Only two books this year have earned five star reviews from me, and I don't think it's a coincidence that both have been from African American authors, and both have been tackling hard issue of being black in a white America.
It's hard to find the time to review every book I read, and it's even harder to find the motivation when a book isn't spectacular or noteworthy or made me think or made me hate it. So, this mini-review roundup was born. (February 2018)
In The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo, Lucy is torn between two different loves of her life: Gabe, the reckless photographer, and Darren, the steady man. Her struggle to decide where she should lay her path teaches her more about herself than she expected. This is The Light We Lost review.
“Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.” ― Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
The Hate U Give is a poignant story about a African American teen faced with an impossible situation and a difficult decision. Throughout her trauma, she must figure out who she is and what she wants her identity to be. This is The Hate U Give book review.
Two sisters in WWII Nazi-occupied France. One can't fathom stepping out of her comfort zone to change the way things are going. One can't stop pushing the boundaries and risking her life. What do the two have in common? A shared childhood, and a shared dream.
A Monster Calls is a short, illustrated novella that is a quick but heart-wrenching read. Patrick Ness does an amazing job of creating a compelling story that forces readers to confront their own demons.
Witches and vampires and time travel, oh my! The All Souls Trilogy delivers on action, love, and historical smarts. Just make sure you have the second and third in the series with you when you finish the first!
Beautiful words, intriguing plot twists, and characters that scream with personality... this novel has everything a great YA book needs!
