a Look at a Book

Stand Your Ground by Victoria Christopher Murray

While it should be obvious once you read the description, this book is a heart-wrenching story that is based on the way things really have happened in the U.S. Murray tackles the emotional and tragic subject of a black teen killed ruthlessly by a white man who uses the “stand your ground” law to defend his actions. The book is told first from the mom’s perspective and then from the wife’s (of the killer) perspective. Having both perspectives added a great deal of depth and complexity to the story.

I started reading it, but then had to put it down for a while until I could emotionally handle it again. Ever since becoming a mom, stories about things happening to kids makes me ache in a way I didn’t know possible. But reading these kinds of stories is supposed to help us feel another’s hurt. And Murray’s book does so. 

I found her writing particularly deft as she wove together the grief of the parents and community, the starkly different ways that each dealt with the grief, and the manner in which the private parts of the family’s lives were made public through the trial. I wasn’t expecting that last aspect of it, but it absolutely made sense. 

While a few parts felt perhaps a bit exaggerated toward the end, it was overall a phenomenally written book, and I would recommend it to older teens and adults. 

Content caveats: marital unfaithfulness, violence (obviously), death (obviously) abuse, cuss words

The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison

As a newly-ish married person, I was intrigued by the description of this book: a couple who weathers multiple storms throughout a long marriage and are potentially facing the end of their years together as old age and a sudden diagnosis encroach.

It is true that there is that. The book is fairly slow-paced, which matches the monotony that happens in daily life no matter your marital status or stage of life. However there are a few pieces that the author doesn’t tell you initially as the story flips back and forth from telling the beginning part of their story to telling the present day part of their story, which creates a bit of suspense and a narrative arc to keep the reader going. 

I wasn’t happy with a few parts: some flirtations with infidelity and a brief exploration of sexual orientation. None of that was hinted at in the book blurb from what I could tell. I had been expecting a marriage that was rock solid from start to finish. I know every couple has its ups and downs (some more than others). It just wasn’t quite as…wholesome…as I was expecting.  

However, if you’re looking for a book that seems to have the average amount of tragedy, mundanity, and difficulties in a family’s life (or perhaps a bit more?) then this may just be the book for you.

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

Ross’s duology continues/concludes in this book (Read my review of the first book here.) Rather than focusing on a romance trope of enemies to lovers, this time it focuses more on the war between the gods. The male protagonist finds himself captive to Dacre’s army and learns more about the truth of how Dacre has been fighting this war. The female protagonist finds herself learning information about Enva, who seems to be the more benevolent divine character. 

At first, I felt like the typewriter storyline was too similar and a bit overdone, but by the end, I appreciated how Ross tied the two books together so well. Where in the first, she introduced the magical creatures and divine warfare tactics, in this book she explained them further. 

I read it mostly to find out how the story ends, because I couldn’t stand the cliffhanger that ended Divine Rivals.

Overall, I didn’t like these two books as much as Sisters of Sword and Song, given some of the sexual content. However, it was still an overall good story of good vs evil and fighting for what is right with the risk of great sacrifice.

Love Against the Ropes by Karen Landry

TLDR: a fun, closed-door romcom with enough character development and mostly realistic relationship building that it turned out to be a page-turner for me.

When I first started, I could not STAND Blake’s character. On page 1, I actually wondered if the story was starting from when he was 12 because his inner dialogue sounded like a twelve year-old. I thought that I might not be able to finish the book. 

But I kept reading. Like I tell my students, you have to give a book a fair shot, which is at least a chapter or two.

Then, I didn’t like how much the two brothers constantly put their whole life on social media. Ugh. I somehow missed that part as I was skimming the book blurb. And don’t we have enough of that in the world already?

But I kept reading.

And when Blake finally began to get some sense knocked into him – quite literally at times – I started to enjoy it more. 

The author did a great job showing Blake’s character development from irresponsible flight risk to still-spontaneous, but far more disciplined and responsible adult. It was satisfying to follow his progress and the growing relationship that, apart from one unplanned, passionate kiss, was kept not-physical while Blake and Janna trained. The author did a great job being inside both of their heads. I mean, how does one person imagine being like Blake and then switch hats so we understand who Janna is too? Since I’m not a novel writer, I’m not sure, but she did a great job.

Was I a big fan of the boxing aspect of the story? Not really. I don’t like people hitting other people, even if they both agree to it. However, I do understand the gratification of training hard and seeing progress. And while boxing  played a big part, it also wasn’t so full of details that someone like me wouldn’t enjoy it. 

If you want a slightly ridiculous, comical, and sweet story, pick this one up!

P.S. – I loved all the boxing puns that were in the book blurb.

The Lincoln Moon by Michael Price Nelson

Do you ever pick a book off the shelf at a library and take a risk that it might be a good one? I did this, only with the audio version on Libby, and boy am I glad I did! If you’ve read my reviews for any length of time, you know that I adore historical fiction: learning through a good story is the best! This is my favorite read from this month.

I had no idea, prior to this book, about a trial where Abe Lincoln convinced the judge to use the farmer’s almanac as evidence. And honestly, that might not seem like an interesting fact when mentioned out of context. However, Michael Price Nelson is a phenomenal storyteller, and the reason he convinced the judge to use it as evidence is one you’ll have to read for yourself!

He told the story through a kid brother’s perspective, who was just smart and nosy enough to “happen” to be around when all the important things were being discussed and discovered. As I listened, I wondered how the author would keep Scrump’s credibility as a narrator, because I couldn’t picture how he’d wind up being a part of whatever scene was coming next. Somehow, he managed to do so, but not in a way that felt contrived on the author’s part. I enjoyed that.

Though Mr. Lincoln is painted in an almost saintly light, and therefore a fairly flat character with no faults, that is about my only complaint for this book. The characters, the way events unfolded, the sorrow and despair of the family at their son being accused of murder, and the family’s desperation to find a way to prove him innocent were all exquisitely woven together.

There aren’t a ton of content warnings here, apart from the lynchings, n-word, and the violence involved in the murder itself . . . . Okay, that sounds like a lot. Basically I’m saying not much cussing or any sexual content here. But yes, violence and slavery.

Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

This was another library random pick off the shelf that was good. I thought that it would involve more romcom with a side of self-discovery, but it seemed to be the opposite. As someone who didn’t meet my spouse until my thirties, I could relate to several aspects of Yinka’s single life. The author did a great job conveying the pressure that one can feel – especially in certain cultural circles – to get married already.

Another part that I enjoyed was learning about Nigerian culture through the characters, their habits, and their foods. I’ve never been to Nigeria and have only briefly met a handful of people from there, but I always love a book that is able to help you feel a bit of a culture different from my own.

I got frustrated with Yinka during the rising action. I mean, why couldn’t she figure herself out already and stop being ridiculous? But I guess personal growth is messy, requires one to work on relationships, and takes more time than we often like. The ending was also fitting, which helped me feel better by the time I reached the last page.

Content caveats: cussing throughout took away from my enjoyment of this book. There are some side characters who have minority sexual orientations. It’s closed door – woohoo – no sexual scenes to avoid. 🙂 

If you’d like a humorous yet substantive story about how it can feel to be single, whether to feel less alone if you are single, or to help yourself empathize with the people in your life who are, and wouldn’t mind the cussing, it’s worth a read. 

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

I picked this book up because I read and liked one of his previous books, The Midnight Library. Specifically, I loved how philosophical and profound some of Haig’s insights are about life. He manages to help readers see the similarities that tie us all together while also helping those who might normally not be able to relate feel empathy. 

Like The Midnight Library, there was an element of the fantastical and magical – except, according to the book, it wasn’t actually magical but extraterrestrial. So that’s an interesting twist. 

The protagonist, Grace, has felt like her life is basically over since her husband passed away, and she has always been riddled with guilt about the accidental death of her son years earlier. This story details how Grace is able to eventually reclaim purpose, find healing, and gain a community again after she surprisingly inherits a house on Ibiza, a Spanish island, and uncharacteristically decides to move there on short notice. 

While there are certainly some odd aspects of the island life and the people you might find there, it slowly grew on me as I read. I also wasn’t disappointed with some of the philosophical wisdom I was hoping to read.

It wasn’t my favorite read, so I’m not recommending it super strongly. However, it is still a well-written book with some great truths about life in it. And in that way, it felt therapeutic to read.
Content caveats: some minor characters have different sexual orientations; marital unfaithfulness; some violence toward the end; some colorful language (cussing) as well. 

The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman

I read this book on the recommendation of my students who participated in a Great Readers’ Bowl competition with some local schools.
One of them said I would be really confused at first. Spoiler – I wasn’t, but I could see a middle grade reader being confused. 🙂

At the start of the book, the reader is introduced to several different middle school students, all quite different in their interests, behavior, and academic achievement. The point in common is how they each get to know the new middle school teacher, who is very eccentric, very smart, and very easy to like.

However, he’s too smart and too perfect. So a couple of “troublemaking” boys decide to figure out what the deal is. And they discover a very shocking secret…

I won’t spoil it for you. But I will tell you this was a great middle grade read. It has a bit of every ingredient you need: a mystery to solve, some kids who are struggling in middle school who are more than they appear on the surface, a teacher who cares, and a moral dilemma that is ever more applicable to our current age.

I highly recommend this for you and/or your young readers!

The Year I Flew Away by Marie Arnold

This one started off strong and then went a little wonky. It’s about a girl whose parents can only afford to pay for her to emigrate to America from Haiti, so they send her to live with her uncle and his family who have already moved there.
Seeing what her life was like in Haiti before her move helped make clear why she struggled so much upon her arrival: her accent was thick, kids were making fun of her, she didn’t have any friends, and her aunt and uncle have to penny pinch, so she can’t control the clothes she wears or the foods she eats. It also doesn’t help that her older cousin is zero help whatsoever. 

Where it gets wonky is the presence of a witch who offers to grant three wishes to help Gabrielle adjust to life in America. Gabrielle knows better than to accept an offer from a witch, given that witches are part of life and culture in Haiti. But then she gets desperate and decides to just take one wish. This causes ample problems that Gabrielle could not have imagined and then she has to desperately try to fix it before it’s too late. 

I appreciated how the author wove in some aspects of Haitian culture into the book, as well as the ways in which Gabrielle notices the prejudice against her family in America and the difficulties of being herself in a very different place. She made it accessible for kids who have never experienced moving countries, as well as relatable for those who have.

Because of the witch/spells/spiritual aspect of the book, I’d recommend that you read it first and then decide if it’s one you’re okay with your kid reading (or reading with you so you can discuss it). It definitely has great themes and topics to talk about, but it’s important to consider that element of the book.