Jocelyn's Reviews

Ignore the cover and title. This is a modern-day feminist fable for zillennials set not just in the tech world so many of us know, but the video game industry rarely depicted in literature. All-too-real experiences of sexism and discrimination are balanced with intelligence, friendship, and a lovely romantic B-plot that supports Melody’s journey to make the best of bad situations. - Jocelyn

Starting with this book, Ann Cleeves’s curmudgeonly, often-underestimated detective Vera Stanhope is an undeniable force. That said, her and her team almost take second place to the unique communities built around each murder – exploring the fully-drawn personalities, relationships, secrets, loves, and betrayals that led to the end of a life. - Jocelyn

In spite of pervasive myths, there is no such thing as “pure” science: It has always been intrinsically linked to our history and culture. Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein begins The Disordered Cosmos with sheer nerdy joy, introducing the theoretical physics that is her passion, and then moves into an exploration of the inherent injustices within Western science, and calls for science to be done better. Drawn from research, observation, and her experiences as a queer, agender, disabled femme Jewish Black woman, this is an incredibly powerful, accessible, inspiring book. — Jocelyn

Charlie Jane Anders took inspiration from Doctor Who, Steven Universe, and other modern classic serialized and animated sci-fi/fantasy epics to create her frenetic, vibrant, inclusive young adult debut. Blink and you’ll miss the journey from Earth to the shape-shifting spaceship to intergalactic space battles—but Tina, clone of the galaxy’s greatest captain, and her vivid, diverse panoply of teen geniuses, impel you to keep up. A space-based fairy tale filled with art, music, and text chains, as well as fighting evil and finding love, respect, and friendship. — Jocelyn

This is a fun, vibrant, full-of-heart fairy tale set in the modern world that uses magic in the best way: to make the complexities of real life easier to understand. Supriya Kelkar’s Sonali is recognizable and likeable, even as she struggles against the musical Bollywood world she finds herself in, with the forces of change pressing in on her friends and family and against her. For anyone who wants stories of the real world but also appreciates a bit of whimsy. — Jocelyn

I absolutely loved reading this book and spending time with Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly’s Marisol Rainey and her world. Each stage of the story stands on its own and is relatable for people of all ages and genders. The book is broken into chapters that are ideal for an early reader to work through on their own or for the family to share at bedtime. I saw myself in Marisol, as I think anyone who has ever needed a reminder that they are smart, creative, and brave will. — Jocelyn

Jess Phoenix’s passion is undeniable. “Geologist” seems a tame word for someone who regularly—and eagerly—confronts volcanoes, but it is Phoenix’s love of science, as much as her global tales of derring-do, that complete this ride. She shares the compelling tales of her formative experiences with these amazing engines of Earth’s creation, and of her journey to become the scientist she is today, one who hopes to bring science and adventure to all. — Jocelyn

This book gathers the work of 25 writers exploring their personal San Francisco, working to pinpoint what they loved and what has been lost—or if there was anything there to begin with. While the lack of Latinx and Native voices is marked, the writers in The End of the Golden Gate stretch across generations, backgrounds, and heritage, from the 1960s old guard to 21st-century transplants, from “natives” to out-of-state pilgrims, artists to techies. Peans to the diversity and progressive values of the City sit right next to chapters on the reality of being a person of color in the Bay. Throughout the beautiful writing is an indelible connection to the City, a snapshot of this moment in time, an empathetic exploration for anyone who has ever yearned for the City by the Bay in any way, a reflection while we see what San Francisco will next become. — Jocelyn

This immersive historical narrative transports you to the landscape, language, politics, and dueling moralities of 1722 Pennsylvania. Historian Nicole Eustace breathes life into the people named in primary sources about the murder of Seneca hunter Sawantaeny. Eustace’s deft modern analysis contrasts colonial self-righteousness with the actual principles and justice traditions of the Indigenous nations they attempted to placate. A compelling perspective on overlooked history that feels all the more crucial as we engage in an overdue debate about “justice” itself. — Jocelyn

Professor Olivette Otele’s celebrated expertise is in full display in this intersectional historic exploration. With her characteristic rigorous analysis, drawn from a wide breadth of sources, Otele details the evolution of the idea of race and the lives and circumstances of Black individuals across Europe and time. African Europeans joyously concludes with stories of those currently working to define their own identities and claim recognition and justice. For any scholar looking to disrupt an erroneously monochromatic view or to deepen their understanding of history’s true diversity. — Jocelyn