2 Cents Critic Podcast – Pixar’s Turning Red | Directed by Domee Shi (with Alysha/@alypil_aja)

Tune in as Booktwt buddy Alysha (@alypil_aja) stops by for a review of Pixar’s latest film, Turning Red! Even before Disney+ started streaming it on March 11, it had already garnered quite a bit of positive reception surrounding its subtext on puberty for adolescent girls and menstruation, which have long been social taboos. On top … Continue reading 2 Cents Critic Podcast – Pixar’s Turning Red | Directed by Domee Shi (with Alysha/@alypil_aja)

My 2 Cents on Pixar’s Turning Red

What’s new, everyone? Directed by Domee Shi (Oscar-winning Pixar short Bao) in her feature directorial debut and written by Shi and Julia Cho, Turning Red, the latest movie to be released by Pixar, follows unabashedly dorky 13-year-old Meilin “Mei” Lee (played by Rosalie Chiang) in the year 2002 as she hangs out with her equally nerdy best … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Pixar’s Turning Red

2 Cents Critic Podcast – Interview with Author Desirée Calderón de Fawaz (Quetzalli’s Last Song)

In the house today is microbiologist-turned-author Desirée Calderón de Fawaz, who wrote and illustrated the 2017 picture book Tata’s Earrings, then penned her debut novel Quetzalli’s Last Song, the first entry in the Brum Hesles Series. Listen to Arthur chat with her about topics like her former work in microbiology, the gorgeous illustrations in QLS, … Continue reading 2 Cents Critic Podcast – Interview with Author Desirée Calderón de Fawaz (Quetzalli’s Last Song)

My 2 Cents on This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

What’s new, everybody? Today we’re covering This Poison Heart, the 2021 YA contemporary fantasy novel by Kalynn Bayron. If the author’s name sounds familiar, it’s because I included her debut novel, Cinderella Is Dead, in last year’s article, “My 2 Cents on Five Queer Must-Reads for Young Adults.” Having deeply enjoyed Cinderella Is Dead, I had high expectations … Continue reading My 2 Cents on This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

My 2 Cents on Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

What’s new, everybody? If you’ve been keeping up with this blog for a while, you probably remember that I included a favorite book of mine in the June 2021 post, “My 2 Cents on Five Queer Must-Reads for Young Adults”: 2018’s What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Kate in Waiting) and … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

2 Cents Critic Podcast – Steelstriker by Marie Lu

Tune in for Arthur’s thoughts on Steelstriker, the second and final entry in the Skyhunter Duology by Marie Lu (Legend, Warcross). Like the first book, this sequel brings out the dystopian YA tropes: “special rebel youngsters lead an insurrection against a dictatorial government,” “post-apocalyptic world built on the ashes of a technologically advanced civilization,” and … Continue reading 2 Cents Critic Podcast – Steelstriker by Marie Lu

2 Cents Critic Podcast – Skyhunter by Marie Lu 

Tune in for Arthur’s thoughts on Skyhunter by Marie Lu (Legend, Warcross, The Young Elites). An 18-year-old mute soldier, a despotic government that controls an army of genetically engineered beasts, a viscerally post-apocalyptic backdrop, and more can be found in this refreshing and action-packed take on the dystopian YA genre. https://open.spotify.com/episode/4JAHNwi7eV6BWYsSgk1Tcj?si=eYadpnYNQhSsbPFzYOKWnA

My 2 Cents on Steelstriker by Marie Lu

What’s new, everyone? If you’ve been following my reviews long enough, you know that one of my top reads of 2020 was Skyhunter by Marie Lu (Legend, The Kingdom of Back). With its eighteen-year-old heroine Talin Kanami devoting herself as a loyal Striker to her homeland of Mara’s mission of beating back the occupying regime of the … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Steelstriker by Marie Lu

My 2 Cents on The Block by Ben Oliver

What’s new, folks? Last year I read The Loop, a YA dystopian novel by debut author Ben Oliver that kicked off in the future on first-person narrator Luka Kane’s sixteenth birthday. But he couldn’t really enjoy himself while behind bars in the Loop, a death-row prison that the World Government used to run experiments on and … Continue reading My 2 Cents on The Block by Ben Oliver

My 2 Cents on Five Queer Must-Reads for Young Adults

What’s new, folks? June is here, which means it’s also Pride Month! The publishing industry is continuing to prosper with more and more queer-centric books targeted at young adults. It’s vital to have these books around as enthralling stories that promote inclusion, compassion, and self-love to their growing readers. Here are five picks I recommend. … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Five Queer Must-Reads for Young Adults