Category: 4 stars

Reviews for books I gave four stars to.

Cover for Spells for Change by Frankie Castanea

ARC Review: Spells for Change: A Guide for Modern Witches by Frankie Castanea

March 28, 2022

This is a wonderful guide book for beginners. The book covers meditation, grounding, cleansing, banishing, shadow work, cultural appropriation, and desettling the craft.  Frankie Castanea easily breaks down the steps to spellcraft, including herbs, crystals, and sigils. For the herbs sections, she discusses the cultural appropriation of herbs like white sage and palo santo to … More ARC Review: Spells for Change: A Guide for Modern Witches by Frankie Castanea

Cover for Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery

Review: Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery

March 16, 2022

Temple Grandin is a woman who changed the world of livestock industry. She advocated for better conditions for livestock animals and humane ways to kill them. She is also an advocate for autism and shows how autistic people can contribute to society.  I first learned about Temple in college and I remember watching a short … More Review: Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery

Cover for Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

Review: Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

March 15, 2022

Trigger Warnings: Discussions of racism, domestic abuse, sexual abuse,  miscarriages, abortions, gun violence, police violence, harassment, fatphobia, eating disorders, food insecurities PTSD, suicide, victim blaming, mental illness, human trafficking, femicide, cultural appropriation, teacher discrimination and bullying.  “One of the biggest issues with mainstream feminist writing has been the way the idea of what constitutes a … More Review: Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

Cover for Written in Bone by Sue Black

Review: Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black

March 14, 2022

Trigger Warnings: Discussions of pedophilia, murder, serial killers, prostitution, child death and abuse, rape, molestation, survivors guilt, torture, and executions. Graphic descriptions of dead bodies.  Forensic anthropologist Sue Black takes on a journey to show how pieces of our remains can be used to solve crimes. She draws on her own experiences and case work … More Review: Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black

Cover for Jews Don't Count by David Baddiel

Review: Jews Don’t Count: How Identity Politics Failed One Particular Identity by David Baddiel

March 11, 2022

Trigger Warnings: Discussions of antisemitism, racism, blackface, Islamophobia, conspiracy theories, transphobia, J.K. Rowling, cancel culture.  Jews Don’t Count: How Identity Politics Failed One Particular Identity discusses the ignored history of antisemitism and how people don’t count Jews as real minorities, even when they should.  This book was great. David Baddiel talks about a lot of … More Review: Jews Don’t Count: How Identity Politics Failed One Particular Identity by David Baddiel

Cover for Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia

Review: Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia

February 27, 2022

Garfield “Gar” Logan is trying to impress the popular kids and experience popularity before he leaves high school. What he doesn’t expect is for his body to start drastically growing and changing into wild animals.  Gar is struggling with common high school issues, like popularity, crushes, and changing bodies. I think Gar’s obsession with being … More Review: Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia

Cover for The Eclectic Witch's Book of Shadows by Deborah Blake

Review: The Eclectic Witch’s Book of Shadows: Witchy Wisdom at Your Fingertips by Deborah Blake

February 26, 2022

The Eclectic Witch’s Book of Shadows is a beginners reference book for those who are looking to build their practice from the ground up. This book gives basic introductions and quick references for all the basics of witchcraft elements, like candle magic, divination, stones, gods and goddesses and so on. Within each section there are … More Review: The Eclectic Witch’s Book of Shadows: Witchy Wisdom at Your Fingertips by Deborah Blake

Cover for Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O'Neill

Review: Princess Princess Ever After by K. O’Neill

February 18, 2022

When princess Amira rescues the kind-hearted Sadie from her prison tower, she finds a beautiful friend and partner.  They have to work together to stop a rampaging troll, bring down a jealous sorceress, and save a kingdom.  This was an adorable story. Kay O’Neill really writes beautiful graphic novels. Sadie and Amira’s adventures were filled … More Review: Princess Princess Ever After by K. O’Neill