazy and wild ride of a relationship with Ryle, thoughts of Atlas Corrigan come back to haunt her. Atlas was her first love.
When Atlas all of a sudden reappeared back in her life 15 years later, Lily and Ryle’s entire relationship is jeopardized. He was a link to her past that she didn’t want to remember. Colleen Hoover conveys an excellent novel of love and heartbreak that jump started a new groundbreaking career for her.
5 stars
Read the full reviews at cheshirelibrary blog.com.
3 notes · View notes
Text
BOOK REVIEW: PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF
Tumblr media
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan  Fantasy and adventure  Number of pages: 416 Rating: 5 - Amazing - one of the best books I've read Spotify Playlist, curated by reviewer, inspired by this book Reviewed by: Anonymous
Percy Jackson is a halfblood. His father is Poseidon and he possesses powers. He goes to a camp for people like him to hone their skills in and meets Grover and Annabeth. Everything is good until a camper named Luke steals a Poseidon lightning bolt. The gods are angered and war might wage. Percy and his friends must get Poseidon's Lightning bolt back before it is too late.
Percy Jackson is a great book if you are looking for an action packed adventure. There is never a dull moment in the book and you find yourself rooting for Percy every step of the way. Percy and his new friends have a great connection. Grover is the comic relief and keeps things from not getting too serious. Anabeth and Percy have a great dynamic and are a great team. The overall plot of the book is great. The gods of which created  the population of the camp are angered by their very offspring. They are not happy and are teetering on a war that the world could not handle. Percy and his team leave the camp and experience the real world and how scary it can really be. It is much like in real life how if you anger your parents you must make amends. Like parents, the gods have complete power and control over their kids. 
Percy Jackson is a great coming of age book. It discusses many real life experiences that you may not have experienced yet. Percy and his friends venture into the real world alone and in many ways this is a greater challenge than the actual task in hand. The antagonist in the book is Luke. The son of Hermes. Luke has a hatred of the gods. He thinks that he is just a puppet and that the gods could throw him away if they like. So he wants to get rid of the gods by starting a war. Luke is much like a rebellious son. He does not think his parents respect him and because of this he is acting out. Camp Halfblood is a great factor of the story. Much like Harry Potter, Percy is brought into a whole new world of people just like him, and because of this he feels like Camp Halfblood is his new and true home.
More about the playlist:
Electric love (borns)  Electric love fits the theme of the title lightning thief
As it was (Harry styles) The main chorus is you no it's not the same as it was. This is very true when percy finds out he is a demigod
Your welcome (the rock) Your welcome is sung by a character who is a demi god and percy jackson is a demi god too.
Welcome to your life (group love) The song is about living a new life and percy’s whole life has changed.
Teenager blue (dreamgirl) Percy's mom always made blue food because his father was Poseidon
Heroes (David Bowie)- A song about being a hero, and Percy Jackson saves the day and is a true hero.
Out of my league (Fitz and the Tantrums)- Percy always has a crush on Annabeth and she is out of his league because she is his perfect girl.
Bad reputation (Joan Jett)- Percy continuously gets kicked out of school and racks up a bad reputation.
Someone to watch over me(blossom dearie)-His dad is always watching over and rooting for Percy
The youth (MGMT) - All of the demigods are kids and they are charged with saving the world. 
2 notes · View notes
octobersbookblog · 8 months
Text
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Tumblr media
Genre: Realistic fiction
Target Age Group: Ages 13 - 17
Summary:
Starr Carter is a sixteen year old girl navigating two worlds: the uptight and preppy suburban school she attends and the poor neighborhood where she lives. Her already complicated world explodes one day when she witnesses a police officer murder her childhood best friend Khalil. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, The Hate U Give is Starr's story of resiliency and truth as she grapples with standing up for her community and doing the right thing in the face of so much danger.
Justification:
I chose this book because Black Lives Matter and the movement to end police violence against Black people and mass incarceration is one of the largest humanitarian crises of our time. Teens are well aware of this issue and this hotly debated book in particular, so I thought it was important that I read it. The book is actually banned locally in a school district near me so in the discussion of book bannings it stuck out to me as an important read.
Evaluation:
Setting:
I thought that the settings in the book were so well described and did a great job of immersing the reader in Starr's world. In fact, the author manages to create a very tangible divide between Starr's home neighborhood and the overly white and oppressive school that she attends. Certain locations such as Starr's father's store, the streets where she and her friends meet, and the school are described in a way that makes them feel like you could draw a map of her town just from memory.
Tone:
The Hate U Give balances comedic and serious tones very well. I felt that there were plenty of breaks from the tragedy and heartbreak that Starr feels in order to make the story feel more real. Life for Starr goes on in the face of all that happens with Khalil and the news media and other students, and she spends time with her family and friends and plays basketball and listens to music as she tries to deal with her situation. This gives the book a tone of realness.
Character:
I thought that the side characters in The Hate U Give really stood out, particularly Starr's friends at school. The girls in her friend group not "getting" why she's so angry about racism is very realistic and shows the reader what creates that friction between friends as their ideas and beliefs develop and change. I also really enjoyed the characterization of Starr's parents, especially her father. He is far from perfect and prone to judgement or sudden outbursts, but it is clear that he means well and is simply emotional about protecting his daughter. Starr herself is an incredibly nuanced character, and we feel her fear and determination in spite of her situation throughout the book.
References:
Thomas, A. (2017). The hate U give. Balzer + Bray.
0 notes
dkafterdark · 1 month
Text
Tumblr media
*I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Image & summary from Goodreads*
London, 1812 . Oliver Bennet feels trapped—not just by the endless corsets, petticoats, and skirts he's forced to wear on a daily basis, but also by society's expectations. The world, and the vast majority of his family and friends, think Oliver is a girl named Elizabeth. He is therefore expected to mingle at balls wearing a pretty dress, entertain suitors regardless of his interest in them, and ultimately become someone's wife. But Oliver can't bear the thought of such a fate. He finds solace in the few times he can sneak out of his family's home and explore the city rightfully dressed as a young gentleman. It's during one such excursion when Oliver becomes acquainted with Darcy, a sulky young man who had been rude to "Elizabeth" at a recent social function. But in the comfort of being out of the public eye, Oliver comes to find that Darcy is actually a sweet, intelligent boy with a warm heart, not to mention attractive. As Oliver spends more time as his true self, often with Darcy, part of him dares to hope that his dream of love and life as a man can be possible. But suitors are growing bolder―and even threatening―and his mother is growing more desperate to see him settled into an engagement. Oliver will have to choose: settle for safety, security, and a life of pretending to be something he's not, or risk it all for a slim chance at freedom, love, and a life that can be truly his own.
I loved this! I've always enjoyed the story of Pride and Prejudice - and its film adaptations and reimaginings - so I was curious to see how the story would be remixed with the main character as a trans man. Personally, as a nonbinary person, this felt like the fluffiest wish fulfillment! Not only does Oliver Bennet have friends and allies who know his truth and support him, but he also easily passes when going out in public as his true self. It's during one of these outings that he's befriended by Darcy and Bingley, and forms an budding friendship with Darcy. Here it gets a bit Shakespearean, as Oliver is forced to hide his truth when later confronting Darcy as "Elizabeth." While the story stays mostly the same, many of the characters are queer - and younger - and it's interesting to see how motivations are shifted to suit the new spin on the story. (Yes, Wickham is still a villain!) All in all, I thought it was heartwarming and sweet! I've read many different takes on this story - from zombies to murder mysteries - but this is by far my favorite.
OUT NOW!
186 notes · View notes
quirkycatsfatstacks · 9 months
Text
Review: Unbreakable by Mira Grant
Author: Mira Grant (Seanan McGuire)Publisher: Subterranean PressReleased: March 31, 2023Received: Own Book Summary: Unbreakable Starlight was one of many groups of girl warriors tasked with defending the planet. Unfortunately, their name was not quite accurate, as most of the group fell – alongside every other warrior. Only two survived the massacre. Piper and Yuina. Now the government has…
Tumblr media
View On WordPress
153 notes · View notes
jasminewalkerauthor · 17 days
Text
Trope talks: Mary sue vs not like other girls
Tumblr media
In the intricate landscape of storytelling, character archetypes play a pivotal role in shaping narratives and reflecting societal norms. Two such tropes, the 'Mary Sue' and the 'Not Like Other Girls' archetype, have left an indelible mark on how women are portrayed in media. This exploration delves into the rise, fall, and societal implications of these tropes, drawing connections to feminist discourse and the evolution of women's representation in popular culture.
The 'Mary Sue' trope originated in fan fiction, characterizing an idealized and often flawless female character who becomes a focal point, overshadowing the narrative. Originally coined as a parody, the term found its way into mainstream discussions as a critique of poorly developed and overly perfect female characters.
The 'Mary Sue' trope has faced criticism for perpetuating unrealistic standards for female characters. These characters often lack depth and complexity, overshadowing other narrative elements. The trope can contribute to a limited and one-dimensional representation of women in media, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and expectations.
The prevalence of 'Mary Sue' characters has influenced audience expectations and perceptions of female protagonists. As audiences demand more authentic and relatable representations of women, media creators have faced the challenge of redefining female characters beyond the constraints of perfection.
Contrastingly, the 'Not Like Other Girls' archetype emerged as a response to traditional feminine stereotypes. Characters embodying this trope often distance themselves from stereotypically feminine qualities, emphasizing their uniqueness and independence. While intended as a form of empowerment, it can inadvertently perpetuate the devaluation of traditionally feminine traits.
The 'Not Like Other Girls' trope risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes about femininity by implying that conforming to certain standards makes one inferior. This undermines the diversity of female experiences and reinforces a binary view of femininity, pitting 'special' women against those who adhere to more traditional roles.
Feminist discourse has played a crucial role in challenging and deconstructing these tropes. The call for diverse and authentic representations of women in media has led to a reevaluation of character development, pushing creators to move beyond simplistic and limiting portrayals.
The evolution of women's portrayal in media reflects changing societal attitudes. Audiences increasingly demand nuanced and authentic characters who break free from restrictive tropes. The recognition of the limitations posed by the 'Mary Sue' and 'Not Like Other Girls' archetypes signals a broader cultural shift towards more inclusive and empowering narratives for women.
As we navigate the complexities of storytelling, the rise and fall of the 'Mary Sue' and 'Not Like Other Girls' tropes stand as milestones in the ongoing evolution of women's representation in media. The pitfalls of these archetypes underscore the importance of nuanced and diverse portrayals that reflect the multifaceted nature of women's experiences. In the realm of feminist discourse, the journey towards more authentic narratives continues, shaping the future of storytelling and challenging the narratives that have limited the potential of female characters for far too long.
25 notes · View notes
clearcloudlesssky · 6 months
Text
GOD I NEED SOMEONE WHOS READ CRIME&PUNISHMENT AND PERFUME TO TALK TO ME
especially about raskolnikov vs grenouille like there's so many comparisons to make and i'm not eloquent enough to spit all of them out
like from the very beginning of c&p raskolnikov is almost uncomfortably human? he tries his best to isolate himself and alienate himself but in the end he's dragged back by a sense of humanity (via sonia?) and that's what redeems him
but on the other hand grenouille is characterized by his inhumanity, from the very beginning he feels anything but, even when he mingles with others (the scene where he goes into town wearing his 'human' scent for the first time) he feels like a wolf in sheeps clothing, and the fleece he's wearing only makes him look more wolfish
OK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS: raskolnikov is obsessed with the idea of the extraordinary man, the superman, the napoleon. he commits the murder to find out if he is one of those supermen, and when confronted by the evidence that he isn't and probably will never be, his pride prevents him from acknowledging it.
whereas raskolnikov seeks a napoleon or a superman, grenouille almost unconsciously becomes/is one. where raskolnikov must actively seek to challenge and test his theory, grenouille carries it out with essentially no remorse, constantly (unknowingly and uncaringly) taking advantage of the law with absolutely no punishment or repercussion, and eventually becoming the said "napoleon" that raskolnikov may have hoped to become
imo raskolnikov is a man who hoped to become a napoleon, but was redeemed by the fact and realization that he was not. grenouille was a man not even aware of said 'napoleon', but became one of his own admission, transgressing the law as raskolnikov stated that he would have had the right to do, and creating a sense of godliness and greatness. BUT he also proves that raskolnikov's extraordinary man isn't really something to pursue, he feels nothing when he openly becomes a conquerer, rather that is the point where he feels the most empty. i think that that sort of idea is also shown in c&p? raskolnikov almost destroys himself in his pursuit of the extraordinary man, and grenouille shows that the extraordinary man is not such an extraordinary after all. i'm unsure about the thoughts here though haha. i want to come up with some binding statement, but i feel like saying "extraordinary man bad" isn't a good expression of my thoughts (there's also raskolnikov's dream at the end of the novel which connects to the topic but i don't wanna talk about what i've mostly forgotten)
so moving forward
raskolnikov's reasons for murdering alyona ivanovna were totally rational. the reasoning "she was useless/did more harm than good, therefore i can kill her" was coldly logical, and is a awesome representation of how necessary the balance of logic and emotion is (sort of like science? it's a sense of just because you can doesn't mean you should, and the main thing overpowering the "can" is morals and emotion, which combats that cold rationality of the "can")
grenouille's reasons for murdering are very passionate, the first time he kills isn't premeditated at all, he finds a scent he likes, and in a fit of pleasure hunts it down and absorbs it. he's a representative of the opposite end of the spectrum. where raskolnikov represents the evildoing of relying solely on logic, grenouille is the wickedness of only following your emotion, which can definitely also be harmful, maybe even more so
when raskolnikov commits his murder, he's totally overcome by a near masochistic need for redemption (or you can just say he becomes more unhinged/mentally unstable than he already was)
when grenouille kills for the first time he has no such feelings or thoughts, it just happens and he all but forgets about it, and even goes on to repeat the action. he shows absolutely no remorse and given the chance he's definitely kill the first girl again (raskolnikov would not. i'm sort of of the opinion he doesn't feel guilt for killing alyona herself, but he feels remorse for the crime in general and probably lizaveta idk i'll talk about it later maybe)
Raskolnikov's sense of humanity and togetherness? is brought back into him via Sonia&co, and basically the majority of the book is his punishment/start of regeneration. Grenouille is alone from the very beginning, he has absolutely no one and he never gets that redemption. (i loved the ending of perfume so much)
there's a little bit more in my head and this was super scattered and random but i can't persuade anyone else ik to read both of these and talk to me about it and my english teacher scares me so this is the best i can do - please feel free to debate me or say more!!
47 notes · View notes
kbkirtley · 4 months
Text
Tumblr media
Teen Titans - Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo
Doing a top-3 of the year for Graphic Novels because all my favorites were series this year. Coming in third was the Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo Teen Titans series!
I was hooked from Raven and each book that followed just kept getting better. With longtime favorites like Raven, Gar, Damian and Dick; new faces like Max; and an iconic Teen Titans villain like Slade, the series has done a masterful job of setting up its own stand-alone world that’s still true to the characters I’ve always loved.
With HBO’s Titans ending, Young Justice seemingly dead, and no announced plans for more Teen Titans main universe programming, this standalone series has been a delight.
Very excited that Starfire is coming in summer 2024 and would be surprised if it didn’t make my 2024 end of year list.
42 notes · View notes
aroaessidhe · 1 year
Photo
Tumblr media
2023 reads // twitter thread    
The Art of Prophecy
Wuxia inspired epic fantasy
about a spoiled prophesied chosen one who’s never been in a real battle
the greatest war artist of her generation takes things into her own hands and decides to train him, but things go wrong and they both have to go on the run
martial arts, bounty hunters & assassins, some steampunk vibes, mentor relationships
no romance!
this is so fun and funny I loved it.  the MCs three awesome baddass women and one pathetic teen boy and i love them all
70 notes · View notes
rustandruin · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media
Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo
Thursday, 23 March 2023
I didn’t think I could love Dick Grayson any more than I could, but then I encountered Garcia and Picolo’s version of him and oh boy am I back in my feelings.
I fucking love that DC has decided to do a YA take on so many of its characters, but the Teen Titans series lends itself to this best — maybe because they are teenagers themselves and because their story lends itself best to a certain kind of serialisation.
Garcia’s writing has been most confident while unpacking each of these characters’ backstory and exploring their conflicts and emotions. But the real star of all of these is Gabriel Picolo’s absolutely dynamic art which captures their many facets and personalities and makes them feel like flawed but winsome teens just doing their best in the situations they find themselves in.
Their clothes are cool. The colouring is lush. Their poses constantly exemplify how full of life and energy they are and it only propels their stories forward.
The conflict for this story was interesting as it was Damian feeling jealous of Dick, the son Bruce seemingly wanted and actively “chose” in contrast to his own situation. To their credit, Dick was more than eager to form a relationship, while Damian was understandably stubborn about the whole thing. In any case it was a ton of fun and felt like an adventure and has me rooting for Starfire to join the crew and for her future romance with Dick — especially since all the other relationships in the series are so sweet.
Ugh. Waiting is going to be torture.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
64 notes · View notes
mantimae · 22 days
Text
Tumblr media
I wanna take a sec to talk about Lucky Penny.
If you haven’t been lucky enough to have heard of Lucky Penny before now: it is my favorite graphic novel. It has been since junior year of High-school. I am now a senior in my final semester in college (and accounting for my Covid style gap year) Lucky Penny has been my #1 fave graphic novel for six years and counting.
It’s funny, it’s raunchy, the characters feel real, the story is well paced and takes some very fun and unexpected twists! However, the story and art aren’t the only reason I love Lucky Penny. I originally found Yuko Ota and Ananth Hirsh via their autobiographical book of daily life comics Johnny Wander: Our Cats Are More Famous Than Us, which I had picked up from the local library and was absolutely thrilled to find out was a webcomic that at the time was still actively updating. On their website (linked here!) you can actually read Lucky Penny and their Autobiographical comics completely for free as well as their current (still updating) work, Barbarous.
For me Lucky Penny acts as a bridge and a love letter to middle school me, who avidly read webcomics on solo hosting sights, many of which have been lost to time or have simply stopped updating. Self published webcomics outside of companies like Tapas (formerly Tapastic) and LINE Webtoon have ensured that solo host websites are far and few in between and routinely get looked over. Despite existing in the face of these big companies Johnny Wander lives on.
Lucky Penny is like warm soup. It’s comforting and every read feels different depending on where I am emotionally and just in my life in general. You can find Lucky Penny free to read on Johnny Wander here and even grab a physical copy for yourself here if you prefer paper. Updates on Yuko Ota and Ananth Hirsh’s current work and activities can be found on their respective tumblrs @aidosaur and @ananthhirsh
If you choose to read Lucky Penny I hope you love it. I’m sure you will. :)
8 notes · View notes
foxyfablesblog · 9 months
Photo
Tumblr media
Check out my Book Review: You're Not Supposed To Die Tonight
31 notes · View notes
octobersbookblog · 10 months
Text
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
Tumblr media
Genre: Young adult LGBTQ romance
Target Age Group: Ages 13 - 17
Summary:
After being outed at her last school by her best friend, sixteen-year-old Yami Flores is looking for a new start even if it is at her new almost all white Catholic school where she stands out like a sore thumb. Her plan is to focus on helping her mom with her jewelry business, keeping her brother out of trouble, and pretend to be straight to keep out of trouble. Unfortunately, this gets complicated when she meets the only other openly queer girl at the school named Bo.
Justification:
I chose this book because the romantic drama in the Catholic school setting while dealing with intersectional issues such as racism and homophobia in a YA book seemed like a really good mix of topical issues. The book deals with many issues teens will relate to, especially when it comes to forming your own opinions and point of view about how society works and knowing how to stand up for yourself or against injustice. These factors made the book appear to be a good choice.
Evaluation:
Character:
Characters like Bo and Yami and her brother Cesar will all feel very familiar to teens or anyone who has been a teen. Their headstrong individuality makes them stand out and they are a joy to have appear on the page, which makes the reader want to see them more. Yami's complex personality really shines, especially when she has to weigh her sense of justice and her outspokenness with how to best navigate the ups and downs of high school in a racially biased and homophobic society.
Point of view: The point of view of this book is specific to a lesbian latina teenager, which doesn't mean that anyone else can't relate or enjoy Yami's story but rather that we get to see a unique perspective of someone from those identities. I think this is something really important for queer latine youth reading the book to be able to see themselves represented but also for others who may not personally relate to the experience to be exposed to another persons' life. Mood: I really appreciated the humorous mood throughout the book that made more difficult moments of homophobia and racism that Yami faces easier to balance out. The teen comedy aspect of the book allows Yami and Bo's witty critiques of homophobia and racism stand out and make the message of how these characters think clear.
References:
Reyes, S. (2022). The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. Balzer & Bray.
1 note · View note
dkafterdark · 3 months
Text
Tumblr media
*I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Image & summary from Goodreads*
From the bestselling author of I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, the story of a cupid who thinks they know everything about love... until they fall in love themselves. As a cupid, Jude thinks they understand love a little bit more than the average human. It makes sense -- Jude's been studying love their whole teen life. And, yes, there have been some bumps in the road, and they're currently on probation for doing something that they absolutely, definitely shouldn't have done... but they're ready to prove they can make matches without ever getting involved. Only... Jude's next assignment isn't about setting up two adults. No, this time Jude has to go to high school, with kids their own age. And the assignment is a tough two best friends who are meant to be more than just best friends... but who aren't currently speaking to each other after a huge falling out. Jude thinks they've got this one all under control, and that they won't get involved whatsoever. Which proves that maybe Jude hasn't learned the first lesson of humans and love ... It’s complicated.
This was really cute! I enjoyed the premise of cupids helping humans fall in love, though as the story went on it became clear that the cupids don't think highly of humans. With the exception of Jude. I liked how Jude starts to question not only his feelings and his role in the lives of humans, but the entire system and the way cupids look down on human emotions. I loved the high school setting and the friends that Jude makes. Each character is vibrant and authentic, their personalities and stories practically bubbling up from the pages. The love stories that unfold are sweet, complex, and worthy of their own romcom. This book also feels like a love song for San Francisco - its unique neighborhoods, its melting pot of cultures, and its never ending buffet of foods to try. Overall this is rich and highly enjoyable tale of love in its many facets.
OUT NOW! (Pub date January 2, 2024)
9 notes · View notes
whimsicaldragonette · 2 years
Text
Arc & Audio ARC Review: Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt
Tumblr media
Order
Add to Goodreads
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Synopsis:
What happens in Vegas when an all-asexual online friend group attempts to break into a high-stakes gambling club? Shenanigans ensue. Some people join chess club, some people play football. Jack Shannon runs a secret blackjack ring in his private school’s basement. What else is the son of a Las Vegas casino mogul supposed to do? Everything starts falling apart when Jack’s mom is arrested for their family’s ties to organized crime. His sister Beth thinks this is the Shannon family’s chance to finally go straight, but Jack knows that something’s not right. His mom was sold out, and he knows by who. Peter Carlevaro: rival casino owner and jilted lover. Gross. Jack hatches a plan to find out what Carlevaro’s holding over his mom’s head, but he can’t do it alone. He recruits his closest friends—the asexual support group he met through fandom forums. Now all he has to do is infiltrate a high-stakes gambling club and dodge dark family secrets, while hopelessly navigating what it means to be in love while asexual. Easy, right?
My Rating: ★★★★★
*My Review below the cut.
My Review:
This was so much fun! I was drawn into the story immediately and immediately sympathetic to the main character. He was sarcastic, self-deprecating, funny, and a very believable teenager -- some of my favorite things in a protagonist. He made a lot of very realistic, very bad decisions, especially early on when he felt like he was alone and his world was falling apart. Sometimes he even knew they were bad decisions and he still made them. He was a very realistic teenager, in other words. I LOVE that the entire crew he pulls together for his heist are ace. It's such a fun detail, and so relatable - not having friends in your immediate surroundings but connecting with people all over the country on fanfiction forums and then forming a chat support group for ace people? Definitely felt familiar, which drew me in even more. I almost felt like I was a member of the group and in on their shenanigans. The heist itself sometimes took a backseat to the family and friend group drama, but I'm ok with that. There was still plenty of heist action there, but I was there for the character interactions anyway as I generally prefer character driven to plot driven stories. I love love loved the characters. They were all such individuals, with unique characteristics and mannerisms that didn't feel forced at all. They felt like real people you might find anywhere. Well, they felt like real teenagers that you might meet at the outskirts of the school social scene, which is where I've always been the most comfortable. In short - I wanted to be their friend too. They were very obviously my people. I like how the 'being ace' aspect was handled, as well as the tentative love story. It was sweet and realistic and believable... and familiar. Aside from the whole heist thing, it could have been me and my friends in high school and college. That sense of familiarity, of belonging, made me love this book 1000x more than I would have based solely on the plot. Obviously not everyone is going to feel this sentimental about the book and characters, but I think a lot of people will really see themselves here and feel seen. Las Vegas was an excellent choice of setting because the glitter and glamour made an excellent contrast to the seriousness of the beginning and then an excellent background and distraction during the plotting and executing of the heist itself. I've never been to Las Vegas, but after reading this I feel like I was there. The descriptions didn't ever try to take over the story like in some books, but I still felt like everything was very grounded in a specific place and could even almost see it playing out in my head. in fact I did see it that way - I have very specific visual memories of events in the book. It was like watching a movie. Ocean's 11, but with teenagers. The audiobook was narrated flawlessly and I love the narrator and the choices he made for the different voices and the way he told the story. Just perfect all around. I bumped the speed up to 2x because he spoke a little slowly for my taste - many people do - and it was still perfectly clear and easy to understand and all the emotion came through easily. *Thanks to NetGalley, Peachtree Teen, and Recorded Books for providing an e-arc and audio arc for review.
92 notes · View notes
dragonomatopoeia · 8 months
Text
recipe to put youtube algorithm in a microwave:
teen wolf video essay
comparative cultural studies lecture on exorcism in different religious contexts
hour and a half review of a disney cruise
comprehensive breakdown of a historical maritime disaster
another teen wolf video essay
foldingideas line go up
urban exploration video of a sewer
another urban exploration video of a sewer
yet another urban exploration video of a sewer
archival conservation lecture series on film
Architect Explains Why American Diners Look Like That
another teen wolf video essay
18 notes · View notes