KJK Reads

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Short Story, Teen, Young Adult Thoughts: This book is such an emotional rollercoaster. Starting the book with the death of Aman’s dad is an emotional hit straight off and it’s sweet seeing her take Gurnam in as a paternal figure as their friendship develops, we get the feeling the hole in her life is a little smaller with him there. I also liked that there were complexities in Gurnam’s life as so often in younger books like this it’s the kids with all the problems and adults are seen as almost immune so seeing Gurnam working through his past and Aman’s dad also working through grief is great to remind young readers that adults can have things going on in their heads too. I started to have an inkling of Gurnam’s secret and I’m glad it was done as it is an often overlooked topic that everyone should consider, especially among religions other than our own. Favourite Quote: “I get low sometimes, I feel numb like there's nothing inside me. But being around your l...

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Teen, Quick Read Thoughts: This could be a good introduction to the horror/supernatural style book for teen readers. The book itself feels a little short, and I could have definitely enjoyed it being a little longer but I appreciate it's a good way to get teens back into reading with short books. The illustrations are great and really hammer home just how creepy Thing is.

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Graphic Novel Thoughts: I’m just getting into graphic novels for human nature types of stories and with the polarity of politics around the world this one felt important to pick up. It is equal parts enlightening and heartbreaking, looking at not only Alpha’s journey but also that of those he befriends along the way. I liked that all of them were travelling for different reasons as it emphasises all the reasons for migration and helps provoke empathy to more than just those like Alpha fleeing to find his family. I especially liked that the main character was a travelling single man, as was the first friend he made, explaining why they may be sent and why the travel is important to them and their families as I have heard people comment when single men land in my country without giving thought to the reasons why they may have been chosen. Although I’m sure that those who would benefit most from the message in this book are those who are least likely to actually pi...

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Young Adult, Psychological Fiction Thoughts: This is so impactful for such a short book. I instantly felt for Jake, he is such a strong and resilient young boy. Seeing what young people on the streets go through is really saddening but something we all should know more about. I really liked the ending, as it gives any children reading this with similar life experiences like Jake’s some hope. Favourite Quote: “You should love your mum, but I don't know if I do. Sometimes I even think I hate her. But I still don't want anyone to hurt her. I know how she'd look if I turned her in. It makes me feel bad even thinking about it.”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction Thoughts:  This is such an interesting book about a period in UK history I aim to learn more about. There are quite a few interesting characters between the Laverly’s and the McGeown’s. I found Cushla to be a complex character as despite not agreeing with her behaviour regarding Michael but then felt a great softness and kindness in the way she went about the McGeown’s. The book covers a tragic chain of events covering a difficult period in history where events were often unpredictable and I myself didn’t see the ending of the events coming, although I did correctly predict who was in the Art gallery. Favourite Quote: “Booby trap. Incendiary device. Gelignite. Nitroglycerine. Petrol bomb. Rubber bullets. Saracen. Internment. The Special Powers Act. Vanguard. The vocabulary of a seven-year-old child now.”

Rating:  5 Stars  Themes: Non-Fiction, LGBTQ+ Thoughts: This is a really great little book, it is concise but detailed with many different terms all across the community. I liked that it covered multiple terms that mean the same thing but are the correct term for different people like having lesbian and women loving women while addressing the ethnocentrism of the term lesbian and AFAB but also things such as CAFAB addressing the different people living on the trans spectrum. I also like the quick clarifications at the beginning like sex vs gender and romance vs sexuality to support the right thought processes before going through all the different attractions. Overall, it was a helpful book and I learnt some things about my own community I didn’t know before picking this up. Favourite Quote: “Identity is, after all, personal and not for anyone else to decide.”