More September Reading

If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Having loved Marais' first book, Hum If You Don't Know the Words, of course I had to pick up her second book. It did not disappoint! Once again set in South Africa, this time the story is told through three viewpoints: teenage Zodwa, poor, gay, pregnant, nursing a dying mother; Delilah, an aide worker and excommunicated nun, with a traumatic past; and Ruth, a rich white woman, raging alcoholic, and Delilah's sister. The author brings all three of these disparate women together, and weaves a rich story, showing the extreme racial hatred present in post-apartheid South Africa, the questionable power of the Catholic Church, the desperation with the cycle of poverty,  and ultimately, the family ties of hope and love. Once again, Marais hits an emotional nerve for me - I highly recommend this book.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Written in lyrical verse, Acevedo tells the story of two girls, connected across the sea by the father they lost. Right after 9/11, a plane crashed in NYC that was headed to the Dominican Republic. I remember the news, with everyone wondering if it was another terror attack, but I never went further, to think of the lives and connections lost. Acevedo does just that in this lyrical book told in verse, as she explores the connections between two girls. Camino lives in the DR, waiting for each year when her father returns...except this one. Camino lives in poverty, watchful of the man who stalks her, dreaming of a life where she can become a doctor. Yahaira lives in NYC, having stumbled upon her father's secret as he left for the DR once again, bitter towards him but filled with guilt when his plane crashes. These two girls' lives come crashing together in this gorgeously told story, read in combination with the author. Acevedo gives us a slice of life in the world of these young girls, into life in NYC as a gay teen, into the barrios of the DR and the lives of its residents. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Gyasi's first book, Homegoing, is one of my very favorite reads of the past decade, so Transcendent Kingdom had big shoes to fill. The story centers on Gifty, a research scientist who struggles with the push and pull of her religion upbringing as it meets her field of science. Almost reading like stream of consciousness at times, the story moves rapidly through time, as we meet Gifty's mother, an immigrant from Ghana who struggles mightily with depression, her father who joins the family in America and struggles to find his place here, and her brother Nana, a gifted athlete who falls to the lure of opioids. For me, a slower moving plot embedded into rich character development, this book left me wanting...something more. Perhaps some light? The all-encompassing sadness of the book was difficult in 2020 for me, as this has been such a rough year. Yet that is unfair to Gyasi, as her story so much in America today: the plight of the immigrant as in what jobs are available to them and what are they willing to sacrifice to be Americans; the expectations on a young black athlete, and how society pushes and pulls at them, regardless of what is healthy or right; the conundrum of science and God, and can they both be loved? This is a thoughtful book, sure to provoke conversation in any book group, but I would suggest choosing a good time to read it, not a time when your own heart is sad or broken.

Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2) by Shelby Mahurin

For those who follow me, you KNOW how much I loved the first book in this YA fantasy series, Serpent and Dove (I compared her to Maas, high praise indeed!). Book two does not disappoint, as once again our female protagonist, Lou, sassy witch who is just learning her own power, and Reid, the witchhunter turned witch himself, are both trying to entrap Lou's mom, who happens to be the witch in charge of lots of awful doings. Yes, there's sex, violence, murder, mystery because that's what YA fantasy is all about and Mahurin delivers it in spades. If you need a new series and an intriguing new world to escape into, I highly recommend this one!

Buried and Cut to the Bone(Agent Sayer Altair, #2) by Ellison Cooper

Round Two of Criminal Minds meets Mindhunters, with a little of The Stranger Beside Me thrown in. As our badass female FBI agent Sayer Altair works on her creepy research project (interviewing psychopaths who DON'T commit violence crimes), she gets pulled into a new serial killer case. This time around it is in the Shenandoah Valley, involving a disappearance from nineteen years ago, plus a couple of fresh bodies. Cooper is masterful at creating a team to become invested in, as well as using diversity which impresses me. She's got a Black female, numerous smart women, an Asian agent, and a few dogs that are incredibly smart as well as tender-hearted. I do love this series, and Book 3 continues the page-turning obsession, with lots of "WOW" moments, and seriously, the last line of the book?! Yikes. I need book 4 immediately!  

September 2.0

His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham, John Lewis

"This is not a fairytale. This is history." Over the last four years of the current administration, I have slowly, progressively, lost hope in America. This book reminded me to still believe. Jon Meacham, one of my favorite historians, spent countless hours with the iconic John Lewis, recounting his early days with the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. I thought I knew who John Lewis was, after reading his life story following his death as well as watching the eulogies given at his funeral. I could not have been more wrong. Meacham not only does a deep dive into Lewis, his actions, and his character, but also into the deliberate operations of the young workers and leaders, using non-violence to change the heart of a country. I was left with a sense of hope, knowing that if these young people chose to face death, to stand tall in the midst of the most extreme hatred, then I could believe in the spirit of America once again. If you need a big dose of belief, this book will do your heart good:)

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis

The story begins in the 1970's in Montevideo, Uruguay, as a coup has turned the country into a military dictatorship. Five friends head to a deserted beach town, determined to find some joy in their young lives, wondering if it is possible to be happy, gay, and free in this country. Throughout the next four decades, this beach home becomes their sanctuary, as we see their lives move through time, dealing with husbands, lovers, children, and pasts that haunt. The writing is sublime..."They approached the cape along a beach, the ocean to their right, shimmering in the dark, in constant conversation with the sand." I mean, really??? But De Robertis is not verbose or gratuitous with her words; she shares the life story of these women to such a deep extent, that when the last page is turned, I felt like I lost something. The ideas of human connection, of how trauma invades our soul, of how who we are is so vital to how we interact in the world. I did not think I would fall so hard in love with this book and these women; this novel is a treasure.

Caged by Ellison Cooper

Do you like watching Criminal Minds or Mindhunters? Or did you enjoy Meg Gardiner's Unsub book series? If so, have I got a new series for you! I read this one in less than 24 hours, and have already ordered the second in the series. (I kept hearing about Cut to the Bone, Cooper's latest book just published; everyone is raving over it, but I just cannot start a series in the middle so yes, I went back to the beginning to see where FBI agent Sayer Altair begins.) Altair is a Black female agent, with a background in neuroscience and an obsession with hunting serial killers. Haunted by death in her personal life, she is...complicated. The author has created a compelling group of agents who surround Altair: her sidekick Vik who knows how to throw in some zingers, her neighbor who shares a puppy with her, her scary but badass female boss at the FBI, the tech guy who knows how to hack computers, the pathologist who finds answers in the dead bodies, and the arrogant profiler who never met a camera he didn't like. Cooper knows how to plot a story to keep you turning pages, as well as creating characters to root both for and against. This is an obsessively great read:) PS: I am TIRED of reading crime novels by white men, about white men; this author is female, has an amazing science background, and uses all kinds of smart, strong women characters - YES!!!

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Zoe loves to bake, needs to fix her friendship with her next door neighbor, and receives her first letter from her father, who is imprisoned for committing a murder. I can see how many elementary-age kids are loving this book as it is a sweet story of friendship, love, and loyalty. There are some funny moments with cupcake baking, as well as some hard-fought freedom for two ambitious kids. It's a tough subject matter and author does downplay it for her audience, which I get, but I also think some kids are capable of grappling with difficult topics. Prison is rather white-washed, as is the impact of wrongful conviction. Yet...I realize this story is written for eight to twelve year olds, so on that note, I would say it is a good start to introducing a child to some social justice issues. 

Sula by Toni Morrison

As I work my way through Morrison's back list (like many, I had only read Beloved and Song of Solomon prior to 2020), this was once again a difficult read. I listened to the audio, and while Morrison's voice is gorgeous, I wish I had been able to flip back and forth through the pages. It is a story of friendship between Nell and Sula, one woman who chooses husband and children and home, and Sula, who chooses sexual freedom and the city lights. It is a story of an action in their past that haunts them. It is the story of a returned soldier who forces his town to see death. It is the story of the Black experience, told in classic Morrison style, who always makes one think hard and question and roll the words around in our head. While I am glad I read it, it was not my favorite. How's that for an honest opinion?!

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Do you ever feel like you missed years of good books while head first into a career, or raising kids, or going through trauma? I do, so I am slowly working my way through some backlist books, as well as trying to be deliberate about reading more diverse authors who can give me views into a different world than my own. This collection of eight stories from Pulitzer Prize winning author Lahiri was a stunner. With each story, she sucked me straight into the lives of her characters, whether it be the young mother in Seattle trying to navigate a new role for her father in her life, or the young Indian man who defies his family expectations, or the student having an affair with a married man. Each story was rich in character, as well as words. Highly recommend this author if, like me, you missed her years ago.

September Reading

One by One by Ruth Ware

I think you can call me a Ruth Ware junkie; I have read all six of her adult mystery books, and have yet to be able to put one down. Her latest feels very Agatha Christie-ish, with murder victims, red herrings, and abundant theories littering the story. At a company retreat in a Swiss chalet, the plot is laid out through two narrators: Liz, a former employee of this tech company, she is awkward, anxious, and has a lot of backstory to tell; Erin, a hostess at the chalet, is the fly-on-the-wall observer of this eclectic group, and has a mysterious past of her own. As a blizzard hits, avalanches ensue, and dead bodies turn up occasionally, I dare you to figure out not only whodunnit, but WHY. Another satisfying Ruth Ware mystery:)

Anxious People by Frederik Backman

This book is about a bank robber. And some hostages. And a bridge. And subprime mortgages. And the worldwide economic meltdown of 2007. And aging. And relationships. And suicide. And mental illness. And about idiots and anxiety and assumptions we make. And...get my drift? Can you tell it is a hard one to describe? On the surface, it begins with two policemen, a father and son, who are attempting to interview the hostages of a bank robber. But talk about water skiing across a subject! This book, as always with Backman, is about so much more. This book is witty, propulsive, addictive, heartfelt, provocative, aggravating, eye-opening, and ultimately so satisfying. If you begin and you're wondering "what the heck?', just keep going, trust me - you will arrive at an amazing destination. Another hit from a favorite author!

The Lost Kingdom by Signe Pike

In the beginning, in The Lost Queen, twins Languoreth and Lailoken, are young; their childhood is privileged, children of a lord, taught by a druid, loved and protected by their servants. They are in turn, passionate, emotional, impulsive. In this sequel, L and L come into their own. Languoreth becomes the queen she has always been meant to be. As she mourns her many losses, she also weaves her web, using her intellect to deal with her enemies and grow her ally's loyalties, and ultimately discovers the strength she always had but now knows how to wield. Lailoken, through horrific battle, heartbreaking loss, and poignant exile, uses his skills as a Wisdom Keeper to hold the Old Gods close, and to empower those who still believe in them. This second book is full of battles and court intrigue, but also dives deep into the story of Languoreth's daughter and her training as a priestess of the Old Way; this was the most intriguing story line to me. As much as I loved the first book, this book appears to act as a bridge to book three, setting up the court of Artur (ie. King Arthur mythology), his relationship with the druid priestess, and Laioloken as he transitions into Myrrdin, the 'madman,' or as we know him, Merlin. This was another epic read.

The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan

I feel like there were a couple decades where I missed great books (maybe I was grading essays or driving kids across the state for soccer tournaments??) In any case, now that I've got a Buddy Read group doing modern day classics, I am finally catching up! I have read Amy Tan before (The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter), and she did not disappoint in this one from 2006. Once again, she looks deeply at mother/daughter relationships, as we first see Winnie as the stereotypical Chinese mother, with her daughter Pearl who avoids her, holds secrets, doesn't understand who her mother is. Winnie has secrets of her own...a LOT of them. The majority of the book tells of her life in China both pre WWII, during, and after. For the record, the next time I complain about the small inconveniences of anything, tell me to shut up - this woman struggled, survived, endured. At times it got a bit wordy for me, but then Tan would bring me back to the women and grab my attention once again. And the Kitchen God story - wow, what a metaphor for the shit women have to put up with in this patriarchal construct of a world. This should give any book club a lot to discuss!

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass

A group of gay teens are kidnapped and taken to an island off of Costa Rica where a conversion therapy 'program' is run. Yeah, pretty horrendous - as in torture and abuse, weird and weirder assignments to convince these kids they aren't gay, and a deep dive into the history of the pastor who runs it. Solid topic to explore in this YA book, yet I am torn in my opinions. On one hand, I appreciated how the author dealt with parental issues surrounding their kids coming out, how religion is twisted into a way that truly damages kids irreparably, and how difficult life can be made for gay teens who are struggling with their sexual identity. However, I struggled with the length of this book (almost 400 pages was waaaay too long, in my opinion), the jumping around through time periods, the implausibility and improbability of much of the plot line (especially on the island!), and the tone of the narrator's voice. I read the author's note at the beginning of the use of awkward humor and why he does it, but it just felt off for me.

More August Reading

 Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 

“but this pestilence is too great, too strong, too vicious. It is an enemy too powerful for her. It has wreathed and tightened its tendrils about her son, and is refusing to surrender him.” I know some people have been reluctant to pick this one up because they’re not big Shakespeare fans. Yet, this is not a story of the Bard; it is a tale of a marriage, a family, a time period, the plague, and the death of a beloved child. (admittedly though, it is pretty cool to see a fictitious telling of the first time an audience saw Hamlet staged - the English Lit teacher in me might have gotten goose bumps!) I was surprised at how hard I fell in love with this one, as the beginning was challenging. O’Farrell is wordy, descriptive, using long paragraphs and little dialogue, not my most beloved writing style. Yet, as she wove her tale, she drew me in and made me feel a part of this family, an observer of their love, their anger, their loneliness, and yes, ultimately, their grief.  Be aware if you pick up this book, it is visceral and raw at times; it contains the most authentic scene of a mother’s grief that I have ever read. But if you’re ready for a masterpiece, this one is it.

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike

Epic. That is the only word that comes to mind when I think of this book, and my obsession with it. Technically historical fiction, this story goes back to 6th century Scotland, the time of high kings and priests, of invaders and protectors, of seers and healers, and of an ancient queen named Languoreth and her twin brother. It contains battles, clashes of religious groups, high court politics, passion, and family loyalties that never end. I have not found a master storyteller like this since I picked up George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series; Signe Pike wrapped me up in her medieval world and her gorgeous writing, making it was impossible to escape, as I read a 500 page book in just three days. Yep, it is that good, trust me.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Wow. Just wow. If you want to jump out of the box that you're living in, and out of your comfort zone, and open your mind wide, this book is for you! What's my box? Old white woman, living in small town America, left-corner of the country, heterosexual, mom of two. Boring, right?! But it's my life. Gabby Rivera, the first Latina author of Marvel comics, introduces me to HER world, where her main character, Juliet is a first year college student, heading to Portland, Oregone to do an internship with a wildly white gay feminist writer. But...Juliet must first come out to her Puerto Rican family in the Bronx before getting on that plane. Then, once she gets to this hippie PNW city, she's confronted with the naked assistant, the Black primary partner, a girlfriend who keeps ghosting her back East, new vocabulary to learn about sexual and gender identity, and a librarian who's tantalizingly hot. This book is laugh out loud funny, but also shocking and outrageous and poignant and breathtakingly real. It pushed me hard outside my box, to the point of uncomfortableness...and that is the point of literature. So get out of your box and dive into the world of Juliet - you will be entertained:)

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

This book is haunting in its tragedy, unforgettable in its telling, and stunning in its written word. It is the story of a death of a son in Nigeria, and the people impacted by this death, the story of gender identity and the struggle to be one's authentic self, the story of a mother and the terrible grief in the unknowing not only of the death, but in who her son truly was, the story of a forbidden love and the family ties involved, the story of friends and neighbors and their role in Vivek's death. This book will haunt me for days, weeks, in its beauty. If you're trying to diversify your reading, and want an experience like no other, I highly recommend this gorgeous book.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen

It is 1955, and Ethan has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle for the summer. Now throw in the fact that Ethan is biracial, aunt and uncle are white, and oh, their home is in...Alabama. Yeah, complications ensue. As Ethan wallows in his self pity as he works in his uncle's malt shop, in walks Juniper Jones "She was, in equal parts, a gift and a natural disaster." As their goal to create an 'invincible summer' ensues, the friendship of these two is truly a beauty to behold. No romance is thrown in, no flirting, just a deep and abiding friendship, one that sees them through incredibly painful moments of racial hatred, family separation, and an attempt to try every milkshake flavor in the shop! This book touched my heart deeply, made me tear up far too many times, and gave me a glimpse into another time period. It is a beautiful YA novel that I want to shove into everyone's hands.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Let's be real, this is not my normal genre. Sweet, implausible, rather silly at times, rom com? But I binge read this book in 24 hours. The premise? Alex, the son of the first female US President (yeah, remember those dreams??) falls for the hot, dreamy English prince (ahem, can you say Harry, but gay?) Their tight knit group of friends and sisters round out the supporting cast. I loved these millennials - they are smart, sassy, ambitious, and have HEART, as do Alex and Henry. In fact, that's why I loved this book. It gave me hope in young impossible love maybe not being so impossible, hope in our political system that good wins over evil, and hope in a world that accepts and celebrates LOVE. If you need a heart-happy book, this one will do it for you:)

August 2.0

A Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom by John Boyne

It was difficult to contain my excitement about a new John Boyne book; he has been a auto-buy author for me for awhile now. I have a lot of thoughts…First, I applaud Boyne’s boldness, his ambition, his creativity. He has created a unique story of a nameless man, who lives his live one time-chunk at a time, each in a different spot. He begins in Palestine, Year 1 AD, and each short chapter, his live continues in a different country, decades ahead in time.The main character is always artistic, his father always wants a warrior, some killing is always deemed necessary etc. Each static character has a role to play in the march through time. Thematically, we see how human emotions are universal as love and revenge drive the main character. However, for me, it just did not work. Each time I felt invested in a story line, it changed. My love for Boyne rests in his ability to deeply draw a dynamic character, to show how life changes them, both good and bad, to see how other people shape them. In Traveler, the characters felt flat to me, never changing, never growing, allowing circumstances to eternally dictate the same actions and reactions. I had hope for the ending, but the chapter on 2016 turned into a wild farce of Trumpeteers, which just seemed so off the rest of the book’s previous serious writing style. Perhaps it is my belief in the human ability to change and grow? Perhaps it is my hope that in another life, another universe, I make better choices? Perhaps my expectations were too high? Regardless, I am sure others will enjoy this creative novel, but it was not for me.

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

The author of Room is back with an exceedingly topical book - a story of three women working at a hospital in Dublin in 1918. Yeah, there's a flu pandemic. Nurse Julia is in charge of the fever/maternity ward, when Bridie comes in to be her volunteer and Dr. Lynn is on duty for the deliveries. Each woman has a rich and deep history that Donoghue explores in order to delver deeply into the societal issues of the day: war trauma, poverty, lack of proper nutrition, classism, the Irish rebellion, spousal abuse, etc. It is a masterful novel. This is not a book that that make you turn pages quickly; instead it is a rich character drawn story of three strong women, from three different circumstances, who are all put in one place in time, doing their best to stave off the Bone Man as he comes to collect the sick for his deathly mansion. And if you like a good audio narrator, the Irish accent is sublime.

My Vanishing Country by Bakari Sellers

I had seen Bakari Sellers on CNN as an analyst, but I did not know that he was the youngest person ever elected to the South Caroline state legislature, that he had been 'raised' and influenced by the lions of the Civil Rights movements, that his father stood and watched LBJ sign into law a pivotal law, that the Orangeburg Massacre scarred a community, and a state, forever. (Have you even heard of the Orangeburg Massacre? Yeah, me either - look it up. Generational anger is righteous) This is an intriguing, short, memoir of a young Black man's life growing up in rural South Caroline, and his own journey through personal and public tragedy, to offer a fairer, more equitable, safer, healthier life to Black folks in his state. I am curious to see where life takes Mr. Sellers in the future - he's got my vote.

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

Think Groundhog Day but in a sweet fluffy YA book. Three high school seniors are best friends: Jillian, class valedictorian; Francisco, star athlete and Jillian's boyfriend; and Jackie, best friends to both Jillian and Francisco, but secretly in love with Jillian for years. But what happens when Jack meets Kate at a college tour, and falls madly in love? But...Kate has an illness and dies. Yeah, no spoiler alert - it happens early. Jackie is pushed back through time, over and over, as he tries to save Kate but messes up so many other areas of his life. It is a cute story, a bit repetitious and a bit too long, but middle and high schoolers may love this:)

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

How did I miss this YA fantasy book when it came out last fall??? It has everything I love about this genre: beautifully crafted world with witches, soldiers, and priests,  a hot love relationship, loyal friends,  and mysteries galore. When Louise (witch in hiding) meets Reid (witch hunter) sparks fly, sassy comments abound, and transparency is hard to come by. But my oh my, this book is impossible to put down. If you're looking for adventure and humor bound up in a fantastical plot line, pick up this book. I was only halfway through before I already preordered the sequel, out next month. This book is amazing:)

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil

 

Clemantine Wamariya was just six years old when she had to flee her grandmother's house outside of Kigali, Rwanda in 1994. This is the story of her years of wandering through Africa as a refugee, of her exploring her own psyche and its reaction to genocide, in her journey through American life as a displaced person, and in her varied emotions surrounding the people, her family, and organizations who aided or abandoned her. This memoir is the perfect companion book to Elie Wiesel's Night, and if I was still a high school teacher, I would use them in tandem. It shows how history does repeat itself, how the 'savers' can muck things up, how just one person can change a person's trajectory for both good and bad, how hope is in short supply sometimes, how anger can overwhelm, and how stories of survival can inspire. It will be a long time before I forget this memoir. 

The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America's Wildlands by Jon Billman

I am not usually a True Crime reader (they kinda freak me out), but this one intrigued me from the beginning as much of it takes place in my backyard, the Pacific Northwest. Author Jon Billman explores the hidden phenomena of missing persons in our national parks, using Jacob Gray's disappearance here in WA state as the anchor of his book. Jacob went into Olympic National Park, and was never seen again, leaving behind his bike and little else. Billman strings together the search and rescue routines of many different parks and states, the use of tracker dogs (okay, their training is fascinating!), and the deep, unadulterated sorrow for the friends and family who have no answers. Some of the victims may have been lost, or injured, or murdered... some may have just wanted to leave the civilized world. This was an engrossing look at a world that is little seen, and should have more attention given to it. It will also make it so you question your decision to hike alone ever again!

August Reading

Greenwood by Michael Christie

"Time...is not an arrow. Neither is it a road. It goes in no particular direction. It simply accumulates...like wood does. Layer upon layer...Each one dependent upon the last. Each year impossible without the one preceding it." This book say for while on my pile, the 500 page-ness of it intimidating me. But three days later, never lifting my face off the page, it was finished. A story of forests and family, it is uniquely plotted and stunningly written. It begins at the end, in 2038, and moves backward in time. Then, when 1908 arrives, time marches forward and fills in all the answers. The themes of family ties, secrets, and what we do to our environment is dealt with over each time period. As the story weaves its magic, we see how every moment matters, that our history is not only our past but our future, that to love the earth sometimes means to sacrifice ourselves. This will be one of my top books of 2020.

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson has become a go-to author for me as I try to diversify my reading. She writes from her own experiences, both in Brooklyn as well as time down south, and imbues her books with the poetic beauty of her writing style. This time around she focuses on a group of four friends, growing up in Brooklyn, making their way from childhood into adulthood, with all the challenges that come from race inequity, economic differences, academic directions, and character development. It is a beautiful slice of life.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

I am constantly on the lookout for a thriller that actually satisfied, and this one is IT. If you liked the podcast, Serial, on This American Life, you will recognize the style. The main character, Rachel, is back for a third season after hitting it big solving crimes in her first two podcasts. This time around, she is covering a live trial, as a young college student (Olympic-level swimmer, sound familiar?) from a well-to-do-family has been accused of raping a high school girl in a small North Carolina town. Juxtaposed with this trial, is the story of twenty-five years ago when a high school girl was found dead. The sister still wants answers and believes Rachel's podcast can give her those. This book explores the troubling state of rape culture in society, as well as the question of who to believe when an accusation is made, how society treats the accuser, and how to actually mete out justice. This book kept me up way too late, trying to not only find out whodunnit, but to question how society goes so wrong in dealing with these crimes. Tough read, but well done.

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

For those of you looking for some Own Voices writing about America's southern border, this is the book for you. This story focuses on three children, Pulga, Chico, and Pequena, trapped in violent, dead-end lives in Guatemala. The first half details their lives there, trying to escape the narcos, the poverty, yet filled with family love that is hard to leave behind. It is not an easy choice to leave, but they must, or they will die. The choice is that stark. The second half of the book focuses on their odyssey to El Norte, the sanctuaries that aid them, the criminals who pursue them, the train (El Bestia) that torments them. This is a heartbreaker, but a 'must read' if we truly who to comprehend why so many people would risk their lives to make it to America. 

Dust Tracks on a Road: A Memoir by Zora Neal Hurston

If you have read Their Eyes Are Watching God,' then you know who Zora Neal Hurston is: a Black writer, raised in Florida, educated in the North, a powerhouse influence and part of the Harlem Renaissance. This is the story of her life, told by Zora herself. It shows us how she was formed, the people who believed in her and influenced her, and where her life took her before she was buried in a nameless pauper's grave decades later. I highly recommend the audio book, as the narrator is amazing. 

Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Women's Olympics Team by Elise Hooper

Female empowerment, history, and competition? Yep, this book was calling my name. Based on the true story of the female track and field athletes, Elise Hooper charts the story of how women were first allowed to compete in the 1928 Olympics. She follows three 'girls' (honestly, I know it makes for a good title, but girls? They were women. Just sayin) and their journey to reach the Olympics: a beautiful blonde who endures great physical challenges, a farm girl going against sexual norms of the day, and a Black runner who faces the enduring system of racism. I liked it. I read it quickly, but I kept feeling I wanted more. Once I read the author's notes, I figured out why - there just wasn't much detailed history on some of these women, so Hooper had to fill in things with fictional stories. I think for me, I just like straight up history better? Like Unbroken or Boys in the Boat? These women were badasses though, and deserved some spotlight shining on them.

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

This is suuuuuch a YA book, which is totally okay, but you need to know that going in! The whole story revolves around two kids figuring out a way to vote: Marva, raised by two Black successful parents, attends a private school, obsessed with her future and resume, yet insecure and anxiety ridden; and Duke, a boy of mixed race, who lives with his white mom, after parents got a divorce following the shooting death of his brother. All these issues are dealt with, along with issues around voting restrictions, polling places, and systemic racism, along with some flirtation, a lost cat, and boyfriend issues. It is cute, topical, funny, poignant, and entertaining.

More July Books

When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Asha Bandele

"Literally breathing while Black became cause for arrest - or worse." Once in maybe a decade, a book comes along that changes my life, that makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs, that compels me to push it into everyone's hands. Last time, it was Just Mercy, now it is this memoir by a founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. This book makes one see life through the eyes of Patrisse: who grows up in LA, who loses both a father and a brother to prison, to mental illness, to addiction, who lives as a Queer woman called to work in social justice, who battles a sheriff's department over their use of torture, who cries over Trayvon Martin and births a movement. This book is raw, painful, heart wrenching, real, inspiring, powerful, and truly a MUST READ. 

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

"The feeling of time, of having been a part of something that stretched so far back, was so impossibly large, that it was easy to forget that she, and he, and everyone else, existed in it - not apart from it, but inside of it." It is a rare thing for me to reread a book, but this one deserved it. When it came out four years ago, it quickly became my favorite book of 2016; it is incredibly well written, well researched, and completely engrossing. It covers the 400 years of slavery, as well as the history of Ghana, as it tells the story of two sisters, one who is kidnapped and transported across the ocean as a slave, and one who remains in Africa. We see the descendants of each sister, in each set of chapters. And when we see these characters, we witness the march of history. This book was exceptionally compelling after doing all the reading of Black history over these last two months. The connections among so many time periods in America (the Fugitive Slave Act, the chain gangs, the great migration), as well as in Africa made this book even more relevant today. If you read it before, I would encourage you to read it again; I gained some powerful lessons and connections to today's movement for racial justice.

Good Girls, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

Did you read A Good Girl's Guide to Murder yet? If not, do it! Such a well-plotted, YA mystery - quick, easy palate cleanser for those heavy books we've all been reading. And once you read the first, you might decide to order from the UK to get the second, as I did (not out here until Feb 2021!!) This time around, Pippa wants out of the 'detective' business after all the negative fall out from last time, even though she produced a popular podcast about it. Yet, when her best friend's brother goes missing, she gets pulled into another mystery. Not only is it a good whodunnit, but Jackson also deals with serious issues around rape culture, unjust verdicts, and the misuse of social media. 

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

What is it about a middle-reader book, meant for upper elementary and middle school readers, that can get to the heart of a topic more concisely, more powerfully, more truthfully, than an adult book sometimes? Rhodes is a favorite author of mine, and she does it again in Ghost Boys as she looks at the fall out when a young boy is shot and killed by a police officer, as he plays with a toy gun (yes, Rhodes was inspired by the true story of Tamir Rice). We see Jerome's life and death, as he shows us how he came to have the gun in his hands, and we see his days in the afterlife, with his guide Emmett Till, who forces all of us to see the ghosts, the Black boys murdered over centuries of time. This book haunted me, as it should. If you never read children's literature, I would challenge you to pick this one up; it is unforgettable. 

March Trilogy by John Lewis

Do you read graphic novels? If you never have, I would highly recommend this series as an incredible place to begin. Written by the iconic and heroic Congressman John Lewis who just recently died, this is the story of his life within the Civil Rights Movement. Juxtaposed with his attendance at Obama's first inauguration, it is a powerful story with beautiful illustrations. Highly highly recommend!

His & Hers by Alice Feeney

In my endless search of a satisfying thriller, this one...didn't cut it. It did however keep me turning me pages, which I guess is a plus? A dead body is found in a small English town outside of London, so BBC reporter Anna Andrews goes to report, after being demoted from her anchor's desk. Anna is a hot mess (think Girl on the Train) and I never found her that likable, or compelling. The detective investigating the murder of the woman is...wait for it...Anna's ex-husband. Convenient, yes? Also not likable, or intriguing of a character. Secrets are slowly revealed about Andrew and Jack's former marital life, as well as their current situations and the plot line does clip along quickly. However, the twists were far to implausible for me and the final 'whodunnit' reveal was beyond unrealistic...aargh. (I did hear the audio is fantastic so that's a plus). The search for me continues:)