Category Archives: Nonfiction

Review: True Gretch by Gretchen Whitmer

Book Review and Content, Memoir, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,
True Gretch by Gretchen Whitmer

True Gretch: Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference (Young Adult Edition)
Gretchen Whitmer
Atheneum
Published January 28, 2025

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About True Gretch: Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference (Young Adult Edition)

The young adult edition of the unconventionally honest, deeply personal, and sharply funny account from Michigan governor and rising Democratic star Gretchen Whitmer is packed with remarkable insights for young people wishing to make a difference in the world.

When Gretchen Whitmer was growing up, her beloved grandmother Nino taught her that you can always find something good in other people. “Even the meanest person might have pretty eyes,” she would say, a piece of advice that Gretchen carries with her today in her role as the governor of Michigan. (And one that resonated more than another her grandmother “never part your hair in the middle.”)

From navigating a kidnapping and assassination plot in which she herself was a target to facing monumental challenges during a global pandemic, Big Gretch (as she’s now known) shares the key pieces of wisdom that have shaped her trailblazing career and personal experiences in this often hilarious, always uplifting book. Along the way, she tells stories about growing up gutsy in the Midwest, the wild comments she’s encountered as a public figure, and how to neutralize high-profile bullies with a fearless sense of humor.

Told in her famously straightforward and slyly funny voice, this young adult edition of the governor’s story not only offers an intimate insight into the life of a politician with an astounding journey, but also affords extraordinary lessons for young people everywhere who wish to make a difference in the world.

My Review

I don’t often read memoirs by people in politics, and I didn’t know a lot about Gretchen Whitmer before picking up this book. It was a really entertaining read, though.

While I will say that it leans a little more memoir than advice or inspirational book, she does frame her experiences in terms of a lesson learned or the best advice she can offer on a particular subject.

I loved the stories she shared about her family, especially her daughters (who appear in a Q&A at the end of the book) and her parents. It’s clear that those are really meaningful relationships that have deeply impacted her life.

So much of the message that she imparts to readers is about being authentic and owning your mistakes. She reminds us that while we, individually, aren’t significant, the work we’re doing is important work. I like that she draws the focus to the work and making a difference and away from herself.

True Gretch isn’t a very long book, and it kept me engaged all the way through. I probably wouldn’t have sought this one out myself, so thanks go out to the publisher who gambled on sending it to me! I really enjoyed reading it.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used super infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to sexual assault. No details.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
See Romance. References to a plot to kidnap and murder Gretchen Whitmer.

Drug Content
References to adults drinking alcohol in social settings.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Ultimate Driving Book by Emme Carlson Berne

Book Review and Content, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

The Ultimate Driving Book: The Essential Guide for First-Time Car Drivers and Owners
Emma Carlson Berne
Illustrated by Shaw Nielsen
Odd Dot
Published August 27, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Ultimate Driving Book: The Essential Guide for First-Time Car Drivers and Owners

From changing a tire, to merging onto a highway, to checking and filling your own oil, The Ultimate Driving Book is the new go-to manual for new and seasoned drivers alike. With 160 pages of full-color illustrations throughout, drivers will have all the step-by-steps they need to navigate life on the road.

Inside, learn how
– Navigate a roundabout or jughandle
– Jump your car’s battery
– Drive in snow or ice
…and so much more!

Plus, use the book’s back pocket to store your insurance and registration documents, then keep it in your glovebox forever!

My Review

I love the idea of this book. It does a lot of things well. The balance between illustrations and text keeps the book informative without being overwhelming. The tone is enthusiastic, and the writing is easy to understand. It’s got great information on a lot of the basics: changing a tire, what to do if you’re in an accident, how to parallel park, what the lights on the dashboard mean, etc. The inclusive illustrations show people in a spectrum of skin tones.

As a Floridian, I doubt I’ll be using the notes on how to dig your car out of a snow bank, but I would have appreciated more information on driving in the rain or what to do when the roadway is underwater.

The last page of the book asks for important vehicle information and phone numbers for insurance claims, emergency contact, and the state highway patrol. The inside back cover is a pocket in which you can keep your insurance card and car registration form, another great idea if you keep this handy book in the glove box.

Overall, I think this book offers good information on some basic driving safety information. I wish it included information on a few additional topics, but I can see how everything that is listed there would be helpful, especially to someone new to spending a lot of time on the road or owning a car.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to vehicle accidents or injuries or dangerous roadway situations. The text is brief and informative.

Drug Content
Strongly discourages readers from drinking or using drugs and driving.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Whale Eyes by James Robinson

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Memoir, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, , , , , ,

Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen
James Robinson
Illustrated by Brian Rea
Penguin Workshop
Published March 18, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen

From Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker James Robinson comes a breathtaking illustrated memoir for middle-grade readers (and adults, too) inspired by the viral, Emmy-nominated short film Whale Eyes.

Told through an experimental mix of intimate anecdotes and interactive visuals, this book immerses readers in James’s point of view, allowing them to see the world through his disabling eye conditions.

Readers will get lost as they chase words. They’ll stare into this book while taking a vision test. They’ll hold it upside down as they practice “pretend-reading”…and they’ll follow an unlikely trail toward discovering the power of words.

With poignant illustrations by Eisner Award-nominated artist Brian Rea, James’s story equips readers of all ages with the tools to confront their discomfort with disability and turn confused, blank stares into powerful connections.

My Review

I loved this book. It’s kind of written in two parts. The first part is really accessible to kids, packed with a lot of illustrations and examples of how James Robinson sees the world. Some of the illustrations show words written upside down or at different angles. One page includes an eye test that readers can perform by folding the page a certain way.

The second half of the book is a little more dense and is where Robinson talks more deeply about his journey with documentary filmmaking. It describes how he began filming about a passion project and then, in college, made a twenty-four-minute video about his visual disability, strabismus. That project led him to collaborate with the New York Times to make a series of videos about different people’s experiences living with disabilities.

Even though this part of the book will appeal more to older readers, I think Robinson relates important reflections about his childhood, what he’s realized about disability, and what he wishes adults had told him about it when he was younger. The writing throughout the book is smart and appealing.

Documentaries Mentioned in the Book

Here are some links and brief descriptions of video documentaries that James Robinson made and released as NYT Opinion pieces. All three are mentioned in the book. These are YouTube links, so they are available to watch for free. I watched all three. They are thoughtful and deeply engaging. I spent the afternoon after I watched them sending the links to friends and family members.

I Have a Visual Disability, And I Want You to Look Me In the Eye NYT Opinion Piece: This is a twelve-minute documentary about James and how he sees the world and how we see him. He writes about filming this video in the book.

I Have Face Blindness. This is How I Recognize You. NYT Opinion Piece: This documentary, also produced by James Robinson, introduces viewers to a man named Paul who has prosopagnosia, or face blindness.

I Stutter. But I Need You to Listen. NYT Opinion Piece: Another documentary produced by Robinson about writer John Hendrickson.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to thoughtless and hurtful comments made by kids or adults about James’s eyes.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Hidden Figures: Young Readers Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly

Biography, Blogger's Favorites, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space (Young Readers Edition)
Margot Lee Shetterly
HarperCollins
Published November 29, 2016

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About Hidden Figures: Young Readers Edition

The uplifting, amazing true story—a New York Times bestseller

This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. Now a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.

Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.

My Review

This book has been on my reading list for a long time. Since we’re facing more explicit attempts to erase the achievements of women and BIPOC, I wanted to take the chance to read and talk about this book.

One amazing thing about the book is that the author, Margot Lee Shetterly, grew up in Hampton, Virginia. So she grew up where these women worked and lived. She knew many of them. I imagine it must have been really cool to compile the information and create this book telling the stories of people she knew herself.

In addition to doing a great job laying out the development of the space program alongside other historical events, such as the Civil Rights Movement, Hidden Figures (Young Readers Edition) also has some great resources in the back. A timeline shows how the space program developed with other major events listed. This reinforces the narrative’s work, anchoring these women’s lives in the larger story of American history. A glossary defines words younger readers may be less familiar with. A chapter-by-chapter list of sources makes it easy for readers wanting more information on a particular event to find it. The backmatter also includes a section listing books for further reading.

The biographies of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden are the focus of the book. Shetterly shares information about their education, family life, careers, and their roles in the space program.

I wish I’d read the book before watching the movie so that this was my first interaction with the information. I’m still really glad I read the book. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the space program, Black history, women’s history, or careers in mathematics.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief reference to marriage and family.

Spiritual Content
I think there was brief reference to attending church.

Violent Content
References to the Civil Rights Movement and sit-ins. Brief reference to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Review: Banned Together edited by Ashley Hope Pérez

Anthology, Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , ,

Banned Together
Ashley Hope Pérez
Holiday House
Published March 4, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Banned Together

A dazzling YA anthology that spotlights the transformative power of books while equipping teens to fight for the freedom to read, featuring the voices of 15 diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators.

Books are disappearing from shelves across the country.

What does this mean for authors, illustrators, and—most crucially—for young readers?

This bold collection of fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and other genres explores book bans through various lenses, and empowers teens to fight back. From moving personal accounts to clever comebacks aimed at censorship, fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators confront the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens.

Contributors include Elana K. Arnold, Nikki Grimes, Ellen Hopkins, Kelly Jensen, Brendan Kiely, Maia Kobabe, Bill Konigsberg, Kyle Lukoff, MariNaomi, Trung Lê Nguyễn, Ashley Hope Pérez, Isabel Quintero, Traci Sorell, Robin Stevenson, and Padma Venkatraman; the collection is a star-studded must-read that packs strength and power into every last word.

Striking illustrations from Ignatz-nominated artist Debbie Fong pair perfectly with the searing, impactful narrative. Resources include tips from the Vandegrift Banned Book Club and other teen activists, as well as extensive recommended book lists, a How to Start Your Own Little Free Library flier, and more.

My Review

I’ve never read an anthology like this one before. As I read, I felt energized by the resources, from book lists to tips for pushing back against book bans to creating an oasis of banned books to share with others.

Some authors share personal stories about facing book bans or hate-filled emails in response to their work. Others share stories about formative events in their lives that led to them writing the stories they have for teens. They share the hope that their words will reach teenagers who have questions or who’ve faced similar challenges and that they’ll encourage readers.

A few authors share short stories showing the emotional impact that book bans have on people or what might drive someone to try to control what books are available to read. Some appear in prose, others in poetry, and others in graphic novel panels.

The format of the anthology is engaging and energizing. I found myself adding so many books to my reading list. I loved celebrating the books mentioned that I’m already familiar with. Reading helped me think through some of my questions surrounding my own content notes here and how they might be weaponized against authors and readers.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for ways to support authors of banned books. It offers great resources for fighting book bans and expanding allyship, too.

Content Notes for Banned Together

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. References to sexual abuse/assault. (Not depicted on page.)

Spiritual Content
References to faith.

Violent Content
Brief instances of racism and homophobia.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Layers: A Memoir by Pénélope Bagieu

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Layers: A Memoir
Pénélope Bagieu
Translated by Montana Kane
First Second
Published October 17, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Layers: A Memoir

Following the Eisner-award-winning Brazen, Pénélope Bagieu pens her first autobiographical work in this hilarious and bitter-sweet graphic memoir.

Pénélope Bagieu never thought she’d publish a graphic memoir. But when she dusted off her old diaries (no, really―this book is based on her actual diaries), she found cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartbreaking stories begging to be drawn.

In Layers, Bagieu reflects on her childhood and teen years with her characteristic wit and unflinching honesty. The result is fifteen short stories about friendship, love, grief, and those awkward first steps toward adulthood.

My Review

I have to agree with the endorsements calling this book “hilarious.” Pénélope’s recollections about her childhood and transition to adulthood are so relatable. She’s awkward and earnest, and I both laughed and cried reading this memoir in vignettes.

The book opens with a chapter about when her parents got her and her sister two kittens. Her cat is exceptionally clingy and causes all sorts of mayhem, but Pénélope absolutely loves her. She recalls the phases of cat ownership, and how hard it is when we have to say goodbye to our furry friends. She captures the emotions of pet ownership so perfectly.

Several of the chapters or stories focus on Pénélope’s adventures in romance. She has unrequited crushes, friendship betrayals, and a wild week with an early boyfriend, which culminated in her hitchhiking to see a gynecologist. She has an incredible way of showing that confident naïveté that feels so classic to a teen experience. I felt so much nostalgia reading this book.

This is the first book by Bagieu that I’ve read, but after reading about her other work in her author biography, I’ve already got more of her books on my reading list. I’m pretty sure I’m going to need sources of joy in the coming year.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Brief, strong swearing.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing and references to sex. A couple of panels show topless ladies (one image references something shown on TV on certain days when the author was growing up). One scene shows Pénélope and her boyfriend nestled together. We infer that they’re having sex based on body positions, but there’s no graphic nudity other than the above.

A couple of scenes reference sexual assault. It’s two stories told side by side, one when Pénélope was a child and one when she was older. In the younger scene, she spends the night with friends, and a boy gets out of bed and comes to her in the middle of the night. All we see are their eyes, but it’s clear Pénélope is scared and uncomfortable. She sneezes loudly and wakes up her friend, and the boy goes back to his own bed. Similarly, in the later scene, she’s gone to sleep, and a man touches her. She tells him to stop, and he acts entitled to her body. When she refuses him again, he kicks her out of his apartment. In both instances, she worries about telling someone else and being blamed for what happened.

Spiritual Content
A loved one promises Pénélope that she’ll sense her presence with her after she dies. Pénélope imagines or senses arms wrapped around her later when she feels sad. One image shows two angels who’ve sent the translucent, hugging arms.

Violent Content
References to unwanted sexual advances and feeling unsafe.

Drug Content
Pénélope and her friends smoke cigarettes in some scenes.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.