Safe Harbor

I saw Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman on a new book list and got it from the library since I really liked the author's book The Bridge Home. This book description says, "When Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents’ divorce, they leave everything Geetha loves behind—her family, her friends, her dog, and all that’s familiar. As if that’s not hard enough, Geetha is bullied at her new school for her clothes, her food, and her English (who knew so many English words could be spelled or pronounced differently in the US—or just be altogether different!). She finds some solace in playing her flute and writing poetry, and even more when she meets Miguel, a kid with whom she has a lot in common, and the two of them help rescue an injured harp seal stranded on the beach. But Geetha can feel her anger building over lots of things—careless people who pollute the sea and hurt animals, and her mom for making her move. She’s never been so sad and angry. She can see a lot of her fears mirrored in the injured seal when she visits it at the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center, and this broadens her understanding of survival skills. And when she and Miguel start a beach-clean-up venture, she’s surprised to find how many kind kids are out there. Geetha is torn as the time comes to let the seal go, knowing she’ll miss him, but wanting the best for him. She’s learning to live with mixed feelings and accept that while there will always be rough waters, there are plenty of safe harbors too."

This was a great read. It was super short (and written in verse), and I pretty much finished it in one sitting. I loved the characters of Geetha and Miguel and just felt like the book had just lots of little plot things that progressed nicely alongside the story of the seal. I think this would be a relatable book for kids in lots of ways (bullying, moving, caring about the environment, etc.). Good book.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Enchanted Hacienda

I read The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes for my newer book club with younger friends at church.  The book description says, "When Harlow Estrada is abruptly fired from her dream job and her boyfriend proves to be a jerk, her world turns upside down. She flees New York City to the one place she can always call home—the enchanted Hacienda Estrada. The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by Harlow’s mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories, interpret dreams—but not Harlow. So when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family’s magic, she panics. How can she rise to the occasion when she is magicless? But maybe it’s not magic she’s missing, but belief in herself. When she finally embraces her unique gifts and opens her heart to a handsome stranger, she discovers she’s far more powerful than she imagined."

This was an ok read for me. I don't read a lot of romance type books and felt like a lot of it was kinda cheesy, and there was also quite a bit of language and some sketchier content I had to skip over. I liked the magical realism genre, and the premise was kinda fun (except for the fact that it almost seemed like an Encanto copycat at the beginning in some ways). I did like the message of the book in that our difficulties in life lead us to where we need to be and give us experiences we need to grow. 

* (1/3 = It was okay)

It's All or Nothing, Vale

I saw It's All of Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango on a list of new books and so got it from the library. I've read two other books by the author (Iveliz Explains It All and Something Like Home) and loved them both so thought this would be a good read as well. The book description says, "No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it’s much harder than before. Her body doesn’t move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can’t accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn’t the only thing holding her back. If she can’t leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to?"

I enjoyed this read. The author did a great job creating characters you really get to know and understand, and she really described well the journey Vale was facing. I did feel like the book was kind of heavy -- like lots Vale was dealing with internally and not talking to her parents and sorting through things like she needed to. I don't know if the author could have written it differently to give it more of a positive vibe, but I just felt like that made it hard for me to read for most of the book. I was almost going to rate it "it was okay," but things came together really nicely in the end and gave me a happier feel. This one is for ages 10-14, so it's one of those upper middle grade books--I tagged it as both children and young adult for that reason.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Reasons to Look at the Night Sky

I saw Reasons to Look at the Night Sky by Danielle Daniel on a list of new books and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Luna has always loved the night sky. She's an eleven-year-old who knows everything there is to know about space, and dreams of one day becoming an astronaut. The first step in her plan to get there is to ace the space unit in her science class and secure a spot in NASA's summer space camp. But when Luna's teacher is unexpectedly replaced with a substitute, Ms. Manitowabi, who is looking to shake up science class by bringing in art, Luna's carefully laid plans are crushed. And that's not all that's shifting in Luna's life — changes at home and in her friendships have her feeling topsy-turvy. What on Planet Earth is happening?"

I thought this was a sweet read. It didn't particularly engage me, but I thought Luna would be a relatable character for kids as she encountered friendship issues, unexpected twists to things she was looking forward to, navigating school, etc. There was just a lot for middle grade kids to relate to. I also liked the tie-in to the Native American star stories and found that interesting. And the book cover is really beautiful! I feel like this book was kinda in between liked and it was okay, but it didn't quite make the cut to 2 stars.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

North Woods

I read North Woods by Daniel Mason for book club. The book description says, "When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths an ancient mass grave—only to discover that the earth refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As the inhabitants confront the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive."

This was a unique read. I listened to a lot of it on audiobook and then switched over to the paper book for the last quarter or so when I finally had time to sit down and read. I thought it was a creative premise -- following one house and all the different people who live there over the years. There were a few disturbing stories/characters (especially Mary), and there was a kind of an interesting ending to the book. I found the book hard to follow at times since sometimes there were connections between residents and sometimes not, and I felt like I was losing track of things sometimes. I think this will be an interesting book to discuss at book club (especially the stories with Alice/Mary and Robert), though it wasn't really one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

All the Blues in the Sky

I saw that Renée Watson had written a new book, so I got All the Blues in the Sky from the library. The book description says, "Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all."

I LOVED this book. It was beautifully written (not surprising since I love most anything Renée Watson writes). I loved Sage as a character and watching her work through her grief. The plot and side characters were just flawless in how everything came together. The book had me tearing up, and I feel like it was just an important, relatable book for young people who are dealing with the loss of someone they love. Great read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Radiant

I don't even remember how I came across Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, but I put it on hold at the library. The book description says, "As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to 'shine' for a black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historic backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, Radiant is a finely crafted novel in verse about race, class, faith, and finding your place in a loving family and a complicated world. Cooper’s primary concern is navigating fifth grade, where she faces both an extra-strict teacher and the bullying of Wade Carter, the only child of a well-to-do white family, whose home Cooper’s mother cleans for extra income. How can she shine when her mother works for the meanest boy in school? To make matters worse, Cooper quietly wishes she could be someone else."

I loved this book! It was a quick and engaging read, and I loved Cooper as a character. I loved that there was nothing overwhelmingly heavy in her life and instead she had deep empathy for someone else dealing with something heavy. (Just different than the plot of many books.) I thought the book had great messages and was just an uplifting read. I really enjoyed it.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)