Books

Book Review: There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib

Admittedly, basketball is not one of my interests. I picked up this book simply because of the author, Hanif Abdurraqib; every book I've read of his has been a 5 star read for me, and this one was no different! He expertly weaves the events that happened in the basketball world of the 90s- the Fab Five, Michael Jordan's rise to stardom, the early days of LeBron James- with his own experiences growing up in Ohio. His storytelling is beautiful, and each of the chapters has something profound and thought-provoking to make you reflect on important issues in our country, the things we prioritize, the ways people are remembered, and how we treat each other. If you think that nonfiction is boring and pointless, let this book prove you wrong! 

5/5 stars

Book Review: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a new book in the library, but it was my favorite book of the year when I read it a few years ago! It follows Sam and Sadie who met in a children's hospital when they were little and form a close friendship. They reunite in college after several years and start working together to create a video game that ends up being extremely successful. Together with their friend Marx, they start a very famous and profitable video game business, but it is not without its own drama. Not being a video game person myself, I did not know if I would enjoy this book, but it is SO MUCH MORE than just a book about video game development. It is about friendship, betrayal, redemption, and creative teamwork. Several parts brought me to tears, and when I finished the book, I gave it a big hug. 

5/5 stars

Book Review: The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

If you like mystery/thriller, you will love this book about 5 siblings who were trained to be prodigies in different skills. Their father adopted them all while they were young to be guinea pigs in his experiment to create child prodigies using an intense training method he called "The Button Method". There's a Brain, an Olympian, a Maestro, an Artist, and a "Failure" who did not develop a skill. After their father is murdered at his annual prodigy ball, an investigation is launched that delves into everyone's own personal secrets and mysteries. They are all implicated in their own father’s murder and you will never expect what actually happened in this page-turner!

4/5 stars

Book Review: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Holy cow, this was such a great book. It is fantasy, but takes place in this world. After her mother dies in a freak accident, Bree goes to a special high school program at UNC and learns that she has the amazing ability to interact with magic and see demons. After getting set up with a mentor who also has the same abilities, she finds out about the Legendborn, a secret society of descendants of King Arthur and his court, Somehow this book combines King Arthur’s court, magic, the history of racism in the South, romance, and an important discussion about grief and mental health. SO GOOD! 

5/5 stars