Historical Fiction: This Motherless Land by Nikki May

The last historical fiction post for 2024 will discuss a book that takes readers between Nigeria and England over a 20-year stretch. This Motherless Land by Nikki May looks at the lives of two young girls who are connected as family, but often separated due to events that happened before they were born, and the people in their lives that cannot seem to let go.

The Situation: Funke was happy with her life in Nigeria. Although NEPA (the National Electric Power Authority in Nigeria) routinely shut off their power, and it was obvious that her little brother was her dad's favorite, Funke had little to complain about. Even with her mother being a teacher at her school, Funke preferred that embarrassment over the daily slights she now feels living with her mother's family in England. She loved listening to her mother's stories of this place when she was young, but the reality is not quite as enchanting as she imagined. Her one bright spot is her cousin Liv. Lively, full of joy, and fiercely protective, Liv has her own struggles, but still resolves to be Funke's protector, and the two girls grow up as best friends.

The Problem: The only thing that could possibly come between Funke and Liv is the members of their own family. Liv's mother has long held resentment against her sister, Funke's mother, over decisions made long ago. Now as a bitter and angry woman, she is determined for Funke to not receive the same benefits that her own children would. And after a terrible night of conflict, and misunderstanding, which all leads to the two being separated again, it seems that there will not be anything that can bring them back together. As they move into adulthood, each woman is determined, though neither one is living the life they imagined for themselves.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that begins in 1978 when Funke is ten years old and still enjoying a childhood in Nigeria. When she is sent to live in England after a terrible tragedy, she cannot help but make note of all of the differences, and not just between the two countries. There is a difference, and disconnect, between the England her mother told her about, and the England she now sees. There is also the difference in her lodgings, how she is treated by her own family, and how people look at her. As the story continues over the next 20 years, both Funke and Liv will struggle with identity, while reconciling their own privilege in both settings, and what it means to be a family.

My Verdict: The premise is intriguing. The plot is interesting and full of twists and turns, but not so much to be exhausting or ridiculous. The settings are bright (even when they are not) and easy to see. And the characters feel like real people, each one reminding the reader of someone they knew or still know. If there was any issue I had with this book, it was the pacing in certain points. Sometime things seemed to move way too quickly, while the ultimate (and almost predictable) conclusion seemed to approach at a snail's pace. But the juxtaposition between Nigeria and England is handled so well, and I simply wanted to read more. I wanted to continue moving back and forth between the two and reliving the different experiences. It is an excellent read full of heartache and triumph.

Favorite Moment: There is some discussion of the difference between a "stipend" and an "allowance," mostly in how that difference is very small (at least in the way the words are used in this book). Liv gets to make this point in the end, and it is wonderful.

Favorite Character: Funke and Liv's grandmother is a good woman, but she has her flaws and regrets like everyone else. Ultimately, she wants to do the right thing, and even manages to hold out against her stubborn daughter on some things.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Maame by Jessica George.

Graphic Novel: Adulthood Is a Gift! by Sarah Andersen

The fifth collection of comics in the Sarah's Scribbles series by Sarah Andersen is Adulthood Is a Gift!, which once again contains always humorous, often insightful, and sometimes thought-provoking illustrations about life and what it is to survive in the world today. I am always thrilled to pick these up and laugh at life, and at what I find in these comics that reminds me of myself.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a collection of comics that follows 2021's Oddball. Andersen once again tackles familiar territory of adventures at social events as an introvert; the stress and uncertainty that comes with being an artist; and what cat ownership really entails. Also included are more topical comics dealing with the changes to Twitter, the rise of TikTok, the return of early 2000s fashion, and even the obsession our society has with true crime and serial killers. Near the end, Andersen reflects on the last ten years of her career, how it started, and how she got here. Included are some of her earliest comics, as well as a few pages dedicated to showing how each comic goes from an idea to a finished product. And a delightful inclusion with this book is a page of stickers at the end, because as one of my friends recently pointed out, no one truly ages out of the ability to have fun with stickers.

My Verdict: I have enjoyed all of the collections in the Sarah Scribbles series, but this one may be my favorite. They have all made me laugh out loud, and shake my head, and occasionally roll my eyes and some of the more painful truths. But this one shows more maturity (which makes sense as it has been 10 years since Andersen started this journey), while still being funny and remaining true to what brought such a large audience to Andersen's work in the first place. And her thoughts and reflections at the end of the book provide an interesting look at her process, growth, and some of the lessons she has had to learn along the way. I am happy to be able to slide this one in next to the others on my bookshelf, and am excited to see what follows.

Favorite Comics: There is one comic that employs the phrase "Christian Autumn Girls" and I laughed out loud, because that is certainly a thing. And then there is the comic where a minimalism advocate is stressing the importance of clean lines and empty spaces, while Andersen's character expresses exactly what those of us with large and very full bookshelves think of that kind of advice. But the winner for me - the one that made me laugh out loud the longest and hardest - would be a comic where an aging Andersen with a walker is talking to Death, and his response is so perfect and classic that I may end up printing out this comic and pinning it on my board at work.

Recommended Reading: I of course recommend every book in the Sarah Scribbles series, but also the work of Kate Beaton, and the graphic novel A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat.

Young Adult Fiction: The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow

As someone who completely missed the train for 2016's Girl in Pieces, I am glad to have picked up this year's The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow. With addiction and alcoholism at its center, I expected a story full of intense situations, big emotions, and hard conversations, and that is exactly what is in this book.

The Situation: Fifteen year-old Bella's previously good grades are starting to slip, and she knows the last thing her mother needs is to deal with her daughter's suddenly poor academic performance. If her job does not have her working odd hours, then there is Bella's younger sister, Ricci, to worry over, not to mention the crazy aftermath that comes from divorce. Bella's dad needs her to be normal too, as well as helpful and agreeable. What Bella needs and wants is the ease and comfort that came from hanging out with her grandmother, but her recent passing has removed that option, leaving an empty house where Bella can do the one thing that has brought her any form of comfort lately.

The Problem: For Bella, drinking is no big deal. First of all, everyone does it. Even her grandmother did it. Her friends certainly do it, and why wouldn't they? It makes everything better. And easier. Including high school, which is a feat in and of itself. Even when Bella starts missing assignments and having arguments with people who have always been her friends, some of whom she would drink with, Bella does not think alcohol is the issue. But everything changes when Bella wakes up in the hospital after a party with a fractured face, and a few painful and embarrassing memories of what happened. She is only given one option, and it is rehab, which feels to Bella like an ending, but the real journey has only begun.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book set mostly in and around modern-day Tucson, Arizona. Bella is a 15 year-old girl who lands in rehab after a night of partying that ends in a hospital visit. There are many things that lead Bella to look for a bottle of vodka to add to her Sprite; or a hidden bottle of rum to steal sips from; or even a bottle of NyQuil from someone's medicine cabinet to chug from for a quick fix. There is the grief over her grandmother's death; her parent's divorce and their constant fighting; her dad's inability to communicate effectively; and of course, the general nightmare that is high school. Glasgow admits in the author's note that she writes from experience, and that the stories in the book may be fiction, but they are common.

My Verdict: Like pretty much any story about addiction, this one was difficult to read in many places. Decisions are made; things are said; and events happen that we wish were pure fiction and had no correlation to real life, but they do...even for 15 year-old girls. What I appreciate about Glasgow is the respect that she shows not only for the subject matter, but to the characters, and not just Bella. The reader will meet kids with different issues, and the story is thoughtfully planned out and not gratuitous in its telling. There is careful thought behind every scene, allowing for a story that feels honest, and not contrived or pandering.

Favorite Moment: Something that Bella deals with when it comes to her parents is this constant feeling of "Bella do it." There are things that her parents should do, but they don't, so Bella just takes care of it herself, sometimes when they ask, and sometimes on her own. This plays out perfectly in a scene involving her little sister when they are staying at her dad's house for the week. It is actually a pretty tough scene, but it perfectly displays the "Bella do it" issue and how her father so easily employs this, while actually doing and saying very little.

Favorite Character: There are a few here, but I will go with Bella's friend Amber, who makes it very clear where their friendship will stand if Bella keeps drinking. There is also Tracy from the rehab, who has clearly seen enough teens in trouble to not be at all bothered by one more angry/scared/hurting resident. 

Recommended Reading: Jeff Zenter's Colton Gentry's Third Act is a novel for adults that follows a man attempting to piece his life together after a regrettable tirade he had on stage while drunk.

Winner of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

The results are in, and it is time to announce the winners of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Of the 22 DSNs that were originally nominated across the various categories, I am pleased to see that two of them won! 

Kristin Hannah's The Women won by a landslide for Favorite Historical Fiction, with Percival Everett's James coming in second. And Kaliane Bradley won for Favorite Science Fiction with The Ministry of Time. 

Every year the competition is incredibly fierce, and I am always amazed that any DSNs are nominated. With the omission of many well-loved authors who have had nominations in the past, this year has proved that just because someone was included in a previous year (or years), it does not mean their book will make the cut again. There are always surprises in the list of nominations, as well as the list of winners.

I once again look forward to next year, and will be looking into some of the nominees that I may have missed.