Nonfiction: Ghosts of the Orphanage by Christine Kenneally

The full title of today's selection by journalist Christine Kenneally is Ghosts of the Orphanage: A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice. It was the title, as well as the haunting cover, that drew me in and made me want to know more. And inside the pages are unsettling accounts of abuse at various orphanages all around the world. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that covers a wide range of events across the 20th century, mainly focusing on those that took place at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont. But Kenneally also mentions similar disturbing accounts that happened in Australia, Ireland, Scotland, and even Canada. It seems that in orphanages in all of these locations, former residents experienced abuse at the hands of priests, nuns, and some staff, with some even testifying to having witnessed brutal deaths. Physical, psychological, and even sexual abuse is mentioned, with specific instances such as children being made to eat their own vomit being heard from all locations. But as stories come out, so do the detractors, and the victims have an uphill battle as the Catholic Church proceeds to deny all allegations, and their lawyers mount a compelling defense. Information as recent as 2022 is provided regarding the accusations, and how far the justice system has come to helping the victims.

My Verdict: Since the subject matter of this book was going to be dealing with orphanages and the children who stayed there, I knew I was in for tough time and would have to confront some difficult and upsetting information. And while many of the stories of the abuse that the former residents experienced happened quite awhile ago, the accounts are still terrifying, sickening, and haunting. What makes it worse is the almost unbearable sense of despair that come from witnessing the accusers - in this case, priests, nuns, and other officials of the Catholic Church - defend themselves and attempt to discredit the myriad of accusations against them. For many, this book may be a bit too much. But Kenneally did her research, and the story is still ongoing, and everything could not possibly be contained in one book, something Kenneally herself acknowledges.

Favorite Quote: "How many times had the children learned the lesson that no one was interested in their pain? If you cry, you cry alone. If you smile, the whole world smiles with you. How many times had they been punished for speaking up, leaving them to conclude that no one in power was interested in their problems? That their pain had no meaning inside or outside of the orphanage walls? Again and again, they learned that their firsthand observations were not valid."  - Act II, Chapter 18

Recommended Reading: I recommend We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper, a fascinating true crime book that explores a cold case out of Harvard. 

Graphic Memoir: A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

Ah the impulse buy...I actually do not do it nearly as often as people may think. Due to how I work on the blog, my book purchases are pretty planned out, and it is rare that I will see a book at a book store and just buy it on a whim, though it is fun. However, the rules kinda get thrown out of the window when I am at an event or book festival. And it was at this year's LibraryPalooza that I picked up A First Time for Everything, having met author and illustrator Dan Santat the evening before. The summer after middle school, Santat was able to spend some time in Europe, and he talks about the experience in his book.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a graphic memoir set in 1989, and mostly takes place in Europe. In a town outside of Los Angeles, only child Dan Santat stays out of trouble, does his best in school, and helps out his mom at home, as she has lupus which often leaves her tired. When he takes the trip to Europe for the summer, he is convinced it will be a miserable experience, mostly because the same girls that made fun of him at school will also be there. But the trip is full of firsts: first sip of Fanta; first experience with fondue; first time listening to French rap; as well as his first sip of beer; first cigarette; and first time being chased in Germany by a group of thugs. At some point in the middle of it all, Santat starts to like himself a little more, and realizes that maybe high school, along with the rest of his life, does not have to be the same as middle school. 

My Verdict: This is one of those books that not only would benefit every young adult to read, but maybe every adult as well. Even for those that enjoyed middle and/or high school, there is most likely some event from that time period, or group of people, that left behind some bad memory or trauma that is carried into adulthood. Santat addresses those people and memories from his life, giving readers full-colored illustrations of the humiliating events that left him dreading a summer-long trip to Europe. And while the trip itself is amazing, it is not without its own issues and embarrassing moments. But the message remains clear, while also being delivered with the perfect balance of sincerity and humor: it is important to not let others decide how we feel about ourselves, and it is often worth taking chances, even if they are scary.

Favorite Moment: At one moment while riding on the bus to Germany, Santat has an entire conversation with two other girls, but it is all through intense eye contact and facial expressions. Fortunately, he gets the message, and everything works out.

Favorite Character: I do not always choose a favorite character for nonfiction, but this time I choose Helga, the woman Santat stayed with in Germany, who loved to use entirely too much starch when washing people's clothes. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Almost American Girl by Robin Ha.

Contemporary Fiction: The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

Published in January of this year, it seemed The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff was everywhere – every book site, book blog, and all over the social media accounts I follow. It was labeled as one of the best and most anticipated books of 2023, and has remained a popular favorite. If a book is able to deliver on the promise of being an original and bold thriller set in rural India, and featuring ruthless women intent on being widows, all with humor and wit, then I can certainly understand the excitement.

The Situation: For five years, Geeta has been a social pariah, but she has gotten used to it. In fact, she kind of likes the strange mix of attention and a lack thereof. People do not mess with her, do not bother her, do not invite her to the social functions she has no interest in attending anyway, all because it is rumored that she killed her husband. She did not, by the way, but the whispers continue, and the children still make up rhymes about her. The rumor may have eliminated her social circle, but people still frequent her jewelry business, allowing her to continue her solitary life, thanks also to a microloan she is a part of with four other women. It is only when one of these women decides she also wants to be a widow that things get complicated.

The Problem: Once again, Geeta is not a murderer. Her husband, Ramesh, simply disappeared one day. But Farah does not know that, and she insists that Geeta help her get rid of her own husband. And if it were not for another “small favor” that has put Geeta in a somewhat desperate situation, she would never agree to it. So, another “small favor” leads to more, and it does not take long for the situation to get unimaginably complicated. And as Geeta’s carefully orchestrated and previously quiet existence starts to spin out of control, she cannot help but marvel at how all of this would be different is they were men, or if the laws in India were different and allowed women more freedom, as well as the ability to seek justice against the men that wrong them.

Genre, Themes, History: This work of fiction is set in rural India, and focuses primarily on five women who entered into a microloan together, using the funds for their own respective businesses. The third person narrator focuses on Geeta for most of the novel, but also featured prominently are her former best friend Saloni, twins Preity and Priya, and Farah. All five women will become wrapped up in the increasingly complicated situation, all while considering and debating women’s rights in India, the caste system, as well as how politics and law are handled in their own rural village. Also mentioned are the stories of Phoolan Devi, a real-life woman known for exacting revenge on those that did her wrong, and whose own stories have been embellished and retold over time.

My Verdict: For a book that comes in under 350 pages, there is a lot that happens, and not one moment of it drags or moves too slowly. The reader is immediately introduced to all five women and their situation, and what follows becomes a sort of comedy of errors, filled with social blunders and ridiculous murder plots. While all manners of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, mental, etc.) are discussed, the entire plot carries with it a certain amount of humor and wit, while not making light of what is happening. In the author’s note, Shroff makes the point that while facts are helpful, people’s minds are often changed more through stories, and this book will certainly fill readers in on life in rural India, while also telling a story that will have them wanting to learn and hear more. This book has received an incredible amount of attention for a reason.

Favorite Moment: For the most part, Geeta is unobservant and more than a little foolish; however, she has moments of insight when the truth of what is happening will come to her, and those around her are either pleasantly surprised, or appropriately caught off guard.

Favorite Character: I was not a fan of Saloni at first, but the woman’s ability to spit out a harsh insult, and also take charge of a bad situation, can only be admired. She saves those around her continually, and proves to be more loyal than she first appears.

Recommended Reading: The humor in this book reminded me of the kind of humor I found so enjoyable in books like Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, and The Sellout by Paul Beatty.

Historical Fiction: Time's Undoing by Cheryl A. Head

If I did a round-up of books published throughout the year whose covers I cannot get enough of, Time's Undoing by Cheryl A. Head would be on that list. The title is also engaging, and led me to read the equally mysterious premise. A young journalist decides it is time to investigate the murder of her great-grandfather nine decades ago, leading to information that uncovers more than just a few family secrets.

The Situation: It is 2019, and Meghan McKenzie is the youngest reporter at the Detroit Free Press. She has always heard stories about her great-grandfather, including the one of his mysterious and brutal murder. After gathering the courage to pitch the idea of linking her great-grandfather's story with that of current events and the Black Lives Matter movement, Meghan is headed to Birmingham, Alabama, the city where Robert Lee Harrington was killed. In 1929, Robert has just moved to the place that has been nicknamed 'Magic City' due to to the boom of the steel industry, bringing along with him his young and pregnant wife and their daughter. Not only is Robert following the work, but he is also leaving trouble behind him in Florida. He knows he is a great carpenter, but holding down a job is not the only thing a black man has to worry about in early 20th century America.

The Problem: Robert could easily blame his fancy car for the reason why he seems to always attract the wrong kind of attention, but he also knows he has a temper, and can never seem to back down from a conflict. However, he has a pregnant wife and a young daughter to think about, so working and caring for them needs to be his focus. In 2019, Meghan is getting close to revealing the truth about what happened to her great-grandfather, but other truths are being revealed, and not only about Birmingham's past. She is determined to continue until she finds what she is looking for, even though she is sure she is being followed, and it is apparent that some of the city's residents would prefer that this northern reporter would leave their town and its history alone.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel where the story takes place in Birmingham, both in 1929 and 2019. In 1929, Robert tells his story of working as a skilled carpenter in order to provide for his growing family. In 2019, Meghan is an ambitious journalist looking for answers concerning the death of her great-grandfather, both for herself, and her still-living grandmother. As Meghan uncovers the clues and finds more information, about both the incident and Birmingham's history, a new intersecting story is revealed from Robert's story. Meghan may be looking to link what happened then to what is still happening now, but she also manages to uncover some secrets that many want to stay hidden. There are corrupt police officers, as well as generational trauma and intricate conspiracies, as well as a host of characters that Meghan will encounter during her research.

My Verdict: For starters, the story and plot are strong and incredibly interesting. The narratives that come out of both 1929 and 2019 should hold readers' attention, and each new clue or piece of information certainly added to the story and helped move everything forward at a decent pace. The overall structure of the story was put together well, but if I had any issue with the book, it would perhaps be with the emotions of the characters, and some of the dialogue. When it was expressed that a character - usually Meghan - was experiencing a strong emotion of any kind, I had a difficult time believing it. The words on the page would say what was happening, but it rarely felt right. I suppose I would say it was like reading fiction that was written as a newspaper article. It simply did not line up with the fantastic plot and the spectacular events that were happening on the page.

Favorite Moment: Food is brought up quite a bit in this book, both home-cooked and at some pretty incredible restaurants, so schedule your reading times appropriately. 

Favorite Character: Kristen is a librarian in Birmingham that helps Meghan a great deal with her research, often having to sacrifice something as she does.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. I have lost count by now how many times I have recommended this book at the end of a blog post, and frankly, this probably will not be the last time.