I have posted my buzzwordathon tbr for the year long reading challenge. Check out my video to see all that I’ll be reading. The buzzwordathon is hosted by booktuber booksandlala and there are themes for each month. You plan your tbr around those themes and just have fun. 😊
Tag scribd
With The Fire on High By Elizabeth Acevedo | Book Review
Synopsis:
With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.
Book Review:
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a good novel! It actually had a mix of what most teen mom’s today that are in school and working and taking care of their kid(s) go through. Emoni’s only dream is to cook in a nice restaurant. She love to cook and she like to add her own touch to her food.
With her grades almost slipping and taking care of her daughter and working part-time she feels an elective like culinary art’s won’t help her..
This story shows that no matter your situation you can get what you want from life with determination and hard work. Emoni worked hard and never gave up even when they where people telling her to drop out because she was pregnant.
I loved this story loved it even more that I listened to it on audiobook. Elizabeth Acevedo is Queen and I’ll read anything she publishes. Great story!! 5 🌟
Nectar By Upile Chisala | Book Review
Synopsis:
Nectar is the second collection of poetry and prose by Malawian storyteller Upile Chisala. In this book, Upile guides through a beautiful process of blooming starting with some poems on self love then words on our roots followed by acknowledging all the fruit of these experiences. The storyteller’s hope is that these poems on growth encourage the reader to sow and to make changes in the lives of others. Born in 1994 and raised in Zomba, Upile’s hope is to tell stories from the margins and through her work help others and herself come to terms with pasts, celebrate presents and confidently dream beautiful futures.
Book Review:
Nectar by Upile Chisala
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nectar was written very well. I listened to this on audiobook and to hear the author speak her poems, so beautifully. She talked about letting go of your anger yet having forgiveness. The author also mentioned it’s okay to show pride for being black, love yourself. Love your black skin!
She touched on relationships and love and staying strong. Although short and I wanted more, it still packed a punch great writing, beautiful poetry! I will be reading more from this author soon.
Small Ghost By Trista Mateer | Book Review
Synopsis:
Small Ghost is a brief narrative collection of poetry about depression and anxiety with a central focus on coping mechanisms.
Book Review:
Small Ghost by Trista Mateer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The one thing I can mention about Small Ghost is the writing style it’s not something I’m naturally use to. But I guess you get use to it while you are reading through it. These poems talked mainly about anxiety and depression and how it has affected the author (or anyone for that matter) for someone who actually deals with anxiety on the daily basis — the author did depict anxiety and depression correctly without being triggering (at least for me)
I liked the art work, and I loved that there was a happy ending (a dog to help ease and bring happiness to the author) in the end she took off the sheet and was able to live life. It’s very hard to live with a mental illness (I should know) but knowing you can live and still be happy while getting help. So I enjoyed Small Ghost I wanted most artwork though.
The Princess Saves Herself in This One By Amanda Lovelace | Book Review
Synopsis: “Ah, life- the thing that happens to us while we’re off somewhere else blowing on dandelions & wishing ourselves into the pages of our favorite fairy tales.”
A poetry collection divided into four different parts: the princess, the damsel, the queen, & you. the princess, the damsel, & the queen piece together the life of the author in three stages, while you serves as a note to the reader & all of humankind. Explores life & all of its love, loss, grief, healing, empowerment, & inspirations.
Review: 
The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
To be honest and fair I been following the author since her tumblr days. I honestly owned a copy of this poetry book when it came and just didnt read it for a long time. I guess thinking it was …I don’t I wasn’t going to like it. I have access to the audiobook and to hear the author actually speak her words the way they should be read felt great to hear.
Amanda talks about mental illness, being alone, about her mom, relationships, rape culture, having issues with weight, ect I loved this poetry book! Her voice is so soothing she doesn’t rush the words, she want’s you into her life word by word. I will be reading all her other books.
Ghost Squad By Claribel A. Ortega | Book Review
Synopsis: Coco meets Stranger Things with a hint of Ghostbusters in this action-packed supernatural fantasy.
For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business.
Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd’s witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely’s firefly spirits before it’s too late.
With the family dynamics of Coco and action-packed adventure of Ghostbusters, Claribel A. Ortega delivers both a thrillingly spooky and delightfully sweet debut novel.
Book Review:
Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ghost Squad is a fast paced middle grade #ownvoices/ Latinx novel great for young readers or anyone who wants something different. This story is about Lucely and her best friend Syd stumbling onto ghosts in their town. Lucely is also trying to communicate with her mother who passed away sometime ago through fireflies. This book I find has a lot of things going on and kids may like that aspect. Since I’m not a big middle grade reader myself and I’m typically not the audience the author goes after the things happening within the book will be different coming from someone in the 5th grade.
But overall I enjoyed it, the audiobook was great. I thought the narrator did a good job with keeping the story alive. Ghost Squad was fun, cute, diverse, #ownvoices and something I’ll let my son listen to.