Read or be Read

Breaking News: Not All Dead White Men isn’t just about dead white men. (An Analysis)                                                                                                          By Steph    *Spoiler Free! “Not all men”. I’m sure most of you have all heard a version of this term used to excuse sexist, misogynistic actions. But Steph, you might say, why would saying this phrase be so harmful? Isn’t it just trying to state not every single man is at fault for a horrible deed? And you’re right. At face value, this statement isn’t inherently toxic. However, it has grown to become a catchphrase for men who think it’s better to shift the blame of an accusation i...

      For this week's book review, I read Shadow of the Fox , by Julie Kagawa. This was a highly engaging tale about adventure in a historical Japanese setting. This is first and foremost a fantasy novel, however it is really enjoyable to also learn a lot about ancient Japan, along with many Japanese legends.     This story is told from two very different perspectives. The primary protagonist is Yumeko, an innocent teenage girl who has lived in a temple with monks her entire life. She has never seen any other parts of the world, and only knows what the monks have told her. However, Yumeko is hiding a secret from the rest of the world; she is a kitsune, a magic shape-shifting fox with the ability to create illusions. The secondary protagonist is Tatsumi, a samurai on a mission from his mysterious, immortal daimyo. Both of these character's personalities are complete opposites, creating many interesting scenarios throughout the book.     The conflict in ...

  13 Reasons Why Book Review Trigger Warnings: This book, and therefore my review, have mentions of suicide, rape/sexual harassment, bullying, and death. Please do not read this blog and the book itself if you know those things affect you. Thank you :)            As I sit down to write this review I am going to be honest and admit I don't really know where to start. Similar to the main character Clay Jensen I find myself at a loss for words and a jumble of emotions. In the story 13 Reasons Why  readers follow Clay around his hometown as he listens to the tapes left to him and 12 others by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide not long before he received the tapes. As the title of the book suggest the 13 tapes each bring one reason and person that are responsible for her death. As much as Clay wishes he wouldn't have to hear his dead classmate speak to him again, fearing that he won't be able to take the pain, he forces himself to hear ...

     Imagine being a kid from San Antonio, Texas who moves North. Like WAY North: past the middle of the United States, the northern United States, and arrive in Canada; where you head straight to a city in northern British Columbia called Fort Nelson to wait for a plane that will take you even further north to Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. Now imagine making this trip all by yourself because your dad is working on a remote drill site in between Yellowknife and the Arctic Ocean and your mom is dead. Welcome to the life of Gabe Rogers, a 15 year old kid who is about to embark on an unexpected adventure of a lifetime that will most likely end his lifetime... This is Far North by: Will Hobbs.      On the flight to Yellowknife, Clint, a 22 year old man who works for the air charter that is taking Gabe up to Yellowknife, talks about heroic men and less heroic men who have gotten stranded in the Nahanni Valley (better known as Dead-men V...