Original Art - The Nancy Drew Files: Sisters In Crime Cover (1988)
Art by Enric (Enric Torres-Prat)
Simon Pulse
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Original Art - The Nancy Drew Files: Sisters In Crime Cover (1988)
Art by Enric (Enric Torres-Prat)
Simon Pulse
THE LAST WORDS WE SAID
by Leah Scheier
(Simon Pulse, 8/31/21)
9781534469396
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TITLE - https://blog.mugglenet.com/2020/07/book-review-ever-cursed-by-corey-ann-haydu/
LOVE & OLIVES
Love & Gelato #3
by Jenna Evans Welch
(Simon Pulse, 11/10/20)
9781534448834
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Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju
"With each passing moment, I'd get that feeling you sometimes have the moment you're about to flip to the final page of a really good book, when your anticipation for what happens next overwhelms you, but you also know that turning the page means you're closer to an end. This was a story I didn't want to end."
Year Read: 2019
Rating: 4/5
Context: I received a free e-copy through NetGalley from the publishers at Simon Pulse. Trigger warnings: homophobia, slurs, gender dysphoria, alcoholism, violence, bullying, abandonment, underage drinking, underage romance, vomiting.
About: Nima is tired of her boring life in small-town Bridgeton, tired of crushing on a straight girl who will never like her back, and tired of waiting and wondering why her mother abandoned her and her father over a year ago without a word. When she wanders into a side tent at a local carnival, she isn't expecting a drag show or to suddenly be whisked into the colorful world of drag kings and queens by Dee Dee, the friendly queen who takes Nima under her wing. With new crushes, hilarious (and mortifying) mishaps, and some amazing friends (both new and old), Nima is ready to face the loss of her mother and discover that, maybe, there's something of a drag king in her as well.
Thoughts: This is a summery, feel-good novel if I've ever read one, and I could recommend it on the diversity alone. Almost every major character is POC or LGBTQ+ or both, and Boteju provides a wonderful introduction into the world of drag, a lot of which was new for me. For the most part, it's written as a safe and welcoming place for teens/new adults (despite numerous scenes of underage drinking), and I think every LGBTQ+ teenager would benefit from having a drag queen fairy godmother like Dee Dee to help them navigate.
There are a couple small things that make it read like a first novel, the first being the overuse of silly metaphors. In part, this is due to Nima's perspective, since she prides herself on her metaphors, but it leaks into the narrative in distracting ways. The other is that it's quite dramatic, which is also just a product of the YA genre. I remember feeling everything too strongly as a teenager, and Nima is no exception to that. She reacts in extremes at times (typically anger or embarrassment), which is probably fine for the target audience but may put off some older readers.
All dramatics aside, I like Nima. She's endearingly awkward, so we really get a sense of how she finds herself and her self-confidence over the course of the novel. Of course, Dee Dee steals the show, as she's probably meant to. She's a force of nature, and her flair is matched only by her kindness. There's also a subplot of a boy who seems to be struggling with gender dysphoria. All in all, a great cast of characters, and they're one of the major strengths of the book. I was hoping for a little more closure on some of the plot threads (or possibly a sequel), but the novel leaves off on a high note. I’ll definitely revisit it in the future when I need to feel better about the world.
Containment Caryn Lix
New from Simon Pulse and the author of the bestselling series, The Program, Suzanne Young, Girls with Sharp Sticks. “ You know those books you finish and then are like "cool, now what do I do with my life?" This is one of them. I don't want to give too much away, but spoiler alert: this elite "finishing school" for girls is not what it seems. “ - Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Analee, In Real Life by Janelle Milanes
Review by: Paige
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: September 18, 2018 from Simon Pulse
*OwnVoices for Latinx Rep*
Ever since her mom died three years ago, Analee Echevarria has had trouble saying out loud the weird thoughts that sit in her head. With a best friend who hates her and a dad who’s marrying a yogi she can’t stand, Analee spends most of her time avoiding reality and role-playing as Kiri, the night elf hunter at the center of her favorite online game. Through Kiri, Analee is able to express everything real-life Analee cannot: her bravery, her strength, her inner warrior. The one thing both Kiri and Analee can’t do, though, is work up the nerve to confess her romantic feelings for Kiri’s partner-in-crime, Xolkar—aka a teen boy named Harris whom Analee has never actually met in person. So when high school heartthrob Seb Matias asks Analee to pose as his girlfriend in an attempt to make his ex jealous, Analee agrees. Sure, Seb seems kind of obnoxious, but Analee could use some practice connecting with people in real life. In fact, it’d maybe even help her with Harris. But the more Seb tries to coax Analee out of her comfort zone, the more she starts to wonder if her anxious, invisible self is even ready for the real world. Can Analee figure it all out without losing herself in the process?
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