Kibkabe Araya's Blog

Book Review: ‘Our Missing Hearts’ by Celeste Ng

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng transports us to a near-dystopian future where Asian Americans are...

Book Review: ‘Thicker than Water’ by Kerry Washington

Thicker than Water by Kerry Washington reflects on the award-winning actress’ life from her humble beginnings...

‘American Fiction’ Screenwriter’s Oscars Speech Takes on Creative Risk

The screenwriter behind one of the most-nominated book-to-film adaptations this award season said in his Oscars...

Book Review: ‘Why Didn’t You Tell Me?’ by Carmen Rita Wong

Why Didn’t You Tell Me? by Carmen Rita Wong follows the financial journalist’s life as she...

Book Review: ‘Black Cake’ by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson revolves around two adult siblings trying to decipher their mother’s deathbed...

‘Black Cake’ Brilliantly Illustrates the Main Character’s Journey of Deceit

⚠️ Spoilers ahead! Watch the TV series on Hulu. ⚠️ Trigger warning! The story and the post...

Dictionaries Are Now Banned Books

View this email in your browser Dictionaries, encyclopedias are banned books in Florida schools under a...

Book Review: ‘The Woman in Me’ by Britney Spears

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears pulls the curtain back on the making of one...

‘The Color Purple’ Illuminates the Power of Daydreaming Amid Trauma

⚠️ Spoilers ahead! Watch the film. ⚠️ Trigger warning! The story and the post below have graphic references...

Book Review: ‘Rhythm & Muse’ by India Hill Brown

*Given an advanced reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review* Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown is a predictable young adult romance novel giving us the perspective of the boy pining for the popular girl he has a crush on. Darren likes Delia Dawson, the popular girl at his school known as Dillie who has her own podcast Dillie D in the Place to Be. He has Delia Daydreams, in which his best friend Justin always keeps shaking him out of. One day, Justin gets to spend time with his wannabe rapper cousin in a recording studio session. Darren tags along though he knows Justin’s cousin doesn’t have the rhythmic talent necessary to be a decent rapper. While in the studio, after listening to awful raps, Darren and Justin perk up to the cousin’s beats. Justin pushes Darren to sing on the beat for fun. Darren used to sing in the choir, but a mortifying experience made him drop out of choir and put his music dreams on hold. But he sings anyway – about Delia. Coincidentally, Delia’s podcast is running a competition for a new jingle. Somehow the track Darren recorded was submitted anonymously. […]