book reviews
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Pillow Talk by Stephanie Cooke
Pillow Talk by Stephanie Cooke My rating: 5 of 5 stars Great! Not as risqué as Juliet Takes a Breath but filled with heart and new friends. The sport story is refreshingly not too serious but at the same time emphasizes collegiality and ensemble for building a supportive culture outside of the PFF ring. I…
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Takedown by Ali Bryan
Takedown by Ali Bryan My rating: 5 of 5 stars OMG. Big ugly gulping sobs. I devoured this book. It haunted me until I gave in and read another chapter. Ali Bryn this is a masterpiece. Congratulations — you may have converted a non-sportie, former Wrestlemania-loving teen to try that kickboxing class again. Or maybe…
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Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin
Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I thought the voice of the first 1/3 was really young and at the same time, the topic is right on cue for a teen audience. I’ve had lots of students in the experience of being taken into care in this age group…
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Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline My rating: 5 of 5 stars It’s difficult to write this review without creating spoilers so I advocate caution if choosing to read ahead. I love the way that Dimaline portrays Winifred as a protagonist who is almost watching her life from the sidelines until she meets…
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The Colony by Audrey Magee
The Colony by Audrey Magee My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was so wonderfully written. Magee’s style of dialogue somehow emphasizes the lilt of this Irish dialect and the tension between the characters. Other critiques have said it’s about art and war but I think it’s about voice — young James and the…
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Coming Home by Tu Vuong
Coming Họmẹ by Tu Vuong My rating: 4 of 5 stars When I read poetry, I try to let it sort of wash over me like rain, because to capture all of the nuance in meaning at once isn’t possible at the first read. I admire Tu’s ambition of trying to create an arc to…
threadbare beauty 