Book Review: Maxine Wore Black

This book really shocked me! I was in no way prepared for this journey the book took me on! I was so involved in the character emotionally that this book impacted me greatly.



                                                          
"Maxine is the girl of Jayla’s dreams: she’s charming, magnetic, and loves Jayla for her transgender self. There’s only one problem with Maxine—she already has a girlfriend, perfect Becky.

Jayla quickly falls under Maxine’s spell, and she’s willing to do anything to win her. But when Becky turns up dead, Jayla is pulled into a tangle of deceit, lies, and murder. Now Jayla is forced to choose between love and the truth.

Jayla will need all the strength she has to escape the darkness that threatens to take her very life."

What I Like About This Book:

 

• Alright, so right from the get-go I knew I liked the character Ermin. (Even if they are a small character) First off, I love how Francesca doesn't even hesitate to ask them what their preferred pronoun was. (Something everyone should get in the habit of doing.) When they answered that they just preferred Ermin, I fell for this character. As a gender fluid individual myself, it's always nice to have a non-gender conforming character to relate to.
• The book always kept you wondering. "Where was Becky's death going? Why was Maxine so interested in Jayla? Why was Danny so hostile towards them both? Is this a clue? Could this be possible foreshadowing?" These were all questions I found myself asking as I read the book.
• The book makes you question what you thought you knew. I knew I liked Maxine and I hated Becky in the beginning of the book. However, towards the end I found myself hating Maxine and feeling more sympathetic towards Becky.
• I love how they used transgender characters because I feel like there isn't enough books that have good, strong transgender characters. I also love how the book combatted the idea that all transgender people were heterosexual. The variety in these characters are perfect!
• To me. the length of this book is perfect. It didn't take too long to finish but it certainly wasn't a quick read either.
• Finally, I love the way Maxine and Jayla's relationship is portrayed. It shows how dangerous abusive relationships are because in the beginning you don't even realize it's abusive. You only realize after it gets gradually worse.

 

 

What I Disliked About This Book:

• There were certain parts in the book that seemed to drag where others were really fast-paced. While this helps with the tone of the book, personally it left me a bit confused.
• I wish we got to know Becky a bit more. All we really know about her is what other people remember, but we never got to interact with her firsthand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So in conclusion, this has to be one of my favorite books. It has such a wonderful variety of characters and a beautifully developed plot line. I enjoyed trying to figure out how the book would end, and then the book just completely surprising me afterwards! I honestly think if you are a fan of thrillers or mysteries, you should read this book.

 

I would definitely reread this book and recommend it to others.

 

5/5 BatSabers from me!



 



Book Review: Kings of Ruin

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MEN IN BLACK, ROCK N ROLL, AND LGBT YA ROMANCE HAVE A BABY? KINGS OF RUIN THAT'S WHAT! When I got this book in the mail, I was very intrigued by this book. The thought of alien cars and LGBT romance novels fitting together really caught my attention. The book that I shall be reviewing today is Kings Of Ruin by Sam Cameron.

Excerpt from back of the book:

"Danny Kelly cares only for rock 'n' roll and fast cars. Too bad he's stuck in the capital of country music and he's banned from driving until he turns twenty-one. Plus he likes other boys, a secret that he's vowed to keep until he graduates high school. When his stepdad's new truck roars off on its own, Danny discovers a secret that is endangering cars and drivers across America. It almost kills Danny, too, until he's saved by seventeen-year-old Kevin Clark. Kevin's gay, handsome, and confident, but working with his dad's secret government organization has left him lonely. It's going to take a weekend of car chases, fiery explosions, and country-western singing to save the citizens of Nashville from certain death—but can Danny protect his heart and secrets as well?"



Let's jump into this review before a King pops up!

What I Disliked About This Book:

• Timing. I know this book was made to be a fast read, but for someone like me who likes to savor the story and take their time getting to know the characters, this pace is far too fast. I feel as if I almost got whiplash reading this. 
• This somewhat goes hand-in-hand with this timing; I wish I would've gotten a better idea of the relationship between characters. How much does Danny hate Junior? How are things between Kevin and Mrs.Morris? Does Kevin see this woman as a friend? Perhaps a motherly figure? Due to the fast pace I couldn't get a good grasp of character's relationships. 

What I Liked About This Book:

• The concept. I really liked the idea of this book. I have never seen a book with an idea like this and I love that it's unique! The idea was also executed very well. 
• Visuals. Even though it has a fast pace, this book makes sure you know what certain scenes look like. What color was that car? It tells you, but it also tells you what Danny sees. Which is very cool. You'll get brand names, and sometimes you even get descriptions of sounds. This book really immerses you. 
• But what I liked most about this was that Danny and Kevin's romance WAS NOT the main issue of the story. This story shows, that yeah there are two gay teenagers who meet, but they have more important issues than falling in love. They have a world to save from aliens! That's important!

All in all, this book was really fun. Reading this book felt like a high-speed car ride, fun and fast. I would  give it 3.5 BatSabers and I would recommend this book to a couple of people. It's truly unique so if you are looking for something different to read; try out Kings of Ruin? 

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Book Review: The God Box

Alright you guys. This has to be my favorite book so far! This book sent me on such an emotional rollercoaster. This book is called The God Box by Alex Sanchez.

Excerpt from back of the book:
"Paul has dated Angie since middle school, and they're good together. They hav a lot of the same interests, like singing in their church choir and being active in Bible Club. But when Manuel transfers to their school, Paul has to rethink his life. Manuel is the first openly gay teen anyone in their small town has ever met, and yet he's also a committed Christian. 

Talking to Manuel makes Paul reconsider thoughts he has kept hidden, and listening to Manuel's interpretation of Biblical passages on homosexuality causes Paul to re-evaluate everything he believed. Manuel's outspokenness triggers dramatic consequences at school, culminating in a terrifying situation that leads Paul to take a stand."

Whew did you get all pumped up reading that description or was it just me? Okay, got off topic there. Let's just jump right in.

                                                       

What I Didn't Like About This Book:

• Alright this one is more of a misunderstanding but, what I didn't get is out of all the people in their school, how did Manuel know that Pablo was gay? He had a girlfriend, and was with the strong Christians, so it would be hard to know.. Right? Well I guess not. I guess some people really are equipped with the supposed "Gay-Dar". 
  

(I don't know if it's just me but the Gay-Dar seems like an owl swooping in on it's prey. Like out of aaaalllll the possibilities the owl still finds the little mouse.)

• I know that Pablo had to leave Angie because he was just leading her on, making her believe that he loved her but.. I just was so in love with their relationship that it broke my heart a bit. 

What I Liked About This Book:

• BIBLICAL DEBATES! On many occasions, there were battles between Christians using the bible. I love that! Each side can both learn something from the other and you just get to see how entirely different people interpret the Bible. 
• ANGIE. Angie was a beautiful character! She supported Pablo no matter what, even after he left her. Why? Because she loves him (as a best friend and romantically) and just wants his happiness. Not just that, she is understanding of Manuel and even sticks up for him against the hateful members of the bible club. 
• I love Manuel's take on the bible and religion. Such as calling God a "she" and proving how loving someone is not a sin. 
• My feels! This book made me laugh, and it really made me cry! You know why this is a good thing? If a book can make you feel that much for fictional characters, and transport you into their world, then it's done it's job!

This book was amazing! It was so well written and the pace was perfect! I give it 5 out of 5 BatSabers and I would recommend it to EVERYONE I knew. Seriously, if everyone read this book, the world would be a lot more understanding to each other. 

Book Review: Geography Club

During my "quest" to discover more YA LGBT+ books, my aunt recommended me a book titled, Geography Club written by Brent Hartinger. So grab your compasses, globe, and maps.. Because we're joining the Geography Club!

Excerpt from back of book:

"Russel is still going on dates with girls. Kevin would do anything to prevent his teammates on the baseball team from finding out. Min and Terese tell everyone they're just really good friends. But after a while, the truth's to hard to hide-at least from each other-so they form the "Geography Club." Nobody else will come. Why would they want to? Their secret should be safe."

                                                        

What I Dislike About This Book:

• The timing in the beginning. I think it was a bit rushed. On page 1, is where the story starts. We learn about Russel being a closeted gay, we learn about his insecurities in men's lockers room, even the cliques in the school. And then BAM! On page 21, Kevin and Russel have already met, they both know each other are gay, and are planning to meet again? What? I think the author could have taken a bit more time and not rushed things in the first two chapters. From there, however, I didn't have to much timing issues. 
• We didn't get to know Ike very well in my opinion. Though the story is in first-person and it is centered around Russel, I just wish Russel could have tried to talk to Ike more just so we can get a better feel for who he was as a character. 

What I Like About This Book:

• The humor. Because this book was written in first-person, centered on Russel, you got to get into his thoughts. AND I LOVE THAT! He's a teenager and he has his sarcastic teenage humor, I just love it!
• The different representation of different members in the LGBT community. We had three gay men, one lesbian, and one bisexual girl. Not to mention their three straight allies! The only thing that could have made it better is if they had a transsexual member or a gender queer member. 
• *SPOILER ALERT*Russel's big decision. In the end of the book, we see Russel talking to Kevin about their relationship. He's hoping in his mind that there will be someway, anyway for them to stay together, he didn't care what it was. Then Kevin says he wants to be with Russel, but no one else can know, they have to keep it under wraps. Russel knows he deserves so much more than that, so he leaves. Although it broke my heart to see Kevin actually cry, Russel deserved to be loved, and loved publicly, not having to hide just to save some reputation. 

So over-all it was a pretty good book. It made me laugh a lot, in the end it also made me cry. It was diverse, and it was different. I give it 3.5 BatSabers because, although it was wonderfully written, for me it just lacked that wow factor that leaves you hung on the book. If it weren't for that, I would have given it more. I still think it's hilarious and I would re-read it, as well as recommend it. 

Food For Thought: LGBTQ+ Christians?

First off, let me explain to you what food for thought is. It is something that I will be doing in between blog posts. I want this to be a bit more interactive and I want to hear your opinions on the topic. (Hopefully) Each week I'll have a new topic and I can post your thoughts from the previous week. These are topics that have been on my mind for awhile so I want to share my opinion and research and perhaps hear some of yours. :) 

~Lissy

LGBTQ+ CHRISTIANS? 

What does LGBTQ+ mean? It is the community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others (including straight allies).

What does Christian mean? It means believing in one God and believing he sent Jesus Christ to die for you. You believe in Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, God and the devil (although we do not worship the devil), and you believe in life after death.

My opinion:

I am a Christian and a supporter of the LGBTQ community. I really want to believe everyone is going to Heaven, although I know some won't make it. That both hurts and scares me. I want to at least be one of the ones who can make it to Heaven because the thought of demons, the devil, and Hell scare me. I also wish to believe that some sins are punishable since people know what they're doing, but some things that are considered "wrong" or "unholy" aren't punishable.

What does the bible say about homosexuality?

Leviticus 18:22:

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Romans 1:26-28

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

These are a few of the bible verses I found... I chose not to put all since you get my point. 

My Internet Research:

So, in the bible verses above, homosexual relationships have been stated as an "abomination". Well, I looked up what other things are considered an abomination in the bible;

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. - Proverbs 6: 16-19

So, you know that little white lie you told to get you out of trouble? Well that's a sin. Do you remember checking out that hot girl/guy the other day? That's considered lust which is one of the seven deadly sins. Murder? That's there too. 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. -Galatians 5:19-21

Having sex before marriage? That's considered a horrible sin. Cheating on your spouse or even getting a divorce? Yep that's one too. If you put anything before God (which well I can agree with this you probably shouldn't do that.. but you know it happens sometimes.) that is considered a sin. Ever been jealous of what someone had? That's a sin. Ever lashed out in anger? You guessed it, sin. Ever had a rival or gotten into a dispute with somone? Sin. Have you ever gotten drunk or high before? That's also a sin. Have you ever been a part of an orgy? That's a sin as well. 

“A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.-Deuteronomy 22:5

Are you a woman who happens to feel comfortable in men's clothes sometimes? Or are you a man who has borrowed some women's clothes. Ever borrowed clothes from the opposite sex, or dress like the opposite sex? Well apparently here it says that this is a sin too. 

You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. -Leviticus 19:27

Did you just shave? Sorry, that is an abomination as well. 

My conclusion:

Although I have no right to argue against the Word of God, some of these things seem a little outdated. Even when Jesus was on Earth, he was considered a rebel and didn't follow the law exactly. (I mean, he worked on a Saturday which was considered a big no-no back then) But he focused on what was really important; loving and worshipping God. 

I'm not sure that homosexuality is a sin punishable by death, because I don't feel like it's a choice. If people could choose, they probably would choose not to be considering all of the discrimination and hate they get. Although, if you believe that this is the case, I dare you to try choosing a different sexual orientation for the day. Not easy huh? 

And even if it was a sin, who are we, as people-no as humans, to deny them basic rights like the rest of us? EVERYONE has sinned, and most likely, more than once. But is anyone denying you marriage? Are people constantly telling you how you're an abomination? Do you get kicked out of your homes by family? Do you even get denied rights in church? No! We're all people, and we're all sinners! We all should be able to love each other, even though we sin and not judge one others sin. You may say that some sins are worse than others.. Say being a homosexual is worse than telling a little white lie.. But to God, it's all just sin and he doesn't judge them like that. Just love one another, even with the sins. You never know, your love could even save a life. 

So, what are you guy's opinions? Please comment and let me know!