Review: Nightingale

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm not the audience for this book--I'm sure the 11-year-old me would have appreciated this horror book more? Loved the historical 1950s setting--June is graduating from high school and supposed to marry her dad's boss's son. He's boring and June wants to go to a writer's workshop instead of marrying him.

June writes scifi and the lines blur between her story and her own life when she is put into an asylum.

There is a lesbian encounter which seemed out of place--I wanted to book to be more about June liking women in the 1950s, but that part didn't really come to fruition. I wanted the "past days" chapters to mention it and they never did. Surely she thought about why she didn't want to marry Robert?

Just too many holes for me to give it more stars.

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Review: The Valedictorian of Being Dead: The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live

The Valedictorian of Being Dead: The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live by Heather B. Armstrong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I don't get parenting or living advice from the Internet, so I had never heard of Heather B. Armstrong, but now I know she is a mommy blogger?!? I came into this book not knowing about her, so I may have missed some of the references.

This memoir describes her decision to undergo a controversial therapy of basically killing herself at a clinic 10 times in order to fool her brain into working correctly again. Armstrong's depression and anxiety were so bad before this treatment that the meds weren't working--she didn't want to work or dress or shower or mother. She is exactly my age (which is weird) and I've been raising my daughter solo for 13 years, too, so I related to a lot of what she had to say. Her writing is relatable and full of emotion.

I didn't care for the repeated information (10 times is a lot) and how much she whined about getting a needle inserted into her. I mean, really, there are a lot bigger size needles than a 22 gauge one? And plenty of people who are stuck with needles every single day. Yes, they bruise, and I didn't understand why they didn't allow her to sip water so she wasn't dehydrated for the IV insertion. But, hey, I'm not in charge of this treatment.

I'm glad she got better and I hope thousands of sufferers don't go out and request this treatment because of this book. Or, at least until it's studied more. She talks about being short on cash, but I don't remember being told how she paid for this treatment that insurance didn't cover. I also didn't understand why we didn't hear more about her depression and anxiety causes--there was something there with her dad, but we didn't hear much about it--just about how much she loves her step-father. And she is so lucky to have the support system she does close to her.

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Review: Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations

Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's rare that a picture book gives me goosebumps, but this one did.
Surely this will receive some Coretta Scott King award love?!?

I didn't know the history behind "Lift Every Voice and Sing," but I loved how its history is told through the eyes of one African-American family who started singing it in Florida and how each generation learned the song and sang it at important events and times of American history, ending at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016 with President Obama.

Good stuff. Perfect purchase for all grade schools and public libraries. And don't just read it in February, people. Sure, it can be read at Lincoln's birthday, but MLK Jr was born in January and was killed in April. The museum opened in September. And this is a perfect read anytime a discussion about social justice is needed with the kiddos.

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Review: At the Mountain's Base

At the Mountain's Base by Traci Sorell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love the circular theme of this children's picture book about a Cherokee family waiting at home at the base of a mountain for their loved to return from flying planes in a war. But I think the book causes readers to have a lot questions that are answered in the Author's Note at the end. I guess I wanted more of that material included in the actual book? This will take a lot of discussion at the end of it, which, to me, means it is for older children during a story time. Actually I could have used this back when I taught World History to high school students. It's simple and short, but would be a great discussion starter about who else helped win WW2 besides white men.

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Review: The Poppy War

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Damn fine fantasy novel--can't believe it's a debut?!?

The author studied Chinese history and it shows--love the Asian influences in this fantasy world. Rin is a small town girl about to be married off to an ugly old man, but she decides to study hard and take the test to get into school. She succeeds, becomes a great warrior, and discovers that she has plenty of abilities and powers.

Definite YA appeal. If I had served on Alex last year, I would have nominated it. The best epic fantasies are ones where you forget the length of the book and you happily read, finish it, and want more.

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Review: The Nickel Boys

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So much injustice in this novel.

A teenage black boy catches a ride to the community college in a stolen car and gets years in reform school as punishment during the Jim Crow era. The reform school is hell on Earth and even worse for the black boys. Beatings, sexual abuse, emotional abuse--the Dozier school in Florida is gross, as are the men who worked there.

There is a twist at the end, but that part almost felt like a strange aftertaste--the injustice and the reform school seemed to be the focus in this novel for me.

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Review: The Way You Make Me Feel

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Funny light-hearted romance about 16-year-old Clara Shin who pulls one too many pranks at school. Her single dad punishes her by making her work all summer in his KoBra food truck in LA--fixing a small menu of Brazilian/Korean fusion food. Clara and her dad have a great relationship, but Clara still wants to run to her mom when things get rough. Her mom is one of the Instagram influencer people who don't work but get paid to travel (I still want to know how all that works?? This librarian is for hire?) Clara makes two new best friends and one of them is a gorgeous Chinese kid who can't get enough of Clara. She freaks.

I enjoyed this a lot--it's so refreshing to read about a teen who makes little mistakes but life turns out okay because she has people around her who love her! And I laughed out loud because of sentences like this: "The flight back home wasn't too bad, even though the grandma next to me farted steadily the entire time."

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Review: Lost Children Archive

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm not sure if audio is the best format for this title, because some parts may have been lists or included pictures, but I didn't have a print copy for me to check. I also felt like the author tried to cram in too much symbolism. Reminded me of a short story I would have read in undergrad as an English major. Name your characters, please. Combining voices on audio can sound cool, and it did, at first, in this novel. But then the gimmick was overdone and I wasn't a fan. By that point, I was ready for the parents to finish the dang road trip, get divorced, and be done with it all! :)

I really loved the young boy and young girl narrators though--can't wait to hear more of him in other works!

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Review: The Fountains of Silence

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ARC provided by the publisher. I'll post a longer book review closer to October when its published.

I loved Salt to the Sea and I loved this novel about Spain after World War II even more. Read it. Recommended for YAs and adults. Perfect for book clubs. Add it to YA World History reading lists.

Please let this be turned into a movie.

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