This year, I’m trying something new with my book reviews. Instead of having one or two book reviews a month, I’ll be posting a collection of shorter reviews at the end of the month. Let me know what you think in the comments section!
This month’s wrap up reviews books I finished between the dates December 21, 2019, and January 21, 2020
Habor Me by Jaqueline Woodson
“If the worst thing in the world happened, would I help protect someone else? Would I let myself be a harbor for someone who needs it?“
Rating: 3/5 stars
Content / Age Recommendation: There is almost no language in Harbor Me, and what violence that is present is portrayed negatively. The reading level is easy, but some of the topics may be harder to understand for younger readers. I recommend Harbor Me for children ten and up.
Summary: Six kids meet every week, after school, to talk with no adults listening. At first, they wonder what they will even talk about. They are scared of this new, unfamiliar, idea. Slowly, they began to open up. They share fears of deportation, racism, and poverty and discover the healing that comes when pain is shared.
Review: I enjoyed reading about the diverse characters in the book and their lives. It provided some great perspective that I hadn’t thought about before. It was interesting to see how the conversations flowed when there was no one else around and the kind of questions and discussions that came up.
Harbor Me is full of beautiful, engaging writing. This book made me laugh and cry in the same chapter.
One thing that bugged me in Harbor Me was how the author italicized the quotations instead of using quotation marks. I also felt like there was a disagreement between the story and the format.
Romanov by Nadine Brandes
“The bond of our hearts spans miles, memory, and time.“
Rating: 5/5 stars
Content / Age Recommendation: Romanov contains romance and violence. I recommend it to readers ages thirteen and older
Summary: Anastasia and her family, the Romanovs are being taken into exile. The only way to rescue her family is to use a spell in the Matroshka doll her Papa gave her. It won’t open. Meanwhile, Anastasia finds herself falling in love with the guard, Zash.
Then, after he is forced to execute her, Zash and Anastasia must team up in order to survive, and save Anastasia’s brother Alexei.
Review: I had a somewhat love-hate relationship with this book, about a third of the way through. I was so mad at the author, because I couldn’t see a way out for the characters and if the story ended there, she would have made it a million times worse than how it actually happened.
Fortunately, it didn’t end there. The characters got a second chance for a sweet romance, and Anastasia got a second chance to find the Dochkin. This book was full of second chances.
I loved this magical tale of forgiveness and love. Nadine Brandes is one of my favorite authors, for sure.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
“Sometimes if you want something bad enough, your dreams get answered. Sometimes if you’re scared enough, you get so strong you can do near anything..”
Rating: 4/5 stars
Content / Age Recommendation: There are some graphic physical descriptions near the end. I recommend for children ten and up.
Summary: Elijah is the first freeborn in the small town of Buxton, Canada. He’s best known for throwing up on Friedrick Douglass when he was a baby, and running from snakes. Elijah is a timid, fragile boy, but he’ll find courage in hardship when he leaves home to retrieve his friend’s money, which had been saved up to free his friend’s family.
Review: Elijah of Buxton is humorous and inviting. The characters’ dialogue was natural but not too overwhelming that it made the book hard to read. I loved the characters, especially Elijah. The ending was a bit disappointing, though.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
“Hoping, // I’m starting to think, // might be the bravest thing a person can do.“
Rating: 4 / 5 stars
Content / Age Recommendation: Before you read it, know that the main character is Muslim, and after she is physically able to have children, she will wear a headscarf; so there is some very brief description of her first menstrual period. This is important to note for younger readers.
I recommend Other Words for Home to readers older than twelve.
Summary: As the Syrian civil war begins, Jude and her mother move to America. They leave behind her Baba, who has to work his shop, and brother, who is protesting. Other Words for Home is written in free verse. It describes Jude’s adjustment to her new home.
Review: The writing in Other Words for Home was meaningful and elegant. I loved how relevant it was and the perspective it gave in to the life of refugees. The ending felt incomplete and left me with quite a few questions.
What did you read this month?
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