Will's Race for Home

I've had Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes on my to-read list for forever, ever since it was on lists of possible Newbery winners and then won the Coretta Scott King Book Award. The book description says, "It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own. So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free—if they can get to it fast enough. But the journey isn’t easy—the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger. And then there’s the stranger they encounter and befriend: a mysterious soldier named Caesar, whose Union emblem brings more attention—and more trouble—than any of them need. All three are propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home—but is a strong will enough to get them there?"

This was a great read. I liked that it was a solid middle grade historical fiction read but fairly short (208 pages). I feel like that short length makes it more accessible to young kids. The book also captured a time period/historical events that I didn't know much about, so I enjoyed following the story and learning more about what it would have been like for these characters. I liked Will's independence, bravery, and resilience, and I found the story engaging and exciting. I think kids would enjoy the action. It'd be a fun classroom read aloud!

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

My Brother Oliver

I got My Brother Oliver by R.L. Toalson after seeing it on a new books list at the library. The book description says, "Brooks loves and adores his older brother, Oliver. That’s why it was so hard—practically impossible, really—for him to have done what he did and told his parents about what Oliver wanted to do. Now Oliver has been sent away. He’s miserable, and Brooks’s family is falling apart. His mom and dad are sad and scared, and it seems like nothing will ever be okay again. Maybe things would be better if Brooks had just kept his mouth shut. Can he and his family find the hope they need to keep going?"

This was a great read. I was completely engaged in the story, and the author did a great job portraying the two brothers. It was an interesting format where it jumped back and forth in time, but I think that helped the story build in a really important way. I found the book relatable and meaningful, and I think it'd be a great read to help people better understand mental illness. I really liked that the author was writing from her family's personal experience. This book was in between loved it and liked it--just know I really liked it!

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

Demon Copperhead

I read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver for book club. The book description says, "Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses."

This was a bit of a hard read for me because there was a lot of heavy language and content in there that I didn't really want to read. It was better when I switched to reading the hard copy of the book rather than audiobook because then I could skim over things a little easier. But if you are careful about what you read, I would not recommend this book. Besides that, I thought it was a super engaging story with a character (Demon) that I was rooting for the whole time. I was so grateful for how the book ended and that there was a positive ending to a life full of hard things. I thought the book gave me a great introduction to what life is like for the Appalachian people, especially related to things like addiction and stereotypes.

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

Theo of Golden

I read Theo of Golden by Allen Levi for book club. The book description says, "One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. He doesn’t explain much about where he came from or why he’s there—but when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the people of Golden hang on the walls, he begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person’s story. And so portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered. A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder."

I LOVED this book! I didn't know anything about it when I started, but it was just such a pleasant read. I feel like it's so rare to read an adult book that is just happy and inspiring and not full of inappropriate content. This book was just a lovely read, though as it went on, I knew something bad was going to happen, which made me nervous to carry on. But in the end, I came away from the book really touched, and I loved how things came together. Theo was just a great character and someone we all should emulate. I loved lots of the side characters as well and how Theo just influenced everyone he came in contact with. It was also funny because I read this book on vacation, and I had at least two people walk by and comment on the book and how good it was. It does have a CRAZY long wait list at the library -- I made my book club wait a few months before picking it so we could all get further along on the hold list.

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