Eli's Reviews

Torn between following their passion for painting by working for the Razanei government and upholding their duty to their sister and the rebellion, Gyen Jebi becomes embroiled in the political and magical power of their art. As an artist myself, I found Gyen Jebi's passion and angst all too relatable! This fantastical steampunk world is wholly original with a slew of great characters. - Eli

Available in paperback

The child of a Jamaican father and a Greek mother, Michael grapples with his mixed race and queer identity as he grows up in England. Through poetry and drag, he discovers catharsis in expressing and embracing his truest self. The reader gets a real sense of Michael’s thoughts and feelings—delivered in first-person poetic verse—as he encounters racism (both experienced and internalized), strained familial relation- ships, romantic interests, and difficult coping mechanisms. — Eli

It’s training day for El Toro, and he’s got a lot to cover if he’s going to smash The Wall! But sleeping in sounds so much better than training…. Although I’m no luchador, like El Toro I too cherish my sleep. Lovably silly characters, dynamic graphics, and trippy colors make this a visually rich read. By incorporating Spanish and English, this book will appeal to bilingual readers and language learners alike. — Eli

Beyond our solar neighborhood exist glittering nebulae, tantalizing exoplanets, and ominous black holes. This book takes us on a journey to see these amazing phenomena through the great beyond with poetic verse and fantastic imagery that made me feel smaller than a fraction of a pixel! I especially appreciate the scientific explanations and definitions in the endnotes to support reading comprehension. — Eli