Status Updates From The House of Dies Drear (Di...

I am more of a character centered reader, so this one just fell a little flat for me. I really wanted more from and for the female characters in this book. Honestly, I just wanted to follow Pesty and get to know her. If you love historical facts and are interested in lore around the Underground Railroad, but don’t mind surface level characters, then I recommend this one. 🌟🌟🌟

First BHM Read of 2026 - I’m starting a little early because February is too short. I loved Virginia Hamilton’s folktale, The People Could Fly, so I was hoping to feel similarly about this one too. Sadly, I didn’t love it. However, I can appreciate it for what it is and what it does well. If you’re a reader that looks for a sense of place in your books, this is a great one.