Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Synopsis:

milk and honey is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. It is about the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. It is split into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose, deals with a different pain, heals a different heartache. milk and honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.

Rating:★★★★

Review:

This is beautifully written, emotionally captivating, and I loved how raw and real she was in her poetry. Don't get me wrong I loved the collection as a whole but The Hurting and The Loving were my two favorite chapters of this book. Also, the drawings were really perfect for the poems they were attached to.

I only gave this book 4 stars because of a personal preference. When I read poetry, I like to read full or mid page poems and there were a lot of 3 liners or page fillers. But these page fillers were done so well and filled with such emotion that I could turn a semi-blind eye to it.

I have no other words to describe how amazing this collection of poetry is just read it! 

**Just be aware there is sexual content in this book and I know that's not everyone's cup of tea.**  

The World's Greatest Chocolate-Covered Pork Chops by Ryan K. Sager

Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old chef Zoey Kate's Fried Banana Fondue is delectable, her Maple Cinnamon Crab Fajitas are divine, and her Chocolate-Covered Pork Chops are to die for. Zoey is the best cook in town and she wants everyone to know it. She's on a mission to start her own restaurant, but quickly learns that the restaurant industry is competitive . . . and dangerous. There are people who see Zoey as a threat, and they'll use any means necessary to make sure that she fails. Featuring a precocious, larger-than-life character, lots of humor, fast-paced action and mouth-watering foods, this cooking story is sure to appeal to young foodies and fans of shows like MasterChef Junior and Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off.

Rating:★★★

Review:

*I received this book from Netgalley and Disney Hyperion in exchange for my honest review.* I liked this story, I thought it was very cute, but it wasn't for me for multiple reasons. This book is very dramatic, over the top, and very unrealistic, which isn't 100% bad seeing that this is middle grade and looking at what the synopsis of the book is.

I loved that this instantly started off with laughs. Zoey is just one of those characters that's so innocent it's funny. Her and Dallin's friendship is really cute, thankfully not in a romantic way, but in a brother and sister type of way. Her parents are more like roommates/friends than actual parents. They're almost absent in her life to the point where they can't even take the time to give their own child a ride somewhere so, she has to walk and it cracks your heart a little to see her let down.

The naiveness of the all of the characters was overly suffocating. Just the fact that Zoey didn't think everything through about her business; for example, taxes; and her "parents" still allowed her, a 12 year old, open up a restaurant without explaining not even one thing to her, was overly suffocating and dismissive. And it's very hard to remember that Zoey is only 12 years old while reading this because she's doing things that as adults is nearly impossible to do. 

I really enjoyed the climax of the story. I loved all the action leading up to the big bang and the plot twist was done pretty well. But I didn't care for the wrap up of this book, it was very basic and put a neat little bow on the story. Which I guess is okay since it's middle grade but even as a younger reader I didn't like every book I read to end in a "goody-goody-happily-ever-after-cliche-kind-of-way" but that's my personal preference. 

If I was reading this as the intended audience I probably would have had a blast and would have really loved this because I wouldn't have been thinking about the fact she's only 12 years old doing all of this. With that being said I still thought it was really cute, funny, and an entertaining story. I  think kids that have an interest in food/Culinary Arts and have larger than life personalities will get a big kick out of this and I do recommend this, for the intended audience, but it's just not one of my personal favorite middle grade novel.

What Lies Beneath by Richard P. Denney

Synopsis:

What would you do if you thought your psycho ex-boyfriend was haunting you from beyond the grave? 

When Blair Lewis is left for dead in a freezing lake, she can't get over the fact that her boyfriend tried to kill her. And when she begins to receive disturbing gifts and letters from her supposed dead boyfriend, she attempts to figure out what is going on before the darkness consumes her. Nothing is as it seems and the startling truth is going to rip Blair right out of this world. 

Is Blair simply losing her mind? Or is something vicious and dark after her sanity and soul?

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

Oh my damn! Don't read this before bed or if you're alone because you will be very paranoid. 

I loved that the plot was held at the perfect pace, not dragging on but also not rushing through. I think this is perfect for everyone's Halloween TBR or if you just want something creepy RIGHT NOW and you should. My only problem was that the closer I got to the end I could kind of see what was going to happen. 

I really liked how all of the characters were used throughout the story. I love when an author puts their characters in specific roles and keeps them playing it for the entirety of the story. Also, I loved that we have a trans character in the story, Max, but I love it even more because Max isn't put on a pedestal just for being trans. We still get to read and not be reminded on every page that he's mention on about his sexual orientation. 

This is one of the creepiest books I've ever read and it ended in true horror movie fashion. 

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Synopsis:

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. But it's not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision. With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever. Dhonielle Clayton creates a rich, detailed, decadent world of excess and privilege, where beauty is not only skin-deep, but a complete mirage. Weaving deeper questions about the commodification of women's bodies, gender equality, racial identity, and vanity with high-stakes action and incredible imagery, The Belles is the must-read epic of the season. 

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: Feb. 20, 2018

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I received this novel from Disney Hyperion and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is officially one of my favorite novels of the year and may go down as one of my all time faves. The Belle world was so beautiful, though it was not ideal, it was still set up as a very colorful and magical world. The attention to detail that the author gave in in this book was so freaking phenomenal I could cry. Sometimes I did feel like the imagery in some areas was a bit in the overkill zone but on the other hand everything was described with such A-1 detail it really makes you wonder how creepy it would be if people really came out looking like the Gris and depended on beings like the belles to make them beautiful. Beauty hurts.

Even though I really appreciated all of the world and character building sadly, I think this made the plot take off a little slow for me. I thought the tale of how "The Belles" came to be in the beginning of the book was really cute and a good way to start the book off. By starting off in a light hearted manner then slow getting more intense throughout the plot really has a way of keeping your attention in the story.

Character wise I'm glad that we kind of glanced over most of the older Belles seeing that it wouldn't have made sense to go into detail about characters that weren't going to make a difference in the plot. Thank you Dhonielle for not wasting our time. Cameilla is definitely a love to hate character as in everyone can relate to her but at the same time everyone will also judge her for the exact same reasons why they relate to her. My favorite character, hands down, had to be Remy. He's 100% fictional husband material and I'm not even sure if my attention was supposed to be drawn to him but I love him 😍😍!!! Also, being in the presence of Princess Sophie was like walking on nail and trying not to breathe too hard because it might piss her off and I'm going to leave it at that.

I really hated reading this and seeing these girls be legit slaves their entire existences to people that act like they're more of objects than human beings.(Que the flashback to slavery times) And I'm using the word hate as in it hurt my feelings to know from the time they were created, they never got to live and do what they truly wanted and never got the chance to learn from their mistakes.

The betrayal was so real, even though I caught a hint of it from the start, with everything going on it slipped my mind and it really hurt to see it play out. I loved the climax at end so much. There was just so much tension and action going on I felt like I couldn't breathe until I read the last word. I think it goes without saying I can't wait for book two and I hope I don't have to wait too much longer.

Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon G. Flake

Synopsis:

Bestselling and award-winning author Sharon G. Flake delivers a mystery set in the 1950s that eerily blends history, race, culture, and family. Octobia May is a girl filled with questions. Her heart condition makes her special--and, some folks would argue, gives this ten-year-old powers that make her a "wise soul." Thank goodness for Auntie, who convinces Octobia's parents to let her live in her boarding house that is filled with old folks. That's when trouble, and excitement, and wonder begin. Auntie is nontraditional. She's unmarried and has plans to purchase other boarding homes and hotels. At a time when children, and especially girls, are "seen, not heard," Auntie allows Octobia May the freedom and expression of an adult. When Octobia starts to question the folks in her world, an adventure and a mystery unfold that beg some troubling questions: Who is black and who is "passing" for white? What happens when a vibrant African American community must face its own racism?And, perhaps most important: Do vampires really exist? In her most unusual and probing novel yet, Sharon G. Flake takes us on a heart-pumping journey.

Rating:★★★★

Review:

This was my 3rd audio book experience and my faith in audio books has been restored. I haven't read a middle grade novel in a while so I was a little scared I wasn't going to like this but god was I wrong.

Sadly, it did take me about 8 chapters to get into the story but that could have been due to me doing other stuff while I was listening to this and possibly nothing to so with the actual plot. I laughed so hard at Octobia's & Jonah's shenanigans it was ridiculous and I was pretty invested in the neighborhood mystery. (Side note: I don't know about anyone else but I got major "Hey Arnold" vibes.) Also, I did get through this whole audio book in 1 day at 1.5 & 1.75 speed so, it is a pretty quick read and it was just that captivating to me.

One of the things I loved the most was that this book also had it's teaching moments mixed in with the "fun" mystery solving. I recommended this to everyone, even if you're hesitant about middle grade.

WARNING!!!! This book is set back in the day so the N word (negro) is used, not often or over killed, just throughout the dialect of that time period, just in case this may bother some readers.

Electric Arches by Eve L. Ewing

Synopsis:

Electric Arches is an imaginative exploration of black girlhood and womanhood through poetry, visual art, and narrative prose. Blending stark realism with the fantastical, Ewing takes us from the streets of Chicago to an alien arrival in an unspecified future, deftly navigating boundaries of space, time, and reality with delight and flexibility.

Rating:★★★½

Review:

I thought this was beautifully written and I just love the fact that she wrote a poem to the one and only Eryka Badu and one about something as simple as freaking Shea butter!!!

I'm not sure if it's because I read this in Kindle format or not but I found it nearly impossible to clearly see and understand the drawings included and also there were almost clip art like pieces of writing that fonts we were way too small and smashed together to read. Those were pretty frustrating moments for me seeing that I had to skip over whole paragraphs at times, due to them being illegible. This made me feel like I was reading only part of the book and not the whole book. 

I wouldn't recommend reading this in kindle or e book format but I would recommend it in physical form. 

The Good Braider by Terry Farish

Synopsis:

In spare free verse laced with unforgettable images, Viola’s strikingly original voice sings out the story of her family's journey from war-torn Sudan, to Cairo, and finally to Portland, Maine. Here, in the sometimes too close embrace of the local Southern Sudanese Community, she dreams of South Sudan while she tries to navigate the strange world of America a world where a girl can wear a short skirt, get a tattoo or even date a boy; a world that puts her into sharp conflict with her traditional mother who, like Viola, is struggling to braid together the strands of a displaced life.

Terry Farish's haunting novel is not only a riveting story of escape and survival, but the universal tale of a young immigrant's struggle to build a life on the cusp of two cultures.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I really enjoyed reading this, even though when I first started off I wasn't too sure about it. I think the best thing an author can do when writing a book like this is to be very raw and real, and that is what I got & that has to be my favorite thing about this book. Also, this is written is verse which I always love in a book because it makes you feel like you're reading at a much faster pace, boosting your reader's self of steam.

The only thing I had trouble with while reading this was my attention span. I had a hit and run type of relationship between my attention span & this book, on and off, and I honestly can't say exactly what it was that kept making my mind disengage from this story.

I loved that I was emotionally invested in the characters throughout the story & all of the loss Viola had to experience. Viola's character did a lot of growing, as well as her mother, from the beginning to the end of the book, so it's safe to say there is character growth present in this story. Also, you get to see how different Sudanese people take different roads once they get to American & reinvent themselves in different ways. ❤

I just loved that Ms. Terry came with her receipts to prove the authenticity behind her book. She let you know how many people she interviewed & what materials she studied to make sure her story was as real as it could get. And I really liked the historical facts she put at the end about Southern Sudan & its colonizing, I think that just added an nice extra touch.

I would recommend this because I loved learning about a culture I don't get to read about too often & you get the chance to see & understand their practices from their point of view & not just from the outside looking in.

Even though my attention was not always held captive I still would recommend this for readers who enjoy learning about other cultures and also if you are a fan of verse.