A Ship of Pearl by Adela Crandell Durkee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A beautifully written story about living through the Great Depression from the eyes of a twelve year old boy. Despite the many challenges and obstacles that this family faces, the main character Eldie continues to have faith and confidence in the future and a deep love for his family. I really enjoyed this book and I found the characters incredibly likable.
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I listened to the audio book version and the two authors share various stories and anecdotes from their past. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was extremely funny at times and yet also absolutely awful, realizing the crushing racism that these women face every single day, from small well meaning but horribly misguided comments to downright ugly and awful statements that are hurled at these women on a daily basis. The audio book included running commentary describing any picture that was included in the print copy that was also quite humorous. Reading this book felt like sitting at happy hour with some girlfriends, laughing and swapping stories, but sadly all of these stories are about the racism that BIPOC face every single day in this country. I would rate this book as 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Rose Code: A Novel by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this historical fiction story full of intrigue. The mysterious World War II enigma codebreakers of England had been sworn to secrecy but a spy in their midst changes everything. Friendships forged through the chaos and struggle of living through a horrific war were challenged to the breaking point. The author did an incredible job of creating three amazing woman who showed courage and bravery as they faced the horrors of war. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this young adult novel about a girl named Jade who is trying to make something of herself. Jade attends a prestigious private school across town from her poor Portland neighborhood. Jade is a talented artist, making collages that reflect what she is feeling. As Jade tries to maneuver between her different worlds she struggles to find her own voice and discover her path to the future. The author does a beautiful job of helping the reader to see from Jade's point of view. I definitely recommend this book.
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This novel, by Hank Green, a popular youtube star and brother of author John Green, is a sequel to "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing." The story explores an alien interference in our world, as told through a group of friends who have found themselves in the middle of a mysterious alien force attempting to control humanity through a virtual reality program. The author does a great job of exploring themes about the dangers of big, unregulated tech companies while also remaining fantastical. This was a fun story to read, but I do recommend reading "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing" before reading this book. Overall this was a fun young adult novel with an important message for all of us.
The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I found this book as a recommendation from a friend that I decided to read during Black History Month. This book was a historical fiction piece about a former slave named Frannie Langton who is on trial for murder in London. The book details Frannie's brutal life as a slave in the Caribbean, and then how she is brought to London and 'given' to another man, who employs her as a servant. The story takes a stranger turn when Frannie begins a lesbian affair with the mistress of the house, and the two of them use laudanum (opium) which further complicates their relationship, leading to the murder that Frannie is on trial for. I found this story to be a strange and interesting view of the impact of slavery outside of the US. I did enjoy the story, but found it to be very dark and macabre at times. I would recommend this book, especially because it is a more unique re-telling of the horror of slavery both from the Caribbean perspective, as well as the life of former slaves in London during the 1800's and the horrific nature of the science of eugenics.
