chelsealouise's reviews
342 reviews

3/5 Stars: ‘Counting by 7s’ is a Middle Grade, Contemporary by Holly Goldberg Sloan; ‘Counting by 7s’ offers an indelible, appealing outsider protagonist and a cast of quirky, good-hearted characters who intersect against a backdrop of a 12-year-old's unimaginable loss. Chapters are variously narrated either by Willow or an omniscient narrator. The ones in first person are filled with offbeat ‘field note’ observations and dry humour, as well as stunning metaphors that capture the numbing experience of grief, such as "Life, I now realize, is just one big trek across a minefield and you never know which step is going to blow you up." But Willow doesn't become bitter, and the novel is more heart-warming and uplifting than sad. Her teen friends' immigrant single mother, who's struggled to provide for her kids, kindly steps up to help Willow, and the girl appreciates how she maintains her even disposition no matter what life throws at her: "Maybe that's what happens when you've been through a lot," Willow reflects. "All of your edges are worn off, like sea glass. Either that or you shatter."

4.5/5 Stars: ‘Anya’s Ghost’ is a Young Adult, Paranormal Graphic Novel by Vera Brosgol; ‘Anya’s Ghost’ is a wonderful coming-of-age story wrapped in a supernatural premise. Drawing in a deep violet palette, Brosgol brilliantly recreates the torments of teenage girlhood, and is especially adept at capturing its spectrum of angst. Anya’s freckled face and slumped figure are richly expressive, displaying childlike terror one moment, adolescent humiliation the next and very grown-up vitriol the beat after that, with the inconstancy typical of her age. It all feels incredibly real, even as a ghost story. With an attitude and aptitude reminiscent of Marjane who likewise conveyed the particulars of an immigrant adolescence, Brosgol has created a smart, funny, and compassionate portrait of someone who, for all her sulking and sneering, is the kind of daughter many parents would like to have. And the kind of girl many of us maybe once were.

3.5/5 Stars: ‘Bloom’ is a Young Adult, Contemporary LGBTQ+ Graphic Novel by Kevin Panetta and illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau; ‘Bloom’ is neither a Fantasy, nor a Sci-Fi Adventure, yet there is a powerful magic present. There is alchemy in which people connect over food; food is sensuous. It is communicative. It is powerful. People prepare meals together, eat together as a family, go out to eat on first dates, celebrate milestones at restaurants, build careers out of food, farming, gardening, harvesting. And, as rendered in the pages of this graphic novel, food can be the substance of a flirty courtship. This is the best kind of romantic tale: innocent and unfussy, yet overwhelming. It is baked to perfection: a crush that turns to infatuation — and later love — in the confines of a professional kitchen bristling with hot stoves, stuffed shelves, and perfectly shaped spanakopita. Ganucheau’s intermittent two-page-spread collages of Ari and Hector kneading, folding, and braiding dough into scrumptious rolls, cakes, and baguettes — while tropical flowers bloom from the edges of the page and all around them — are dreamy, strange, and wildly savoury. You can literally smell the tantalising aroma of fresh-baked goods in the air, amplified by the sweetly lusty sideways glances Ari and Hector toss at one another. It is a wonder, quite frankly, how this graphic novel so deftly normalizes a burgeoning homosexual relationship between two young men. It is never made clear whether Ari’s parents, neighbours, or best friends know — or even care — that he is gay. The romance blossoms, and the relationship forms as simply and sweetly as a cup of white flour. There is neither darkness nor shame here. ‘Bloom’ is neither a vexing ‘coming out’ story nor a cautionary tale of existential angst. No one is bullied, threatened, thrown out of the house, or banished. No one is self-medicating with drugs or promiscuity. Writer Panetta and Artist Ganucheau concoct a delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow.

DNF/5 Stars: ‘The Girl Who Drank the Moon’ is a Middle Grade, Fantasy by Kelly Barnhill. Disclaimer: As of 2020, I shall no longer be reviewing DNF’d novels. Please do not let the low star-rating affect your decision to pick-up ‘The Girl Who Drank the Moon’.

3/5 Stars: ‘And the Ocean Was Our Sky’ is a Young Adult, Fantasy Retelling by Patrick Ness; ‘And the Ocean Was Our Sky’ is a homage to the American Literature Classic ‘Moby Dick’, an ancient war draws to a climax as a vengeful—and literally hard-nosed—sea captain seeks out a demonic killer. A world where ocean and sky are upturned, and it is a whale that tells their version of events. With a reversal of point of view comes Ness’ re-visioning of the patriarchal exploitation of the natural world, and of man’s destructive obsession to conquer what he falsely believes he is master of. The writing is as beautiful as you might expect, and its literary style, as well as some dark imagery, make it appropriate for older readers. The writing is clear and often lyrical, and the story moves with plenty of pace. Themes of personal identity and difficult moral choices are also familiar too. With their haunting, melancholy sense of the undersea world. Wrenching, dark, and powerful—no fluke, considering its model.

DNF/5 Stars: ‘Wicked Fox’ is a Young Adult, Urban Fantasy by Kat Cho. Disclaimer: As of 2020, I shall no longer be reviewing DNF’d novels. Please do not let the low star-rating affect your decision to pick-up ‘Wicked Fox’.

4/5 Stars: ‘The Beautiful’ is a Young Adult, Historical Fantasy by Renée Ahdieh; ‘The Beautiful’ is a sumptuous, sultry and romantic story set in 19th Century New Orleans, where the supernatural hide in plain sight. Ahdieh brings New Orleans vibrantly to life, particularly when exploring the complicated racial and gender restrictions of high society through main and supporting characters of mixed-race origin. It is lushly atmospheric, permeating this series opener with an undercurrent of violence within a seductive underworld around Mardi Gras. Readers will champion Celine’s wit and incredible grit—even surrounded by powerful, supernatural protectors, Celine fights for herself and those she loves. Readers will clamour for the continuation of this captivating volume. Ahdieh is wonderful at building romantic tension, and Celine and Bastien share palpable slow-burn chemistry from their first encounter onward. Occasionally there are repetitious descriptions of Bastien's devilish charm, Celine's "inner creature" (obviously her growing desire), and their push-and-pull feelings for each other. Most of the characters have culturally diverse backgrounds, New Orleans has been a melting pot of that era, and both Celine and Bastien speak more than English on a regular basis. The pacing adds to the sense of peril and the mystery of who is committing all the heinous crimes. Ahdieh plays homage to Anne Rice's thrillers in this period New Orleans-set vampire romance that features a clever, diverse, and sexy cast of characters. In her author letter, Ahdieh acknowledges how much she loved Rice's Vampire Chronicles (the most famous of which is Interview With a Vampire), and it's clear she is in some way recreating and refreshing Rice's themes and locations in The Beautiful.

3.5/5 Stars: ‘Another Episode S / O’ is a Young Adult, Horror Light Novel by Yukito Ayatsuji and Hiro Kiyohara and translated by Karen McGillicuddy; ‘Another Episode S / O’ is a collection of two spin-off stories from the original horror novel, ‘Another’, which was written in 2009. The spin-offs include: 'Episode O' (Short Prequel Manga) and 'Episode S' (Novella) which focuses on a ghostly encounter that Misaki Mei had during the events of ‘Another’. For the novella, it is important that you read the original story to have any idea about what is taking place; although it is a spin-off story, it technically takes place after the events of ‘Another’, thus contains some rather massive spoilers. That being said, ‘Episode S’ is somewhat unusual as it really only tangentially connected to the main story. The only real problem with the story was the framing of the narrative. The interludes are, like the original story, told from Sakakibara’s perspective and reveal that the story of Mr Sakaki’s ghost is being told to him by Misaki. However, if this is the case, why is most of the story told in the first person from Sakaki? I just found this to be jarring as some of the details that Sakaki exposited – including his lengthy monologues – occurred when Misaki wasn’t present so she couldn’t possibly have known about them. Given that this is just a short collection; I don’t have much more to say. 'Episode O' was beautifully illustrated, but an ultimately pointless addition to the series. 'Episode S' was really rather enjoyable in its own right, but suffered a little in that it wasn’t a very good companion to the original novel.

5/5 Stars: ‘Sadie’ is a Young Adult, Contemporary Mystery by Courtney Summers; ‘Sadie’ is a high-concept novel with a gritty punch. It alternates between chapters from Sadie’s perspective, following her as she tracks down a man who has perfected the art of disappearing, and West McCray’s True Crime Radio Show transcript called The Girls trying to find Sadie by following the little information the police offer. This compelling narrative drives up the anticipation and feeling of dread to almost unbearable heights at times. Sadie’s chapters are fast-paced and detail her shaking people down for clues to the killer’s whereabouts and the grimy secrets she finds along the way. As for McCray, his investigations try to get the truth out of the people Sadie met along the way. Between the two perspectives, it is completely riveting. It's impossible to put the book down once you’ve passed a certain moment in the novel because, much like West voices everyone’s ultimate fear in his podcast, “I can’t take another dead girl.” Not everyone will like Sadie, but personally, I was entranced by her. A young girl who had to grow up way too fast to look after her younger sister, who tried her best to make Mattie’s life great, was so relatable. Someone who’s never had the opportunity to be or do more, who worked relentless hours while going to school just to put a roof over her sister’s head. Someone who had to deal with others thinking she’s stupid because she has a stutter. A girl who put her sister above all else, even when that sister resented her for it. If you read the synopsis, you might think this is solely a story revolving around revenge—but it’s so much more than that. This story encapsulates a lot including children taking on way too much responsibility, neglectful parents, and the realities of poverty. Then there’s the dark underbelly to sisterhood, the unsettling realisation that monsters rarely look like monsters, and the cruel reminder that children are not as safe as you might hope. Underneath it all, however, is a running theme of love. Sadie’s love for Maddie that wasn’t enough, the love of a mother who could not measure up, the love that blinds us to the people we let into our homes, and into our children’s lives. Sadie might leave her town to find the killer of her sister—but she also tries to come to terms with her own past, guilt about what she could have done differently, and the person she’s become because of it. Ultimately, Summers doesn’t offer so much an ending as a resolution to Sadie’s story. It’s realistic because, much like in real life cases, closure is never just instantaneously given. It is an arduous process, and Summers reflects this throughout the book and in her ending. Trigger warning for: Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse and Assault, Violence, Child Abduction, Child Death, and Paedophilia.

5/5 Stars: ‘I Had That Same Dream Again’ is a Young Adult, Contemporary Light Novel by Yoru Sumino and translated by Diana Taylor; ‘I Had That Same Dream Again' is a thought-provoking, and layered, coming-of-age story. As a light-hearted tale; it gently nudges Koyanagi Nanoka to define 'happiness'. To do so, Nanoka tries to find a place in the world by exploring her relationships with three strangers - an unhappy girl who engages in self-harm, a woman ostracised by society, and an old woman looking to live out her twilight years in peace - and through them, Nanoka comes to know herself. To repeat the words of Yoru Sumino: 'Happiness is something that you have to choose of your own volition, through your own words and actions, by letting yourself feel joy and excitement, by cherishing the people important to you, and cherishing yourself.' I felt a strong connection to 'I Had That Same Dream Again'; therefore, a brief, yet simple review best suits this story - how would you define happiness?