Katherine's Reviews

A visual feast, Robb Hirsch’s photography explores every facet of Yosemite, from the intimate to the epic, in every mood and season. Hirsch, a scientist as well as a photographer, is an apt tour guide through one of our state’s greatest treasures, and his beautiful images are accompanied by essays on rivers, geology, bird diversity, wildflowers, and more. - Katherine

Sara, a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France, has only ever wanted a normal life, but in a single, fateful day everything she knows and loves is destroyed. Relying on the everyday courage and kindness of friends and strangers, Sara fights for survival, finding hope in the unlikeliest of places. A companion book to her beloved novel Wonder, Palacio’s graphic novel debut is a harrowing but ultimately inspiring read. - Katherine

After getting caught with her secret girlfriend, Audre is sent away from her home in Trinidad to live with her father in the U.S. There, she meets Mabel, and neither girl’s life is ever the same again. In lyrical prose that tumbles and flows with ease, Stars draws you into the girls’ intimate world. A love story brimming with emotion, tragedy, and hope. - Katherine

A luminous coming-of-age story. Ana, a young Dominican girl forced into marriage on the slim hope it will help bring her family to America, lives a life of cold isolation, confined to her abusive husband’s New York apartment, but when political chaos draws him back to the island and Ana is left behind, a new world opens up beneath her feet, and Ana must choose between duty and desire. - Katherine

Laws is known for his beautiful bird guides, but he's also a top notch instructor with a boundless enthusiasm for sharing his love of art and nature with others. This book is a comprehensive course in nature journaling that’s comprehensive in its scope without being overwhelming. If you've been meaning to try nature journaling, this is your excuse to dive in. - Katherine

Sherlock Holmes by way of Doctor Who, this wild and weird adventure is a breath of fresh air. Shaharazad Haas (a bisexual sorceress) and her companion Captain Wyndham (a veteran of an interdimensional war) traverse space and time solving mysteries and dealing with all manner of creatures, including vampires, gods, pirates, and poets. Delightfully bizarre. - Katherine

When a tornado rips through Ivy’s home, her world is blown apart in more ways than one. In the chaos, Ivy’s journal is stolen—the journal where she keeps all her secrets, including her biggest one: Ivy likes girls, but she isn’t ready to tell anyone. As Ivy starts losing control of her secrets, her world changes in ways she could never have imagined. A gentle, sometimes heart-wrenching coming-of-age story about first love and family. - Katherine

Ugandan Asha and Yesofu have always been best friends, though their worlds couldn’t be more different; Asha has grown up surrounded by wealth and privilege, while Yesofu lives in poverty, working as Asha’s family’s servant. Neither gave their differences much thought until a political crisis forces them to reckon with their identities and the limits of their friendship. Based on historical events, this poignant, heartbreaking tale about xenophobia and prejudice couldn’t be more timely. - Katherine

Floyd, editor of Birding magazine, offers a more holistic approach to birding than the traditional field guide, pairing each species with personal anecdotes and practical birding advice, beginning with the basics of bird identification and moving on to the realms of conservation and philosophy. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this is an excellent introduction to the art and science of birdwatching. - Katherine

Haupt deftly interweaves biography, science, music theory, and memoir in this fascinating look at a footnote in music history: Mozart’s pet starling. Previous knowledge of Mozart or love for starlings is not required. Though starlings are often considered the villains of the bird world, Haupt’s compassionate portrait reveals them as the extraordinary creatures that they are. - Katherine