stephbeaudoin20's reviews
894 reviews

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko
Yes! This is a YA novel that doesn't feel childish! So many feelings and ideas. Class Revolution! But by the people, not by the elite who feel bad. Disability justice. Society is full of terrible people who will do evil things and take advantage. Society will keep the status quo. We must rise up together.

Adding this to the Read Disabled Prompt of SciFi or Fantasy Book with a Disabled Main Character

I Killed Scheherazade : Confessions of an Angry Arab Woman by Joumana Haddad
The poets know. This is not a book of poetry, but it is definitely written by a poet.
This whole book had me at the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what knowledge Joumana Haddad would drop on me next. I have highlights in every chapter. But my favorite was Post-Partum: I Killed Scheherazade. It is the ultimate ending chapter.

I am adding this to The Diverse Baseline Challenge December prompt of a book by a BIPOC author about Intersectional Feminism. It's not a standard choice, but it will open your eyes.

Shubiek Lubiek by Deena Mohamed
Absolutely spectacular read. The English version is all 3 stories in one place, and you read it from right to left because it was originally published in Arabic. The art is really great, and the storyline is super interesting. It's fantastical, but it also talks about humanity, religion, ethics, colonialism, so very many things in this graphic novel trilogy.

I'm adding this to the #ReadDisabled2024 prompt of Graphic Novel with a Disabled Main Character. The second main character Nour has moderate depression which is talking over their life. Hagga who is present in all of the stories and prominent in the last story has what we assume is cancer.

Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline 
Edited by Malu Halasa, Zaher Omareen & Nawara Mahfoud
This book is excellent. I have so many highlights. Personally I gravitated towards poetry, short stories, and graphical art. But everything was really good.
This is one of my favorite highlights: 
“The barriers of fear were collapsing, and the doors of the Kingdom of Silence were flung open.”
Zaher Omareen

Visit to Wat Phra Kaew by Piper J. Drake
This short story is part of the Mythwoven universe. Peeraphan and Bennett are in Thailand for Dark Consortium work and they make a magical stop at Wat Phra Kaew. Short stories are hard. You need to get everything completed in a small amount of words. This was a great short story. You could read it without reading the book first, but if you read the book first, it's more meaningful seeing Punch in Thailand and seeing her reaction to the murals.

Loi Krathong by Piper J. Drake 
This short story is part of the Mythwoven universe. Peeraphan and Bennett are in Thailand for Loi Krathong. Short stories are hard. You need to get everything completed in a small amount of words. This was a great short story. You could read it without reading the book first, but if you read the book first, it's more meaningful seeing Punch in Thailand.

Adding to The Diverse Baseline Challenge December prompt of Holiday Romance.

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
This book was a fun cozy Filipino American mystery. I loved the diverse characters throughout the story! So many family dynamics. So many different types of relationships. It was wonderful to read!

Adding to The Diverse Baseline Challenge December prompt of Cozy Mystery 

Be a Revolution by Ijeoma Oluo 
Get this book and read it now! Everything that Ijeoma Oluo writes is spectacular. Everything! 
If you want to know how to begin movement work. 
If you want to be inspired by movement workers. 
If you want to read their stories, read the good, and the hard things. 
If you want to read how Ijeoma Oluo takes all of these wonderful interviews and packages them up, and then gives you concrete steps.
Read this book!
Buy it if you can. Library or borrow from someone if you can't.
Be a Revolution!