LitBit Speaks

Cole is a boy in high school. He runs cross country, he sketches, he jokes around with friends. But none of this quite matters next to the allure of sex. "Let me put it this way," he says. "Draw a number line, with zero is you never think about sex and ten is, it's all you think about, and while you are drawing the line, I am thinking about sex." Cole fantasizes about whomever he's looking at. He consumes and shares pornography. And he sleeps with a lot of girls, which is beginning to earn him a not-quite-savory reputation around school. This leaves him adrift with only his best friend for company, and then something startling starts to happen between them that might be what he's been after all this time-and then he meets Grisaille. Where to begin this review? Daniel Handler has certainly done something different with this book. Though I realize that discussions will rage for ages as to whether or not this book should  be classified as Adult or...

In this rather bizarre, but ultimately worthwhile collection of stories about villains, readers will have the opportunity to explore backstories of known and unknown "evil" characters alike, all of whom are given realistic motivations for their own existence in the world. Without demonizing anyone, these individual stories explore motivations, histories, and family drama that lead to choices which we, as readers, often label as "evil" or "villainous." For instance, did you ever think Medusa could have a good reason for being so pissed off? Or that there might be a reason why a drug lord has killed off a LOT of people around a large urban centre? Or what about the backstory of beauty and the beast? This is a gorgeous collection of stories from a series of truly talented authors. Check it out!! Recommended

Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Except really, it’s for black girls. From “bad” neighborhoods. But Jade doesn’t need support. And just because her mentor is black doesn’t mean she understands Jade. And maybe there are some things Jade could show these successful women about the real world and finding ways to make a real difference. This is a gorgeous novel about a young black girl living in a poorer neighbourhood, going to a private school populated by mostly white students, and dealing with the assumptions and stereotypes placed on her by the world around her. The Women to Women mentorship program is chosen for her by a...