Historical Fiction: Deacon King Kong by James McBride

For whatever reason, I am having a hard time finding historical fiction that I actually want to read in 2020. I try to avoid stories about World War II, but somehow end up reading them anyway. Maybe this year I am finally succeeding, and my deeper searching has brought me to Deacon King Kong by James McBride. Set in the Brooklyn during the tumultuous 60s, I figured this would be an interesting ride at the very least.

The Situation: It is a fairly normal day outside the Causeway Housing Projects, or the Cause, in Brooklyn, New York, when a well-known old drunk that goes by the name of Sportcoat inexplicably walks up to a young drug dealer, and shoots the boy point-blank. No one knows why it happened, not even Sportcoat himself, as later that same day he will deny knowing anything about it. He has no memory of shooting Deems, who is someone he has known since the young man was little, having been his Sunday school teacher and his baseball coach. But what everyone seems to understand - everyone except Sportcoat - is this action will have repercussions that will be felt all over Brooklyn: from the church folk at the Five Ends Baptist Church; to every drug outfit, not just Deems and his crew; to the families who live in the various housing projects in the area; and to the business men, legitimate and otherwise, who have set up in the area. Even the police are affected, because in 1969 Brooklyn, an incident like this only leads to headaches and dead bodies.

The Problem: Deems may have survived the shooting, but now Sportcoat must be dealt with, and the old man is too drunk most of the time to understand the trouble he has caused. Not only does Deems want him dealt with, but Deems' boss as well. It is bad enough that there is already dissension in their ranks, and this incident seems to be the thing to lead everyone to action, and also more distrust. The police know something big is coming as well, and they are not excited about it. The good church folk at Five Ends are used to the never-ending trouble around the Cause, and they are certainly used to old Sportcoat, but they also must wait and see what kind of trouble the old drunk has gotten himself into. In the weeks that follow, the lives of nearly everyone involved in the incident will overlap and intersect, whether they want them to or not. Even those that would rather mind their own business get sucked in, proving that it does no good to try to live in a bubble. In the end, everything is revealed, proving that what we see is not necessarily the whole story.  

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in 1969 in New York City, primarily in the projects of Brooklyn. The residents of the Causeway Housing Projects are mostly black, but there are also LatinX residents who deal with the drug dealers, the drama, the prejudice, and also the excitement of the mysterious once a month cheese delivery. Sportcoat lies at the center of the story, a man with many names, including that of Deacon King Kong. Having recently lost his wife, he is often seen talking to her ghost. Through him, we get to the history of the Cause, as well as those around him: his two best friends (who cannot stand one another despite being surprisingly similar); the young drug dealer Sportcoat shot; the other residents of the Cause; and the mostly older members of the Five Ends Baptist Church, who look after their own while also being the first to gossip about them. It is a snapshot of late 1960s Brooklyn, complete with the crime, drugs, and racism, with every group blaming the downfall of Brooklyn on the others.

My Verdict: This is a hell of a story. From the beginning to the end there is no limit to the colorful characters and crazy situations that will keep any reader turning the page, if only to find out what happens to all of these people. And the mysteries that are woven into the plot are done so with such subtlety and grace that it is easy to forget about them, until they make their presence felt, and you realize they have not gone anywhere, but like the characters, we simply were not paying attention. Sportcoat is a frustrating protagonist. The only thing that would make his story more exhausting is if he were narrating it. Thankfully, the reader also gets to follow dynamic characters like Sister Gee, Elefante, and even the cop, Potts. It is an adventure about faith, change, community, and the secrets that are easy to see if we would only look.

Favorite Moment: When Sportcoat proves to Deems that he is both crazier and more sane than anyone realized.

Favorite Character: Sister Gee is the kind of woman I want to grow up to be, except for of course the loveless marriage and life in the crime-ridden Cause. She is strong, resolute, and knows more than people realize, and manages to not be too loud about it.          

Recommended Reading: I recommend The Sellout by Paul Beatty. It is not historical fiction, but it does address issues of race and one man's often absurd attempts so better his community.

Nonfiction: This Is Chance! by Jon Mooallem

With what has been happening in our world today, it felt appropriate to read about a city coming together during a crisis. This Is Chance!: The Shaking of an All-American City, a Voice That Held It Together tells the true story of the earthquake that shook Anchorage, Alaska in 1964, and what it took for this still-growing community to work through tragedy and uncertainty over one Easter weekend.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that mostly follows the actions of Genie Chance, a part-time radio reporter and working mother in Anchorage, Alaska in 1964. This was a time in history when Alaska was still seen as the step-child of the USA. Having been a state for only five years, it was viewed as the place to go for those who were looking for a fresh start, or even their first one. Genie and her husband Winston had taken the opportunity to start again, moving to Anchorage from Texas. It is while she was out with her oldest son on Good Friday that an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2 moved the ground underneath the city. What would follow is three days of intense activity: Ad hoc rescue and recovery teams would form to search the city for survivors, while also reporting back the extent of the damage. City officials would rope off entire sections of the city to encourage people to stay home (if their home was still standing) and not contribute to the traffic jams, helping to keep streets clear for emergency vehicles. And Genie would somehow end up being the voice that was heard through it all. Once the station she worked for was up and running, it would be her voice that would broadcast vital information to the city, as well as the names of those who were okay, of those who were missing, and even those who simply wanted to reach out to the lower 48 states. Her broadcasts would be heard and transmitted across America, with some crossing the ocean, earning her fame and recognition under unusual circumstances.

My Verdict: Earthquakes are terrifying, and they can strike at any time. I wish there was slightly more focus on the moment when the ground began to move, and what that realization was like. There is some information about that here, but as someone who has never experienced an earthquake - and I never hope to - I was wanting a somewhat bigger window into what that is like. Even so, the information on what comes next is impressive in its detail, as well as encouraging. Yes, there is some panic, and the occasional temper flares as people rush to save the city and its residents. But mostly, people simply do their best to help. As one sociologist notes, it is something that is seen in events of this nature around the world. The fear is there that the worst will come out of everyone, but the reality is different. Mooallem's decision to relay the events almost in the style of the Thornton Wilder play Our Town, which was set to be performed by the community theater before the earthquake hit, makes for an interesting narrative. It is one that introduces key individuals and gives their life story in a few short, though engaging sentences. It is a short enjoyable read for any lover of nonfiction.

Favorite Moment: I love that Genie was able to move past every barrier that would have kept her from being a major figure in broadcasting, mostly because she was a woman, and became a famous voice that mobilized a community.

Recommended Reading: Boom Town by Sam Anderson tells the incredible story of how Oklahoma City came to be.    

Contemporary Fiction: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

The decision to read American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins was not an easy one for me. I like the premise enough, but I was not sure if I wanted to read something like this that would only upset me, when there are so many great books out there that do not have controversy surrounding them. Well, as you can see, I did read it, but I intentionally arrived late to the party.

The Situation: In a matter of minutes, Lydia's life as she knew it is completely changed. After her entire family is gunned down during a party at her mother's house, Lydia and her eight year-old son, Luca, must flee their home of Acapulco as she knows the man responsible will not stop until they are also dead. Before the bodies of her family members are even taken away, Lydia gathers what little she can and heads towards the U.S., knowing that Javier, the head of the latest cartel to take over the area, has eyes and ears everywhere. Any sense of security she allows herself to feel could be false, and if she wants to save her own life, as well as the life of her son, she must stay hyper vigilant at all times. At only eight years old, Luca knows what has happened, and will certainly never forget it. He knows he will never see his father again, or his cousins, or his grandmother, but of course he does not quite understand why it happened. All he knows is to stick with his mother, do what she says, and to keep moving. 

The Problem: The journey from Acapulco to the U.S. is full of dangers, especially for a woman and her small child. Lydia has plenty of money, but that can easily be taken from her. And even if they manage to evade the many people that serve Javier and would administer the cartel's brand of justice, there are still corrupt officials, rapists, murderers, kidnappers, and other dangers such as dehydration, illness, or injury. Making the entire journey on foot is near impossible, but the fastest mode of travel may also be the most dangerous. La Bestia, the network of freight trains that migrants are known to take on their way to the border, is known to be a punishing, though quick form of travel, and half of the danger comes from being able to get on top of the train in the first place. Lydia is well-aware of the problems, and having Luca with her makes her even more wary. But with the threats they are attempting to leave behind, she is resolved to move forward and face whatever is ahead of them.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in Mexico as Lydia and her son begin their journey in Acapulco and continue moving north after the rest of their family is murdered by a cartel. Lydia ultimately decides that their best chance of survival, which would include making sure they are not recognized by any of Javier's men, is to disguise themselves as migrants heading to el norte. As they travel, they come across various dangers, but also many safe places and people willing to help in whatever way they can. A big part of the journey is La Bestia, the train that travels through Mexico that many migrants ride on the top of as they head to the U.S. Simply getting onto La Bestia can result in death or severe injury, but the hazards do not end once you are on the train. Many people fall off, while others are knocked off should they fail to see an oncoming tunnel or other obstruction. Even so, it is only one in a list of many dangers migrants encounter on their journey. And for Lydia, it is not nearly as worrisome as the idea of Javier finding her and her son.        

My Verdict: There have already been many articles, blog posts, tweets, etc. regarding how problematic this book is, and the main points have been articulated by those that are certainly better at this kind of thing than I am, so I will try to be brief. Any author who attempts to write a novel about a culture that is not their own should expect to be criticized, even if the book is well-written and the culture is approached with respect and empathy. Unfortunately for this book, it is not particularly well-written. It is not bad, but it is not great either. When Lydia makes the decision to disguise herself and her son as migrants (which is not a bad plan actually), the inner monologue at the moment feels forced and heavy-handed, and this is a trend that would continue throughout the book. Also, the humanity that I believe Cummins was genuinely trying to portray does not come across. These characters do not feel like real people with families and histories, people that the reader is going on a journey with as they try to reach the U.S./Mexico border. They feel like props, or people on display. Some have accused this book of being little more than "trauma porn," and I kinda get it.

Perhaps the biggest issue is the fact that this book was published at all, and that there was so much initial excitement behind it. Cummins reportedly received a seven-figure advance for this book, and is quoted as saying "I wish someone slightly browner than me would write it." Here's the thing: there have been many books about migrants written by brown people. But in a publishing world that is dominated by white people, the book written by a white author that appealed to mostly white readers is the one that got the attention. It's a problem.   

Favorite Moment: When Lydia begins to realize how foolish she was to believe there would be no consequences following an article that was published in the newspaper exposing Javier as the cartel's leader.  

Favorite Character: There are many characters that Lydia comes across throughout the book that help her simply because they can, or believe they should.

Recommended Reading: Though it has been years since I read it, I recommend The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, as well as The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez. Also One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, if only because it is a fantastic book.

Young Adult Fiction: Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

Of course I had to follow up last week's post with Deathless Divide, the sequel to Justina Ireland's Dread Nation. After the craziness of the undead terrorizing a post-Civil War America, chasing people out of cities, while racism and injustice still ran rampant among the living, I had to know where Ireland was going to take the story next. And as always, a spoiler alert must be issued for anyone who has not read the first book.

The Situation: Jane McKeene and Katherine Deveraux have managed to escape the Survivalists of Summerland, but with the undead seemingly a threat everywhere they go, Jane is less than optimistic about the new city they have found of Nicodemus, even if it does have a black mayor. This city has also placed its faith in a high wall, while adding the technology and questionable science of Gideon Carr, the man who was busy injecting the black people of Summerland with a serum he believes is a vaccine against the dead. Jane and Katherine are pleased to have been reunited with some of their old friends from both Summerland and Baltimore, but with some wanting to see Jane hanged for her crimes in the former, Katherine must navigate this new city, where it is clear that something is not right. Even worse, despite everything they have been through together, Jane and Katherine's friendship is still tenuous, mostly due to Jane's hurt feelings over a hard loss. Fortunately, Katherine is stubborn and refuses to give up on what they have.

The Problem: Turns out Nicodemus is doomed, much like Summerland, and everyone is either on the run, or they fall to the horde of undead. Even more upsetting is that Gideon Carr seems to be at the root of things. For the first time since they left Baltimore, Jane and Katherine are separated and must make their own way. Katherine uses the cleverness no one ever believes she has to travel throughout North and Central America, while Jane makes a name for herself as a ruthless bounty hunter. A discovery she made back in Nicodemus makes her both fearless and wreckless, while every bounty she collects takes a little bit more of her humanity. When she and Katherine are reunited, Katherine quickly realizes that it is not only the undead that people have to fear in this country. Traveling from city to city, dangers of all sort either follow or greet them. Jane has one focus, and that is to kill the man who may be responsible for the hordes. But Katherine also has one focus, and that is to save her friend from herself.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel, and the sequel to Dread Nation, a story set in post-Civil War America. Slavery is no longer legal, but racism and prejudice remain as steady as ever. While Dread Nation laid the groundwork for a world where black and Native American kids are sent off to schools to learn how to defend white people against the undead, this book eliminates the schools altogether as the hordes of zombies go from town to town, destroying everything and killing anyone who does not run in time. This book is much more of a classic western, but with black people at the forefront, and the threat of zombies always constant. Both Jane and Katherine get equal billing in this book, with chapters alternating between the two. And when their paths separate from one another, hidden traits and talents emerge for the both of them, though they were always there for those readers who paid attention. It becomes an adventure where it is once again unclear exactly who are the villains and who are the heroes, and a horde of the undead can appear at any time.

My Verdict: I do like this book even more than its predecessor. Sequels are always a gamble, and I feel like this one paid off. Granted, the first book laid all of the groundwork and built the world, leaving this one free to go a little bit wild. So for me, this one was more of an adventure. Plus, I was thrilled to have more focus on Katherine, my favorite character from the first book. I always found Jane a bit tiresome - and she is even more so in this book - so having her share the stage with Katherine was nice, allowing for a break in the angst every other chapter. The girls embark on a true wild west journey, each approaching the adventures in their own stubborn and headstrong way. The danger never lets up, and there is no end to the wonderful, though often dangerous, characters the two meet along the way. If I had one criticism, it is that the ending feels a little bit rushed, but it is satisfying all the same.

Favorite Moment: When Daniel Redfern once again proves he is not quite what he seems.

Favorite Character: Still Katherine. She does not waiver much from the clever, headstrong, and resourceful girl from the first book.

Favorite Quote: "I smile tightly, but say nothing. He is trying to protect me, in the simple way men are always trying to protect women: by stealing away their freedom." Katherine Deveraux 

Recommended Reading: Fledgling by Octavia B. Spencer might be good for some who enjoy Ireland's books, though I had a hard time with it. 

Young Adult Fiction: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Sometimes I resist books because of their subject matter, only to come around later. It may take a few weeks, or usually a few months, for me to give the book a chance. In the case of today's selection, it took a couple of years, but I am here to discuss Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, a book that many have enjoyed since it came out in 2018. I love that it is YA, but what I do not love is the subject of zombies. Never have. Even so, I am here, and I am ready to talk about it.

The Situation: Two days after Jane McKeene was born, the dead came up out of their graves and began attacking the living. The Civil War was put on hold as both sides agreed that this new enemy needed the be the focus of all attacks. Now both black and Native American children are sent away to boarding schools so they can be trained to fight the undead. Girls like Jane are trained at schools like Miss Preston's School of Combat in Baltimore, with the hope of one day securing a position as an attendant to one of the wealthier white women in town. If she keeps out of trouble, and keeps her mouth shut, while maintaining her grades, she could be set for life and earn what she has always wanted: freedom. Unfortunately, Jane is always in trouble, and has always been terrible about saying exactly what she wants. Still, her incredible skills and observations have gained the attention of the Mayor, and if she can behave for one important night, she could be on the way to the life she has been working so hard to obtain.

The Problem: It seems that the undead, or 'shamblers' as the people have begun to call them, are more of a threat than the people of Baltimore have been lead to believe, something that Jane learns when she is sent away on a new assignment with her classmate, Katherine. It seems that a new settlement has been started somewhere in Kansas, a place called Summerland that has high walls surrounding the city, though it could still use someone with the skills of Jane. But Summerland is nothing like Miss Preston's, and the somewhat comfortable life that Jane enjoyed is gone. If she is not on constant lookout for the mean Sheriff, or his father the Pastor, then she is watching the shambler situation get out of hand as it becomes clear that Summerland is not as safe as those in charge want to believe it is. It seems the undead are becoming a bigger threat to life everywhere, and Jane will have to do what she does best to save herself and the people she cares about.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book that is set in mid-19th century America, allowing it to also fall under the category of historical fiction. Jane is a black girl who was born during the height of the Civil War, on a plantation known as Rose Hill. Born to the mistress of the place, Jane does not know the hard work of the fields, and slavery is no longer legal. Of course, that does not mean that it no longer exists, and many people find ways to get around the new laws, somehow also managing to use the new existence of shamblers to their advantage. Because of the Negro and Native Reeducation Act, black and Native American children are forcefully sent off to boarding schools to learn how to fight shamblers so they can protect their white counterparts, allowing for a new form of slavery under a different name. Many believe that God allowed the dead to rise because of the country's sin of attempting to put everyone on equal ground. Several of the justifications people used to legitimize slavery make an appearance here, such as the argument that black people are less than human; that it is God's plan for white people to rule over them; and even the practice of phrenology makes an appearance. Ireland takes America's post-Civil War history and inserted zombies, and then explored what effect that would have had on this county.

My Verdict: I am still not a fan of zombies, and I doubt I ever will be. But I was still able to enjoy this book, which is a testament to Ireland's skill as a writer. Jane is as strong and impressive as she is tiresome and annoying. I admire her determination and her skill, but there are many moments when I just needed her to stop talking. But it is part of her character to do things and then thing about them later, as she even admits. Even with an exhausting protagonist like that, in addition to the zombies, this was still a great book, and I am excited for the sequel. Placing zombies into our history is no easy thing, but Ireland manages to do so while acknowledging that their presence would both change everything, and also change very little. Even with the raising of the undead, people are still racist, they still want their slaves, and they still will do everything they can to justify their terrible beliefs and actions. It is a sad realization that such a crazy situation would not have altered people all that much. But Ireland brings that realization to life in an exciting and tense adventure that both zombie and history lovers would enjoy.

Favorite Moment: When Jane learns what it really means for Katherine to be both pretty and able to pass for white, and why that is not always a good thing.

Favorite Character: I would have never guessed it at the beginning, but I ended up liking Katherine the most. She can be uppity and headstrong, but so could Jane. In many things she is foolish and silly, but she is smarter than many would believe, far from helpless, and does not let anyone push her around, including Jane.  

Recommended Reading: I recommend Rosewater by Tade Thompson or This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers.