Reading Wrap-up and Reviews | July 2020

TL;DR

A thorough review of various books read in July, including supernatural horror, middle-grade fantasy, manga, and more.

Transcript

hi guys so i am here to review for you all of the books that i read in july and i say that with a slight tone of trepidation because i read quite a lot in july and i'm really thinking that i may have to bring back the mid-month wrap-ups in august just to make it a little bit more manageable and also because wrap-ups are actually my favorite videos ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😫 "Ring Shout" by P. Jelly Clark offers a clever and gruesome exploration of racism and the supernatural, set during the Jim Crow era.
• 💀 Middle-grade books like "Pure Dead Magic" by Debbie Gliori and "Charlie Bone in the Hidden King" by Jenny Nimmo offer whimsical and humorous adventures for younger readers.
• 💨 "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers captures the essence of the TV show Firefly with its diverse characters and spacefaring journey.
• 💦 "The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water" by Zen Cho combines friendship, magic, and adventure in a novella format.
• 👪 "Moonrise" by Sarah Crossan delves into the complexities of grief, family, and capital punishment through beautiful verse storytelling.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is "Ring Shout" by P. Jelly Clark about?

"Ring Shout" is a supernatural horror novella set during the Jim Crow era, where the Ku Klux Klan allows monsters from another world to possess them, serving as a metaphor for racial hatred and segregation.

Q: What is "Pure Dead Magic" by Debbie Gliori about?

"Pure Dead Magic" is a middle-grade fantasy book set in Scotland, following a family living in a castle with mythical creatures. It is a humorous and wacky story that appeals to a young audience.

Q: What is "I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up" by Naoko Kodama about?

"I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up" is a one-shot manga about two women who enter a civil partnership to appease one partner's parents. It is a cute and light-hearted story with explicit queer representation.

Q: What is "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers about?

"The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet" is a sci-fi novel following a diverse group of characters on a spaceship. It has been compared to the TV show Firefly and focuses on the relationships and journeys of the characters.

Q: What is "The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water" by Zen Cho about?

"The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water" is a novella about a group of outlaws and a nun who join forces on a journey. It explores themes of friendship, magic, and adventure.

Q: What is "The Hidden King" by Mary Rose Wood about?

"The Hidden King" is the fourth book in the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, a middle-grade series about a governess and three children raised by wolves. It is a humorous and heartwarming story with elements of mystery and adventure.

Q: What is "Written in Blood" by Chris Carter about?

"Written in Blood" is a crime thriller about a detective who receives a serial killer's diary on his desk, leading him on a hunt to discover the killer's identity. It is a dark and suspenseful book with twists and turns.

Q: What is "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia about?

"Mexican Gothic" is a gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico, following a young woman's investigation into her cousin's mysterious husband and the dark secrets of their manor. It is a chilling and atmospheric book with themes of race, eugenics, and feminism.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Ring Shout" by P. Jelly Clark is an alternative history novella set during the Jim Crow era, where the Ku Klux Klan allows monsters from another world to possess them. The book serves as a gruesome metaphor for racial hatred and segregation.

• "Pure Dead Magic" by Debbie Gliori is a middle-grade fantasy book about a family in Scotland with mythical creatures living in their castle.

• "I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up" by Naoko Kodama is a one-shot manga about a lesbian couple who enter into a civil partnership to appease one partner's parents.

• "Charlie Bone in the Hidden King" by Jenny Nimmo is the fifth book in the Charlie Bone series, a middle-grade fantasy series about a boy with magical abilities.

• "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers is a sci-fi novel reminiscent of the TV show Firefly, focusing on a diverse group of characters aboard a spaceship.

• "The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water" by Zen Cho is a novella about a group of outlaws and a nun who join forces on a journey, exploring themes of friendship and magic.

• "The Hidden King" by Mary Rose Wood is the fourth book in the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, a middle-grade series following a governess and three children raised by wolves.

• "Written in Blood" by Chris Carter is a crime thriller about a detective who receives a serial killer's diary on his desk, leading him on a hunt to discover the killer's identity.

• "Moonrise" by Sarah Crossan is a YA novel written in verse about a boy whose brother is on death row, exploring themes of family, grief, and capital punishment.

• "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico, following a young woman's investigation into her cousin's mysterious husband and the dark secrets of their manor.