Completely Full Bookshelf

I'm back!!!  I really wish I hadn't dropped off the face of the earth quite aggressively for two months, but alas, here we are. In that time, I've: Been so busy that it's really a wonder how I function at all (yet I do!) Been addicted to various  amazing  albums of music ( Midnights by Taylor Swift,  Inner World Peace  by Frankie Cosmos, and Swimming Lessons  by Genevieve Stokes) Done my usual therapy routine (hooray for achingly slow self-improvement!) Played several shockingly gorgeous mobile games I've played before ( Monument Valley , Monument Valley 2 , and Assemble with Care ) and one I haven't ( Florence ) Listened to three tracks from the  Monument Valley 2  soundtrack on loop ("Interwoven Stories," "Child," and "Power of Two") Laughed really hard on some video calls with friends Pondered my future intermittently and with great trepidation (my trepidation is greater than your trepidation, so take that ) Felt like a weird cr

So you might have noticed that I dropped off the face of the earth for about two months! Now that I'm on Thanksgiving break, I'm going to try and get this blog put back in order (no promises), but regardless of what happens with that, I did just want to say that I'm unharmed and well, and I miss you all!

Hi everyone! I'm still a mess when it comes to commenting on people's blogs, but I'm honestly just glad I've at least kept up my reading habits recently. I do want to thank everyone who filled out my comments survey last week—it gives me a lot of helpful info as I decide how to proceed with the Great Blogger Comment Fiasco of 2022! If you didn't get a chance to fill it out, it's still open, and I'd love your input. Moving along, today we have a review of a delightful  MG graphic novel: Besties: Work It Out , written by Kayla Miller and Jeffrey Canino and illustrated by Kristina Luu! Add it on Goodreads  or preview the illustrations I think my entire existence as a blogger is to solve the problem of books that look like they'll be one thing but are actually another, and Besties: Work It Out  definitely fits into this category! A bit of backstory: Last week, I was reviewing the fourth graphic novel in Kayla Miller's delightful Click  series, comprised

Hello everyone! I was very sad to miss everyone's posts last week, but there was just way  too much going on for me to get around to reading what people had to say. I hope I'll be able to fix that this week! Fortunately, I still have time to read and talk about books, and I'm here with a great one today: the graphic novel Clash  by Kayla Miller! Add it on Goodreads  or preview the illustrations OK, so I've finally decided that I completely love  this series of graphic novels! Kayla Miller has written five books in this series so far, as well as two spin-off graphic novels, and Clash  is the fourth book in the main series. Prior to now, I had read Click , Camp , and Act , the first three books in the series, and barring a mostly irrational reaction I had to Camp  (for reasons described in my review of Act ), I seriously enjoyed those books. But for some reason, I hadn't gotten around to this book yet. Well, now, book 5 is out—it's called Crunch , Earl Dizon at Th

Hello everyone! I'm so busy that I'm not entirely sure how I'm functioning, but I am, in part because I've been making myself read great books. In fact, I'm here today with a book of comics I've been waiting so  long to read: Alone in Space: A Collection  by Tillie Walden! Because this book is divided into sections, I'm doing the same with my review, and I must say that my OCD is way too excited as a result! Please note, this is a young adult (YA) book, and it contains mature content. Add it on Goodreads  or preview the illustrations! Some background... Unless you're completely brand new to my blog (which is totally allowed!), then you're already plenty acquainted with the fact that I love— love —graphic novels. I've read tons and tons and tons  of them, so it is a pretty darn important distinction that I consider Tillie Walden my absolute favorite graphic novelist. I was hooked by Are You Listening?  and subsequently devoured On a Sunbeam , her

Hello everyone! I'm excited to be reviewing a graphic novel I've heard a lot about: The Leak , written by Kate Reed Petty and illustrated by Andrea Bell! Add it on Goodreads  or preview the illustrations on Amazon Let's start off with the publisher's description  of this book: ********** In this compelling middle-grade graphic novel, Ruth, a young journalist, is determined to uncover a secret that threatens her town. Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange black slime in the man-made lake of her suburban neighborhood, she decides to investigate. Fortified by the encouragement of those around her, Ruth seeks the truth at all costs, even if it means taking on the rich local country club owner, who she believes is responsible for the pollution.  Between the teasing of former friends, and a sudden viral spotlight, Ruth discovers how difficult it is for a journalist to take a stand for

Hello everyone! Today I am excited to be recommending another truly incredible YA novel: Salt to the Sea  by Ruta Sepetys. Please note, this is a young adult (YA) novel, and it contains mature content. Add it on Goodreads I'm so excited that, with this book, I have officially met my goal of reading 3 books for the Big Book Summer Challenge ,  hosted by Sue Jackson at Book by Book ! And I am also have excited to have read this book simply because it is the favorite book of one of my good friends, and I'm glad I can finally talk to her about it. And I am also  excited to have read this book because, quite simply, it is unparalleled and incredible, and it is a perfect finish to this summer of incredible YA novels (like Yolk  and Bitter ). Let's start off with the publisher's description  of this book: ********** In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to

Hey everyone! Today I am thrilled  to be recommending an incredible, awe-inspiring, must-read YA novel: Bitter  by Akwaeke Emezi. Please note, this book is a young adult (YA) novel, and it contains mature content. Also, this book is a prequel to Emezi's novel Pet , but the following review contains no spoilers  of that book (which is pretty easy, considering this one is a prequel!). Add it on Goodreads Let's start off with the publisher's description  of this book: ********** From National Book Award finalist Akwaeke Emezi comes a companion novel to the critically acclaimed PET that explores both the importance and cost of social revolution--and how youth lead the way. After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special school where she can focus on her painting surrounded by other creative teens. But outside this haven, the streets are filled with protests against the deep injustices that grip the city of Lucille. Bitter