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Ali A (82 KP) rated We Go High: How 30 Women of Color Achieved Greatness Against All Odds in Books
Jul 28, 2022
Trigger Warnings: Racism, colorism, misogyny, sexism, violence, transphobia, homophobia, gun violence, mentions of drug and alcohol addiction, sexual assault, sexual violence, bullying, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, religious bigotry *
*The author has marked biographies at the beginning of the novel with * to indicate profiles that detail trigger experiences
From activists to sporting icons, bakers to scientists, journalists to actresses’, We Go High tells the stories of 30 influential women of color who have strived to overcome challenges in their lives. Paired together with stunningly beautiful portraits from Natasha Cunningham, Nicole Ellis celebrates these women of color’s achievements as well as their personal beliefs, attitudes, and determination that drives them to be remarkable.
I loved all the different types of women and their stories that were given in mini biographies - there were a lot of details given in the short amount of pages. This works great because this book is aimed for a younger audience (middle grade/young adult) that opens the door for more research to dive into.
I have known about 90% of the women mentioned in this book, but there were a handful of them I didn’t know. Such as Dr. Kissmekia Corbett, or Kizzy Corbett, who was a leading viral immunologist to help create the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Or Sônia Guajajara, a Brazilian Indigenous activist, environmentalist, and politician.
Overall, I feel like this is an amazing book about amazing women of color for those of all ages to enjoy, though especially those in middle or high school as a stepping stone to further research and knowledge.
*The author has marked biographies at the beginning of the novel with * to indicate profiles that detail trigger experiences
From activists to sporting icons, bakers to scientists, journalists to actresses’, We Go High tells the stories of 30 influential women of color who have strived to overcome challenges in their lives. Paired together with stunningly beautiful portraits from Natasha Cunningham, Nicole Ellis celebrates these women of color’s achievements as well as their personal beliefs, attitudes, and determination that drives them to be remarkable.
I loved all the different types of women and their stories that were given in mini biographies - there were a lot of details given in the short amount of pages. This works great because this book is aimed for a younger audience (middle grade/young adult) that opens the door for more research to dive into.
I have known about 90% of the women mentioned in this book, but there were a handful of them I didn’t know. Such as Dr. Kissmekia Corbett, or Kizzy Corbett, who was a leading viral immunologist to help create the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Or Sônia Guajajara, a Brazilian Indigenous activist, environmentalist, and politician.
Overall, I feel like this is an amazing book about amazing women of color for those of all ages to enjoy, though especially those in middle or high school as a stepping stone to further research and knowledge.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Unfriended (2014) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
In the modern age of electronic media, cyber stalking and cyber bullying have driven several young people to take drastic actions including suicide. Bullying has always been an issue in schools but with the ability for tormentors to cyber stalk individuals as well as encourage others to take part in the harassment, it can be hard to find any escape from the relentless attacks. In new film “Unfriended”, the audience learns through video clip that a young student named Laura committed suicide in an attempt to escape a never-ending wave of torment after an unflattering video of her was posted online. One year later the group of friends gather online as is their custom to discuss their lives as well as note the anniversary of Laura’s passing. As the group gathers on Skype may notice a mysterious and unknown person has joined their conference. Despite their attempts they’re unable to get rid of this unknown and so far silent intruder, but one of the girls named Claire starts to receive Facebook messages from Laura’s personal account. Unable to block, ignore, or remove this unwanted individual despite their best efforts, as the group soon find the tables have turned when they’re told that if they should leave the chat dire consequences will follow. At first dismissed as a very tasteless practical joke, when tragedy does strike it begins to give a new level of credence to the significant threat that their unknown chat partner provides.
When the unknown guest reveals that she is indeed Laura and begins to force the remaining students to play a series of games which in turn bring their darkest and deepest secrets to light as well as turning them against one another, the despair and eventually body count begins to rise. While there are moments you can ask questions such as where are the adults in the film which are never really addressed aside from a few police officers, the film does keep you interested even though it is presented entirely through a computer screen with each individual appearing as their own individual windows with other social media applications and computer screens coming and going as the plot dictates.
The film is neither as scary nor violent as one may indicate although it is definitely an R-rated film due to language and subject matter. Much of the graphic nature is shown through quick cutting and low-quality WebCam video that cuts out frequently or lags. The main strength of the film is that it takes an interesting concept to the approach of a killer looking for revenge. The fact that the characters remain in the same room in which they began and never once have any direct contact with each other is an interesting microcosm of how many young people today socialize more through electronics than they do in a face-to-face setting. However is anybody who grew up in the 70s and 80s will tell you, teens tying up phone lines for hours was a common occurrence in many homes throughout the world.
With the cast comprised mostly of unknowns, the film does the best with its premise but never fully develops the scares and suspense that one would expect from such an intriguing premise.
In the end the film can be a difficult watch but at least provides some entertainment for fans provided you can sit through the unusual visual presentation of the film and show patience with some of the leaps of faith that the audience is asked to undergo.
http://sknr.net/2015/04/17/unfriended/
When the unknown guest reveals that she is indeed Laura and begins to force the remaining students to play a series of games which in turn bring their darkest and deepest secrets to light as well as turning them against one another, the despair and eventually body count begins to rise. While there are moments you can ask questions such as where are the adults in the film which are never really addressed aside from a few police officers, the film does keep you interested even though it is presented entirely through a computer screen with each individual appearing as their own individual windows with other social media applications and computer screens coming and going as the plot dictates.
The film is neither as scary nor violent as one may indicate although it is definitely an R-rated film due to language and subject matter. Much of the graphic nature is shown through quick cutting and low-quality WebCam video that cuts out frequently or lags. The main strength of the film is that it takes an interesting concept to the approach of a killer looking for revenge. The fact that the characters remain in the same room in which they began and never once have any direct contact with each other is an interesting microcosm of how many young people today socialize more through electronics than they do in a face-to-face setting. However is anybody who grew up in the 70s and 80s will tell you, teens tying up phone lines for hours was a common occurrence in many homes throughout the world.
With the cast comprised mostly of unknowns, the film does the best with its premise but never fully develops the scares and suspense that one would expect from such an intriguing premise.
In the end the film can be a difficult watch but at least provides some entertainment for fans provided you can sit through the unusual visual presentation of the film and show patience with some of the leaps of faith that the audience is asked to undergo.
http://sknr.net/2015/04/17/unfriended/
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated What About Me?: Seeing Yourself the Way God Sees You in Books
Jun 16, 2018
What About Me? by Vicki Courtney addresses the very issues almost every young girl faces in an easy-to-read style, as if they were sitting down together over a cup of hot chocolate. Each chapter has QR codes to scan that link to videos of real and darling girls answering questions like "What makes someone beautiful 'on the inside'"?
The book contains four chapters which are Mirror, Mirror, That Thing You Do, Get More Likes, and The Truth of the Matter.
The first chapter; Mirror, Mirror is about self awareness and what God says about inner beauty; accepting your body shape and appearance; not comparing yourself to someone else. The second chapter; That Thing You Do is about God-given gifts and talents; emotional ups and downs of this age group; problems with exaggerating to make ourselves more appealing; our worth is not tied into failures; handling middle school; dealing with pressure. The third chapter; Get More Likes is about choosing God's way or the popular crowd's way; accepting who you are; those embarrassing moments; bullying, boys. Lastly, the fourth chapter; The Truth of the Matter is about what does God think about you; feeling valued; being a princess and an heir; having a relationship with Jesus.
In between each chapter are quizzes, relevant bible verses, advice from high school girls, and "Letter to My Daughter". Reading this book can change the perspective in young girls about themselves and their world. It can solidify their relationship with Jesus and enrich their relationship with God.
I received this book from B&H Publishing Group and B&H Kids via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book contains four chapters which are Mirror, Mirror, That Thing You Do, Get More Likes, and The Truth of the Matter.
The first chapter; Mirror, Mirror is about self awareness and what God says about inner beauty; accepting your body shape and appearance; not comparing yourself to someone else. The second chapter; That Thing You Do is about God-given gifts and talents; emotional ups and downs of this age group; problems with exaggerating to make ourselves more appealing; our worth is not tied into failures; handling middle school; dealing with pressure. The third chapter; Get More Likes is about choosing God's way or the popular crowd's way; accepting who you are; those embarrassing moments; bullying, boys. Lastly, the fourth chapter; The Truth of the Matter is about what does God think about you; feeling valued; being a princess and an heir; having a relationship with Jesus.
In between each chapter are quizzes, relevant bible verses, advice from high school girls, and "Letter to My Daughter". Reading this book can change the perspective in young girls about themselves and their world. It can solidify their relationship with Jesus and enrich their relationship with God.
I received this book from B&H Publishing Group and B&H Kids via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Almost everyone I know uses it. (2 more)
Reconnect with people I thought I'd lost forever.
Stuff I wouldn't generally see elsewhere.
Security/privacy is HORRIBLE! (2 more)
Facebook is biased against minorities.
Facebook enforces the rules when & if they choose.
If Only There Was A Better Alternative
If I could convince all my Facebook friends to move to another site, I'd jump ship in a heartbeat! Yes, there's fun stuff & great info that I wouldn't normally come across any where else. But it comes at a price. With all the info Facebook has gathered on me, sometimes I feel like they know more about me then I do. I've been the victim of (& witnessed others be victims of) bullying numerous times. 99% of the time, Facebook does nothing about it. I report the problem, & the typical response is that "it doesn't violate Facebook's community standards". I've been hacked on their Messenger app. People can be downright cruel in the comment section of any article. There are bugs that keep getting worse instead of better. For example, I'm reading an article or watching a video I've clicked on. When I'm finished, instead of taking me back to where I was in my news feed, I'm sent back to the beginning. Once is frustrating. After that it's painfully irritating! There's so much more! I'll just sum it up by saying "Facebook has become a cesspool of negativity." I would leave the app, but I'd either lose people completely that can't or won't use other apps, or I'd have to use a boatload of apps, because of course people won't agree on the same alternative.
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Are We There Yet? in Books
Jul 1, 2021
A heartfelt look at parenting and growing up
Alice Sullivan is an interior designer and mom whose nearly perfect life goes off the rails when her son Teddy gets in trouble bullying at school. The same day she learns her daughter Adrian is having trouble keeping up in second grade. Soon Alice learns Teddy is caught up in a social media battle with another kid and she's rapidly being subjected to the judgement of the other moms. This includes her good friend, Meredith, whose daughter Sadie may be more involved than Meredith realizes. Then, Alice finds herself reeling further when her mom, Evelyn, reveals a long-held secret. Alice needs to stop caring what other people think--and starting focusing on her family. Fast.
This book was one of those happy surprises, where it was even better than I expected. It was real and captivating, highlighting how difficult it is to be both a parent and kid in the digital age. The story is expertly told from a variety of perspectives--Alice, Meredith, Teddy, Evelyn, and Sadie.
West does such a great job of portraying the interconnected people, both kids and parents, in her tale. All are mostly trying their best but often failing while some are judging others. Yet it seems like their world falls apart anyway. Everyone's story was told in such a unique voice, and I could not help but feel so sorry for these kids trying to survive in a digital age, and their parents attempting to maintain some type of control.
Overall, this is excellent book--very timely, realistic, and both heartbreaking and hopeful. 4.25 stars.
This book was one of those happy surprises, where it was even better than I expected. It was real and captivating, highlighting how difficult it is to be both a parent and kid in the digital age. The story is expertly told from a variety of perspectives--Alice, Meredith, Teddy, Evelyn, and Sadie.
West does such a great job of portraying the interconnected people, both kids and parents, in her tale. All are mostly trying their best but often failing while some are judging others. Yet it seems like their world falls apart anyway. Everyone's story was told in such a unique voice, and I could not help but feel so sorry for these kids trying to survive in a digital age, and their parents attempting to maintain some type of control.
Overall, this is excellent book--very timely, realistic, and both heartbreaking and hopeful. 4.25 stars.