Rachel Reads & Reviews

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Book Club Picks

  • Boxers, Saints and Little Women

    This historical saga by Gene Luen Yang imparts the history of the Boxer Rebellion from the people in the rebellion rather than the dusty old textbooks focusing on the Europeans views of things. Filled with tragedy, magical realism and some humor with expressive visuals that keep the story moving.

  • Archie Horror Presents

    Chilling Adventures in Sorcery This anathology features scary yet humorous stories as Madam Satan encounters the death stories of our favorite redhead and his hungry buddy. The fact that they’re there is more horrifying to Iola than their stories which was quite funny. I guess she had enough of teenagers during her time standing as…

  • All about Sabrina

    Sabrina the Teenage Witch: 60 Years, 60 Magical Stories What better way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of everyone’s favorite witch than to read this 512 page collection of some of her best stories! Though it offers some behind the scene mentions, the intros are not exactly looking into the history and evolution of the…

  • Hispanic Heritage Month Reads

    Nuestra América: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States by Sabrina Vourvoulias Like any nonfiction books on the subject of role models and inspiring people, this book provides mini biographies on some famous and some lesser known figures that shaped or changed history through their accomplishments. The standard latinos are present such as…

  • Book Highlight: Brown Girl Dreaming

    Just as I never read the children classic author, Ronald Dahl, I hadn’t gotten to Jacqueline Woodson. Until now! Her memoir mixes prose and poetry as she chronicles her childhood in five parts: Part 1, i am born which covers her childhood in Ohio and her parents’ separation; Part 2, the stories of south carolina…

  • An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denizens of Downworld

    This illustrated history promises to give you a behind the scenes peek into your favorite Shadowhunter and Downworlder characters from Clare’s hit fantasy series. Which it somewhat succeeds. I’ll admit the amazon summary may have oversold it as I was eagerly flying through the pages to see a complete Shadowhunter family tree as I am…

  • Book Highlight: Young, Fearless, Awesome

    This delightfully inspiring book encourages kids to chase after their dreams and break boundaries no matter their age through the stories of these icons. Some you probably know like Anna Frank and Greta Thunberg but it also features some new ones like Samantha Smith who wrote to a Soviet leader and became a peace ambassador…

  • Book Highlight: Paperbacks from Hell

    It’s spooky season so my big suggestion for getting your horror fics is to delve into the horror history of the 70s-80s with Grady Hendrix’ Paperbacks from Hell. Clearly written by a fan who knows his horrors and pulps, Hendrix’ tone is full of vivid narrative energy. Whenever I read I feel like I’m on…

  • Book Highlight: The Wonders We Seek

    The Wonders We Seek: Thirty Incredible Muslims Who Helped Shape the World by Saadia Faruqi and Aneesa Mumtaz is an informative book that does exactly what it says in the title.

  • Author Highlight: Ann M. Martin

    Ann M. Martin has shaped so many lives with her children and young adult fiction ever since the 80s I believe. The first Martin classic has lived on in pop culture with reboots and reprints is The BSC-The Babysitter’s Club!