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passionyoungwrites's reviews
165 reviews
Holler, Child: Stories by LaToya Watkins
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I usually don’t read short stories because I often felt that they didn’t give a complete story. But this collection has changed that outlook for me.
🫶🏾
Eleven stories, each with characters that come to life in such a short span of time, each story leaving a lasting impression and a pondering thought.
🫶🏾
The stories span a wide variety of topics, mostly including trauma, identity crisis, homophobia (to an extent), teen pregnancy, single parenting, rape, cheating spouses, child loss, forgiveness, sickness and aging and so much more in between the lines.
Though each of these stories had a relevant lesson, I favored eight of them. Mostly because the message was utterly clear and I could relate on a deeper level.
🫶🏾
It’s unbelievable that the common theme for these stories, in my opinion, where the root of the problems and situations were a “lack of accountability”.
🫶🏾
Eleven stories, each with characters that come to life in such a short span of time, each story leaving a lasting impression and a pondering thought.
🫶🏾
The stories span a wide variety of topics, mostly including trauma, identity crisis, homophobia (to an extent), teen pregnancy, single parenting, rape, cheating spouses, child loss, forgiveness, sickness and aging and so much more in between the lines.
Though each of these stories had a relevant lesson, I favored eight of them. Mostly because the message was utterly clear and I could relate on a deeper level.
🫶🏾
It’s unbelievable that the common theme for these stories, in my opinion, where the root of the problems and situations were a “lack of accountability”.
Reaper of Souls by Rena Barron
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Arrah and her friends find their way back to the temple where she was once banished, and her fathers shop where her magic is still welcome. But the temple now has a new King - a rival to her mother and Crown Prince - the love of her life.
⚔️
She now figures that she must save the tribal people and fight off the demons. At the same time, she’s learning all that she can do with her magic. Arrah also realizes that she has an unknown identity and is flooded with other memories of past lives. 😮💨 She also realizes that she can’t be with the man she loves because their magic counteracts.
⚔️
At the end of a battle between Gods, one that she truly is just a pawn in - she is offered a choice. A choice to give her magic in exchange to save the love of her life.
⚔️
This second book in the series was wild. It’s told in multiple POV’s all which bring a different aspect to the story. Honestly, Arrah’s family did more harm than good. Yet, she’s not one to judge especially finding out who she really is. In the end of this story, you see that power isn’t always a good thing. But the question still remains - How far would one go for love?
⚔️
She now figures that she must save the tribal people and fight off the demons. At the same time, she’s learning all that she can do with her magic. Arrah also realizes that she has an unknown identity and is flooded with other memories of past lives. 😮💨 She also realizes that she can’t be with the man she loves because their magic counteracts.
⚔️
At the end of a battle between Gods, one that she truly is just a pawn in - she is offered a choice. A choice to give her magic in exchange to save the love of her life.
⚔️
This second book in the series was wild. It’s told in multiple POV’s all which bring a different aspect to the story. Honestly, Arrah’s family did more harm than good. Yet, she’s not one to judge especially finding out who she really is. In the end of this story, you see that power isn’t always a good thing. But the question still remains - How far would one go for love?
Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
“Gods always behave like the people who make them.”
🐎
This book follows Zora as she travels through Haiti and Jamaica learning the ins and out of the Voodoo religion and culture. So if you’re interested in the History, Culture, and Practice of Voodoo this is an informative read.
Zora explores and learns about race, colorism, medicine, politics, customs around burial, birth, and marriage as well as Voodoo saints. She also writes about zombies, and how they are “turned”.
🐎
Much of this read is actual encounters she experienced as well as conversations with important people that she met along the way.
Though I thought the book may have been structurdifferently - it was an interesting read to get an in depth insight on Voodoo itself as well as the life of those in Haiti and Jamaica.
🐎
This book follows Zora as she travels through Haiti and Jamaica learning the ins and out of the Voodoo religion and culture. So if you’re interested in the History, Culture, and Practice of Voodoo this is an informative read.
Zora explores and learns about race, colorism, medicine, politics, customs around burial, birth, and marriage as well as Voodoo saints. She also writes about zombies, and how they are “turned”.
🐎
Much of this read is actual encounters she experienced as well as conversations with important people that she met along the way.
Though I thought the book may have been structurdifferently - it was an interesting read to get an in depth insight on Voodoo itself as well as the life of those in Haiti and Jamaica.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.”
💜
I know this story mostly follows two sisters, Celie and Nettie in early twentieth- century rural Georgia. Sisters who were separated as girls and sustained their relationship through distance and silence. Though, I feel this novel is so much more.
💜
This story is a story of hope, self- acceptance, accountability, resilience, redemption, and love - in many forms.
Celie needing to love herself mostly, but after receiving love from another being - she realized that what she sought was never really an external thing. That she is the creator of her own experiences.
Nettie, accepting that her life could be more than what she saw of others, ventured out, traveled and helped others. Reassuring her sister that distance would never be an issue.
Mr. ______ (I hated the way that was written) finally saw that he was his own problem. He realized that he wasn’t the man he thought he was (hence his resentment and abuse of women) and his anger mostly hurt him the most.
Shug, moving around so much because she wasn’t sure what she was looking for. And when she found it, she still found a way from it. Though, many of her problems stemmed from her family pushing her aside from early on.
Harpo, finally realized that respect will take your relationships far. And that trying following the steps of his daddy in regards to treatment of women would only end him with a black eye.
Sophia, standing her ground because ain’t no man gonna rule her. Not her husband, not the mayor.
And most of all, everybody realizing that love appears when you need it most. Shifting to fit the current circumstances, and sometimes evolving with time.
💜
I know this story mostly follows two sisters, Celie and Nettie in early twentieth- century rural Georgia. Sisters who were separated as girls and sustained their relationship through distance and silence. Though, I feel this novel is so much more.
💜
This story is a story of hope, self- acceptance, accountability, resilience, redemption, and love - in many forms.
Celie needing to love herself mostly, but after receiving love from another being - she realized that what she sought was never really an external thing. That she is the creator of her own experiences.
Nettie, accepting that her life could be more than what she saw of others, ventured out, traveled and helped others. Reassuring her sister that distance would never be an issue.
Mr. ______ (I hated the way that was written) finally saw that he was his own problem. He realized that he wasn’t the man he thought he was (hence his resentment and abuse of women) and his anger mostly hurt him the most.
Shug, moving around so much because she wasn’t sure what she was looking for. And when she found it, she still found a way from it. Though, many of her problems stemmed from her family pushing her aside from early on.
Harpo, finally realized that respect will take your relationships far. And that trying following the steps of his daddy in regards to treatment of women would only end him with a black eye.
Sophia, standing her ground because ain’t no man gonna rule her. Not her husband, not the mayor.
And most of all, everybody realizing that love appears when you need it most. Shifting to fit the current circumstances, and sometimes evolving with time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
“I don’t believe in evil in most ways. I believe in the devil alright. But Man don’t need help from Satan to do what folks call evil. Men do evil everyday and call it doing their job.”
🏫
Honestly, the mixture of historical fiction, and horror made this read an enjoyable one. Though, I feel the author caressed many relevant topics to ensure us that not much has changed for Black folk in regards to the “system”. Not much has changed of white “privilege” and even then in 1950 - many people of the white race only felt they could do so much to help in their own way with fear that their own lives would be torn apart.
🏫
A twelve year old sent to a prison alternative, with limited family / community support, and relying on his sister for a solution. A town ran by corrupt officials, Klan, and a section black neighbors whose well-being are in jeopardy due to “attempting” to change a verdict. Ghosts of the past, showing their struggles and truths of the ones who wronged while at The Reformatory to the little ones of Gracetown.
🏫
The truth of this story was heartfelt, though, I was glad to see that there will always be rebels standing for what’s right - even if it meant risking everything you know and have.
This is a must read and a fav already. And the narrator for the audio was 🔥!!
🏫
Honestly, the mixture of historical fiction, and horror made this read an enjoyable one. Though, I feel the author caressed many relevant topics to ensure us that not much has changed for Black folk in regards to the “system”. Not much has changed of white “privilege” and even then in 1950 - many people of the white race only felt they could do so much to help in their own way with fear that their own lives would be torn apart.
🏫
A twelve year old sent to a prison alternative, with limited family / community support, and relying on his sister for a solution. A town ran by corrupt officials, Klan, and a section black neighbors whose well-being are in jeopardy due to “attempting” to change a verdict. Ghosts of the past, showing their struggles and truths of the ones who wronged while at The Reformatory to the little ones of Gracetown.
🏫
The truth of this story was heartfelt, though, I was glad to see that there will always be rebels standing for what’s right - even if it meant risking everything you know and have.
This is a must read and a fav already. And the narrator for the audio was 🔥!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Torture, and Murder
Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s 1830 and Jamie Pyke is a black man living and “passing” as a wealthy white man in Philadelphia. When his young servant, Pan, is taken and sold into slavery down South, things start to change.
🦢
Returning to Virgina was crazy, but Jamie felt obligated to little Pan. The same place he ran from as a child to escape the same ending. To his suprise, Sukey - a slave who is scared of nothing is mothering Pan and has plans to get him on the Underground Railroad.
🦢
For one, I couldn’t put this book down and dreamed about the storyline. It’s one you could never forget. I haven’t read many stories where black men are passing as white and this one was surprisingly good. And to see that he risked his freedom to save the little boy was something. Sukey being unable to talk and the story behind it was unbelievable. Though, seeing a main character from her stance in slavery and the ongoing bravery she showed was heartfelt!
🦢
Returning to Virgina was crazy, but Jamie felt obligated to little Pan. The same place he ran from as a child to escape the same ending. To his suprise, Sukey - a slave who is scared of nothing is mothering Pan and has plans to get him on the Underground Railroad.
🦢
For one, I couldn’t put this book down and dreamed about the storyline. It’s one you could never forget. I haven’t read many stories where black men are passing as white and this one was surprisingly good. And to see that he risked his freedom to save the little boy was something. Sukey being unable to talk and the story behind it was unbelievable. Though, seeing a main character from her stance in slavery and the ongoing bravery she showed was heartfelt!
The Perfect Ruin by Shanora Williams
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think that if the writing style would have been different, the first half would have been more enjoyable. It started as if Ivy was telling / journaling the story to her therapist instead of the story actually being told.
Also, the repeating of information from the same POV was weird.
Overall, the ending was the best part - and that was only because I had invested enough time to want to know what really happened and how the revenge would play out.
And anytime I can just put a book down and not think about it.. umm 🫤
Also, the repeating of information from the same POV was weird.
Overall, the ending was the best part - and that was only because I had invested enough time to want to know what really happened and how the revenge would play out.
And anytime I can just put a book down and not think about it.. umm 🫤
Remembrance by Rita Woods
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Remembrance is a community of sorts, for runaway slaves, but it’s shielded by magic so that is invisible to the outside world. Abigail is the one that holds that power to keep the shield in place, called the “Edge”. But, as she grows older, things change.
💫
This is one of those stories that you have to read between the lines. Josiah, seems to the some sort of companion or IMO - a spirit guide of some sort. Each woman, it seems, is chosen for their particular time to hone and use their gift. Surprisingly, each person that holds the torch is somehow always meeting the person that’s next, without actually knowing why they have connected. And strangely enough, it seems that all of these women are of Haitian descent, living in a foreign land - being led by the spirits of Vodun to protect themselves and they people they love.
💫
This is one of those stories that you have to read between the lines. Josiah, seems to the some sort of companion or IMO - a spirit guide of some sort. Each woman, it seems, is chosen for their particular time to hone and use their gift. Surprisingly, each person that holds the torch is somehow always meeting the person that’s next, without actually knowing why they have connected. And strangely enough, it seems that all of these women are of Haitian descent, living in a foreign land - being led by the spirits of Vodun to protect themselves and they people they love.
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“You don’t always want what you need.”
🖊️
Casey is going through it y’all. Grief, estranged relationship with her father and her brother is many miles away. Yet Casey writes as an outlet.
Struggling with romantic relationships and realizing that all that glitters isn’t gold, she realizes that her life is her own.
🖊️
It was amazing to see Casey go through regular life situations - multiple health scares, changing employment, job interviews, landlord drama and fear of eviction.
With writing being the only constant thing that Casey has in her life, she eventually finds a friend who believes in her craft. After some changes she finally gets the creative life she has strived so hard for.
🖊️
This story was heartfelt. It really showed how sometimes you have to keep your dreams within reach while navigating everyday life. It was a great thing to see and truly understand that anything is possible. Most importantly, what you desire - in all areas of life - won’t always come easy.
🖊️
Casey is going through it y’all. Grief, estranged relationship with her father and her brother is many miles away. Yet Casey writes as an outlet.
Struggling with romantic relationships and realizing that all that glitters isn’t gold, she realizes that her life is her own.
🖊️
It was amazing to see Casey go through regular life situations - multiple health scares, changing employment, job interviews, landlord drama and fear of eviction.
With writing being the only constant thing that Casey has in her life, she eventually finds a friend who believes in her craft. After some changes she finally gets the creative life she has strived so hard for.
🖊️
This story was heartfelt. It really showed how sometimes you have to keep your dreams within reach while navigating everyday life. It was a great thing to see and truly understand that anything is possible. Most importantly, what you desire - in all areas of life - won’t always come easy.
Some Sing, Some Cry by Ifa Bayeza, Ntozake Shange
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a long one but definitely an interesting read. To see each generation born, grow and eventually give birth was something. Each generation faced their own unique challenges and I was surprised that it captured many obstacles that were relevant then and now. Anywhere from enlisting into war, single - parenthood, drug abuse and rehabilitation, marriage, to the carrying of traditions and education.
I’d say if you like Love Songs of WEB DuBois, you may like this one as well.
🎶
The characters whose storyline stood out the most for me were Lizzie and her daughter Cinnamon. They chased their dreams and left nothing on the table. I really think that they lived fulfilled lives, while showing their family that what they wanted most mattered - stardom - and that they would do almost anything to get it.
Lizzie ended up in Paris, and Cinnamon eventually became the opera star she dreamed to be. Though, when Cinnamon’s music career ended, I was shocked. But she then made time for family life and marriage.
Though earlier in the story, I was upset when Eudora’s husband sold their land and ran off. Believe it or not, the money he made from the sale never reached his wife and kids.. 😭
I’d say if you like Love Songs of WEB DuBois, you may like this one as well.
🎶
The characters whose storyline stood out the most for me were Lizzie and her daughter Cinnamon. They chased their dreams and left nothing on the table. I really think that they lived fulfilled lives, while showing their family that what they wanted most mattered - stardom - and that they would do almost anything to get it.
Lizzie ended up in Paris, and Cinnamon eventually became the opera star she dreamed to be. Though, when Cinnamon’s music career ended, I was shocked. But she then made time for family life and marriage.
Though earlier in the story, I was upset when Eudora’s husband sold their land and ran off. Believe it or not, the money he made from the sale never reached his wife and kids.. 😭