molly_dettmann's reviews
1873 reviews

A beautifully illustrated picture book biography to introduce a young reader to this incredible writer and storyteller. 

A beautiful love letter poem to an incredible author with the most gorgeous artwork to complement it. 

Fight hate, make art. 

This is a fictional graphic novel that is based on the story of resistance fighters in Amsterdam that saved Jewish children with art and bravery. The story is told in tandem with the cause of the historical deep dive of a girl hoping to find a bone marrow match for her Oma when her Oma finds out she was one of those rescued children and has a brother she was separated from. A blackbird follows both narrations. 

The way this book is put together is stunning. There are many scenes with photographs collaged with the artwork and printmaking is not only a part of the story, but used throughout. I just loved everything about this book and its continued message of hope through art. It was a book I needed to read, especially now. 

I liked how these were organized and the timeline set as you read Hughes’ early poems. Some were really poignant. 

A lovely and simple way to tell such a powerful story that doesn’t shy away from libraries and their racist past and shares how John Lewis fought for equality and finally got to use the public library. 

One of the most gorgeously illustrated picture books I’ve ever read and a sweet cowboy story to boot. 

On one hand this was slightly comforting getting a wider historical look at our precarious our democracy has been held together, but the whole section on DT’s presidency was a hard skim for me simply because I remember that time all too well. This was really well written and easy to understand but I don’t know why I chose to read it now with everything going on. Slightly a bummer. 

I love Bond and the new Grandma/Grandpa neighbors and the action. 

This was a really sweet story set in the summer of 1995 when almost 15-year-old Almudena spends that time with the father she never knew, Xavier. With a language barrier and cultural one as well (Almudena’s mom is white and Xavier is Guatemalan— though Almudena always thought he was Mexican), they work together to renovate a Brownstone into an apartment building for those in the neighborhood losing their homes to higher rent and gentrification. I choked up at the very end because of how well done this book captured identity, opening up your heart to family and found family, and figuring things out as a biracial teen feeling like you don’t belong. The artwork matched the vibe of the story perfectly. All the side characters had my heart as well. 

Absolutely gorgeous artwork and the sweetest rhymes. An excellent read!