5 stars This book contains a content note for depictions of disordered eating. A hauntingly beautiful story of friendship, loss, family, and healing. Valerie has always tried to be a “good” daughter. To her, that means giving in to her mother’s concerns about her gaining weight, even if it means taking unhealthy measures to comply….
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Illustrated by Soofiya 5 stars A fantastic read that is educational, supportive, affirming, and inclusive. What a great book. Dawson brings a touch a humor to a topic that can often be scary, stressful, and frustrating. She also offers advice and support along the way. While the book is targeted toward teens and young adults…
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Narrated by Guy Lockard 5 stars Another excellently crafted book from Jacqueline Woodson. Everyone has always admired ZJ’s dad, a pro football player. But to ZJ, he’s just his dad. When his father starts forgetting things and acting differently, daily life changes and ZJ must cope with the shifting dynamics, losing their shared past, and…
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5 stars Another fantastic volume in the Heartstopper series. This one is heavier than the previous volumes. While the others tend to be sweet with a hint of hardship, this one really focuses on the hardships of life and relationships. It deals with some serious topics including mental health, specifically eating disorders and references to…
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5 stars I’ve found when I really like a book, it’s hard to put into words how great it is. Hence, this will be a relatively short review. Non-stop adventure. I was hooked from page 1. This gripping tale features fantastic artwork and a cast of characters that stick with you. A missing Pig Wizard,…
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5 stars A stunning graphic novel that perfectly captures the beauty of everyday life cut with the shattering effects of anxiety and PTSD. Manuel works to navigate a world that no long feels safe after witnessing a traumatic event involving gun violence. With the help of some new friends, a supportive therapist, and a love…
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4 stars A fantastic collection of hard-hitting poems from a variety of poets. I really enjoyed the premise of this anthology. The poems address various social justice issues and each pairs their work with a specific organization related to that issue. The book not only brings up important issues but also provides concrete ways to…
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5 stars SO. WHOLESOME! I absolutely loved this comics collection. A perfect book to have on hand when you need a pick-me-up or a reason to smile. I’ll admit, I’m slightly obsessed with this series. I started reading it on Webtoon and follow Tarpley on all the social media platforms. Whenever a new comic comes…
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3 stars Overall, a good collection of short poetry. Various topics are covered and themes quickly emerge including recognizing one’s worth and letting go of what hurts you. One issue I generally have with poetry of this nature is that the short format often fizzles out. Too often short poetry feels like the beginning of…
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3 stars A good collection of poems on a variety of topics formulated to follow a fairy tale arch. Topics covered include family, romantic relationships, breakups, love, self-harm, eating disorders, and abuse. There are a lot of hard topics in this book, but also many points readers can relate to and empathize with. For me,…
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