Reviews
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Bookbed reviews: ‘A Natural History of Empire’ by Dominic Sy
by Jodesz Gavilan THE STORY Fraying at the edge of a life lived uselessly, an old man ponders over things that were and things that may have been. A vanishing guerilla, a knife fight across the ocean, a chat with a friend come back from the dead. In these tales of doubles, delusions, and self-deceit,…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Stand Up, Yumi Chung!’ by Jessica Kim
by KB Meniado THE STORY One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian. On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Exhalation: Stories’ by Ted Chiang
by Jodesz Gavilan THE STORY This much-anticipated second collection of stories is signature Ted Chiang, full of revelatory ideas and deeply sympathetic characters. In The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate, a portal through time forces a fabric seller in ancient Baghdad to grapple with past mistakes and the temptation of second chances. In the epistolary…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Wing of the Locust’ by Joel Donato Ching Jacob #WingoftheLocust
by KB Meniado Filipino mythology was something I hadn’t been reading plenty of, and not because of a lack of offering but energy (for shame), but this year has allowed me to explore a few facets of our prehistoric origins and found the experience both fascinating and well, guilt-ridden. So when I was offered the…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Meet Me By the Sea’ by Taltal Levi
by KB Meniado THE STORY When a spunky little girl finds that her parents are too busy to play, she decides to visit her favorite place on her own. The familiar path lightens her step and her heart. And along the way she discovers a wonderful surprise. Taltal Levi’s spare text and delicate pastel-hued illustrations…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Furia’ by Yamile Saied Méndez
by KB Meniado THE STORY An #ownvoices contemporary YA set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams. In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life. At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a Forest’ by Rebel Girls
by KB Meniado THE STORY From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes the historical novel based on the life of Dr. Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist from Kenya. Wangari lives in a magical place in rural Kenya where the soil is rich for planting, the trees abundant, and the nearby…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Tweet Cute’ by Emma Lord (Blog Tour + Excerpt)
by KB Meniado THE STORY Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account. Enter Jack, class clown and…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
by Agnes Manalo Note: This contains photos of a handwritten review. Click through image to enlarge and enjoy! THE STORY A few years ago, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie received a letter from a dear friend from childhood, asking her how to raise her baby girl as a feminist. Dear Ijeawele is Adichie’s letter of response. Here are fifteen…
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Bookbed reviews: ‘My Fate According to the Butterfly’ by Gail D. Villanueva
by Agnes Manalo Note: This contains photos of a handwritten review. Click through image to enlarge and enjoy! THE STORY When superstitious Sab sees a giant black butterfly, an omen of death, she knows that she’s doomed! According to legend, she has one week before her fate catches up with her — on her 11th…
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