Lost Evangeline

I got Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo from the library since it's the brand new third book in the Norendy Tales collection (not really a series since they're all different stories but they all take place in the same magical land). The book description says, "When a shoemaker discovers a tiny girl (as small as a mouse!) in his shop, he takes her in, names her Evangeline, and raises her as his own. The shoemaker’s wife, however, fears that Evangeline has bewitched her husband, so when an opportunity arises to rid herself of the girl, she takes it. Evangeline finds herself far from her adopted father and her home, a tiny girl lost in the wide world. But she is brave, and she is resourceful, and with the help of those she meets on her journey—including a disdainful and self-satisfied cat—she may just find her way again."

This was another beautifully written book, as Kate DiCamillo's books always are. I thought it was a sweet story with a character to root for and some fun adventures. I wished the ending had been more conclusive, but it kinda fit the vibes of the other books in this collection. I thought this was a nice, quick read.

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

Outrun the Moon

I chose Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee for my book club read for this month (since I've read two other books by the author and enjoyed them). The book description says, "Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty of Chinatown, San Francisco in 1906, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes. On April 18, a historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. Now she’s forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Though fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, Mercy can’t sit by while they wait for the army to bring help—she still has the 'bossy' cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenage girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?"

This was another good read by the author. I enjoyed the story and Mercy's assertive, go-getter personality. I thought the story had lots of fun plot lines to follow that kept me engaged, and I liked lots of great side characters (like Tom and Francesca). There were some sad things that happened but the book had a keep-moving-forward vibe that kept things positive. I learned a lot about the time period and the history related to the earthquake and what it may have been like for Chinese people living in San Francisco at that time.

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

The Sing Sing Files

I have had The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice by Dan Slepian on my to-read list for awhile and so got it on audiobook from the library. The book description says, "In 2002, Dan Slepian, a veteran producer for NBC’s Dateline, received a tip from a Bronx homicide detective that two men were serving twenty-five years to life in prison for a 1990 murder they did not commit. Haunted by what the detective had told him, Slepian began an investigation of the case that eventually resulted in freedom for the two men and launched Slepian on a two-decade personal and professional journey into a deeply flawed justice system fiercely resistant to rectifying―or even acknowledging―its mistakes and their consequences. The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice is Slepian’s account of challenging that system. The story follows Slepian on years of prison visits, court hearings, and street reporting that led to a series of powerful Dateline episodes and eventually to freedom for four other men and to an especially deep and lasting friendship with one of them, Jon-Adrian 'JJ' Velazquez. From his cell in Sing Sing, JJ aided Slepian in his investigations until his own release in 2021 after decades in prison. Like Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy, The Sing Sing Files is a deeply personal account of wrongful imprisonment and the flaws in our justice system, and a powerful argument for reckoning and accountability. Slepian’s extraordinary book, at once painful and full of hope, shines a light on an injustice whose impact the nation has only begun to confront."

This book was SO GOOD. It was a super engaging story and just alarming to read about the unfair justice system so many people have had to face. The book reminded me of the vibe of Just Mercy (I thought that before seeing that it's also mentioned in the book description above) and just opened my mind to so many things, especially how broken the police and court system can be in some cases. I thought this was a really meaningful read that just reminded me that there is more to every story. I came away inspired by Dan's dedication to the cases he looked into and the resilience of the innocent men wrongly imprisoned.

* * * (3/3 = Loved it)