Category: Reviews

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I. Am. Not. OK. Don’t even try to talk to me. I finished this book in literally two days, and I haven’t been able to think straight since. I am emotionally wrecked! Someone, please call the ambulance, because this is the book that finally broke me.

I know I say this about every book, but this one is really my favorite book. I absolutely loved the storyline and the plot. But, more than that, I fell in love with the girl we follow, the young teenager we learn about, and the woman we inevitably never understand. The protagonist, Kya Clark (pronounce it Key-uh, but it might also be KI-uh), is one of the most beautifully written and created book characters I have ever come across. I don’t think I can reveal a complete summary of the book because YOU NEED TO READ IT, but I definitely want to give credit to this amazing character I love.

Kya lives in North Caroline in the 1960s and 70s. But, she doesn’t live like most of the people in the area; she lives in the marsh. All alone in the wild wetlands along the coast, this young girl has a tough life. From the very beginning, she is resilient and brave, never backing down from each curveball or full-on sledgehammer thrown her way. Throughout her story, she is confronted by hostility, superstition, and cruel gossip from the town close to where she lives. Kya’s called the Marsh Girl by everyone, and her reputation as a wild, illiterate animal keeps her closed off from the town.

Where the Crawdads Sing follows Kya’s brutal and beautiful story alongside a mysterious murder that takes place in the present, i.e. 1969-70. As the story progresses, we learn that not only did Kya know the future-murder victim/town golden boy, Chase Andrews, but they also had a long history.

The murder mystery stays pretty much invisible for the whole book, but the end plot twist was so satisfying. I can’t reveal what it is, but let’s just say that Kya and her secrets will never be shared with the outside world. Estranged and on The Outside her whole life, Kya Clark’s life remains mysterious to the town that has so ostracized her.

I loved Kya’s character so much, and this story touched something inside me I haven’t even met yet. It’s definitely a re-read for me, so I hope you’re interested enough to GO BUY IT NOW!

P.S. If our girl, Dr. T Swizzle likes it enough to write a bangin’ song about it, why are you still even on this page reading? GO. BUY. IT! (Check out Carolina or burn in hell—don’t look at me; I don’t make the rules)

Genre: contemporary/literary fiction

Age: 13+

Rating: 10/10 (#already sold my soul to the author)

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My Bookography

Get it? Like a discography, but instead of music, it’s books I’ve read? Anyway, ignore my dorkiness. Here are books I’ve read in the past but don’t have good enough recollections of them to create detailed reviews. Take these recs with a grain of salt, because if I don’t fully remember them, then I don’t have a completely accurate memory of how much I liked them. For example, I may remember totally not liking a book a few years ago because I couldn’t understand it, but my readers may think I’m completely crazy because it’s actually a great book. Anyway, here are my past reads—enjoy!

  1. Akata Woman (The Nsibidi Scripts Book 3) by Nnedi Okorafor
  2. Finale (Caraval Book 3) by Stephanie Garber (reviewed)
  3. Kill Joy (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Novella) by Holly Jackson
  4. Legendary (Caraval Book 2) by Stephanie Garber (reviewed)
  5. The Atlas Paradox (The Atlas Series Book 2) by Olivie Blake (reviewed)
  6. Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows Book 2) by Leigh Bardugo (reviewed)
  7. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
  8. Think Again by Adam Grant (reviewed)
  9. Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger Books 1-6 by John Flanagan
  10. Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid
  11. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
  12. Caraval by Stephanie Garber (reviewed)
  13. Less is More by Jason Hickel
  14. Iron Flame (Fourth Wing Book 2) by Rebecca Yarros (reviewed)
  15. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (reviewed)
  16. 1984 by George Orwell
  17. Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter (reviewed)
  18. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
  19. Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (reviewed)
  20. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (reviewed)
  21. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (reviewed)
  22. Twisted Series by Ana Huang (reviewed)
  23. Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy (Books 1-3) (reviewed)
  24. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (reviewed)
  25. Passing by Nella Larsen (reviewed)
  26. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (reviewed)
  27. Emma by Jane Austen (reviewed)
  28. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (reviewed)
  29. Normal People by Sally Rooney (reviewed)
  30. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (reviewed)
  31. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (reviewed)
  32. Reminders Of Him by Colleen Hoover (reviewed)
  33. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (reviewed)
  34. A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas (reviewed)
  35. As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson (reviewed)
  36. Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson (reviewed)
  37. Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (reviewed)
  38. The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat (reviewed)
  39. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (reviewed)
  40. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Shwab (reviewed)
  41. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (reviewed)
  42. Beach Read by Emily Henry (reviewed)
  43. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
  44. Metamorphoses by Ovid
  45. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
  46. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
  47. Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
  48. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
  49. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  50. Looking For Alaska by John Green
  51. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
  52. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  53. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
  54. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
  55. Shakespeare: Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  56. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
  57. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  58. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
  59. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
  60. Circe by Madeline Miller
  61. Daughters of Sparta by Claire Haywood
  62. Elizabeth Acevedo: Clap When You Land, The Poet X, With The Fire On High
  63. What Would Boudicca Do? by E. Foley and B. Coates
  64. Benito Cereno by Herman Melville
  65. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  66. Lord Of the Flies by William Golding
  67. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
  68. The Giver by Lois Lowry
  69. The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
  70. Dear Ijeawele by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  71. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
  72. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
  73. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
  74. The Prince of Los Cocuyos by Richard Blanco
  75. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
  76. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
  77. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
  78. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
  79. Afterlife by Julia Alvarez
  80. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
  81. Nnedi Okorafor: Akata Witch, Akata Warrior
  82. Leigh Bardugo: Six of Crows (reviewed), Shadow and Bone Trilogy
  83. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
  84. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  85. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
  86. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
  87. A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder Series by Holly Jackson
  88. Sissy by Jacob Tobia
  89. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
  90. John Flanagan: Ranger’s Apprentice Series, The Brotherband Chronicles, Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years Series
  91. Colleen Hoover: Ugly Love, November 9, It Ends With Us
  92. Cookie O’Gorman: Adorkable, Ninja Girl
  93. The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Claire
  94. Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
  95. The Graceling Realm Series by Kristin Cashore
  96. Jenny Han: The Summer I Turned Pretty Series, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series
  97. The Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
  98. Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller
  99. Know My Name by Chanel Miller
  100. The Soul Of An Octopus by Sy Montgomery
  101. The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak
  102. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
  103. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
  104. I Am Number Four Series by Pittacus Lore
  105. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
  106. Tyed by L.J. Shen
  107. Educated by Tara Westover
  108. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
  109. Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
  110. The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
  111. The Four Doors Down Series by Emma Doherty
  112. Ali Novak: The Heartbreakers, My Life With the Walter Boys
  113. The Selection Series by Kiera Cass
  114. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  115. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
  116. Kate DiCamillo: The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie
  117. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen
  118. My Sister Lives On the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher
  119. The Books Of Beginning Series by John Stephens
  120. Love With A Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche
  121. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
  122. Holes by Louis Sachar
  123. The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth
  124. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
  125. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
  126. The Royals Series & Tarnished Crown by Erin Watt
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Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

{in Irish accent} G’day, mateys! Ugh, I’m so embarrassing. But, to be honest, even though I live on a boat, I have next to nothing in common with the characters and story of Daughter of the Pirate King.

YA! Enemies to lovers! Pirates! Empowering women til the end of time! Ummm, sign me up?!? I absolutely loved how this book satisfied my fantasy/romance craving, and the protagonist is definitely the only character who I would trust my life with. Cross my heart and hope to die, Princess Alossa holds my very being in her hands.

I loved the enemies to lovers, the plot twist, and the awesome love story here. Definitely for a younger audience, because there was no *spice*, but I loved it all the same, and if you’re looking for a wonderful little story to take your heart for a joy ride, I definitely recommend it.

The story follows the fictional islands and water patrolled by the famous Pirate King and his heir and daughter, Princess Alossa. Alossa is a loyal child and has been trained under her vicious and powerful father since she was a baby. She is also under the Pirate King’s command, so when he sends her off on a fake kidnapping and spy mission, she obliges.

The book begins with Alossa’s “capture” by a powerful pirate ship called the Night Farer and its crew. Her mission is to seek out and steal a valuable treasure aboard the ship while keeping up the facade of a sullen and angry prisoner. While aboard the ship, our fierce and brilliant princess become *close* to Riden, the first mate, and brother to the captain, Draxen. Of course, Alossa and Riden’s story wasn’t a spicy and angsty one, but I did find myself pathetically smiling at the book and having to put it down more than once because they were too darn cute! But, the main story follows an independent and capable heroine navigating the troubled seas of her future people.

This book has a sequel, Daughter of the Siren Queen, and I would definitely buy it if I had the chance. But, you know, a book lover’s bank account is never full, and I have an ever-growing TBR list that the sequel has fallen to the bottom of. However, I would absolutely love to read the sequel and Christmas is coming (God bless the grandparents, they need it).

I know this book isn’t my usual taste of favorites, and it’s definitely not a high scorer on my ratings. But, I loved the strong protagonist and the witty and fun story it followed. Definitely for a younger audience, but I’d recommend it to anyone who loves pirates.

Genre: fantasy, Y/A

Age: 10+

Rating: 5/10

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Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Wow = This book! I love Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie—I read her book Purple Hibiscus last year and have been a keen admirer ever since. Half of a Yellow Sun (HOAYS) was a book I got last summer and has been waiting patiently all year long to be read. Finally, about a week ago, I picked it up and began to melt.

Based in Nigeria in c. the late 1960s, HOAYS follows the lives of about five characters throughout the drastic and catastrophic time for the young, valiant country of Biafra during its short existence. Painfully intimate and violent, Adichie has truly outdone herself with HOAYS. Even though I know I say in every book recommendation that the book was a pageturner, with HOAYS, I’m serious. I started it and was instantly riveted. Only my need to pack and prepare for camp pulled me away from finishing the book days ago.

HOAYS follows a range of different characters, all linked in time and relation, however, with many diverse perspectives and opinions. Olanna Ozobia, a character introduced relatively early in the book, is followed throughout her experiences coming from a wealthy Nigerian family but choosing to follow her own path as a lecturer at Nsukka University. Olanna, along with her lover Odenigbo and their houseboy Ugwu, are passionate believers in the need for the Igbo population of Nigeria to separate into a new nation. As tension around this issue boils into a massacre of Igbo people in certain areas of the country, Olanna becomes frighteningly caught in the crossfire. Further, through the book, Olanna, Odenigbo, Ugwu, as well as Olanna’s sister Kainene and her lover Richard, have their lives turned on their heads.

This book was captivating for its incredible writing and enigmatic characters, but most of all, I loved the history involved. I know almost nothing about the history of Nigeria and its ill-willed tribes, whose animosity lead to the creation of Biafra as a separate nation. Learning history has always been interesting for me, but I’ve never associated or incorporated it into fiction and captivating stories. HOAYS transformed that for me and made me realize that storytelling—especially history storytelling—was a tool to enrapture people beyond their usual enthusiasm for a topic.

For age recommendations for reading, I would definitely recommend an older age than usual (about 13 or older). There are many sexual topics discussed in depth, as well as complex political and social dynamics between Nigeria and other countries. Of course, this isn’t a dig at things that might be “too advanced” yadayadayada. I just find it frustrating when I read a book that is interesting but comprises concepts that go over my head. I think it’s definitely more enjoyable to read a book that you can fully understand.

All in all, HOAYS was a captivating and intense read I’d recommend to many, many people if given the chance. So, if you read it and find it as awesome as I do, please pass along the message to all your acquaintances (as well as random strangers on the street): “Half of a Yellow Sun is an 8/10 from Jade!”

Genre: contemporary/historical fiction

Age: 13+

Rating: 8/10

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab was an incredible book I recently finished. This book is centered around an enigmatic and charming young woman cursed with living forever but being forgotten by all. With such an incredible story spanning 300 years, traveling between the French countryside and the US, Addie LaRue was a page-turner if I’ve ever known one.

Adeline LaRue grew up in Villon-sur-Sarthe, France during the turn of the 17th century. As a woman in that time, the constrictions of her village began to chaff against Addie’s naturally adventurous and wild spirit. In 1714, when Addie finds herself facing the doom of marriage, she desperately turns to the darkness and hastily sells her soul for the promise of freedom to live the life she wants, uncontrolled by others. This deal is twisted beyond recognition as the impulsive words of a young woman who is abruptly faced with an unwanted future. Addie becomes doomed by another fate; that of life without any tethering whatsoever to another, freedom at its most extreme.

This curse wraps around Addie throughout the next centuries, until she meets Henry Strauss, who remembers her. A break in the matrix, a miracle, and a joy to Addie. However, as the two learn more about each other past though, they discover that the malign stealer-of-souls has plotted against them both yet again.

With the clock ticking on Addie and Henry’s time together, Addie has to come up with a way to save the one person who remembers her, who hears her, who knows her. Can she do it? And what will it cost?

Addie LaRue is a poignant, insightful, and wonderful work, full of captivating moments in history, and following a delightfully wild and clever character throughout her struggles against freedom’s darkest face; disremembrance. As someone who is always interested in historical fiction and fantasy, this book was perfect for my taste. I recommend Addie LaRue for any age group, although, of course, there are a number of sections that would not be appropriate for someone younger than the Jade Age Meter (JAM)—roughly 12 or 13.

Of course, though I absolutely loved this book, I would not recommend it to someone not interested in fantasy and fiction. Although it holds a lot of historical value, the story ultimately revolves around gods and immortality, which are, of course, fictional *wink wink.* So, if you are looking for an accurate book focused solely on history, Addie LaRue is not for you (that rhymes!). Nonetheless, this book was fantastic for someone who values scintillating fiction above boring, accurate history. Addie LaRue is 10/10 stars for me!!

Genre: historical fiction, Y/A fiction, romance

Age: 12+

Rating: 10/10 *chef’s kiss/standing ovation*

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The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat

The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat is a book that I’ve read recently that was written in a fascinating format. Danticat reserved each chapter of the book to transport the reader to a different location, perspective, and/or time. Although, readers soon figure out that all of the chapters and characters are connected throughout a large and mysterious plotline.

The book centers around the stories of many Haitian immigrants living in the US, as well as including sections of the books taking place on the island itself. The main storyline is that of a murderer, or “dew breaker,” who worked for the Haitian regime during the 1960s. The murderer’s story is told through the eyes of the people around him, including his daughter, wife, and tenants who rent out rooms in his house in New York City.

The Dew Breaker isn’t intriguing and difficult in the sense that its language is advanced. On the contrary, Danticat’s writing isn’t difficult to understand at all. Her plotline and, at times, the goriness of the story make up for the simple language she uses. Similarly, the fact that the book jumps around makes it just as difficult to read as Shakespeare.

I would recommend this book for many age ranges. It’s such an interesting and intriguing story, and the lack of complex language made it perfect for my middle-school level of reading and understanding. But, to be sure, this isn’t a children’s story, so I would specifically not recommend it to anyone under the age of 12 or 13.

The Dew Breaker was fascinating to me because it explored so many different plotlines and characters’ stories, and yet Danticat was still able to maintain a clear narrative. I’ve already said that Danticat’s writing isn’t complex, and she does use simple language and clear methods. But, what was much more complex about the story was Danticat’s method of narrative and storytelling. She used things like constantly switching between first and third-person narration, not to mention completing changing storylines every chapter. Because I’ve been exploring writing styles and methods during these past few months, I’ve become increasingly aware of authors’ methods of storytelling and how important that is.

I enjoyed this book not just because of its interesting theme of Haitian immigrants and trauma, but also because of the beautiful craftsmanship in its writing. Danticat truly created a wonderful book that I will continue to recommend to many people, including you!

Genre: fiction, contemporary/historical fiction, short stories

Age: 12/13+

Rating: 7/10

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Book Reviews Intro

Hi there! I’m Jade and if you didn’t already know, I’m an absolute bookworm. I love mostly contemporary fiction, fantasy, romance, and murder mysteries. I’m also only 15, so my knowledge and opinion of books are entirely based on my limited experience and understanding of the world. But, I’d love to be able to recommend and explain books to people who might be interested in reading as well. So, this page is a review and general recommendation for all the books I’ve read recently. I include my opinion on the book’s audience age range, as well as the genre and my own rating of the book. Comment and let me know if you’ve read any of the books I post about and what you thought of them! Bon voyage, readers!