Tag Archives: teen fiction

Quick Review: The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

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This was a book club pick way back in January and there’s no good reason why I haven’t already reviewed it. The story of Amina Al-Sirafi and her legendary pirate crew as they come out of retirement for one last job. Amina doesn’t particularly want to leave the safety of her home and her daughter, but when a fallen comrade’s daughter, Dunya, runs off with a dangerous, European treasure hunter, she can’t help but take the job.

The story is told as an interview, with two narrative voices. Amina speaks to her scribe, Jamal. She tells the story of the present narrative of the search for Dunya with flashbacks that fill in what happened to her fallen colleague, why she retired, and how she came about building her crew. The second set of narratives are told by Jamal and they tell the tale of the Moon of Saba, a legendary treasure.

The adventure in this was exciting, the characters were delightful, and the ending was very moving. I really enjoyed this one and I do believe that there will be a sequel, which I’m pretty excited about. If you like pirates, adventure, mystery, treasure hunting, or found family, then this one is for you!

Weekend Reads: Paths

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Spring is here and it is delightful. Trees are blooming, birds are singing, and I’ve been getting out on some hiking trails. I am the kind of person who listens to audiobooks while I walk, even when I’m outside intent on enjoying nature. The right book can absolutely get me through fatigue or the desire to turn back and be done. That has put thoughts of this week’s Weekend Reads theme in my mind. These books are either themselves about following a literal or physical path, or they’ll keep you going because you just want to know what happens next.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed memoir’s of her hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, Wild is heartbreaking, touching, and funny. I enjoyed the story so much that I assigned to Beth as part of a Pop Culture Homework Assignment. This was a pick for Oprah’s book club and it was made into a movie, so I know I’m just another voice in a cacophony recommending it. But, if you’re interested in women’s stories and in particular tales of battling grief and finding yourself, then this is a great read.

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

This is an action-packed series that will keep you on the trail. Epic, interesting and terrifying, it is set in a world where people can hear each other’s thoughts. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone, even the dog. The protagonist, Todd, meets someone whose thoughts he cannot hear and they go on a mission to change to world.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

A classic in the travel memoir genre, this is another trail-hiking adventure. It follows Bill and his friend Stephen as they embark on an adventure to hike all 2,197.4 miles of the the Appalachian trail, a journey that will take them through fourteen states. starting in Georgia and ending in Maine. These are two middle aged men who probably have no business going on this trek, but they do anyway. It is funny, informative, and touching. I really love this book and I know Beth enjoyed it, too.

So, there you have it! Three books vaguely related to the idea of getting out there in the world and walking around. Do you have a favorite tale of a journey, travel memoir, or epic adventure? What has kept you outside and moving because you needed to know what happens next?

Review: This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron (Read by Jordan Cobb)

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This was so good! While This Poison Heart, book 1 in the series, was a bit of a mystery, this one is more of an adventure. Leaving where the first book left off, they are on a race against time to restore all the pieces of the deadly Absyrtus Heart in order for Briseis to save her Mom. In order to do this, Briseis must rely on blood relatives she didn’t know she had.

These books weave myth in with the modern I absolutely loved them. Briseis is a smart and thoughtful hero and I cheered for her the entire way. I absolutely recommend these! They were so good!

Weekend Reads: Red, White, and Blue

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This is a day late because a cold has sidelined me, but it is a long weekend here in the US because Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is a federal holiday.

Monday is also Inauguration for the U.S. President. So, with that in mind, here are some “American themed” (very broadly speaking) suggestions for your next read.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is the story of Ifemelu, a Nigerian woman living in the US. The narrative moves between the past and the present and is interspersed with blog posts Ifemelu has written about life as a Non-American African in the U.S. This had me hooked immediately. The characters were real and vivid and it gave me so much to think about.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Beth and I both loved this book, a first in the series. It is an alternate history set immediately after the Civil War…but with zombies. It is written from the perspective of a Black woman who has to navigate both the terror of a zombie-filled world and the racism of the time period. Bonus, the audio book is read by one of my favorite narrators, Bahni Turpin.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

Since he’s about to be our new vice president, you can take a whack at J.D. Vance’s memoir. The audiobook is read by the author and it is a well-written tale about his life growing up in Appalachia. Drug addiction, incarceration, lack of resources, broken families, grit, and perseverance all make an appearance. Honestly, I was lukewarm about the memoir when I read it first in 2018 and I’m still pretty meh about it now. But maybe you’ll like it better!

Ms. Marvel No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

Kamala Khan is such a wonderful character. I enjoy her so much. She is your typical American teenager, wanting to fit in but also stand out, wanting to make her parents happy but also follow her dreams. When she finds she has super powers, she does the only thing she can think to do, and that is help people. If you don’t know Kamala Khan, I highly recommend you give her comics a try.

Quick Review: This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

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This is the story of Briseis, a young woman who has the magic touch when it comes to plants. She receives a surprise inheritance and she and her Moms move to a grand house in Rhinebeck, New York. She discovers secrets and mysteries in the house.

This was so fun. I was so interested to what happened next that I wanted to keep listening. It also inspired me to start a little knitting project, which I was able to finish while I was listening. These little wrist warmers with their falling leaves are so cozy.

Back to the book, I was delighted by the characters and their growth through the story. This is a series and I’ve already requested the next one from the library!

What I’m Listening to Now: This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron (read by Jordan Cobb)

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Last month I went to a yarn swap, where knitters and crocheters went through the yarn they had at home for things that bought but that they knew they wouldn’t use. We then ‘shopped’ each other’s yarn stashes. During the swap, I picked up this kit for some cute little wrist warmers.

Just a little something from the Yarn Swap

I’ve been on the waiting list for this book since the beginning of June. So, when it came available right as I was finishing House of Hollow, I knew it would be a perfect match for a new knitting project. Briseis is a gardener and magical, so starting something with a leafy motif seemed ideal.

Quick Review: House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

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The House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

This is a spooky little modern folk lore tale about Iris and her sister’s Vivi and Grey. When they were little, they went missing on New Year’s Eve for weeks before turning up mysteriously and changed. They all had little scars are their necks, their hair had turned white blonde, and they couldn’t remember what had happened or where they had been. Now, ten years later, Iris must delve into her family’s secrets now that Grey has once again gone missing.

I enjoyed the fairy tale and folk lore elements of this story and the dynamics at play between the sisters. This was a fun, twisty little read that I binged my way through. I really liked the main character, Iris, and the supporting casts of her sisters, Grey and Vivi, and Grey’s boyfriend Tyler were interesting and dimensional. The ending was good enough that I’m not clamoring for a sequel, but there were some threads left open that I wouldn’t mind continuing with these characters. If you like stories that play with folk tale elements and mystery, this is a fun one. Check it out.

Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT I SLEPT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK FOR SO LONG?? HOW? How??? It’s lovely and wonderful and good and heartbreaking and uplifting in all of the right ways. 10/10. If you’ve not read it, you should go read it (or get the audiobook and then Lin Manuel Miranda will read it to you.) That’s it. That’s the review. Done.

Okay, fine, I’ll say a little more. This is the story of Aristotle, who is a weird kinda angry teenager who goes to the pool and meets a weird kinda know-it-all teenager named Dante. They have very little in common, it seems, other than they are both kind of loners and they’re both Mexican. It’s the story of their friendship. It is about how their friendship grows and how they grow and how they deal with big life stuff. No magic (except the everyday magic of friendships, love, relationships, and personal growth), no monsters (except for the very real human monsters we’ve all met), just two teens living their lives and learning truths that feel like unlocking the secrets of the universe. Maybe it is that the world feels very dark and precarious right now, but reading a novel about just normal life stuff that had a good ending felt really great.

So, I still agree with the first paragraph. 10/10, would definitely recommend.

Pop Culture Homework Assignment 2020: Twilight Re-read

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With the announcement of Midnight Sun’s release this summer, Beth and I decided that this year we would read the same books. Yes, folks, we are revisiting the wonderful, terrible novels: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. This is the first time that Beth and I are reading the same books as part of the Pop Culture Homework Assignment! I am so excited! Please join us!