Love from A to Z

Love from A to Z
by S.K Ali
Salaam Reads, 2019. 342 pages, Young Adult Fiction.

Zayneb, a fiery and passionate girl with an activist heart, and Adam, a sensitive and introspective boy, both find themselves spending their vacations in Doha, Qatar at the same time. Through some serendipitous meet-cute scenarios, the two continue to cross paths and decide that, though they are both dealing with some issues in their personal lives, that doesn’t mean that love can't also factor in.

A refreshing and original love story about two Muslim teens who court one another while adhering to their cultural and religious norms. I learned a lot about what that entails, loved being immersed in their world, and seeing Doha through their eyes. I also appreciated reading a YA book where the characters are not at odds with their parents, but where all family relations appeared loving and supportive through life's struggles as teen learn to navigate the world around them. A very sweet and clean read for fans of YA romance.

RC

White Rose

White Rose
by Kip Wilson
Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. 358 pages, Young Adult.

German Sophie Scholl isn’t happy about the ways her country is changing on the brink of war. She sees her brothers and friends enlist and fight, but she doesn’t understand or support what is tearing her nation apart and feels there must be something she can do to lift her voice against the injustices happening around her. When she finds a secret resistance group who take up letter writing campaigns criticizing the Nazis and calling for action against them, she knows this is something she needs to be involved with, no matter the consequences.

A novel in verse, White Rose is a captivating and unique historical fiction about a real, lesser known resistance group during World War II. This book, about a brave group who stood up for their beliefs against a tyrannical government, is a timely reminder that injustice doesn’t have to be accepted silently, and that even the smallest of us can use our voices for change.

RC

Whisper Network

Whisper Network
by Chandler Baker
Flatiron Books, 2019. 345 pages, Fiction.

Truviv, Inc seems, on the surface, like a great place to work. However, there’s a toxic culture underneath that has prompted the women in the office to create the “B.A.D. Men” list to document the wrong doings and sexism of their male co-workers. When one of the men from this list is positioned to take over as CEO, the women know they must take action to prevent further harm at the hands of men like him.

A timely and surprising novel about harassment in the workplace and one group’s fight to end it, this book approaches everyday sexism, and instances of extreme misconduct, with fire and tact. It’s a brave inspection of the stigma of speaking up and the ethics and consequences of keeping quiet when lines of appropriate behavior are breached. While the author’s intended message is apparent, the book asks the reader to consider each character’s experience and background to form a deeper understanding of their actions and reactions. A must read for working men and women in a post #metoo world.

RC

A Dream About Lightning Bugs

A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons 
by Ben Folds Ballantine Books, 2019. 336 pages. Biography

Fans of Ben Folds’ beloved and sometimes unconventional music will be thrilled with this coming of age style music biography, filled with behind the music stories and relatable quips about feeling inadequate, doing things your own way despite objection or suggestions to the contrary, and the lessons garnered from such antics.

Through thoughtful self-reflection, Folds recounts his experience living in what he describes as, a “what’s good for the music isn’t good for the life” reality. This, juxtaposed with his drive to make a career out of playing music, sometimes at the cost of his relationships and mental and physical health, creates an inviting and intimate space for the musician to connect with his fans/readers in much the same way he does in his life performances, which include audience participation and engagement. Well written and thought provoking, this touching and charming memoir gives a glimpse into the working life of a talented, and at times laugh out loud funny, artist.

The audio book is narrated by Folds himself and includes musical segues played by the musician, for some added fan service and unique Folds-style flair.

RC

Mike

Mike 
by Andrew Norriss
Scholastic Inc, 2019. 240 pages. Young Adult.

15 year old Floyd is a rising tennis star, on track to playing in major tennis championships around the world. His parents couldn’t be more proud and nothing seems to be standing in his way. That is, until Mike shows up and walks onto the court during the middle of a match and continues to show up at the most inopportune and inconvenient places. Floyd can’t seem to shake him no matter what he does, and his very presence begins to take a serious toll on his ability to play.

A unique and approachable YA story about stress and mental illness, Mike, was a surprising book I could not put down. Without feeling depressing or heavy handed, it deftly navigates common coming of age emotions like being overwhelmed while trying to live up to expectations for your life that may not match with your own desires (Ok, adults feel that, too). An enjoyable read with characters and situations that felt real and relatable, even for those of us who are not burgeoning sports stars or tennis aficionados.

RC

Girl Gone Viral

Girl Gone Viral

by Arvin Ahmadi

Viking 2019. 402 pages. Young Adult

In an imaginative near future not too different from our own, coding wiz Opal Hopper must become the internet’s next big sensation in order to win a contest and meet the person who may have answers about her father’s disappearance. A small data hack and a lot of coding later, her virtual reality channel is revealing the ways that internet uses personal data for less than noble ends, garnering the attention of some powerful internet moguls who may not be the type whose radar you want to be on.

An engaging and at times too close to home narrative about the consequences of living our lives online, this cautionary tale feels apt for teens in the information age. Opal’s plight to find out the truth about her father is as compelling as the twist and turns through a virtual world where reality is shrouded by the imagined safety of online anonymity. A gripping read for fans of Ready Player One, Warcross, or the Black Mirror series from Netflix.

RC

Over The Top

Over the Top

by Jonathan Van Ness

HarperOne 2019, 288 pages. Biography

Jonathan Van Ness has risen to fame through Netflix’s popular reboot of Queer Eye, but his success has been hard fought and in his revealing and honest memoir, he recounts the struggles that have brought him to a place of self-love and acceptance, as well as success. Van Ness describes growing up in a small town, feeling different from the other boys from an early age. He is candid about discovering his true self and the ways he acted out and explored this feelings in both positive and self-destructive manners. 

Fans of Van Ness will appreciate his signature sass, charisma, and charm, which translates well from television to the page. The books is at times laugh out loud funny and will leave you heartbroken in other moments, but the ultimate message is one of love and positivity, inspiring and uplifting readers to reach for their dreams. The audiobook is narrated by the author himself which truly brings his story to life.

RC

Figuring

Figuring 
by Maria Popova
Pantheon Books, 2019. 578 pages, Nonfiction

In Figuring, Popova introduces readers to a smattering of interconnected historical figures, from astronomers to sculptors, writers and poets to biologists, with varying degrees of notoriety. Instead of the standard format, describing their contributions to their fields or their life’s importance, she describes their work as their way to understand human connections that go beyond the confines and structures in place in society and describes their search to broaden their understanding of the ways poetry, art, science, and love all interconnect throughout our lives and to make meaningful interactions and experiences and shift the global consciousness.

Many, but not all, of the figures Popova profiles are women in the arts and sciences whose focus on unpopular ideas for their time, or themes such as feminism, religion and spirituality, and ideas like transcendentalism, intersected science, history, social issues and politics. Readers are introduced to the people included in this book through their own words, in their letters and correspondence with their loved ones and confidants for a unique, singularly intimate portrayal (some of my favorites included Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Emily Dickinson). This is a deeply moving and well researched book best enjoyed at a leisurely pace in order to really soak in the dense, somewhat academic concepts.

RC

Barely Missing Everything

Barely Missing Everything 
by Matt Mendez
Atheneum, 2019. 306 pages, Young Adult Fiction

Juan dreams of basketball stardom to lift himself and his struggling mother, Fabi, from poverty. His friend JD has similarly star-stuck aspirations and hopes to become a filmmaker, despite push back and pressure from his own home life threatening his success. When Fabi loses her job, forcing the pair to move back in with her father at the same time that Juan suffers an injury that puts his basketball career on hold, he discovers a startling fact about the man who may be his father and the course of his life takes an unexpected turn— one that leads JD to the perfect topic for his film.

What I liked most about this book was the underlying hope for a better life that each of the main characters believes in, despite the hardships they endure as Mexican-Americans in a time in this country when that fact adds turbulence. The book feels raw and real, the characters flawed and at times victims of circumstance doing their best to stay afloat, causing readers to feel their struggle viscerally. Not a light-hearted read, but an important one that I’d recommend to fans of YA books that take on social issues through story, like American Street, Mexican Whiteboy, or Long Way Down.

RC

The Island of Sea Women

The Island of Sea Women
by Lisa See
Scribner, 2019. 374 pages, General Fiction

Mi-Ja and Young-sook grew up together on Jeju Island in Korea. When they came of age, they were both selected to become “baby divers” in the island’s all female diving collective, an esteemed and often dangerous role that some women of the matriarchal society use to support themselves and their families. The girls’ relationship and the diving collective changes over the decades, as they get married, succumb to their expected roles as women, and begin families of their own, and as Korea is shaken by Japanese colonization, WWII, and the Korean War. The world around them changes quickly, sometimes violently, and the strain of this threatens their livelihood, loved ones, and even their culture.

There is a lot to unpack in this book, and it’s quite a ride to do so. The impacts of such large, world altering events as seen through the experience of the people of a small Korean island is truly eye opening and at times heartbreaking. There’s also a lot in the book to warm the heart as, in true Lisa See style, the reader grows to feel connected to the characters and care about the relationships they’ve formed with one another. Fans of sprawling, character driven, historical fiction will find this book stays with them, even after they finish reading.    

RC

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
by Abbi Waxman
Berkley, 2019. 332 pages, General Fiction

Nina Hill has a very simple and lovely life. She works in a bookstore, is an asset on her competitive trivia team, enjoys a carefully regimented schedule of exercise and socializing, and even sets aside specific time to read and do nothing with her cat. When the father she never knew she had dies, his lawyer contacts her about the reading of his will in which she is included. When he informs her that the brother and sisters who didn’t know she existed either are not happy about her encroaching on their inheritance, her simple life quickly becomes a lot more complicated.

As I read this book, I wanted to be Nina Hill, living simply and happily with her day planner and her furry friend, a mind full of trivia facts and a group of snarky, supportive friends and coworkers. While light, fluffy, romantic reads are not my go to genre, this one had enough sarcasm, wit, and sass to keep me turning the pages. This is a quick, delightful read with pop culture and literary reference abounding, a satisfyingly unpredictable turn of events, and laugh out loud moments that might make some readers blush. A fun jaunt into what it means to be family, and how you never really know what life will throw at you next.

RC

Normal People

Normal People 
by Sally Rooney
Hogarth, 2018. 273 pages, General Fiction

Some people experience a connection that seems to pull them together no matter the circumstances. This is the connection that Marianne and Connell experience. From the time they were high school classmates, who keep their relationship secret from everyone they know due to their varied social status, to the time they meet again at university when they both attend Trinity College in Dublin, they cannot shake the unique bond they share. Intimate and deep, these two don’t know how lucky they are to experience that connection to one another, but they struggle to find balance between their passionate feelings and how to form a functional relationship, with their individual damage and insecurities in tow.

This is a uniquely moving character and conversation driven coming of age story. It is rare for a book to truly capture real human emotion and insecurity in relationships the way this book did, and I devoured it. It was long listed for the Man Booker prize in 2018 and it definitely has that award-worthy feel with lovely language and a meandering pace that lets you really sink in to what the character’s experience and their emotional ups and downs. I’d recommend this book to those who don’t require a clean read and who enjoy literary fiction with a focus on language and realism.

 RC

Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls

Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls 
by Jes Baker
Seal Press, 2015. 240 pages. Non-Fiction

For many women, loving your body as it is right now is not always the easiest thing to do. There is a constant barrage of media images telling us we’re supposed to slim down, tone up, be healthier, have no cellulite, always have flawless skin, etc. and it shames us into feeling inadequate. Jes Baker asks women (and men) to instead be proud of the amazing body that you have RIGHT NOW, and points out ways that a flawed system is benefiting from keeping us all striving for largely unattainable and unrealistic body goals. Armed with research and scientific facts, Baker supports her claims that dieting and diet culture are harmful to everyone, that yoyo dieting is physically harmful to health (both mental and physical), and argues for diversity in body representation to change the world.

Jes Baker is the voice we need in the conversation surrounding body positivity right now. Sassy, smart, and unapologetic, she doesn’t shy away from talking about hard topics while still putting out an approachable and relatable air. She encourages everyone, in every body type, to find joy and do what makes them happy regardless of whether their size, shape, ability, or gender conforms to societal beauty standards. For anyone with a body that they don’t always love, this positive and empowering read will have you rethinking what contributes to those negative self images.

RC

No Walls and the Recurring Dream

No Walls and the Recurring Dream
by Ani DiFranco Viking, 2019. 306 pages, Biography

Ani DiFranco, singer, songwriter, activist, feminist and all around “righteous babe” uses her talent for poetics in her new book to paint a picture of her early life, her influences, and her rise to folk singer stardom. Her signature wit and way with words shines from every page as she tells about being an emancipated teenager, and finding her way in the world through art, music, dance, and through kindness and connection with others. Her anecdotes about life on the road are comical and memorable, and her reflections on being a female in a male dominated profession are apt as ever.

Fans of DiFranco’s music will enjoy this deep dive into the iconic feminist folk singer’s songwriting process and her rise to prominence by bucking the traditional music and recording system, and doing things by the beat of her own drum (or guitar). For an extra treat, listen to the audiobook version read by DiFranco herself, to hear her poems as they should be heard- from her own lips to your ears.

RC

Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee

Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee
by Jeff Zentner
Crown Books for Young Readers, 2019. 400 Pages.Young Adult Fiction

Delia and Josie are high school seniors with a unique hobby. They host a Midnight movie program on their local TV station, where they show low budget, little know, old school horror flicks as their vampire-y alter egos, Rayne and Delilah. While brainstorming ways to take their show from hobby to career, they hear about a horror convention nearby where a famous veteran horror hosting icon will be available for a meet and greet. They plot to charm him with their show so he can give them the boost they need to make them stars. Each of the girls has ulterior motives for wanting their show to make it big, though, and a lot more is riding on this convention than either of them realize.

I checked out this book because I loved author Jeff Zentner’s book, The Serpent King. Zentner has a knack for creating instantly likable characters who behave like actual people in seemingly plausible life situations- which isn’t always what you get from Young Adult books. Delia and Josie’s friendship is reminiscent of real life high school friendships, chalk full of insecurity, self-discovery, family struggles, and lots of love and support for each other. The descriptions in this book are so cinematic; you’ll feel like you're watching Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee broadcast as you turn each page.

RC

The Water Cure

The Water Cure
by Sophie Mackintosh
Doubleday, 2018. 269 pages, Fiction

On an island isolated from the rest of the world, a father, mother and 3 girls have created an existence bathed in ritual to free themselves from the contamination and toxins of the world beyond. When their father doesn’t return from a trip to the mainland, and 2 men and a boy wash up on their shores, the girls are faced with both dangers and desires that they’ve never encountered before. Will the men spread their toxicity to the girls, or will their extreme measures, tortuous therapies, and experimental cures allow them to maintain their untainted existence?

A fascinating and intricate take on toxic masculinity, sisterhood, and perceived “wellness”, coupled with an artfully laid sense of dread and uncertainty, this book paints parallels to our modern world and exaggerates its dangers in thought provoking ways. This book was long-listed for the Man Booker prize last year and has been compared to A Handmaid’s Tale and other feminist dystopian fiction, with good reason, as the dark, ominous tone penetrates and shocks in the same way. A page turner, but not for the faint of heart, I’d recommend this book to those who like their literature to hold a mirror up to our society and question why we behave a certain way or value the things we do.

RC

The Night Tiger

The Night Tiger 
by Yangsze Choo
Flatiron Books, 2019. 372 pages, Fiction

Have you ever been given a gift that you just didn’t want? Has that gift taken you down a path where were-tigers are rumored, a boy’s dead twin speaks to you in your dreams, you break into a hospital storage room to inspect specimen vials, and are forced to grapple with the uncomfortable fact that you may be in love with someone you shouldn’t be? NO? Well, you can vicariously experience all this and more by delving into the world of the The Night Tiger.

Two stories move toward each other when Ji Lin is given an unwelcome gift at her job as a dance hall girl, and Ren, a houseboy, searches for the missing body part of his now deceased former employer so it can be buried and allow the soul to rest in peace. Part mystery, part forbidden romance, and part folk tale, this book was an engaging and unexpected exploration of class dynamics and gender roles set in 1930’s Malaya (now Malaysia), which was at the time a British Colony. It would make a captivating and conversational choice for book clubs or a solid choice for anyone who loves a diverse, well told, multifaceted story.

RC

Next Year in Havana

Next Year in Havana 
by Chanel Cleeton
Berkley, 2018. 382 pages. Fiction

Marisol’s grandmother, Elisa, was the daughter of a wealthy family in Cuba who fled the country during the Cuban Revolution and came to America. Elisa’s last request is to have her ashes scattered in her home country, and she tells Marisol that she’ll know where to scatter the ashes when she find the right place. Having never been to Cuba, and not knowing anyone there, Marisol is less confident she’ll be able to find the places most special to her grandmother, but enlists the help of grandmother’s childhood best friend and her handsome grandson to help. When long buried family secrets begin to come to light, they irreparably alter Marisol’s understanding of her grandmother’s past, and that of the country she left.

At the same time charming and informational, this book was enlightening and a true pleasure to read. It weaves the story of both Marisol and her discoveries about her grandmother’s past with Cuban history and class dynamics to create a fascinating and resonant story that I could not put down. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction with a side of both political history and a dash of romance.

RC

Something in the Water

Something in the Water
by Catherine Steadman
Ballantine Books, 2018. 342 pages. Fiction

When newlyweds Erin and Mark decided to honeymoon in Bora Bora, they thought it would be a perfect way to begin the new phase of their lives together. The pair does the things you’d expect people visiting a tropical island to do; like getting tan on the beach and scuba diving. They find a mysterious locked bag in the water but as they try to shake it, to turn it in or find its rightful owners, it keeps making its way back to them. When they return to London, to their real lives, the consequences of their actions on the island start catching up quickly, and if they can't cover their tracks, they may soon spiral out of control. 

This was a moderately suspenseful book with enough intrigue about what was coming next to keep the pages turning. It is one of those books that, if it were a TV show, would leave you screaming things at the screen because it doesn’t seem like the choices the characters made are totally realistic or logical. Those choices do make for a captivating and unpredictable read though, and leave the reader wondering just who can be trusted when everyone seems to be working in their own best interest.

RC

Truly Devious

Truly Devious 
by Maureen Johnson
Katherine Tegen Books, 2018. 420 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Ellingham Academy was opened by a rich family as a school for gifted youth in the 1930s. The place was soon riddled by a high profile disappearance and series of crimes that have been unsolved to this day. The only real clues left behind were haunting riddles and letters signed “Truly, Devious”. Today, Stevie Bell is fascinated by this mystery and as an Ellingham student, she is determined to solve the decades old crime as her final project for her graduation. When her classmates start going missing, and new crimes take place as she delves into her investigation, she wonders if “Truly, Devious” may well be tied to the current day mystery, too.

This book is two mysteries woven artfully into one; both the 1930s disappearance and a string of new crimes as Stevie inches closer to the truth twist and weave their way together in unexpected ways. The story is fast-paced and leaves the reader guessing right up to the very last pages (and beyond!). I loved that it’s the kind of mystery that gives enough clues that readers can attempt to solve the caper right along with the sleuth. Be warned that you’ll want to have book two, The Vanishing Stair, on-hand to begin right as you finish this first book in enthralling series!

RC