Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed. This paranormal thriller is about Safiya Mirza, a 17-year-old high school senior who dreams of becoming a journalist and making the world a better place. She is the editor of the Spectator, the newspaper at her private high school, DuSable Prep, in Chicago and has a crush on Richard Reynolds, the captain of the swim and lacrosse teams. After the website for the Spectator is hacked, someone spray-paints a swastika on the facade of her school, and Jawad Ali, a 14-year-old boy who built a cosplay jetpack that a teacher mistook for a bomb, goes missing, Safiya is determined to figure out what is going on at school and in her community and what happened to Jawad. With the help of her friends who also work on the Spectator, she follows the clues left by Ghost Skin, who wrote the racist manifesto posted to the Spectator website. She is immediately suspicious of Nate Chase, a boy in her current events class who comments about how they lack freedom of speech at school and quotes Nietzsche, and his friend, Joel, but as she gets deeper into the mystery, she begins to suspect someone closer to her. When she follows the guidance of Jawad's ghost and finds his body in a culvert in Jackson Park, she seeks to expose his murderers and remember his life.

This novel was absolutely riveting. I was intrigued at the very start when it was immediately revealed that Safiya found Jawad's body and had to know everything that happened leading up to that point. I also really enjoyed the innovative format of the novel. In addition to traditional chapters from Safiya's and Jawad's perspectives, there were news articles, interview transcripts, phone call transcripts, diary entries, and more. I especially liked the drawing of Jawad's cosplay jetpack that was shared during his first chapter because it proved that it didn't look anything like a bomb. I began suspecting the identity of the second murderer less than halfway through the book, so I can't say I was surprised when Safiya figured it out, but I was still on the edge of my seat because I was afraid she would get hurt during her investigation. I don't blame her for not trusting the police, though. The story really emphasizes the harms of bigotry (especially Islamophobia and white supremacy) and alternative facts, the privilege of white men and boys, and how they can get away with hate crimes and murder if not for the persistence of those who are dedicated to finding and sharing the truth. Not to mention, tt's chilling how evil can hide in plain sight. I certainly admired Safiya's courage, even while Jawad's story left me heartbroken. Included at the end of the book are a historical note explaining the true crime on which Jawad's murder is based and an author's note sharing her inspiration for writing Hollow Fires. Although the story is quite dark and does have swearing, it's not particularly graphic, so I think it can be enjoyed by most teens who have an interest in social justice and/or crime.

Those Who Saw the Sun: African American Oral Histories from the Jim Crow South by Jaha Nailah Avery

 

Earlier today, I finished reading Those Who Saw the Sun: African American Oral Histories from the Jim Crow South by Jaha Nailah Avery. This nonfiction book is a collection of ten oral histories from Black people who grew up in the South during Jim Crow. The author, Jaha Nailah Avery, has family roots in North Carolina dating back 300 years and compiled these interviews as a personal passion project as she's traveled across the South to meet with elders and listen to their stories. Through their oral histories, the interviewees recall their childhoods, educational experiences, and careers, reflect back on how racism and activism affected their lives, share their thoughts on segregation and integration, and answer whether or not they believe Dr. Martin Luther King's dream is possible in America.

Those Who Saw the Sun was excellent. Although I've read a few books about the Civil Rights Movement over the years, this book was the first time I read interviews with Black elders who experienced the hardships of the Jim Crow era. I really enjoyed all ten oral histories and I liked being able to compare and contrast the experiences and opinions of the interviewees. Although they do have similarities, they also have a lot of differences. I particularly found it surprising to learn that there were actually pros to segregation and integration made some things worse. That had never crossed my mind before, but it makes sense that they often felt more supported in their communities. They all faced so many obstacles and I can imagine it was sometimes hard to find joy. It was also interesting how most of them didn't know anyone personally who was lynched. While lynchings are awful, I hadn't expected that. I think it demonstrates how vast the Black community is, but they did suffer in other ways. Another intriguing part of the oral histories was learning if they believed that Dr. King's dream is possible in the U.S. Although some of them were optimistic, quite a few towards the end were pessimistic. In my opinion, that just goes to show that although strides have been made forward, racism is still an issue in this country and it would take an effort to change hearts, not just the law. Although there weren't that many, I loved that this book included photographs. At the end, there is an appendix that briefly describes important people, places, events, groups, organizations, magazines, newspapers, laws, and more. The copy I read is an uncorrected proof. Those Who Saw the Sun shows the importance of recording the memories of Black people, and it's an exceptional choice for anyone who has an interest in Black and civil rights history.

Amira & Hamza Duology

 

Over the past few weeks, I read the Amira & Hamza duology by Samira Ahmed. This fantasy series is about the summer adventures of Amira Majid, a 12-year-old girl, and her younger brother, Hamza. In the first book, The War to Save the Worlds, Amira and Hamza are at the Medinah Temple in Chicago with their parents to observe a rare super blue blood moon eclipse when they drop al-Biruni's Box of the Moon while fighting over it. Suddenly, the box is activated and everyone except the siblings are under a sleep spell. Making things worse, a chunk of the moon has broken off and is heading toward Earth. At first, Amira and Hamza have no idea what is really going on, but then they are whisked off to a mystical land called Qaf by two jinn, who reveal that the siblings are the Chosen Ones and play a role in an ancient prophecy. On a journey in which they confront terrifying jinn, devs, and ghuls, they have to find and defeat Ifrit, a terrible and cruel dev, in order to prevent the moon from breaking completely apart and releasing what's trapped within.

In the second and final book, The Quest for the Ring of Power, it is now the last weekend before school starts back up. Since their journey to Qaf, the summer has been peaceful and ordinary. Hamza desperately wants to go on one last adventure, though, to check out Palmer Castle in Jackson Park and hopefully battle a ghost. When Amira rejects his invite and Hamza decides to go alone, Ifrit's father, Ahriman, kidnaps him to find the three pieces of Suleiman's oculus that will reveal the location of the Ring of Power after the parts are brought together and placed in the Star Axis. With the help of Aasman Peri, a friend from Qaf, Amira goes on a country-hopping adventure to save her brother and obtain the Ring of Power before Ahriman does.

I absolutely adored Amira & Hamza from the very beginning. I totally related to Amira's interest in astronomy and science and Hamza's interest in superheroes and science fiction. The pop culture references were so much fun and I thought Hamza was hilarious. Like Amira, I also have a younger brother, so I know how they can sometimes be annoying, though. While reading, it was fascinating learning about fantastical creatures from Persian mythology and real life historical figures who lived in the Middle East. The world-building was amazing! Most of all, I enjoyed the adventure and how Amira and Hamza had to get past their differences and work together as a team to defeat their foes. There were so many heartwarming and emotional scenes in addition to action sequences and plot twists and it was easy to root for the siblings, especially when Ifrit and Ahriman were so dastardly. Some of the creatures were quite scary, too, although my favorite, a simurgh, really saved the day in the first book. I also really liked the three-eyed winged horse that Hamza named Zendaya after the actress. There was one moment in the first book that was really devastating, but a reveal in the second book did help me accept the loss. The last thing I'd like to mention is how thrilled I was when Amira and Hamza had to go to the Louvre in Paris for the third part of the oculus because I had been there just two years ago. I don't blame Amira for being so excited to see the Winged Victory because I was, too. Both books include an author's note and a further reading list at the end. Overall, the Amira & Hamza duology is an excellent fantasy series, and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who enjoys fantasy based on mythology.

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan

 

Two days ago, I finished reading Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan. This realistic fiction novel is about Summer and her family who spend summer vacations on the Cree reservation in Canada where her mom's family lives. Before Summer even arrives at the reservation, she begins having vivid dreams about a girl who is running away from the real-life residential school that is near the reservation. Soon, she learns that unmarked graves were discovered at the residential school, and she and her cousin Autumn decide to investigate what happened in their community's painful past and how it relates to Summer's dreams. More elders are starting to share their experiences, and Autumn encourages Summer to ask Mosom, her grandfather, about his early life. When the community plans a march and rally to raise awareness of the discovery at the reservation, Summer is eager to participate and share her hopes for the future, especially after one of the elders, Kokom Rose, reveals the source of her dreams.

Although this novel is very short, it was quite profound and I was surprised by how intriguing it was because it had a bit of mystery with the identify of Buffalo Dreamer, the girl in Summer's dreams. Most of all, I really enjoyed following Summer during her summer vacation and learning about her Cree heritage. I especially found it relatable when Summer went picking for Saskatoon berries with Kokom, her grandmother, because I picked raspberries, gooseberries, and currants at my grandma's house during the summers when I was a kid. I also adored Summer's relationship with Autumn because they are cousins who seem more like best friends. This novel is painful at times, though, and I did get a tiny bit teary-eyed learning about what happened to Native children at residential schools and how much trauma Indigenous peoples still feel to this day. I wish I had learned more about recent Native American history when I was in school. The hardships still continue to this day and it breaks my heart knowing that. The climax of this book was wonderful and it was a great idea holding a march and rally to raise awareness of the children who died at the local residential school. At the end of the book, there is glossary and an author's note, although it would have been helpful if the glossary also included pronunciation. Buffalo Dreamer is a powerful story, and anyone who enjoys family stories and learning about Native American history should read it.

The Misfits Series by Lisa Yee & Dan Santat

 

Over the past month, I read The Misfits series by Lisa Yee & Dan Santat. This adventure series is about Olive Cobin Zang, a twelve-year-old girl who often experiences weird things even though she typically isn't noticed much. In the first book, A Royal Conundrum, Olive is coping with the loss of her beloved grandmother, Mimi, and wishes her parents were around more because they're always going on business trips. When her mom, Dr. Cobin Zang, drops her off at RASCH, a strange boarding school that used to be a prison and now claims to be a "reforming arts school", Olive is more than a little apprehensive. The school isn't what it seems, though, and she is selected to fight crime along with four other kids, Phil, Iggy, James, and Theo, who don't quite fit it. They decide to call themselves the Misfits, and after the Royal Rumpus necklace is stolen from Dame Gloria Vanderwisp, a woman who helps fund RASCH, at the school's gala, the Misfits have to find the thief to save the only place where they've ever really belonged from being closed. In the second book, A Copycat Conundrum, Olive's friend, Zeke, starts receives threatening notes and San Francisco is experiencing localized earthquakes while priceless art disappears. The Misfits have to figure out if there's a connection between who is targeting Zeke and who is behind the art heists in the city and how to stop them. In the third book, A Sea Monster Conundrum, RASCH students claim they see a ghost around an abandoned lighthouse. While taking a group of tourists to explore the Donut Trespass zone of the island, they learn more about what could be causing the appearance of a ghost. After multiple news reports about sightings of a sea monster, nicknamed Frannie, in the San Francisco Bay, they investigate to determine if Frannie is real or an elaborate hoax. When Olive and Iggy make a shocking discovery at Marine World, a theme park owned by the self-centered billionaire Oscar "Odious" Odion, it is up to the Misfits to come up with a scheme for a rescue mission.

I had so much fun reading this book series because the action and adventure of the Misfits' NOCK missions was absolutely exhilarating. Although Olive and the other Misfits have such different personalities and would sometimes argue, they always came together to save the day. I also really enjoyed the other characters' quirkiness, allies and villains alike, especially the Misfits' team leaders, Modest Cusak and Monica LaMonica, who are husband and wife. What surprised me the most by A Sea Monster Conundrum was how much I grew to care about Bee, a super-small, super-stealth drone that Phil invented to look like a bee. In general, I thought Phil's gadgets were the coolest and they always came in handy when the Misfits were in a tight spot. Out of the three books, A Sea Monster Conundrum felt the most emotional because the Misfits weren't just dealing with robberies and it revealed how big of a heart Iggy has. She likes to seem tough, but the third mission really brought out the best in her. Additionally, the plot twists kept me guessing when it came to the mystery elements of this series. Finally, I can't forget to mention how awesome I thought it was that Mimi taught Olive the tricks of trapeze, tightrope, and other acrobatics. Olive's athleticism was so crucial to the success of their missions, especially during the most critical of moments. Weirdly enough, the epilogue of the third book had a huge cliffhanger, but I did some research and there are no current plans to extend this trilogy into a longer series. Despite that, The Misfits is a terrific choice for anyone who likes adventure, mystery, and unique characters.

How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi

 

Over spring break, I read How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi. This realistic fiction novel is about 18-year-old Amir Azadi who is faced with the reality of coming out to his Iranian American family. During his senior year of high school after moving to a new school, he secretly dates another boy, Jackson Preacher, for the first time, but when two classmates, Ben and Jake, plan to blackmail him by showing a picture of him kissing Jackson to his parents on graduation day, Amir decides to run away to Rome. In Rome, he meets a community of young queer men and begins to feel more comfortable with his identity. He even considers what it would be like to stay long-term. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Soraya, investigates to find out why Amir ran away and where he is. After she spills the news to their parents, everything comes crashing down on Amir and he and his family are stuck recounting their story to U.S. Customs officers.

When I started reading this book, I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up enjoying it even though there were times when I wanted to yell at Amir to stop making bad choices. I actually really felt for Amir because it seems really hard to feel like you have to keep a big secret about yourself from parents that have demonstrated that they have conservative views due to their culture and upbringing. I absolutely loved that he ran away to Rome, though, because I myself visited Italy less than two years ago. As I was reading, I definitely felt like I was back there. I also thought it was interesting how the story reveals that the lives of Amir's new friends aren't as perfect as he originally thought. He learns to see them as people who have struggles, too. Additionally, I really adored Soraya because she was sassy and immediately accepting of Amir after she learned about his sexuality. She's an amazing younger sister and I could tell how much she and Amir care about each other even when they were reluctant to admit it. While Amir's dad was frustrating at times, I did understand the perspectives of him and Amir's mom. I think it can be hard for parents to learn that their children have hopes and dreams that differ from their expectations. Amir's relationship with his mom seem to be in a good place at the end of the story, but his dad definitely still has room to grow. I don't want to say too much, but the very last chapter was bittersweet, as well. It made me wish Amir was still in Rome. Due to swearing and some suggestive content, I recommend How It All Blew Up to mature readers who enjoy friendship and family stories that have a dash of romance.

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

 

Last week, I read All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson. This realistic fiction novel that combines verse and prose is about Sage, a girl whose best friend, Angel, was hit by a drunk driver on the way to her house for her thirteenth birthday. To cope with her grief, guilt, loneliness, and anxiety, Sage has been going to a counseling group with four other girls, Ebony, Zay, Ana, and DD, at school. Of the other girls, Ebony understands Sage best and DD also spends time outside of grief group with them, but it's still not the same as having Angel around. Although Sage initially believes her pain is different from Zay's and Ana's because Angel died suddenly, she grows to realize that just because the circumstances of their losses are different doesn't mean it hurts less for them. Meanwhile, she begins to fall for a boy, Kofi, who plays basketball at Morningside Park. As time goes on, Sage learns that she can feel many emotions at the same time.

Although this novel is poignant, I enjoyed reading it from the very first lines. I could relate to Sage because, like her, I first experienced loss at a relatively young age. I felt awful that she blamed herself for Angel's death. Although I've never had counseling for grief myself, I liked how the author had Sage join a grief group with other girls who had lost someone. Besides Aunt Ini, it seems like Sage would have been quite alone otherwise. I liked how the counselor, Ms. Carver, could help Sage process her feelings even when Sage was angry. It definitely seemed important for Sage to have another supportive adult in her life, especially given the twist at the very end of the story. Additionally, it made me happy that Sage was able to genuinely become friends with Ebony, DD, Zay, and Ana, despite her initial reservations. Her connection and romance with Kofi was sweet, too. In conclusion, anyone should read All the Blues in the Sky, especially those who have experienced loss, whether it was a friend, a family member, or a beloved pet.