Shalan Mitchell > Recent Status Updates

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🌟

I liked this book. I enjoyed learning new words, all the botanical talk, and the FMCs love for her best friend. The romance and general plot were okay but not my favorite. Overall, it was a good middle of the road romance. 3🌟

(YAL) I took a break from my YA Lit. readings during the 4th of July weekend only to finish this one in one sitting come Monday. What a perfect book for such a time as this. Reynolds masterfully executed this not history history book! It sucked me in right away in a way nonfiction rarely does. I am still reeling and looking to know more. Please read this and share it with the youth in your life. 5🌟

After two months, I have finally finished this book! It’s my fault, in part, because I had to put it down to prioritize my coursework readings. However, it’s also the book’s fault because this one has the pacing of a snail. It’s a quiet and heavy book … literally, it has great and weighty commentary but not a quotation mark in sight. I recommend the audiobook to keep up with the dialogue alone. 4🌟

I literally read these books over the two month period their set. It was lovely to return to Emma’s journal throughout May and June for some laughs. I am so endeared to these characters and their antics. I can’t wait to continue on with the series! I find them utterly delightful! 4.5🌟

(YAL) Although I was frustrated to enraged by the injustices and prejudices depicted in this book, I was also filled with hope and faith that we can overcome while reading Amal’s story. This book shines a spotlight on the failings of the justice system and detention facilities but more so gives a voice to wrongfully convicted juveniles through art and poetry. I highly recommend it. 4.5🌟

(YAL) This middle grade historical fiction book follows three perspectives - one during the coronavirus pandemic, one in 1930s America, and one during the 1930s famine in Ukraine/ the USSR. I love stories that highlight hidden histories! This one was so eye opening due to the various POVs. I also liked how the book explored media criticism and access to accurate/authentic information. 5🌟