Middle Grade Book of the Week: Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine.

This is really my book from last week, but I did not finish in time. Hoping to squeeze in another one in the next few days so I’m back on schedule.

Summary

It’s 1958 and Little Rock, Arkansas is divided over the issue of desegregation. As the book opens Marlee Nisbett is more concerned with her own fears about starting middle school than politics. The math whiz is terrified of talking to others. Then she meets a new girl, Liz, who helps Marlee overcome her fears. Then, it’s discovered that Liz is black girl “passing” as white. She is expelled from school and forbidden from making contact. However, the bonds of friendship cannot be broken that easily. The girls continue to meet in secret. Liz helps Marlee find her voice and Marlee helps Liz think before she speaks. As the tension surrounding school integration increases, the girls begin to take an active role in creating change. This brings the danger closer to home.

My Thoughts

The Lions of Little Rock highlights an important historical event. Set around the desegregation of Little Rock’s schools I thought it did a good job of showing characters beliefs evolve throughout the book, without being unrealistic. Characters don’t go from extreme racists to activists. It’s a much more subtle change as people who were content to accept the status quo realize they can’t stay silent any longer. It does a great job of showing how to organize and make change.

While the historical element is obviously the driving force of the story, the story is relatable to anyone trying to find their voice. At the beginning of the story Liz asks to be Marlee’s partner for a project because she realizes that due to her silence Marlee doesn’t get credit for her work. Instead of letting Marlee do all the work then taking credit, Liz works with Marlee to help overcome her fear of public speaking. Throughout the story, Marlee begins speaking to more people and she realizes it gets easier. It’s beautiful to see the difference one friend can make.

While I really enjoyed this book, I see it more as a great book to read in a class than one that a typical kid would read for pleasure.

August 4, 2022

Top 5 Wednesday- 8/3/22

Top Five Wednesday is a Goodreads group that responds to weekly prompts. This weeks prompt:

More and more in fiction, we are seeing a stronger emphasis on female characters who are no damsels-in-distress. They take charge of situations and step in to do what needs to be done, regardless if it’s their duty or the heroes. Who are some of your favorite strong female characters in fiction that you have read about?

Katsa from Graceling. I love that even when she falls for Prince Poe, Katsa still stays true to herself and doesn’t alter her mission.

Deka from Gilded. Deka’s strength evolved throughout the story, as she initially believes the lies the women in her world have been fed. When she learns the truth, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Hermione Granger. Most of my picks are more physically strong, but Hermione shows the power of intellect.

Sybella from Dark Triumph (His Fair Assasin, book 2). While Beast tries to save her, Sybella is no damsel in distress and is rescued kicking and screaming.

Cinder from the Lunar Chronicles. Forget the traditional Cinderella, Cinder is modern cyborg fighting and intergalactic battle.

August 3, 2022

Top Ten Tuesday 8/2/22

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, where people like me who love lists and books can share our thoughts on fun bookish topics. This week’s topis is “Top Ten Books Set In Places I’d Love To Visit”

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Goodreads Link
Setting: Galapagos Islands

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August 2, 2022

My Favorite Read of July 2022

Just when you think this war has taken everything you loved, you meet someone and realize that somehow you still have more to give.
Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

Goodreads Synopsis

While the Titanic and Lusitania are both well-documented disasters, the single greatest tragedy in maritime history is the little-known January 30, 1945 sinking in the Baltic Sea by a Soviet submarine of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German cruise liner that was supposed to ferry wartime personnel and refugees to safety from the advancing Red Army. The ship was overcrowded with more than 10,500 passengers — the intended capacity was approximately 1,800 — and more than 9,000 people, including 5,000 children, lost their lives.

Sepetys (writer of ‘Between Shades of Gray’) crafts four fictionalized but historically accurate voices to convey the real-life tragedy. Joana, a Lithuanian with nursing experience; Florian, a Prussian soldier fleeing the Nazis with stolen treasure; and Emilia, a Polish girl close to the end of her pregnancy, converge on their escape journeys as Russian troops advance; each will eventually meet Albert, a Nazi peon with delusions of grandeur, assigned to the Gustloff decks.

My Thoughts

Every time I think I’ve had enough of reading about WWII, I find a book with a book with a different perspective. I knew nothing about the Wilhelm Gustloff. I love learning about events that should be considered major historical events, but somehow get lost. This is listed as YA, but I would consider it adult. I think that teenagers could read and enjoy it. However only one of the four main characters is in the YA age range. I wouldn’t want an adult to miss out on the book thinking it wasn’t for them.

What I liked about this book:

It’s an event that hasn’t been written about a lot in historical fiction novels
The characters are complex, and their secrets aren’t revealed immediately, but they aren’t drawn out so long that it becomes frustrating to the reader.
I loved the shoemaker character. He is a minor character, but I love the way he adds touches of humor and sentimentality to scenes.

August 1, 2022

My Most Anticipated Book Releases of August 2022

These are the books I’m most looking forward to next month. Which of these sound interesting to you?

Releasing August 1

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye comes a riveting short story about an impossible connection across two centuries that could make the difference between peace or war.

Yorkshire, 1943. Lily Baines, a bright young debutante increasingly ground down by an endless war, has traded in her white gloves for a set of headphones. It’s her job to intercept enemy naval communications and send them to Bletchley Park for decryption.

One night, she picks up a transmission that isn’t code at all—it’s a cry for help.

An American ship is taking heavy fire in the North Atlantic—but no one else has reported an attack, and the information relayed by the young US officer, Matt Jackson, seems all wrong. The contact that Lily has made on the other end of the radio channel says it’s…2023.

Across an eighty-year gap, Lily and Matt must find a way to help each other: Matt to convince her that the war she’s fighting can still be won, and Lily to help him stave off the war to come. As their connection grows stronger, they both know there’s no telling when time will run out on their inexplicable link.

This is a short story published by Amazon Original Stories. I normally don’t list short stories, but Kate Quinn is one of my favorite historical fiction authors.

Releasing August 2

Good Reads Synopsis:

Jacob is nine years old when his life changes.

He wants a litter of puppies. But instead his parents have a different surprise. Jacob will be an older brother soon. And there won’t be only one new baby. There will be three! When the triplets are born, Jacob thinks puppies are cuter. The babies look identical to him and he gives them a name: “the Trips.”

For a school science project, Jacob decides to study the Trips. It feels like magic as they begin to smile, talk, and grow. Slowly, he gets to know each of them. They call his mother “Mama” and his father “Da.” But what will they call him? One day, one of the Trips calls him “Jay.”

As each of the triplets become unique and more special with each day, Jacob starts to wonder if “the Trips” is still a good name for them. They aren’t puppies, or a bunch of bananas, and they aren’t just “the Trips” anymore. What should he call them that will show what they mean to him? Can he figure out their “forever name?” And will he ever get a puppy?

Patricia MacLachlan, one of the greatest children’s writers ever, passed away in March of this year. Her final book sounds delightful.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Iris Gray knows witches aren’t welcome in most towns. When she was forced to leave her last home, she left behind a father who was no longer willing to start over. And while the Witches’ Council was lenient in their punishment, Iris knows they’re keeping tabs on her. Now settled in Washington, Iris never lets anyone see who she really is; instead, she vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. Otherwise, she spends her days at the wildlife refuge which would be the perfect job if not for Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.

Iris concocts the perfect curse for Pike: one that will turn him into a witch. But just as she’s about to dispel it, a bird swoops down and steals the curse before flying away. If the bird dies, the curse will be unleashed―and the bird is a powerful amplifier, and unleashing the curse would turn not just Pike, but everyone in the region, into a witch.

New witches have no idea how to control their magic and the consequences would be dire. And the Witches’ Council does not look kindly on multiple offenses; if they found out, Iris could be stripped of her magic for good. Iris begs Pike to help her track the bird, and they set out on a trek through the Pacific Northwest looking for a single bird that could destroy everything.

This sounds like it has everything I love about a typical YA fantasy while incorporating original ideas.

Releasing August 23

Goodreads Synopsis:

At thirty-nine, Nicole Mueller’s life is on the rocks. Her once brilliant law career is falling apart. She and her husband, Dan, are soon to be forced out of the apartment they love. After a warning from her firm’s senior partners, she receives an invitation from an exclusive women’s networking group, Panthera Leo. Membership is anonymous, but every member is a successful professional. It sounds like the perfect solution to help Nicole revive her career. So, despite Dan’s concerns that the group might be a cult, Nicole signs up for their retreat in Colorado.

Once there, she meets the other women who will make up her Pride. A CEO, an actress, a finance whiz, a congresswoman: Nicole can’t believe her luck. The founders of Panthera Leo are equally as impressive. They explain the group’s core philosophy: they’re a girl’s club in a boy’s club world.

Nicole is all in. And when she gets home, she soon sees dividends. Her new network quickly provides her with clients that help her relaunch her career, and a great new apartment too. The favors she has to provide in return seem benign. But then she’s called to the congresswoman’s apartment late at night where she’s pressed into helping her cover up a crime. And suddenly, Dan’s concerns that something more sinister is at play seem all too relevant. Can Nicole extricate herself from the group before it’s too late? Or will joining Panthera Leo be the biggest mistake of her life?

I loved Arranged. This intense thriller has a very different feel, but I’d like to try another title from Catherine McKenzie.

Releasing August 30

Goodreads Synopsis

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

I really liked Daisy Jones and the Six. This sounds like another fascinating story.

Goodreads Synopsis

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows…

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

I love the classic mystery feel the description of this book evokes.

Goodreads Synopsis

The latest installment in the highly acclaimed, internationally bestselling Strike series finds Cormoran and Robin ensnared in another winding, wicked case.

When frantic, disheveled Edie Ledwell appears in the office begging to speak to her, private detective Robin Ellacott doesn’t know quite what to make of the situation. The cocreator of a popular cartoon, The Ink Black Heart, Edie is being persecuted by a mysterious online figure who goes by the pseudonym of Anomie. Edie is desperate to uncover Anomie’s true identity.

Robin decides that the agency can’t help with this—and thinks nothing more of it until a few days later, when she reads the shocking news that Edie has been tasered and then murdered in Highgate Cemetery, the location of The Ink Black Heart.

Robin and her business partner, Cormoran Strike, become drawn into the quest to uncover Anomie’s true identity. But with a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, Strike and Robin find themselves embroiled in a case that stretches their powers of deduction to the limits – and which threatens them in new and horrifying ways . . .

A gripping, fiendishly clever mystery, The Ink Black Heart is a true tour-de-force.

This is the sixth book written in the Cormoran Strike series written by JK Rowling under the pen name Robert Galbraith. I read the first expecting it to be a disappointment when compared to Harry Potter. But these are great mysteries.

July 31, 2022

Middle Grade Book of the week: Heroes Like Us: Two Stories by Onjali Q. Raúf

This week I was fortunate to receive an eARC copy of Heroes Like Us: Two Stories by Onjali Q. Raúfroes from NetGalley. This review is based on my own personal opinions.

Summary

Heroes Like Us is a collection of two stories in which children make a difference and become heroes.

The first story, The Day We Met the Queen, takes place after the events of Raúf’s previous novel, The Boy at the Back of the Class. After a group of friends help their refugee friend, Ahmet stand up for other refugees, the Queen of England wants to meet them. Not everyone is happy about this, including politicians and Brendan-the-bully, who aren’t above sabotaging the kids’ big day.

The second story, The Great Food Heist is about a boy whose family is struggling to make ends meet after his father leaves. His mom works hard and does everything she can to make the best of a difficult situation but putting food on the table is a constant struggle. They’ve been getting by with programs at school and using the local food bank. But, when someone starts stealing from the local food bank, Nelson and his friends are determined to catch the thieves.

My Thoughts

These stories send a great message to kids about how anybody can become a hero, if they are willing to stand up for what is right. Sometimes books with these themes can become a bit preachy and are more appealing to adults than kids. However, these stories have a lot of humor and action that engage kids. What kid wouldn’t love reading about stink bombs being set off in the middle of an assembly?

I had not read The Boy at the Back of the Class but was still able to follow the story with no problem. I intend to read it now because I want to know more about these characters. I think it would’ve made it a little more meaningful, so I would recommend reading it first.

July 24, 2022

Top 5 Wednesday- 7/20/22

Top Five Wednesday is a goodreads group that responds to weekly prompts. This weeks topic: Characters you want as a sibling

Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Lizzy is completely dedicated to Jane and will protect any of her sisters if they are in need.
Katniss Everdeen from Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Everyone should have a sibling who is willing to volunteer as tribute for them.
Moose Flanagan from The Alcatraz Tales series by Gennifer Choldenko: Moose is so patient and understanding with Natalie. When he does lose his temper it’s because he’s trying to protect her.
The Bridgerton siblings from the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn- They might get into each other’s business, but it would be fun to part of this big, loving family
Isabel Johansen from the Bella Vista Chronicles by Susan Wiggs- If I ever find out I have a long lost half-sister, I hope she’s as kind and Isabel.

July 20, 2022

Top Ten Tuesday- 7/19/22

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week is a freebie. I’m new to TTT, so I went back and looked at old topics and decided to use the prompt from February 21, 2022: Books That Made Me Laugh Out Loud

Katie spends most of her time trying to present her life as perfect on social media. Which couldn’t be further from the truth. She gets herself into crazy, over-the-top situations, but they’re also believable.

Tech millionaire Ed ends up agreeing to take his maid Jess, her two kids and a dog on a road trip to a math Olympiad. This hilarious road trip made me laugh and cry.

Cheating a little here by choosing the entire series. But I can’t pick one favorite. There are so many zany characters and situations.

I work this book into a lot of lists because it has so many elements to it. I love how the humor is seemlessly woven into a serious situation.

The Miss Fortune series is one of the funniest mystery series out there. Book 3 is my favorite.

This was my first introduction to Jennifer Crusie. It’s still one of my favorite contemporary romance novels.

Another of my favorites. The scene where Nina helps deliver a baby lamb is one of my favorites.

A family run bait shop/funeral home, need I say more?

Katie is immune to magic. This means she can see all the magical creatures around her that the rest of us miss. This is such a fun series!

A group of aunties trying to hide a dead body at a wedding reception- I dare you not to laugh

What books made you laugh out loud?

July 19, 2022

Monday Afternoon Musings: Bad Advice from books

One of the great things about being a reader is that you can learn life lessons without having to experience the hardships that teach the lesson. Books are filled with wisdom filled advice that we can apply to our own lives. But not all of that advice is good. There are a lot of actions that book characters take repeatedly with positive results that would not work out so well in real life. Here are my examples of bad advice from books.

Bad Advice #1- If your family is pressuring you to settle down, you should hire someone as a fake date for the holiday/family wedding/vacation.

Ignore the books trying to tell you this is a romantic scenario. You are not going to fall in love with this person, your family will definitely find out and they will most likely be furious with you. This applies to a marriage of convenience too.

Bad Advice #2- Forget about calling the police, you can solve this crime yourself

We have trained police detectives for a reason. It is not safe to go around searching for evidence and irritating a possible murderer. It is highly unlikely that as a bakery owner, you are going to pick up clues that trained detectives missed. In fact, you are much more likely to destroy evidence. Plus, there’s a 99.9% chance that if you are snooping around asking questions, you will tip off the murderer and be the next victim.

Bad Advice #3 You should quit your job and buy an estate in a foreign country

While there is nothing wrong with evaluating your life and making changes. It is not as simple as books would have you believe to drop everything and move to another country. Especially if you don’t know anyone or speak the language. Chances are low that you will inherit an Italian Villa the day after you tell off your boss. At a minimum, you should contemplate the decision for more than a month and have the semblance of a plan.

Bad Advice #4: If you’re involved in an accidental death, don’t call 911, just hide the body

Even in books, most characters get caught with this one. Then the truth is revealed, and everyone understands. However, in real life, there’s a good chance you’ll do some prison time.

Bad Advice #5 You should conduct top secret scientific experiments without government approval.

If you don’t get caught and punished, you could end up unleashing a virus, causing an explosion or destroying the environment. You will not turn yourself into a mutant superhero, or time traveler.

July 18, 2022

Middle Grade Book of the Week: Al Capone Throws me a Curve by Gennifer Choldenko

For this week’s middle grade book, I returned to one of my favorite middle grade series: Tales from Alcatraz.

Summary

Al Capone Throws Me A Curve is book four in the Tales from Alcatraz Series. The Flanagans, like the other families of Alcatraz guards live on Alcatraz. Moose, the narrator, always tries to do what is right, but keeps getting mixed up in schemes invented by the warden’s daughter, Piper. When Piper isn’t getting him in trouble, Moose is busy protecting his autistic sister, Natalie.

In this installment the island is getting ready for a visit from the Bureau of Prisons, and Moose’s dad is up for a promotion. Moose is about to enter high school, and his main focus is getting on the baseball team. Natalie is turning seventeen and this is creating new dangers for her living on an island of convicts. If keeping her safe isn’t difficult enough for Moose, Piper is back and sneakier (and prettier) than ever.

My Thoughts

Al Capone Does My Shirts is one of my absolute favorite middle grade books. I don’t love the sequels as much, but they are still great reads. This is the first one I’ve read since visiting Alcatraz a couple of years ago on vacation. While the kids would never have actually been able to get into the cell house or have interactions with Al Capone, the rules of the prison are very true to real life.

I really enjoyed the way the characters have matured in this series but stayed true to themselves. Moose is still trying to take care of everything. Piper is trying to be good but can’t always fight her sneaky impulses. Natalie is making eye contact but is still very young for her age. Mrs. Flanagan is making an effort to be more understanding of Moose’s feelings, but still struggles with seeing Natalie clearly.

What I love most about this series is the way Moose interacts with Natalie. Even though he often resents the responsibilities that come from having a sister with a disability, it is obvious he loves and understands Natalie. It also shows how kids are often more accepting than adults.

I would recommend reading this series in order. There is enough humor, baseball and adventure to keep a young reader interested while still giving touching life messages.

July 17, 2022