May, 2019

"The Line Tender" by Kate Allen         

During the summer of her 12th year, Lucy and her friend Jeff are amazed when a local sailor catches a great white shark. Lucy immediately thinks of her mother, a marine biologist who died five years earlier. Spurred by the memory of her mother, Lucy tries to learn as much as she can about the shark. When Jeff dies in a tragic accident, Lucy once again feels the pain of losing someone she loves.        

 Although I found this book to be a bit slow moving, I think it will be perfect for pre-teens and middle school children. Lucy was very likeable and relatable. The characters seemed realistic, and the book was a good blend of storytelling and information about sharks. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Kingdom" by Jess Rotheberg         

Ana is a hybrid, half-android, half human. She is one of 7 fantasists, who live in The Kingdom, a magical theme park. Ana has been accused of murdering Owen, a park employee. The book alternates between the past, trial snippets, and the time period immediately after the trial.         

This was a fascinating book. I could not put it down. It was a very interesting world, and the alternating chapters worked very well. I look forward to reading more from this author. Overall, highly recommended.

"After the Flood" by Kassandra Montag 

Rising floodwaters have taken over most of the world. Groups of marauders have begun taking over, enslaving those who are left. Myra and her daughter Pearl make a living on the water, fishing and bartering. 8 years ago, Myra's eldest daughter Row was kidnapped by her father. When Myra hears that Row is alive and living in a marauder's colony, she is determined to reach her. When Myra's ship is wrecked, she and Pearl join forces with a larger boat. Through lies and deception, Myra convinces them to sail to the marauder's colony.        

This was an interesting and engaging story. The characters were realistic and dynamic and the book was well paced. I would love to read more books set in this world. Overall, well worth picking up.

"The Lost Daughter" by Gill Paul         

This book contains two points of view. The first is Grand Duchess Maria and begins when her family is sent to Yekaterinburg and follows her unlikely survival and the ensuring years. The second pov is Val, an abused women in the 1970's. On her father's deathbed, he confesses to Val - "I didn't want to kill her." While Val struggles to leave her husband, she searches for the truth of her father.         

I thought this book was a bit mediocre. It was extremely predictable and a bit slow moving. The time transitions were not handled very well and large periods of time were glossed over. Overall, not a book I would re-read or recommend.

"Beneath the Tamarind Tree" by Isha Sesay         

In 2014, 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped from the city of Chibok in Nigeria. Over 100 of the girls remain in captivity or missing. This book outlines the history of the Boko Haram terrorist group, the history of the region, and some of the girl's stories.         

The book followed 4 girls. 2 of the girls escaped immediately and were never spoken again. 1 of the girls remained in captivity and her story focused on her mother. The 4th girl was spoken about extensively. I wish the author had given each of the girls an equal voice. Every other chapter was about the author and her family. Although the author has an interesting story and family, I wanted to read about the Chibok girls, not the author. It also seemed that the author, a journalist, was obsessed with capturing photos of the girls and gaining an exclusive with them. This made her seem exploitative. I think this is an important story to tell, however I do not think it was told very well. Overall, this is not a book that I will re-read or recommend.

"How We Disappeared" by Jing-Jing Lee         

This book follows three points of view. In the present day, after the death of his grandmother, Kevin uncovers a series of letters that she wrote. The letters indicate that she stole her son, Kevin's father, during WWII. The second pov is a young Wang Di, who was stolen by the Japanese during WWII and turned into a comfort woman. The third pov is the elder Wang Di in the present day.         

I found this book completely unsatisfying. I did not enjoy Kevin's pov or the older Wang Di's pov. Kevin did not feel like a realistic character. The older Wang Di's pov was rambling and all over the place. The young Wang Di's pov was the most interesting part of the book, however, it moved slowly and then skipped large periods of time. I think this book would have been much better if instead of Kevin's pov and the older Wang Di's pov, we heard the story of Kevin's grandmother during the war. Overall, a bust.

"A Home for Erring and Outcast Girls" by Julie Kibler         

In the early 1900's, Lizzie and Mattie met at the Berachah Home for the Redemption and Protection of Erring Girls. In the present day, Cate, a librarian, stumbles across a cemetery, with a placard for the Berachah Home. She uncovers an archives outlining the home's history, and shares this knowledge with a younger student.         

I was a bit disappointed with this book. None of the characters seemed to have much of a personality. They all blended together after a while. The present day story line was completely unnecessary and did not add anything to the story. Overall, a bust.

"The Chelsea Girls" by Fiona Davis         

Hazel and Maxine meet during WWII as USO girls. Maxine tells Hazel about her time living at the Chelsea Hotel, a place where New York's creative minds live. Once back in the states, Hazel moves to the Chelsea. An aspiring playwright, Hazel finds herself inspired by her surroundings. When her play is chosen to be produced, Maxine flits back onto the scene, taking the starring role in the play. At the same time, Joseph McCarthy and his cohorts begin targeting the artists of New York City.         

I don't want to give any of the book's secrets away. That being said, I didn't find Maxine to be a very believable character. She seemed a bit stereotypical and predictable. The plot seemed well paced, and the Chelsea Hotel was an interesting setting, but overall the story was lacking. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

"The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead        

 When Elwood Curtis hitchhikes to college, the car is pulled over, and he is charged with car theft. He is sent to the Nickel Academy, a reformatory school for juvenile delinquents. At the school, students are beaten and sexually abused. Corrupt officials sell the school supplies to local merchants and farm the boys out as workers.         

This was a well written and engaging story. The story line itself, based on a true story, was heartbreaking. The characters were very realistic and believable. My only criticism is that the present day story line was a bit jerky. Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Edge of Nowhere" by C.H. Armstrong         

After vowing never to marry, Victoria falls in love with Will, a gentle, strong farmer. Together, they make a family, and run a farm in Oklahoma. As the Great Depression and Dust Bowl threaten their livelihood, Will's appendix ruptures, leaving Victoria widowed, with nine children to support. Victoria, determined to provide for her children, makes certain choices, choices that change her forever. In the present day, Victoria tells her grandchildren about these choices, as she lays in her deathbed.         

I really enjoyed this book. It felt as if my own grandmother was telling me a story. Well written, the book moved at a slow, but purposeful pace. I felt as if I really knew Victoria, and could feel her pain, anger, and determination throughout the whole story. I would love to read more from this author. Overall, highly recommended.

"The Secret Letter" by Debbie Rix         

This book takes place during WWII. In England, Imogen is evacuated with a number of other teenagers and children to the Lake District. In Germany, Magda questions the Nazi's, and there fanaticism against the Jews.         

This book jumped several year at a time, which was a bit disorienting. Between the end of Part I and the beginning of Part II, the story jumped two years. For characters who began as young teenagers, this is a lot of time and periods of growth to skip over. Neither Imogen or Magda felt very realistic, probably because of the drastic time jumps. Overall, this book was a bust.

"Anna of Kleve, The Princess in the Portrait" by Alison Weir         

This book outlines the life of Anna of Kleve, Henry VIII's fourth wife. This was a well written and interesting book. The author used speculation and history to create her own version of Anna's life, one a bit unexpected and thrilling. The book was well paced and kept me engaged throughout the story. Overall, well worth reading. 

"The Poison Garden" by Alex Marwood 

After the mass murder of cult members the Ark, Romy, and her younger siblings Ilo and Eden have survived. Sarah, their aunt, is shocked to learn that her sister joined a cult and that she is now responsible for minor's Ilo and Eden. Romy, pregnant and separated from her siblings, begins searching for them, and other survivors of the Ark. her siblings. The cult believed in preparing for an apocalypse. Their entire life revolved around being prepared and grooming the "One" a cult member who would rise up and save them.         

I thought this book had some interesting characters and an interesting story line. However, there were a lot of things left unexplained about the cult and it's various factions. I found this to be a bit frustrating. It seems as if the author set up the story for a sequel - I'm not sure whether or not to pick it up. Overall 3 out of 5 stars.

"The Winemaker's Wife" by Kristin Harmel        

This book follows two story lines. Set during WWII in France, Ines, the wife of Michel, a champagne maker, believes that if they just follow the rules, the German conquerors will leave her and her husband alone. Celine, the wife of the chief wine maker, is half-Jewish, and fearful for the lives of her parents. In the present day, Liv is whisked away by her grandmother to France. Her grandmother tries to tell her about her life during the war, but is afraid to share her part in the devastation that occurred.         

I had a hard time with this book. The characters just did not feel real. They were very stereotypical and one dimensional. Ines constantly told us how inexperienced and naive she was. She used that throughout the entire book as a justification for everything. I found this extremely off-putting. I would rather see character traits through actions and conversations. I also thought the modern day story was completely unnecessary. I felt that it did not add anything to the book. Overall, a bust.

"Wilder Girls" by Rory Power         

Almost two years ago, the Raxter School for Girls was placed under quarantine after a mysterious disease, the Tox hit. The Tox hits everyone differently. One girl grew gills, another bio luminescent hair, and one grew a second spine. Plagued with terrible pains, bruises, and sometimes death, the girls are largely left alone. All but two of the adults have died, their bodies unable to handle the invading Tox. The local navy base delivers supplies across the island. Hetty, chosen to join the boat girls, treks across the island, only to uncover a horrible secret.         

This was a bizarre, hard to put down book. I found myself reading late into the night. The characters were extremely interesting. They were also very realistic. I would love to read more from this author. Overall, highly recommended.

"Red Oblivion" by Leslie Shimotakahara         

Jill and her sister Celeste leave their homes in Canada to travel to Hong Kong, where their father lies dying in a hospital bed. Jill finds a letter, which seems to be exhorting or blackmailing her father. When she asks about the letter, he becomes agitated, and his health further declines. Determined to uncover the truth, Jill tracks down the letter's author.         

Although I thought the story line and premise was interesting, I felt that nothing was really resolved in the book. Jill only uncover vague, incomplete stories. Much of the book is her speculating about what her father may have done. I found this a bit unsatisfying. Based on this criticism, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

"Mercy Road" by Ann Howard Creel

Arlene and her family are left destitute, by a fire, and the death of her father. While her heart lies with horses, and her families stud breading business, Arlene must finds ways to finance a new house and a new stallion. After joining the American Women's Hospital she is sent to France during WWI to drive ambulances.         

This book had a bit of a slow start. Once Arlene was sent to France, the book picked up dramatically. I loved reading about women in WWI and the unique American Women's Hospital group. Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

"Beyond the Horizon" by Ella Carey 

During WWII, Eva Scott leaves her hometown to join the WASPS - Women Airforce Service Pilots. Her and her fellow pilots endure grueling training in Texas, where they train and work under military conditions. At the beginning of each chapter is a snippet from a Congressional Hearing, where Eva is questioned about her time in the WASPS.         

I absolutely loved the snippets at the beginning of each chapter. They tied in very well to the story. I also loved reading about the training in Texas, and how Eva bonded with her fellow pilots. This book was very well written and the characters were extremely believable. Overall, highly recommended.