2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
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Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge
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Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo
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2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)
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European Reading Challenge 2026
2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)
2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge
The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge
The Life Skills Reading Challenge
Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: New York. Show all posts
Friday, February 28, 2025
Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Swans of Harlem (Young Readers' Edition) by Karen Valby
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At the peak of the civil rights movement, Lydia Abarca was the first ballerina in a Black ballet company to grace the cover of Dance magazine. Alongside founding members Shelia Rohan and Gayle McKinney-Griffith and first-generation dancers Karlya Shelton and Marcia Sells, Abarca invited a bright light to shine on Black professional classical dancers. Grit, determination, and exquisite artistry propelled these swans of Harlem to dizzying heights as they performed around the world for audiences that included celebrities, dignitaries, and royalty.
Forty years after the swans of Harlem made history, when Lydia's granddaughter wanted to show her own ballet class evidence of her grandmother's success, she found almost none — just some yellowing photographs and programs in the family basement. With The Swans of Harlem (Adapted for Young Adults), these revolutionary ballerinas and longtime friends give voice to their stories on and offstage, reclaiming their past so that it is finally recorded, acknowledged, and lauded, never to be lost again.
The adult edition (Knopf/Pantheon; April 2024), on which this Young Adult edition is based, has been hailed as “a captivating corrective to an often-whitewashed history” (Publishers Weekly, starred) and is in development as a Netflix miniseries under the helm of the producer behind Black Swan, 12 Years a Slave, Slumdog Millionaire, and numerous other box office hits.
Arriving to shelves just in time for Black History Month, this “poignant and gripping piece of little-known history” (Kirkus) will captivate fans of narrative nonfiction, dance memoirs, and forgotten histories and inspire readers of all ages and interests to chase their dreams and follow their hearts.
I haven't had time to read The Swans of Harlem yet, but I'm very intrigued by the story it tells. I'll definitely be picking it up soon. If you're also interested in reading it, you'll want to enter this giveaway to win a copy of the young adult edition of the book for yourself:
Grand Prize Giveaway:
- 5 winners will receive a paperback copy of The Swans of Harlem (Adapted for Young Adults) by Karen Valby.
- US only, we will select the winners and ship directly
- The giveaway starts at 12:01am ET on February 24th and ends March 9th at 11:59pm ET
- Rafflecopter giveaway link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/
Don't forget to check out these other stops on the blog tour:
February 24th — The Candid Cover
February 25th — The Story Sanctuary
February 26th — Lit Lemon Books
February 26th — Tea Time Lit
February 27th — Twirling Book Princess
February 28th — Bloggin' 'bout Books
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Nellie Bly: A Fascinating Trailblazer in Any Genre
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"After all, what was sanity, except being able to contain the madness inside you?" (178)
If you know anything about Nellie Bly, it's probably that she was an intrepid newspaper reporter who went undercover at a mental institution on Blackwell's Island in New York City in 1887. That stunt alone was enough to make her famous. It also says a great deal about who she was, what she cared about, and how far she was willing to go to not just make a name for herself but also to create a better world for those she considered underprivileged and underserved. Just from this scant amount of information, it's easy to see that Bly was a fascinating person who lived an interesting life. No wonder I wanted to know more about her!
When I first heard about Madwoman by Louisa Treger, I thought it was a biography of the well-known journalist. Turns out, it's a novel—just one that feels very much like a biography. I don't have a problem with either genre, of course, but I would have preferred to read either a novel or a biography, not a mash-up of both that left me wondering what was true and what wasn't. Despite Madwoman's rather lackluster storytelling, though, I did find myself hooked. Bly's story is that compelling.
Although Treger spends a few chapters on Bly's upbringing (which was fairly uneventful until her beloved father died and her mother married an abusive alcoholic), Madwoman focuses almost entirely on the reporter's experience on Blackwell's Island. The events leading up to her investigation show her pluck and her determination to be something extraordinary—a female journalist writing hard news—at a time when women reporters were almost unheard of, even in New York City. Those who were in the industry wrote only about safe, feminine subjects like cooking, cleaning, and fashion. Bly wanted more. By using courage and ingenuity, she infiltrated an esteemed institution almost entirely on her own, ushering in an era of bold, creative investigative reporting that hadn't been seen before. Her experience at the asylum was harrowing, naturally, but her observations of how cruelly patients were treated there helped change the way mental institutions cared for those confined within.
Treger's prose is matter-of-fact and rather flat, but as I said, I still found myself caught up in Bly's story. Even though I knew she only ended up spending ten days in the asylum before her rescue was organized by executives at the New York World newspaper, I nevertheless worried for her. Treger did an excellent job of making her days in the grim institution feel as endless, dangerous and hopeless as they no doubt were.
Madwoman is wrapped up with a few chapters about the aftermath of Bly's incredible stunt. Not only does Treger describe the public's eager fascination with Bly's resulting articles, her subsequent fame, and the change that was wrought because of her investigation, but she also talks about the toll those ten days in the asylum took on Bly both physically and emotionally. "She had faked madness to get into the asylum," writes Treger. "Now she was out of it, she must fake sanity" (234). The question at the heart of Madwoman is clear: How can anyone, no matter how sane or insane they are upon entrance, leave such a place after having been treated so horribly, with their mental faculties intact?
I found Madwoman fascinating, but it did leave me wondering which parts of the story were true and which weren't. I also wanted to know what happened to Bly next. Did she continue taking on (or inventing for herself) dangerous assignments? What else did her long career in journalism accomplish? These questions led me to Ten Days a Madwoman by Deborah Noyes, a biography intended for middle-grade readers that covers Bly's whole life in 122 focused, informative pages (the title is misleading since the book only spends a few chapters on Bly's experience in the asylum). Honestly, since I got the information I wanted from Ten Days a Madwoman, I probably could have skipped Madwoman altogether, although it was interesting to compare/contrast the two books. Despite reading both, my desire to know more about Bly has not been entirely satiated. At some point, I still plan to read The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale, Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World by Matthew Goodman, and Ten Days In A Mad-House by Nellie Bly herself.
Am I the only one fascinated by this fearless history-maker? Which books have you read and loved about the incredible Nellie Bly?
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Ten Days a Madwoman by Deborah Noyes and The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore as well as novels about mental asylums in 19th Century America, like Girl 99 by Greer Macallister, A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder invectives), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Madwoman with a portion of the millions I earn from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, April 11, 2022
Effective, But Misleading Marketing + Long, Plotless Story = Dull, Disappointing Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Generally, I write my own plot summaries for the books I review. I'm going to make an exception in this case, though, in order to make a point. Here's the back cover blurb for The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris:
On a cold night in October 1937, searchlights cut through the darkness around Alcatraz. A prison guard’s only daughter—one of the youngest civilians who lives on the island—has gone missing. Tending the warden’s greenhouse, convicted bank robber Tommy Capello waits anxiously. Only he knows the truth about the little girl’s whereabouts, and that both of their lives depend on the search’s outcome.
Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world.
Skilfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell—and believe—in order to survive.
That first paragraph really pops, doesn't it? It's exciting, it's intriguing, it's compelling. It's pretty much irresistible if you're a historical fiction lover who's fascinated by Alcatraz. Between that opener and the novel's glossy prison-themed cover, I didn't stand a chance. I eagerly snatched up a copy of The Edge of Lost, threw my money at the cashier, and rushed home to read. Imagine my surprise when the story turned out to have very little to do with the prison. It's only in the last 100 pages or so that Alcatraz even comes into play! Needless to say, I felt ripped off by the publisher's clever but misleading marketing tactics. Yes, the most interesting part of this novel does take place at Alcatraz, but that's only at the end and the rest of the book drags and drags without much action or plot until it finally gets there. Had I known this, I would not have bothered with this novel at all.
That being said, the book does feature a cast of warm, likable characters. None of them are super fresh or original, but they are the kind of story people to whom you want good things to happen. I became invested in Shan Keagan/Tommy Capello's plight, although my interest definitely waned the more his story went on (and on and on). After a very far-fetched finale, he does get a somewhat happy ending, although it didn't feel completely satisfying to me.
Overall, then, this book was a pretty meh read for me. Not only was I disappointed by the misleading marketing, but I also found the story overly long and mostly plotless. I did continue to read until the last page (even though I couldn't stop counting the remaining pages because the novel seemed endless), so I guess that means something. I just wish McMorris had focused on the most interesting part of the story (Alcatraz) and built a tighter, more exciting/suspenseful plot around that.
(Readalikes: If you're interested in reading more about civilian life on Alcatraz, definitely check out Gennifer Choldenko's middle-grade Al Capone series. It's excellent.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Edge of Lost with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, November 20, 2021
There's Lots to Love in Gothic-y Series Opener
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Growing up in a New York City orphanage has given scrappy Amelia Matthew the pluck to survive in a rough time and place. Combining moxie with a modicum of psychic talent, she manages to earn enough to create a decent life for herself and her beloved foster brother, Jonas. When a knock on the head changes Amelia's mild ability into something far more powerful, she's shocked. As she grapples to understand her newfound skills, a strange vision in a public park assaults her. The next thing she knows, she's waking up in a city insane asylum on isolated Blackwell's Island. Despite her protests, Amelia is unable to leave. Even Jonas can't find a way to free her.
In spite of himself, Andrew Cavanaugh, a young doctor from Philadelphia, finds himself quite taken with the pretty new patient. Naturally, he doesn't believe her when she claims to see spirits—until she proves it to him. As Andrew works to release Amelia from care, he's approached by a desperate mother searching for the daughter she believes is being hidden in the asylum. With Amelia's help, he looks into the case, uncovering a shocking trail of corruption and cruelty at his workplace. Powerful people rule the asylum. What can a lowly doctor and his imprisoned patient possibly do for their helpless victims? Especially when Amelia's dubious gift is still so uncontrollable and she's not entirely sure she doesn't belong on Blackwell's Island herself...
There are so many things to love about A Deadly Fortune, a debut novel by Stacie Murphy, that I'm not even sure where to start. How about with its unique setting? Lots of novels are set in insane asylums, but this is the first I've encountered that takes place in the notorious facility on Blackwell's Island. Atmospheric and Gothic-y, the locale makes a perfect backdrop for this shivery tale. The characters are also appealing. Amelia, Jonas, and Andrew are all sympathetic, kind-hearted, and courageous. Plot-wise, A Deadly Fortune is a gripping story. It does start off slowly, but there's enough going on to keep it interesting while it builds to a pulse-pounding climax. As for the supernatural aspect of this novel, it's nicely balanced. There's enough of the ghostly to satisfy without overwhelming the story. I also appreciate the book's (mostly) clean content, making it a novel I'd be comfortable handing to almost anyone. For all these reasons and more, I very much enjoyed this series opener. Needless to say, I can't wait to see what happens next to Amelia and her friends.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of After Alice Fell by Kim Taylor Blakemore, A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis, and Woman 99 by Greer Macallister)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (1 F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, November 12, 2021
1 Tiny Baby + 1 Big-Hearted Nurse = A Powerful, Personal Historical Novel
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
1926—As a nurse working in the adrenaline-fueled, male-dominated field of emergency medicine, 24-year-old Althea Anderson is used to taking orders from the doctors, obeying their commands without question. When another premature baby dies at her hospital because a physician determines it to be "God's will" that only the strongest infants survive, Althea can no longer stay quiet. She knows tiny babies are being saved every day at nearby Coney Island. Yes, they're on public display, another lurid attraction to entertain gawking tourists, but the admission fees are used to employ nurses who cuddle and care for the children, giving them a chance to not just survive but also thrive. "Doctor" Martin Couney's medical credentials might be a bit murky, but Althea knows he's working miracles with his boardwalk babies. Althea's superiors scoff when she suggests sending their newest struggling infant to Couney, so she takes matters into her own hands, changing the course of her life—and the baby's—forever.
1950—While Stella Wright isn't sure she wants children of her own, she pours her heart and soul into nurturing the students she teaches in her special education class. School administrators believe the kids aren't worth the effort; Stella is determined to prove them wrong. By day, she battles for their rights while by night, she helps her veteran husband fight the demons that haunt him night after night. When her beloved mother dies, Stella is wracked with grief. A curious letter found among the dead woman's things mystifies Stella, sending her on a puzzling journey into her mother's past. As old secrets are revealed, she learns shocking truths about her mother—and herself.
Because of my experience with premature birth, I have always found Martin Couney's work fascinating. I've never read a novel about the subject, so I was keen to give Armstrong's a go. The Light of Luna Park features sympathetic characters who are admirable for their kindness, compassion, and bravery. Althea is likable, while I had a harder time with Stella, although she did grow on me as her story progressed. As usual with dual-timeline setups, I enjoyed the past story in this book better than the present one. Still, both are compelling in their own way. Plot-wise, it's obvious from the get-go how the novel's two storylines are going to merge, but that really doesn't make the tale less engrossing. There are a few holes that make the story less believable. On the whole, though, The Light of Luna Park is an engaging, thought-provoking novel that brings to light an interesting piece of history most people probably don't know about. Even though I knew the basics, I still found the novel to be a fascinating, enjoyable read.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards as well as books by Susan Meissner and Diane Chamberlain)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, disturbing subject matter, and mild sexual content
Friday, September 24, 2021
Birds of a Feather: Bluebird the Best World War II Novel I've Read Since The Nightingale
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As World War II comes to a close, a German teenager arrives in America, ostensibly to start a new life away from the chaos in her homeland. In order to flee, Eva Gerst has made a deal with the devil. She and her mute best friend have been allowed to leave the country only because Eva knows an important secret. She holds the key to Project Bluebird, a horrifying concentration camp experiment, the results of which are so powerful that both the Americans and the Germans would do anything to control it. Eva's determination to keep it away from them is just as strong, but it's not power she's seeking. She desires only one thing—justice. No matter what it takes, she will track down the escaped Nazi who designed the horrific experiment. And then, she'll kill him.
In an alternating storyline, Inge von Emmerich is living in war-torn Germany a year earlier. The daughter of a powerful Nazi couple, she's been thoroughly indoctrinated. It's not until her eyes are opened to the atrocities being committed by the regime that she realizes just how wrong her family's view is—and how involved her father is in appalling acts against their Jewish countrymen.
As the girls' stories collide, they will come together to take down a monster in a desperate race to settle a score, get justice, and not just clip Bluebird's wings, but destroy it forever.
Bluebird (available October 5, 2021), the newest YA historical from Sharon Cameron, is, quite simply, a stunner. I'm a big Cameron fan, so I'm not surprised, just really, really pleased. Bluebird features everything I love in a historical novel—a vivid, atmospheric setting; a tense, engrossing plot; sympathetic, interesting characters; and smooth, solid writing. That the story is based on a real experiment that I'd never heard about just makes it all the more fascinating. Not to mention eye-opening and thought-provoking. All of these elements combine to create a book that is so immersive and propulsive that it is unputdownable. Almost literally. I would have read it in one day, but my eyes gave out at about 80% after staring at my Kindle for hours on end! Yes, I saw the big plot twist coming, but that didn't really matter. I still found myself totally absorbed by this novel. It's the best World War II story I've read (and I've read a lot of them) since The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. If you love historical fiction, do yourself a favor and pre-order this one now. It just might be the best book I've read this year.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron as well as novels by Ruta Sepetys and Monica Hesse)
Grade:
for violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter (including a rape scene, although the act is not described)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Bluebird from the generous folks at Scholastic via those at Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Goodman's Newest a Shivery Spine-Tingler
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
For three years, investigative reporter Joan Lurie has been working on an explosive story about the sexual misconduct of a powerful New York City publisher. She knows there will be consequences for breaking the shocking news and she thinks she's prepared to deal with them. What she couldn't have foreseen was a brutal attack on her person that leaves her traumatized, both physically and emotionally. Utterly shaken, she retreats to the Refuge, an exclusive Manhattan apartment building that was once a Magdalen laundry. The place boasts top-notch security that should have Joan feeling completely at ease. So, why does she still feel unsafe? Is she imagining that things in her apartment have been moved around on her? Or is it just paranoia and frayed nerves, after effects of her attack?
Joan's not the only woman hiding inside the Refuge. Lillian Day hasn't left the building in over seventy years, not since the day she witnessed a shocking event that left her just as traumatized as Joan.
Then there's Melissa Osgood, who's reeling from her husband's betrayal and from a devastating reversal of fortune. She blames Joan Lurie and will stop at nothing to take revenge on the woman who ruined her life.
As the lives of Joan, Lillian, and Melissa intersect, they will learn some startling truths about themselves, each other, and the dark history of the building in which they all live. With danger still on Joan's tail, she has to find true refuge before it's too late...
I'm a long-time fan of Carol Goodman's twisty Gothic thrillers, so I always get excited when she publishes a new book. With its modern New York City setting (as opposed to the usual upstate locales) and its #MeToo movement premise, The Stranger Behind You—Goodman's newest—is a bit of a departure from her previous novels, but it's still a shivery, engrossing page-turner. While I saw some of the plot surprises coming, others caught me off-guard, keeping the story interesting throughout. Although there are definitely some elements of the tale that are illogical and far-fetched, overall I found it both compelling and satisfying. Not all of the book's characters are likable, but Joan is appealing enough that I cared about her plight. As with many of Goodman's books, my favorite aspect of The Stranger Behind You is the Gothic-y setting. The creepy building at its center as well as the story's constant, unsettling vibe make the book an entertaining spine-tingler. While this isn't my favorite of Goodman's thrillers, I enjoyed it overall.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Lock Every Door by Riley Sager, Someone's Listening by Seraphina Nova Glass, and The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a couple F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Stranger Behind You from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Friday, June 18, 2021
Second Installment in U.S./Irish Mystery Series Just As Compelling As First
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for A Distant Grave, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, The Mountains Wild. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
When a Dublin man is found murdered on a Long Island beach, Detective Maggie D'Arcy is called upon to help with the investigation. Although her colleagues believe Gabriel Treacy was robbed and killed by a local gang, likely at random, Maggie's not so sure. The old scars on the dead man's back say there's more to Gabriel's story than meets the eye. What was he doing in New York? Who made sure he'd never return to Ireland? And why?
Maggie is just about to leave for Ireland anyway, already having planned to travel there with her teenage daughter, who is still reeling after her father's suicide. Anxious to see her boyfriend, Trinity professor Connor Kearney; let their children get to know each other; and help Lilly heal away from the place where her father died, Maggie decides to combine work with pleasure. Flying off during an intense police investigation doesn't sit well with Maggie's superiors, but she knows she's the best person to look into Gabriel's death in his home country. Working with her Garda friends is sure to produce some answers in what is becoming an increasingly puzzling case. When another murder ups the ante, Maggie finds herself back in New York working frantically to solve the crime before she, too, ends up dead.
I'm always thrilled when I find a new crime series to love. The Mountains Wild, the first book in the Maggie D'Arcy series by Sarah Stewart Taylor, pulled me in with its enticing blend of atmospheric setting, likable characters, and intriguing plot. A Distant Grave (available June 22, 2021), the second installment, offers the same in another story that is just as engrossing, just as exciting as the first. It's finely crafted, skillfully told, and wholly enjoyable. Needless to say, I'm anxious for the next volume. And the next and the next...
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey and of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad novels)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of A Distant Grave from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Locked-Room Mystery/Thriller an Engrossing, Intriguing Debut
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After barely surviving a traumatizing abduction by a vicious serial killer while on the job in Manhattan, former NYPD detective Shana Merchant has moved upstate, taking a position with the Bureau of Crime Investigation (BCI). Idyllic Alexandria Bay, a charming village in the Thousand Islands area, is the perfect place to lick her wounds. With her devoted fiancé by her side, she hopes to put her nightmares behind her and make a fresh start in the peaceful riverside town.
Shana is shocked when her department receives a frantic call about a murder on an island that is privately owned by a wealthy family from the city. With an incoming nor'easter creating stormy weather and choppy water, Shana and her partner, Tim Wellington, head out to Tern Island. Nine members of the Sinclair family, a wealthy clan that has made a fortune in the NYC fashion industry, have been vacationing there. One of them, 26-year-old Jasper, has vanished. The bed in which he and his girlfriend were sleeping is soaked in blood, but there's no corpse and the girlfriend claims to have no idea what happened. Tim thinks they're dealing with a spoiled businessman who's gone missing to get attention. Shana's sure it's murder.
With only a handful of suspects on the remote island, it seems clear that Jasper has not just been killed but also that he's been murdered by a member of his own family. All of them had motive, means, and opportunity. Which one made sure Jasper was out of the way? And why? As the storm worsens, isolating Shana and Tim on the island with a dysfunctional family, one of whom is a killer, the situation grows increasingly perilous. Can Shana and her partner get the truth out of their very reluctant witnesses? Can they unmask the murderer before someone else turns up dead? Will that someone be one of them?
I love me a locked-room mystery set in an isolated locale, so I was all in for Death in the Family, a debut novel by Tessa Wegert. Atmospheric and absorbing, the mystery is engrossing and twisty. It kept me guessing until the very end, which is exactly what I like in a mystery/thriller. Shana is a sympathetic heroine whose vulnerability and determination make her both relatable and admirable. The Sinclairs are the opposite. They're snobby, greedy, manipulative, and immature, almost to a one. In the end, the whole sorry lot pretty much gets what they deserve. I cared about Shana, though. That—and an engrossing, can't-look-away plot—is what kept me reading Death in the Family. Even though it's a depressing story, I enjoyed the thrilling read overall. I just requested The Dead Season, the second installment in the Shana Merchant series, from the library because I'm excited to see what this intriguing heroine does next.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Sunday, December 27, 2020
MG Women's Rights Novel Important, Enjoyable
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Brigid "Bridie" Gallagher has experienced nothing but hardship in her eleven years. The potato famine in Ireland killed her father and brothers, then her mother died in America, leaving Bridie orphaned, alone, and locked in a debtors' prison. When she's freed, it's only to become a servant for an abusive family. Fed up with being mistreated, Bridie flees. In Seneca Falls, New York, she meets Rose Wilson, a Black girl her own age. Rose finds her new friend a position in the household of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a well-known abolitionist and feminist. Bridie has never met a stranger woman than her new employer. The more time she spends with her, however, the more Bridie learns about Stanton's advocacy for women's rights. However revolutionary her ideas might be, both Bridie and Rose become supporters of the cause. Like Stanton, they want their voices to be heard, even if not everyone is willing to hear them. Change doesn't come without a fight and the two girls are ready for battle! Aren't they?
With the recent 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment of the United States' Constitution, Starting from Seneca Falls by Karen Schwabach is a timely novel aimed at helping young readers learn about the struggle that finally resulted in women being granted the right to vote. While this might not seem like a terribly exciting topic for a middle-grade book, it's still an important one. Not only does Schwabach bring 19th Century America to life with vivid period detail but she also introduces readers to important historical figures like Stanton, Frederick Douglass, and Lucretia Mott. Although Bridie and Rose are fictional, they're sympathetic and likable, making them easy heroines to root for. Starting From Seneca Falls addresses a lot of issues—maybe too many—which makes the story feel a bit unfocused. Without a concrete story goal, Bridie's tale is especially loosey-goosey. Still, I enjoyed this novel overall. It discusses important topics in a story that moved along swiftly enough to keep my attention.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, disturbing subject matter, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, December 10, 2020
MG Scavenger Hunt Novel Upbeat Despite Grief Theme
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Last year, Joy Fonseca had a smart, kind best friend named Lukas Brunetti. She had even begin to think of him as more than just a buddy. Then, he had an accident and died. Joy is consumed by grief, still aching from the loss a year later. On her 13th birthday, she finally decides to open the envelope Lukas left for her exactly one year ago on the morning he died. She knows it's the first clue in their annual birthday scavenger hunt. Is it possible that the clues he planted then will still be there now? Joy's not sure, but she's finally ready to find out.
As Joy travels all over her little seaside town following Lukas' clues, she's reminded of all the great memories they made together. Swinging back-and-forth between the present (from Joy's point-of-view) and the past (from Lukas'), the story paints a picture of a sweet friendship, the kind that endures even when death intervenes.
Although Seven Clues to Home by Gae Polisner and Nora Raleigh Baskin is about grief and other hard things, it's a hopeful novel that reminds readers how important it is to live even in the face of heartbreak. It's more upbeat than it sounds, featuring likable characters and a treasure hunt format that makes it into a fun, exciting adventure with a little bit of mystery mixed in. While I didn't absolutely adore this novel, I did enjoy it overall.
(Readalikes: I feel like there are a million middle grade novels about grief, but no specific title is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for tough subject matter and references to illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Stead's Newest Poignant But Hopeful
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been two years since her parents' divorce and lots has changed for 10-year-old Bea. While things have turned out mostly okay, she still worries a lot, which makes her eczema act up. To help calm herself, she keeps a list in her notebook of the things in her life that have not and will not ever change. She knows her mom and dad will always love her, for example. That's a constant, no matter what.
When Bea's dad informs her that he and his boyfriend will soon be getting married, Bea's thrilled. She loves Jesse. He's even got a daughter Bea's age, which means she'll finally have the sister she's always wanted. She just knows they're going to be BFFs. As the wedding date comes closer, though, Bea discovers that nothing ever goes perfectly. Building a new family isn't easy and sometimes change is difficult, confusing, and heartbreaking. With her family structure shifting once again, Bea has to learn how to manage her anxiety, deal with difficult situations, and find happiness along the way.
The List of Things That Will Not Change is the newest middle grade offering from Newbery Award-winning author Rebecca Stead. Although its plot is a little unfocused, the story is realistic in that it has both sad and happy parts. My favorite element of the novel, in fact, is its validation of emotions—not just that they can be super complicated, but also that it's okay, even important, to feel them. Bea's voice as she's dealing with hers is pitch-perfect, making her a narrator who is both authentic and relatable. Although The List of Things That Will Not Change deals with some tough subjects, overall it's an upbeat, hopeful novel. I enjoyed it, even if I didn't absolutely love it.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing's coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and topics most suited for kids over 10 years old
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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