Month: November 2023

That Self-Same Metal / Brittany N. Williams

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
That Self-Same Metal
By: Brittany N. Williams
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 352
Published: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Dates Read: October 29, 2023 - October 31, 2023
Format: ARC / Library Book / Audiobook

Trigger Warnings: racism (including blackface), sexism, murder, violence

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a “gifted” craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company. Joan’s gift comes from a magical ability she was blessed with from her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her entire family is Orisha-blessed, they’ve kept tabs on the Fae presence in London. Usually, they just see a faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try their best to blend in with regular society. After a pack has been broken though, the rise of brutal Fae attacks has risen. After saving the son of a cruel Lord from a Fae attack, Joan gets thrusted into the political world of humans and Fae.

The writing really shows the author’s background in theater and acting and of the historical time period (including the treatment of Black people living in London, which I hadn’t known about). 

Some of the parts didn’t interest me as much, but I did really enjoy the fight scenes as I felt like they were well written. There could have been a lot going on, but I would never feel like I was lost but rather right in the middle of swords swinging around.

Overall, this was a fun and action-packed YA fantasy with an alternative history twist. I can see YA fantasy readers and those who love theater enjoying this book with the twist of Shakespeare. I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next book in the series to continue with Joan and her story.

Something Like Home / Andrea Beatriz Arango

/ Alisha Helms / 3 Comments 
Something Like Home
By: Andrea Beatriz Arango
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 256
Published: September 12, 2023
Publisher: Random House Book for Young Readers
Dates Read: October 29, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Foster care, abandonment, parental drug use

Twelve-year-old Laura Rodríguez Colón has a plan: to do whatever it takes to live with her parents again. She’s okay with living with her aunt – but only temporarily. So when Laura finds a puppy, she begins to train him as a therapy, hoping to use his skills as an in to her parent’s treatment center. Maybe Sparrow will help her parents get better so they can all be together again.

I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for pitties so when I saw the pittie on this cover, I was immediately drawn to it. And, I love me a novel in verse. I also didn’t recognize the author until I was getting ready to read it – but Iveliz Explains It All ripped by heart out last year. As soon as I registered it was that author, I knew I was going to be in for a good book!

As with her other book, Something Like Home isn’t an easy read, but it’s a needed one. It tells a story of a young girl separated from her parents by foster care because of their drug use, who, even though they’re neglectful of her when they use, still very much love their daughter. It shows the difficulty of not only that relationship but also what that was like for the aunt (Laura’s mom’s sister).

There’s amazing growth in this story of multiple characters, but Laura’s were my favorite. She had two unexpected relationships – one with the dog Sparrow, and one with a classmate, Benson. Sparrow and Laura’s journey was adorable and cute and shows the love that happens between a pet and their owners. Benson’s relationship with Laura was very organic, especially in the sense that there was a craving for a best friend, but that was hard for both because of previous wounds.

Though this is targeted for the Middle Grade readers, I highly recommend this to all as Laura’s story is sure to tug at your heartstrings, no matter your age.

Guardian of Fukushima / Fabien Grolleau, Ewen Blain (Illustrator)

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Guardian of Fukushima
By: Fabien Grolleau, Ewen Blain (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Nonfiction
Number of Pages: 144
Published: February 23, 2023
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
Dates Read: October 28, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

On March 11, 2011 a massive earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami, which in turn, destroyed the core three reactors of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. Farmer Naoto Matsumura is unwilling to abandon his beloved animals and the animals left behind by those who evacuated. 

I love the weaving of Japanese folklore into this story to not only give you a history of the very tragic event of the 2011 tsunami, but to also give you the history of Japanese culture as well.

I was aware of a farmer staying behind in a village after a nuclear issue, but I wasn’t aware of Naoto Matsumura’s full story and I’m so glad I picked this novel up to read it. 

Stunning and amazing artwork from Ewen Blain. So colorful and captivating, even the not-so-great- photos of the aftermath, it never looked muddy or overloaded.