Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Summary from Goodreads:

In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

Review:

This was my first book by Elizabeth Acevedo. I think I actually own two of her other books, but haven’t gotten to them yet. I saw that this book won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction of 2020, and I took it out of my library immediately. I love books in verse and there’s something so haunting about this cover. It keeps drawing my eyes back to it.

I see why people love Acevedo’s writing. It’s filled with such emotion and punch. There were some pages I re-read over and over. Her words are meant to be read out loud. I related to these girls because I also lost my father (rather young). And I felt their grief in my bones. But, this was more than a book about grief. It’s also a book that tackles a socioeconomic divide, sexism, rape culture, and family betrayal. While it’s clear that one sister has it a lot easier than the other sister, it’s also clear that sexism and rape culture is alive and well on all sides of the universe. This isn’t a light read.

But, it’s also powerful. There’s this element of strong women standing up for each other and fighting together for what’s right. A father is gone, but in a lot of respects, he’s been gone for a while. It’s the story of the woman survivors and how they live and prosper without him. There’s family drama, love, chess, plants, swimming, friendships, and video chats.

I sometimes got a little confused by whose chapters I was reading. I’d have to “rewind” and go back a few pages to see whose point of view I was supposed to be in, and I found this annoying. I almost wish there were clearer markers on each page. But, maybe that’s my own fault for not always looking/paying closer attention at the chapter beginnings. I’m also not sure some of the things Yahaira did would have been so easy. She got a lot of money for her sister, travels very far, and accomplished quite a lot, with little to no problems….but, all in all, I get there’d be no story without a little suspension of reality.

I really enjoyed this, especially the writing style. I will most definitely be reading Acevedo’s other works soon. I give this one a 9/10.

Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer

Summary from Goodreads:

In this young adult contemporary romance, a girl is suddenly gifted with the ability to cast instant karma on those around her—both good and bad.

Chronic overachiever Prudence Barnett is always quick to cast judgment on the lazy, rude, and arrogant residents of her coastal town. Her dreams of karmic justice are fulfilled when, after a night out with her friends, she wakes up with the sudden ability to cast instant karma on those around her. Pru giddily makes use of the power, punishing everyone from public vandals to karaoke hecklers, but there is one person on whom her powers consistently backfire: Quint Erickson, her slacker of a lab partner and all-around mortal enemy. Soon, Pru begins to uncover truths about Quint, her peers, and even herself that reveal how thin the line is between virtue and vanity, generosity and greed . . . love and hate.

Review:

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Marissa Meyer’s first contemporary book. I went into it kind of blindly, hoping for something light and fluffy after just finishing a sort of heavier book. It definitely was a fluffy story. And while I sort of get why it’s marketed as contemporary, that’s not exactly true. In real life, you don’t fall and bump your head to wake up and suddenly have super powers….

On the other hand, as a Libra, control freak who sort of believes in Karma, this book appealed to me in all kinds of ways.  I always believed there was a weird sort of balance to life. I’ve always been sort of lucky (at winning things), but then I’ve been sort of unlucky at getting into accidents and injuring myself. There’s some kind of cosmic balance to it all, maybe? The idea of a teenage girl with control issues having the ability to dish out karmic justice was awesome to me.

My biggest qualm with the whole thing was that she didn’t play around with this enough! I would have seen how far my powers went. For instance, would they work on politicians? How physically close do I need to be for the powers to work? Could I save everyone that needed saving? It never occurred to her to go to a homeless shelter or bring good Karma to people who really needed it….

Prudence isn’t exactly the nicest main character. And I can see some people having trouble reading this book because of that. This doesn’t bother me too much. I like main characters that aren’t perfect. I also like main characters who know their flaws. She does. And I loved the romance in this book. It’s the hate to love kind of love story. I did get super annoyed with some of the karma story line and almost stopped reading at points, but I kept going back because the romance was excellent. Meyer knows how to write a great romance story.

Also, a lot of focus here is spent on right v wrong. Should Prudence take a check to rescue the animals or help a girl find her lost earring? Should she punish people for doing bad things because she has the ability to? Is it wrong to wear leather shoes? Is it wrong to eat meat from cows that come from farms that don’t treat animals well? And while some of it seems easy it answer and she doesn’t always answer it how I want her to (granted, she is a teenager), some of it is a bit gray. And maybe that’s the point? But, also, when looking for a fluffy, contemporary romance I’m not usually looking for a book filled with moral dilemmas.

All in all, there were some things I loved here (like the romance), and some things that needed a little work (like the super powers). It was a light, quirky book though and I’d still give another contemporary book by Meyer a shot. I give this one a 7/10.

When They Call You a Terrorist: a Story of Black Lives Matter and the Power to Change the World by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele

Summary from Goodreads:

Patrisse Khan-Cullors' and asha bandele's instant New York Times bestseller, When They Call You a Terrorist is now adapted for the YA audience with photos and journal entries!

A movement that started with a hashtag--#BlackLivesMatter--on Twitter spread across the nation and then across the world.

From one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement comes a poetic memoir and reflection on humanity. Necessary and timely, Patrisse Khan-Cullors' story asks us to remember that protest in the interest of the most vulnerable comes from love. Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement have been called terrorists, a threat to America. But in truth, they are loving women whose life experiences have led them to seek justice for those victimized by the powerful.

In this meaningful, empowering account of survival, strength, and resilience, Cullors and asha bandele seek to change the culture that declares innocent black life expendable.

Review:

So, this was a powerful book…Over the last couple of years I’ve been reading more nonfiction. I’ve been drawn to YA nonfiction like never before. I’ve been reading books about antiracism and fake news. And I wish I read and had these books when I was younger. But, I’m so glad these books are around now. After the books I’d read this year about race (both for young adults and adults) I thought I knew a lot about Black Lives Matter already. I was wrong. I learned so much in this book.

I guess one of the biggest truths I learned over the last couple of years was how differently, various races and cultures experience police. That wasn’t something new to me this year –though it was certainly present everywhere I seemed to turn. One of the most powerful things about this book is it really shows you how young black people’s relationships start with police. Patrisse explains their presence as a constant surveillance in her neighborhood and her first memorably terrible experience with them personally attacking her family was when she was 9. They abused her two older brothers who were 11 and 13. And that’s just the beginning.

The book goes on to demonstrate a state of constant police brutality in her neighborhood, her school, her home, and her life. Her father, and then her later discovered biological father spend time in prison. Her brother is tortured by police and called a terrorist after having a mental illness episode after what is essentially a fender bender, and then put in prison for years. Each page I turn, it becomes abundantly more clear why Black Lives Matter comes to be. But, the other thing that stands out is just how shockingly good and kind Patrisse is. She’s a survivor. She’s been through so much. And at her heart, she just wants to save people and love people. And you can’t help but read this and think why does it have to be so hard?

Patrisse’s story is sad and hard. I found myself crying at parts. I really connected to her experience with her brother –not because my brother has been arrested. Though, I can’t help but think if he were black, would he be? My brother has the same kind of mental illness and experiences similar episodes to hers. Her story is also hopeful. I can’t help but be so glad that people like her are alive and fighting.

This would be a great book club pick, or a wonderful book to talk about in the classroom. It reads more like a novel than a typical nonfiction book. I give it a 10/10. And I highly recommend it to people wanting to continue their anti-racism reading.

Fangirl, Volume 1: The Manga by Rainbow Rowell, adapted by Sam Maggs and illustrated by Gabi Nam

Summary from Goodreads:

The manga adaptation of the beloved novel by #1 Bestselling author Rainbow Rowell!
New York Journal of Books

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life. Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath just can't let go. Now that they’re in college, Cath must decide if she’s ready to start living her own life. But does she even want to if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Cath doesn’t need friends IRL. She has her twin sister, Wren, and she’s a popular fanfic writer in the Simon Snow community with thousands of fans online.  But now that she’s in college, Cath is completely outside of her comfort zone. There are suddenly all these new people in her life. She's got a surly roommate with a charming boyfriend, a writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome new writing partner ... And she's barely heard from Wren all semester!

Review:

As I mentioned on Goodreads, I forgot how much I loved the original. I guess I will read this story in any format. But, it works remarkably well in this one. Simon and Baz need more pictures. And, I connect way too much to Cath. As soon as I learned this book was being turned into a graphic novel, I ordered it for my library. I only recently finished Wayward Son, and revisiting this original story felt almost like returning to old friends.

It’s hard only getting so much of the story though. It kind of just leaves off at the beginning of the story! I think because this is only Volume 1. I guess there’s going to be multiple volumes. But, ugh…I could easily have read the whole thing in this format, even if it was 1000 pages.

The illustrator nailed college life! The pictures of Cath’s dorm, the cafeteria, the library, etc all seemed so realistic. Seeing Cath’s emotions on her face also allowed me to feel for her in a way, I’m not sure I did before. Though, I must have always connected her because why else would be wanting to read this story again in all formats? I’m trying to remember if I always hated her twin so much….I must have. I’m excited to read more when it comes out.

Do I like this version as much as the book version? It’s been a long time since I read the original. Rowell’s unique power with words isn’t quite here, but all the key parts are. It’s hard to explain. I really enjoyed this. The characters all rang true. And the pictures were spot-on for me. It did feel like a little of Rowell’s magic was missing, though, I’m not sure this is something that’s achievable in a redone format. I give it a 9/10.

Love and Olives by Jenna Evans Welch

Summary from Goodreads:

Liv Varanakis doesn’t have a lot of fond memories of her father, which makes sense—he fled to Greece when she was only eight. What Liv does remember, though, is their shared love for Greek myths and the lost city of Atlantis. So when Liv suddenly receives a postcard from her father explaining that National Geographic is funding a documentary about his theories on Atlantis—and will she fly out to Greece and help?—Liv jumps at the opportunity.

But when she arrives to gorgeous Santorini, things are a little…awkward. There are so many questions, so many emotions that flood to the surface after seeing her father for the first time in years. And yet Liv doesn’t want their past to get in the way of a possible reconciliation. She also definitely doesn’t want Theo—her father’s charismatic so-called “protégé”—to witness her struggle.

And that means diving into all that Santorini has to offer—the beautiful sunsets, the turquoise water, the hidden caves, and the delicious cuisine. But not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a Mamma Mia–inspired tale about a teen girl finding romance while trying to connect with her absent father in beautiful Santorini, Greece.

Review:

I loved this book! I had a good feeling I probably would. I have a uniquely powerful love for olives. I know it sounds like I’m making it up, but they are my favorite food. I don’t think I could live without them. My immediate family, growing up, was raised to snack on them like popcorn. I would not go near a salad that was missing olives. My favorite bread is olive bread. And there is almost always some form of olive in my refrigerator.   So….the title alone of this book appealed to me on all kinds of levels. I also really enjoyed the other books by this author.

I’ve been missing my family and I’ve been missing traveling a lot this past year. My husband and I love traveling. We had travel plans (that along with the rest of the world, we had to cancel this year). So, traveling to Santorini with Liv was a pure delight. This is as close to travel as I think I’m going to get for a long time. (Note to self: find more books that take me to other countries so I can live vicariously through more lucky fictional characters). Would I have loved this book as much if circumstances weren’t what they were right now? Maybe not…But, it was the right book at the right moment for me.

As I mentioned on Goodreads, I wasn’t expecting to feel so much in this book, but it was an emotional roller coaster –in a good way. It’s about Liv reconnecting with the father who left her. It’s also about her understating why he left to begin with. This book handles mental illness in an interesting way. And I found myself really connecting to Liv because of those in my life with mental illness. Some of it wasn’t a huge shock for me, like it was for this main character. I have read enough books to know when a big reveal is coming and what to expect at this point. But, that didn’t deter from my enjoyment. I still felt just as strongly for Liv.

This book is beautiful, romantic, and filled with this interesting backdrop adventure of searching for and filming about the lost city of Atlantis. I was not expecting to learn so much about Greece, Plato, and philosophy in this book! What a surprise treat. I guess Atlantis hunting is a real thing! The only thing I did not love was how long it took Liv to figure out how not great one of her relationships at home was. But, I guess that was realistic. Sometimes you need to experience new things and live more to realize that. All in all, I give this a 9/10.

Pages and Co: Map of Stories by Anna James

Summary from Goodreads:

Tilly and Oskar embark on an impromptu trip to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, in search of an elusive group of bookwanderers called the Archivists, who they believe are the key to restoring the balance and saving the British Underlibrary.

Along the way, the friends realize that something strange is happening in the world of bookwandering: books are disappearing, people are forgetting their favorite stories, and stories are trying to drag Tilly into them.

With a mysterious set of clues and some surprising new faces, Tilly and Oskar will need the help of some of their dearest fictional friends to be able to solve the mystery... and save bookwandering forever.

Review:

I love these books. The will forever hold a special place in my heart because of how I first came across them on my honeymoon in Paris at one of the best bookstores in the world: Shakespeare and Company. It does not escape me that bookstores play a very important role in these novels. But, also these books are odes to children book lovers everywhere. They are for fans of Alice in Wonderland and Anne of Green Gables. This one also brings fairies to life from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

Now, there’s also the archivists, and authors themselves to deal with. I think this was probably the most action-packed book in the series. The action starts immediately. Tilly’s mother (unbeknown to the grandparents) whisks the children off to America overnight to go find the archivists. They do some “illegal” book wandering, visit amazing bookstores, visit the library of congress, sneak aboard magical trains, find the alluded to archivists, and that’s only the beginning! Then, they have to save bookwandering for everyone!

There’s evil villains who have taken over the underbrary in London, disappearing books and forgotten memories. Deals are made. And Tilly really discovers the lengths her special book powers can go. It all results in a serious fictional show down in London with not just bookwandering on the line, but also Tilly’s family. I couldn’t put this book down. The suspense was top-notch.

I have also come to love the characters. I love the friendship between Tilly and Oskar. They are a true team. The authors in this book were true heroes! And the frictional characters too are always such a treat to see. The settings are magical also. From London to Washington D.C., to imagination powered train rides, to the famous libraries, this book is a booklover’s paradise. I wish I had this series a kid. It’s the ultimate gift for those who love books. I’m not sure if it’s the last one in the series or not. It felt a bit final to me. I’d be okay if it was, though I’d miss the adventures. I give this one a 10/10.