Book Review: Himawari House / Harmoney Becker

It is a snow day so it is time to read a book. My 2023 Book Challenge contains themes of the month, and one of the themes in February was International Friendship - yes there is a day for that. And yes, this book exemplifies that. 

First things first, why would I add monthly themes to my 2023 Book Challenge? I am always looking for ways to push myself - to learn and experience new things. This book challenge offers me some topics to encourage me to read books about topics that I might not pick up otherwise. I am really enjoying this aspect of my challenge this year. 

Now on to Himawari House. This book is a graphic novel about a girl, Nao, who returns to Japan (during a gap year before college) after moving to the United States when she is a small child. In the US, she never feels like she really fits in. Her lunches are different from those around her, she looks different, and no one pronounces her name correctly. She believes that she will fit in perfectly in Japan. But is that the case after adopting so many American habits and practices? Has she lost too much Japanese, her first language?

This book really gave me some insight into how it feels to live between two cultures, between two languages. 

If you are someone who is interested in a gap year, or living abroad, or even Japanese culture and language - try this graphic novel. If you are interested in reading about friendship or love interests, read this book. What a great read on a snow day (or any day.) Happy reading!

 

Book Review: The Prey by Tom Isbell

This is one of the books that was offered to incoming Freshman just prior to summer vacation. 

Are you an action/adventure movie watcher? reader? game player? Well this might be a great book to pick up and read.

A quick description: Warring nations launch nuclear bombs at each other creating an event called Omega. The radiation and percussion of these bombs change the world and increasing the fractured politics with different factions dividing themselves from each other. Children and animals are born with birth defects or altered. Lawlessness becomes the norm.  Most devices that are electronic don't work. - This is the story of several teens - boys who are in a facility for "less thans" (and yes that is as terrible as it sounds) and the girls here were assigned to a facility for twins - where an evil doctor carries out horrific experiments on them. (yes there are overtones of Naziism.) How does one move on from those horrible circumstances? Read this book to find out.

Between these pages you will find bravery, leadership, uncertainty, evil, friendship, and even love. 

You can find this book in the hands of 9th graders, on the shelves on Nashua South, or check out the Online Catalog for Nashua Public Library.

 

Book Review: 10 Blind Dates / Ashley Elston

 Merry Christmas vacation. Oh it isn't that time of year? Well, let me tell you, there is not bad time to read this book - it is a bit of a romp.

Sophie is excited for a few hours all to herself - it is something that happens VERY infrequently. Between her senior year in high school, college selection, clubs, and a father who is chief of police and incredibly protective she gets little alone time or time alone with her boyfriend, Griffen. When she calls Griffin to share the good news - he suggests that Sophie joins him at a party. Unfortunately, when she gets there she overhears him talking about how he was looking forward to some time away from her - and the heartbreak begins.

Sophie makes her way to her Nona's and Papa's house - a place where her very large extended family gather and is quickly embraced by her Nona and surrounded with love. But Nona is always scheming and she finds a way to take Sophie's mind off her troubles: 10 blind dates during the Christmas break. AND the blind dates will be set up by members of Sophie's extended family. What could go wrong???

Reading this book is a great little brain vacation for anyone who likes crazy antics, a few laughs, and an escape from studying for exams. This is a story about love - the love of friends, the love of family, the heartbreak of lost love, and finally of just plain luv. 

You can find this book on the shelves of the South Library or check out NPL for audio and ebook options. There is also a companion book, 10 Truths and a Dare which I look forward to reading when I need something light.

Book Review: Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong

There are not many times that 2 students that don't even know each other recommend a book to me in a short period of time. This is such a title.

• Skye's mom no longer wakes her with silly songs - she is mentally ill and often doesn't get out of bed until noon.
• Skye starts the day with a granola bar and a juice.
• Skye's brother, Luka, leaves for school early with his friends, because "Something's up."
• Skye's best friend Jesse (more than best friends?) passes her a note with some GPS coordinates - a hint that he wants to meet up.
• Jesse asks her out ON A DATE. Life is good.
• And then - they  are asked to go to the office. There has been a school shooting, at the high school where their brothers attend. Skye's brother was involved in the shootings, Jesse's brother is dead.
• Forty-four hours later, Skye and her belongings are in the back of her grandmother's car as they move away.

The story continues three years later. Skye's parent's divorce and her grandmother's ill health has made it neccessary for her to move in with her aunt and suddently she is back in the community where the shootings occured. ~~~Imagine. ~~~~

In this book you will: walk in Skye's shoes, walk in Jesse's shoes, experience bullying, discover a mystery, and enjoy a love story. This is the story of the ripples that are generated by a single event that takes place during a very short period of time.

You can find Aftermath on the shelves of the Nashua South Library.

 

Book Review: The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

This book was a recommendation from my daughter. I finished this at the end of last week and I just want to turn to the first page and read it again. The end of this book offered me a perspective that I didn't start with and now I want/need to start over. 

This is about books, and love, and life, and death. It is messy and funny and heartbreaking. 

"We read to know we're not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone.

I am thankful for this book. I borrowed it through my SORA account which is connected to my Nashua Public Library Libby account. You can connect your accounts too. 

 

Book Review: Early Departures / Justin A. Reynolds

First of all let me just state that my ancient ereader is the best. No back light, a tiny keyboard, and it is a beast. Yay for that.

Now for the book.

• This was a fast read - the book just grabs you and holds you
• It will make you think about honesty and death
• There is humor rolled into this book (though it didn't really make me LOL)
• The character development is good - all the way through

Early in this story you learn that there are moments that divide your life into before and after. Like March 13, 2020 - when this pandemic sent us home from school. None of us are the same as we were before that date. Some change is good, some bad - but we have all been impacted. Think of before. Think of after. For Jamal that moment was 11:43 - when Jamal's parents were killed in a car accident. After that moment - nothing is the same as before and now Jamal is just sliding through life without taking anything seriously - not his schooling, not his girlfriend, not his best friend. 

And then... there is a party, and a drowning, and again nothing is the same. 

 

Book Review: This is My America by Kim Johnson

Depending on your perspective a book can be either a window or a mirror.

We all walk through our world with different expectations and realities. My white skin makes my walk pretty easy - people generally expect the best from me. They see me as grandmotherly and not particularly threatening. I once had a police officer apologize for giving me a ticket because I was "such a nice lady."

Contrast that to the experience of an African American walking through the streets of our country. It just is not the same - and this novel illustrates that beautifully.

Tracy Beaumont has been writing to the Innocence X Headquarters regularly for years. You see, her father is sitting on death row, waiting for execution for a murder he did not commit. Tracy hopes that Innocence X will take his case an appeal his conviction. Soon enough, Tracy's brother Jamal also finds himself running from a crime that he did not commit. Tracy is concerned that her brother, just like her father, won't get a fair shake from the police or a fair trial. 

Read this book - if you are a white person - Tracy's "Know Your Rights Workshops" will give you a glimpse into a world that might astound you. You might find a window, you might even find a mirror.

Read this book - if you are black - you may see some of your own experiences between the covers of this book. You might find a mirror, you might also find a window.

Here you will find history, empathy, self reckoning, introspection, love, family, caring and a whole lot more. This is one big adventure that will have you walking in someone else's shoes - no matter who you are. 

 Make sure that you read the Author's notes at the end of the book. These notes will add additional perspective.

Book Review: The Music of What Happens / Bill Konigsberg

I totally enjoyed this book about two teen boys, thrown together by chance, who discover a new love. Both boys have had some rockiness in their lives - though the troubles have been very different. This is a fun story all on its own, but...

The title comes from the poem Song by Seamus Heaney. This poem has made me think of the soundtrack of my life. Not the music playing on electronic devices - but the sounds of life. For me that is a lot about laughter, dogs barking, birds singing, trucks moving (we live near a busy business with lots of trucks) coyotes, turkeys, silence, the timer on the oven, stories, and right now - snow shoveling. I think that the soundtrack of my life also includes smells and feels and all that is around me. Is it always perfect? Nope - there is dog poop in there (We DO have three dogs), but I wouldn't trade in my soundtrack. Do I encounter difficulties and obstacles? Of course, but life is partly about overcoming and some about reaching for. Life is about trying new things and being OK with failing but not giving up. Sometimes life is about frustration but that is OK because sometimes life is about applause - even if is only myself applauding for myself. 

Yes this book is about two gay boys, but their experiences are pretty universal - not in the specifics but in the generalities. I hope you enjoy this book.

 

Book Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely / Brigid Kremmerer

 

This is the story of Prince Rhen who has been cursed to live through the same season repeatedly - he is on his 327th season. The only way to break the curse and break the cycle is for someone to fall in love with him. His guard goes into a parallel world and kidnaps a woman each cycle and this time it is Harper. But Harper is a bit of a surprise, she has cerebral palsy and isn't a typical choice of women.  To make matters worse, Rhen becomes a monster each cycle and has killed those he loves. Can the cycle be broken? Can Rhen's kingdom be saved? Read and find out.

Book Review: The Boy in the Black Suit / Jason Reynolds

 

Matt's mother recently died from cancer. His father, in reaction to his loss, started drinking and has become a shell of a human being. Matt is left trying to figure out how to move forward. When he procures a job in a funeral home, he finds that he finds solace when he sees people dealing with the pain of loss. It isn't that he wants other people to feel pain, but that seeing people with an experience close to his own makes him feel less alone. 

Death is hard. It is hard for adults, but it is especially hard for teens because they usually do not have a lot of experience with death. This book takes that hardship and puts it down in black and white - between the covers a book - so that the reader can view it from a distance. 

For me, this book was a surprise. It has been on my "to read" list for a long time, but I just talked myself into reading it and I am glad that I did. This book on death ends in hope. 

Close your eyes and stop reading if you don't want a Spoiler....

(There is a love story in here built on survival and hope.)

Book Review: House of Salt and Sorrows / Erin A Craig

 

Are you looking for a very dark gothic novel? If so, you may have found your book. House of Salt and Sorrow offers everything a gothic novel needs - a little love, some mystery, and a whole lot of horror. 

Annaleigh is one of 12 sisters who are slowly dying off, by a series of unfortunate events? But are these deaths totally random or does an evil root tie them all together? This retelling of the Brother's Grimm tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses will leave the reader guessing until the end.

Is soft cozy romance novels are your thing - turn the other way. This books is DARK.

Book Review: A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Shirin's parents have moved her family from area to area as they reach for a better lifestyle. After September 11, 2001, Shirin has faced a lot of prejudice and protects herself by creating a barrier with her hijab and her music. But then she is paired with Ocean as a lab partner. Their hearts touch and Ocean begins tugging at those barriers. How can Shirin protect them both? 

If you are a fan of love stories, you may enjoy this book.

Book Review: The Nightingale / Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale / Kristin Hannah

Imagine living in France during World War II.  For sisters Vianne and Isabelle, family has been difficult, their mother dying and their father unequipped to deal with the pain of her death sent his girls away.  Isabelle struggles to find her way. And for Vianne, life has become beautiful - filled with good food, good company, love, happiness, a wonderful husband and finally a beautiful daughter, and plenty - or at least enough. And then the Nazis invade France and life changes. People are being arrested, food becomes scarce, you are cold and tired and fearful. What is important? How would you protect yourself? your friends? your neighbors? 

Read this book and slip into another place and time.

Book Review: Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash

In this graphic memoir, Maggie Thrash tells about her year at summer camp when she discovers that she like likes a female counselor.

Why read this book? This is a story about coming out to one's self and then to others. It is a story of summer and summer camp. It is the story of learning and growing.  It is also about Thrash's love of shooting guns and learning to do so well. And this is a really quick read.

Book Review: The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Imagine living in a land that is infected by a plague, one that it easy to catch and always fatal. Although there is only a slight chance that Ani Mels has been exposed, she is still worried when two wardens capture her and force her into being tested for the virus. When she test positive she is sent to an island to live her final days. Her best friend Weevil goes with her, but not is all as it seems and the plot thickens...

You can find this book on our shelves or as a Hoopla Audiobook through Nashua Public Library.