Saints and Misfits is a young adult novel by S.K. Ali. The book follows Janna, a hijabi teen who has a non-religious father and a mother and brother who are practicing Muslims. Janna is searching for her own identity and path while keeping a secret that is destroying her inside. Janna could be any teen coming to grips with her identity and finding it hard to speak out when something bad happens to her. She’s unsure of who her true…
The Sunshine Sisters is the latest novel by Jane Green. Three very different sisters that grew up with a semi-famous, self centered mother, return home at her request only to find her very ill. Each has traveled a different journey with their mother and each must come to terms with their life choices and relationships in her own way. Heartfelt and well written, this is one of Jane Green’s best.
The Optomistic Decade by Heather Abel follows a teen activist at a back to the land Summer camp led by Caleb, the idealistic founder of the camp. The land was acquired from ranchers years ago who now want it back. Full of ideas about the right way to live, devoting one’s life to causes and knowing when its time to give up. This is also a coming of age story and a story of betrayal and discontent, of finding one’s…
Literally by Lucy Keating is a YA novel about a teenage girl in Malibu whose life seems perfect, until it doesn’t. Suddenly she discovers she’s being written into existence by an author who is controlling her whole life, creating tension, love triangles and trying to set her up with the perfect boyfriend. An interesting concept and a somewhat interesting read. It reminded me of the film Stranger than Fiction, but not as good. A fun book for YA readers.
What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons is a coming of age story of a young South African/American woman searching for her true self in the wake of her mothers death. A slim little novel that packs a real emotional punch. Clemmons writing is sparse, lyrical; she writes in a stream of consciousness style often moving back and forth through time and place, yet always returning to themes of grief, race, and identity. A powerful book by a wonderful new writer…
A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah tells the very tragic but true story of kids 12 years old and younger who’ve lost their families, been given drugs and Ak47’s and turned into soldiers to fight wars they don’t even understand. This is Beah’s story set in Sierra Leone in the 90’s; he is one of the few who have survived, been rehabilitated and been able to share his story. It’s a beautifully written yet…
The Female Persuasion is the new novel by Meg Wolitzer. It is about the relationship between an older feminist, reminiscent of Gloria Steinem, and a bright young feminist in the making named Greer. The novel follows both women as well as Greer’s boyfriend Cory and her activist friend Zee. Wolitzer shows what it means to be a feminist, fighting for women’s right to decide and to chose for themselves on so many issues. Fighting for the right to be safe…
A Place For Us is the debut novel by Fatima Farheen Mizra and the first book released by Sarah Jessica Parker’s new imprint SJP for Hogarth. Its also one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It tells the story of an Indian Muslim family in California, whose children were born and raised in America under strict cultural rules. The novel starts at the oldest daughters wedding, where all the family has gathered for the first time…
I have to start by saying I loved this book. Lily and the Octopus is a novel by Steven Rowley but is based on the true story of his relationship with his dachshund. I don’t want to day too much here as it would spoil the magic of the story. Once you surrender to the story and decide to just go along for the ride, I guarantee this book will make you laugh, will make you cry, will make you…
Still Me by Jojo Moyes is a story about a young woman from England who gets a job as an assistant to a very wealthy but depressed woman in NYC. She has to move far away from friends and family to start a new life she’s excited about, and things turn out very differently than she had planned. I enjoy Moye’s books, and this one is no exception. I was fully caught up in Louisa’s story and didn’t want it…