Every Heart A Doorway

Every Heart a Doorway

by Seanan McGuire
Narrated by Cynthia Hopkins
Released 5 April 2016
Listening length 4 hours, 44 minutes
My review: 3 out of 5 stars

Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions - slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere...else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she's back. The things she's experienced...they change a person. The children under Miss West's care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world. But Nancy's arrival marks a change at the home. There's a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it's up to Nancy and her newfound schoolmates to get to the heart of things. No matter the cost.

I thought this book was just strange. The premise was really good, something different that I thought I would really enjoy. Even the murders of students didn't deter me from my enjoyment of the book. What killed it for me was the ending. The choice the main character makes. I wish it was another one... I guess it makes for a finality of this storyline, but I am left wanting more and there won't be any...

The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles

By Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Listening length: 11 hours, 15 minutes
My review: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The legend begins...

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles’ mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

Built on the groundwork of the Iliad, Madeline Miller’s page-turning, profoundly moving, and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic Trojan War marks the launch of a dazzling career.

While I liked this story, the end felt so rushed. For such a long book, I was just a little disappointed. It felt like you worked all the way up to this great climax of the story only to have it stop before I could really appreciate what was going on... Overall though, it was a beautiful story of love. With lots of appearances by the Greek Gods. It was a good listen.

In the Lives of Puppets

In the Lives of Puppets

by TJ Klune
Narrated by Daniel Henning
Release date: 25 April 2023
My review: 4.5 out of 5 stars

"[Narrator] Daniel Henning revels in a cornucopia of characters, diving into nuanced voices and colorful moments with accents and growls, tone shifts and whispers...This is definitely a title for those who enjoy fantasy stories replete with gnomes and witches and all in between."—AudioFile on The House in the Cerulean Sea

New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

Most Anticipated from BookPage Goodreads The Nerd Daily Paste Magazine LitReactor OverDrive LGBTQ Reads Tor.com more

“An enchanting tale of Pinocchio in the end times.”—P. Djèlí Clark

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Inspired by Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio, and like Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful stand-alone fantasy adventure from the beloved author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.

★ “An epic quest of rescue and discovery [with] the author’s trademark charm, heart, and bittersweetness.”—Library Journal, starred review

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

Although I recieved a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian audio for the opportunity to listen to this one!

After reading a couple of Klune's other books, I read the description on this one and knew I would have to read it. Klune has a way of writing about the relationships between the characters that I am drawn to. I love it. This one was no different. A boy lives in the woods with his papa and two "robots." When one day he finds a new android to repair, their lives are forever changed. But is it a good thing? I really loved this one. Going on my "to buy" shelf for sure

Becoming a Queen

Becoming a Queen

By: Dan Clay

Narrated by the author
Published on: April 25, 2023

Listening length: 10 hours and 41 minutes 
My review: 4 out of 5 stars
Read date: May 5, 2023

If only Mark Davis hadn’t put on a dress for the talent show. It was a joke—other guys did it too—but when his boyfriend saw Mark in that dress, everything changed.

And now, fresh on the heels of high school heartbreak, Mark has given up on love. Maybe some people are just too much for this world—too weird, too wild, too feminine, too everything. Thankfully, his older brother Eric always knows what to say to keep Mark from spinning into self-loathing. "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.”

But Mark starts to notice signs that his perfect older brother has problems of his own.

When the source of Mark’s strength suddenly becomes the source of his greatest pain, the path back to happiness seems impossible. Searching for a way out, Mark slips into a dress to just, briefly, become someone else, live a different life. His escape, however, becomes an unexpected outlet for his pain—a path to authentic connection, and a provocation to finally see other people as fully as he wants to be seen.

While I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Even at 50% of the way through, this book wasn't what I was expecting. I loved every emotional word I listened to. Hearing how Mark coped with his grief, how he found himself in drag, it was simply beautiful. I also really loved the realness of it. I could see my parents reacting like his... It really was a journey of a book. Anyone who has delt with a sudden loss will feel parts of this book so deeply. This is read by the author so I loved that!

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor 

By Bianca Marais
Release date: August 23, 2022
Listening length: 10 hours, 47 minutes
My review: 4 stars out of 5
Read date: May 1, 2023

A coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist-gone-wrong. A looming threat.

Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.

But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.

The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.

Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.

The opening sentence of the description of this book had me hooked " Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor." Each of the witches has such a personality that you can find one that you want to grow up to be! I loved the intermixed grimoire pages that told showed some of the ladies' recipes including "making your own wand" and as out there as "making your own lube" It had me laughing out loud. Each one of the ladies can be found in any community. A reminder to find your own family and stick with them.

Pride and Joy

Pride and Joy: A Story About Becoming an LGBTQIA+ Ally

By Frank Sileo, Kate Lum-Potvin
Illustrated by: Emmi Smid
Foreword by: Vanessa Williams
Reading age: 3 and up

Reading length: 48 pages 
Release date: May 18, 2023

Joy loves her big brother, Noah. He's the best brother, skateboarder and cookie baker there is! So, when Noah is teased for being gay, Joy wants to help. But how?

Joy decides to become an ally - someone who supports others through their words and actions. With her best friend, Elliott, Joy takes action, baking 'Pride and Joy' cookies to raise money for the local LGBTQIA+ center. But when the bully tries to put an end to the bake sale, Joy learns that being an ally means using your words, too.

Written by an award-winning author team, and with charming illustrations throughout, Pride and Joy introduces children to LGBTQIA+ allyship and teaches them the value of inclusion and courage. Featuring a reading guide for adults and questions for discussion, this beautiful, uplifting picture book is a must-have for every young ally.

When Joy sees her brother become victim to a bully, she decides to take action and raise money for the local LGBTQIA+ center. When that same bully tries to end the bake sale, Joy learns that being an ally doesn't mean just raising money for the cause, it means standing up for what's right, even when its scary. 

This book puts being an ally into simple terms for children to understand. It made it easier for me to understand. Plus, in the back of the book, there are several notes to grown up allies. That's not the only bonus in this book there are also discussion questions and a few more books to put on your "to read" list. 

I love this book not only for the message but for the bright illustrations. Wish I could have had one of Joy's beautiful cookies. Guess my girls and I will just have to make some of our own! 

Gender Queer: A Memoir

Gender Queer: A Memoir

Written and illustrated by: Maia Kobabe

Print length: 240 pages

Publication date: May 28, 2019

My review: not rated 

In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears.
Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

"It’s also a great resource for those who identify as nonbinary or asexual as well as for those who know someone who identifies that way and wish to better understand." — SLJ (starred review)


I don't feel comfortable giving someone's memoir about their journey a star rating, so I will just leave it at my personal review. Content warnings taken from common sense media: "Explicit but not erotic illustrations of sexual activity include masturbation, oral sex, sex toys, kissing in an implied sex position, erections, and a fantasy image of a man holding another's penis. There are no violent acts, but there are a few bloody, nightmarish pictures showing fear and trauma surrounding menstruation and getting a Pap smear. Strong language includes "d—k," "c—k," "f—k," and "s—t."

I found this to be a very informative book about one person's journey to find themselves. Kobabe was candid about both eir gender and sexuality. I can see why some parents would want this book banned in schools, but that is the exact reason this book should be available to anyone. 

Can you imagine if this book had been available when Kobabe was young, how it could have helped them to understand a little bit more about their gender and sexual identity. 

The drawings and way that Kobabe illustrated eir thought process in this book was just perfect. I wish there was a way to capture and share them with my family. It would be an easier way to share about gender identity that I wouldn't have thought of before. 

Parents need to be aware of what is in the book and know what is appropriate for their child to read. My 13-year-old has read this book and we were able to have candid discussions about sex and gender as well as sexual identity after reading. I feel more educated after reading this book and feel it is something that should never be removed from a school library.

Infamous

Infamous: A Novel

By: Lex Croucher

Narrated by: Ellie Kendrick

Listening length: 10 hours, 55 minutes

Release date: March 21, 2023

My review: 3.5 out of 5 stars

22-year-old aspiring writer Edith 'Eddie' Miller and her best friend Rose have always done everything together-climbing trees, throwing grapes at boys, sneaking bottles of wine, practicing kissing . . . Now that they're out in society, Rose is suddenly talking about marriage, and Eddie is horrified. When Eddie meets charming, renowned poet - and rival to Lord Byron - Nash Nicholson, he invites her to his crumbling Gothic estate in the countryside. The entourage of eccentric artists indulging in pure hedonism is exactly what Eddie needs in order to finish her novel and make a name for herself. But Eddie might discover that trying to keep up with the literati isn't all poems and pleasure...

Although I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian audio for the opportunity to listen to this novel.
This book isn't exactly what I thought it was at the beginning. It wasn't even what I thought it was at the middle, but by the end, it didn't matter what it was, I loved it. The only reason this book didn't get more stars from me is that it seemed a bit longer then necessary. I felt like there was quite a lot of "fluff" in the story that didn't add much to the actual plot. The characters were funny and relatable (as much as they could be for the time-period related to ours). By far my favorite part was the ending. I felt it wrapped all things up quite nicely.

The narrator was nice to listen to and didn't try to give too many "voices" to the different characters. I would definitely listen to another book with her narrating again.

Small Game

Small Game

By Blair Braverman
Narrated by Kristen Sieh
Published November 1, 2022
Listening length: 7 hours 5 minutes
My review: 4 out of 5 stars

Read for my March 2023 Reading challenge, prompt 2: a green book. The color green or the word green. I picked a book that was almost entirely green! 

A gripping debut novel about a survival reality show gone wrong that leaves a group of strangers stranded in the northern wilds

Four strangers and six weeks: This is all that separates Mara from one life-changing payday. She was surprised when reality TV producers came knocking at Primal Instinct—the survival school where she teaches rich clients not to die during a night outdoors—and even more shocked to be cast in their new show, Civilization. Now she just has to live off the land with her fellow survivors for long enough to get the prize money.

Whisked by helicopter to an undisclosed location, Mara meets her teammates: The grizzled outdoorsman. The Eagle Scout. The white-collar professional. And Ashley, the beautiful but inexperienced one who just wants to be famous. Mara’s unusual, rugged childhood has prepared her for the discomforts and hard work ahead. But trusting her fellow survivors? Not part of Mara’s skill set.

When the cast wakes one morning to find something has gone horribly wrong, fear ripples through the group. Are the producers giving them an extra challenge? Or are they wrapped up in something more dangerous? Soon Mara and the others face terrifying decisions as “survival” becomes more than a game.

A provocative exploration of the comforts, rituals, and connections we depend upon, Small Game is a gripping thriller and a poignant story about finding the courage to build a new life from the ground up.

Freaking crazy book. 

This was a new concept for me so it was interesting to listen to. We have all seen the survivor type shows, this is based on that premise, but these contestants somehow get forgotten about or intentionally left behind in this deserted place. Just a crazy story about how these people try to stay alive in the middle of nowhere with no outside help. 

At what point do they go in search of help? How far will they have to go for help? These questions and more were running through my head. It was a quick listen. Only problem I had with it is that you miss the juicy details of the after. What happened to the show people? Why did they get left behind? There are still so many unanswered questions! Still a solid four star read for me =)

Little & Lion

Little & Lion

by: Brandy Colbert
Narrated by: Alisha Wainwright
Listening length: 8 hours, 12 minutes
Publicization date: August 8, 2017
My review: 4 out of 5 stars

Read for my March 2023 Reading challenge, prompt 7: the B in LGBTQIA+ Bisexual health awareness month. Little is a bisexual character in this book. 

A stunning novel on love, loss, identity, and redemption, from Publishers Weekly Flying Start author Brandy Colbert.

When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. LA is where her friends and family are (along with her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support.

But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself - or worse.

When Suzette comes home from her New England boarding school, she isn't sure what to expect from her stepbrother, recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The summer is spent with the two of them trying to reconnect, her trying desperately to make things "the way they were" and him trying to live with his bipolar disorder. This book does a pretty good job with making the illness feel real. As someone living with someone with the disorder, it paints a real picture of how things can be. You want desperately for them to be able to lead a normal life, clinging to those moments where it feels like it used to be, then the lows come again. So frustrating. I cannot imagine it for a teenager, but through this book I can, just a little bit. This book brings out the theme of mental illness in a way that is easier for teenagers to understand. It is a disorder, not a disease. There is so much more to this book then just the relationship between Suzette and her stepbrother though. It is so worth picking the book up. Will she return to boarding school? Will she reunite with her old school friends? It is just a fun book to read with some really serious parts mixed in.

Under the Whispering Door

Under the Whispering Door

By: TJ Klune
Narrated by: Kit Graves
Listening length: 14 hours, 54 minutes
publication date: September 21, 2021

My review: 5 out of 5 stars 

"Narrator Kirt Groves provides an excellently distinct cast of voices."- Locus

A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in Under the Whispering Door, a delightful queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Welcome to Charon's Crossing.

The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

"Graves matches his narrative pace to the measured unwinding of the story's layers, focused but unhurried, in the same way that Hugo brews his therapeutic cups of tea." —AudioFile

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books

What can I even say about this book? First of all, the narrator of this audiobook is top notch. I loved listening to every word. He has a way of making each character's voice sound different without using weird voices. His voice is so soothing to listen to, the book just flowed right off his tongue. I listened at 1.5 speed and it wasn't so fast that he was a chipmunk talking, but it was just right for my ears.

This book! I'm not sure how Klune does it, but he had me laughing in one chapter, then crying in the next. His writing seems to capture the human emotions so well. This is the second book of his that I've listened to and both are now on my Audible "must buy" list because I know i will be listening again. Wallace's story in Whispers is all about his after life. His life was not much to read about, but when he shows up at his own funeral, a not very well attended one, he is greeted by a reaper, but instead of taking him to the afterlife, he is taken to a "small village."

In the odd teahouse, he finds more than tea. This book was simply beautiful. Every character had their charm, even the ghost dog (how could you go wrong with a ghost dog!?) Seriously until the last minute I loved this book. I could listen to fifteen more adventures about Wallace, Hugo and the antics in the teashop.

The Buried and The Bound

by Rochelle Hassan

Narrated by: Nikki Massoud, Daniel Henning and Dan Bittner

Published January 24, 2023
Audiobook run time: 11 hours 5 minutes
My review: 4.5 out of 5 stars

A contemporary fantasy YA debut from Rochelle Hassan about monsters, magic, and wicked fae, perfect for fans of The Darkest Part of the Forest and The Hazel Wood.

As the only hedgewitch in Blackthorn, Massachusetts—an uncommonly magical place—Aziza El-Amin has bargained with wood nymphs, rescued palm-sized fairies from house cats, banished flesh-eating shadows from the local park. But when a dark entity awakens in the forest outside of town, eroding the invisible boundary between the human world and fairyland, run-of-the-mill fae mischief turns into outright aggression, and the danger—to herself and others—becomes too great for her to handle alone.

Leo Merritt is no stranger to magical catastrophes. On his sixteenth birthday, a dormant curse kicked in and ripped away all his memories of his true love. A miserable year has passed since then. He's road-tripped up and down the East Coast looking for a way to get his memories back and hit one dead end after another. He doesn't even know his true love's name, but he feels the absence in his life, and it's haunting.

Desperate for answers, he makes a pact with Aziza: he’ll provide much-needed backup on her nightly patrols, and in exchange, she’ll help him break the curse.

When the creature in the woods sets its sights on them, their survival depends on the aid of a mysterious young necromancer they’re not certain they can trust. But they’ll have to work together to eradicate the new threat and take back their hometown... even if it forces them to uncover deeply buried secrets and make devastating sacrifices.

I loved this story! I hope there are five hundred more books involving this cast of characters because I love them. In this book you follow Aziza, a hedgewitch, and Leo, a cursed 16-year-old as they try and figure out what is going on with his curse and fix the border between their world and the magical world that seems to be breaking down in their small town. Needless to say, chaos ensues. There is lots of danger, lots of magic and an incredible story that kept me listening far longer than I should have been. Cannot wait to see if there are more by this incredible author.

How Y'All Doing?

How Ya'll Doing? Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived 

By Leslie Jordan

Audiobook read by the author

208 pages 

Published April 27, 2021

My review 4.5 out of 5 stars

I read this book to complete a prompt in the Story Graph Genre challenge: a nonfiction history book about an LGBTQIA+ issue or person. 

Viral sensation and Emmy Award-winner Leslie Jordan regales fans with entertaining stories about the odd, funny, and unforgettable events in his life in this unmissable essay collection that echoes his droll, irreverent voice.

When actor Leslie Jordan learned he had “gone viral,” he had no idea what that meant or how much his life was about to change. On Instagram, his uproarious videos have entertained millions and have made him a global celebrity. Now, he brings his bon vivance to the page with this collection of intimate and sassy essays.

Bursting with color and life, dripping with his puckish Southern charm, How Y’all Doing? is Leslie doing what Leslie does best: telling stories that make us laugh and lift our spirits even in the darkest days. Whether he’s writing about his brush with a group of ruffians in a West Hollywood Starbucks, or an unexpected phone call from legendary Hollywood start Debbie Reynolds, Leslie infuses each story with his fresh and saucy humor and pure heart.

How Y’all Doing? is an authentic, warm, and joyful portrait of an American Sweetheart— a Southern Baptist celebutante, first-rate raconteur, and keen observer of the odd side of life whose quirky wit rivals the likes of Amy Sedaris, Jenny Lawson, David Rakoff, and Sarah Vowell.

Loved this collection of essays by Leslie Jordan. 

Bittersweet after his passing to know there won't be any new stories from this amazing man. He's a treasure to the world. I'm glad that he wrote this book to be treasured by those who loved him. You can literally see him in your head telling these stories. I listened to this one in two sittings, just laughing along with his infectious giggle. 

I would say this one is worth picking up the audiobook to listen to, just to hear his voice telling his stories.

Cemetery Boys

Cemetery Boys

By: Aiden Thoms

Audiobook narrated by: Avi Roque

352 pages 

Published September 1, 2020

My review 4.5 stars out of 5

I read this book to complete a prompt in the Boise Public Library's Ultimate Book Nerd challenge: Read a book about a holiday tradition you don't celebrate. 

A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys.
Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.


This story is about a trans boy trying to prove his place in his traditional latinx family. It includes some magical elements and lots of tradition. 

I loved the inner-city setting and the diverse mix of characters. The narrator, Avi Roque, did an amazing job of bringing Yadriel to life and making him feel like a real person. To be able to be in the mind of a transgender person, to see life from their eyes, it was enlightening. 

Though a work of fiction, I like to think that Thomas (the author) used some real-world stories to bring this character to life. He certainly felt real to me. There will be more in this series of books, but I loved that this was a full and complete story all on its own. No waiting for book two to know what happens because this book wrapped things up nicely. Other authors could learn a few things about books in a series! 

Another thing I really loved about this story was the way that the stories of Yadriel's culture were woven in. I feel like I really got to know a bit about the Latinx culture and why they celebrate el Día de los Muertos. That is why I originally picked up this book. I needed a book that fit the prompt: Read a book about a holiday tradition you don't celebrate. This fit it perfectly. I just saw this on the amazon q&a with the author about his inspiration: "What inspired you to write Cemetery Boys? Cemetery Boys was inspired by a writing prompt I saw on Tumblr — “What happened if you summoned a ghost and couldn’t get rid of it?” How great is that?! 

When The Moon Was Ours

When the Moon was Ours

by Anna-Marie McLemore 

Published October 4, 2016

To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees, and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.

My overall rating: three out of five stars 

As one of the books recommended to me for my 2023 facebook challenge by my friend Crystelle, this book was a bit out of my comfort zone. 

I enjoyed it overall, but it was a bit too much into the metaphors and magical thoughts and less into the story for me. 

When it was focused on the story, it really moved so quickly for me, but then you would get stuck in the thoughts in Miel's head or something and it would just drag for me... 

Loved the idea of a magical girl just appearing from the water tower. The people who come beside to help raise her. How they end up becoming her family. The community and how they react to this strange girl. It was different and I loved that part.

This Book Is Gay

Lesbian. Bisexual. Queer. Transgender. Straight. Curious. This book is for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who's ever dared to wonder. This book is for YOU.

There's a long-running joke that, after "coming out," a lesbian, gay guy, bisexual, or trans person should receive a membership card and instruction manual. THIS IS THAT INSTRUCTION MANUAL. You're welcome.

Inside you'll find the answers to all the questions you ever wanted to ask: from sex to politics, hooking up to stereotypes, coming out and more. This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBT also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations.

You will be entertained. You will be informed. But most importantly, you will know that however you identify (or don't) and whomever you love, you are exceptional. You matter. And so does this book.

As part of my banned books reading journey, I picked this book up. Not realizing it was less of a story and more of a guide, I was quite excited to learn more about the gay culture. 

This book helped me understand some of the words and phrases that my kid has been using. It also had a few chapters that I skipped over such as "coming out", "where to meet people like you" and "the ins and outs of gay sex." Those just felt more like they would be aimed at someone reading the book as a gay or LGBTQ+ person. 

As the mother of someone in the community, it felt empowering to learn more about this amazing group of people. I loved the chapter about the gay icons (there is even a glossary with all the names, so you can dive deeper and learn more on your own).

I love that the author used stories and quotes from people within the community. It pulled the book together nicely. 

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out

A groundbreaking work of LGBT literature takes an honest look at the life, love, and struggles of transgender teens.

Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken. Each honest discussion and disclosure, whether joyful or heartbreaking, is completely different from the other because of family dynamics, living situations, gender, and the transition these teens make in recognition of their true selves.

This is a collection of stories about several transgender teens. I'm purposely not putting a star rating on this because I don't feel it appropriate to put a rating on their stories, because they are just that their stories. Seeing the journeys that each of these people have gone through is something that has helped me to grow as a person. I've tried to explain to my husband why it is so important for me to be gender affirming to those who are in this situation (or anyone for that matter) and this book just gives me more reasons to do so. You never know what someone is dealing with. If I can help one person to feel like themselves in their own skin by using pronouns that make them comfortable, I'm going to do that. This book (and others that I've read recently) are opening my eyes to the people who have been too long kept in the shadows or the closet. Let them out and let them be who they are. 

Lawn Boy

For Mike Muñoz, a young Chicano living in Washington State, life has been a whole lot of waiting for something to happen. Not too many years out of high school and still doing menial work—and just fired from his latest gig as a lawn boy on a landscaping crew—he knows that he’s got to be the one to shake things up if he’s ever going to change his life. But how?

In this funny, angry, touching, and ultimately deeply inspiring novel, bestselling author Jonathan Evison takes the reader into the heart and mind of a young man on a journey to discover himself, a search to find the secret to achieving the American dream of happiness and prosperity. That’s the birthright for all Americans, isn’t it? If so, then what is Mike Muñoz’s problem? Though he tries time and again to get his foot on the first rung of that ladder to success, he can’t seem to get a break. But then things start to change for Mike, and after a raucous, jarring, and challenging trip, he finds he can finally see the future and his place in it. And it’s looking really good.

Lawn Boy is an important, entertaining, and completely winning novel about social class distinctions, about overcoming cultural discrimination, and about standing up for oneself.

Trigger warnings: homophobic language, sexual content, language, drug abuse, alcohol use

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This was the strangest book I have read in a long while, but I think I liked it. Mike is just trying to figure himself out. Through the changing jobs and the people who are drifting in and out of his life, I was beginning to wonder about the choices he was making. Then I started to see him become more sure in his own decisions and understood. This isn't about the decisions I would make, but about him becoming the man he was supposed to be. I love how supportive his family is, how much his friend comes beside and supports him (even if he is a real homo-phobe a**hole). I just love teh realness of this story.

Some of my favorite quotes, these are scattered through the book - percent of the way through shown in parenthesis after the quotes, if you are interested:

  

At this point, I feel like I’m nothing more than what everybody needs me to be or whatever the situation demands of me. (3%)

That’s what kids should do, they should laugh. If there’s a better, righter sound in the whole world than the laughter of children, I don’t know what it is. (5%)

I’ve come to believe that to a large degree we are products of our environment. (10%)

No matter how deep the infection runs, family is family. The only other choice is to cut them off like rotten limbs. (31%)

the moments are fleeting, like my mom’s smile, and it’s not often we have control over them, and that just makes them all the sweeter. (39%) 

when the questions become too numerous and the considerations begin to feel a little overwhelming, you just have to look away for a minute and regather your vision for the thing, try to see it the way it originally came to you. Ask yourself, how did I arrive here? What was I trying to accomplish? (90%)

So, whoever you are, whatever your last name is, wherever you came from, whichever way you swing, whatever is standing in your way, just remember: you’re bigger than that. Like the man said: you contain multitudes. (90%)

The Paradox Hotel

An impossible crime. A detective on the edge of madness. The future of time travel at stake.

January Cole’s job just got a whole lot harder.

Not that running security at the Paradox was ever really easy. Nothing’s simple at a hotel where the ultra-wealthy tourists arrive costumed for a dozen different time periods, all eagerly waiting to catch their “flights” to the past.

Or where proximity to the timeport makes the clocks run backward on occasion—and, rumor has it, allows ghosts to stroll the halls.

None of that compares to the corpse in room 526. The one that seems to be both there and not there. The one that somehow only January can see.

On top of that, some very important new guests have just checked in. Because the U.S. government is about to privatize time-travel technology—and the world’s most powerful people are on hand to stake their claims.

January is sure the timing isn’t a coincidence. Neither are those “accidents” that start stalking their bidders.

There’s a reason January can glimpse what others can’t. A reason why she’s the only one who can catch a killer who’s operating invisibly and in plain sight, all at once.

But her ability is also destroying her grip on reality—and as her past, present, and future collide, she finds herself confronting not just the hotel’s dark secrets but her own.

I think if I would have read this book instead of listening to it, I might have enjoyed it more but I got a little confused. What I did enjoy was the main character January. There were times that her reactions and the way that she handled things just make me laugh or at least smile. Loved the ending of this book though. <3 

Leah on the Offbeat

TW: Body shaming, moderate cursing, racism, fat-phobia, homophobia and minor alcohol consumption. 

Leah Burke—girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier’s best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda—takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.

When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.

So Leah really doesn’t know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It’s hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting—especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.

I thought this was a fun book. I loved Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and this book just gave me the opportunity to get to know the characters better. This time the focus is on Leah. Leah is (as described by the author) An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon

Gave this one three stars on goodreads.