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HelenL_KCMO
Library StaffThe Kansas City Public Library
HelenL_KCMO's Profile Shelves

HelenL_KCMO's Completed Shelf

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Ain't Burned All the Bright, Book

by Reynolds, Jason
Book, 2022. First edition.. Language: English
Added Jul 01, 2022

Comment:

Jason Reynolds does it again with a phenomenal poem that covers a lot of hard-hitting issues important to teens today- police violence in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder in the first section and COVID in the second section. The third section ends on an uplifting note calling for change and each section ends with a meditative breath in, breathe out. The lines of the poem are accompanied by incredible illustrations from Jason Griffin that match the chaotic and uncertain mood. I really like this new trend of "picture books for teens" (see also: Cicada by Shaun Tan, Inheritance by Elizabeth Acevedo, and very loosely- The Words in my Hands by Asphyxia). It allows teens to engage with books and these deep themes, but in a way that is accessible for teens regardless of busy schedules and different reading levels.

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone, Book

by Keller, Tae
Book, 2022. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added May 17, 2022

Comment:

I've read over 20 books so far this year and this is one of the best books I've read so far- Adult, YA, and award winners... this book competes with the best of all of them! Jennifer Chan is Not Alone is about aliens... or is it about alienation? We start off at the present: Jennifer Chan has gone missing. Mal the protagonist has two possible theories for why Jennifer has gone missing. 1) Aliens or 2) Mal herself. This is the perfect middle school book. It takes popular genres with a lot of appeal for middle schoolers- missing girl thrillers and mean girl school stories- and mixes that in with the most evergreen middle grade themes of bullying, cliques, belonging, and questions of identity. Oh, and add in a pinch of ALIENS for some spice. The story brilliantly unfolds between present and past as Mal has to come to terms with the consequences of her own actions and non-actions. (And as a side note, Jennifer Chan is the coolest girl!) This book is PERFECT for middle schoolers and tweens but the writing is beautiful and thematically strong enough for adults reading along to find meaningful as well. Since reading the book and the author's touching and insightful end note I've thought about Keller's various messages constantly. My only gripe is that I wish we were able to have one or two more chapters of closure with the characters!

Cucumber Quest, Graphic Novel1, The Doughnut Kingdom

by Gigi D. G.
Graphic Novel, 2017. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Feb 24, 2022

Comment:

How is this book not more popular! While the plot follows a standard fantasy/journey plot, what sets this book apart is the artwork which is phenomenal. The bright limited color palettes, the video game-esque style, the cute character designs and fantasy backgrounds remind me of Steven Universe or popular video games. The food theme is also very cute. I think a lot of art kids or fans of cartoon network would love this series!

Himawari House, Graphic Novel

by Becker, Harmony
Graphic Novel, 2021. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Feb 15, 2022

Comment:

This book will probably sweep a bunch of awards, as it should because it's really good. Check it out before the buzz! Himawari house follows the inhabitants of... the himawari house in Japan. The book has more of a vibe than a plot- think Terrace House, or Hyori's Bed and Breakfast. Although the book mainly follows Nao, the Japanese American, the other non-American members of the core cast- Tina, who is Singaporean and Hyejung, who is Korean- is what really set this book apart from other Asian American books. Becker goes full Mark Twain with the portrayal of accents and in fully showing how language operates for this multilingual cast. As Becker says in her end note, it brings an amazing vibrancy to the book and fully fleshes out how diverse diasporic spaces can feel in this masterful way that is rarely done well in book form. The art is also fantastic- I think fans of manga will really love it (and also I think they should read it because it offers a more daily view of life in Japan). By the end of the book, I really felt connected to the cast and to the worldbuilding. As for audience, this book is catalogued as a YA book but I think it is more specifically new adult, for people in the traditional college student age range, with strong adult appeal. For older readers, this is a great nostalgic coming of age book- I got flashbacks to my undergrad days! For younger teens, this can be a chill and atmospheric slice of life book (with some brief sexual content). However, I think that some of the themes that push this from an OK book into a great book might not land with younger teen or tween readers as much. The experiences depicted will probably resonate the strongest with people who are college aged or older.

A Complicated Love Story Set in Space, Book

by Hutchinson, Shaun David
Book, 2021. First Simon & Schuster BFYR hardcover edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Feb 15, 2022

Comment:

This was such a surprising gem of a book. I think that at first glance a lot of people will dismiss the book as a standard YA romcom, I mean, it's literally there in the title, but there's so much happening in this book. It's kind of a rollercoaster. A Complicated Love Story Set in Space is actually also A Complicated Mystery Set in Space and I was caught off guard by how much the mystery drew me in. Noa wakes up to find himself stuck in space with 2 other teens he's never met before and the last 2 weeks of his memory wiped- how did he get there!? This book is just a fun read. It goes through some of the best classic science fiction tropes- I don't want to spoil it but at times the book really felt like a good cartoon. It's engaging. The narration is funny and lighthearted- it's clearly written for a teen audience- despite the kids being thrusted into a life or death situation. The pacing is fantastic, I finished this book in an afternoon and didn't realize that it's twice as long as some books that usually take me 2-3 days to finish. There's an element to mystery to it- I mean, how did Noa get from Seattle to space? There were at least 3 well placed plot twists/reveals that were satisfying but also real plot twists that I did not see coming. And of course, the romance... I'll be honest the romance frustrated me at first, but as the title suggested, it's a complicated love story. Set in space.

A Man & His Cat, eBook01

by Sakurai, Umi
eBook, 2020. Language: English
Available
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Feb 08, 2022

Comment:

This is a slice of life/webcomic style manga that follows the adventure of a cat who is adopted by a man who is lonely after his wife dies. It's a calming and wholesome read that's great for fans of Rilakkuma.

In Deeper Waters, Book

by Lukens, F. T.
Book, 2021. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Feb 07, 2022

Comment:

In Deeper Waters is incredibly straightforward- magical prince meets mysterious merman. And then if the cover doesn't make it clear, they fall in love. That being said, contrary to what the cover art might suggest, the pirates are only there for the beginning of the story. This book is not really about plot or intricate plot twists, it's more about having a fun magical setting in the backdrop to two boys being in love (think Tangled, but gay, and with merfolk, and with less hair). I think this book would be great for fans of Rainbow Powell's Simon Snow series or for fans of TJ Klune.

Maya and the Robot, Book

by Ewing, Eve L.
Book, 2021. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Feb 07, 2022

Comment:

Maya and the Robot follows science genius Maya as she navigates the fifth grade... without her two best friends in her class! Oh, also along the way she finds and resurrects a robot. This book is a great balance between fun wish fulfillment hijinks and something with a bit more depth for elementary school-aged kids. Beyond the fantasy of "here's a robot that can do all my chores," the book is effortlessly multicultural, is sprinkled with science facts, explores grief, and is grounded emotionally with the universal struggle of loneliness. As with all of Eve Ewing's works, there's clearly a love of Black girls, science, and Chicago (though not explicitly mentioned) that shows through the pages. I think this book is perfect for fans of PBS kids.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Book

by Lo, Malinda
Book, 2021. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Feb 04, 2022

Comment:

Last Night at the Telegraph Club dominated a lot of the YA awards this year and it is totally deserved, although I will say that it is on the “adult” end of the “young adult” spectrum. Though the protagonist is a high schooler, the book is as literary as it gets in YA. I think this book has massive crossover appeal for adults. This book does historical fiction so, so well. It is also a lesbian awakening and coming out story, and it does that very well too. The beginning was a bit rough- it takes some effort to jump back into the 1950s, but once you get acclimated, the worldbuilding is so vivid and full. Malinda Lo does an amazing job at weaving in everything that was happening at the time, from 1950s Chinatowns, to the red scare, to the lavender scare, to the Cold War space race. The layers got overwhelming at times, but it was probably overwhelming to be a lesbian Chinese girl at the time! What I really appreciate about this book is that I think sometimes we tend to put history in a box where people of color and/or lgbtq+ people just suffered and that was the end of it. But people still lived through these times, and this (obviously incredibly well researched book) does a really good job of portraying all characters in their fullness- not as historical caricatures, but as people with flaws who were navigating through real anxieties of the time. If you liked this book, I highly recommend Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman. As a side note, this story is based off a short story (that we have in our collection at Central Library!) originally titled “New Years,” which makes this a great belated (“Chinese”) New Years read. Happy new years!

Cinder, Book

by Meyer, Marissa
Book, 2013. First Square Fish edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Jan 24, 2022

Comment:

I can see why this is such a popular book- Cinder is a retelling of Cinderella set in a futuristic steam punk world... in space! The aesthetics of this book are extremely cool, filled with robots, cyborgs, and a mix of East Asian influences. This also gets to the part of the book that has not aged well over the last 10 years- the Asian references are extremely inconsistent. The most glaring inconsistency is with the naming conventions, which from my informal tracking mixed up Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese names with little explanation. Of course, displaying a mixture of cultures can contribute to worldbuilding and add a layer of social commentary- this is done in books like The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi (translated by Cathy Hirano) or Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko. However, in Cinder, these inconsistencies simply feel like a byproduct of not enough research and as Asian/Asian American media has gone more mainstream, these errors are distracting. Over the last few years there have been a lot more books by Asian/Asian American authors that can hit the same genre beats- for fairytale retellings, Elizabeth Lim is phenomenal- check out Six Crimson Cranes or Spin the Dawn. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh is a short story collection of retellings. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet that is set in Republic-era Shanghai... with zombies, kind of. While TVD is not steampunk, the gritty setting can match a steampunk vibe. On the sci-fi end, there’s the works of Marie Lu, as well as Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta and Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. For protagonists with metal limbs, check out Fullmetal Alchemist by Arakawa, which also happens to be one of the greatest mangas and animes of all time. For more general East Asian aesthetics, Asian fantasies have become a lot more available in English. Non-YA books with YA appeal include the Poppy War by RF Kuang which features an incredible amount of historical research, the recently translated works of Jin Yong which are classics in Chinese fantasy- start with A Hero Born (the author is listed as Jin, Yong in the catalogues and the book is translated by Anna Holmwood), as well as the extremely popular works of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (translated by Suika and Pengie) which have just been released officially in English.

Huda F Are You?, Graphic Novel

by Fahmy, Huda
Graphic Novel, 2021. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Jan 11, 2022

Not Here to Be Liked, Book

by Quach, Michelle
Book, 2021. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Jan 05, 2022

Comment:

Not Here To be Liked is an enemies to lovers story (well, that is not the point of the story, but also, it is) about Eliza Quan who loses her editor-in-chief position at her school’s newspaper club to some (hot) jock named Len DeMartile. Quan’s main qualm is that Len is totally unqualified for the EIC, waltzing in only with the aid of sexism! To vent, she writes a manifesto that then mysteriously gets leaked to the entire school. I’m not sure how this will stand with teens of today- is feminism still cool?- but this book gave me very vivid flashbacks of my own high school experience between the way the mom nags at Eliza in the car, the majority Asian school dynamics, the hypercompetitiveness, and the rigged club elections that are just popularity contests, let’s be real. I really loved the portrayal of feminism in this book. It’s extremely messy and complicated! The lines between personal gripes and personal commitment towards a politic are unclear, which I think would make this a fantastic book club book for discussion. Also, this is not the point of the book (but it also kind of is) but I like Len a lot as a love interest. Final thoughts- this is a great book to read with friends and to really talk about! I'd really love to know what everyone's thoughts are on this book.

Mooncakes, Graphic Novel

by Walker, Suzanne
Graphic Novel, 2019. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Jan 04, 2022

Comment:

Mooncakes is about witches, werewolves, and being blanketed in a fall aesthetic. The plot is not that important, this book is more of a vibe- a perfect, cozy, fall vibe. Everything is so cute, from the bookstore setting, to the northeastern American wide shots of all the fall leaves, to the cozy witchiness, to the sweaters... all in a limited autumn palette of oranges, browns, and teals. How did I end up reading this perfect fall book in the middle of winter? Well, I got a bit behind on my list... That being said, what you won't find in this book are any actual mooncakes! But once you get past the misleading title and cover art, this book was a very cute read.

All's Faire in Middle School, Graphic Novel

by Jamieson, Victoria
Graphic Novel, 2017. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Jan 03, 2022

Comment:

All's Faire follows Imogene's adventures in starting middle school after being home schooled by her renaissance-faire-working parents. This book is a classic "new kid at school" story filled relatable weird kid woes, mean girl bullying, ridiculous teachers, and fashion faux pas, but with some bonus renaissance fair trivia and fun in some of Imogene's thoughts and in scenes outside of school.

Take Back the Block, Book

by Giles, Chrystal D.
Book, 2021. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Jan 03, 2022

Comment:

Take Back the Block hilariously begins with Wes complaining about all the protests his mother takes him to, as an 11 year old, he has other things to do! But when Wes's neighborhood is targeted by a development company, he takes a stand with his friends and the help of his teachers and parents. This is not a funny book, like many "modern/realistic" middle school books. This is an issue book (compared to books like free lunch this book is not as serious or sad) that covers a lot of important current issues that I think kids in KC will find relatable- I love that there is a book that focuses on housing! Wes is is opposing gentrification while his friends are also dealing with issues of police violence, homelessness, and being biracial.

Teatime Around the World, Book

by Waissbluth, Denyse
Book, 2020. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Dec 28, 2021

Comment:

Great book for both children and adults! Loved the illustrations that took us around the world and different cultures through the common thread of tea, which I also love.

How to Hide An Empire, BookA History of the Greater United States

by Immerwahr, Daniel
Book, 2019. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Dec 22, 2021

The Loneliest Americans, Book

by Kang, Jay Caspian
Book, 2021. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Nov 22, 2021

Comment:

The Loneliest Americans is an interesting mix between memoir, history, and essays. I think this book is a good response to and critique of a lot of the Asian American books and common cliches that became popular after the Atlanta shootings in early 2021 that's much needed. (I just finished reading a very popular one, and I found myself coming back to The Loneliest Americans with a newfound appreciation of it as an unintentional response to what all the shortcomings in the first book.) Aside from the sociopolitical commentary, the personal parts of Kangs essay do a good job in talking about his own adolescent angst with kindness and a bit of humor. I think these parts would resonate with teens, especially teen boys.

The Passing Playbook, Book

by Fitzsimons, Isaac
Book, 2021. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Nov 22, 2021

Comment:

The Passing Playbook is about Spencer, a trans kid, trying to make a new start at a new school- where the students do not know that he is trans. Something that I found interesting was that the author and the main character are both Black, and the cast is pretty racially diverse, but that diversity is not focused on at all. The main focus is on various types of queer experiences- the passing trans kid (the title is so clever), the genderqueer friend, and the gay kid closeted because of his religion. There's a lot going for this book that's endearing- there's soccer, there's the fluffy romance with the cute soccer kid, and there's also a lot of gay angst. Sometimes I found myself yelling at Spencer for some of his decisions, but the book is for the most part a nice fluffy read. Also, SPORTS.

Minor Feelings, BookAn Asian American Reckoning

by Hong, Cathy Park
Book, 2020. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Nov 21, 2021

The Book of Form and Emptiness, Book

by Ozeki, Ruth
Book, 2021. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Nov 16, 2021

Comment:

This book follows Benny and his mother Annabelle following the sudden death of their father/husband. As they deal with their grief, both mother and son encounter mysterious books. Annabelle's book, Tidy Magic, is a hilariously obvious fictional version of Marie Kondo's the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Meanwhile, Benny's book literally speaks. This is a book about books and a book about libraries which makes it perfect for fans of the library. It's also a coming to age book that I think would be perfect for teens (although there is explicit language and sex scenes the book horrifyingly and kind of hilariously goes very into detail telling Benny about how his parents met). Finally, this book is about grief and dealing with loss and what even is mental health/illness when the rest of the world keeps pushing forward. Depending on your preferred coping mechanism to the pandemic, I think this book can either be a comfort, or it might be entirely too real. I have a lot of other thoughts about this book, please talk to me about it.

The Witch King, Book

by Edgmon, H. E.
Book, 2021. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Oct 07, 2021

Comment:

Thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end. What a quintessential YA book with all the quirks of YA and also all the fun. Think A Court of Thorn and Roses or the Cruel Prince... but make it gay. It's got everything- arranged marriages, Fae, royalty, dragons, witches, fire, and revolutions! The protagonist is trans and his friend group is queer. The love interest is a dark-skinned fae and Wyatt's best friend is native. While there is a very diverse cast, the book is pretty fast paced and does not get bogged down in exposition. I really enjoyed this one and think that a lot of young people, especially those who love fantasy, romance, and social justice, will too!

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, Book

by Rivera, Kaela
Book, 2021. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Oct 07, 2021

Comment:

I really love this book- the cover is cute but it really sells the book short! The story follows Cece Rios as she teams up with a criaturas, a sort of magical spirit, to enter a bruja tournament in order to save her sister. I think it would be perfect for a book club. It is an own voices book that really allows Aztec and Mexican culture to shine while not being preachy. I think kids will love this book because it has a lot of the same "hook" factors as anime. The tournament arc is a classic shonen anime plot device and it works in this book as well. Most importantly, the relationships between Cece and almost all the other characters, especially the criaturas, is extremely compelling. Can't rave enough about this book.

Shine, Book

by Jung, Jessica
Book, 2020. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Sep 30, 2021

Comment:

This book follows Rachel, a K-pop trainee, as she tries to debut in a competitive company, but the real draw of the book is that its author is a former K-pop star herself! I think this book has been mismarketed. This book might be about K-pop, but it's missing the elements of K-pop that draws fans in so I actually think K-pop fans might find it disappointing. Rather than focusing on the glitz, the glamour, the dances, the performances, or most importantly, the bonds between group members, this book focuses on the backstabbing and drama that happens behind the scenes where the charismatic, likeable idols come across as catty and unsympathetic. This book is less so for K-pop fans but I think that people who enjoy Gossip Girl-esque mean girl dramas might enjoy this book!

Six Crimson Cranes, Book

by Lim, Elizabeth
Book, 2021. First edition.. Language: English
HelenL_KCMO's rating:
Added Sep 27, 2021

Comment:

This book is incredible! It's probably one of my favorite new books from 2021. The story is a fairytale retelling that is a fusion of The Wild Swans and Hachikazuki with a lot of east Asian folk/fantasy elements. I don't know if it was intentional but I was reminded a lot of Fengshen Yanyi in the beginning. The book was very well paced and I loved the evil stepmom character and the love interest. I think this book is great for fans of fairy tale retellings or east Asian fantasies such as Spirited Away or MDZS.

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