New Non-Fiction for Middle Grades

A lot of my middle school readers come to the library and select novels to read in their free time. There are drastically fewer who come and check out non-fiction titles.  This is such a shame because there are really great non-fiction books being published for younger readers.  I've been devouring quite a few of them and these three recent reads are all worth sharing.

It's Trevor Noah: Born a A Crime: Stories From a South American Childhood by Trevor Noah is the young readers version of Noah's memoir. I had listened to the adult version on audio and enjoyed it, but I'm not the best audiobook listener, so truly appreciated this print copy.  It's so funny and truly the only difference I could find between the two books was that offensive language was removed from the middle grade version.  Even if kids don't know Noah, they will find his story laugh out loud funny. It will also give them a better understanding of life in South Africa and the race issues that exist there.

The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History: The Story of the Monument's Men by Robert M. Edsel - this is another YA adaptation of a book that is spectacular.  The adult version has been on my TBR stacks for a long time, but the length of it is slightly daunting. This version gives all the information I feel I need to truly understand the loss of artwork and literature during WWII and the men who tried to preserve as much as possible. The photographs included also help bring this story to life.  

Captured: An American Prisoner of War In North Vietnam by Alvin Townley -this story is an amazing inspirational look at the life of Jerry Denton, a naval aviator who was shot down in Vietnam in 1965.  Townley tells the remarkable story of his capture and 7+ years in captivity as a prisoner of war.  He explains the horrible treatment Denton and other POWs received and their remarkable resilience and dedication to the United States and belief that they would return home together.  

I'm excited to book talk these titles to my classes this week and hope that a few students decide to give non-fiction books a try. I don't think they realize what great stories they are missing out on.

Monday (Not-So) Mini-Reviews: The Last Year of the War

It wasn't until college that I learned about the fact that Japanese Americans were interned in various locations during World War II, seen by some as enemies of the United States.  I was instantly curious about this and have always wanted to know more about the Japanese American experience during this time.

Susan Meissner's latest book, The Last Year of the War, provides an in-depth look at the friendship between Elise Sontag, a German American and Mariko Inoue, a Japanese American whose families were both detained at Crystal City, an internment camp in Texas.

For readers who thought that only Japanese Americans were in these camps, Meissner explains how Elise's family came to be there: her parents were born in Germany, but had lived in the US for over twenty years. They hadn't finalized their citizenship, never having a sense of urgency about the need to do it. By the time they tried to become US citizens, the war was underway and their request was never granted.

Despite different backgrounds, the girls become best friends at the camp.  However, their families are repatriated - sent back to their country of origin.  Now decades have past, and Elise has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  Before she forgets her past entirely, she wants to reunite with Mariko and spend some time with her best friend.

I love Meissner's books, so I'll read pretty much anything she writes. However, this one is especially good. Readers will learn a lot about the experience of Japanese Americans - and other immigrants - during World War II, as well as what life was like during the last year of the war in Germany, where Elise's family was forced to return.

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys WWII novels, historical fiction, or great storytelling.    Last week I shared historical fiction books I enjoyed as well, and I've enjoyed them all!

Friday Five: Snow Is Coming Our Way

There's nothing quite like spring in Iowa.  We've been enjoying some beautiful weather- 60 degrees feels fantastic after a freezing cold winter.  This morning I looked at the forecast and tomorrow we have a chance of 3-7 inches of accumulating snow.  There is not a single part of me that is excited about that.  Especially since Little Sister has two soccer games tomorrow.

Anyway.....the snow won't be here long, and the clothing I've looked at this week is definitely for warm weather.

1.  Eyelet Embroidered Puff Sleeve Top - I love the moss color of this one, although it does come in a few other colors as well.  Pretty much I'll wear anything that's eyelet.

2.  Women's Printed Cyclone Jacket - North Face has some beautiful printed jackets right now.  I've bought a few windbreakers for my girls this spring and my husband bought himself one as well. I dug out my 1995 windbreaker from the closet, and although I still like it, realize it does look a bit dated.

3.  Tiered Maxi Skirt - This skirt looks so comfortable, while still being dressy. That's my kind of clothing.

4.   Saychelles So Precious Flat Sandals - I'm really keeping my eyes open for a new pair of sandals.  This is just one of the options I'm entertaining.







5. Chevron Wrap Waist Top -I love a chevron print, and this would look great with a pair of white pants.








6.  Floral Flutter Tie Waist Jumpsuit - I've been noticing jumpsuits everywhere this spring. Initially I didn't even contemplate them for myself, but now I'm thinking maybe I should at least try one one. It looks comfortable, and the floral print is very spring like. 








7.  Women's Makena Gladiator Sandal- here's another pair of sandals I'm contemplating. They are from Target and the leather is really soft. I still wear a pair of Target sandals I've had for at least 5 years and get complimented on them all the time.  





 
8. Long Linen Blend Cardigan - I own several cardigans, but none are striped and none are long. This is also on sale right now on Nordstrom, and I can think of lots of places I could wear it.

9.  Bandana -years ago I had several bandanas I wore just like this. I love that they are making a comeback, and need to purchase a few.

10.  Prince Louis' First Birthday Pictures - and who doesn't need a little cuteness in their lives? I've enjoyed the comparison photos between him and his siblings and love watching the royal kids grow up.

That's it for me this week.  What's caught your eye?

Kids Lit: Picture Books in April

I still love picture books, especially picture book biographies.  The four pictures books I read last night are all fantastic. I learned something in each of the books, was inspired by the people in each book, and am already thinking of groups of students I can share these with.  Despite the fact that many people think picture books are for younger kids, I can guarantee that my middle school students will still find these stories fascinating.

Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe, illustrated by Barbara McClintock is an inspiring story of a young woman who loved math and despite the fact that no one believed a girl could be a mathematician, went on to prove people wrong.  Sophie grew up in France during the time of the French Revolution, and initially had to submit work she did under a man's name.  She did work on mathematical equations to help explain vibrations, information needed for construction of bridges, and has a group of numbers named Sophie Germain Prime Numbers after her.  In addition to this story of Germain's life being fascinating, the illustrations are colorful, and the information in this book is something a wide audience will enjoy.  Additional information at the end provides more for older readers as well.

Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Bryan Collier - I love learning about new people and the contributions they've made to the world. Ernie Barnes was a sensitive, shy kid who loved art. He was also a pretty good football player - playing for three pro teams - before he turned to his real love, painting pictures of African Americans.  As a child he visited an art gallery and noticed there were no pictures of African Americans. As an adult, Barnes painted African Americans, as well as pictures of sporting events.  Additional biographical information help round out this story, which will appeal to readers as young as first grade and up.  Collier's illustrations alternate between watercolors and collage, and provide detailed pictures on each page.

Carter Reads The Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Don Tate - Carter Woodson is another person who I'd never heard of, but loved learning about.  His story is also inspiring.  Carter was born shortly after the Civil War ended, both parents had been slaves.  He enjoyed school, but because his family needed money, worked instead to help them.  Eventually he finishes high school, college, and earns a PhD from Harvard (the second black man to do so).  He was inspired to pursue an education by a man named Oliver Jeffers, who was unable to read himself, but who valued books and education and invited young men to come to his house after work where they could read and discuss news and books.  When Carter is told by a professor that black people have no history, he spends his life proving this professor wrong.  Black History Month, which we celebrate each February, can be credited to Carter Woodson and his quest to make people aware of the rich history of African Americans.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk - Katherine is one of the women featured in Hidden Figures. This picture book version focuses solely on Katherine's story, beginning in childhood and moving through her career with NASA.  The story is one I already knew, but I enjoyed this version of Johnson's life, which is perfect for readers grades K-3.  Children interested in the Hidden Figures story, but too young to read the book at this point, should start with Counting on Katherine.


What picture book biographies have you read recently that I need to add to my list?

Waiting on Wednesday: Chelsea Girls

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be released book I can't wait to read.

This week's pick:  The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis
Due out: July 30, 2019

Synopsis taken from Goodreads:

From Fiona Davis, the nationally bestselling author of The Dollhouse and The Address, the bright lights of the theater district, the glamour and danger of 1950s New York, and the wild scene at the iconic Chelsea Hotel come together in a dazzling new novel about the twenty-year friendship that will irrevocably change two women's lives.

From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City's creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home—a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for Communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine's Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom.

Spanning from the 1940s to the 1960s, The Chelsea Girls deftly pulls back the curtain on the desperate political pressures of McCarthyism, the complicated bonds of female friendship, and the siren call of the uninhibited Chelsea Hotel.

Non-Fiction Tuesday: Coming Soon: Return to the Reich

Each Wednesday I feature a fiction title that will soon be published.  There are a lot of great non-fiction titles to have on your radar as well, so on occasion I am sharing some great non-fiction title I can't wait to read on a Tuesday.



My non-fiction pick: Return to the Reich: A Holocaust Refugee's Secret Mission to Defeat the Nazis by Eric Lichtblau

Due out: October 15, 2019

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

The remarkable story of Fred Mayer, a German-born Jew who escaped Nazi Germany only to return as an American commando on a secret mission behind enemy lines.

Growing up in Germany, Freddy Mayer witnessed the Nazis' rise to power. When he was sixteen, his family made the decision to flee to the United States—they were among the last German Jews to escape, in 1938.
 
In America, Freddy tried enlisting the day after Pearl Harbor, only to be rejected as an “enemy alien” because he was German. He was soon recruited to the OSS, the country’s first spy outfit before the CIA. Freddy, joined by Dutch Jewish refugee Hans Wynberg and Nazi defector Franz Weber, parachuted into Austria as the leader of Operation Greenup, meant to deter Hitler’s last stand. He posed as a Nazi officer and a French POW for months, dispatching reports to the OSS via Hans, holed up with a radio in a nearby attic. The reports contained a goldmine of information, provided key intelligence about the Battle of the Bulge, and allowed the Allies to bomb twenty Nazi trains. On the verge of the Allied victory, Freddy was captured by the Gestapo and tortured and waterboarded for days. Remarkably, he persuaded the Nazi commander for the region to surrender, completing one of the most successful OSS missions of the war.

Based on years of research and interviews with Mayer himself, whom the author was able to meet only months before his death at the age of ninety-four, Return to the Reich is an eye-opening, unforgettable narrative of World War II heroism.

Monday Mini-Reviews: Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read, and yet the historical fiction books seem to pile up here as I have this bizarre habit of saving them up for some special time to enjoy them. (Does anyone else save some of the books they love best before they even read them?)

I have actually allowed myself to enjoy a few great titles in this genre recently.  
Here are three titles you can't go wrong choosing.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - is based on a true story (I love anything based on facts).  Lale, a Slovakian Jew, is taken to a concentration camp. Despite the hardships he faces, his ability to speak several languages gives him some safety and he becomes the tattooist, giving each prisoner the number on their arm that will mark them forever.  While doing his job one day, Lale meets a beautiful woman that he can't get out of his mind.  The two of them begin a romance of sorts in the worst possible place. They also vow to make it through the war and spend the rest of their lives together.  This horrible story is filled with great hope and it's not a book I'll easily forget.

Wunderland  by Jennifer Cody Epstein- this is another Holocaust story that moves seamlessly between several time periods.  Ava has been estranged from her mother for some time. When she receives news that her mom, Ilse, has died and a packet of letters her mom tried to send to a childhood friend, Renate, Ava's perception of the mother she never felt close to is greatly altered.  Readers meet Ilse and Renate as young girls before their world fell apart, and then at various points in time as Ilse joined the Hitler Youth Movement and turned her back on Renate, her Jewish friend.  As a reader I appreciated how Epstein allowed me to relate to Ilse because of the story centering around her daughter, Ava.  I had to remind myself periodically that Ilse was certainly not a character I should like because of her ties to the Nazis, but Epstein does an amazing job of creating characters that feel real and aren't all good or all bad.


Learning to See: A Novel of Dorothea Lange, the Woman Who Revealed the Real America by Elise Hooper - one of my favorite thing to read are fictionalized biographies of little known people in history.  (Marie Benedict and Melanie Benjamin are two of my favorite authors of this type of book).  Hooper's novel focuses on Dorothea Lange, a photographer best known for her pictures of Americans during the Great Depression. Aside from knowing that Lange was a photographer, I knew nothing else about her. I truly enjoyed learning about her childhood when she was stricken with polio that left her with a permanent limp, her ambition that allowed her to make a living as a portrait photographer, and her troubled marriage.  Hooper's novel is fantastic and piqued my interest to learn more about this amazing woman.

Friday Five: Good Friday Edition

Happy Easter weekend!  I'm happy that our school district didn't take away this scheduled Friday off.  With all the snow days we had this winter, I'm shocked they didn't have us make up one of them today.  

Although I have no big plans, this will be a good day to catch up on a few things. 

We've had some cold and rainy days, but that's pretty normal around these parts.  The weekend forecast looks beautiful, so I'm going to enjoy the sun. 

Here are a few things that caught my eye this week:

1.   Nylite Plus Sneaker -I still haven't replaced my white (now dingy white) Tretorns.  If I wanted an entirely different look, I do like these black ones.

2.  Bourbon and Bowties Stretch Beaded Bracelet Set - I love how jewelry looks on other people, but I rarely wear any myself.  These bracelets are so pretty, though.

3.  All Birds Women's Wool Runners -I must be in a tennis shoe type of mood.  I see All Birds everywhere online and the reviews are fantastic. After seeing them so often, I'm beginning to think that maybe I do need a pair.







4.   Tossed Lemons Scarf- lemons seem to be in for spring and the colors in this scarf are beautiful.

5.  Modern Stripe Short Sleeve T-Shirt Dress -I'm not sure I could get away with wearing anything as form-fitting as this dress, but I love a good stripe and paired with a denim jacket and some white converse think this would be so cute.

6.  Aerie Beach Fleece -and more stripes...although there's no beach here in Iowa, we are heading to Dauphin Island for vacation this summer and there will be a beach there. Wouldn't this be lovely to have to throw on?





7.  Mariana Blouse - Sundance has such beautiful clothes. I love the detail on this shirt and the color. I don't have a ton of green in my closet, but am loving it more and more.

8.  Sanibel Platform Wedge Sandal - I am so desperate for some sandals. Since summer isn't horribly long here and I can't wear open toed shoes to work, I haven't invested much in sandals.  I'd love to have a pair or two (besides my flip flops) to wear in the summer.

9.  Toffee M&Ms and Hazelnut M&Ms -I've been waiting for the hazelnut M&Ms for a long time now....and what a disappointment.  The toffee ones are marginally better, but my favorite is still the peanut butter M&Ms.

10.  Wake Up Call - I loved listening to Katie Couric's podcast last year, but that doesn't seem to be happening any more. Instead, she is posting instagram stories and covering current events. You can also sign up for her daily news in your inbox. I love Katie and reading her take on the news each morning is pretty much the perfect way for me to keep up on what's going on around the world.

That's it for me this week.  What's caught your eye?

Waiting on Wednesday: Searching for Sylvie Lee

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be released book I can't wait to read.

This week's pick: Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
Due out: June 4, 2019

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

It begins with a mystery. Sylvie, the beautiful, brilliant, successful older daughter of the Lee family, flies to the Netherlands for one final visit with her dying grandmother—and then vanishes.

Amy, the sheltered baby of the Lee family, is too young to remember a time when her parents were newly immigrated and too poor to keep Sylvie. Seven years older, Sylvie was raised by a distant relative in a faraway, foreign place, and didn’t rejoin her family in America until age nine. Timid and shy, Amy has always looked up to her sister, the fierce and fearless protector who showered her with unconditional love.

But what happened to Sylvie? Amy and her parents are distraught and desperate for answers. Sylvie has always looked out for them. Now, it’s Amy’s turn to help. Terrified yet determined, Amy retraces her sister’s movements, flying to the last place Sylvie was seen. But instead of simple answers, she discovers something much more valuable: the truth. Sylvie, the golden girl, kept painful secrets . . . secrets that will reveal more about Amy’s complicated family—and herself—than she ever could have imagined.

A deeply moving story of family, secrets, identity, and longing, Searching for Sylvie Lee is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive portrait of an immigrant family. It is a profound exploration of the many ways culture and language can divide us and the impossibility of ever truly knowing someone—especially those we love.

Monday (Not So) Mini Reviews: Ask Again, Yes

Usually on Mondays I share a few titles I've read over the past week.  For the past several weeks I've continued to struggle to get excited about much of any of what I'm reading.  Chalk it up to the occasional reading slump that strikes readers every once in a while.  Or maybe it's the fact that I have too much to do at work right now, so my brain is tuned in to that.  Whatever the case, reading has been a bit harder lately.

The good news is that when I finally get into a book, I am enjoying it. So at least I'm picking up some great stuff.  

This weekend I devoured Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane.  If all my reading experiences were like this one was, I can't imagine I'd ever hit a slump again.

The novel opens with two young men, Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope beginning their careers as New York police officers.  The two marry around the same time, and through chance, buy homes next door to each other.  Francis' wife Lena is hopeful that she will find a friend in Brian's wife, Anne, but that doesn't happen. Despite Lena's efforts, Anne rebuffs any attempt at friendship, and it seems obvious fairly early on that there is something not quite right with Anne.

The two families lives intersect throughout the novel, and even though the couples are not friends, the Gleeson's youngest daughter Kate is the same age as the Stanhope's son, Pete, and these two kids have a close bond that develops over time into something more than just a friendship between children. 

I don't want to give any of the plot away, because part of the joy of this novel is how unexpected some of it was.  As the stories unfold, the lives of these two families are forever connected, and a tragedy that devastates them is viewed through the lens of time, which provides an interesting resolution to this story.

Keane tackles the tough topic of mental illness, how our past experiences make up who we become, and how to make peace with ourselves and our past.  

I think book clubs will be loving this one, which lends itself to great discussions.  Readers who enjoy Sue Miller, Celeste Ng, or Anita Shreve will want to give this one a try.

Friday Five

We were teased last week with temps in the 70s, and now are back to the 40s (and 30s at night). Minnesota has it worse than us, though, and seeing the pictures on Facebook of the road conditions makes me thankful for my 40 degree weather, disappointing though it may be.

The shorts I've found this week won't be anything I put on right now, but I'm still hopeful that the weather will warm up quickly.

Here are some of my finds this week:

1.  Embroidered Denim Courier Shirt in Confetti Floral -I'd pretty much wear denim in any form, and I love these little accents on it. However, I do have a distinct picture of an elderly woman wearing something like this years ago, so I'm questioning my taste a bit.








2.  The Frances Loafer Mule in Spotted Calf Hair -I love anything in calf hair.  I think these are so cute and would dress up jeans or a pair of black pants.






3.  Border Stripes Jute Tote Bag- I haven't bought a new purse or bag in a while and this one would be so fun to use over the summer months. It's not horribly expensive - $69 - at JJill.







4.  Cotton Stretch Shorts - Every year I think I should get a few pair of shorts for the summer season. The truth is, I rarely do anything that requires more than athletic shorts over the summer. But there are times when some nicer shorts are required.  These come in moss and a few other colors.







5. Gelato T-Shirt - I love a good T-shirt, and every once in a while I actually purchase one that I don't wear to exercise.

6.  Chunky Ribbed Open Front Cardigan - I love the horizontal ribbing on this one, which makes it just a bit different than every other black cardigan.  

7.  Library T-Shirt - I've been looking at librarian clothing lately....it's been a while since I've added a new library-themed t-shirt to my stash.  I think this one looks fun.

8.  Free Range Short - I love the color of these shorts.  And, even though I don't need more than a few pairs for summer, these are a pair I really want to try.

9.  Stripe Contender 7/8 Tight in Powerlift -it's also been a while since I've bought any new workout leggings.  I like the blue/green color combo and I also liked the stripe patterning.

10.  Brene Brown's Netflix Special - I've watched the trailer and read some of Brene Brown's books. I'm not a devoted fan like some people are, but I do think this special on Netflix sounds worth my time.

That's it for me this week.  What's caught your eye?

Children's Lit: Looking Ahead

I've been making a list of some new books coming out for kids.....picture books, middle grade, YA.....there are tons in every category I want to get my hands on as soon as possible.

Here's one I can't wait to read:

A Place To Belong by Cynthia Kadohata
Due out: May 14, 2019

Summary taken from Amazon:


A Japanese-American family, reeling from their ill treatment in the Japanese internment camps, gives up their American citizenship to move back to Hiroshima, unaware of the devastation wreaked by the atomic bomb in this piercing look at the aftermath of World War II by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata.

World War II has ended, but while America has won the war, twelve-year-old Hanako feels lost. To her, the world, and her world, seems irrevocably broken.

America, the only home she’s ever known, imprisoned then rejected her and her family—and thousands of other innocent Americans—because of their Japanese heritage, because Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Japan, the country they’ve been forced to move to, the country they hope will be the family’s saving grace, where they were supposed to start new and better lives, is in shambles because America dropped bombs of their own—one on Hiroshima unlike any other in history. And Hanako’s grandparents live in a small village just outside the ravaged city.

The country is starving, the black markets run rampant, and countless orphans beg for food on the streets, but how can Hanako help them when there is not even enough food for her own brother?

Hanako feels she could crack under the pressure, but just because something is broken doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed. Cracks can make room for gold, her grandfather explains when he tells her about the tradition of kintsukuroi—fixing broken objects with gold lacquer, making them stronger and more beautiful than ever. As she struggles to adjust to find her place in a new world, Hanako will find that the gold can come in many forms, and family may be hers.


I've read other books by Kadohata that I've enjoyed and am always excited to see something new from her.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Islanders

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be released book I can't wait to read.

This week's pick:  The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore
Due out: June 11, 2019

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

J. Courtney Sullivan’s Maine meets the works of Elin Hilderbrand in this delicious summer read involving three strangers, one island, and a season packed with unexpected romance, well-meaning lies, and damaging secrets.

Anthony Puckett was a rising literary star. The son of an uber-famous thriller writer, Anthony’s debut novel spent two years on the bestseller list and won the adoration of critics. But something went very wrong with his second work. Now Anthony’s borrowing an old college’s friend’s crumbling beach house on Block Island in the hopes that solitude will help him get back to the person he used to be.

Joy Sousa owns and runs Block Island’s beloved whoopie pie café. She came to this quiet space eleven years ago, newly divorced and with a young daughter, and built a life for them here. To her customers and friends, Joy is a model of independence, hard-working and happy. And mostly she is. But this summer she’s thrown off balance. A food truck from a famous New York City brand is roving around the island, selling goodies—and threatening her business.

Lu Trusdale is spending the summer on her in-laws’ dime, living on Block Island with her two young sons while her surgeon husband commutes to the mainland hospital. When Lu’s second son was born, she and her husband made a deal: he’d work and she’d quit her corporate law job to stay home with the boys. But a few years ago, Lu quietly began working on a private project that has becoming increasingly demanding on her time. Torn between her work and home, she’s beginning to question that deal she made.

Over the twelve short weeks of summer, these three strangers will meet and grow close, will share secrets and bury lies. And as the promise of June turns into the chilly nights of August, the truth will come out, forcing each of them to decide what they value most, and what they are willing to give up to keep it.

Best Non-Fiction of March

Maybe I felt like a good cry was what I needed in March.  All three of these books are amazing, but two of them were extremely devastating.  And yet, I loved reading every single word of them and will keep them on my shelf for a future re-read.  

I also could easily write a full, detailed review of all three of these books.  Instead, I'm going to try my best to give you a short, concise review that will make you want to go out and grab one of these right away.

The Unwinding of the Miracle by Julie Yip-Williams was one of the books that could have left me in tears the entire time I was reading. And yet, how could it? Despite the fact that Yip-Williams was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in her late 30s, she recognizes that her life has truly been a miracle.  Born blind, her parents are advised by her grandmother to let her die, that her life will never amount to much.  Instead, Julie is able to eventually move to the US, receive a surgery that will not correct her eyesight, but will restore some of it, graduate from Harvard, get married and have children.  She is grateful for every moment she has been given -fighting for her life, accepting the future that awaits her, and providing much wisdom in the writing of her memoir.  Although sad, I found this book to be so inspirational.

Good Talk by Mira Jacob-  I continue to believe that graphic novels aren't really my thing, except that I've read quite a few of them now, and generally enjoy them. So maybe they are my thing. This is a graphic memoir and I absolutely loved it.  Jacob begins her memoir with a conversation she has with her seven year old about race.  Jacob is Indian, her husband Jewish, and their conversations about politics and race are timely and should get readers thinking.  I did think that Jacob was promoting her own beliefs and opinions which made me a little less enchanted with Good Talk, but there is quite a lot to love about this memoir, that I can overlook that.

Once More We Saw Stars by Jayson Greene- Greene is a writer by trade, and this is a well crafted memoir, despite the fact that it will reduce you to tears.  Greene's daughter, Greta, was sitting outside on a bench in New York City with her grandmother when a brick fell off a nearby building, striking Greta in the head, killing her.  Greene shares the trauma and despair of learning of their daughter's accident, but he also shares their grief and the healing process he and his wife experience after this devastating tragedy. This is not a story you will forget, and you will find great wisdom and comfort in reading about the Greene's ability to move forward after Greta's death.

These three are my favorite non-fiction reads of March, and I can't imagine forgetting any of these stories.