Clap When You Land

I was recently looking for new books to read and was checking for audiobooks that won the Odyssey Award (best audiobooks for children and young adults). I saw Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevado on the list, but when I looked it up and saw it was written in verse, I decided I'd rather read that one than listen to it--so I got it from the library. The book description reads,  "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."

This was a good read. I thought it was a super engaging premise, and Camino and Yahaira were both really well-developed characters. It was interesting to consider their father as a person and why he did the things he did. Like he was a good dad to both girls but definitely lived a double life, which is not something I'd consider "good." Anyway, I liked the engaging story and liked how the author pulled things together in the end. The book does have some language and other stuff in it, so I'd say it's definitely an older young adult book.

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

Land of Broken Promises

I got Land of Broken Promises by Jane Kuo from the library after reading its predecessor, In the Beautiful Country. This book continues Anna's story, and the book description reads, "After a rocky first year, Anna’s family have settled into life in California—their small restaurant is even turning a profit. Then her parents make a shattering discovery: their visas have expired. Anna’s world is quickly overwhelmed by unfamiliar words like 'undocumented' and 'inequality.' She longs to share with a friend the towering secret that looms over every aspect of her life, but her parents strictly forbid her from telling anyone. As Anna grapples with the complexities of being undocumented, the strain that it places on her family, and the loneliness of keeping it all to herself, she has to wonder—if America is the promised land, why does everything she’s hoped for feel like a lie?"

This was a great read. I really like Anna as a character, and I think it's really cool that the author loosely bases these books on her own childhood experience (growing up in CA, working at her family's fast food restaurant, living as an undocumented immigrant). Just like the first, this book was a great reminder of the sacrifices many immigrants have to make as they try to make a new life in America.

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

Lovely War

I read Lovely War by Julie Berry for my new book club. The book description says, "They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it's no match for the transcendent power of Love."

I enjoyed this book. It was an engaging story with completely lovable characters (the main 4 of Hazel, James, Colette, and Aubrey) that I was rooting for the whole time. I haven't really read much (any?) WWI historical fiction, so I found it interesting and liked learning about perspective of how blacks were treated during that time (especially comparing France and the US). One of my favorite things about the book was when people died and we saw their conversations with Hades. It was kind of touching to see how they were able to look out for the people they left behind and things like that. Due to life circumstances, I had to listen to more than half of it on audiobook, which isn't my preferred method for reading a book like this, so I'm not sure if that affected my level of love for this book--but either way, I liked it.

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

Why We Sleep

My brother-in-law recommended Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, so I got it on audiobook from Libby. The book description reads, "Sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our life, wellness, and longevity. Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why we suffer such devastating health consequences when we don't sleep. Compared to the other basic drives in life—eating, drinking, and reproducing—the purpose of sleep remained elusive. An explosion of scientific discoveries in the last twenty years has shed new light on this fundamental aspect of our lives. Now, preeminent neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker gives us a new understanding of the vital importance of sleep and dreaming. Within the brain, sleep enriches our ability to learn, memorize, and make logical decisions. It recalibrates our emotions, restocks our immune system, fine-tunes our metabolism, and regulates our appetite. Dreaming mollifies painful memories and creates a virtual reality space in which the brain melds past and present knowledge to inspire creativity. Walker answers important questions about sleep: how do caffeine and alcohol affect sleep? What really happens during REM sleep? Why do our sleep patterns change across a lifetime? How do common sleep aids affect us and can they do long-term damage? Charting cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and synthesizing decades of research and clinical practice, Walker explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; regulate hormones; prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes; slow the effects of aging; increase longevity; enhance the education and lifespan of our children, and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses."

This book was fascinating! I felt like if I needed convincing on the importance of sleeping well, this book would have convinced me in a billion different ways. Luckily I am already a believer in the importance of sleep, but this book engaged me with so many interesting facts and studies. I came away from this book feeling like the power of sleep is just truly incredible. I got some great tips for things to try with some of my family members who struggle with sleep, and it gave me some good pointers going forward in life. (For example, I learned to get the flu shot after a week where you get good sleep. The flu shot is significantly more effective in well-rested people.) At times the book got a little boring or too fact-heavy for me, but overall, it was super interesting and important, and I'm thinking about things from the book all the time. It's the sign of a good book when you can't stop thinking about it!

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

Some Places More Than Others

I recently looked up books by Renee Watson (since she's an author I like) to see if she had anything new I wanted to try, so I got Some Places More Than Others from the library. The book descriptions says, "All Amara wants for her birthday is to visit her father’s family in New York City--Harlem, to be exact. She can’t wait to finally meet her Grandpa Earl and cousins in person, and to stay in the brownstone where her father grew up. Maybe this will help her understand her family--and herself--in new way. But New York City is not exactly what Amara thought it would be. It’s crowded, with confusing subways, suffocating sidewalks, and her father is too busy with work to spend time with her and too angry to spend time with Grandpa Earl. As she explores, asks questions, and learns more and more about Harlem and about her father and his family history, she realizes how, in some ways more than others, she connects with him, her home, and her family."

This was a nice read. It was different than a lot of realistic fiction books I've read in that the conflicts were different. Amara has two stable parents who weren't fighting, her family had plenty of money, she didn't fight with her BFF, etc. Instead, the book was more of a journey of discovery with her extended family, and there was a conflict between her dad and grandpa that she tried to help resolve. I also liked the side story of her mom expencting a baby and Amara's well-deserved worries. I just liked the vibe of the book and loved the message about learning about your family and finding meaning in where you came from. The book kept me interested throughout and was a pretty quick read.

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

Normal: A Mother and Her Beautiful Son

I came across Normal: A Mother and Her Beautiful Son by Magda Newman online while looking up Treacher Collins syndrome after my daughter re-read Wonder. I decided to get it from the library. The book description says, "For Magda Newman, normal was a goal—she wanted her son Nathaniel to be able to play on the playground, swim at the beach, enjoy the moments of childhood that are often taken for granted. But Nathaniel’s severe Treacher Collins syndrome—a craniofacial condition—meant that other concerns came first. Could he eat without the aid of a gastrointestinal tube? Could he hear? Would he ever be able to breathe effortlessly? In this moving memoir, Newman, with the help of her son, tells the story of raising Nathaniel, from the shock she and her husband faced when he was born, to the inspiration of Nathaniel’s own strength and quirky humor. All this while also facing both non-Hodgkins and Hodgkins lymphoma diagnoses of her own. This uplifting story of a family tackling complex and terrifying circumstances with love and resilience is a true testament to Magda and her family, and to families everywhere who quietly but courageously persist."

Wow! What a wonderful book. I ended up finishing the entire book in one day because it was just so engaging that I could not stop reading. I loved Magda and Nathaniel and their family and how resilient they were during so many difficulties. I just could not believe at times all that they had to go through. The book was really real and inspiring and just a great read. I've recommended it to my family and put on hold the young reader's edition (written by Nathaniel) for my daughter.

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