Queenie...Ohhh Girl!

Wow!

Queenie is a fabulous read...absolutely amazing. This book took me through the paces. There was laughs and tears; I was sad and angry; I wanted to shake some sense into Queenie and fight for her...just so many emotions. I understood Queenie because I know her. She is my sisters, cousins, and friends; and at times she is me. She embodies the emotional roller coaster that so many women ride every day. Mental health is important, even for the strongest of women. I fell in love with her friends and family.

 An wonderful debut!

When You Read This...

Grief is a complicated and fickle monster, no wonder so many of us have trouble moving past it.  Mary Adkins handles the complications of losing a love one with grace, compassion and humor.  I love the creativity of epistolary novels.

I am totally impressed by an author's ability to tell a story through letters, and now in the 21st century; blog posts, e-mails, and texts.  I felt and understood all the emotions of the characters who were missing Iris.  My heart went out to Iris for how honest and raw she was about her situation.  Carl and Phil kept me in stitches! 

Well done Ms. Adkins!

Katherine Howe is a Smart Ass Witch!

I was a big fan of "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane". I became a bigger fan once I met Katherine Howe at a book signing. I was thrilled to see that she write a follow-up. I was not disappointed. 

"The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs" was delightful.  This book was full of subtle, yet powerful magic that you feel in the past, present, and future. I felt like we picked up right where we left off with Connie, Sam, and Grace. I loved the introduction of Zazi. The ended was perfect and I hope it means there is more to come!

Bloodleaf...Wow!

 I am all in my feelings about this book.  This book got under my skin and poked at my soul. This book was about love, power, relationships, and sacrifice. So many characters gave so much in the name of love. Smith explored love on so many levels: romantic love, a mother's love, the love for a sibling, love between friends, and the love of power. Bloodleaf is gritty, raw, and dark but it is also beautiful and powerful.  She is not afraid to go after main characters.  She's like the George R.R. Martin of YA. Crystal Smith is force to be reckoned with and I am looking forward to book 2. 

This book is a roundhouse kick to heart and readers will ask for more.

Crystal has a new fan!

The Kurt Vonnegut of YA: Mr. Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith always manages to capture the voice of the teenage male with such accuracy and a ton of respect.  Rabbit and Robot was an amazing, off-beat, funny, and sometimes sad story of dealing with sexual urges, growing up and it makes you question what it means to be a real boy.   It is also a commentary on the state of our country. I am a fan of the insane cogs and Maurice.  I feel as though there should be a Maurice plush to go with the book.  Excellent book!

Mr. Adeji-Brenyah is Book Bae...period!

 No disrespect to the person Nana Kwame Adeji-Brenyah might be dating, but when someone writes like this, he or she is definitely Book Bae. I've never read anything like this. From the first story, Adejei-Brenyah comes out the gate swinging; and each story is like a beautifully, devastating, punch to the body. Story after story delivers a body blow, but you welcome each hit. You need the next story.  It just hurts so good! 

I absolutely loved the sci-fi/fantasy tone to  the stories. Nana's writing is superb.  Each story is wickedly clever and cerebral, delivering slick, smart, commentary on issues such as race and consumerism in our country. I actually had to take deep breath after each story to recover and process. You can peel back the layers of each story and have discussions for days  It was so wonderful!

I am here for this young man and his writing.  I am ready for the next hit that he delivers.

Thank you Tommy!

 The world needs Tommy Orange right now!

Most of the books I read are all the same voice; different plots and settings but the same voice: straight, White, male/female who are well above the poverty line.  

Then I read this book and it was like sunlight through the clouds. The voice of the urban, Native American is not one I have encountered.  It was original, raw, honest, and at times spiritual.  The loss Native Americans have experienced at the hands of colonizers is epic. Mr. Orange does a phenomenal job conveying the loss and longing of Urban Native Americans.  The loss of identity, land, names; and the current struggle to find their place in modern day America.