KJK Reads

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Poetry  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I liked the way in which the poems and essays were set with the essay essentially outlining how Campbell approached each topic and contextualised her poems a little and then the poetry following with the emotive content. I found the way in which she covered loss as it approaches the loss of a relationship that is no longer working on the author's own terms but how it still leaves a mark on us as individuals anyway. The illustrations are sparing but compliment the poems they are with really well and are beautiful in their simplicity.  Favourite Quote: “as i get older i'm starting to realize that nothing's safer if it costs your peace”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Holocaust Thoughts: I may have picked this one up at the library and got half way through before I realised that it’s book 2 but it’s a credit to Gleitzman’s writing that I could read it as a standalone and I’ll be going back for more in the series. I really felt for Felix and he kept referring to Zelda as a child since she is so little but after everything he’s been through he doesn’t see himself like that despite only being 10 himself. Genia threw me at first when she found the pair but I can see why she had to behave that way at first and I warmed to her instantly. It was sweet that they could all act as part of the missing pieces for each other since Genia has a missing person and the kids have both lost their parents. The ending felt so rough and made me sad but I appreciate that it's an important piece of history and many people had similar experiences in the War.  Favourite Quote: “Asking for help can be risky these days. A lot of grown-ups aren't...

Rating: 2 Stars Themes: Social Commentary, Satire  Thoughts:  I’m really quite conflicted with this one. One one hand, I can see the satirical take on institutional racism in those type of start ups and sales teams. Equating a cafe to a crack den in the first few pages is definitely a strong choice since he works in a coffee shop at the time but it lets us know exactly what type of satire we are getting ourselves into right off the bat. I did enjoy Askaripour’s take on the prejudices in a workplace from Clyde with the outright targeting and white paint stunt on Buck’s first day to no one noticing Buck was the man from Starbucks till it was pointed out and him being compared to several different famous black men who look nothing alike which the individuals wouldn’t have even recognised as prejudice. Buck is extremely self obsessed, seeing all his colleagues at Starbucks as his soldiers and then behaving like the whole of his estate is behaving around and revolving around him. I...

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Graphic Novel, Non-Fiction Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great way to look into the accomplishments and achievements of black people and celebrate their brilliance as well as acknowledge the suffering and discrimination they had to go though (like Ann Lowe not having her name on the label when selling gowns). I liked the timeline at the end of each person as it was a great recap and could be handy for referring back to if kids use the book for research projects. However, I cannot comment on the colouring as I received a copy that was not in colour but the final art will be and going off the cover which was in colour it looks like it could be beautiful.

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Disability  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a new approach to memoirs for me with history about disability and disabled people being mixed in among the pieces on Lee’s own experience. I liked just how much detail on the Aktion T4 programme was covered as from what I’ve seen it is a little known part of the atrocities committed by the Nazi’s. It was also interesting to have the bits on ‘The monster’ since many in society still see those who have visible or physical disabilities as monsters. I also liked the comparison of fictional villains who have been portrayed with disabilities since it is still used today and is often eaten up by consumers but further stigmatises us and I see it as a lazy and overused device. I did find myself a little thrown at some points when it went from a darker piece of history to a piece of Lee’s more modern life but it does just highlight ...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Dark Romance, Valentines Day Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was my first foray into darker romance so a shorter book that I could finish in one sitting made a perfect choice. The first thing I noticed was just how much care Davis put into her trigger warnings with a basic trigger being mentioned (e.g. violence and weapons) but then she outlines briefly what sorts of behaviours under that umbrella are present while not disclosing enough to spoil the story itself (e.g. guns, criminal activity, and high stress scenes). I like this as it shows Davis cares about her readers and that she really put thought into it. I liked Hannah as a character as she’s a strong female presence who knows exactly what she deserves and won’t settle for less, she is also more than happy to stand up to men taller and stronger than her which could be dangerous but also shows her inner strength and feisty personality. I a...