Author: Alisha Helms

A Man and His Cat, Volume 1 / Umi Sakurai

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A Man and His Cat, Volume 1
By: Umi Sakurai
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 148
Published: February 11, 2020 (1st Published February 22, 2018)
Publisher: Square Enix Manga
Dates Read: June 13, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

A kitten lives unwanted and unloved in a pet shop. His price drops every day and no one spares him a glance unless it’s to call him names. Imagine his surprise when an older gentleman comes into the store and takes him home! Come follow the cat’s and his new human’s life as they start off on this new adventure together.

First off – I want to know who is calling Fukumaru ugly, because I will fight them. He is adorable and I fell in love with him on the first page and I am so glad his Dad found him.

Secondly, this story will give you all the feels. Not only has this cat been alone for so long, but his Dad is needing his own healing (though it hasn’t been said outright, you make the connection what he needs help healing from pretty quickly).

This story is about longing, and hope, but most of all, it’s about love.

If you have a soft spot for cats, this manga is definitely for you.

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir / Pedro Martín

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Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir
By: Pedro Martín
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir
Number of Pages: 320
Published: August 1, 2023
Publisher: Dial Books
Dates Read: June 10, 2024 - June 13, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito – a Mexican Revolution crime-fighter! But, that doesn’t mean he’s excited for him to join their already crowded house – between his eight brothers and sisters and his parents, there’s barely enough room now. Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring his abuelito back to America. What follows is a trip of a lifetime.

I loved reading about the family dynamic in this novel – with that many brothers under one roof there is a tone of teasing and arguments. I also liked how the author talked about the divide between the older siblings who were born in Mexico and the younger siblings who were born in the United States; which ones were more Mexican or American, and the difference in milk tolerance (which I never knew!).

The art of this graphic novel was amazing and engaging – even if the author had a hard time drawing hands. The pages were always filled with the scenes, panels, and dialog. Some of that helped with showing the chaos of the trip and other times it kept you engaged in the scene. 

Though this is targeted towards younger readers, there are plenty of reminiscences of adolescence (bad haircuts, teasing siblings, what you spend your allowance on, etc.) that adults will thoroughly enjoy this as well. The author shares his childhood stories as an adult – so plenty of older readers will also enjoy this.

An Immense World / Ed Young

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An Immense World
By: Ed Yong
Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Nature
Number of Pages: 464
Published: January 1, 2023 (1st Published June 21, 2022)
Publisher: Random House
Dates Read: May 25, 2024 - June 9, 2024
Format: Hardcover

In An Immense World, author and science journalist Ed Yong challenges us to think beyond our own senses to perceive the world around us through the eyes (and senses) of animals and insects alike.

Shoutout to my first ever nonfiction science book that wasn’t assigned to me for a class (yes, I’ve been out of school for nine years…).

This definitely made me think about animals and not only their place in the world, but mine as well. I still think about the amount of smells my dogs are experiencing every time I let them outside to use the restroom – it gives me a little patience, even if I’m in a time crunch and they’re smelling everything.

There was a lot of information that was given throughout this book. I had to take this in chunks and read another book alongside it – which I don’t usually do and will read one book from front to cover before picking up the next one. I knew I would get “annoyed” with just reading information upon information. I’m glad I broke it up because it did help me enjoy it more. That, and marking fun facts that I enjoyed (another thing I don’t do).

I really enjoyed the footnotes that the author included within the pages, to me, that made the information a little more personal and felt like a friend was giving me fun facts from their field. I may not understand everything, but those footnotes helped a lot.

Everyone should try and read this. It’ll open your eyes to seeing the world in a whole new way! If nonfiction, or science isn’t your thing, trust me, I know, break this up into chunks. Ed Yong breaks up the chapters into sections that are only a few pages at most, and just read those here and there.

Just some of the fun facts I learned or, that I have continuously thought about, since finishing this:

  • Ants are essentially a group of highly specialist wasps that evolved.
    • This explains why I don’t like looking at ants up close – I hate wasps with a passion.
  • How “quiet” is the world now that there aren’t massively big animals roaming around?

The Other Side of Disappearing / Kate Clayborn

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The Other Side of Disappearing
By: Kate Clayborn
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Number of Pages: 373
Published: March 26, 2024
Publisher: Kensington
Dates Read: June 1, 2024 - June 6, 2024
Format: Library Book / Audiobook

Hairstylist Jess Greene has spent the last decade raising her younger half sister, Tegan, after their mother ran away with a boyfriend she’d only known a few months. Jess has also been keeping a huge secret – the boyfriend her mother ran off with, was an accomplished con man who was also the subject of a wildly popular podcast, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore.

Right before Tegan hits her eighteenth birthday, Jess figures out her sister’s plan to do what she’s always feared – go on the search for their mother. But she’s not doing it alone, instead she’s accompanied by the host of the podcast and her producer, Adam Hawkins. Unwilling for her sister to go alone, Jess reluctantly joins them.

Together, the four make their way across the country, uncovering pieces of the mystery as to where her mother and her boyfriend disappeared to and why.

So first off, I don’t know how I missed this being a romance, because it’s not like it’s not marketed as romance. I think I was more focused on the true crime podcast aspect of it over everything else. And, to be honest, I don’t think the novel needed the spicier scenes to it. I totally understood and felt Jess and Adam’s connection, no need for the horniess. But, maybe that’s just me being a reader who doesn’t read much romance above a two spice level, so don’t take my opinion on this bit too personally.

I loved the mystery of this novel and the adventure the group went on – but I still didn’t care for the romance of it. I also had a bit of a hard time connecting with anyone. Everyone had a lot of feelings that were deeply explored, but I didn’t feel as much connection as I do with others.

Overall, I can see people still enjoying this. Just because I didn’t care for the romance bit of it, doesn’t mean the story itself wasn’t still good!
*Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

49 Days / Agnes Lee

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49 Days
By: Agnes Lee
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 352
Published: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Levine Querido
Dates Read: June 1, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Grief

In Buddhist tradition, it takes a soul 49 days to journey between life and rebirth. In the 49 Days graphic novel, readers meet Kit, as she’s on her journey through the transition, as well as her family and friends who are left behind to grieve.

This story is sad but thoughtful as well. Kit struggles in her own journey of being able to move on as well and her family and friends left behind are trying to figure out how best to fill the hole that has now appeared in her absence. 

The story is a little vague on a few details on the journey, but I believe it’s that way so readers can interpret it on their own. I lost my father as a twelve-year-old and I definitely interpret the death of a close family member a lot differently than a lot of my coworkers.

Overall this is a story about grief. It may not be for everybody at certain moments in their life, but they may be able to come back to it. It’s touching and heartwarming as well.

Coyote Lost and Found / Dan Gemeinhart

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Coyote Lost and Found
By: Dan Gemeinhart
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 282
Published: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Dates Read: May 26, 2024 - May 29, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

*Trigger Warnings: Grief, remembering death of parent and siblings, Covid-19

It’s been almost a year since Coyote and her dad settled down in a small Oregon town. But just as their lives were being close to “normal”, Coyote finds a box containing her mom’s ashes that was hidden in the bus and she thinks she’s ready to say goodbye. When Covid-19 hits and school is canceled, it’s the perfect time. The only problem – Coyote doesn’t know where her resting place is supposed to be. Her mom wrote it in a book of poetry that Coyote mistakenly sold last year on the road. Now, it’s up to Coyote to find the book so she can tell her dad where her mom’s resting place should be – all without her dad knowing she lost the book in the first place. Firing up their trusty bus, Yager, Coyote and her dad are ready to hit the road with some old friends and ready to discover some new ones.

Ah – Coyote and her dad have held a special place in my heart since reading about their first adventure. When I saw there was a sequel I immediately grabbed a copy as soon as I could.

This book is about moving on to the next chapter of your life and, even if it’s scary, accepting change, and finding things.

“…Finding ashes and finding books and finding friends and finding where you belong and finding clues and finding wings and finding a way and then, at the end, finding peace, Because we lose a lot, all of us on our journeys. There’s no way around that. But we find a lot, too, if we’re lucky. And I was.”

This book is aimed at middle grade readers, but I think those of all ages will enjoy it. Coyote is only thirteen in this novel, and she’s dealing with big emotions and grief of her mother and sisters death – so some may not like how she reacts to things – but, as someone who lost her dad at the age of twelve, the grieving process is weird and I hope think this novel will hope young readers in their own grieving processes. The characters will dig their way into your heart and you’ll think about them long after the last pages.

*Thank you Henry Holt and Co and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The First State of Being / Erin Entrada Kelly

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The First State of Being
By: Erin Entrada Kelly
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 272
Published: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Dates Read: May 25, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

It’s August 1999 and twelve-year-old Michael is preparing for the looming Y2K crisis that’s just around the corner by keeping a small stockpile under his bed. His mom, nor his babysitter, Gibby, seem to be as worried. When a disoriented teenage boy appears out of nowhere, Michael’s life is turned around.

It turns out, the disoriented boy is named Ridge, and he’s the world’s first time traveler. As Gibby shows Ridge around the 1999s lifestyle – microwaves, basketballs, and the mall – Michael discovers their new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years. Michael wants – no, actually, he needs to get his hands on that book to find out the fate of the world in the next few months. But, how far is he willing to go to get it?

Oh to remember the Y2K crisis. I was seven and in all honesty, my memories don’t attach to computers crashing, but the world itself crumbling down?? I was probably overthinking it with the complete limited amount of knowledge I was given. My parents and my aunt and uncle weren’t concerned about it, so I just went with it.

This was cute and a fun introduction to the late 90’s for middle grade readers – and brings up the discussion of Y2K as well. It also gave plenty of shout outs to Millennials. I also enjoyed the twist(s) at the end – of course, not going to give them away. 

I can see adults liking this just as much as kids because of the pop culture references and such. Again, this would probably open the discussion for kids to ask about the late 90s, early 2000s – especially Y2K and computer culture back in the day.

*Thank you Greenwillow Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Secret Language of Birds / Lynne Kelly

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The Secret Language of Birds
By: Lynne Kelly
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 240
Published: April 9, 2024
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Dates Read: May 22, 2024 - May 24, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Nina has always felt like the odd one out, both at school and with her family. When she goes to the summer camp her aunt runs, Nina expects it to be exactly the same – but then she meets the Oddballs, a group of three girls from the last cabin at camp. One night, while sneaking out to see a ghost with her fellow campers, Nina discovers what appears to be two whooping cranes who built a nest behind an abandoned infirmary – which is impossible since this species of birds haven’t nested in Texas for over a hundred years.

When Nina reports the sighting to wildlife officials, more questions arise. These birds are all tagged and tracked, but they can’t identify the female bird. With the help of the Oddballs, Nina sets out to discover who the mystery bird is and along the way, maybe she’ll find her own flock.

I really enjoyed Nina’s journey in finding her group of friends who enjoyed each other’s company and were supportive of each other. The reconnection of Nina and Iris was realistic and wholesome as well and their conversations felt genuine, especially when Iris was telling Nina how she felt. Lynne Kelly really has a way of writing with empathy, care, and gentleness. Even when Nina was having anxiety over her new friends and situations, she wasn’t ever written as being over the top or anything.

I haven’t read A Song for a Whale (yet) but this gave me more of a reason to get that moved up on my TBR. I wanted to read this one because of Nina’s love for birds and being an amateur bird watcher. It was fun finding out the ways Nina would discover birds and how she talked or thought about them.

This was aimed at Middle Grade readers, but I feel like quite a few audiences can enjoy it. It’s sweet and gentle. Without ruining anything, there’s stuff at stake but it’s not really a high stakes type of book. This will take you on an adventure with a young girl at summer camp watching over a pair of birds with her friends and in the end, watch Nina change the way she not only views others, but herself as well.

Thank you Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thirsty / Jas Hammonds

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Thirsty
By: Jas Hammonds
Genre: New Adult
Number of Pages: 336
Published: May 14, 2024
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Dates Read: May 19, 2024 - May 21, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

Trigger Warnings: (as per beginning of novel) alcohol addiction, self-hatred, suicidal ideation, racial microaggressions, transphobic thetoric, and non-consensual outing

During the summer before college, Blake, her girlfriend, Ella, and their best friend, Annetta have one goal: join the exclusive Serena Society at their college. The sorority promises status and lifelong connections to a network of powerful, trailblazing women of color. Ella’s acceptance is a certainty – so is Annetta really – both of their mothers are Serena’s alum. However, Blake has a lot more to prove.

Blake comes from a working-class background and lacks confidence, nothing like Ella. Luckily, she finds courage with drops of liquor because when she drinks, she becomes Big Bad Bee – funny, bold, and unstoppable. But, as Serena pledging intensifies, so does Blake’s drinking, but it doesn’t stop at just partying. Ella assures Blake that she’s fine; nothing she’s doing isn’t what needs to be done to make the cut.

But the closer she gets to success, the more Blake’s drowning. With her future so bright ahead, Blake must decide how far she’s willing to go and to lose to step into the bright light of her dreams.

I absolutely adored Jas Hammond’s debut novel, We Deserve Monuments, so I’ve been highly anticipating their second novel since they announced it on their Instagram. Goodness, this doesn’t disappoint.

Blake was such a complex character – one that made it so hard to keep rooting for her as she continuously turned to alcohol, but I wanted her happy ending and was proud of her when she really tried. On top of trying to get into the Serena Society, Blake is not only navigating the transition between high school life and college but also her identity, her past, and what that means for her future and her place in the world.

I also love the relationship we see between both Blake and Ella and Blake and Annetta and how both characters interact with her. We see the type of support (or lack of support) that they give Blake and how she responds to it and it gives the characters more depth and realistic interactions.

Overall, this is a wonderful coming of age novel about an 18-year-old and her relationship with both drinking and those around her. I would somewhat argue that this novel could fall under the New Adult genre and not YA, but could see it being either.

*Thank you Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Encyclopedia of Early Earth / Isabel Greenberg

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The Encyclopedia of Early Earth
By: Isabel Greenberg
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 176
Published: October 3, 2013
Publisher: Bond Street Books
Dates Read: May 19, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

In a series of illustrated tales, a young man paddles from his home in the North Pole to the South Pole in search of his missing soul. Along the way, he uses his skills as his village’s storyteller to share others’ stories.

I really loved the storytelling of this novel. Of course, this is all fictional, but Isabel Greenberg used a lot of stories based on our own cultures and twisted them around. The book didn’t take itself too seriously and it was fun to see what Greenberg kept and what she changed to tell the story of early Earth.

I particularly enjoyed Kiddo and her storyline with Noah as she tried to save him from her father, Bird God.

Overall, a fun graphic novel filled with detailed art and stories that will capture your attention and hold it through every page.