Shalan Mitchell > Recent Status Updates

I love this author and all her novels in verse. While I enjoyed Poet X and Clap When You Land a little more, I still really enjoyed this one. I loved the representation of a young mother and the honest commentary on relationships, community, and pursuing one’s dreams. 4🌟

I listened to this for book club. It was simply a book; nothing awful and nothing spectacular. 3🌟

I wrote a long review about how I found the characters unlikeable (especially the MMC) and liked the movie a bit more, but then I accidentally deleted it all. I don’t feel like writing all that again for a book that I just felt meh about, so here is me writing something so I can remember that I didn’t really care for this book. 3🌟

Despite many DNF deliberations, I finished it! I did not enjoy my time listening to this book. I’m in a slump and this has only made me feel more slumpy. I understand why this story is a classic and beloved; however, the “chronicle of events” writing style does not appeal to me. I liked Francie and her family, but I would have liked them more with some nuance. It was okay, but I won’t read it again. 2.5 🌟

I really enjoyed Once Upon A Wardrobe by Patti Callahan. I like her writing style, and I often adore the setting descriptions and imagination she adds to her stories. This one was no different; however, the plot and pacing were a bit off. It felt a little too long. I didn’t mind too much because I did love the characters. The narration was really comforting as well because C.E. has such a warm voice. 3.5🌟

I would DNF this book if it wasn’t for a bookclub. I may still DNF it and just read a synopsis about all the mundane things these characters do. I may also just let it be the background noise while I pack my apartment. Who knows? What I do know is this book is a bit boring.

Another two months with Emma have come and gone. I read the July’s journals throughout the same month, and all the August journals in a single sitting on the final day of July. These books give me so much joy; they’re comforting and hilarious. I particularly enjoyed the beginnings of the slow burn romance. I cannot wait to return to this story in September. 4.5🌟

(YAL) This was the final book for my YA Literature course, and I absolutely adored it! I’m not a Sci-Fi reader, but this is a great soft Sci-Fi to begin with. I loved exploring what makes us human through the perspective of stories, songs, dreams, and memories. I cried a lot while reading this book and loved our main character, Petra, for her resilience and care for humanity’s stories and legacy. 5🌟

This book was a very detailed multi-step guide to how to study the Bible. She gives a very exhaustive approach to studying the Bible, but I think there is something for everyone to try as they get into the word. I honestly don’t know why the book is marketed specifically for women because most of what is discusses is universal and could be applicable for men wanting to study the Bible more as well. I recommend it.

This book is blowing me away. I’m also crying a ton too, so there’s that.

I really enjoyed this book! Sarah Dessen was an auto-buy/read author for me throughout middle and high school. Reading this book was such a nostalgic experience for me! I remembered how much I enjoy her writing style and her books’ themes around family dynamics, romantic relationships, and self-growth. It was a wholesome and endearing summer story! 4.5🌟

(YAL) This was a heart wrenching and heart warming memoir in verse. Rex’s childhood and youth were full of so much heartache at the hands of his mother, but his abuela was such a light in his life. She showered him with unconditional love, support, and safety. I will definitely be reading his other two companion memoirs! I highly recommend this one.

Rant Continued: HOWEVER, there are also harmful comments/conversations about suicide/death as well as an unchallenged us versus them/binary narrative that promotes further racial prejudice. This is enough, but the writing style is also a bit unbearable - stop telling me everything and start showing me something! Dr. Treuer, no sir. I’m sorry (not sorry), but 2 🌟

(YAL) Friends, I did not enjoy this book. I am not even certain that I can recommend this book. Which pains me because we need and deserve more indigenous/native stories. Don’t get me wrong, there are great aspects to this book - the family/community dynamics, spirituality connected to the land, and a rich expression of cultural history through storytelling.

Ugh, I am not enjoying this book at all. This is the first one from my YA Literature course that I don’t like. Honestly, I would have DNFed already if reading this wasn’t a requirement. It’s not bad, but this writing style (all tell, no show) drives me mad! I also find the us versus them narrative/borderline racism and the conversations about suicide problematic without challenge thus far.

If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, but also want a beach read then pick this one up! I liked following the perspectives of two very different sisters they dealt with the ramifications of the war from one of America’s most famous beach towns. I enjoyed the bookish aspects of the story and was drawn in by the small suspenseful moments. I recommend this on as an audiobook; the narrators did well! 4🌟

This book is life changing. Who I was before I read/listened to this story is not who I was afterwards. Please read this graphic memoir and then pass it on to another person. It’s such an important story about what it means to be a refugee, but more importantly it is about what it means to have hope and faith. 6🌟

I really enjoyed this story!! Am I liking romance again?! No, I don’t think so. Haha. I am just enjoying “women’s” fiction with a side plot of romance. This novel was very refreshing and I liked the characters and their growth a lot. I highly recommend this one! It was heartfelt, funny, and honest. 4.5🌟

(YAL) I really enjoyed the imagery in this novel. The book was very visceral, even the more philosophical imaginings of Khalid’s dream world were easy to visualize. I think this story would be a great introduction to discussing and processing identity and grief. Although great discussions happen throughout the book, I found myself wanting it to dig a little deeper to confront the prejudices. 4.5 🌟

(YAL) I need to be better about writing these as soon as I finish the book because I start to forget my bookish thoughts immediately. I recall really enjoying this book! It took me a little while to get into the story, but the writing style was strong throughout. The themes in this one are heavy and dark, but I was happy that light and hope prevailed. I particularly loved the reliance on music and faith. 4.5🌟