Ivy's Reviews

A young girl sets her baby brother, Moses, in a basket to float down the Nile River to an uncertain future. Not everyone thinks about Miriam and how she felt losing her brother, but this book does. Every page is worthy of a frame—the art is that good, it gave me goosebumps, and the beautiful poetic text brought tears to my eyes. While religious in origin, this story touches on universal fears, hopes, and dreams.

Yumi yearns (and fears) to be heard for who she is by her parents. She wants to be a standup comedian while her parents want her to pursue academic excellence. After an incidence of mistaken identity, Yumi is secretly following her dream, but it can come crashing down at any moment. I wanted nothing more than for Yumi to find her voice, and her worries became my own. Fans of The First Rule of Punk will love this book!

After unnecessary escalation by school administration, Donte, who is Black, finds himself in the back of a cop car and suspended from school. His white-passing brother, Trey, doesn’t understand why people treat Donte differently, but both find ways forward from an unlikely place. Complex and raw, this book challenged me in the best way and showed me a new perspective on racial injustice. Perfect for kids not quite ready for The Hate U Give.

LET’S. GET. REAAAAADY. FOR. FUN!! In one corner, we have Dangerous Daddoo and in the other, the Tag Team Twins (with special guest Big Bald Baby). Who will come out on top? Can the kids squash the chance of bedtime? With surprising twists and incredibly dynamic art, this is one you don’t want to miss. I had a grin for every page. Perfect for humor fans of all ages.

In a future where security is run by sophisticated AIs, one robot just wants to be left alone to watch soap operas. Murderbot (a name they gave their self) has to work very hard to keep humans unaware of their own agency to avoid being wiped back to factory settings. Also, someone is trying to kill the people in their charge. I loved this fresh take on the future of AI. - Ivy

Violet is considered a surplus woman, stuck in limbo as a spinster who lost her fiancé in the Great War. In order to find some meaning, she starts a new life in Winchester, living as a single woman. Through a chance encounter, she falls in with a group of broderers, women who embroider kneeling pads for worshippers at Winchester Cathedral, and finds herself joined together with an amazing group of women. This beautiful book resonated with me on a deep level. - Ivy

Do you remember the way you used to draw as a child? Most of us lose that as we grow older. Making Comics is a master class in the comic form. Barry, a powerhouse creator of strange and beautiful comic books, guides us through an intensive process to get the creative juices flowing and remind us of the courage we had as younglings. I was pleasantly surprised at my own daring as I worked my way through the book. - Ivy

Where does the cycle of violence begin and how does it end? What is justice and who is justified? There are no easy answers and this book offers none. Set against the backdrop of a fictionalized version of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, two families linked by tragedy struggle with the legacy of death, racism, and a flawed court system. This book is so timely and important. It has wrapped itself around my heart and refuses to let go. - Ivy

Felicia Day, geek goddess extraordinaire, is on a mission of creativity, specifically to help each of us unlock our imagination and finally work on that project we’ve been putting off. Personally, I am a professional procrastinator. I tend to think up great, crazy ideas and then do absolutely nothing with them. This book gave me permission and the tools I needed to start making them a reality. Take this book and get to work (but, like, in a fun way). - Ivy