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UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: Politics and Social Justice
Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics – Elle Reeve
(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ve been amazed how CNN correspondent Elle Reeve has put herself in risky situations to get a story as well as to obtain the perspective of potentially dangerous people. This is even more evident in her … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Social Justice
Tagged alt-right, January 6, neo-fascism
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The Coin – Yasmin Zaher
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…in my family, America was both the key and the curse.” Our narrator, who is from a wealthy Palestinian family moved to New York after her parents died. She was left with an inheritance of which … Continue reading
Posted in Immigration, Middle Eastern Literature, World Literature
Tagged immigration, New York, obsession
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Wait: A Novel – Gabriella Burnham
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “They threw me out of the country like I was a nothing.” Wait delves into the intricate layers of family, identity, and the harsh realities faced by undocumented immigrants in the United States. Through … Continue reading
Posted in Immigration, Modern Literary Fiction, World Issues
Tagged Brazil, class, immigration
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The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America – Jeffrey Rosen
(reviewed by JD Jung) “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. But what did the “pursuit of Happiness” mean to the founding fathers? American legal scholar, Jeffrey Rosen uncovers … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Philosophical reads
Tagged American History, happiness, justice, philosophy, racism, slavery
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The Last Election – Andrew Yang, Stephen Marche
(reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “Democracy is on the way out. Who will control the aftermath?” This political thriller serves as a cautionary tale that takes place in the very near future, possibly as early as 2024. What would happen … Continue reading
Posted in Political fiction
Tagged American politics, deception, democracy, elections, media, scandal
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Down with the Poor! – Shumona Sinha, translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…the same stories and the same bodies blended in my head, lost all definition and all form, became a dark and shapeless mass of giant bodies, that growled, shouted, demanded, cried, pleaded. Were they inventing a … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, Immigration, World Issues
Tagged immigration, imperialism, Misogyny, refugees
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A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom – Brittany K. Barnett
(Reviewed by Ann Onymous ) “Listening to King’s voice ringing out from the pulpit, i felt warmth begin to flow where only a wrung-out feeling had been. King’s tenor lifted me from within. His words were a balm for my … Continue reading
Posted in Non-fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks, Social Justice
Tagged criminal justice, Martin Luther King, prison, social justice
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Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility – Rebecca Solnit & Thelma Young-Lutunatabua
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Nothing is inevitable, and that’s crucial to remember in this fight.” Personally, I have felt both hopeless and helpless when it comes to preserving our planet and fighting climate change. Not Too Late convinced … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Social Justice
Tagged climate change, colonization, ecology, Indigenous peoples
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Who is bombing Kyiv?! – Marina Alova
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “It was disheartening and revolting to witness the country repeating the same mistakes and going around in circles. Slava believed that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it would be impossible to make the … Continue reading
Posted in Slavic Literature, World Issues, World Literature
Tagged propaganda, Putin, Russia, Russian literature, Ukraine, war
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Sweet Undoings – Yanick Lahens (translated by Kaiama L. Glover)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “Nowadays, in the cities, you’ve got to drink it all in, the honey and the bile. All in the same cup.” Judge Raymond Berthier has just been murdered, and his nineteen-year-old daughter, Brune, is grieving … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Culture, World Issues
Tagged corruption, Crime, culture, Haiti, Haitian literature, murder
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