The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

A young girl goes missing, and a community is shattered when only her elbow is found. Even though her father is sure he knows who killed her, he lacks evidence. After being brutally raped and murdered, Susie is able to watch as her family and friends try to move on with their lives. While I found parts of the story to be completely devastating, it was a compelling page-turner overall.

Happy Reading!

Déogratias, a Tale of Rwanda by Jean-Philippe Stassen [Graphic Novel]

Many people think of World War 2 and the holocaust as a thing of the past. Sadly, there are countries in Africa in which genocide is still taking place. In this graphic novel, we are introduced to a character named Déogratias — a young boy who has witnessed a lot of terrible things during Rwanda’s civil war. Told through a series of flashbacks, Déogratias’ story includes a lot of brutality and loss. The images of violence are somewhat graphic, but not over the top. Especially considering the wealth of historical information in the foreword, this graphic novel is a must read for teens and adults alike.

Happy Reading!

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

My introduction to Jodi Picoult was her book My Sister’s Keeper — when I was pregnant… Needless to say, my pregnancy kicked that tear-jerker up a notch to almost impossible to finish. Reading (or listening to) this book, as a parent, was nearly as difficult. You see, this book is about a kid named Peter who “goes Columbine” on his high school after years of being bullied by his peers and ignored by the adults who were supposed to help. It begs the question, “How do I know I won’t make the same mistakes?” The obvious answer is that you can’t be sure — you just need to do the best you can and pray it all works out. Parental nervousness aside, though, it was an intriguing glimpse into the world of a school shooter. What does it take to actually push someone that far? What could they possibly be thinking while they are shooting up a school? What do they feel afterward?

The story alternates between characters: Peter, his mother, her one-time friend Alex (who becomes a judge and presides over Peter’s case), and Alex’s daughter Josie (one of Peter’s only friends who becomes popular and abandons him). The story also alternates through time — ranging from when Peter was a baby, to his elementary school days, to high school, to the time of the shooting, and on to the time of Peter’s trial. What might seem like a confusing arrangement actually works well to juxtapose the “causes” of the rampage and the devastation it leaves in its wake. There is not a happy ending, but it certainly leaves you with plenty of food for thought.

Happy Reading!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Markus Zusak is brilliant. (Which is why TBT won the 2006 JHUNT Award.) This book is not about the Holocaust, per se, but it takes place in Nazi Germany during WWII. Death is our (often humorous) narrator, and Liesel Meminger is the main character whose life Death is recounting. The story begins with Liesel, her brother, and her mother traveling by train — to bring the children to a foster home. When Liesel’s brother dies, en route to the foster home, they have to stop and bury him. In the graveyard, Liesel notices a small black book [The Gravediggers Handbook] in the snow and she steals it. She does not yet know how to read, but will eventually use this book to learn how to read (with the assistance of her foster father, Hans Hubermann). Through the years, Liesel continues to steal things, including more books (obviously). But it is not the thievery I find so interesting. It is the unique perspective of this girl — who both hates the fuhrer and must publicly obey/worship him; whose daring actions save the lives of several people she loves; who continues to live, thrive, and survive, despite her many brushes with Death and the people dying all around her. Her status as a fictional character notwithstanding, she inspired me — challenging me to be more positive about my own life circumstances.

Now, I’m not gonna lie… This book is sad. I’m talking, showing up at work with red, teary eyes and worrying people that something is wrong in “real life” sad. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read (or listen to) this story; it just means to have a hanky or a box of tissues handy when you start getting near the end.

Happy Reading!

They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan by Alphonsion Deng, Benson Deng, Benjamin Ajak, and Judy A. Bernstein

Alphonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak are three of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Judy A. Bernstein is a woman they met up with once they came to the United States of America. Between the four of them, they put together a book about the amazing lengths these boys went to just to survive (and escape) the civil war in Sudan.

When these boys were less than 7 years old, their villages were attacked. In order to survive, they had to literally walk away from everything and everyone they ever knew and trek across the African wilderness — often with no food or water. War followed them wherever they went, and wild animals, like lions and crocodiles, were a constant threat. Many boys died or were killed, and the boys who were fortunate enough to live through the ordeal are probably traumatized for life.

If you are quick to complain about the things that go wrong in your life, this book may help put things into better perspective. It’s also a great eye-opener for those who do not know about this often under-reported war. For more information on the Lost Boys of Sudan, check out these websites:
http://www.allianceforthelostboys.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Boys_of_Sudan

Or check out the award-winning documentary http://www.lostboysfilm.com/.

Happy Reading!

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Once again, I am feeling a little stupid. Not only have I never read anything by Neil Gaiman before, but I have also never heard of “Anansi stories.” Charlie (one of the main characters) actually says, “Everyone has heard of Anansi stories.” Well… Ummm… I guess he was wrong! Either way, though, this story was great.

Charlie “Fat Charlie” Nancy is a typical, boring adult. He has a job. He has a fiancée, Rosie. But nothing much happens in his life. That all changes when his estranged father dies. Suddenly, Charlie is told that not only was his father the human form of Anansi (the African trickster god), but that he also has a twin brother, Spider, who has supernatural abilities similar to those of their father.

When Spider comes to visit, he turns Charlie’s life upside-down. Charlie ends up fired from his job and wanted by the police — plus Spider convinces Rosie that he is actually Charlie. Will Charlie end up in jail? Will he ever get his own life back? Find out for yourself when you read (or listen to!) this book.

Happy Reading!

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party by MT Anderson

I loved M.T. Anderson from the moment I set eyes on Whales on Stilts. After reading The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen, I was hooked. I am ashamed to admit that I have not yet read or listened to Feed, but I swear I will get to it. When The Pox Party started getting to much attention on ADBOOKS, though, I knew this had to be the next book of his I read. Since it is such a long book, I took the easy way out and got the audiobook! At times, I knew I was missing out on the “feel” of the book, since I only heard what was written on the letters and posters, but I can always go back and look at the book now that I have heard the story.

In this story, we are introduced to Octavian Nothing. His mother was an African princess, kidnapped and sold into slavery. When she arrived in America, she was purchased by the philosophers of the Novanglian College of Lucidity in Boston, Massachussetts. Octavian is given a classical education, expensive garments, and fine foods. Very uncommon for a young black man in the era of the American Revolution. Octavian does not know any different, so he does not question any of the strange experiments — like how they weigh, measure, and record both his input (food) and output (feces) every day.

When the Novanglian College of Lucidity loses its funding, things begin to change for Octavian and his mother. For the first time, Octavian faces some of the harsh realities of slavery — like being stripped and beaten, wearing chains and a metal helmet with a bit, and fighting in a war for “freedom” from England when the slaves, themselves, would never be freed from their owners.

Booklist’s reviewer said it better than I could ever say it myself:
The fluctuations between satire and somber realism, gothic fantasy and factual history will jar and disturb readers, creating a mood that echoes Octavian’s unsettled time as well as our own.

A must read for anyone who wishes to know the truth about this period in American history.

Happy Reading!

The Thirteenth Tale [a novel] by Diane Setterfield

Diane Setterfield is an author I had never heard of before. The Thirteenth Tale is not a particularly “grabbing” title, in my opinion. Still, I had heard a lot of talk about what an amazing book this is… So, I decided to give it a shot. The beginning of the story was a bit slow-going, I will admit. But the mystery and the twists and turns later on more than make up for the slow start.

Margaret Lea is the daughter of a famous bookseller, and a biographer in her own right. Vida Winter is a world-renowned author with a very mysterious past. Out of nowhere, Vida contacts Margaret because she finally wants to tell her life’s story, but Margaret does not know whether to trust Vida. People have tried to get the truth out of Vida before, but she has always just told them stories. After all, she muses, stories are more interesting than the truth! In my humble opinion, Vida’s life “story” is far more interesting than she admits.

I will not tell you whether Vida finally tells the truth about her past or if she merely fabricates another tale. Neither will I reveal any of the mind-blowing plot twists. What I will tell you, though, is that this story will likely stick with you for a long time. I keep thinking back to these characters and wondering if the author will ever write a story in which I can learn more about them. I doubt she will, since it seems that the mystery is the entire point. And if you love mysteries, this is certainly a book for you!

Happy Reading!