Poet and author Nikki Grimes grew up in a home where her mom, rather than being a source of comfort, was someone she learned to fear. Her mom was a paranoid schizophrenic, and therefore, home was not a safe place for her most of the time. Luckily, different things came in to her life that saved her. At six years old, Nikki fell in love with words and began to write to process her pain. Also, she was blessed by having a few amazing teachers and foster families that encouraged her to excel. With these gifts, Nikki was able to sour. This verse memoir is both haunting and uplifting as Nikki and her sister fight to survive the "ordinary hazards" of life. I could not put the book down, and because the memoir is in verse, it is accessible to so many and so perfect to advanced literature analysis. Highly recommended!
Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes
Poet and author Nikki Grimes grew up in a home where her mom, rather than being a source of comfort, was someone she learned to fear. Her mom was a paranoid schizophrenic, and therefore, home was not a safe place for her most of the time. Luckily, different things came in to her life that saved her. At six years old, Nikki fell in love with words and began to write to process her pain. Also, she was blessed by having a few amazing teachers and foster families that encouraged her to excel. With these gifts, Nikki was able to sour. This verse memoir is both haunting and uplifting as Nikki and her sister fight to survive the "ordinary hazards" of life. I could not put the book down, and because the memoir is in verse, it is accessible to so many and so perfect to advanced literature analysis. Highly recommended!
0 Comments
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman Charlie is a 10th grader at British all-boys school. After he was outed as gay last year, he survived bullying year, and this year seems to be going better. It gets especially better when he meets Nick, a relaxed and kind rugby player. As they become teammates and friends, Charlie can't stop himself for falling for this boy who goes out of his way to care for and protect him. Based on Nick's dating history, Charlie knows that his feelings will probably be unrequited, but as the boys get closer, Charlie begins to have hope. Heartstopper is a WebToon that is so popular that it got published, and I can see why. This gentle yet honest story will make your heart stop as you cheer for Charlie and Nick to come together. Oseman deftly balance the ability to make her characters lovable and realistic, and readers will not be able to stop themselves from falling in love. I cannot wait for the next volume in the series! Highly, highly recommended! Serpent & the Dove by Shelby Mahurin For two years, Lou has hidden in Cesarine, forsaking all magic as she hides from coven, the people who tried to kill her. Reid has sworn his life to the church as a Chasseur, a man whose sworn mission in life is to kill all witches. When the two are forced to wed, both are furious. Lou can't stand rules, and Reid religiously follows every rule. Lou knows it will be very dangerous to live at the church with the Chasseurs, but she is hoping her gamble will also keep her hidden from a person she fears even more. Reid is angry by every crude and crazy thing Lou does, but as his wife, he will protect her. It would be insanity for them to fall in love, but sometimes insanity is just what you need. When Lou's life is threatened, Reid, a former witch killer, finds out how far he will go to protect a witch. This book is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas! The characters are imperfect yet lovable, unique yet familiar, and deceptive yet loyal. I fell in love with Lou as soon as she began singing bawdy songs to disrupt the Chasseurs. Readers will cheer for Lou and Reid, and thankfully, book two, Honey and Blood, just came out with the third book coming out next year. For fans of fantasy romance, this is the perfect fix. Highly, highly recommended! |
AuthorMs. Smith has been the librarian at Washington HS in Sioux Falls, SD, since 2005. She enjoys reading, watching K-Dramas, Harry Potter and hanging out with her family. Archives
October 2021
Categories
All
|