KJK Reads

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.”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Cookbook, Alcohol Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I saw this book after having Tiki drinks at a family meal not too long ago and thought this could be perfect for me to be able to make some at home too. It’s a great collection and there’s definitely some in here I can add to my repertoire. I liked the photos with each picture and found them appetising, making me want to try them more. I liked that the author put the tip after each drink where the ingredient is used (like homemade grenadine) instead of at the end so I don’t need to keep flipping back and forth and lose track of what I’m supposed to be doing. I also liked having the bit about rum and barware at the beginning so I can make sure I’m equipped before I start. Having an index makes short cutting to a specific drink easier in the future so I’ll be able to go back to it without searching.

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I picked this up today since I was struggling to decide what to watch next and thought regardless of what types of shows are featured I’m sure there’d be something for me. I did find quite a few shows I’ve really enjoyed recently on the list and some very high so it gave me the confidence that the other shows I picked from here would also be right up my street. I appreciated that the author acknowledges how subjective it all is right from the off rather than making out like they have superior media taste. I liked that the author provided the average duration for the episodes in each series recommended since I like to have shows I can fit in at different times. I also liked having the original network being provided but it would be nice to know where it’s available now since I don’t have all the streaming networks but they sometimes cross such as Yellowston...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: True Crime, Graphic Novel  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is an interesting story and the author takes quite an interesting theory to what happened after the men left Alcatraz island. I thought the graphics were great although I did struggle with the female character that was constantly referred to as black since it was integral to her storyline but aside from characters mentioning it, it wasn’t made obvious in the images themselves aside from one page right at the beginning that shows her mother if you pay close attention to the bank scene. I also liked the romantic angle with LGBTQ+ representation as a sweet touch to a dramatic and dangerous story and having it same sex allows for an exploration of the attitudes to them in the 1960s. Favourite Quote: “I mean, once you jump off Alcatraz island … where can you really go?”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Historical Fiction, Holocaust  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.  This book is a fictional story based on the actual events many in the Baltics experienced during World War 2 and the Holocaust and some characters are based on real people, as explained at the end. It’s an important story to tell as I didn’t know much about the Baltic experiences and I read a lot from this time period so I’m sure there’s others who don’t know enough either. The story grabbed me right from the off and I found the characters amazing and I really felt for them and everything they had to go through. The narration was great and really helped to immerse me in the story even more. I also appreciated the notes being at the end as the author said, it avoided taking me out of the story.

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Psychological Fiction, Romance, Christmas  Thoughts: When I picked this book up I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into as I went in blind and at first couldn’t decide if it was a romance or psychological fiction and it turns out to be the perfect blending of both. The story around the town and the characters own lives holds its own and doesn’t lose anything to the main characters developments. The FMC is a strong and independent individual but still manages to maintain strong connections to her family and the town which is great to read. The premise of it being Christmas everyday is such a cool idea but I have a feeling I would end up the same way as Holly after too long of it. I like how the romance felt slow and natural with the first meeting really setting us up and then the conflict of their needs turning them almost into enemies with moments that gave us hope. I also think that the (real Christmas in the book is just perfect with what Christmas me...

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Children's Non-Fiction Thoughts:  This is such a great book for little kids to be reading. It covers so much more than just the basic family make up since it also addresses things such as schooling, jobs/work, holidays and celebrations as well. I liked how diverse the illustrations were with him being able to point out two different mobility aids that he’s seen me using being represented in the book as well as covering different races, genders and hair types. The illustrations themselves are great and the pages aren’t too complicated or packed so as not to distract the younger readers. Favourite Quote: “But in real life, families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.”

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Short Story, Horror Thoughts: I picked this up quite a while ago as a short horror story when I was trying to get into the genre but aside from it being a horror short story I couldn’t remember much else by the time I started to read. Soren and Leila seem to be a really sweet couple and I have to admit I may be convinced to join a social experiment for those benefits such as their first house too. Some of the neighbours seem unique from the off but then again don’t you always get a few different people in these sorts of things, I mean just look at Big Brother. The way in which the story evolved was well paced and kept me gripped to see where it was going and how far everything would go. I also liked the ending although I’d have enjoyed a follow up or epilogue to see how Soren and Leila have coped with it all afterwards. Favourite Quote: “Holidays always make people a little crazy.”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Children's Non-Fiction Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is such a great little book and I really wish we had something like this when I was little. I liked that such a wide variety of women with different accomplishments were covered from literature and the arts to science and social justice, there's a role model for any and everyone. I liked how different cultures and races were included, especially Mrs Mary Seacole who is often overlooked by the white Florence Nightingale. I also thought that the today's trailblazers were a great touch as even though the book is dedicated to those who changed the world, we know the work isn’t over yet and we should acknowledge those still fighting. 

Rating: 5 Stars  Themes: Non-Fiction, True Crime Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. King shows us the aftermath of a violent murder and how it impacts those left behind while sharing the seemingly never ending fight for justice for her mother. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the psychic element but being what inspired her to write the book I see why it felt important for King to include it. While the book itself is about the murder and wish for justice of Nancy Jo Andrade, I found the differing perspectives on capital punishment as someone who doesn’t believe in it for statistical reasons, it was still emotive and gave me pause for thought seeing the way in which it can be used as a tool for justice. I like how in the preface King mentions advocating for other victims and their families and she also provided resources for ‘families of missing loved ones’ and ‘support for murder victim’s families and crime victim services’ to ...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Children's Fiction  Thoughts: This is a really great way to explain journalism in young kids and hopefully inspire some to go into the field. I loved the dedication, thought the story was well done and the homemade studio with the toys as crew is such a cute idea. The overall message of the story was great and a really important thing to teach children too. I liked that the author provided an understanding the news section at the end to help children fully understand the terms used and ones such as fact and opinion are great things to learn so young.  Favourite Quote: “Journalism is important work. We're not the only people who need you.”

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. These poems are different to the ones I have read prior. The approach of poems coming from an older person and reflecting on life was quite interesting to see how many things we think similarly in and how many are differing. The recent poems around Covid and the Russian invasion were also interesting to see an older persons interpretation of the events which I didn’t have beforehand. Favourite Quote: “Music will outlast the bombs that seek to level Ukrainian cities- cities that will surely be rebuilt and restored to long outlast those who sent them there.”