You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh

 

This week, I read You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh. This realistic fiction story collection is about twelve young Asian Americans who all happen to be in a crowded Chicago airport on the same date when flights are delayed and cancelled due to a thunderstorm. The series of events kicks off when Paul's grandma brings her late husband's ashes in a coffee canister through the TSA checkpoint without declaring what she's carrying to an airport official. Paul's sister, Jessie, wanders off by herself in the midst of the chaos and rumors begins to spread throughout the airport, impacting the young Asian Americans and their families. As their paths cross in the airport, they meet fellow travelers that are helpful or hostile and grow from their experiences, discovering courage and belonging.

This book was such a fun read because it reminded me of Grounded by Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and S.K. Ali, a book I read two years ago. Airports are definitely a great setting for a story because a lot of crazy events can happen. While Grounded is about Muslim kids, You Are Here focuses on kids whose family roots are in East and Southeast Asia. Unlike most of the story collections I've read, all of the stories in You Are Here are interconnected. It's similar to a traditional novel, but a different author wrote each of the chapters. You definitely can't skip any because the main character from one story may make a cameo appearance in one or more of the other stories. I also liked how several of characters found the courage to stand up to racism even though they're just kids. Some of the characters needed courage to speak up to family and friends, as well. For example, Mindy wasn't ready to go to Korea with her dads and Natalie got into a serious argument with her friend, Beth. While I enjoyed all the stories, the one with the most unique format was Ari's, narrated completely in lists. Out of the boys, I loved Paul's relationship with his grandma and Jae made the right decision to leave the employee break room to look for Jessie and return her to her family, even though he didn't have permission. Jae's interactions with Jessie were very sweet and I was relieved when he wasn't in too much trouble after the ordeal. The stories demonstrate how Asian Americans have variety of interests, too. While Lee plays guitar, AJ plays basketball, as just two examples. The last story, which is about Soojin, ties everything together nicely and is among the most emotional in the collection. I felt so bad that Soojin and her mom were moving to Korea even though Soojin really didn't want to leave her dad and New York. For most of the story, I wasn't sure that things would work out in her favor, but the climax ended up being fantastic. Finally, I would like to note that You Are Here factors in the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Asian Americans, which I think was very important to show because it's been a huge part of their experiences in recent years. At the end of the book, there is a note from the editor that explains the inspiration behind this story collection. Overall, You Are Here is a wonderful choice for anyone and can be an excellent conversation starter between children and adults.

The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle by Taryn Souders

 

Last weekend, I read The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle by Taryn Souders. This mystery is about Grady Judd, a boy who lives in the small town of Gifton, Georgia, and inherits a sampler from the town eccentric, Eudora "Kooky" Klinch, after she passes away and includes him in her will. The first night that Grady and his dad are in possession of the sampler, someone tries to break into their home. Grady's dad has been struggling to make ends meet ever since Grady's mama died, so he asks Grady the next day to take the sampler to the Hairless Monkey to pawn it, but Grady is reluctant because the note left with it explained that it's a treasure map and he wants to save his family from having to move. Grady hides the sampler in his ammo box, puts his mama's Civil War replica in the original frame, and brings it to the Hairless Monkey instead. With help from his friends, Thad and Clemmie, and the town dog, Ophelia, he works on solving the riddles from the sampler to find the treasure. When the Hairless Monkey is burglarized overnight and its co-owner, Arliss McGinter, ends up dead after a confrontation with the intruder, Grady realizes that his life might be at stake as he continues his search for the treasure.

Reading this book was so exciting for me because it combined a treasure hunt with a murder mystery. It was suspenseful and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the reveal of who was responsible for Arliss's murder because they wanted the treasure map so badly. There were several suspicious characters, but they felt like red herrings and I was genuinely surprised by who actually did it. I was also rooting hard for Grady to find the treasure because I didn't want him to have to move away from his friends. The book didn't end exactly how I expected, but it was still super satisfying. All of the characters had unique personalities and I loved the small town setting because everyone knows everyone. It seemed like it would be hard to keep a secret like murder for very long. Additionally, I liked how the story incorporated the real-life history of the War of Jenkins's Ear, which was a lesser known conflict between the British and the Spanish that happened before the American Revolution. I had never heard of it before, so I was fascinated reading the section about it after the last chapter. The back matter includes a list for further reading, as well. I recommend The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle to anyone who enjoys a mystery with both treasure and murder.

It Found Us by Lindsay Currie

 

Yesterday, I finished reading It Found Us by Lindsay Currie. This horror novel is about Hazel Woods, a 12-year-old girl who wants to launch a podcast called What Hazel Knows and enjoys solving mysteries even if some consider it snooping. After she overhears her brother, Den, on the phone talking to his best friend, Everett, about going to the graveyard for a game of hide-and-seek, she secretly follows him that evening because she wants to figure out if it's really haunted. When the game ends and Hazel and Den see no sign of Everett, they realize that Everett has vanished. Although there is a search party, which includes Hazel and Den's parents, looking for Everett, they decide to do their own investigation, along with Hazel's best friend, Maggie, to find him. As the ghost of a child haunts them and terrifying clues, like the smell of smoke, footprints, and smiley faces, are revealed to them, they must solve the mystery relating to the history of the cemetery to save Everett before it's too late.

I was so excited to read this novel for a long time because I had previously read Scritch Scratch by the same author and it exceeded all my expectations. It Found Us was perfectly creepy and I really enjoyed the mystery of why Woodlawn Cemetery is haunted. I don't want to say too much, but it incorporated the real life tragedy of a train wreck and I found it utterly fascinating. I also really liked the characters. Even though Hazel and Den sometimes have trouble getting along as siblings, it was truly satisfying how solving the mystery of Everett's disappearance brought them together. Maggie was really awesome, as well. She's a good listener and her knowledge of everything going on in their town came in handy. I'm glad the siblings had her help. There were also two standout adults, Mrs. Forster, a woman who used to work in the front office of the cemetery, and Mr. Jeffries, a groundskeeper. Hazel was able to interview them to gather more clues. The suspense built over the course of the story and things became quite terrifying before the climax, but I loved the ending because it shows how important forgiving yourself is when feeling guilt. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the back of the book because she shares a little bit about how the "lost" history of the Hagenbeck-Wallace train wreck inspired the story. Additionally, I read an advance reader's copy. Anyone who enjoys a mix of horror and mystery should read It Found Us.

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.