Friday, April 30, 2021

Kingdom of Souls

Kingdom of Souls 
By Rena Barron
HarperTeen, 2019. 485 pages. Young Adult 

Arrah has always wanted magic of her own. Her family is powerful and revered, but somehow the gift seems to have missed her. After years of longing, she’s determined to take matters into her own hands. Arrah is willing to sacrifice years of her life for limited access to magic. When the Kingdom’s children start to go missing, Arrah will use her new power to investigate and uncover what’s happening to them—but what’s happening is far worse than she could have ever imagined. 

Arrah wants to assume the best in everyone, and thinks if she is able to do just a bit more, everything will turn out fine—even when all signs point to the contrary. It is #relatable on so many levels. While the pacing can feel a little slow at times, this is an intricately plotted fantasy novel that I would especially recommend to fans of Tomi Adeyemi’s CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE

ACS

Thursday, April 29, 2021

The Answer Is...: Reflections on My Life

The Answer Is...: Reflections on My Life
By Alex Trebek
Simon & Scuster, 2020. 304 pages. Biography

Best known as the host of Jeopardy! for 37 seasons, Trebek made headlines in 2019 when he announced that he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer.  After an outpouring of well-wishes and support from fans of the show and people across the world, Trebek decided to write a book of personal anecdotes, answers to frequently asked questions, and thoughts on a range of topics. 

Trebek has been a staple in American households for decades and is known as a beloved and respected figure in the entertainment world.  He also dedicated much of his life to philanthropy and activism.  Despite the tragic circumstances that ended his life, this is a heartwarming and inspiring book, recommended for any fans of Jeopardy! or anyone looking to learn more about this extraordinary figure.  The audiobook is narrated partly by Ken Jennings and partly by Trebek himself. 

 BHG

Monday, April 26, 2021

The Children's Blizzard

By  Melanie Benjamin
Delacorte Press, 2021. 351 pgs. Fiction

Many immigrants were tricked into coming to America with hopes of a better life and dreams of owning their own land in Nebraska. Life was hard and unforgiving but most homesteaders found a way to survive. The morning of January 12, 1888 started warmer than normal on the Great Plains so many settlers and children left their heavy winter clothes at home and left the house to work the land and attend school for the first time in days. The Children's Blizzard is the story of the unexpected blizzard that hit just as school was about to let out for the day. Many of the school teachers were young themselves and were faced with impossible choices. No one was prepared for the brutal nature of this storm. Many people died, and the heartbreaking part was that the majority were children trying to get back home. 

The Children's Blizzard is a historical fiction novel based on facts about the time period and the storm itself. It is heartbreaking and bleak. The four main characters all make different decisions during the storm that alter the trajectory of their lives. I found the details and description of the storm fascinating, but I had a hard time finishing the book because I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Recommended for people who are looking for a historical fiction novel that explores a unique event in our Country's history.

AL


My Calamity Jane


By Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton 
HarperTeen, 2020. 520 pgs. Young Adult Historical Fiction 

The United States is a wild place in 1876, full of gunslingers, outlaws, horses, and garou -- aka werewolves. Wild Bill’s Traveling Show is full of garou hunters, including Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley and Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler. After a hunt goes wrong, Jane finds a suspicious bite on her arm, and she heads to Deadwood, where there’s talk of a cure. But, there is a deeper scheme happening and not everyone will survive Deadwood. 

On the surface, this is a funny, adventurous, supernatural romance, but there is so much more depth to this book. The authors explore themes of acceptance, family, prejudice, colonialism, and racism in a nonconfrontational manner that encourages the reader to look inward. The relationship between Annie and Frank is funny and light-hearted and they both grow during the book. This is a fun read with diverse characters and a fun spin on the American West, and is great for anyone who enjoys alternative histories, western stories, or supernatural romance. 

TT

Saturday, April 24, 2021

The Blue Road: A Fable of Migration


The Blue Road: A Fable of Migration 

By Wayde Compton 

Arsenal Pulp Press, 2019. 116 pages. Young Adult Comics. 

The Blue Road is a graphic novel that tells the story of Lacuna, a girl living alone in a swamp made of ink who does not remember where she came from or how she got there. One day she meets Polaris, the will-o'-the-wisp guardian of the swamp who tells her she must leave his realm or die. She decides to try her luck in the world and sets off on her journey to the North Kingdom. Following the blue road, Lacuna overcomes many trials before reaching her journey’s end. However, once she gets to the North Kingdom Lacuna finds out that her quest to belong somewhere is only beginning. She realizes that “Leaving, arriving, and returning all mean starting all over again”. 

This modern-day take on a fable is touching, with gorgeous artwork and poetry. It depicts made-up characters in a fantastical world but tells a story that has significance in our world. I like that it uses fantastical elements (world-building, surrealism, epic voyages, imaginary creatures, etc.) to convey the message that our laws, practices, and regulations can seem outlandish or whimsical to new people. Any aspect of the immigration experience can be applied to what Lacuna goes through, whether that is experiencing xenophobia, transportation issues, language barriers, lack of employment opportunities, racism, housing issues, or cultural differences. This book shares in an easily digestible format just a little bit of what an immigrant goes through and is thought-provoking. 

sr

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Later

Later 
by Stephen King 
Hard Case Crime, 2021. 264 pages. 

Jamie Conklin is no ordinary child. He can see dead people. But not like that kid in that movie. The dead only stick around for a few days before they move on. And the dead always have to tell the truth. Always. Jamie’s secret puts him in jeopardy when an NYC detective discovers his unique ability and uses him to help hunt down a dangerous serial killer. 

Stephen King delivers once again on style. This man has proven time and again that he can write, and the prose holds its own with the great King classics of old. The story takes one turn after another and keeps the reader on their toes. This work is a definitely more bite-sized compared to King’s more lengthy novels, making this a quick and fun read for fans of both hard-boiled fiction and paranormal horror. 

ALL

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

The Searcher

The Searcher
by Tana French
Viking, 2020, 451 pages, Mystery

After 25 years working for the Chicago P.D., Cal Hooper thinks renovating a house settled deep in the Irish countryside and socializing at the small local pub is the ideal way to spend his retirement. But when 12-year-old Trey Reddy shows up at Cal’s door, demanding that Cal investigate his brother’s disappearance, Cal faces an interesting choice: take his new hometown at face value and turn a blind eye when problems arise, or do what he was trained to do and dig into things that are likely best left alone. 

This book takes a bit to really get going, but French is great a building the atmosphere until Cal’s investigation comes to a head. Her descriptions of Ireland’s bleak, wind-swept, craggy hills and the detailed backstories she gives to each of the locals really help you feel like you’re there. I also appreciated a sub-plot that mirrored the main plot perfectly, as Cal teaches Trey how to determine where your moral compass lies, while making the same decisions himself with each stage of his investigation.

Readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries like this one might also enjoy the work of Jane Harper, who writes atmospheric mysteries set in Australia.

MB

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Mommy Burnout: How to Reclaim Your Life and Raise Healthier Children in the Process

 


Mommy Burnout: How to Reclaim Your Life and Raise Healthier Children in the Process 
by Sheryl Ziegler 
Dey St. 2018. 311 pages. Nonfiction 

A practical handbook for the modern mother who feels constantly overwhelmed, tired, and plain burned out. This is filled with funny and relatable real-life stories, explains what burnout looks like and how mothers get there, and of course has lots of advice for avoiding the pitfalls that lead to burnout such as isolation, social media, perfection, and a constant state of busy. For working moms and stay at home moms alike, and includes a chapter on how mom’s burnout can lead to her kids burning out too. 

The writing style is conversational, and I liked how the anecdotes provided both relatability, humor, and real-life examples of the chapter’s principle. At the end of each chapter there’s a “Mommy Prescription Plan” that sums up the suggested actions to address that chapter’s aspect of burnout. I listened to the audiobook version on Libby and have no complaints with the narration. Great read for moms that feel constantly tired, overwhelmed, or “over” being a mother; this book is for you. 

ER

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Braiding Sweetgrass

Braiding Sweetgrass

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Tantor Media Inc. 2016.

As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as "the younger brothers of creation." As she explores these themes, she circles toward a central argument: The awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the world. Once we begin to listen for the languages of other beings, we can begin to understand the innumerable life-giving gifts the world provides us and learn to offer our thanks, our care, and our own gifts in return.

Robin Wall Kimmerer provides us with a refreshing and in-depth perspective on our relationship with the earth. I love that she asks us as humans to become interwoven in our relationship with the earth (hence, braiding sweetgrass) rather than having a give and take relationship. Kimmerer has quite the talent for turning hard science into beautiful art. Her words are like poetry and are a pleasure to read. The knowledge she shares about indigenous culture and practices is so beneficial to the wellbeing of the earth and the human race. That having been said, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ecology, botany, nature, science, anthropology, and in exploring the relationship between humans and the earth. I would also highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which is available through the Libby app.

NS 

Monday, April 5, 2021

Fangs


Fangs 
by Sarah Andersen 
Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020. 100 pages. Graphic Novel 

Elsie the vampire is three hundred years old, but in all that time she has never met her match. That is until she meets Jimmy one night in a bar. Jimmy is a charming werewolf with a wry sense of humor and a fondness for running wild during the full moon. Together, Elsie and Jimmy enjoy a genuine fondness for each other’s unusual habits, macabre lifestyles, and monstrous appetites. 

 This was my first time really diving into one of Sarah Andersen’s works and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick read but told a fun and cute story about a couple as they navigate their relationship and become accustomed to one another’s differences. It shows the awkwardness, humor, and love that all relationships go through with a paranormal twist. If you have enjoyed Sarah Andersen's Adulthood is a Myth or if you are just looking for a good Saturday morning graphic, then be sure to check out this book. 

 ME

Friday, April 2, 2021

Amelia Unabridged

 


Amelia Unabridged

by Ashley Schumacher

Wednesday Books, 2021. 293 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Amelia and Jenna are brought together by a book store and a book. They were meant to be best friends forever. They were going to go to college together and take all the same generals. They were going to be roommates. Jenna had it all planned out, and Amelia needed to be tethered to someone, so she gladly followed the plan.

The summer after graduation, Jenna and Amelia, super fans of N.E. Endsley's amazing Orman Chronicles, find themselves waiting for the panel that will announce the last book in the series, made by N.E. Endsley himself. Amelia heads for the restroom and while she is gone, Jenna meets the terrified Endsley, right outside of the authors' green room. He is having a panic attack. When Amelia returns, she hears the announcement that the Orman panel is canceled. Jenna is strangely quiet about it all. Later she tells Amelia that she tried to help Endsley by telling him to do what was best for him, which led to the panel cancelation. Amelia is devastated and angry. She hold’s Jenna accountable for all her dashed hopes and dreams about meeting Endsley. She is slow to forgive Jenna, so when Jenna is killed in a car accident a week later, Amelia is devastated again.

Amelia becomes obsessed with searching for signs from Jenna. When the 101st out of 100 copies of the leather bound Orman Chronicles shows up for her at her book store with no information about the sender, Amelia knows she needs to find out who sent it. She thinks it’s from Jenna, but she has to be sure. So, she heads to Michigan, to another bookstore that might know where the book came from. Little does she know that this bookstore will bring her together with none other than N.E. Endsley!

This book starts out devastatingly sad and ends impossibly. It's beautiful. With writerly prose that evokes vivid images like sky whales that surface whenever Amelia is feeling something deeply, this book uses the language of anxiety and trauma. It resonates deeply with those who have been through similar tragedies. But the book is also just so fun and lovely. If you can get to Michigan with Amelia, you have a big chance of loving this book. For fans of Sara Zarr and Jandy Nelson.