Way Past Shame by Hallee Adelman
The book Way Past Shame by Hallee Adelman and illustrated by Karen Wall was a book that was not on my radar at first. Recently, I have wanted to read only books that are already out or due soon (just to catch up on my backlog), but I found an early March 2025 reader’s copy of Adelman’s book. At first I didn’t want to read it. The cover was a boy who was just there. It was a bit cartoon-like, but not cartoonish, and the […]
Prunella by Beth Ferry
Along with Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin, the picture book Prunella by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Claire Keane, has given me a new category for books I like: Plants that are Not Your Cute Fluffy Pretty Garden Variety. The surface story is the same with both books: girls who love the spookier, odd, weird, dangers, spiky, thorny plants. They like them so much that they are isolated from their communities and peers. In both cases, the parent(s) encourage this individuality, even if […]
Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga by Rainbow Rowell
Thank you to the person (I have forgotten your name! Sorry!) that said the Fangirl novel by Rainbow Rowell would work for the cbr16bingo Fanfic category! I knew that I could probably read that as it is a young adult and I like young adult reads, so win-win! However, while looking for it, I found that it comes in a manga format as well. I like graphic novels, but manga is not really my go-to choice. But I want to read more manga and this […]
Wacky Witches and Their Peculiar Familiars by April Suddendorf
cbr16bingo Celestial When I hear the word celestial I don’t think of Space or Stars, I think more spiritual, lofty, and Sun. The spiritual does lead to some religious aspects, but also more magical things. Like earth, and mother, and witches. The female theme comes together in a book for young readers/listeners. And while I think of myself as a feminist, I think we can “overdo” that sentiment. This time, we are not getting it pushed too “hard” but it is not lacking. It does […]
A Song for Nolan by Rushie Ellenwood
cbr16bingo Pride (the character is non-binary) This is going to be an unpopular opinion. I did not like A Song for Nolan by Rushie Ellenwood and Sally Chen. Now, let me say I like the theme of a nonbinary child and their friends and this situation they find themselves in, but the execution didn’t exactly work for me. Nolan is a non-binary child doing what any child would do: Getting ready for their friend’s birthday party. Maybe they are a bit more eccentric than some, […]
Match Point! by Maddie Gallegos
Match Point! by Maddie Gallegos is available but I was lucky enough to still have my online reader copy. However, there were a few places where a physical copy would have been welcomed. Things can be a bit crowded, though the images are a nice minimalistic approach, but are still giving you the extras illustrations have to move a story along. The story is familiar, Rosie is a girl who does not like racquetball because of how her father pushes her into it, how he […]
