Secondborn Book Reviews

  Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It’s Britney, bitch!” One of the most recognizable phrases since Britney Jean Spears spoke the words. Called the “Queen of Pop”, Britney has been captivating the world since she first caught the public’s attention with “Baby One More Time”. As a celebrity, she constantly had to face various public perceptions whether based on her music, interviews, or gossip (often false) spread by tabloids or people determined to use her for their own narratives. The Woman in Me, Britney Spears’ memoir, is her chance to finally take control of her life and her narrative.   In The Woman in Me, Britney Spears tells the story of her life. Holding nothing back, Britney lets the reader into her life. She discusses her ups and downs and how these affected her both mentally and physically. Bringing all the ways her career as a musician, a dream she had as a young girl, came to be and was manipulated, controlled and taken from her. A story of a woman constantly overstepped; it a...

   Dark Archives Book Review   Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dark Archives by Megan Rosenbloom is a nonfiction book exploring the history of the medical community, primarily focusing on anthropodermic bibliopegy or the binding of books in human skin. Rosenbloom’s interest in books being bound in human skin leads her to discover more about medicine and corpse handling at the time of medical morals being less than what they are now and how these doctors’ would have managed to turn human flesh into leather. She takes the reader on the journey with her all over the world wherever rumors of books bound in human skin took her.   From the cover to the blurb, this book hooked me instantly. Death isn’t a very easy thing to talk about and the thought of human skin being used to bind books comes across as something from a horror movie. So discovering a book following the rumors and reporting them, proving them as fact not fiction is both terrifying and eye-opening. Anthropodermic books a...

Sadie by Courtney Summers Review Rating:⭐ *Received this as an arc* Sadie by Courtney Summers is a young adult crime novel. The story follows Sadie who recently lost her younger sister,  Mattie, and is out to get revenge on the man she knows killed  her sister. West McCray is a reporter who, after being approached by Sadie’s family, is covering the story. The book is told alternating from Sadie’s story and McCray’s podcast. “I don’t want to get into it...” I was kind of disappointed with this book. The characters are amazing and the story is captivating however so many situations were left too open. You had to imagine what actually happened instead of the author writing about it. I wasn’t a fan of the hard switches from Sadie’s story to McCray’s podcast. It left the story feeling very choppy. It didn’t flow well. Since almost every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, you had to keep reading and the cliffhanger would be resolved two or three chapters later...

Feminism: Opposing Viewpoints Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ “As individuals and as a nation, it is imperative that we consider the opinions of others and examine them with skill and discernment.” -John Stuart Mill Feminism: Opposing Views is a collection of essays discussing various issues as they pertain to feminism and women. The ideas and opinions discussed are neither wrong or right nor are they presented as such. It is simply a way to question feminism and your own ideas on the different topics discussed. I found this book to be a perfect look into feminism and the opposition to the movement. The essays were very diverse and discussed everything from should women work to can feminism and religion mix. Each essay started with questions you should consider as you read. I thought this was very helpful. The questions really assisted in making you consider and pay attention to what you’re reading. While reading, it seemed that not all of the authors were fully informed about what...

The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir Review *Received as an arc* Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir is a contemporary fiction novel telling the story of Essie Hicks. She has a perfect life: happy family, thousands of people invested in her life and enough money to live comfortably. Essie is both adored and hated by people who don’t agree with her family’s television show, Six for Hicks, and their extreme Christian beliefs. However everything faces ruination when Essie finds out she is pregnant. A captivating and heartbreaking read, The Book of Essie will have you intrigued and emotional. “A mother’s worst fear, or so some would say. But not my mother’s.” I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It told a very emotionally charged story. The book is told in first-person, chapters switching between three characters: Essie Hicks, Roarke Richards: Essie’s future husband, and Liberty Bell: a reporter covering Essie’s story. The characters were well-written ...

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown is a historical non-fiction book telling the history of the move West and the clashing of the w hite settlers and the Native American inhabitants of the land. Filled with quotes by Native Americans, the book focuses on their experiences and their stories. “ The whites told only one side. Told it to please themselves. Told much that is not true. Only his own best deeds, only the worst deeds of the Indians, has the white man told.” - Yellow Wolf of the Nez Percés Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee is a tough, extremely emotional read. It’s filled with heartbreaking events that I don’t remember learning about while in school. That’s not to say none of it was taught, I may have just received a watered-down version. Especially since some of the incidents are immensely violent and just straight-up slaughters. The quotes from people who lived through this dark time brought these situations ...

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nimona by Noelle Steveson is a fantasy and adventure graphic novel. The story follows Nimona, a reckless shapeshifter, and Lord Blackheart, the wizard she apprentices. They are attempting to bring attention to the immoral acts being committed by the Institute of Law Enforcement. “A dangerous nation is a powerful nation.” Nimona has it all: drama, betrayal, and a positive lesson to learn. The characters are captivating. The world Stevenson has built is phenomenal.  What's more, all of it is brought together with her awe-inspiring artwork. Nimona is a perfect adventure story told with amazing characters and plot. Lord Blackheart is an understandable villain. He tried to follow society's rules, was knocked down and forced to respond in the only way the society told him he could. Nimona is tan adorable shapeshifter with a taste for revenge. They learn to work together and learn more about each other.Everything about Nimona (the a...