Disney's Chimpanzee is visually stunning and particularly well showcased in the Blu-Ray format. Getting a glimpse into the lives of wild chimpanzees is quite a treat, and I was continually struck by how similar they are to humans, yet they are still wholly themselves. And, of course, Oscar is delightful to watch. Tim Allen's narration is a nice addition, and I like the subtle humor he adds. The budding relationship between Oscar and the alpha male of his group is intensely heartwarming.

What I was less impressed with is the implication involved in casting Scar (head of rival chimpanzee group) as a bad guy. I think it's important to keep in mind that the movie is shot with the intention of telling a story, and Disney is notorious for casting black-and-white villains with little depth. Noticeably, Scar is the only chimpanzee in his group given a name and semblance of a personality (and it's a negative one), and there is no word on whether or not there are females or baby chimpanzees in his group. He is portrayed as the head of a vicious, masculine fighting force, bent on destroying Oscar's little family group, but who knows what the reality of the situation is? My guess is, it's a lot more nuanced than Disney suggests.

But still, chimpanzees! Beautiful rainforests! Incredible slow-motion/fast-motion shots of insects and water droplets and growing fungi and all manner or life! Definitely worth a watch.

Archer really seems to know her way around the inside of a teen girl's brain, and her three main characters come off as realistic individuals with relatable problems. The dialogue is often funny, and even the prose - written in first person from each character's point of view - is full of humor. The ending seems a little anti-climatic, almost as if Archer didn't quite know how to finish the book, and it feels like there are still some loose ends, but overall it was an enjoyable, fun read.

Wonderfully subtle and funny, though perhaps not quite as punchy as This is Not My Hat. Still, a fun read with great illustrations that work in counterpoint to the text. I particularly love the subdued colors.

A harrowing and claustrophobic but extremely well crafted novel. The injustices described in The Handmaid's Tale are sometimes painful to read, particularly in today's political climate when reproductive freedom is under attack and sexism is still alive and well.

Not a book I'd pick up to read again, and I don't think I'll read the sequel. The love triangle seems too forced, too clearly an author manipulation, and to be honest, I didn't care for either of the love interests. I was more interested in how the women who are Chosen get along, and how class differences would play out among them, but that's not really what this book wanted to be about. It had some of that, but on a very superficial level. I wish this book had more teeth to really dig into the issue.