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This is such a slow burn & I felt it all over! I could not put this down - until, suddenly, I just dropped it...because the madness of it all got to me.

Highly recommend for those who want something a little raunchy - I will have to revisit! Such a captivating blend of realism and downright horror. There is so much to learn through this text, but also, it's simply an enthralling storytelling experience like no other.

This graphic novel is a beautiful blend of folklore and contemporary storytelling. Features LGBTQIA+ themes and an immigration experience. This work carries you away like the gentle notes of a songbird.

A dark and engrossing account of the horrors of slavery and one enslaved woman's determination to find love. This piece is rich and beautifully crafted by an enthralling Jamaican voice which will stay with you even after you've closed the covers.

What initially feels like the typical "scandalous" YA love story quickly unfolds into a dialogue about cultural identity and patriarchy. Rajurkar shows us how cultural microaggressions look and feel like through the eyes of Rani, an Indian-American experiencing first love. Emotionally messy and definitively fierce!

Asha Lemmie gives us a breathtaking illustration of sibling love crossing racial divides. We follow Nori, a Black/Japanese "bastard" child tucked away in the attic of her aristocratic grandmother's house. We watch her break free from the expectations of the world around her upon meeting her "legitimate" half-brother, Akira. This novel carries a lot of emotional weight - family ties are continuously broken and ultimately rebound. The novelty in perspective of this fiction had me turning pages quickly, but I couldn't help but feel emotionally defeated by Nori's unrelenting perils and painful choices. (3.5/5)

A fun & warming tale about friendship & community. This read gave us so much more than a simple coming-of-age story: Nelo grapples with gentrification in her hometown, she stumbles to solve a mystery, navigates messy friendship dynamics, gets swooped up in heavy media, and more. The narrative is written with a casual and engaging appeal but the underlying message is powerful - I loved how warm and fuzzy this book made me feel even as it unpacked hard topics such as police brutality and gentrification.

Sanchez gifts us with a riveting account of the Mexican-American experience while tackling uncomfortable topics such as trauma and grief with beautiful candor. The main character, Julia, navigates what it means to come into her own against her family's wishes while unraveling the truth about her dead "perfect" Mexican sister. Simply put: a MUST read.