The Death of Mrs. Westaway

I read The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware for a book club. The book description says, "On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money. Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it."

This was a great read. It was kinda scary (like I probably would have been too scared to watch a show of this book) but super engaging, and I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen. I feel like the author did a good job creating solid characters that I wanted to stick with (mainly Hal). There were things I predicted early on but other things that were complete surprises. (I did feel like there were some gaps that maybe the author should have closed up or explained better.) I liked how things concluded in the end.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Fever in the Heartland

I got A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan from the library on audiobook after my friend Rebecca (a history teacher) recommended it. The book description says, "The Roaring Twenties--the Jazz Age--has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson. Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. Within two years of his arrival in Indiana, he’d become the Grand Dragon of the state and the architect of the strategy that brought the group out of the shadows – their message endorsed from the pulpits of local churches, spread at family picnics and town celebrations. Judges, prosecutors, ministers, governors and senators across the country all proudly proclaimed their membership. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman – Madge Oberholtzer – who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees."

This was such a great book. The story was completely engaging, and it was so alarming to read about this time in history and the grip of the Ku Klux Klan. I was so sickened by Stephenson and so impressed by those who had the audacity to stand up to the KKK (like a newspaper editor/reporter who continually wrote stories and published lists of names trying to bring them down). I just couldn't believe how many people had such terrible ideas and thought the KKK had things right. There are a lot of parallels to Nazi Germany and even to people in the US today who believe in white supremacy. The subtitle of the book is a little bit misleading since really Madge doesn't come into the story until you are more than 50% done with the book, but I really liked how the author highlighted her and the impact she had. (I found after reading this that there is a book called Madge just about her story, written by a different author, and I may be interested in reading that.) I sometimes got lost in some of the details of this book, but it may have been because I was doing audiobook. Also, as a warning, the book can be quite heavy at times, especially with some content about rapes.

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

Out of My Heart

I just re-read Out Of My Mind and then Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper and noticed I hadn't ever written about the latter on the blog so decided to do it now. The book description says, "Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream! By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is."

This is a sweet read and fun continuation of book 1. It's no where near as good as the first book (as is often the case with sequels), but it was fun to return to Melody and see her on a new adventure. I thought the camp she went to seemed super cool. One thing I didn't like about this book was there were lots of things she was experiencing at camp for the first time that I think really her loving, involved parents would have helped her experience earlier in life, so that didn't seem realistic to me. But it was an engaging story with likable characters, and I'm looking forward to book 3 when I make it down on the hold list at the library.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Hope in the Valley

I got Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins from the library after my sister recommended it. The book description says, "Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul doesn't like change. She's not ready to start middle school and leave the comforts of childhood behind. Most of all, Pandita doesn't want to feel like she's leaving her mother, who died a few years ago, behind. After a falling out with her best friend, Pandita is planning to spend most of her summer break reading and writing in her favorite secret space: the abandoned but majestic mansion across the street. But then the unthinkable happens. The town announces that the old home will be bulldozed in favor of new―maybe affordable―housing. With her family on opposing sides of the issue, Pandita must find her voice―and the strength to move on―in order to give her community hope."

This was a great book! I stayed interested and really loved Pandita as a character and watching her wade through the various difficulties she was facing. I also really liked her friend Leo as a character. I thought the book came together really well in the end (happily ever after) and taught some good lessons. I enjoyed the read. It almost qualified as a loved it but not quite.

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

The Expectation Effect

I listened to The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World by David Robson an audiobook after a friend recommended it awhile back. The book description says, "You’ve heard of the placebo effect and how sugar pills can accelerate healing. But did you know that sham heart surgeries often work just as well as placing real stents? Or that people who think they’re particularly prone to cardiovascular disease are four times as likely to die from cardiac arrest? Such is the power and deadly importance of the expectation effect―how what we think will happen changes what does happen. Melding neuroscience with narrative, science journalist David Robson takes readers on a deep dive into the many life zones the expectation effect permeates. We see how people who believe stress is beneficial become more creative when placed under strain. We see how associating aging with wisdom can add seven plus years to your life. People say seeing is believing but, over and over, Robson proves that the converse is truer: believing is seeing. The Expectation Effect is not woo-woo. You cannot think your way into a pile of money or out of a cancer diagnosis. But just because magical thinking is nonsense doesn’t mean rational magic doesn’t exist. Pointing to accepted psychology and objective physiology, Robson gives us the practical takeaways we need to improve our fitness, productivity, intelligence, and happiness. Any reader who wants to take their fate into their own hands need only pick up this book."

This was a really interesting read. It kind of reminded me of the vibe of Why We Sleep in that it was a heavy (and dry at times) research-based book that was also super fascinating. There were so many amazing studies that just made me thing, "Wow!" and helped me see the impact of our expectations. I liked the sections on school teachers and aging and also just enjoyed various studies throughout that highlighted the power of what we expect to be true and how it has real, measurable effects on us. I thought this was a meaningful read.

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

I'm From Here Too

I saw I'm From Here Too by Kashmira Sheth recommended on a list of new middle grade books and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Anoop is many things: a brother, a son, a grandson, a friend, a middle school student, and a budding writer. He is also Indian American and Sikh. When he joins a new class, separated from longtime friends, aspects of his identity—especially his long hair, covered with a patka—draw attention in new and uncomfortable ways. At the same time, his beloved grandfather in India is nearing death, leading Anoop to think about faith and identity and his place in the world, especially as attacks on American Sikhs accelerate and he is reminded of his grandfather’s experiences during Partition. Can the tenets of his faith—equality, justice, service, honesty—help Anoop navigate life? Can he even maintain them?"

This book was SO GOOD. I was originally a little turned off by the cover (yes, I sometimes judge books by their covers) but wanted to give it a chance. The book was written in verse and pulled me in from the beginning. I always wanted to pick up the book to keep reading. I loved Anoop's journey with his faith and trying to handle things in the right way with his bullies. I loved how this book will help children better understand the Sikh faith and be more understanding of kids who wear a patka to school. I loved Anoop's friendship with his friend Jacob, his relationship with his siblings, his trip to India, his teacher, etc. Lots of great stuff in this book.

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

We Still Belong

I saw We Still Belong by Christine Day won the 2024 American Indian Youth Literature Award winner for best Middle Grade Book and so got it from the library.  I've been meaning to read a Christine Day book for awhile, so I'm glad I finally got around to it! The book description says, "Wesley is proud of the poem she wrote for Indigenous Peoples’ Day—but the reaction from a teacher makes her wonder if expressing herself is important enough. And due to the specific tribal laws of her family’s Nation, Wesley is unable to enroll in the Upper Skagit tribe and is left feeling “not Native enough.” Through the course of the novel, with the help of her family and friends, she comes to embrace her own place within the Native community."

This was a light-hearted read with some important lessons, and it helped me understand Native American culture a little better (things like blood quantum laws). I liked Wesley as a character and appreciated the moments where she made an effort to be kind to those around her. This was a sweet book overall.

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