Category: Book Reviews

Either while reading the book or after I have read the book I will put my own review of how I thought the book was.

Book Reviews

ISPaT, Stephanie R. Bridge

India
iSpat is a self published book by Stephanie R. Bridges that was inspired by her life as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. Bridges wrote this after becoming closer to God during her recovery. She made this into a series of poems that she divides into sections. Within each section are a varying amount of poems that go with the category of the section, and each poem is also accompanied by a Bible verse.
Now, I was lucky enough to receive this book from Mrs. Bridges after she contacted me asking me if I would read her book for her and post something about it. Normally when it comes to religious books, I don’t read them because I’m not particularly religious, but I did really enjoy and appreciate her story and her strength in writing about it.  It is because of that I read about her wonderful book of poems. You can check out my review on my BookTube channel, which is below! Until next time,
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90s Born Reader
Book Reviews

Binti, Nnedi Okorafur

India

– Short Story – 

Binti is about a girl, Binti, who is the first of her kind to ever be invited to this grand Oomza University where only the brightest are accepted from around the world and the galaxy. For her family leaving is not an option, it’s not something that they do. The people of the Himba tribe stayed where they were and created amazing things that were used throughout the world.
The majority of people are Khoush, who believe that they are better than the Himba people, but they really just don’t understand them. Binta has certain things that her and her people do including braiding their hair down, and using a mixture of natural ingredients called otjize in their hair on their body. They never washed it off and were called “dirt bathers” because of it.
Binti knew what it meant to leave her village and her home, but she also know what it would feel like to not go to a place where a whole new world awaited her. She knew that she was going to learn amazing things while gone, but she never thought that she was going to learn so much about herself, and invoke so much change in the world.

– What I Thought  –

I really enjoyed this novella and wished that it was longer…of course then it wouldn’t be a novella…. There are more after Binti, but I’ll read those later. It’s a sci-fi- novella and that made it a lot of fun to explore the different worlds, but even through out it there are a lot of places for discussion. The novella brings up what it is like to be different, and looked down upon based on what you look like and what society has deemed you are to be.  Okorafur also brings in the ideas of stereotyping other individuals, and trying to come into your own. There are more books in this novella, which is good because I felt that it ended rather abruptly and did not answer any questions. There are a lot of holes in the story, but overall it is a good story. I can’t wait to read the rest of them. As always there is a more detailed review on my YouTube channel! Until next time,
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90s Born Reader
Book Reviews

The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas

India

The Hate U Give

–  Short Story –

You hear about it in the news, it might have happened to someone you know, or it might have happened to a community near you. You never think that it would happen to you. Starr has heard about innocent black people being killed by the police, but she never thought she would be a witness to it. After violence erupts at a party she leaves with a friend, Khalil. When a cop, white, pulls them over on the way home, he immediately asks Khalil to get of the car though they have done nothing wrong. When Khalil turns around to check on Starr he gets shot in the back multiple times. Starr gets out of the car to check on Khalil and finds a gun pointed in her face.
Starr is a part of two different worlds. Her world at school is where she is one of a few black people in her class, and then her world at home where there are no white people. She’s not even sure if she can trust her uncle, a man who had practically raised her, because he is a cop. She feels like she cannot talk to her friends and boyfriend about what happened because they are white, and have never understood where she comes from. The only people she has to depend on is her family.

– My Thoughts – 

This book blew my mind! I absolutely loved every moment of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I actually had to put it down after reading the first chapter, and could only read it a chapter at a time for a little bit. I also started reading it after the verdict came out on the murder of Philando Castille, and so my emotions were very raw. Thomas does an amazing job of showing the life of someone who has to stand up for what is right even when she knows justice is not on her side. She brings in the topics of being Black in America, but also so much more. A lot of Starr’s story touched me personally. I have never had one of my friends killed by the police and had to stand up for them, but in other ways I understand Starr. I’m also in an interracial relationship and sometimes it is hard to explain black America vs. white America, but it’s a conversation that has to happen. I also lived far away from the private school that I went to, on the west side of town, where parents did not like to send their kids to hang out. The emotions that Thomas brought out in this book were real, and it brings up so many discussions. Like how can non- people of color help people of color in times like these. I’m so mind blown by this book that I would recommend it to anyone who asked. Until next time
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90s Born Reader
Book Reviews

Lady Midnight, Cassandra Clare

India

Lady Midnight

It’s been five years since what has come to be known as the “Dark War”, the “Cold Peace” has been placed into effect and tensions are high amongst Downworlders and Shadowhunters. Jace and Clary have helped to save the world as we know it, and have gone on to run the New York Institute. Magnus and Alec have started a family, and have helped to make it so that shadow hunters can marry Downworlders.
Meanwhile in the LA Institute the Blackthornes along with Emma Carstairs have had to hold their lives together ever since Sebastian Morganstern and the Endarkened ruined their lives. Julian Blackthorn was forced to kill his own father five years ago when he became part of the Endarkened and threatened the lives of his brothers and sisters. Both of Emma’s parents were killed, the Clave believed it was by Sebastian, but Emma believes otherwise. During these years, Emma has found information and clues that lead her to who actually find out who her parents killer are. Julian has to take on the roll of brother, father, and leader of the institute, and has to deal with a lot of things that someone his age should never have to deal with. Through it all Emma and Julian have each other and their parabatai bond that helps them get through the dark times and betrayal they are about to face.
I absolutely loved this book. I was so happy to get back into the world of the Shadowhunters and Downworlders because it is such an amazing series. I’m not really one to reread books, but I continue to consider reading each one of Cassandra Clare’s books over again, but maybe in a different order. This book gave you everything that you were missing from not having Shadowhunters in your life. Action, drama, love, and flawless timing of all the different characters and generations of Shadowhunters that you have seen in her previous works. I cannot wait to read Lord of Shadows next. Until next time,
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90s Born Reader
Book Reviews

BookTube: The Mothers by Brit Bennett

India

I have recently uploaded my video on my thoughts about The Mothers by Brit Bennett. You can see my blog post here. Please watch the video, and let me know what you thought! I would really like to have a discussion about what everyone thought about her debut novel!

Until next time

Keep Turning the Pages

90s Born Reader