World Trigger vol. 1 by Daisuke Ashihara

World Trigger vol. 1 by Daisuke Ashihara

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: World Trigger, vol. 1 by Daisuke Ashihara

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Osamu lives in a town periodically attacked by monsters from a parallel dimension called "Neighbors". Life continues mostly as normal, however, thanks to an organization called "Border" that protects the city and fights the Neighbors. Osamu himself is a Border trainee, but even he couldn't expect that the transfer student in his class was a humanoid Neighbor...or that this Neighbor wants to be his friend.

What I Thought: Manga tend to be over-the-top, so World Trigger excels by being refreshingly matter-of-fact. Key plot points unfold organically instead of in dramatic monologues, and the characters are all just quirky enough to keep from being one-note stereotypes - especially Yuma the deadpan, violent, yet naive and humorous Neighbor whose reactions to human folly are amusingly inhuman. The clean, basic art matches the story well; Ashihara has a particular knack for using panel progression to tell jokes, making use of silence and restraint where other manga bombard the reader. Recommended for those new to manga and curious - or for the jaded reader who wants a reminder of why they fell in love with this "genre" in the first place.

Readalikes: Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama, for more super-popular manga about humanity fighting back against inhuman monsters; Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato, for more intelligently-written action manga with a focus on character development.

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Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Find It @YCLD:  Here!

 What It's About:  Lawyer Bryan Stevenson's account of his work with the law project, The Equal Justice Initiative he created with Eva Ansley, on behalf of inmates on death row, serving life sentences, unlawfully incarcerated, and juvenile prisoners. An eye-opening account of the injustices many incarcerated individuals face, including those who have been wrongfully convicted. Stevenson shares many of their stories, focusing on Walter McMillian, who seeks Stevenson's help in proving his innocence.

What I Thought:  The United States has the largest prison population in the world.  Statistics show a disproportionate number of prisoners are non-white and/or low-income citizens.  Bryan Stevenson’s work with the Equal Justice Initiative has exposed many of the unfair and unjust prosecutions that have ended in life-sentences and the death penalty.  The stories that are told within this book are heart-wrenching and often too horrifying to be believable, but that is why they are so important for the public to read.  I believe if you read only one book this year, Just Mercy should be at the top of your list. 

Readalikes: The True American:  Murder and Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas; The Divide:  American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap by Matt Taibbi

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Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Lauren Regenhardt

What I Read: Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Seventeen-year-old Kennedy Waters discovers that she might be part of a secret society that was formed ages ago to fight the Illuminati.  The group, called the Legion, are set out to fight a powerful demon that is anxious to be released to wreak havoc upon the world.  Kennedy and her new group of friends, who are trained demon hunters, must set out to make sure that the demon and all his evil brothers and sisters are not unleashed.

What I Thought: Reader’s advisory: Do not read at night if you’re prone to nightmares! What a chilling and terrifying tale and it is amazing.  The characters are believable and charming.  Kennedy is a teenage protagonist that most teen girls will be able to relate to, with insecurities and a confusing love situation.  The twin brothers Jared and Lukas each make you fall in love with them for different reasons and Alara makes you want to wear combat boots and fight demons.  Priest is like the little brother you wish you had.  It’s an interesting play on the Illuminati as enemies to be defeated.  The group’s encounter with the different vengeance ghosts and deadly spirits are not for the faint of heart.  Fans of Supernatural will find several similarities.

Readalikes: The da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, Asylum by Madeleine Rouxa

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Endsinger by Jay Kristoff

Endsinger by Jay Kristoff

Posted by Yuma County Library

 

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: Endsinger: The Lotus War Book Three by Jay Kristoff

Find It @YCLD: Here! 

What It's About: As civil war sweeps across the Shima Imperium, the Lotus Guild unleashes their deadliest creation—a mechanical goliath known as the Earthcrusher, intended to unite the shattered Empire under a yoke of fear. Yukiko and Buruu are forced to take leadership of the rebellion, gathering new allies and old friends. But the ghosts of Buruu’s past stand between them and the army they need, and Kin’s betrayal has destroyed all trust among their allies. When a new foe joins the war, it will be all the pair can do to muster the strength to fight, let alone win. And as the earth splits asunder, as armies destroy each other for rule over an empire of lifeless ash and the final secret about blood lotus is revealed, the people of Shima will learn one last, horrifying truth.  An exciting, vivid conclusion to a critically acclaimed series, Endsinger is sure to have fans racing through the pages to savor every last revelation.

What I Thought: The book does a good job of propelling the reader forward from where we last left off in Kinslayer. The third book in the trilogy is edgy and rife with conflict and deceit sure to keep you on edge as you progress through the story. Following Yukiko and her progression as a figurehead within the events throughout the war is interesting and gives the reader a deep view into the triumphs and losses both her and her cohorts face during her struggle. Additionally, I enjoyed the descriptions of the machines and devices used throughout the story in warfare and daily life. It really gets you into the elements of steampunk and industrialized magic. Whichever part of the book you might like, just remember to enjoy the journey but stay for the carnage.

Readalikes: Remnants of tomorrow by Kassy Taylor; Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

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