Books and Ladders: mariko tamaki

19 Oct 2016

#Review: (YOU) SET ME ON FIRE by Mariko Tamaki

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 19 October 0 Comments

(YOU) SET ME ON FIRE

Author: Mariko Tamaki
Source: Purchased from BookOutlet
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary:
Allison Lee is seventeen and off to college in the fall. So far, she's been in love once (total catastrophe) and on fire twice (also pretty bad). Both love and fire have left their scars.

Looking a little more burnt chicken and a little less radiant phoenix, Allison takes up residence in Dylan Hall (a.k.a Dyke Hall) at St. Joseph's College, where she discovers the true gift of freshmen year: the opportunity to reinvent herself. Miles away from the high school she's happy to leave behind, her all-female dorm is a strange new world, home to new social circles and challenges. Allison still feels like the odd girl out... until Shar appears. Beautiful and blinding, Shar quickly becomes the sun at the centre of Allison's universe, drawing her in with dangerous allure.

Will Allison get burned again? And, if she does... what kind of scars will she earn this time?

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters

I'm on the fence about this one but I did enjoy it. I feel like the writing was a bit off for me but the plot and story was really good. I liked that it really showed how first year of university occurs. It was pretty great in that sense but the writing wasn't for me which made it hard to connect with Allison.

17 Jun 2016

#Review: SAVING MONTGOMERY SOLE by Mariko Tamaki

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 17 June 1 Comments

Hello and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for

SAVING MONTGOMERY SOLE by Mariko Tamaki!

I have a review of the book for you today so you can read that. But first let's learn more about the book...

SAVING MONTGOMERY SOLE

Author: Mariko Tamaki
Source: Copy via Publisher
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: April 19, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary:
In sight not see
black light not be

This is the curious instruction that comes with the Eye of Know, the possibly powerful crystal amulet that Montgomery Sole buys online for $5.99. It’s also the next topic of discussion at Mystery Club (members: Monty and her two best friends, Thomas and Naoki), dedicated to the exploration of the strange and unexplained.

When Monty wears the Eye of Know, strange things happen, all targeted at people she despises. Maybe it will help Monty take down her newest enemy, a preacher who has come to save her town from so-called sinners—sinners like Monty’s moms. Or will its mysterious powers mean the end of the friendships Monty cherishes most?

Mariko Tamaki has created a thoughtful, funny, and painfully honest story about family, religion, ignorance, and other unsolved high school mysteries.

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick and easy read and I really enjoyed it. I thought Monty was a really great character and super relatable. I really liked that she had a diverse friend group and that we got to see from her perspective all the things that were affecting them - slurs, people in general, religion, etc. etc. - because I feel like a lot of allies don't realize that instead of getting weighed down and burdened by these things, most LGBTQ+ people try to roll with the punches (sometimes quite literally).

About Jamie

Hi, I’m Jamie (she/her) 👋

Welcome to Books and Ladders your go-to destination for science fiction & fantasy book reviews, diverse & indie reading recommendations, and literary travel guides.

I post 3x/week and love spotlighting Canadian authors, uncovering hidden bookstore gems, and helping readers find their next unforgettable story.