Book Review Blog — Non-Fiction

Unicorn: The Memoir of a Muslim Drag Queen By Amrou Al-Kadhi Pub Date: 03 October 2019Publisher: Fourth EstateBiographies & Memoirs, LGBTQIA, Adult ReadershipPGBB Reviewed on NetGalley 15 May 2019 ⭐5/5   Amrou Al-Kadhi’s writing glitters and flows effortlessly, as comfortable as a conversation between close friends. Meanwhile, hiding below the surface is an incredibly well structured, intelligent and intensive examination of so many of life’s most difficult and contentious issues: gender, identity, family, love, Islam, Christianity - to name a small sample - each handled with care.  While the telling is easy and compelling, the story is hard and painful...

Amazing Expeditions: Journeys That Changed The World by Anita GaneriPub Date: 09 Apr 2019Publisher: Ivy KidsChildren's NonfictionPGBB Reviewed on NetGalley 28 April 2019 ⭐5/5 Terrific history book covering a wide range of both male and female explorers from all over (not just the West) through the ages from ancient history to present day. Delightful simple illustrations, pages not too crammed with visual detail and succinct chunks of information on each journey laid out for the reader to 'navigate' by number and arrows. And excellent little maps tracing the explorer's journeys.  Highly recommend for primary schools and could be paired with author visits to schools for...

The Artist Who Loved Cats: The Inspiring Tale of Theophile Steinlen by Susan Schaefer Bernardo Pub Date: 06 Jun 2019 Publisher: Inner Flower Child Books Biographies & Memoirs, Children's Fiction PGBB Reviewed on NetGalley 28 April 2019 ⭐4/5 Lovely illustrations and having the antiquities dealer's cat tell the story of Steinlin is a charming device, written in rhyme and conveying ample information of Steinlin's biography and the important personalities of the era. Especially like the informative pages at the end revealing the artworks and famous figures depicted on earlier pages which encourages young readers to go back and look for them, engaging them all...