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.

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices -Edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed and Illustrated by Sara Alfageeh

Summary from Goodreads:

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid!

Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift-giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.

The full list of Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, Under My Hijab), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.

Review:

This was such a joy to read! I began reading it on the last night of Chanukah, a holiday I feel like a lot of my friends know little to nothing about. (Not that Chanukah is even that important of a holiday in the scheme of things). But, despite the fact that one of my closest friends from high school, who I’m still in touch with, is Muslim, I can’t say that I know much about Eid. I feel like we are all so involved in what we do, and then what it seems like the masses do, it’s hard to find time to think about what everyone else does.

I don’t want to make this book sound like it’s an educational tool about Eid either because it’s not. It’s better. It’s stories about how different families celebrate. I loved getting these little windows into other families’ traditions. And it wasn’t just Muslims in our country celebrating Eid either. It was amazing to see families celebrating at carnivals, in mosques, at refugee camps on Greek islands, over shared donuts, and at the dinner table.

I connected with some of the stories more than others.  The story “Kareem Means “Generous”’ by Asmaa Hussein just melted my heart. It’s the story of a kid who learned to do the right thing with a gentle push/gift from his grandma. I also particularly loved “Not only an only” by Huda Al-Marashi. It’s the story of a girl who was used to being the only Muslim in her class learning to embrace a new girl. Her niceness pays off because she learns about a new place to go and celebrate Eid that is more welcoming. And she makes new friends. I found myself connecting to this girl because I have been her before. And that’s the best thing about books like this: we can learn about the different things we all celebrate, but also we learn about all the things we have in common. 

My only complaint about the book is that it felt like there were too many lessons/morals in it. After 5 stories in a row, about learning to be charitable, it felt a little much…However, I’ve gathered that being generous and giving is a part of this holiday. It might be like if I were to read a Christmas short story collection and was like “Enough with the Christmas Trees already.” So, I’m not sure it’s something I can actually criticize. But, it is something I noticed. All in all, I loved it. I give it a 9/10.

Keeper of the Lost Cities Book 8.5: Unlocked by Shannon Messenger

Summary from Goodreads:

Book 8.5 in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series delivers what fans of the series have been begging for! Told in an exciting new way, the saga continues with plenty of huge reveals and shocking new twists—plus a complete series guide with beautiful color and black-and-white illustrations and other awesome bonuses!

In this extra special installment of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, the story picks up right from Legacy’s particularly devastating cliffhanger. But chapters alternate between Sophie and Keefe’s perspectives to give readers deeper insights into both beloved characters. New powers will be discovered. Hard truths from the past will come to light. And all of your favorite characters will find themselves tested in ways they never imagined.

And that's not all!

Unlocked also includes a comprehensive guide to the world of the Lost Cities, featuring new character and world details that have never been revealed before—plus fun bonuses like Keeper-themed recipes, a detailed map of the Lost Cities, gorgeous full-color illustrations, and so much more!

Review:

I’m not going to lie; I normally don’t spend money on these half books….But, I saw what the book looked like at my library. It’s massive. And I figured I owned the whole series already…might as well have them all.  I was a little disappointed to learn that most of this massive book is a Guide to the series about things I already know. It’s maps, registry entries, author’s notes, artwork, activities, recipes, etc. And it’s only the last 200+ pages that are a novella/continuation from book 8.

Is it worth owning? I’d say only if you are a big fan. Otherwise, I recommend getting this one from the library. Do you need to read this before book 9 comes out? YES, you do! A lot happens in the novella. Also, if you’d prefer to skip the boring parts of the guide, and just want to know the good parts (with Keefe) that might interest you, I can tell you! The first 200 pages is the Registry section that goes into details about what the council knows about each important character. Unless you want to brush up on characters you don’t remember that well, feel free to skip this and just read the section on Dex (81) and Keefe (91). They apparently “hacked” the system and made their entries a lot more interesting. If you want a laugh, read their sections only. I thought it was funny.

I also liked the section on Keefe’s memories (479). You see both his drawings and his journal entries about them. You go further into the head of Keefe. What’s not to like about that? But, everything else in the guidebook was a bit of a snore. I read the whole thing because I was kind of in bed all day any way with a GI flare up day and needed a light-hearted distraction from reality. But, honestly, I kind of wish I read a review like this that told me I could skip things.

Then, there’s the novella. You absolutely need to read the novella to be prepared for book 9.  A lot happens in those 200+pages. Also, for the first time, it’s not just in Sophie’s point of view! I don’t want to say who else’s it’s in cause I feel like I’d be seriously spoiling things, but just know, I was remarkably happy with the two points of view.

And I can’t really talk too much about the novella without spoiling things, from book 8 that I worked hard not to mention in that review. Just know that stuff picks up immediately where things ended. A legacy was revealed. Sophie knows who one of her biological parents is. A huge success for the Black Swan happened, but at the risk of all out war that is likely to take place in book 9. And a super important character has left everyone right when they are needed most….Now, the wait for book 9 is going to be killer. What am I going to do now?

I’ve left book 1 on my husband’s nightstand for starters.  And I’ve given the books as presents to some friends already. I have a problem. And I think book 9 is supposed to be the last book? Then what will I do? I give this 8.5 book an 8/10 because the novella was super good. I did not love the guide, except for the Keefe parts. Honestly, I would have been fine if it were just the novella. Then it would have gotten a higher rating.

Keeper of the Lost Cities Book 8: Legacy by Shannon Messenger

Summary from Goodreads:

Illusions shatter—and Sophie and her friends face impossible choices—in this astonishing eighth book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series.

Sophie Foster wants answers. But after a lifetime of lies, sometimes the truth is the most dangerous discovery. Even the smallest secret comes with terrifying new responsibilities.

And Sophie’s not the only one with blank spots in her past, or mysteries surrounding her family. She and her friends are part of something much bigger than they imagined—and their roles have already been chosen for them.

Every clue drags them deeper into the conspiracy. Every memory forces them to question everything—especially one another. And the harder they fight, the more the lines blur between friend and enemy.

Review:

I had a feeling I would love this book, based on the cover alone….I mean it’s Big Ben, and Sophie is levitating, with power coming off of her in sparks, while holding on to Keefe and Fitz. I guessed it had something to do with Keefe’s memory, and I was partly right!

So much happens in this book! And it pretty much continues immediately after where book 7 left off. Sophie has a bit of an angsty argument with Mr. Forkle. I like that a big part of the book focuses on making Sophie work with other members of her team. We get more time with Dex, Biana, Stina, and Wylie (and this made things really interesting). We also learned a lot more about the nobility and the Council.

Sophie gets her second stolen memory back (along with her sister)! And it was awesome to see her again too. There’s another reset that has to happen, more power struggles, some serious political showdowns, lots of action at the Dwarves’ capital city, and Sophie has to balance her new responsibilities, helping one friend find old memories, sort of date someone, lead a team for the council, still figure out her ever growing/increasing powers, and not die will escaping the Neverseen at every turn. Oh, and another friend was taken by the Neverseen in the last book….

A large part of the book is also about finding out who Sophie’s biological parents are…so she can mostly please a certain boy…(that’s all I will say on this extremely annoying matter). But, oh my goodness the cliffhanger with this reveal at the end was crazy. My jaw dropped. It’s also the reason, I went right into book 8.5….I liked this book a lot more than the one before it. The action was much better paced. AKA: half of it didn’t take place in the hospital wing of a school. There wasn’t much school time at all, actually.

The hardest thing about finishing this book was knowing that there won’t be a book 9 for another year…I do have book 8.5 (review to come). But, it’s not the same as a whole book. I’m so glad I found a distracting series to obsess over at this time. I give this one a 9/10.