December 2024 reads...

Below are the books that I read in December and my thoughts on each. 

I tried to do the Fold Reading Challenge to diversify my reading this year, but didn't meet the December challenge. It definitely made a difference in my reading, and I plan to continue to read diversely while tackling the pile of books I have n my shelves, both digital and physical.

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SENSORY: LIFE ON THE SPECTRUM Edited by Bex Ollerton

Sensory: Life on the Spectrum is a fabulously diverse collection of comics that shows what life on the spectrum is like. I first learned about it through the social media of some of the artists involved. From diagnosis to daily living, each artists details what life is like for them, what it means to be autistic, and share their coping strategies. 

This is a great resource for newly diagnosed teens and adults, as well as their families in that it provides guidance and assurance that they are not alone. It is important to note that this collection of comics also shows that everyone's autistic experience is different, and I believe that is an important takeaway.

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FULL SPEED TO A CRASH LANDING by Beth Revis

Full Speed to a Crash Landing is a fast-paced read from the beginning where everything I thought I knw about the main character, Ada, and her situation got flipped on its head the more I read. There are hints throughout the story that Ada is keeping a secret from the reader, but it is not revealed until the last chapter in her point of view. The memos at the end of the book give more background information and possibly hints about the next book in the series, which I am anxious to read.

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ESCAPE VELOCITY by Victor Manibo

Reading this book felt very timely considering the current political climate. And I admit there were times I wanted to throw my ereader across the room because of the attitudes of many of the elite and wealthy characters. There were some I sort of felt sorry for until I remembered they still had privilege even as they fell from grace. Regardless, I kept reading because I knew something was going to happen based on the first chapter and the occasional chapter in the point of view of one of the crew of the space station, Altaire. I wanted something to happen.

Escape Velocity revealed the inequalities of the 1% vs. everyone else, their concerns, and their relationships with others. They are not the same at all, and the 1% have no idea what everyone else wants. So, when the space station, Altaire is taken over by some of the crew, they don't understand why their money and power won't help. 

While the ending of Escape Velocity seemed a little abrupt, I like to think the world became slightly better for those living on it.