Tag: family

BONUS REVIEW: My Kind of People by Lisa Duffy

BONUS REVIEW: My Kind of People by Lisa Duffy

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Brian and Ann adopted Sky when she was a baby. Abandoned at the fire station. Discovered by Ann. They fell in love with her, and she was theirs from that moment until they were both killed in the car accident ten years later.

Leo and Xavier had been married about a year when they got the call about the accident. Brian and Ann’s will named Leo guardian. Leo and Xavier are trying to make this huge shift in their lives – and it’s not working.

Leo is grateful for Maggie who lives nearby and helps with Sky when he has to work. School is done for the summer, and her husband is hardly around. She’s happy to pitch in and feel useful.

Sky is struggling with the changes in her life. She likes Leo just fine but when Xavier comes for the weekends, everything gets tense and awkward. Ann’s mother wants to see Sky, but she doesn’t really know her grandmother. Why is she showing up now? Why were she and Ann estranged in the first place?

There’s someone else on the island who’s watching Sky, too. She’s looking for resolution for things in her past before it’s too late.

Review

This is a fascinating look at this neighborhood of people, negotiating significant life changes while also responding to the loss of Sky’s parents. I loved how all of the pieces came together in the end.

Sky’s story is central. I don’t know if she’s in shock or what, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of emotion over the death of her parents. Sure, things at home had been weird for the last couple years. But it felt like Sky was a new adoptee who wasn’t all that attached yet when her parents died. Instead, she has been with them her whole life. I expected a lot more expressions of grief, even if they came out sideways.  The reader sees her struggling to know where her footing is at home with Leo and his husband, and she responds to that with some acting out. But otherwise there was an emotional distance that felt off to me. If it was intentional to the story, one of the adults should have seen it and flagged it as something they should address, but I didn’t see anything like that.

The adults care for Sky well while dealing with personal, adult matters – loss, infidelity, bigotry, and family issues. I was pleased by the balance in the story. I never felt like we weren’t focusing on the right parts of the story. It was all woven together so well.

I enjoyed all of the characters. Well, Agnes was infuriating much of the time. I would have read 10 more chapters about where things go after the end of the novel. I cared about these people and their lives and the changes they were trying to make for the future. Fans of contemporary fiction with great characters as well as fans of ensemble stories should be sure to check this one out! You can read about other books by this author here.  (LGBTQ+, gaslighting)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

REVIEW: Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Mama Joy passed away, her legacy was far bigger than her knitting shop, Strong Knits, in Harlem. There were her sons – Damian, Lucas, Noah and Jesse – all adopted out of the foster care system. There was Kerry, the young woman Mama Joy mentored as she worked in the shop. Kerry had just finished her degree in art therapy. She had been working part time at the yarn shop while she waited for a full time position in her field. Then there were the neighborhood kids like Errol. Mama Joy had made a difference in so many lives.

That’s why Jesse wants to keep the shop open. Strong Knits was Mama Joy’s dream. His older brothers have their own lives. They are ready to put those memories behind them. But this shop – and their home above it – isn’t something Jesse is ready to give up. Unfortunately, Jesse’s track record for employment and general follow through isn’t great. His brothers are reluctant to keep the shop open with Jesse in charge.

But Kerry offers to help him. She can’t believe the words actually came out of her mouth. Maybe it was her long time crush on Jesse. Or her devotion to Mama Joy. Maybe it was her gratitude for all Mama Joy and the shop meant to her. Whatever it was, Kerry has now locked her future to the store and to Jesse for the time being, come what may.

Review

There’s a lot to love about a book with confident male characters who knit and feel no shame over it! This made me want to take up knitting – and I’ve tried before with disastrous results.

I got a huge kick out of the Strong brothers. Luke and Noah are my favorites of the four. Jesse grew on me over time here. I especially loved the relationship he starts building with Errol. I can’t tell right now if this is going to be a series, but if it is, I’d like to see more from that relationship in the future.

While I enjoyed the characters in this as well as the save-the-store thread of the book, I was frustrated by the pacing. At the halfway point I felt like there had been a whole like of talking and overthinking, but not nearly enough action. There was no real plan for the store at that point, and no one was really doing anything, but they talked a lot about how urgent it was to save the shop. I think I would have liked more time for the events in the last 1/3 of the book – which were an absolute delight! The end felt rushed for me. I wanted time to linger over the more satisfying parts of the book.

Fans of contemporary romance should check this out. Readers on the hunt for romance books with non-white characters should bump this one up on their reading lists, too. The Strong brothers have the potential for some excellent stories! (Language, sexual references)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

REVIEW: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are on the scene when Superman takes down The Atom Man. No one seems to really notice his sickly reaction to the green crystal that powered the villain’s transformation.

Roberta’s family is moving from Chinatown to Metropolis proper. Her dad has a new job which comes with a new house, more money – and hostility from one of his colleagues. Jimmy Olsen lives nearby. On the day they move in, Roberta even gets to see Superman run across the telephone wires above the neighborhood.

Not everyone in the neighborhood is as nice as Jimmy. Roberta and her brother Tommy run into trouble with a bigot on the youth baseball team. But the racist teen is small time compared to the hate rising in Metropolis.

The Lee family is targeted by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. Time and time again they are attacked. The places important to them are in the line of fire. Thankfully Superman is always there to lend a hand.

But while Superman helps the Lees, he has problems of his own. Ever since he encountered that green crystal he’s been hearing a strange language and seeing beings no one else can see. What is happening to Metropolis’ hero?

Review

This was excellent! It’s a meaty story with a TON of things going on. Roberta and Superman tell most of the story. Between the two of them they wrestle with the obvious racism, Roberta tries to fit in with the kids in their new neighborhood, Clark remembers parts of his childhood, and then deals with his new visions. Both Roberta and Clark are dealing with identity issues and questions. I loved that Superman wasn’t just the guy swooping in to save the day – he had a character development arc, too. I definitely got my “money’s worth” out of this book. There’s so much to this story! It’s excellent.

I got to see about 60% of the artwork, and I loved it. The art style is one I enjoy, and the color was beautiful. The story was so easy to follow.

Stories about racism are hard to read – the hate, the duplicity, the name calling. But I think it’s good for readers – kids, teens, and adults – to wrestle with the issues, the language, and the hate. And to try to recognize the fear that runs underneath those other things. It’s subtle, but the feeling of desperately grasping for power and security is definitely there in the bigoted characters. There are even moments of racial tension between minorities, like when the Lee family resists interacting with some African American men who try to help them. Those more subtle pieces in the story add to the richness of the graphic novel. I feel like I could read this again and again and discover more depth each time.

I can’t recommend this highly enough. There’s great historical context in the back matter – for Superman the character as well as for racism in America and also personal stories from the author. The story is enjoyable, but readers who are willing to go deeper will find lots to think about here.

DC has graciously shared some of the interior art from this book. You can check it out here:

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel

REVIEW: The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing/Forever in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Liya thought she was having dinner with her parents. Not her favorite activity thanks to her father’s constant disapproval. But she expressly told them she was not in the market for a husband. She wanted no part of some matchmaking dinner engineered by her parents.

Then Jay and his mom came to the door.

In her fury, Liya ended up slamming right into Jay, knocking them both to the ground, as she tried to escape. He probably thought she was rude – or crazy – but his opinion doesn’t matter. She’s not going to have to see him again.

But she does. When she should be celebrating a new promotion at work, she discovers her company is going under. They never mentioned the lawsuits or other issues during her interview. And the lawyer who’s been brought in to determine if the company can be saved? Jay.

And he’s furious that Liya ran out and was so disrespectful to his mother. He’s heard all sorts of rumors about Liya at church. She’s sassy and hard headed. Almost impossible to get along with. And she clearly wants nothing to do with him. So why does his heart race like that when he gets in verbal sparring matches with her?

Review

Tons of rich, emotional content in this contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance! Liya is a complex, complicated character. She’s fun and loyal with her friends, protective of her mother, and respectful of Jay’s mother. But at the same time she has no patience for gossipy aunties. And she’s openly hostile to the trash-talking men at her church. Her hostility is a shield, but Jay sees through some of that when he finally starts really paying attention.

Liya doesn’t make a very good first, second, or third impression with Jay. And he’s willing, after all that, to write her off. But his true character comes through when she’s too vulnerable to be hostile or protective. And that gives them a chance.

The author has a note right at the front of the book that indicates there are references to sexual assault in the book. Sensitive readers should know that going in.

Both Jay and Liya bring significant baggage into the story. And those situations are huge enough to derail the healthiest couple. There’s a lot for them to work through. And I was here for all of it. The final conflict in the story – and the subsequent wrap up – was an emotional powerhouse. My heart was racing, and I was hanging on every word. I though the ending was faithful to real life – no miracle endings. It was satisfying, although I would have happily taken an epilogue to see how things played out later. (Some language, CW: sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

REVIEW: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Edelweiss+ and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Bill Sweeney passed away, it was big news. He was famous in the literary world. And he had been working on a new memoir. The one about his deceased wife had been extremely well-received. The publishing world could only dream of what Bill might share next from his personal life.

The Sweeney sisters come home for the funeral: dutiful Liza who lives nearby, flighty and emotional Maggie the artist, and Tricia, the baby – the most controlled and put together of the bunch.

The Sweeney sisters have generally had good relationships with one another. Different circumstances bring out different pairings and alliances. But in a crisis like burying their father, handling the estate, and finding his final missing manuscript, they pull together. But their father’s death raises a new, unforeseen wrinkle.

There is a fourth Sweeney sister.

Thanks to a DNA test, Serena discovers Bill Sweeney was her biological father. This leaves the original Sweeney sisters reeling and wondering what agenda Serena might bring to their task of managing Bill’s estate. Will Serena capitalize on the scandal with a book of her own? Is she only there for whatever money she can squeeze from the estate? And what might the missing memoir have to say about Bill’s infidelity and his surprise heir?

Review

I enjoyed this novel about sisterhood and legacy. The blurbs promised me “belly laughs” and something “uproarious.” But I didn’t find much hilarity in this. It’s touching and nuanced as it explores the five main characters of the story – the sisters and their father.

The core of the book is the father’s death and what the loss means for the family, from dealing with the house to the search for the missing memoir. And there’s a good bit here about legacy. Those pieces of the story were good and engaging.

But the best part of the story for me was the exploration of sisterhood. The three main sisters have distinct personalities and bring a good amount of personal baggage into the grief journey. On their own, they are all dealing with something – Liza’s rocky marriage, Maggie’s flighty personality and work ethic and penchant for drama, and Tricia’s new romantic relationship. But in addition to their individual journeys there’s a great layer of sisterhood over the top.

The sisterhood pieces were fascinating to Serena as an outsider. She longs to be part of that dynamic, but she know she doesn’t really fit. I loved how she found her own way to step into the sisterly dance the other three already have going.

Readers who enjoy contemporary women’s fiction, family stories, and books with literary elements should not miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

REVIEW: The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House/Wendy Lamb Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Bea was 8, her parents sat her down to tell her that her dad was gay and they were getting a divorce. At the same time, they gave her a notebook. Inside they had made a list – The List of Things that Will Not Change. It included affirmations of love from both of her parents as well as a reminder that they were still a family, even if the family looked different in the future.

Now that Bea’s dad and Jesse are getting married, Bea is thrilled with the idea that she is going to finally have a sister. Jesse’s daughter, Sonia, is Bea’s age. She lives in California, but after Christmas she’ll be visiting New York for a week. Bea is certain they’ll become the best of friends and that Sonia will be as happy as she is.

But as the wedding gets closer, Bea discovers that different people, and different families, can have complicated feelings about big changes. And she discovers she has some complicated feelings herself.

Review

This was delightful! I adored Bea from the very beginning. She is creative and insightful and completely realistic for her age. The entire cast of characters is fantastic. No one is perfect or perfectly happy. There are complex situations and complex feelings. But the adults are committed to Bea and Sonia and to supporting one another. And Bea’s friends are a great support for her.

My favorite relationship in the whole book is Bea’s relationship with her therapist. It’s matter-of-fact and never something for her to be self-conscious about. Bea is honest about places where she holds back. She listens to what Miriam says, even if she isn’t sure Miriam is right. The whole thing is SO well done.

Because the relationship between Bea and Miriam is so strong, there are a ton of great pieces here about feelings and emotions – anger, emotions that can be masked by anger, acting on our feelings, dealing with worries, and imagining the feelings of others. I loved all of it!

The relationship between Bea’s dad and his boyfriend is great. Each has his own “voice” and way of relating to Bea that feels realistic. I especially loved Jesse’s relationship with Bea.

Not everyone in the book is on board with the gay relationship, which adds to some of the conflict in the book. It’s painful to watch, but also honest . And the book gives Bea space to process that.

There are SO MANY rich things that could be done with this book in a classroom setting – read-alouds with discussion, book groups, etc. But I think kids will also love just spending time with Bea and her friends and family, soaking up all the goodness here. Fans of Rebecca Stead should not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Eye of Zeus by Alane Adams

REVIEW: Eye of Zeus by Alane Adams

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Spark Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Phoebe Katz is a foster kid, a ward of the state. Her case worker found her abandoned at a bus stop when she was a baby. All that was with her was a note and a mirror, two precious possessions now.

Phoebe seems to be a magnet for trouble. She never causes the trouble, but it always seems to find her.  And it’s never made sense before.

Then, a statue of Atlas comes to life and speaks to her, calling her Princess of Argos and telling her she’s in danger. He tells her to talk to Athena to get the answers she seeks.

Thankfully, Phoebe’s friends Damain and Angie are able to help her find the statue of Athena at Athens Square Park. There, the statue comes to life and tells the three kids that Phoebe is a daughter of Zeus. The gods of Olympus are real, and their timeline and Phoebe’s on Earth are intersecting. Ares, the god of war, has broken the barrier between the two worlds, and Phoebe was sent away to protect her from a prophecy.

Now Ares has Phoebe’s caseworker as a hostage. Phoebe discovers a prophecy that says she must collect items from dangerous mythical creatures. Those items are the only way she can rescue her caseworker and thwart a prophecy that insists she will ultimately destroy Olympus.

Review

This was fun. There’s a Percy Jackson feel to this – 12 year old hero demigod with unexpected powers discovers her true heritage and heads off on a quest to fight monsters thanks to a prophecy.

Phoebe’s team includes one demigod and two humans, which changes things up a bit in the quest dynamics. I felt like there was some inconsistency with Phoebe’s friends. There were moments when they were cautious and reluctant and others when they were all in on the next step. I couldn’t find the thread to explain the vacillation in their engagement. Also, there’s no camp for training or preparation. Phoebe acquires all of her skills by instinct. It was one of the disappointing parts of this for me. She just somehow knows magical words to activate powers she never knew she had and what powers are part of her repertoire.

While there are a couple pieces unresolved at the end of this (Who is the school counselor who knew to give her ambrosia?), the quest is resolved and there’s no cliffhanger. There are a ton of monsters to fight and challenges to their quest. There are some moments of violence and mild gore as the kids get covered in monster goo.

Fans of mythology stories like the ones from Rick Riordan (or his imprint) or Kate O’Hearn should check this one out.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume

REVIEW: What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maisie and her mom are off for the winter holiday. Her dad is working instead of going to the beach. Maisie’s best friend, Anna, is coming along on the trip which is perfect timing. (She recently caught her boyfriend cheating.) Anna’s mom is going away for the holiday, so Anna was going to be alone.

Maisie is excited to be getting away, even if she does have to do a journal writing/self-discovery assignment for school over the break. The family is going where they always go for vacation. Which means Sebastian will be there.

Maisie and Sebastian’s parents have been friends for ages. The two teens have grown up together. And while Sebastian has gotten hotter as the years have gone on, Maisie has only gotten more awkward. And this trip is no different. If anything, the awkward is dialing up a notch or two.

And through it all – the trip, questions about her parents’ marriage, her feelings for Seb, his new relationship, the arrival of Maisie’s “perfect” older sister and her new girlfriend, and Maisie’s entry into a beauty pageant, she’s journalling her thoughts and feelings for school. Who knows what she might discover about herself by the time the vacation is done?

Review

This was so good! I really enjoyed Maisie’s evolution through the story. While it covers about a month of time, a LOT happens for Maisie, her family, and her friends.

The central story is really Maisie’s self-acceptance. As a plus-sized young woman, Maisie feels self-conscious. She won’t wear a swimsuit on the beach. She’s been hurt by others who have judged her by her weight – including people in her own family. And she’s developed a protective response of assuming the worst to defect against her fear of rejection. The pageant pulls all of that to the front of Maisie’s awareness and forces her to deal with some of it.

The other major piece of this is Maisie’s crush on Seb. When he starts dating someone else, Maisie pretends to herself – and to others – that she doesn’t care. She misses the signs that there might be someone interested in her because she thinks her size makes that impossible. While parts of this plot line were predictable, at least to me, I still loved watching it play out.

There’s a lot to enjoy here –  a romance, a body-positive thread, some amazing characters (Leila is my favorite), and tons of family and friendship pieces. Be sure to check it out. (Language, sexual references, underage drinking)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Chirp by Kate Messner

REVIEW: Chirp by Kate Messner

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mia and her family are moving back to Vermont after two years in Boston. Two years Mia would love to forget. But now they’ll be close to her grandmother again and get to do all the things she remembers from when she was younger.

Mia’s parents are requiring her to choose two summer activities to keep her busy. They are quick to point out the gymnastics spot near her grandmother’s cricket farm. But Mia wants nothing to do with gymnastics these days. But she does sign up for a Warrior Camp nearby as well as a Launch Camp for Young Entrepreneurs. Mia thinks Launch Camp might help her come up with ideas to help the cricket farm.

Because the farm is in trouble. Gram is convinced someone is sabotaging her business – letting seagulls in, turning of the breakers to the freezers, etc. Mia’s parents think it’s more a run of bad luck – and a sign Gram should get out of the business. But Mia’s noticing weird things at the farm, too. And she’s determined to do whatever she can to help her grandmother.

Review

This was so good! There’s a TON of great stuff going on in this story. The cricket farm and the pieces on insects as a protein source for humans is fascinating (and creepy, in my opinion). Then there are the two camps Mia attends, the friends she makes there, and the things she learns at both. It’s obvious something happened at Mia’s gym back in Boston, and it feels bigger than just her broken arm. But it takes awhile for Mia to get to a place where she’s ready to address it, even in her own mind, much less tell an adult about it. And finally there’s the sabotage mystery. All of those pieces are woven together beautifully and seamlessly. Everything fits like an intricate jigsaw puzzle.

There are so many ways I could see teachers (and homeschooling parents) use this book in the classroom. It would be a great read-aloud and would also work for book clubs and reading groups. Kids could learn more about insects as food or about real cricket farms. They could learn about maker spaces or visit some. Students could learn about Warrior camps or business plans or a whole host of things that come up in the course of the novel.

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a novel by Kate Messner. I believe she does a masterful job of addressing serious and important topics (in this case harassment and boundary issues) in age-appropriate ways. Her books give kids an opening to talk about real life issues and give them language for difficult topics. Be sure to check this one out – for older middle grade readers (10+).

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: What I Carry by Jennifer Longo

REVIEW: What I Carry by Jennifer Longo

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Muiriel is 17. One more year and she ages out of the foster care system. She’s learned to pack light – to LIVE light – with the goal of getting to 18, beating the odds, and living healthy and free on her own.

Her social worker begs her to settle in for this final year of high school. Her eyes are on college for Muiriel, and she knows a strong senior year is important. Joellen has always been there for her, and her request seems simple enough for Muir to agree.

Muir’s new home across the Sound from Seattle seems too perfect. Too many signs of the few things she anchors her life to – her namesake John Muir, the wilderness, and independence. But it’s also all wrong. She’s the only placement in the house, so she can’t hide in the chaos of other kids. Her foster mom, Francine, lives on five acres of land out in the middle of nowhere, so there’s no city noise but tons of quiet. And Joellen is a ferry-ride away, so she can’t call for a quick escape. Even if she did, there were no other placements that would take her.

But maybe this last placement will give Muir something she’s refused to let herself hope for – a sense of home.

Review

“Not being perfect is for people who have families; you can screw up and they still keep you.”

This book was amazing! Excellent! Stupendous! I don’t know that I have an adjective for how much I loved this book. I’ve always had a soft spot for foster care stories, but this is so much more than that!

Muir is one of the best characters I’ve read in awhile. There’s a thread of her “packing light” philosophy that runs through the whole book and is brilliant. Her gradual shift from living out of her suitcase to setting things ON the dresser before putting something IN the dresser was a glorious way to SHOW how she’s feeling about her placement. The trinkets she carries from foster home to foster home illustrate her experiences and show why she has built these protective walls around herself.

The other characters are just as amazing. And there are fantastic tidbits about John Muir, as well as a sweet romance, and a skewering commentary about racism woven into this bigger story that is fantastic.

When I step back from the story I loved and think about how the author built it – her understanding of the out-of-home care system, her excellence in conveying Muir’s thoughts and feelings, the layers to the story itself and the characters – I appreciate the book even more. Do not miss this AMAZING story! (Language, off-page sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++