I received this book of poetry as part of a giveaway and I am glad that I did. This collection of beautiful and thought-provoking verse is a combination of personal reflection on topics (such as love, identity, pain, hardship, understanding yourself) and social commentary on broader ideas (including inclusion, acceptance, conflict, "the West", the state of society/the world). Overall, I found these poems easy to read while also being deep and meaningful. Some of my personal favorites were "The King's Dilemma", "The Dark Prose of the Black Sheep", "Pandemomium" and "The West Lies in Lies- A True Poem".

A well written and captivatingly illustrated graphic novel about the events surrounding the unfortunate shooting on the campus of Kent State University, Ohio in May 1970. This massacre, committed by the Ohio National Guard against Vietnam protesters, left four dead and nine injured. Overall, a well researched and thoughtfully delivered account of the events of that unfortunate day that is both informative and easy to read.

An informative, well researched and well written book that offers a glimpse inside the complexities of the alliance between the Mafia and the US Naval Department during WWII. The story explains how the Mafia assisted, through operatives in the US and Sicily, in things like averting possible sabotage of shipments, aiding in keeping supplies exiting ports, providing intelligence on possible landing sites in Sicily, as well as, with more hands on support in Sicily. The book also covers how "Lucky" Luciano, Mafia crime boss used the operation to further his gambling empire and to aid in getting his sentence commuted from prison to deportation.

A collection of interesting, insightful and often funny stories that display the difference in cultures and people. The book follows the author through her travels beginning in her childhood in Seoul, (Arguably my favorite part as I have lived in the Gangnam district of Seoul myself), then continues on her travels through many other countries and cultures. I really enjoyed Kim's honest, witty and thoughtful storytelling and her keen insights into Korean cultural identity.

I enjoyed reading this retelling even though the story often developed slowly. Told through Joe's point of view, the story depicts a family that is flawed but also committed to remaining a family. The absurdity, madness and dysfunction of family life makes for a fun, heart-felt read.

I absolutely adored this book. The World building is amazing and the premise is refreshingly different, as the, very well-written, fairy characters are born already in debt. Avery, the main character, is both sympathetic and empowering. Watching how she navigates her unfair world and keeps fighting was an inspiration. There is so much in this book that mirrors our society and includes lessons we all could learn. It has left me eager for the sequel!

Having once lived in the Anatolia region of Turkey myself (where the book is set), I found this glimpse into a sad time in Turkish history to be both insightful and emotionally stirring. The book follows the young Suren as he navigates the increasingly violent world around him during the Armenian genocide. He soon faces complex choices about himself, relationships, the world and the sort of person he wants to be. Overall, an excellent and riveting read.

I absolutely loved this collection of stories and quickly devoured it in one sitting. It is hard to do a general review as each story is so varied in subject, tone and emotion. Some are laugh out loud funny, others are thought provoking, most are absurd (in the best ways!) and all show Appel's unique and gifted imagination. I will definitely be looking into other works by this refreshingly different author.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and its focus on the importance of family. It was a fast paced read with a wonderful mix of action and humor. The characters and creatures were all delightfully different and intriguing. All together, the fantasy world Little built was both vivid and interesting and I look forward to finishing the rest of the series.

Though I enjoyed the premise of this book, I did find the constant shifting of perspective to be a little distracting. That aside, I found Abigail and her story both interesting and relatable. The plot was somewhat slow to develop but did keep my attention and interest. Overall, a good book for those who enjoy historical fiction.

A beautiful book of verse taking the reader on a voyage into life in small town Australia. Having grown up in a small town myself (but in the American South), the poems seem both comforting familiar while still be interesting and intriguingly different. A joy to read that was left me excited to look into Prem's other works.