The Comix subscription returns with a hit and a book that brought an established series to my attention, one that I plan to check out soon. In this book, the main character discovers that her unique birthmark – one that she shares with her mother – is more than just a birthmark after she starts transforming into a Bigfoot type creature. I love how Winick combines the absurd with the realities of middle school as well as how something like
this would affect relationships both platonic and familial. (Her best friend is a hoot!) I hope that Winick continues to write in this world.
Farmer did a fantastic job in this middle grade fantasy novel presenting the messiness of grief for a loved one recently passed. I wish I had written this review closer to reading it so I could include more details in their review. Alas, life got in the way. I will still highly recommend this book.
I had much higher hopes for this tangentially related companion sequel to Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Lo included a lot of fantastic topics to discuss but couched it in an extremely messy relationship complete with cheating, newly discovered queerness, and a dubious age gap since the main character only recently turned 18. I will leave the door open for potentially reading Lo’s debut but I will not actively pursue it.
(I do not rate memoirs.)
Um…I did not expect this book to be as crass as it is. If indeed Yajia had a childhood as she described, I do not think that she has truly reckoned with the various traumas of her turbulent childhood. I’m glad that this was as short as it was because it was a painful, not enjoyable read.
I love McBride’s narrative voice. She brings a unique slant to many different types of narratives. With this one, she kept me intrigued throughout the narrative although I felt unsure about the ultimate direction. Then the ending and resolution came so quickly, it felt like whiplash. Although this one did not work as well, I will continue to read from McBride.
This book is heartbreaking and beautiful, an intimate look at the carceral system, how it has hurt so many and the need for radial abolition of the broken system. Although at times I got a little lost in the narrative, Jones kept me engaged and building empathy for the subjects discussed in the book.
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