cosmicbookworm's reviews
309 reviews

4.75 Rounded to 5

Charity Alyse's debut novel, "Other Side of the Tracks," is a remarkable piece of literature that will stay in my heart for a long time. It is a profoundly impactful and hard-hitting novel that delves into the societal constraints endured by three teens in their racially divided towns. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is captivating.

The author skillfully introduces readers to Hamilton and Bayside, a pair of racially divided communities and their inhabitants. Through heartfelt character development, the reader becomes fully invested in the lives of two specific families and their communities as conflict unfolds within and between them.

The loss of a friend to police brutality becomes the catalyst for escalating conflict between Hamilton and Bayside. Charity Alyse is a gifted storyteller. Her ability to evoke empathy makes this book a must-read that will leave a lasting impression.

The believability of a couple of the characters is the only reason I cannot give a full five stars.

Master Slave, Husband Wife is a well-researched work of narrative nonfiction that tells the story of Ellen and William Craft, two enslaved persons who escaped together to the North and then to England, returning again to the States after the Civil War.

The book highlights the Craft's determination to escape slavery and find freedom. With a clever plan and immense courage, they embarked on a treacherous journey to the North, facing constant danger of discovery.

Ellen Craft, who was the daughter of her first owner and able to pass as white, disguised herself as a young, ill white man, while William portrayed her enslaved servant. This disguise allowed them to travel undetected despite the constant threat of exposure.

Once the Crafts reached Boston and Philadelphia, they became a part of the abolitionist speaking circuit. During this part of the book, we learn about others in the abolitionist movement. Having escaped in 1848, Ellen and William were still unsafe once they reached the northern states. The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850. With the Fugitive Slave Act, all Americans, including those in the Northern states, were responsible for catching and returning escaped slaves to their enslavers in the South. We see that racism was still prevalent even among abolitionists.

The remarkable journey of Ellen and William Craft stands as a testament to their unwavering determination and the immense challenges they overcame in their pursuit of freedom. Their ingenious escape plan and courageous journey to the North shed light on the perils faced by enslaved individuals seeking liberation. Moreover, their story raises important questions about the complexities of racism and the varying responses they received based on their physical appearances.

This is an important work that tells an important story. Stories like those in this book must become part of our national narrative.

I am looking forward to having the paperback version of this book as it will be on my shelf as an essential resource in the study of Native American History. 

With a lifetime of experience in Native American Anthropology, Michael Hittman presents us with a summary of Great Basin Indians and then provides information in encyclopedia style. 

As I delved into the advance reading copy (ARC), I must admit that I could not fully retain all the information I desired. References provided give a wealth of bunny trails to go down, and getting through the massive amount of information will not be a short-lived project. It is a book that warrants a re-read.

I plan to revisit this book at a more leisurely pace, taking the time to absorb its content gradually. Once I have thoroughly engaged with its contents, it will become an invaluable reference book that I can turn to time and again. 

Having this book on my shelf will not only enhance my understanding of Native American History but also serve as a gateway to countless intriguing avenues of research.

Hey, Kiddo is a moving memoir about a boy named Jarrett, the son of teenage parents who were unable to be the parents he needed them to be. Raised by his grandparents, who had their own struggles, Jarrett grew up to be a talented graphic artist and author. This was the first graphic novel I have read. I have the ebook version, but will be purchasing the hardback. I'm finding there is a learning curve for graphic novels, so I listened to the audio on Everand. The audiobook is excellent. The author narrates for himself and does a wonderful job.

This is an essential story for middle school and high school students because it brings this message: When you're a kid and a teen, you're not in control of your circumstances. But the beautiful thing about growing up is that you get to create your own reality and your own family. That family might be a group of tight-knit friends, that family might be a spouse and children of your own. But ultimately, your childhood realities do not have to perpetuate themselves into adulthood, not if you don't let them. It for sure takes work."

Unfortunately, this is a book that has faced censorship in Iowa. For clarification, because of incomplete reporting, those who are promoting book bans likely assume that this is an LGBTQ+ story. It is not. Jarrett is a heterosexual young man who now has a family of his own. I bring this up only for clarification. It is important that there are LGBTQ+ books available for our students as well.

I read this book as part of an Instagram discussion group, stepping out of my usual reading preferences. Thrillers are not typically my go-to genre. Although, in looking through the past year, I did read some thrillers. They were all far better than this one. Five (or more) psychopaths for one mystery are a bit much. Some events needed to be more plausible. The final plot twist didn't work. I might not have finished this book if I weren't following an Instagram discussion

I am not an experienced poetry reader, but for the last year or so, I have found myself in a poetry book club with some dear friends. Home is this month's selection. I enjoyed Home. You don't have to be a deep thinker to appreciate it. It is relatable and cathartic, yet sometimes takes me back further in life than I prefer to go.

An enjoyable read with an endearing protagonist that left me rooting for her success.

Miss Adventures is a travel novel written in the first person by Polly Davis. She grew up entitled and unprepared for the real world in Toronto. After a failed work experience, she falls into the trap of a predator boss when she becomes an accountant's assistant. "Because I didn't feel like I was enough unless a man said I was enough."

Attempting to reset her life, Polly flees her workplace and travels to Southeast Asia on an extended travel tour. There are some fun travel descriptions scattered throughout the story. Although the travel part of the story is enjoyable, it is not the novel's main focus. The story focuses more on partying and flirting, which takes up a significant portion of the novel.

On the positive side, Polly becomes more mature throughout the story, and the book contains valuable travel wisdom. "One of the best parts of traveling is learning about other people. Take some time to talk to others to learn about their cultures. You'll find out so many wonderful t

So far, I've liked everything written by Jesse Q Sutanto, but this one didn't appeal to me. It did talk about being afraid to take emotional risks, which is something I understand, but apart from that, I couldn't relate to it. The story was unrealistic and unbelievable. Maybe if it was turned into a sitcom, the satire would work better and be funnier. The way it was written, I couldn't find the humor in it; all I saw was foolishness.