KJK Reads

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Fiction, Short Stories, Africa Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book is made up of 7 short stories based on Caribbean experiences from different walks of life. Many of them were raw and enlightening, especially the first one and those around pregnancy. The first story with the books title is especially emotive, showing how the wrong church can prey on the more vulnerable and how they exert their grip over them for years to come. Exile also stuck with me and I really felt for Paula being so out of control due to her age despite the fact that all the decisions being made were about her. Her strength and determination of character developed through her story in a way that left me proud of her by the end. Favourite Quote: “Columbus like them gangstas, dangerous men from Trinidad East-West Corridor, who could get people to do things they don't want to do. 'Cause Columbus understand that if yu...

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Quick Reads, Mental Health, Psychological Fiction, Eating Disorders Thoughts: This was a really difficult but poignant read. Watching Ray’s descent felt both slow and painful and too fast like watching a crash you can’t stop. I could feel quite early how bad his behaviours were going to get and seeing how long it took any friends to notice felt bad, especially those who are also into the gym and food. It was an interesting take to mark the chapters in part two by Rays weight rather than the dates we’re used to seeing in books, it also made his decline so much sharper. It also felt soo real despite being fiction and at points my eyes were watering and I pretty much never cry at books.  Favourite Quote:  “Obviously I didn't wanna die. That's the whole reason I stopped eating ultra-processed food. This was just supposed to be about self-control. Reaching a goal. Being pure muscle, no soft bits, no fat. But the fear was a next ting.”

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, History, Syris, SWANA Thoughts:  This book started off really strong with Di Giovanni addressing the descent into the Syrian civil war through the eyes of different people living there. Her sections on torture and the sexual torture of the women who had been detained were impactful and the fact she was in danger at points investigating it shows how difficult it is to obtain that information. I didn’t mind the comparisons to other wars in which Di Giovanni has been a journalist for as it is done often in reports anyway and it can help to get across the full extent of an ongoing atrocity with the comparison to one we already know well. However, towards the end the book became more about Di Giovanni’s own experiences and fears rather than focusing on the reality for Syrians like the blurb indicates the book will do. Favourite Quote:  “War means endless waiting, endless boredom. There is no electricity, so no television. You can't read. You can...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Children's, Historical Fiction Thoughts:  This book is a cute but significant book. Otto and Michael are very different kids with different views to violence, with us spending most of our time with Otto who dislikes violence and wars so much he doesn’t want to take part in the class trip and project. This in itself was quite interesting, seeing a child’s mature viewpoint against war when we’re so used to being shown kids like Otto dressing up and playing soldiers for fun. The boys finding out about a relative who had fought in the war through a random comment and mad dash not to throw out an old suitcase may be replicated through many homes as the generations grow. I liked seeing the development of Michael and his views and the ending was quite cute too. Favourite Quote:  “Surely, if you want what you say you want a world at peace you have to understand the consequences of a world at war. Plenty of consequences buried out there in the battlefields of th...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Children's, Historical Fiction Thoughts:  What a cute story. It did throw me off a little being set so recently but having a young Morpurgo as the main character but it’s a fun little easter egg for the kids. I liked the idea of Michael setting off to find the almost family that he grew up hearing about and seeing the way in which so many lives intertwined with Alfie’s in his short years. I also liked the ending having the French and English ‘families’ staying in contact. The illustrations were beautiful and touching as ever and only having dashes of red for the poppies, flag, fires and boats left an impact. Favourite Quote:  “Like so many others, he came, and he died. End of story. But the story lives on, doesn't it?”

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Children's, War, Historical Fiction Thoughts:  This is such a beautiful little book, I really like the idea of using a story like this to get children more engaged in such an important day as Remembrance Day and the history behind it. I liked that Martens’ dad was shown as being killed by the war but decades after as it’s something we don’t tend to think about, even those of us who look into this period of history often, but it’s still a risk here in Europe (not just places like Angola where Lady Diana raised awareness). The use of the poem as an anchor for the love stories throughout Martens’ family is a cute way to do it with both grandfather and great grandfather finding love in the same way but a war apart. It’s really striking to keep the illustrations in black and white aside from the poppies when used as it draws the eye and emphasises their importance, I also find the cover even more so with the metallic sheen on the title and poppies. Favourite Quot...