A wide range of stories read and reviewed by Saleena

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Lost in Taiwan is an interesting adventure where you get to watch a scared, lonely (and a little bit of a selfish jerk) of a teen go out and get lost.  While lost he is forced to interact with and experience things he never thought he would but he is also forced to reconnect with himself and who he wants to be as he navigates his way back to his brother's home.

This is a fun adventure story with a heart, definitely recommended.






Basil and Oregano meet at a magical culinary school.  Readers follow them through the school year until the finale, a cooking competition in which the winner receives free tuition and the prestige of being "the best" culinary wizard.  The author explores the callousness of the school being so focused on the competition and the lack of resources for the many students who cannot afford tuition as well as the atmosphere of desperation which happens when everyone is vying for a limited opportunity and all for very good reasons.  There is a beginning romance between Basil and Oregano but the entirety of the story is more about living up to your potential and not letting others define you.   I think this is a very interesting story and a fun read.



Run on your new legs explores prosthetic "blades" which are made for running, and the readers are along for the ride as the main character is struggling to find things to bring him joy now that he can't play soccer any longer.
I love the representation of disabled sports options and that the reader and the protagonist are learning together, though I am sad that no one offered the young man any hope, only pity after the accident which lost him a leg.










Darrin Bell won the Pulitzer Prize for his political cartoons and graphic explorations of the US and the many issues faced by those living there.

This book is a look back at his life, growing up African American and the ups and downs of racism, generational trauma and his way of expressing himself through his art.  I highly recommend this book as it opens many conversations about racism, colorism and classism.





I have been meaning to read this book for awhile and am so glad I finally got a chance to.  Nguyen's story combines a semi-autobiographical exploration of being an immigrant child in the USA along with his issues of being LBGT and his worries of disappointing his family.  The intertwining of stories with fairy tales and possible exaggerations of life before coming to the US (though some are not, and again, he explores defining fact & fiction).

I really enjoyed this book.




What are you reading?

Saleena

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