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Book Reviews

Cover art for the novel "The House on the Cerulean Sea"

“The House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune

5 out of 5 stars. I have seen people posting about The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune but only recently sat down to read it and I am so glad i did!! It’s such a sweet and meaningful story. The writing style is easy to follow and relaxing while also tying in important ideas related to inclusion. The story follows Linus Baker’s experience investigating an orphanage for magical youth located on a remote island. I instantly fell in love with the children – each one has a distinct personality (and magical background). I found myself saving numerous quotes from the book (below are a few of my faves). Readers are left with questions to think about such as what makes someone good? Bad? What makes a group of people a family? In a time when there is so much fear, confusion, and hate, The House in the Cerulean Sea encourages you to re-examine your thoughts and ideas about people who are different from “the norm.”

Cover art for the novel Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds by Tom Hoffman

“Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds” by Tom Hoffman

4 out of 5 stars. This was a really cute story with a much deeper meaning, On the surface, it seems like an easy and fun story about two mice going on an adventure to save the world from an a mouse trying to gain too much power. Orville Wellington Mouse and Sophia Mouse (unrelated to each other) are two best friends who must travel across time and space to find proof that the evil Draken Mouse murdered Sophia’s father. They are aided by Proto, a Rabbiton who loves making “tasty little cakes”. Along the way they also come across creatures such as carnivorous centipedes and a forgetful Gnorli bird among many others.   

Cover for the book Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again

“Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again” by Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne

5 out of 5 stars. Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy is a welcome addition to the expanding space surrounding how to be an ally. Through the lens of 16 the different pieces numerous issues were explored. Things such as race, gender identity, disability. Each piece was told in an authentic way that posed important questions for readers to reflect upon. While it may be presented as a book for Young Adults, I think that it serves as a great introduction for teens (high school) and adults of all ages on what allyship is all about. I appreciated the fact that one of the first pieces emphasized that it’s ok “start small” – that being an ally doesn’t mean you HAVE to attend large rallies or protests or completely change up your routine. It is more about noticing the little things you can do in your everyday life to be there for others. Another piece talked about how being an ally sometimes means *not* doing something – not speaking for others. Instead, it’s about giving people the space to share their experiences. Their stories.

Cover for the book Stare at Me: How Being Blindsided Brings Life Into Focus by Joey Mullaney

“Stare at Me: How Being Blindsided Brings Life Into Focus” by Joey Mullaney and Michele Matrisciani

3 out of 5 stars. I was initially drawn to Stare at Me because of the cover and title. As someone also born with a genetic muscle disease that affects many aspects of my life, I was intrigued. Reading the synopsis I felt like I’d get along with the author, Joey Mullaney. I finished the book in less than 24 hours and give it a solid 3 out of 5 stars. The book is easy to read and generally relatable even for a non sports-loving girl like me. There were some hilarious stories but I also appreciated his honesty surrounding situations such as the realization that he has FA. I silently cheered as he began to let others into his world of FA instead of constantly trying to hide it. But I’ll be honest and say this is also where it gets a problematic for me. On the one hand I genuinely wanted him to learn to accept and embrace his diagnosis. I think it’s awesome that he has found his his passion and mission in life. But, on the other hand, I feel like this is another example of the standard “my disability can’t stop me / I’m going to fight it” type of messaging. I feel like the final third of the book focused a little too heavily on this theme. There is absolutely a place for this kind of messaging but I wish that it diminished the vulnerability he expressed earlier in the book. Sometimes this forced positivity can be harmful for both people with disabilities and without disabilities. On a technical level, some of the chapters also seemed disorganized or smashed together without clear transitions from one part to the next. All in all, I’m glad for the opportunity to have read Stare At Me. It was a fun filled read with some serious questions tossed in and i look forward to seeing what else Joey does with his life.

Cover art for the book What Once Was Mine: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell

“What Once Was Mine: A Twisted Tale” by Liz Braswell

5 out of 5 stars. is the 12th Twisted Tale story but the first one I’ve read. I’ve been meaning to start this series for ages but just hadn’t gotten to it yet. I wasn’t sure if I could read the books out of order but since I was able to get an early copy via NetGalley I gave it a shot. It was soooo good! The book immediately piqued my interest because we’re immediately introduced to a set of teen twins at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Readers learn that Daniela is undergoing treatment for cancer and loves the movie and book Tangled. Being a sweet brother, Brendan put up with the repetition until during one chemo session he decided he was going to tell his own version of the story.

Cover art for the book Sick Girl Secrets by Anna Russell

“Sick Girl Secrets” by Anna Russell

4 out of 5 stars. I was drawn to this title as someone who’s grown up with a severe physical disability. I’m always interested in reading books featuring characters with health issues and there seem to be an increasing number being published but many feature characters who have cancer. While this is still relatable and needed, it doesn’t seem as common for the character to have a mobility disability. Or a condition involving chronic pain. That’s where Sick Girl Secrets comes into play. The book is written from the perspective of Natalie, a teen diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I will admit that it took a little bit for me to get into it because of the style / format. Once I got used to the unique spacing of words and sometimes letters I got into the story. I could relate to some of the things she felt. I was a little bummed that the book ended when it did because I want to know more about how everything worked out but maybe it’s still a work in progress. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about what it’s like living a with a disability and/or chronic pain disorder, The book touches on so many important and relevant themes- disability awareness and rights, social justice issues, advocacy, and most importantly: self-acceptance.