Note: Where I list genre after author, these are how I would classify the books. YA stands for Young Adult (14+), although it's worth noting that half of all YA readers are adults. MG stands for Middle Grades (ok for kids under 14). GN stands for graphic novel. Anything without one of these classifications is marketed toward adults.
Quick Guide
Best Young Adult:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Sherman Alexie)
Best Middle Grades:
Everything Sad is Untrue (Daniel Nayeri)
Best Multi-Cultural Fiction:
Island of the Sea Women (Lisa See)
Best Historical Fiction:
Daisy Jones & The Six (Taylor Jenkins Reed)
Best Suspense:
The Push (Ashley Audrain); Rock Paper Scissors (Alice Feeney); Goodnight Beautiful (Molly Molloy)
Best Social Science:
The Body Keeps the Score (Bessel Van der Polk); Think Again (Adam Grant)
Best Memoir:
Unfollow (Meghan Phelps-Roper); Jesusland (Julia Scheeres)
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy:
The Bear & the Nightingale (Katherine Arden); Ariadne (Jennifer Saint)
Best Spirituality & Religion:
Inspired (Rachel Held Evans); Shameless (Nadia Bolz-Weber)
1. Jesusland (Julia Scheeres, Memoir) THIS BOOK!!! Julia and David are the white and black children of fundamentalist parents. Raised amidst the searing racism of the 1980’s in small-town America, all they want is a sense of safety and belonging. After their parents finally decided Julia and David are too rebellious to save, the teens are shipped to an extreme Christian reform school in the Dominican Republic. Determined not to be broken by the physical abuse and constant refrains about “filthy little sinners,” Julia and David find their only salvation within the tight bonds of their love. 5 STARS!!!
2. The Office of Historical Corrections (Danielle Evans, African American Experience). This title struck me as Orwellian, so I had to check out the book. In a series of short stories and one near-future novella, the author creates snapshot vignettes of love and loss. The novella itself was chilling, but there were also so many characters that I got lost. Still, I’d check out another book by Evans! 3 1/2 stars
3. Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church (Meghan Phelps-Roper, Memoir) Human beings are complicated, hardly ever pure good or evil. If anyone could be said to embody evil, surely it would be the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, a clan internationally known for its hateful rhetoric and the misguided Bible-thumping introduced by Pastor Fred Phelps. Yet in Unfollow, a former member paints a more nuanced picture: who knew, for instance, that Phelps a was a fierce civil rights advocate long before it became acceptable to argue for Black dignity? Or that the NAACP had awarded him? Or that he insisted all 13 of his children (and congregants) attend law school? In this memoir of loving and leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, Megan Phelps-Roper demonstrates how easily the human heart is deceived and how hard we fight to protect our own cognitive dissonance. 4 stars
4. Beyond Shame (Matthias Roberts, Psychology) Matt is the host of the Queerology podcast, which I have never listened to. With master’s degrees in both theology and psychology, and as a gay Christian therapist, he brings a unique perspective to the topic of shame. I am not sure I agree with all his points — some of them don’t seem to be very well-supported, and the book was too short — but he definitely gave a lot to think about! 3 1/2 stars
5. I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Iaian Reid, Suspense/Thriller) You have choices when reading this book: read it once through and hate it; read it twice through (it’s only about 200 pages) and love it; or read the spoilers once and then read the book once. I chose option 3, which made it less frustrating and more creeeeeeepy. The main character is an unnamed girl who goes home with her boyfriend to meet his family, all while thinking that maybe she should end things. The central plot device is not new to literature —lots of authors have executed this before — but the feelings of terror while reading it were certainly new for me! All in all, a quick, eerie read! 4 stars
6. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things (Bryn Greenwood, Realistic Fiction). Hands-down the absolute worst book I read this year, yet it won Book of the Year. First, I gave it 3 stars because it’s well-written and the language is beautiful. Then, I edited it to 2. But 24 hours later, I’m still thinking this is wrong, wrong, wrong. 1 star it is. This book is f****d up. The publisher’s synopsis did not make it clear enough what it was about. Good writing, for sure, but a sexual relationship between a 10-year-old and a 26-year-old is problematic, I don’t care how well-written it is. 1 grudgingly given star.
7. (Linda Kay Klein, Sociology & Religion) Klein details her journey through conservative evangelicalism’s “purity culture” and the “complementarian” philosophy espoused therein: women and men are equal, but women are by nature designed to have a lesser, supporting role. This is obviously like Orwell writing, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Pros of this book: well-researched, timely and important subject matter. Cons: grating writing style. We don’t need to know every time the author picks up or sets down her cup of espresso during an interview. There was a lot of this. Overall, I don’t feel this author said anything I didn’t already know. 3 stars
8. The Forty Rules of Love: a Novel of Rumi (Elif Shafak, Multi-cultural) This book started out with a bang -- What could be better than the story of how Rumi became Rumi?! I underlined lots of passages at the beginning, like: "How we see God is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves. If God brings to mind mostly fear and blame, it means there is too much fear and blame welled inside us. If we see God as full of love and compassion, so are we." But then it really bogged down... it became a chore to read. I found Ella's character selfish and Aziz's character unlikeable. It just wasn't all it was cracked up to be, although I found the insights about Sufiism interesting. 2 stars.
9. The Bear and the Nightingale (Katherine Arden, YA/Fantasy) For lovers of Game of Thrones and Diane Setterfield’s “Once Upon A River” comes an old north story of magic and snow. The Bear and the Nightingale tells the tale of a witch’s daughter named Vasya, living in the frozen tundra of Russia’s wild northern lands, lands ruled by domovoi and spirits. As a girl, Vasya stumbles upon an ancient magic, and as she ages, the magic threatens all she knows and loves. Loved this book, and I rarely love fantasy!! 4 stars
10. Three Women (Lisa Taddeo, Creative Non-fiction) Taddeo embarks on a six-year journey to painstakingly research and document the stories of Three Women and the desires that control, steer, and threaten to swallow them. While some of the prose is racy, it is clear that the author has done her homework AND has a masterful way with words. Indeed, this is a documentary that reads like a novel, and the author’s observations ring true. Lisa Taddeo is an incredible author and journalist; while this read is certainly not for everyone, her ability to portray truth made this book exceptional in its genre. 4 stars
11. The Paris Library (Janet S. Charles, Historical Fiction) This book is based on the true story of the American Library in Paris and the indomitable librarians who kept it open throughout WWII. Many of the characters existed in real life, braving Nazi checkpoints regularly to deliver books to the Jewish members who had been banned from the library. This book was fine, I think I’m just burnt out on WWII history since I teach it every year. 3 stars
12. Talking to Strangers (Malcolm Gladwell, Sociology) I followed the author’s advice and listened to the audiobook, which was much like a podcast. WOW. Gladwell’s books are always interesting, but this one has really left me thinking... about the way we police, the way we date, the way we assess risk. In Talking to Strangers, the author introduces concepts like transparency, coupling, default-to-truth, and others that both ensure our society can go on functioning but also put us at grave risk for danger. Highly recommend it!
4 stars
13. The Kindest Lie (Nancy Johnson, Realistic). America’s first Black President has just been elected, and an unheard group of people suddenly have a voice. “Yes we can.” But even as the Nation moves forward, Ruth Tuttle reckons with looking back at the past and what she’s given up. This book started out so slowly, but after she got back to Ganton, it picked up a lot. — 3 1/2 stars
14. How to Not Die Alone (Logan Ury, Social Science) The title cracked me up, so I had to read it. Surprisingly, this book was good! Ury cites many highly-respected relationship experts like Gottman and Perel, and she provides tangible steps, guides, and scripts for readers practicing how to a) not ghost, b) end a crummy relationship, c) be honest with themselves about how finicky they’ve been in choosing a partner, etc. I may still die alone, but at least I’ll go into it with eyes wide open now! 5 STARS
15. Too Good to be True (Carola Lovering, Realistic) What a dumb*** book. The premise was riveting, the beginning was interesting, and I was able to read it in 3 days - that’s all the good I have to say. The writing was dumb (really? You call each other Goose?), the twist was predictable, and the “villain” may as well have been twirling a Machiavellian mustache and cackling MWA HA HA HA HA!!!. It was a Gone Girl wannabe. — 1.5 stars
16. Daisy Jones & the Six (Taylor J. Reid, Historical Fic) It was amazing. I didn’t live through the 1970’s, but I feel like I did, having read this book. The fact that I was instantly trying to look up songs and pictures of the band (and I’m an intelligent person) just goes to show you what an INCREDIBLE job the author did blending fact and fiction. This mock-umentary was so well-written that I really thought this was a real band, and it took me a lot of Internet searching to realize what Taylor Jenkins Reid did. (The fact that my conservative parents never let me listen to music probably aided in this). So well-done!!! 4 1/2 stars
17. The Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell, Sociology) I really enjoy Gladwell‘s books: Blink, Outliers, Talking to Strangers. I’d never read this one, though, and got the audiobook to “read” during a long drive. I found my mind wandering and my eyes constantly wandering to the clock to see how much time I had left. This was unmemorable, definitely my least favorite of his books. - 2 stars
18. Nothing to See Here (Kevin Wilson, Magical Realism) What a weird book— and I mean that in a good way! I got the audio edition and listened to it on a long drive. There were several times that I found myself literally laughing out loud in my car, probably looking like a maniac. The narrator goes to take care of Senator Robert’s’ “two fire children,” and to find purpose in her life. - 4 stars
19. The Lost Apothecary (Sarah Penner, Historical Fic/Realistic) A woman travels to London to mourn her husband’s betrayal. Little does she know, a chance find in the Thames leads her to uncover a 200-year-old murder. This book was ok. Nothing earth shattering and some parts felt overwrought. I liked the idea of picking up and moving to England to change your life, but this is a classic example of a cover being better than the book - 2.5 stars
20. In a Book Club Far Away (Tif Marcelo, Realistic Fic) Three women in a book club form an immediate, authentic bond. When one of the women feels betrayed by another, the friendship fractures despite all efforts. I had high hopes for this book and the storyline, but turns out it was overwrought, poorly written, poorly edited. The whole thing just felt like celery — you burn more energy trying to consume it than you even get out of it. I wasn’t invested in a single one of the characters. One of the dumbest books I’ve ever read.— 1 star
21. The Secret (Rhonda Byrne, Spirituality & Religion) Some of the concepts in this book are solid. Basic claim: everything that happens in our lives is because WE put out the energy to attract that. I find fault with prosperity preaching of any kind in that it inherently blames the victim for the crime. Claiming that anything that happens to you is a result of the energy you put into the universe means that women who are raped were “asking” for it and that people born into generational poverty just aren’t believing enough. It absolves true perpetrators of guilt and complicity. This book was thought-provoking, but a NO for me, I’m afraid. – 1 star
22. Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family (Robert Kolker, Social Science) First, let me say that I think this book probably held great appeal for those in the medical and mental health fields. And it really was quite good, when it came to telling the story of one family’s contributions to the field of schizophrenia research. Beyond that, even, some of the themes of family secrets and dysfunction were universal (particularly poignant: “She would never side with one of her healthy children over one of the sick ones.”) However, some of the explorations of the Human Genome Project, the search for genetic variations and damaged chromosomes bogged down — particularly around chapter 32. Nonetheless, an important story to tell and hopefully one that will find its redemption in years to come. - 3 1/2 stars
23. Island of the Sea Women (Lisa Sea, Historical Fic/Multi-cultural Lit) This book was AMAZINGGGGGGGG!!! I don't consider myself a lover of historical fiction, but I loved it The book centers around Jeju Island off the Korean mainland. There, a group of women known as haenyeo are well-respected leaders in a matrifocal society. It was fascinating to read about this fierce collective who hunt and gather for their families while the men traditionally stay home to cook and look after children. When Korea goes to war, the haenyeo face even greater challenges in providing for their families, particularly when nearly everything is now seen as "treason." Through it all, Lisa See traces the friendship of Young-Sook (whose mother leads the collective) and Mi-ja (daughter of Japanese collaborators). A spell-binding look at a bit of history and culture with which I was not familiar!- 5 STARS
24. The Heart’s Invisible Furies (John Boyne, Realistic Fic) At the beginning, it reminded me of Dickens’ Great Expectations. In the middle, it reminded me of Joyce’s Ulysses. At the end, it reminded me of Homer’s Odyssey. Whatever it is, Cyril Avery undertakes the hero’s journey in his efforts to understand himself (a gay man) and his country (Ireland). Witty writing from the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Some of the intimate scenes and long conversations were a bit wearing, but altogether, good book. — 3.5 stars
25. Caste: The Origins of our Discontents (Isabel Wilkerson, African American Experience) Classic example of a highly-rated book that everyone except for me loved. For one thing, this book is insanely repetitive. Secondly, there were a lot of anecdotes. I'm all for using a story here or there to highlight a particularly salient point. But if you've got 30 chapters, you don't need an anecdote for each one. No one's life is that interesting (except Trevor Noah's. His life is pretty damn interesting. In fact, for a more intriguing look at caste in about 1/3 of the pages, go check out his book "Born a Crime," about living under apartheid in South Africa). Lastly, and another reviewer already pointed this out, the term "caste" feels unnecessary here, as caste and race in America are intertwined. Caste IS race in this country. Therefore, referring to it as a caste problem feels a little gimmicky. Like, does it matter? It's still value based on color. Conversely, I did enjoy Wilkerson's information in the chapter on "Backlash" and how, as far as civilized, developed countries go, America is really trailing behind the rest of the world in many ways because we refuse to care for the weakest among us. But that was not until chapter 29. -- 2 stars
26. The Things You Save in a Fire (Katherine Center, Chick Lit) A woman becomes the only female in the fire department. She falls in love with one of the other firefighters. The end. Classic rom-com, chick lit, blah blah blah. - 3 stars.
27. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany (Lori N. Spielman, Realistic Fic) Good for a beach read or a snow day! This is not the type of book I normally rate so highly. This is pop fiction, and possibly even “romance” at that! I used to like that kind of book... before I turned 40 and lost the belief in romance and love (damn, this review is getting deep af). But I just really loved this book. COVID has now prevented my sister and I from two summers in Tuscany, and OUR small Italian grandmother was also a bitter and unforgiving woman. Maybe that’s why I loved it so much. But really, what’s not to love about Amalfi sunsets, family secrets, centuries-old curses, and the idea that someday... maybe... everyone can find their true self and a real home? — 4 stars
28. The Push (Ashley Audrain, Suspense) WOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! New author Ashley Audrain does a truly masterful job balancing the tension and suspense as readers wonder whether Blythe is a terrible mother, Violet is a sociopath daughter, both are true, or neither are true? And if there IS something wrong with Violet, did Blythe create it with her distance, or is her distance the result of an innate understanding that there may be something wrong with her daughter? It's hard to know who to trust in this book: the stalker mother; the detached, resentful daughter; the young, loving stepmother; the defensive, dismissive father? Whose version of reality is correct? The stakes have never been higher. Read this book!! -- 5 STARS
29. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane (Lisa See, Multi-cultural) I did not write a review for this book, but it’s great! I had no idea that tea was so complex or magical, or that in China, a tea grove passed from mother to daughter could be so wrought with meaning! - 4 stars
30. Ariadne (Jennifer Saint, Myth/Fantasy) It cannot end well when gods and mortals mix... but it makes for an excellent story! For lovers of Circe. - 4 stars
31. The Last Thing He Told Me (Laura Dave, Mystery) This is not a book with an American McEnding, and for that I really liked it! It is compulsively readable; I finished it in 2 days. 40ish Hannah is left with 16-year-old new stepdaughter Bailey when the man of the house, Owen, disappears in an Enron-esque scandal. This book explores a different kind of love. - 4 stars
32. 10% Happier (Dan Harris, Psychology) If you’re going to dive into this book, you should go for the author’s reading in the audio format! His style is hilarious and his honest impressions of Eckart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, the Dalai Lama, and others is supremely human and relatable. I loved Harris’ attempt to make meditation and mindfulness accessible to the non-Buddhists of the world - 4 stars
33. Say Yes! (Shonda Rhimes, Memoir) Interesting premise (say “yes” to the things that scare you but are good for you). Truly terrible execution. I had a hard time finishing this. For a woman writing about her low self worth, she seems incredibly narcissistic. But worse than that is the stream-of-consciousness writing style. She makes a point…then she elaborates on it…then she writes 5 more sentences of what that reminds her of. It’s absolutely maddening and the book was 75% longer than it needed to be. - 2 stars
34. The Maidens (Alex Michaelides, Mystery/Thriller) 🤯🤯🤯🤯What an absurd book. I was really sucked in, hence the 2.5 stars. The author has a propensity to “tell” instead of “show” in the exposition, and that slogged the book down; but it really picked up eventually and I was digging it. Then it morphed into a Franken-book, which is the only (admittedly, made-up) word I can think of to describe the COMPLETE DEPARTURE FROM ANY SENSE OF REALITY OR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT that happened in the climax and denouement. I will not be reading more by this author. - 2.5 stars
35. Malibu Rising (Taylor Jenkins Reid, Realistic Fic) This author just feels so inconsistent. I couldn’t keep the characters straight, even the ones I read about in the same sitting. That’s how forgettable they were. This is the story of 4 siblings of a famous rock star. Things happen. The End. - 2.5 stars
36. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business (Charles Duhigg, Psychology). This book explains how we form habits and why. It had some very interesting info on subjects like how Target tracks and predicts our buying patterns. All in all, it seemed too complicated to change my habits, though! - 3 stars
37. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (Mark Mason, Psychology) Surprisingly deep, for having such a proactive title! I’m intrigued enough to add his next book to my list. - 4 stars
38. The Guest List (Lucy Foley, Mystery/Suspense) I know I'm really late to the party on reading this one, but I still loved it! I did see the "shocking twist" coming from pretty far away, but I still found it impossible to tear myself away. The Lord of the Flies references were a bit too on-the-nose, but all things considered, it was compulsive and engaging for sure! 4 stars
39. The Summer Wives (Beatriz Williams, Historical) If you’ve seen and loved the 1990’s rom-com Mystic Pizza (when Julia Roberts, Annabeth Gish, and Matt Damon were all babies), this is a book you’ll like. It explores the dynamics between men and women, yes, but also between the WASP-y elite who summer on Winthrop Island (modeled after real-life Fishers Island) and the Portuguese families who serve them. It won’t blow your socks off, but I did legitimately enjoy it. - 3 1/2 stars
40. The Good Sister (Sally Hepworth, Realistic) Read it in one day. Saw the ending from the beginning but the main character was quite likable. For lovers of The Rosie Project and Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. - 3 1/2 stars
41. Norse Mythology (Neil Gaiman, Myth) I love learning about the Nordic countries since visiting Iceland a few years ago. It was interesting seeing how these Norse myths mirrored those in other cultures, and how the archetypes and hero’s journey are coming throughout. But it didn’t compel me. - 2 stars
42. The Wife Upstairs (Rachel Hawkins, Gothic Retelling) A modern-day retelling of Jane Eyre. I liked it up until the end, when it seemed to sort of depart from reality in order to wrap things up. - 3 stars
43. The Henna Artist (Alka Joshi, Multi-cultural) The first half really dragged, but the second half was much better. I did find the street urchin Malik, who “prefers to be 8,” quite enchanting. - 3 stars
44. Radical Compassion (Tara Brach, Psychology) Brach offers a step-by-step guide to becoming more compassionate, first to self and then to others. This is one I “read” in audio form… the author’s voice was very soothing, but her Midwestern accent did drive me nuts! I’d be interested in a hard copy of this book, as a refresher on some of the guided meditations. - 4 stars
45. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Bessel Van der Kolk, Psychology) This was a tough read, but it was good. Perhaps I should have foreseen that reading about trauma could be…somewhat traumatic? It took me a lot longer to read than most other books because it was so intense. However, the author does a good job of explaining how trauma functions, as well as all the different treatment options someone might experiment with to overcome it. - 4 stars
46. Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again (Rachel Held Evans, Spirituality & Religion). I listened to the audiobook read by the author. Rachel Held Evans has done a great job assembling the words and research of many progressive writers, pastors, and thinkers (combined with her own) to elucidate how the Bible has been co-opted to uphold systems that oppress, and I freaking love her for it. She explains, “Wisdom is about more than knowing WHAT is true. It’s also about knowing WHEN it’s true.” The only thing that drive me nuts was that the author kept saying “quote” and “unquote.” This made the audio clunky and was unnecessary - 4 stars
47. Siddartha (Herman Hesse, Historical) I can only agree with what other reviewers have noted: this is a book about a hero’s journey through Buddhism told from a German Protestant’s perspective. And it’s a translation into English, even at that. So you’ve got phrases like “full of nausea” and “they were like children” literally dozens of times through a 150-page book. I don’t know, maybe German has more words so it’s less clunky there? But it’s still told from a westerner’s perspective. It was not compelling. It just made me want to read a better story about the same concepts. - 2 stars
48. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (Ocean Vuong, Poetry; Realistic) This book was very lyrical, which can be beautiful but also hard to take in large doses. OEWBG is listed as a novel but feels autobiographical. In any case, the narrator is a “queer yellow [Vietnamese] boy” who writes his story in free form poetry as a letter to his mother. It cannot be denied that the writing is GOOD, but it just was not for me. Too much animal cruelty, too much graphic sex with the neighboring farm boy (in a letter to your mother?!?!?!?), too much flowery everything. I can see why some people love it, but I did not. - 2 stars
49. Shameless (Nadia Bolz-Weber, Spirituality & Religion) I wrote a much longer review of this on GoodReads. It’s said of Thomas Jefferson that he took a razor blade to the holy scriptures and excised the parts that didn’t suit him. As an evangelical kid, you’re taught that is anathema! But when I read NBW’s story of Cindy, a gay parishioner in her church who lit her entire Bible —except for the gospels — on fire, it made sense. The gospels were safe for Cindy because Jesus Christ has never hurt her. So she kept Jesus and clung to him as a woman drowning. NBW points to Martin Luther, who called the gospels “the cradle that holds Christ.” In other words, if the whole Bible is holy, then the gospels are the holiest of Holies. The entire point of the Bible is Jesus Christ, God made flesh. So, she argues, the closer a Biblical text is to the story of Christ and the heart of that story’s message, the more we should heed it. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard a pastor say that or give permission to decide what is sacred and what is not. - 5 STARS
50. Thanks for Waiting (Doree Shafrir, Nonfiction) I really enjoyed the first half of this book!! As someone who doesn’t have children, though, the long ending about fertility, geriatric pregnancy, IVF, and nursing dragged for me. Loved the examination of women in the workplace and in society’s expectations though. 3 1/2 stars
51. One Two Three (Laurie Frankel, Realistic Fic) I loved it. In some ways, this book reminded me of Diane Setterfield’s Once Upon a River. Although that was gothic romance and this is realistic fiction, they both were stories about stories, abundant in archetype and motifs. In One Two Three, the inimitable Laurie Frankel tells the story of three sisters— Mab, Monday, and Mirabel — who come of age in a town bereft of hope, a town where nothing ever changes until everything changes. The parts about Mab and Petra were a little grating, but Monday (my favorite character) more than makes up for that. This book was wonderful 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡4.5 STARS
52. Hey, Kiddo (Jarrett K. Krosoczka, Graphic Novel; YA) Gateway nominee. This graphic novel will appeal to kids from difficult circumstances or non-traditional family structures. This is a memoir in cartoons, about addiction, disappointment, and ultimately, love. In the afterword, the author writes, “When you’re a kid and a teen, you’re not in control of your circumstances. But the beautiful thing about growing up is that you get to create your own reality and your own family.” - 5 stars
53. Call Me By My Name (John E. Bradley, Historical Fic; YA; African American Experience) An interesting and thought-provoking look at race relations in the Deep South in the 1970s. I didn’t understand any of the football plays though 😂 3 1/2 stars
54. The Poet X (Elizabeth Acevedo, Poetry; YA) Gateway nominee. The Poet X is an awesome tribute to the power of verses and lyrics and beats to communicate a story. I loved the narrator’s voice and her growth from insecure fighters to strong, confident Latina❤️ This book reminded me of Maya Angelou! 5 stars
55. This Song Will Save Your Life (Leila Sales, YA; Realistic) (YA) Eliza Dembrowski is determined to change her life. She doesn’t need to be COOL…just cool enough not to be mercilessly bullied. But if you are not different, you can never be extraordinary. And sometimes we find that the people who seem so extraordinary are really not so impressive after all. - 3 ½ stars
56. Eliza & Her Monsters (Frances Zappia, YA; Fantasy/Realistic) (YA) Gateway nominee. This book was re-diculous!! Everything about it was so overwrought. I just could not even. I didn’t connect with or care about a single character. Their problems felt tortured, overdone, and drawn out. I’m not a fantasy fan (besides Harry Potter, which I ADORE), but even the realistic fiction frame of the fantasy story didn’t appeal to me. Maybe I didn’t like this because I don’t “get” manga-mania? - 1 star
57. Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee (Mary Thompson, YA; Realistic) Gateway nominee. This is a hard book to rate. While it sucked me in right from the beginning, after a couple hundred pages, I was so emotionally and mentally weighed down by the plight of the characters that I didn’t even want to keep reading. This is Young Adult lit and there was no obscene language and no graphic sex scenes and no escapades with drugs… but any time you have a rape story, it pushes the reading age up. It reminded me (in a sickening way) of All the Ugly Beautiful Things. I don’t know that I will be putting this book out in my classroom library. UPDATE: I will not be. I threw away all my copies - 2 stars
58. Goodnight Beautiful (Molly Molloy, Thriller) WOWWW. Riveting!! Dr. Sam Statler, psychotherapist, moves to upstate New York along with his blushing bride, a gender-studies professor he’s known only an alarming 6 months. Wildly in love, they settle in Chestnut Hill, and Sam opens a private practice on the lower level of a rambling Victorian mansion. Little does Sam realize that every word he and his patients utter can be heard through a vent in the ceiling… - 5 Stars
59. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Sherman Alexie, YA; Multi-cultural) National Book Award Winner. “I was going to have a better life out in the White World.” At the age of 14, Junior has attended 42 funerals. A teacher on the Rez school Junior attends attempts to atone for his sins by urging Junior to escape, to flee to a place not devoid of hope. Junior considers: who has the most hope in the world? He decides it is white people. And so Junior decides to escape to the white world. Listen to the audiobook if you can – the author narrates it himself– 5 STARS!!!
60. My Lady Jane (Cynthia Hand, etc, YA; Humor) Gateway Award Nominee. Hands down, one of the stupidest books I have ever read. I get that it was supposed to be a humorous, alternative British history, but I just found it obnoxious and boring. It’s a re-telling of the Jane Grey story from British history, but instead of Protestants vs Catholics, it’s shapeshifters vs normal people. – 1 star
61. On the Come Up (Angie Thomas, YA; Urban Fiction) Another great book from the author of The Hate U Give! There was no 🔥 twist ending at the end of this one, but the story of a young rapper trying to provide for her family legit shows a different face to Reagan’s “welfare queen” narrative. Plan on recommending this one to a lot of students who just don’t get it. - 4 stars
62. Soldier Boy (Keely Hutton, Ricky Anywar, YA; War Stories; Multi-cultural; Memoir) This book was incredibly difficult to read. It is based on the true story of an African boy who was abducted and forced to fight in the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda (Ricky Anyway). My sister had to raise funds for a wall around the orphanage she worked at in Uganda because so many children were getting kidnapped, but I don’t think I understood the reality of that until I read this book. No lie, this is a difficult, stomach-turning read; yet, I’m shocked by how familiar parts of it feel. Whether you’re in America or Africa, leaders USE the Bible to spiritually abuse those they hope to manipulate. There are still two pathways to hope: education and forgiveness. - 4 stars
63. After the Shot Drops (Randy Ribay, YA; Sports) Bunny Thompson is a basketball legend in the making. Leaving his ‘hood school behind for an athletic scholarship at a prep school could have lasting consequences, though — for his friendships, his game, and his life. Admittedly, I don’t follow or understand sports, so portions of this made no sense to me. But it was still good - 3.5 stars
64. V for Vendetta (Alan Moore, GN) Graphic novels are great, but ones this dark are not my jam, it turns out. Cannot loan this out to students. I loved the movie, though. - 3 stars
65. Genesis Begins Again (Alicia D. Williams, MG; African American Experience) (MG) A dark black girl struggles with internalized racism and trying to earn her father’s love. Good book but too long. I don’t think a lot of my 8th graders are going to go for a 400-page novel 3 1/2 stars
66. Writers & Lovers (Lily King, Realistic/Lit Fic) This book is truly literary fiction. Nothing mind-boggling happens, but you can chew the words like mint leaves. - 3 stars
67. I Hunt Killers (Barry Lyga, YA; Horror) This was GOOD. I mean, I had to skip the cruelty-to-animal pages…and I can’t check it out to my 8th graders, even with a parent sign-off…and I hate horror in general, so I have no frame of reference. But even with all of that, I can tell that for someone who DOES like horror, this is a damn good book. It’s like Harry Potter meets Stephen King. I appreciated how Lyga made the narrator complex and tortured, determined (like HP) to rise above his basest self and become the truest part of him. Recommend to 10th grade and up. - 4 stars
68. American Born Chinese (Gene Luan Yang, MG; YA; GN) (GN) Holy ****!!! This graphic novel blew my mind. At first, I had no idea what was going on. Then I was like, “There’s no way my super conservative district is going to TEACH this in 8th grade.” (They nixed it even for high school, despite the 7th grade and up publisher’s rec) And then I was like, “How can a book by a Chinese-American be this RACIST?!? IS it racist? Do I even know what ‘racist’ means!?” Also, I was confused for the first 75% of the book. But then all of a sudden everything came together, and I was floored. It left me thinking for days, even weeks. - 5 stars
69. The Crossover (Kwame Alexander, MG; Sports; GN; Poetry) Truman Nominee. Josh and Jordan Bell are twin basketball legends-in-the-making... and sons of Chuck "Da Man" Bell, a basketball king in his own right. Although their dad quit playing due to his health, Josh and Jordan are still heirs to the basketball throne with their dad grilling them and schooling them constantly on the best plays. As the boys get older, though, their paths and hearts start to diverge. This heart-breaking book told in free verse is FIRE! - 4 stars
70. The Only Black Girls in Town (Brandy Colbert, MG; Realistic) When Edie moves into the bed and breakfast across the street from Alberta, the two become fast friends. As the only black girls in town, they share a special bond. When Edie discovers a bunch of old journals in the attic of her new home, the two set off to solve the mystery of their original owner…is it possible they AREN’T the only black girls in this California beach town? Young readers will enjoy learning about the concept of “passing” for white. - 3 stars
71. Don’t Look Back (Jennifer L. Armentrout, YA; Mystery) Gateway Nominee. Samantha Franco wakes up covered in blood, with no memories and a dead best frenemy. What happened? I saw the ending from about 200 pages away. Meh. - 2 stars
72. Ready Player One (Ernest Cline, YA; Sci-fi, Dystopian) The year is 2044 and the world is a dangerous place, so people mostly just stick with living in the virtual OASIS. When the creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a will that gives EVERYTHING to whomever can solve his last virtual treasure hunt. It’s a cross between The Westing Game, Ender’s Game, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But listen, not everyone can just read 12 straight pages of computer game descriptions, ok? We’re not all cut out for that. This is ow3nly for sci-fi lovers, of which I am not one - 2 stars
73. The Sun is Also a Star (Nicola Yoon, YA; Realistic, Chick Lit) What if one day can alter the trajectory of your life? For Korean-American Daniel and (undocumented) Jamaican-American Natasha, one day is all it takes to fall in love. Except she’s being deported. This book is hard to rate because I’m not an angst-ridden teenager. But if I WERE an angst-ridden teen, I would LOVE it. The adult in me groaned and rolled my eyes at various points, BUT the adult in me also cackled like a maniac elsewhere in the book. My favorite parts were 1) the non-fiction parts about things like multiverses, the history of Black hair, and the etymology of “Iree”… 2) the omniscient narrator’s interruptions to tell us the future of each character. - 4 stars
74. Beautiful World, Where Are You (Sally Rooney, Literary Fic) Really hard to get through. It just dragged on and on and on. I’m annoyed it won a GoodReads Award – 2 stars
75. Ace of Spades (Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, YA; Horror) SUCH a great premise: “social eugenics”— acts engineered to rid a society of unwanted elements. Sub-par execution. 3 stars
76. Rock Paper Scissors (Alice Feeney, Mystery/Suspense) An awesome, atmospheric read about a married couple stranded in the Scottish highlands, deciding whether their relationship is worth saving. The creepiness factor is high with this one. - 4 stars
77. The Tao of Pooh (Benjamin Hoff, Spirituality & Religion) An intro to Taoism. I liked the Winnie the Pooh bits and I liked the idea of learning about Taoism, but I think the two together confused me… - 2 stars
78. The Program (Suzanne Young, YA; Dystopian) Teens love this overwrought drama, but I felt it was sooooo over the top. The premise is this: with teen suicide on the rise in America, “The Program” is a life saver, literally. But even as it preserves your body, it destroys all your memories. When two teens are sentenced to the program, they fight to hold onto each other - 2 stars
79. Code Name Verity (Elizabeth Wein, Historical Fiction) Did not like!!! Very confusing and not really compelling to read. I kept reading to find out why so many people liked the book. Cool time in history but better novels exist. - 2 stars
80. Alone (Christopher Chaboute, GN) A masterpiece in black and white, this graphic novel tells the tale -- almost wholly wordless -- of a deformed hermit who's lived his entire life...Alone. It is impossible not to feel for "Alone" and root for him to succeed and find the courage to embrace life. - 4 stars
81. The Therapist (B.A. Paris, Mystery/Suspense) When Alice and Leo move into a gorgeous home in an exclusive community in London, it seems too good to be true…and that’s because it is. The therapist who lived there before them was brutally murdered. Alice quickly becomes obsessed with finding the killer, failing to heed the many warning signs that she herself is also in trouble. - 3 stars
82. War Stories (Gordon Korman, MG; Historical) I read this book to assess text complexity for a possible addition to 8th grade Lit Circles. Gordon Korman is a kiddie writer and this book is recommended for 8-to 12-year-olds. The central character is 12, and this book is not going to fly for 14-year-olds. However, for 6th graders who are really interested in Americana, patriotism, war, and the military, the book carries some key messages about the “glory” and tragedy of idolizing country over humanity. – 3 stars
83. The Alienist (Caleb Carr, Historical Fiction) 500 pages is too many pages, at least for this book. The author probably aimed to create the frustration that our erstwhile detectives felt every time they wasted time chasing down a false lead. But then, is it ever really good for your readers to be frustrated? It took me 3 weeks to slog through this detective novel starring Teddy Roosevelt. – 2 stars
84. Becoming Muhammad Ali (James Patterson & Kwame Alexander, MG; Biography) This book was great until the very end, when it seemed super rushed and switched from poetry to prose. Still, the 90% of the book that wasn’t rushed was AWESOME! Kwame Alexander is so amazing and his telling of Mohammed Ali’s rise to fame will be really inspiring for students, especially guys. – 4 stars
85. Everything Sad Is Untrue (Daniel Nayeri, MG; YA; Multi-cultural) THIS BOOK 😍😍😍😍 Told in wandering anecdotes, the story of Nayeri’s flight from war-torn Iran intertwines with Scheherazade’s tales to form a cohesive story of the fight to survive and the will to create something beautiful out of tragedy, horror, and fear. I’m knocking one star off just because there was an inordinate discussion of poop – it was actually quite strange. – 4 stars
86. Dreamland Burning (Jennifer Latham, YA; Historical) This was a St. Charles County one-read (all library patrons are encouraged to read the same book, to foster education and discussion). I appreciated the opportunity to learn about the Tulsa Race Riots and the destruction of Black Wall Street. I did find the book a little confusing, as there seemed to be a lot of characters with a lot of different connections. This story is told from the perspective of Will Tillman, a white boy in 1920s Oklahoma, and Rowan Chase, a privileged Black girl from the present day. – 3 stars
87. The Canyon’s Edge (Dusti Bowling, MG; Survival; Poetry) Nora‘s mother was killed in a mass shooting, and her father slowly lost the will to live. When he is caught in a flash flood and washed away, Nora must reach deep inside herself for strength she doesn’t think she has. This book was poetic and metaphorical… it was just hard to get through because it felt like tragedy after tragedy after emergency after tragedy. It was too much – 3 stars
88. The Damage (Catherine Wahrer, Realistic) Interesting book about the fallout of violent assault. You don’t read much about male sexual assault victims. – 3 stars
89. We Dream of Space (Erin Entrada Kelley, MG; Historical) Siblings Cash, Fitch, and Bird are in 7th grade when the Challenger is scheduled to launch its 1986 voyage to space. This is a pretty rare look at recent history! I do not recommend the audiobook, as the reader’s Spanish accent is truly terrible and deeply distracting - 3 stars
90. One Day in December (Josie Silva, Chick Lit) Read it for December Book Club. It was good for what it was. I’m not really into romances, but it’s a decent light read, if totally unrealistic - 3 stars
91. Ghosts (Dolly Alderton, Realistic) For every woman who has ever been ghosted after meeting a “great guy!” online. – 3.5 stars
92. Angel of Greenwood (Randi Pink, MG; Historical Fic) Important subject matter: Black Wall Street and the story of Tulsa burning. I haven’t found a narrative I really like yet on this subject. I didn’t care about the characters in this story at all, which is disappointing since it’s historical fiction! – 2 stars
93. Challenger Deep (Neal Shusterman, YA; Fantasy) Shusterman wrote this in conjunction with his son, who struggles with mental illness. The descriptions of how life feels during a low phase, the un-tetheredness of it, felt very realistic. However, because the story was a sort of map through the mind of someone in psychosis, it was also very confusing at points. Not my favorite Neal Shusterman. – 3 stars
94. The House in the Cerulean Sea (T.J. Klune, Fantasy) When straight-laced Linus Baker is summoned by Extremely Upper Management to investigate an orphanage for magical children, he has a bad feeling about it. Luckily for readers, he goes anyway. This book was like an LGBTQIA+ Harry Potter. Nothing is quite as good as Harry Potter, and the pacing definitely dragged at times, but all in all, it was a good book! – 3.5 stars
95. Everybody, Always (Bob Goff, Spirituality & Religion) I don’t like Christian-y books, but I was lured by the title. Goff is a pretty impressive California attorney who cares less about politics and Supreme Court appointees than he does about driving around with a sack full of hamburgers and asking transients if they’re hungry. This book was surprisingly funny, too. However, I didn’t like how many times he mentioned he was a lawyer. I also found all the mentions of his vacation home and his plane and his $95-a-visit “office” at Disneyland a little alienating. – 3.5 stars
96. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know (Adam Grant, Psychology) Grant highlights ideas like the power of non-dualistic thinking, abandoning best practices (so you don’t get locked into one way of thinking), normalizing questions over statements, and refusing to double down on a life goal that isn’t working for you. – 4 stars
97. The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See (Fr. Richard Rohr, Spirituality & Religion) A Franciscan priest wonders at how major world religions all include being in Presence, seeing with the Third Eye, living in the naked “now.” I read this at the same time I was reading Adam Grant’s “Think Again,” and they went together eerily well. For those of us who are used to polarized thinking, the challenges here can be confusing and irritating, but definitely a lot to chew on! – 3.5 stars
98. Biased (Jennifer L. Eberhard, Psychology; Social Justice) This was a really fascinating look at why and how we form unintentional biases, as well as the ramifications. I appreciated the science and the insights! However, I recommend you read the hard copy of this one as opposed to the audiobook: Eberhard’s narration is unnaturally high-pitched and earnest, which is hard to take after awhile. I wish she’d narrated the whole book in the natural, lower-pitched voice she used in the credits! – 4 stars
99. A Flicker in the Dark (Stacy Willigham, Mystery/Thriller) WOWZA!!! This is a book to read and discuss with friends because you’re left with so many thoughts at the end. Dr. Chloe Davis is a psychologist who chose her career path to redeem that of her father: Richard Davis, loving father, serial killer. Dick has been locked up in maximum security for 20 years. But then more girls start turning up dead… – 4 stars
100. The Bell Jar (re-read Sylvia Plath, Historical; Literary Fiction) Highly recommend the audiobook read by Maggie Gyllenhall. The slow mental disintegration of Esther Greenwood is brilliantly captured by Plath, whose own meteoric rise and fall parallels the book’s central character. – 5 stars
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