Classic Fiction: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

It felt fitting to finish the year with Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. On September 3, 2020, the novel appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, 27 years after its original publication. No doubt the dystopian landscape, as well as the themes of extreme wealth inequality, climate change, and the general breakdown of society have helped renew some interest. It also does not hurt that the graphic novel adaptation was published earlier this year, and was done by the same team that adapted Butler's Kindred in 2017.

The Situation: It is 2024 on the West Coast of the U.S, and Lauren Olamina is the only daughter of a Baptist minister. Her father is a leader in the community, a man that is looked up to as an advisor and a protector. Society has crumbled to the point that neighborhoods can only exist if there are walls protecting them, and leaving those walls is only done in an emergency, or if there is paying work involved. Water is scarce and expensive. Corporations are starting to buy entire cities and have them run by what essentially amounts to slave labor. Guns are a necessity, and it is almost a promise that you or someone close to you will be robbed, attacked, or worse. Violence may be a daily reality and not that much of a surprise when it happens, but for Lauren, her hyperempathy causes her to 'share' the pain with the victim...as long as they are still alive. A violent action made out of self-defense can cripple her, and if someone else finds out, they can use it against her.

The Problem: In a coordinated attack, Lauren loses her home and her family in one night. With her neighborhood nearly burned to the ground, she walks away with only her emergency pack and the little money and helpful items she could find in the wreckage. It is not safe outside of the walls, but now that there is nothing left inside of them, she has no choice but to head north. State lines may now function more like international borders, but Lauren is determined, as are the people she meets and collects along the way. Some of them she knew from before, but others are strangers who were simply headed in the same direction. As they travel, she continues to add to her journal of beliefs, what she calls Earthseed. The core idea behind Earthseed is that God is change, and having rejected her father's beliefs long ago, Lauren holds onto her own, and heads into what she believes is her new destiny.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel that begins when Lauren is 15 in the not at all distant year of 2024, and ends in the fall of 2027, after she has turned 18. In those three years, her life as she knew it is gone, and she finds herself within a motley crew of other weary travelers as they all head north, away from the wreckage that has become California, though the rest of the country is not in any better shape. Even after a new president is elected, and a corporation takes over a small city with the promise of providing jobs and housing, people see right through the empty promises and greed that are meant to enslave them to a system of debt and hopelessness. Naturally, readers will compare what Butler has written with what we see in our world today, and the setting of the year 2024 gives an eerie feeling to the overall story.

My Verdict: Out of the three books I have read by Butler, this may be my favorite. I liked Kindred well-enough, but it was rough reading through it. I have complicated feelings about Fledgling, but I have complicated feelings towards most stories about vampires - I have said it before that I am Team Van Helsing and will probably always be. And although this one was no picnic, I enjoyed reading about the harsh future that Butler has created, and the characters that often must do the unthinkable in order to survive. Possibly the only thing about the story that I did not care for was the idea of Lauren creating her own religion, if only because it reminded me of how cults are often started. But the rest of the story is both fascinating and terrifying. Even though the characters must constantly be on their guard, and are often attacked and hurt, Butler presents it in a way that keeps the reader engaged instead of pushing them away.  

Favorite Moment: There are not many happy or bright parts of the book, but there is a moment when it rains for a few days and the community is able to collect the 'free' water. 

Favorite Character: Bankole is an older man that ends up joining the group as they head north. He is helpful, resourceful, smart, protective, and also generous.

Recommended Reading: I do recommend Kindred, even though I had a hard time getting through it. Readers of science fiction will certainly appreciate its time traveling elements. 

Nonfiction: Who We're Reading When We're Reading Murakami by David Karashima

It was only after I had finished graduate school that I began to discover the writing of Haruki Murakami. It all started with The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and ten other books later, I have finally gotten around to reading Norwegian Wood (and currently have Sputnik Sweetheart sitting on my 'to-read' shelf). When I saw the title of today's book, Who We're Reading When We're Reading Murakami by David Karashima, I was naturally curious. Murakami's rise to fame in the U.S. market is an interesting thing, much like his writing, and Karashima's book adds context and also answers many questions.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that focuses mostly on Murakami's early work (Pinball, 1973; Hear the Wind Sing; A Wild Sheep Chase; Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World; The Elephant Vanishes; Dance Dance Dance; and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle), and the translators that helped bring them to an English-reading audience. Through research, interviews, and a few personal accounts, Karashima discusses Murakami's transition from having being beloved in his home-country of Japan and having a modest (though loyal) cult following in the U.S., to now being a literary superstar who is read around the world. While Karashima captures this history, he also manages to capture the personalities of the editors, translators, publishers, and even the author himself. With each section given a title that corresponds to the book(s) it is discussing, readers can follow along in the history of Murakami's work and rise to international fame.

My Verdict: As I looked at the chapter titles, I was immediately disappointed that this book was only going to go as far as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which was published in English in the U.S. in 1997. Murakami has published many books since, and while I suppose having an equally thorough account of all of them would have made this book incredibly long, I was still hungry for the information. With that said, that is pretty much my only substantial issue with this book. It is interesting hearing from the translators and editors who tackled Murakami's work in an attempt to bring him over to an English-reading audience. Translation seems like hard, arduous work, so getting even a peak at the process is enlightening. And being able to hear from Murakami himself added to my own perception of him as an unassuming, somewhat shy, humble, yet ambitious writer. Anyone who is at all curious about this author's appeal and transition to the global market will hold the information Karashima presented as invaluable.

Favorite Moment: Although it is not one of my favorites, I appreciated learning about the process of translating and publishing the English version of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Something about how they reconciled the two stories within the one book was incredibly interesting. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend The Age of Disenchantments by Aaron Shulman, a thorough exploration of the Paneros, one of Spain's most well-known literary families.

Young Adult Fiction: The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

Karen M. McManus cannot stop churning out YA thrillers, which is great news for her readers. Her previous book, One of Us Is Next (the sequel to 2017's One of Us Is Lying) was published earlier this year. Now, in the closing weeks of 2020, we get The Cousins, another thriller that follows the troubling legacy of the Story family and a summer that brings both questions and answers.

The Situation: Aubrey and Jonah Story, and Milly Story-Takahashi are cousins, but they barely know each other. Their parents are not exactly close, but it looks like the three cousins will finally get acquainted over the summer, as they have all been invited to work at their grandmother's resort island. The parents insist that the offer must be accepted, as over 20 years ago, Mildred Story disinherited all four of her kids with a one-line letter: "You know what you did." Once the children arrive, however, it is clear that Grandma Mildred did not invite them, and does not want them there. Even so, the cousins are resolved to stay, each taking up a small job on the resort, if only as an opportunity to find out what they can about their reclusive grandmother, each other, and what may have happened so long ago, that it has caused such a huge rift that has lasted over two decades.

The Problem: Being a Story on a 12-mile island is both easy and difficult. It is clear that the cousins are not held to the same standard as the other employees, which makes their jobs easy, but they are recognized immediately when they make it onto the island. It becomes incredibly difficult for them to uncover any secrets, especially when each of the cousins has a few of their own. Milly stays determined and uses her quick wit and pretty face to her advantage; Aubrey does her best to stay focused and not crumple under the pressure she is receiving from her father at home and her grandmother's associates on the island; and Jonah is simply trying his best to lay low and stay focused. The problematic Story family history has already cost him his summer, as well a few other things. Once the answers do start coming in, little is actually solved, and the Story cousins realize they may be in over their head, especially when the word "murder" starts to show up.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult thriller set during a summer on the fictional Gull Cove Island. The three Story cousins, Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah, will be spending the summer there, seemingly to work at their estranged grandmother's resort. The actual plan, of course, is for them to get back into their grandmother's good graces, and also the family fortune from which she cut off their parents. Greed is certainly at play here, but the longer the story goes on, the clearer it becomes that there is also pride, vanity, revenge, and the search for acceptance. Grandma Mildred's four children, Adam, Anders, Allison, and Archer, all want to be back in contact with their mother, but they all have different motives, and some may not be as ignorant as they act as to what happened 24 years ago. Even the cousins each have their own reasons for agreeing to spend a summer with a grandmother they have never met. Everything in this book is a mystery, and the layers are peeled off slowly as the cousins take turns telling the story.

My Verdict: This is a story. And I mean a really good one. The mystery and overall plot are both so well thought-out and well-written that it is difficult to find any flaws or holes. The characters are also well-rounded and easy to get to know. With three cousins that are different from each other, and also each trying to tell their own story, it is almost expected that at least one of them would not be as interesting or engaging as the others. But that does not happen here. Sure, readers may find one more likeable than the others, but I feel they were all three given equal attention and their own special role in the plot, which is naturally full of twists and turns. What is nice about those twists is that they are not overdone, and they come just often enough. Oh, and the ending. The more I read, the more I realize how hard it must be to write an ending that does not seem rushed, or that does not seem to have any unintentional loose ends, but somehow, even with a plot this complex, McManus nails it.

Favorite Moment: There are plenty of reveals throughout this book, but the first major one (you will know it what it happens) is my favorite. The clues are all there for the reader to figure it out, but it is still a satisfying surprise when it comes to light.

Favorite Character: Aubrey grew on me immensely throughout the book. As she becomes more confident in who she is and her own abilities, she takes more control over her own life and is essential in solving the mystery.

Recommended Reading: I suggest that readers start with McManus' first book if they have not already. One of Us Is Lying is where it all started, and I think readers will enjoy it if they enjoyed this one. 

Winners of the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards

Today is the day! The votes have been tallied, and it is time to find out which books came out on top in what has been a crazy year. Which books of 2020 have been voted as the favorites for the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards? And also, how many of those had their own moment on this blog?

And immediately, we have Fredrik Backman's Anxious People barely, and I mean barely, losing out to Matt Haig's The Midnight Library for Best Fiction...by five votes. Wow.

However, the race for Best Historical Fiction was not close at all, as Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half takes that win easily. And the same can be said for Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia as it wins handily for Best Horror. 

I could not be more pleased that Caste by Isabel Wilkerson has won for Best History & Biography as I cannot stop recommending this book to people. Information overload? Sure. Upsetting? Absolutely. But it is worth it. 

And as if I did not already have more than enough reason to be pleased about this year's results, I see that Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, possibly my favorite YA book of the year, has won for Best Young Adult Fiction. This is always a tough category, and I think it has been a few years since a favorite of mine has won. I would have loved if another DSN had won for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, but it was not meant to be as the winner is The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black, narrowly defeating The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. 

So there they are! Four of the winners in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards were featured on this blog at one point throughout the year. As always, this now means the process of finding a potential 2021 winner has begun, and I am so excited.

Science Fiction: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

To say that people were excited about the publication of Ernest Cline's Ready Player Two would be an understatement. Its predecessor, Ready Player One, has already began to be viewed as a modern classic, and it took readers on an incredible adventure through the author's imagined future, while also having fun with our real past. Sequels can be a mixed bag, often with potential to be great, but many have been disappointing at best, or upsetting at worst.

The Situation: It has been a few years since Wade Watts has won the contest that was put together by OASIS founder James Halliday. That day changed his entire life completely, giving him more fame, notoriety, and of course, money, than he ever dreamed he could have...certainly more than he will ever know what to do with. He was able to bring his closest friends along, Aech, Shoto, and Art3mis, and together, all four of them now own and control the OASIS together. Even so, Wade has found himself to be lonely, and even worse, unhappy. Even he admits that some of the decisions he has made, that the company has made, have not been the best, and a fair amount of OASIS users have not been afraid to let him know it. And worse, these decisions have affected his relationship with Art3mis, or Samantha, specifically the decision to create and release the new ONI headset. While Samantha is off helping to make the world a better place, Wade is often by himself, attempting to solve the latest puzzle that was set up by the late James Halliday, one that only Wade can win.

The Problem: This latest game is proving to be just as difficult as the first one, filled with cryptic clues and riddles that Wade will not be able to solve alone, though only he will be allowed to claim the prize. Unfortunately, he no longer has close connections, as he even feels somewhat separated from his partners Aech and Shoto. But when the first of seven pieces of the puzzle is found, the full magnitude of what James Halliday accomplished is revealed, and it is not good. Now Wade and the other OASIS partners must race against the clock, as a malevolent and seemingly all-powerful artificial intelligence vows to claim a large amount of human lives if Wade cannot deliver the prize before the clock runs out. It seems James Halliday's obsession with his best friend's wife, Kira, was more sinister than anyone had previously believed, except maybe her husband, Ogden Morrow. The team will now need to work together to save humanity, and each other, all while once again moving through pop culture references from the 80's and 90's. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the 2040s. Earth is still sustaining human life, but it is clear it will not be able to for too much longer. Thanks to winning James Halliday's contest, Wade is the most powerful OASIS user out there, and is responsible for making most of the decisions regarding what it can do and how it is used. Certainly one of the biggest decisions that was made was the release of the ONI headset. Now, instead of OASIS users simply logging into a virtual world, with the help of the ONI, they can actually experience it. Users can now feel the wind blowing on their skin when they are moving around. Also, they can share experiences with other users, seemingly enter the bodies of others to get a complete idea of what it is like to go surfing, skydiving, eat Indian food, take drugs, play guitar, you name it. Of course, there are obvious problems with this, and nearly every single one of them comes up in some way. But, as expected, Cline introduces these issues against a backdrop of classic pop culture moments, pulling from movies, TV shows, and music of the 80s and 90s, and even a few from the 2000s. 

My Verdict: Much like the first book, this is an adventure, but it takes a good amount of time to get started. I get it, there is some explaining that needs to happen in order to bring the reader up to speed with where Wade is now and what has happened since he won the contest in the first book. And once the adventure gets going, readers are treated to a thorough exploration through John Hughes movies, Middle Earth, and even the music and legacy of Prince. But something is off with this book, and I think for me it is mostly in the conclusion. To avoid spoilers I will need to be vague, but it felt to me like the issues that were brought up in the beginning of the book are ultimately ignored for an ending that is both problematic and unsatisfying. The adventure is fun and tense, though many of the references feel forced, and where it all ends up feels haphazard, rushed, and a little too tidy.

Favorite Moment: Any time Aech took the time to criticize or look a little closer at a pop culture phenomenon from the past and evaluate its lack of diverse representation. Both she and Wade have to come to an understanding that we can still appreciate these things, but we must also acknowledge their problems and not feel the need to defend them against scrutiny.

Favorite Character: For the first book, I had picked Ogden Morrow, James Halliday's former partner and best friend. Unfortunately, he does not play as big a part in this book, so I will instead pick Aech, both for her knowledge of Prince, and for her refusal to let Wade get away with anything.  

Recommended Reading: Just as with the first book, I will recommend The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, which is also full of pop and geek culture references (even more so in fact). 

Classic Fiction: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

My experience with the work of Kurt Vonnegut is incredibly limited. Cat's Cradle is only the second novel of his that I have read, with Slaughterhouse-Five being the first. He is one of those authors of which I have a generally favorable opinion, mostly due to the praise he receives from other readers. After reading the synopsis, I looked forward to a story full of satire and wit.

The Situation: A mostly unnamed narrator (who insists on being called Jonah in the first line, though his real name seems to be John, and then neither name is ever mentioned again for the rest of the book) is in the process of writing a book, The Day the World Ended. He is searching for any information pertaining to the late Felix Hoenikker, a co-creator of the atomic bomb, as well as a catastrophic substance known as ice-nine. The narrator seeks out Hoenikker's children, coworkers, acquaintances...anyone he can find that will give him more information on this fascinating figure. He eventually manages to find Newt Hoenikker, a dwarf and the youngest of the Hoenikker children, who only recalls his father playing the cat's cradle string game the day the first atomic bomb was dropped.

The Problem: After a magazine assignment sends the narrator to the island of San Lorenzo, he once again comes into contact with Newt, as well as the other two Hoenikker children, Angela and Frank. It is on the island that the narrator will be introduced to Bokononism, a made up religion that the people of the island practice, even though it is outlawed, and practicing it is punishable by death. The narrator also meets Mona, a woman he immediately begins to lust after, and her father and current president of San Lorenzo, "Papa" Monzano. The following days will be filled with the history and troubles of the island, the teachings of Bokononism, and a series of events that will lead the narrator to be the new president of San Lorenzo, and the world's oceans to be frozen solid.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set partly in the US, and later in the fictional Caribbean island of San Lorenzo. In true Vonnegut style, the novel is satirical in nature, and filled with the kind of humor that may make you smirk or outright laugh, but you kind of feel bad about it. From the beginning, two major themes are religion, and the science of the Cold War era, specifically the research that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. By the time the events of this novel take place, Felix Hoenikker has been dead for some time, but those that remember him recall how aloof he was, as well as his general lack of interest in the effect his research would have on the world. Another of his inventions, known as ice-nine, ends up falling into the hands of various world powers, a situation somewhat reminiscent of the nuclear arms race. As for religion, Bokononism, which the narrator later adopts, was invented to make life on San Lorenzo more bearable for its inhabitants, as the island is incredibly poor.  

My Verdict: I feel like I should enjoy Vonnegut more than I do. I thoroughly enjoy the absurdist humor of books like Catch-22, and authors like Flannery O'Connor. However, I do not know if it is the general pace of the novel (it contains 127 chapters, but is less than 300 pages long and is an incredibly fast read), or the actual plot, or maybe even the ridiculous characters, but I had a hard time staying interested. The premise is fascinating enough, and it is not slow or boring...and yet, I was bored and wanted it to move faster. It makes little sense, if any. Still, I will recommend it, if only because it is short and an interesting commentary on religion (or at least man's relationship with it), as well as the relationship between inventors and their responsibility for what they invent.

Favorite Moment: When the narrator realizes just how quickly he takes to the power he was hesitant to accept.

Favorite Character: They all have their quirks, and they are all tiresome in one way or another. Newt may be the most tolerable if only because he seems to be the most innocent.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, though it is much longer, and for most, much harder to finish. 

Contemporary Fiction: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

It may be that I missed the boat on 2014's A Man Called Ove, as well as Fredrik Backman's many novels in between that one and today's Anxious People. Even so, I figure his latest work is as good a place to start as any for my first experience with his storytelling. At worst, it will lead me to buy all of his other books and potentially binge-read them over Christmas break. There are certainly worse ways to spend the holidays.

The Situation: This is a story about a bank robbery that never quite happened, and the hostage drama that took place afterwards. First there is the bank robber, who is, like many bank robbers, incredibly desperate and in a place where one bad decision easily leads to even worse one. Then there is Roger and Anna-Lena, an older, retired married couple who spends their time buying fixer-upper apartments, renovating them, and then reselling. Ro and Julia are expecting parents looking to find a home for their growing family. And Zara has spent her life making money instead learning how to be a decent, compassionate human being. It is during the apartment viewing put on by a real-estate agent for the House Tricks Estate Agency that the bank robber comes upon this random assortment of people. It will be some time before any of them, the bank robber included, realize that there is another person there who is currently locked inside of the bathroom. And then there is 87 year-old Estelle, who is still waiting on her husband who is outside parking the car.

The Problem: All of these people are idiots. And also the worst hostages ever. Granted, the bank robber is also the worst bank robber ever. The bank was never even robbed, and now it has unwittingly turned into a hostage situation. And despite the presence of a pistol, Roger is still focused on scaring off the potential competition so that he and Anna-Lena get the apartment; Julia manages to nag Ro about the smallest things; Estelle does not seem the slightest bit concerned about being held against her will at gun point; and Zara spends most of her time on the balcony, blasting music through her headphones. As a father-son team of police offices do their best to get everyone out safely, while also not having officials from Stockholm take over the entire operation, everyone gets to tell their story, revealing that no one is really all they seem to be, including the bank robber.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in present-day Sweden. With several inter-connecting storylines, the focus shifts across many characters, and the story moves back and forth through time, showing how everyone got to this one strange moment. It is not as simple as someone waking up one day and deciding that they are going to rob a bank and take hostages. There is a string of events and circumstances that lead someone to believe that there is no way out...that robbing a bank is the only option left. Same for the one who decides to jump off of a bridge; the one who decides to take a bunch of pills; the one who decides to become a police officer; even the one who decides to lie about the husband that has been dead for quite some time. At first glance, these characters are terrible people, easily dismissed as people who should be left to their own miseries. But there is more to it than that (or perhaps less, depending on how you wish to look at it). Being human is hard, and these people are struggling.

My Verdict: This book is stressful. The title should have been an adequate enough warning for that, but somehow I still was not prepared. And by the end of it, I was exhausted and I could feel my brain breathe a sigh of relief that it was finally over. But even though the book is both stressful and exhausting, it does not mean it is bad. In fact, it is funny, insightful, and a great adventure that feels like you are on a boat tour you were excited about, but with a bunch of annoying people, and the tour guide has just announced that the boat's engine has failed and it will be awhile before help arrives. You want to finish the tour, but you also really need to get away from the other passengers. The people are tiresome, but they are still people, and they are doing the best they can, just like everyone else. It is a humorous peak at humanity, and an exploration of the idea that we must keep trying, even if we suspect it will all fall apart in the end.  

Favorite Moment: This book is full of reveals, and it would be impossible to talk about my favorite one without spoiling a major plot point. Suffice it to say that nothing, absolutely nothing, is at it seems.

Favorite Character: Estelle is the sweet older woman who has no reason to trust a stranger, but would offer you a ride if she saw you out walking in bad weather. She is almost too old to be concerned with that kind of stuff anymore.

Recommended Reading: The beginning of this book reminded me a great deal of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. I know that book has frustrated many, but I mention it because I want readers to be adequately prepared for the frustration the beginning of Anxious People may bring them.  

Goodreads Choice Awards 2020 Final Round

This is it, readers. The voting has opened for the final round of the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards. This is the round that really breaks hearts, as many favorites get eliminated and left out of the final ten for their categories. I am always a little apprehensive to click the link and see if the books I voted for made it through, or if they failed to get enough votes to push to the end. I guess we will see...

The good news: All is well in the Best Fiction category, with all four DSNs that were originally nominated till holding strong. But it breaks my heart to see the same is not true for Best Historical Fiction. My pick, Deacon King Kong by James McBride, has not made it into the finals, and that makes me so sad. I adore this book. So after much thought, I am switching my vote to The Vanished Half by Brit Bennett.  

And the heartbreak continues in the Best Science Fiction category with the loss of The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez, another favorite of mine, which means I will be switching my vote to Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi. 

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic is holding strong in the Best Horror Category. And while the same can be said for Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett in Best Memoir & Autobiography, sadly, Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford did not make the cut, which is a shame because it is also a great book. 

In my opinion, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson deserves to win Best History & Autobiography; I have been recommending that book to everyone. Unfortunately, Almost American Girl by Robin Ha has disappeared from Best Graphic Novels & Comics, leaving that category without a DSN to represent it. 

My Dark Vanessa also manages to remain in the Best Debut Novel category, and it will be interesting to see if it can manage to snag both this category and Best Fiction, both of which have some incredible competition. 

And in another competitive category, my favorite for Best Young Adult Fiction, Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, remains a strong contender. But Tiffany D. Jackson's Grown has been left out. But both DSNs that were nominated for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction are standing firm, but being that they are Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, that is not surprising.  

So, down from 20 DSNs to 15, and a few of the now eliminated five were my personal favorites. But that is just how it is this year, and I am still excited to see the results.

The voting for the final round closes on Monday, November 30th, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 8th. This is certainly getting interesting, and I wish all of the nominees the best of luck.

Young Adult Fiction: Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Author Nina LaCour has published her latest novel, Watch Over Me, to follow in the trail of the Printz Award-winning We Are Okay. My love of LaCour's work actually began with 2012's The Disenchantments, and ever since then I have come to count on her insight, vivid settings, and emotional plot lines for a story that will take the reader on a journey, as well as entertain.

The Situation: Now that she is 18 years-old, Mila has aged out of the foster care system. But it is okay, as she has accepted an internship teaching children at a remote farm. Mila is used to being alone, and she is looking forward for a chance to start over, maybe even find that sense of "home" that has eluded her for the past few years. When she arrives, she is greeted with nothing but warm and welcoming faces. The other two interns, Liz and Billy, already have an easy relationship that makes Mila slightly envious, though she never quite feels unwelcome. It is when she meets her one student, nine year-old Lee, that Mila starts to feel a connection to someone, someone that makes her feel needed. As she embraces her role as Lee's teacher, and gets to know the inner workings of the farm, Mila begins to think that maybe this can be the home she has been looking for.

The Problem: Mila's new home is wonderful, but the ghosts that play out in the field at night are unsettling. She really wishes they had told her the place was haunted before she accepted the job, but ultimately, the ghosts are not harmful or mean...though one makes mean faces at Lee, and another one, the dancing girl, hurts Mila's eyes to look at. The other's know about the ghosts, some even play with them, but what they do not know is Mila's own haunting past. The stories she had hoped to put behind her are now creeping up again. She does not like talking about the fire that caused her mother to disappear, or the man that forced them to live in a house with no roof. But the memories are there, as are the dreams, and the ghosts are not helping. If Mila does not figure out how to handle her own past trauma, the memories of what she is trying to put behind her may ruin the new life she is attempting to build.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel set in a remote location on the Northern California coast. The farm that Mila now lives is run by Terry and Julia, a couple that adopts foster children and hires young adults to help teach and take care of them, while also working the farm. Each child, as well as the interns, has their own traumatic story behind who they are and how they ended up with Terry and Julia. While some have been able to move past what they have been through, others are still haunted, much like how some are somewhat disturbed by the ghosts while others are not. The story explores the effects of trauma, what it means to truly survive, and what it means to choose to be a family, as opposed to simply sticking with the people you are born with. And while the ghosts are very much a part of the story, they are not the whole story.

My Verdict: I think what I love most about LaCour's writing are the settings, with the subtle and careful exploration of emotions coming in at a close second. With this book, the setting of the remote farm does not make a whole lot of sense, at least not to me, and yet it still took a firm place in my imagination and remained unmoved. It is isolated, somewhat on a cliff with waves crashing below, abundant with flowers, and often encased with fog. Then there are the characters that live on it, of which there are many...so many that it would be easy to lose track, but LaCour makes each one stand out, even the ones with which Mila does not have a lot of interaction. And then there are the ghosts. Ghost stories are tricky, but LaCour gives them enough of a presence to set them firmly in place, while not letting them be the whole story. The book is more about survival and finding a place than it is about being haunted. And LaCour handles it all with her usual delicate grace.

Favorite Moment: When it becomes clear that Lee is warming up to Mila as his new teacher.

Favorite Character: Terry and Julia are both warm, loving, trustworthy, and generous people.    

Favorite Quote: "There was no going back. Never again would I sit next to Grammy at the piano, positioning my fingers as she had. Grandpa would never again turn up the volume. Never ask me to dance. All of that was over. This is what I had now."

Recommended Reading: LaCour's The Disenchantments remains my favorite of all of her books.   

Goodreads Choice Awards 2020 Semifinal Round

The voting in the semifinal round of the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards has officially begun. Time to see which books have been written into your favorite categories, and more specifically, if those new entries will prove to be gamechangers in the finals.

Only one category has had a DSN added to the nominees, adding it to the 19 other books that have been in it since the beginning.

 It looks like Hank Green (brother of young adult writer John Green) and his A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor have earned enough write-in votes to be considered in the Best Science Fiction category. Same thing happened in 2018 for his previous novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, though it did not result in a win. I will be sticking with my previous vote for The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez.

This second round of voting will remain open through Sunday, November 15, with the all-important final round beginning Tuesday, November 17. Remember, the votes in this semifinal round will decide which books will be in the top ten in each category for the finals. So let's start voting.

Nonfiction: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

The decision to read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson was both an easy and a hard one, if that makes sense. From its description, I knew it was a book that I should read...possibly a book that everyone should read. But I also knew it would be a difficult, and often upsetting journey. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that specifically explores America's history and its consequences by relating it to the idea of a caste: a system of dividing society into hereditary classes. At the mention of the word 'caste,' most people think of the caste system of India, which of course Wilkerson mentions. She also brings up the caste system put into place by Nazi Germany and that characterized Hitler's rise to power. The caste systems of India and Germany are easy for most Americans to point to and recognize, but Wilkerson is making the point that what Americans do no seem to realize is that this country is also built on a caste system that has slavery as its foundation. Yes, racism is a big part of it, but it is not quite all of it. The caste system in American is what allows those in the dominant caste to believe (either consciously or subconsciously) that they are inherently better that the lower caste and that they deserve their place on top. And when that advantage is threatened, tensions arise, as well as disillusionment and even despair. Through personal stories, as well as thorough research, Wilkerson presents her idea, giving a different look at a history we all think we have already learned.

My Verdict: Well, I was correct in my thinking that this book was going to be both difficult and upsetting. However, even more than that, it was interesting, even fascinating, and I learned a great deal more than I expected. I will admit that around 3/4 of the way in, I experienced a sharp sense of despair, partially over our country's history, as well as its present as it seems we are currently in a state of regression (though that may be my own faulty perception as opposed to how things actually are). But thankfully, Wilkerson aimed to have her book offer hope, as well as teach and instruct. Of course, with that hope comes the acknowledgement of the long hard road ahead. Effectively presenting America as a caste system was impressive enough, but Wilkerson managed to go even further and deeper, thoroughly explaining what that means, its effects, and what will have to be done to change it. I cannot think of anyone who would not benefit from reading this book.

Favorite Quotes: "Caste is the granting or withholding of respect, status, honor, attention, privileges, resources, benefit of the doubt, and human kindness to someone on the basis of their perceived rank or standing in the hierarchy. Caste pushes back against an African-American woman who, without humor or apology, takes a seat at the head of the table speaking Russian. It prefers an Asian-American man to put his technological expertise at the service of the company but not to aspire to CEO. Yet it sees as logical a sixteen-year-old white teenager serving as store manager over employees from the subordinate caste three times his age."

"If the lower-caste person manages actually to rise above an upper-caste person, the natural human response from someone weaned on their caste's inherent superiority is to perceive a threat to their existence...Who are you if there is no one to be better than?"

Recommended Reading: I recommend Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Historical Fiction: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

A mystery, spanning 80 years, and centered in and around the New York Public Library and the family who took up residence inside of it. That is the overall premise that drew me to The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. As a book nerd, I naturally have thought about what it would be like to live in a library or bookstore. What Davis has done is thought that idea through, while also adding a mystery that involves the theft of rare books.

The Situation: Laura Lyons and her husband Jack have been living in the apartment located inside of the New York Public Library as part of Jack's job as the library's superintendent. Laura's small children, Harry and Pearl, immediately took to the stone lions out front, Lenox and Astor, but have a hard time with living within the quiet and peaceful environment that must be maintained for both serious patrons and tourists alike. Laura also misses their life in the country, but when she is accepted into the Columbia Journalism School, she imagines a new kind of freedom for herself. Eighty years later in 1993, Sadie Donovan is working as a curator for the library, and while she is the granddaughter of Laura, whose writings have recently gained significant interest among the public, she has kept the connection to herself. And when rare books begin to go missing, much like they did when Laura lived in the library in 1913, Sadie is determined to find the thief, but is afraid that her connection to the past may cause fingers to be pointed in her direction.

The Problem: In 1913, the first book to go missing is a first edition of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. The stealing of rare books is nothing new, as some attempt to resell them for a tidy profit, while others only wish to add them to their own personal collection. For the New York Public Library, losing one rare book is terrible, losing more than that is a travesty. Unfortunately, more books begin to go missing, and since Jack is the superintendent, he will ultimately be held accountable. Meanwhile, Laura is attending graduate school, making friends while attending meetings in Greenwich Village held by radical feminists, and discovering that she wants more out of life. This, added to the recent thefts, puts a strain on her relationship with Jack. When Sadie must deal with the thefts in her own time, they threaten the career she has built for herself, while only adding to the mysteries in her family's past. If the thief is not caught soon, it may be more than only rare books that end up lost. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that takes place during two points in time, 80 years apart. In 1913, Laura is the wife of the New York Public Library's current superintendent. With their two small children, they live in the apartment located inside of the library, but the close quarters inside of the big city eventually prove to be somewhat suffocating, and not only for Laura. In 1993, Sadie is a curator for the library's Berg Collection, a job she absolutely loves, but it is not without its trials, especially when one of the diaries of Virginia Wolf goes missing. She knows there was some sort of scandal that forced her grandmother and her family to leave the library 80 years ago, but she does not know the specifics, and prefers to keep anyone else from looking too closely. Both women value their independence and ability to make their own choices, but both things are much easier for Sadie to hold onto than Laura. She loves being a wife and mother, but she rankles at the idea that she is not to be anything more. While the apartment inside of the New York Public Library did exist at one point, Laura's family and their story is fiction. But rare book theft is of course a reality.

My Verdict: When I started the book, I was absolutely delighted that it focused on and also took place mostly inside of the New York Public Library. I had the pleasure of visiting it myself in 2013 and I know what I imagine to be life inside of it does not come close to reality. I was skeptical that I would be interested in both Laura and Sadie's stories, but both mysteries were intriguing and engaging, and both heroines were interesting and fully realized. It was maybe about two-thirds of the way into the book that the story began to unravel for me, somewhat. While I enjoyed Sadie's story throughout, something about Laura's story did not fit together quite so neatly. Also, it felt as if Laura was searching for freedom to be who she wanted, which was mostly a woman of her own means, but instead of being allowed to choose what path to take, she was still only given a few options as to what direction to go in. I am not sure if I am making any sense there, but it felt she was only given the illusion of a choice. As for the two separate and interesting mysteries, they certainly kept me guessing, and helped to smooth over some of the rougher spots in the novel.

Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When Sadie successfully plays a part in recovering two of the stolen books from a book shop.  

Favorite Character: Mr. Babenko, who works in the library's bindery, has sacrificed the health of his hands for his work. Ultimately, this is a point of pride for him, but I love his good nature and his commitment to books.

Recommended Reading: I recommend The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate. More books, more history, and another plot split between two points in time.    

Goodreads Choice Awards 2020

For the most part, it is the month of November that is associated with the Goodreads Choice Awards. However, it seems this year the party is getting started a little early, and I for one am fine with that. Time for readers to pick their favorite books of 2020 as voting will remain open through November 8th for the first round.

The Best Fiction category starts off strong with four DSNs making the cut. This category is always tough, and this year is no different with My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel, and Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, which will appear in a post in late November. My pick is easily Russell's dark and unsettling My Dark Vanessa, which follows the story of a woman, now in her 30s, as she attempts to reconcile the relationship she had with her 42 year-old teacher when she was only 15. It is certainly upsetting, but Russell's writing makes it worth the trouble.

Best Historical Fiction also has some stiff competition, with Lisa Wingate's The Book of Lost Friends, James McBride's Deacon King Kong, and Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half. Though all three books are strong contenders, my personal choice will be Deacon King Kong. I love Wingate's ability to bring her readers into the past, while also linking it to a separate narrative set in the present. And Bennett's tale of two sisters dealing with the racism of a post-Jim Crow America is engaging as well as fascinating. But something about McBride's colorful characters in 1960s Brooklyn will always stick with me. 

I am usually lucky to have one book in the Best Science Fiction category, and this year I managed to get two in there. Both The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez, and Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi are up for the award. Both are fantastic, but I must go with Jimenez. He presents a future where Earth can no longer support life, and space travel has been more or less conquered. It is one of those books that is just shy of 400 pages, but has so much going on that it felt like it was longer, and I still wanted more.  

One title made it into the Best Horror category, and that is Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. When a young debutante heads off to a small town in 1950s Mexico to check on her cousin, it is clear that something is going on in the strange house she is staying in, and the family her cousin married into is certainly hiding something. It was not one of my favorite books of 2020, but I certainly understand the appeal. 

I would recommend both Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett and Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford to anyone looking for a great memoir or autobiography. One is the story of a young man seemingly fighting against destiny to overcome his childhood of being raised by an abusive mother, while longing for the attention of his ex-con father. And the other is about a young girl's experience of sexual assault and the cover-up that followed at one of America's most elite boarding schools. As far as my vote for Best Memoir & Autobiography, I choose Hollywood Park, as Jollett's writing is both lyrical and haunting.  

The post for Caste by Isabel Wilkerson will appear in early November, and I am so pleased to be able to vote for it in the Best History & Biography Category. Both eye-opening and upsetting, Wilkerson outlines how the U.S. operates like a caste system, with slavery as its foundation. It may be hard to believe, but through research, interviews, and personal examples, Wilkerson makes a solid case.

Robin Ha's Almost American Girl is absolutely delightful. This nominee for Best Graphic Novels & Comics tells the story of a young girl whose world is turned upside down when she goes to Alabama for vacation from her home of Korea, only to be told after she gets there that she and her mother are never going back. Confusion, anger, culture shock...it's all there, and Ha's beautiful illustrations and writing capture a tale both hopeful and despairing.   

Russell's My Dark Vanessa makes its second appearance in the Awards, this time in the Best Debut Novel category, and I am all too happy to vote for it twice.

Oh young adult fiction, how I adore you. And the same can be said for the DSNs that made it into the Best Young Adult Fiction category. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson, and One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus are all worth picking up. But I have to give it Acevedo as she once again gives us a compelling story told completely through poetry. 

And finally, we come to the last category with Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction. It should be no surprise to anyone that both Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins have been nominated. And while I loved the former, I was pretty disappointed in the latter. It felt like an odd choice to have an entire book focus on Coriolanus Snow, the devious and plotting president from the first three Hunger Games books. And Adeyemi's follow-up to Children of Blood and Bone was pretty much what readers were hoping for, which for me makes it the obvious pick. 

With 19 books across 10 categories, the DSNs have made a pretty good showing in the opening round of this year's Goodreads Choice Awards. And of course, when the second round begins, readers will see the write-in votes added to the mix.

Happy voting!

Contemporary Fiction: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Today I will be covering the second novel from Brit Bennett, The Vanishing Half. Honestly, I bought this one on a whim. It was one of those Amazon purchases I made quickly, before I could change my mind, because I knew this book would be somewhat of a trial for me to work through. 

The Situation: Desiree and Stella Vignes are identical twins born in the small southern town of Mallard: a town founded specifically for light-skinned black people, so light in fact, that many of them could pass for white. After losing their father to a lynch mob while they are still young, the two sisters will grow up under the watchful gaze of their hardworking mother, Adele. But after being forced to drop out of school, something they both enjoy, and made to work cleaning houses, Desiree decides enough is enough, and manages to convince Stella to leave for New Orleans. When Desiree returns to Mallard 14 years later, it will be as much as a surprise as the day she and her sister left, but now she has a small child with her. The people of Mallard are having a hard time believing the little girl to be Desiree's daughter, mostly because her skin is so dark. And as many questions they may have about little Jude, they have just as many about Stella.

The Problem: When Desiree had to convince Stella to leave Mallard when they were teenagers, she had no idea her sister would then leave her while they were working in New Orleans. Both girls always had the ability to pass for white, and it did not require much effort. Given the right circumstance, many people would assume they were white without either one of them saying a word. So when Stella made the decision to pass over, it was not all that difficult, or even surprising. But it would be a secret she would have to keep forever, from everyone, and never again make contact with anyone from her past, including the woman who looks exactly like her. It is only after her own daughter, Kennedy, has grown up and began performing on stage that the past begins to haunt her. It seems Kennedy's life has somehow intersected with Jude's, Desiree's daughter. And now the careful and fragile lie that Stella has maintained all those years is in danger of being exposed.   

Genre, Themes, History: The is a fiction novel that takes place between the years 1968 and 1988, though it jumps back and forth through time between sections. There is plenty going on here, the most obvious of which being race relations, identity, and the idea of passing. Also included are explorations of gender, and the mother/daughter dynamic. The twins are identical, and though they run away together, their lives take different courses. Stella decides to pass for white and disappears for good, and Desiree marries a dark-skinned black man with whom she has Jude, a girl whose skin is so dark she is teased with names like Tar Baby, and ends up returning to Mallard. When each of the twins' daughters grow up, their paths cross with only one knowing the truth. All of the issues in this book are complicated, though almost every character will search for the simple answer, claiming it is out there and easy to hold onto. Stella wants to desperately maintain her lie, despite the effort it takes, the pain it causes, and how it effects her daughter.

My Verdict: As I already said, there is a lot going on in this book. It is not only about a black woman passing for white and the identical twin that returned to their hometown, though I almost wish it had been. There are many points in the book where I felt like there was too much to keep track of; too many issues and threads to follow; and ultimately, not enough resolution. But of course, that is also how life is. The characters are complicated, nothing is straight-forward, and Bennett captures the feeling of confronting someone with the truth, expecting all to be revealed and resolved at once, but instead it is all followed by confusion, sometimes anger, and more lies. Of all of the people that will lie to us in our lifetime, it is perhaps the most problematic when those people come from our own family, the people we are supposed to trust the most. I am not all that fond of the ending, and I would have preferred more focus on Desiree and Stella, and Jude and Kennedy. But it is an interesting story that will keep the reader guessing.

Favorite Moment: Jude experiences a revelation after she has moved away from Mallard that I think is really well-done. I do not want to get more specific for fear of spoiling it, but I think readers will know it when they find it.

Favorite Character: Early may be a bit of a wanderer who cannot stay in one place for too long, but he treats Desiree and Jude well, and is even able to get past the obvious disapproval of Adele.

Recommended Reading: There is not a book quite like this one out there, and I have not read Bennett's previous book, The Mothers. So I will simply recommend Dread Nation by Justina Ireland for those interested in a YA adventure set in post-Civil War America.

Young Adult Fiction: Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Nic Stone may not have intended to write a sequel to Dear Martin, but those of us who love that book are glad she did. Dear Justyce follows a character that shows up in the first book, though some readers may not remember him. Through letters and flashbacks, a new story unfolds from a young man who grew up in the same neighborhood as our previous protagonist, but whose life has gone in a very different direction.

The Situation: Vernell LaQuan Banks Jr., or 'Quan,' is currently in the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Center on a murder charge. Mistakes were made, choices were made, and through a series of ill-fated events, a police officer is dead and all signs point to Quan. Now Quan is writing letters to Justyce McAllister, who is currently finishing up his first year as a pre-law at Yale. Quan has to know: Both he and Justyce grew up in the same neighborhood, even went to the same schools; so how did they end up in such different places? Quan begins the story when he was younger, and he feels the night his dad was arrested is the night when it all began. Granted, things were not the best before that, but they were better. Afterwards there is the first arrest. Then came the second. Followed by a third that would stay on his record, and the fourth that established the course of his life. Quan does not want to be the guy to blame fate or destiny, but what else is he to call it when no one ever expected anything different?

The Problem: Quan wants to be clear: He made decisions that landed him where he is. But there are others who have made similar decisions - some even worse decisions - whose consequences were not nearly as bad, simply because they did not look like him. Boys who look like him, who grew up where he did, are easily ignored, blamed, and dismissed as delinquents. Quan wonders if things could have been different if he had received more support, if people were not so ready to believe he was capable of only the worst. The path that led him to where he is feels predetermined, and almost impossible to go against, so why not lean into it? But when Justyce enters the picture after finishing his first year in college, he has a plan to change things. It was his letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that inspired Quan to begin writing letters to him, and after their months of correspondence, he insists on standing by his friend. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel that follows 2017's Dear Martin. Stone was ready to leave Justyce McAllister alone as she felt good with where his story ended. But after a correspondence with some readers, she decided to write about the black boys who do not end up going to Ivy League colleges in the end - the ones who either stay where they are, or end up in jail, and not necessarily because the punishment is fitting for the crime. Dear Martin readers will not only recognize some of the characters from the previous book, but also Stone's stylistic, almost lyrical prose as Quan tells his story. Going beyond simply varying the sentence structure, simple phrases are often laid out in a way that will cause a reader to stop and think. Is Quan simply following his destiny? Was there ever a chance that things could have been different? If Justyce escaped, why couldn't he? And why is the justice system, and so many other systems, so ready to give up on him, when all it could take is for someone, anyone, to believe in him?

My Verdict: I read this book in a day. Less than 12 hours. And it is not because it is an easy read. There is a lot going on in this thing, and I can see why Stone said in the author's note that she had a difficult time writing it. I even had a difficult time writing this blog post. What I love most is the writing style. From the letters, to the snapshots, to the actual narrative, things start off interesting and they stay interesting. Quan is the type of kid that society quickly gives up on, but I refused to give up on his story, even when things looked their most hopeless and desperate, which was often. From the start it was clear that Quan was going to have a hard road. The term 'uphill battle' is appropriate, but also not quite strong enough. His story says a lot about the world we live in and how it treats people like him, and it is a must for any Dear Martin fan. It is an example of the power of belief and hope, as well as perseverance and courage.   

Favorite Moment: There is something about the way Quan describes the playground that he used to run to, with the rocket ship that he would climb inside. The rocket ship shows up a few times, until Quan must eventually describe what the playground looks like without it. 

Favorite Character: Justyce may be one of the bravest young characters I have read about in quite awhile. He is willing to enter what amounts to a lion's den for a friend he is not even sure he can save.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi, and of course, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.        

Graphic Novel: Displacement by Kiku Hughes

Graphic novels do not get the attention they should. They are a wonderful form of storytelling for pretty much any genre. Today I will be discussing Displacement by Kiku Hughes, the story of a teenage girl who is transported back in time to when her grandmother was forced into an internment camp for Japanese families living in the United States.

The Situation: Kiku is a 16 year-old girl following her mother around while on a trip to San Francisco. While her mother attempts to find the house Kiku's grandmother lived in before she was forced into an internment camp, Kiku simply wishes their trip were over and the two could return back to their home in Seattle. But as Kiku waits for her mother outside of a shopping mall, a fog rolls in and transports her to a different time, though the same place. It does not last long. In fact, it is short enough for Kiku to convince herself it was a dream. But then it happens again, and this time there is no question that what Kiku is experiencing is real. Now she wants to get out of San Francisco more than ever. Believing she has left what she refers to as the 'displacements' behind in California, Kiku relaxes at her home Seattle, while the nation is preparing for the 2016 presidential election. And as Kiku's mother frets and scowls over the speeches of Repubican candidate Donald Trump, Kiku is once again displaced to the 1940s, and this time, she may be there awhile.

The Problem: Kiku finds herself as one of the many that were forcibly removed to internment camps in the 1940s after the events of Pearl Harbor. Completely alone and only 16, she must lean on the kindness of others to get her through in both a time and place she does not know. And though the food is inedible, and the authorities are less than gracious, Kiku finds herself adapting quickly and more easily than she thought she would. If there was one thing she wish she could get over, it is her hesitance to reach out to the family who lives next door, which happens to be her grandmother and her great-grandparents. In her actual life, Kiku never knew much about her mother's mother, not even her real first name, much less her history and struggles. Now she is one door down, and she still cannot bring herself to reach out. Kiku's displacement has left her scared and uncertain, wondering if she will ever return to her own time; if she will get the opportunity to meet her grandmother; and if history will be bound to repeat itself in her own time.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a graphic novel set mostly in Japanese internment camps during the 1940s. The reader follows 16 year-old Kiku as she moves across time, experiencing for herself what her grandmother went through as someone forced away from their home, and into an internment camp. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, many Japanese, German, and Italian residents were forced into internment camps all across America. Some were hastily built, which meant they were often not properly insulated, and less than ready to be inhabited even after the people arrived. Before the displacement that will leave Kiku in the past for the better part of a year, she recalls overhearing the television as Donald Trump lays out his plan to regulate the immigration of Muslims, mandating that a registry be kept for all Muslims entering the United States. Though it is nearly 80 years later, parallels can still be drawn between then and now. It is a story about the importance of learning our history, and the power of memory.

My Verdict: The illustrations are well-done, clean, and simple, while also powerful and at times haunting. Inspired by Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, Hughes explores the pull of the past and the lessons it can teach us about our present and future. What is nice about graphic novels is that they can relay a story with their vivid illustrations, using less words, and therefore be read quickly, often in one sitting. However, sometimes details get lost, or it seems like something is missing. I did not feel like I was missing out on anything with this story. The confusion and fear Kiku experiences over the injustice she is faced with is intense, and even seems somewhat magnified as she belongs in the present day, not the 1940s. What I am possibly the most pleased with is the potential for this story to encourage readers to look for more information on the internment camps of the 1940s, and also evaluate for themselves the current policies regarding immigration.

Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When Kiku is able to bond with her mother over her experience.

Favorite Character: At the first interment camp she is sent to, Kiku is assigned a room with Aiko, a determined woman who takes many risks to stand up against what is happening.

Recommended Reading: Naturally, I recommend Butler's Kindred, either the novel or graphic novel adaptation. Also, I recommend The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell.     

Contemporary Fiction: Truthtelling by Lynne Sharon Schwartz

Often I choose the books for this blog through research and recommendation. Today's selection, Truthtelling: Stories, Fables, Glimpses, was sent to me ahead of publication, and I am thrilled to be able to cover a book before it comes out, as that is extremely rare for me. I also do not often cover short story collections, so this was a nice change of pace.

Genre, Themes, History: As mentioned, this is a short story collection, and every story occurs in and around New York City, following various city residents as they live their lives, or attempt to. With 25 stories, a few or as short as a couple of pages, and the longest comes in at 27 pages. Each one focuses on a fairly ordinary person who has either entered into a certain phase of life that has brought about some sort of realization, of they find themselves in a slightly odd situation that they have a hard time reconciling. "Return of the Frenchman" is a shorter story of barely two pages that simply relates a woman's chance encounter with a Frenchman that she first met at a party years before. Then there are slightly longer stories like "I Want My Car," which involves an increasingly confused and agitated man whose ex-wife keeps coming up with reasons not to return the car she borrowed from him. And then there are some stories that go a bit further, such as "Public Transit," in which a woman is concerned for her own mental well-being due to her increasingly erratic behavior while riding public transportation. The collection is all about New York, and all about human behavior in the big city.

My Verdict: I was excited to tackle a short story collection for a change instead of the longer narratives I usually gravitate towards. Naturally, with 25 short stories, there are going to be some that simply are not as engaging as others. For me, there are maybe only four or five of them that stood out, while the others sort of blend in with each other. Some of them were lacking in plot, while others were lacking in resolutions. The stories seemed to simply end, almost with the understanding that the character's lives will continue on as before, and what the reader saw was one snapshot of a less than ordinary circumstance. Fortunately, the standouts really stood out, such as "Career Choice," "Near November," and "Fragment Discovered in a Charred Steel Box." For those that enjoy Schwartz's work, this collection will probably be enjoyable enough, and it is an interesting overall look at society in general through the eyes of a few peculiar people.

Favorite Story: I enjoyed "Career Choice," which involves a woman's plan to marry a wealthy older man, but her surprise comes after her plan succeeds.

Recommended Reading: As I said, I do not read many short story collections. For today, I recommend Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, which tells stories involving school kids as they head home.