The Door of No Return and Black Star by Kwame Alexander

 

Over the past week I read The Door of No Return and Black Star, the first two books of a trilogy by Kwame Alexander. These historical fiction novels in verse are about Kofi Offin, a boy who came from Ghana to the United States in 1860, and his twelve-year-old granddaughter, Charley Cuffey. The story begins when Kofi is eleven years old in his village in Upper Kwanta. He enjoys spending time with his family, especially playing oware with his grandfather Nana Mosi, and swimming in the Offin River. He is warned, though, to never go to the river at night. Before the wrestling contests of Bayere, the annual Kings Festival, Kofi agrees to race his cousin, who is also named Kofi, in seven days time in order to prove himself. After disaster strikes when Kofi's older brother, Kwasi, wrestles Yaw Boateng, the prince of Lower Kwanta, Kofi's family fears of retribution and Kwasi retreats into himself. The day before Kofi's big race, Kwasi is more like himself and they both go to the river so that Kofi can train. When night falls and Kofi can't find Kwasi, Kofi is captured and ends up in fight for his life that takes him on a dangerous journey. In Black Star, Charley loves playing baseball and wants to play professionally as a pitcher when she grows up. She also enjoys her grandfather Nana Kofi's stories even though she doesn't always understand his cryptic advice when she asks questions. After she challenges Cecil the Third, a neighborhood bully, to a baseball game that will take place after the church picnic, she must gather enough players to form a team, in addition to her friends, Cool Willie Green and Socks. Although she is determined that her ragtag team will win, when the picnic spreads over to the baseball field in Mosquito Park, she makes the fateful decision to take the game to the new baseball field in Great Bridge's Hickory Park.

The first two books of this series were excellent. Not only was I able to read them quickly, but they were joyful, funny, adventurous, maddening, tragic, and devastating. I really became attached to Kofi and his granddaughter Charley, who were just trying to seek out happiness when their lives were uprooted. Kofi's story specifically reminded me a little bit of a movie that I saw recently called The Woman King, when I learned more about slave trade and how Africans along the western coast responded. I was so disappointed and frustrated when Kofi's story left on a cliffhanger, but I came to enjoy Charley's story as well, even when her story also left me hanging. It makes me wonder who in their family line will be featured in the final book and if they will finally be able to go back to Ghana, even just to visit. Additionally, I enjoyed how much of the story revolves around Ghanaian culture, which I recently learned more about when I read Kwame Crashes the Underworld a few weeks ago. I liked how each chapter began with an Adinkra symbol that related to the themes of the two books. I thought it was cool how Kofi and Charley each had their own sport, swimming and baseball respectively, but it broke my heart how those things set them on life-changing paths. Both books made me cry at their ends at the injustice of it all. While The Door of No Return takes place at the beginning of the Civil War and Black Star takes place during the segregation era as the Great Migration begins, the themes of struggle and determination are universal. This series is an incredible choice for anyone, from middle school kids to adults, especially those who like family sagas.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins and The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

 

At the beginning of spring break, I finished reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, the fifth book taking place in the world of The Hunger Games. Featuring Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark's mentor for the 74th and 75th Hunger Games, this dystopian novel is about how he won the 50th Hunger Games. In honor of the second Quarter Quell, forty-eight tributes, four from each district, are taken from their homes to participate, instead of the usual twenty-four. When he tries to protect his love, Lenore Dove Baird, as the fourth tribute, Woodbine Chance, decides to run and is shot, Haymitch is chosen to replace him during District 12's reaping. Although he knows that it's unlikely that he will win and return home to his mom, his brother Sid, and Lenore Dove, he begins to come up with a plan with the three other District 12 tributes, Louella McCoy, Maysilee Donner, and Wyatt Callow, to create an alliance with tributes from the other districts during training. He also meets Beetee, a District 3 mentor whose son Ampert was reaped, and they discuss a secret plan to sabotage the arena involving both Haymitch and Ampert. Having caught the attention of President Snow, Haymitch realizes that he has been set up to fail, but despite the odds, he still wants to fight, not only for survival in the arena but to inspire rebellion.

I had been excited to read this book ever since it was announced last year, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more. I loved getting to know more about Haymitch and why he became the way he was when Katniss and Peeta met him in The Hunger Games. I thought the concept of the arena was fantastic and it definitely reminded me how beauty can hide deadly things. President Snow was so sinister and I knew that he would punish Haymitch severely, having read the original trilogy. On the other hand, I really liked Louella, Maysilee, Wyatt, and Ampert and how Haymitch connected with the four of them. I was also so excited that Beetee, Wiress, and Mags made appearances in this story as mentors because I knew them from the rest of the series. As expected, the violence in the arena was horrifying and I was devastated by the deaths of almost all the characters I had come to care about. The end of the story was particularly heartbreaking. It's not a spoiler that Haymitch was the victor of the second Quarter Quell, but I sobbed while learning how exactly Haymitch lost everything. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. The other things I found interesting about this book is the theme of implicit submission (being resigned to the rule of a few without giving it a second thought) and the references to "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. Additionally, in the Barnes & Noble version of the book, there is an interview with the author, Suzanne Collins, at the end. Overall, Sunrise on the Reaping is an excellent addition to the series and I recommend it to anyone who has read The Hunger Games trilogy and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Last week, I read The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. This science fiction novel is about Michael Rosario, a twelve-year-old boy who has a crush on his sixteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby, and is stockpiling supplies to prepare himself and his mom for Y2K in August 1999. When Michael and Gibby meet Ridge Sabio, a teenage time traveler from 2199 who's been hanging around their apartment complex, they decide to befriend him and help him return to his time. After Ridge mentions he has a book outlining the events of the next twenty years, Michael is determined to do whatever it takes to get the sumbook so that he can prepare for the future. Meanwhile, over the next week, Ridge immerses himself in 1999, including a trip to the mall with Michael and Gibby, but when he begins to feel sick, it becomes critical that his time traveling device is fixed so that he can go home to 2199 before it's too late.

This novel was positively lovely. From the very beginning, I could empathize with Michael's worry that he and his mother wouldn't be ready for Y2K because I remember living through that time myself and being uncertain that things would be okay when the clocks switched from 1999 to 2000. Of course, nothing bad ended up happening, but it was something that a lot of people were talking about at the time. I also thought that Michael's crush on Gibby was endearing because I know what it's like to have a crush on someone older than you. It was cool how Gibby was willing to help Michael out with Ridge and the friendship between the three of them really became something special. It was really interesting to learn about the technology that Ridge used to time travel and I loved how bold he was, even if it was borderline recklessness. I felt bad that he couldn't get home when he needed to and it was awful as he got sicker and sicker because I didn't know what would happen if they had to take him to a hospital. I hoped that somehow his time traveling device would be repaired in time. I can't forget about Mr. Mosley, the maintenance man who was a like a father figure to Michael, either. Without saying too much, I think the development of their relationship was the most heartbreaking part of the story. Another thing I really liked was the excerpts of informational texts from the future and audio transcripts of conversations that Ridge's family was having in 2199 to show what was happening there. Ultimately, the best part of The First State of Being is its message to live in the present moment because it's something anyone can take to heart. Anyone who enjoys stories of time travel, friendship, and/or found family should read The First State of Being.

One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome

 

Yesterday, I finished reading One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome. This historical fiction novel in verse is about three women, Lettie Grier, her mother Sylvia, and young teacher Philomena Pratt, who travel on a dangerous wagon journey westward in 1879. Their journey begins in April when Lettie's father, Thomas, decides that they're going to leave their home in Natchez, Mississippi, for an opportunity to own their own plot of land in Nebraska, even though they're free from slavery. Despite Sylvia's doubts, by May, the family of five is packing up their things and joining a company of other Black families who are also heading to Nebraska. When they reach Independence, Missouri, they pick up Philomena who will be starting a new teaching position in North Platte, Nebraska. Over the next several months, they face many hardships, including few supplies and little money due to poverty, treacherous river crossings, changing weather, and bandits.

I was so excited to read this book because I loved the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a kid, and it did not disappoint. Throughout the story, I enjoyed the different perspectives of all three narrators, Lettie, Sylvia, and Philomena. I especially loved Lettie's relationships with her two younger brothers, Elijah and Silas, and how she bonded with Philomena and Sutter, the dog of Mr. Portee, one of the men with whom they were traveling. What I thought was interesting as I was reading is how frustrating traveling with men could be for women. Some of them, even Thomas, had the tendency to be controlling and think that they always knows what's best or right. This sexism is why I really appreciated how the story demonstrated the strength of Black women. Lettie, Sylvia, and Philomena were just as capable as the men and could make decisions without their influence, and I admire them so much for their resilience. Additionally, the story has moments of triumph and tragedy. I definitely felt devastated when the families experienced loss on their journey and it had me wondering if they would make it at times, so I felt a deep sigh of relief when the worst was over. I think the ending is perfect, though. Finally, I have to mention just how enlightening this book is. As the author's note at the end explains, this story is based on the history of the Black homesteader movement, something I previously didn't know anything about, and there's a list of books the author used in the acknowledgements. One Big Open Sky is a beautiful story, and it's a wonderful choice for girls interested in historical fiction and survival stories.

Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer

 

On Sunday, I finished reading Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer. This fantasy novel is about Kwame Powell, a twelve-year-old boy who is going to Ghana for a celebration of his grandmother's life after she recently passed away. Before leaving, he is at a sleepover with his best friend, Autumn Choi, when an aboatia that he names Woo steals his dashiki, a late birthday gift from his grandmother. Kwame and Autumn then chase Woo to Cape Fear Pier where they jump from a dock into a magical whirlpool leading them to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld, to get Kwame's dashiki back. Once there, they meet Kwame's grandmother who somehow looks like a kid again. With her help, they face challenges, including angry nature gods, in the different levels of Asamando in order to stop the underworld from destroying Earth.

Oh my goodness, this book was an amazing adventure. I absolutely loved the world-building and rooting for Kwame, Autumn, Woo, and Ama, Kwame's grandmother, against their foes. From the beginning Kwame was a character I could relate to. When I wasn't much younger than him, I lost my grandfather, and it can be definitely be hard facing your grief and saying goodbye, which was one of the main themes in this story. I also enjoyed the fight scenes and learning more about Ghanaian culture. The akrefena (an Akan sword) that Kwame used was so cool because it could take his commands and get the job done. Not to mention, I really liked how Ama, as a Queen Mother, could use the power of Asase, an Akan goddess, by using a stylus to draw Adinkra symbols for spells, like a protective shield. Although this book is action-packed and exhilarating, it's also very emotional. Because only living souls can leave Asamando, it was devastating knowing that Kwame would eventually have to leave Ama behind. The end was bittersweet, but I did enjoy the final face-off with Nansi, which I was highly anticipating throughout the story. Additionally, I adored Autumn because she showed that even if you have a disability like being hard of hearing, you are still capable. I thought it was wonderful that she and Kwame could so easily switch between American Sign Language and speaking. I can't say enough nice things about Kwame Crashes the Underworld and anyone who loves fantasy and adventure should read it.

The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy

 

Last night, I finished reading The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy. This realistic fiction novel is about Fern Silvana, a twelve-year-old girl who has lived with her mom at the Ranch, an off-the-grid sustainable futurist community in upstate New York, since she was six. After their leader, Dr. Ben, convinces Fern that she is ready for her rite of passage that will take place on the coming spring equinox despite the fact that she won't be fifteen, her mom sneaks them away in the middle of the night, saying that Dr. Ben is dangerous. Even though Fern wants nothing more than to return to the Ranch, they go all the way to Driftaway Beach in California. She hates it at first and is determined to send a letter to Dr. Ben, but as she adjusts to her new life and makes new friends, she begins to realise that some of the things she learned from Dr. Ben just aren't true and wonders if she should really trust him.

I absolutely adored reading this novel because it was so hard to put down. I knew it would be quite suspenseful because it was obvious to me that the Ranch was a cult and Fern's mom wanted to get them as far away from it as possible, but I wasn't prepared for how hard it would be for Fern to start thinking for herself. As I got deeper into the story, though, I came to understand that the Ranch was all Fern knew for the past six years of her life. She was so young when she and her mom started living at the Ranch that it was becoming difficult for her to remember life before. I definitely felt bad for her because I wanted her to be happy and it was a struggle for her to restructure her thinking. On the other hand, I really enjoyed how she made new friends in Driftaway Beach. I like how Babs was like a second mom to her and she befriended Eddie as they worked on a science project together. I also loved that Fern wanted to do things that were good for the environment and developed a joy for reading. I thought it was cool when Alex Reyes, a young man who worked at the front desk of the motel she and her mom were living at, recommended a fantasy novel to her and then gave her a draft of the novel he was writing. As I got closer and closer to the end, I was scared of what would happen if Dr. Ben found Fern and her mom, but I was hopeful that Fern would make the right choices and I'm happy to say that the conclusion of the story ended up being totally satisfying. The Wrong Way Home is an excellent choice for anyone, but I particularly recommend it to those who wonder what living in and escaping from a cult is like for a kid.

The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming

 

Over the weekend, I finished reading The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming. This narrative nonfiction book is about ten teenage girls from all over the British Isles who worked at Station X, the codename for Bletchley Park, during World War II. Although they didn't know who recommended them or why they were chosen, these girls could often do advanced math or speak a second language. Their tasks included running the bombe machines, making sense of wireless soundwaves, and sorting the decoded messages. While keeping this vital work a secret, the information from the Nasi missives they code-cracked could determine whether the Allies won or lost against the Nazi army.

This book was absolutely fascinating. I was intrigued about the subject matter of teenagers doing secret work during World War II from moment I read the subtitle on the cover. I especially enjoyed getting to know the different girls and learning how they each had a skill in which they specialized that was useful at Bletchley Park. What I also loved about this book is how there was a section called "Top Secret" after each part, dedicated to explaining the actual techniques that were used to encode and decode messages. It certainly brought to light the challenge of breaking codes in another language, which is something I never really thought of before. Additionally, the book was suspenseful and the reactions of the girls to the successes and failures of the Allies showed just how much their work mattered. Finally, I liked looking at the photos scattered throughout the chapters. The back matter includes an author's note, a bibliography, source notes, photograph and illustration credits, and an index. In conclusion, I recommend The Enigma Girls to anyone who has an interest in code-breaking, history, or real-life spy stories.

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre and Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston

 

Last Friday, I finished reading Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre. This paranormal thriller is about Liv Burnham, a high school junior who is in a car accident after a party with her best friend Morgan Frost, her boyfriend Nathan Claymore, and his brother Clay, who just happens to be Morgan's boyfriend. In the hospital while recovering, Liv wakes up in Morgan's body. As she tries to adjust to her new life, she discovers that Morgan had some disturbing secrets, including an affair with an older married man, Creepy Jack, and begins to piece together the mystery of Morgan's mom's death. Although she misses her old life, especially her parents and Nathan, she genuinely falls for Clay while determining if she can trust him with Morgan's and her own secrets. As it becomes more clear that Creepy Jack is on to her, Liv must decide when to release the evidence she has against him.

This novel was such a compelling read. I had no idea what to expect at the beginning, but I was intrigued from the moment that Liv woke up in Morgan's body. At first, I thought it was for scientific reasons, like a brain transplant similar to a book I read (Airhead by Meg Cabot), but it became clear in the middle of the book that what happened to Liv was supernatural in nature. The mystery was suspenseful and I kept wondering what other secrets would be revealed about Morgan as the plot went on. Most of all, though, I enjoyed the romance between Liv and Clay. I have this thing where I tend to root for the older brother in love triangles, and I was not disappointed at all. I love how Liv had to let go of her preconceived notions of him as she got to know him better and the conflict of Clay falling for his brother's ex-girlfriend, who isn't really dead, was so interesting. The end of the story was dynamic and I was totally ecstatic with it. Like Never and Always is a great choice for anyone who loves mystery with some romance.

On Saturday, I finished reading Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston. This realistic fiction novel is about Sharkita "Kita" Lloyd, a twelve-year-old seventh-grade girl who is just reunited with her younger brother, Lamar, and her younger sister, Lillieana, after being in foster care for over sixty days due to their mom Brittany's alcoholism and tendency to leave them alone. Kita wants nothing more than to keep her family together this time around and she is hopeful when their mom finds a job as a paralegal and promises that things are different. Although she often still has to help take care of her younger siblings, Kita tries out for the dance team and makes the cut, but as she grows closer to the coach, she worries more and more about keeping up appearances. When her mom begins slipping into old habits again, Kita wonders if her worst fear could be what's best for her and her siblings.

Although this book deals with some tough stuff as an exploration of the effects of parental neglect, I enjoyed reading it. I absolutely adored Kita's relationship with her younger siblings, Lilli and Lamar. It was so clear that she just wanted what was best for them by the end of the story, even if it meant being separated again. At the same time, I really felt for Kita because she had to act as a parental figure to Lilli and Lamar even though all of the pressure being placed on her was causing her to have sleep paralysis and panic attacks. Not to mention, she had to find ways of helping Lamar through his behavioral issues as a child with fetal alcohol syndrome. I wanted her to get the help she needed and was glad when she started opening up to the new school counselor, Dr. Charles. The new assistant principal and dance team coach, Dr. Sapperstein, was another good influence in Kita's life, and I liked her friends, as well. It was wonderful following Kita's journey in realizing that she's not alone and that she could stand up for herself and her well-being. As I learned about Kita's mom's past, it didn't surprise me that she wasn't able to keep her promise and the climax of the book was heartbreaking. The story did finish on a hopeful note, though, and I think it demonstrates the importance of kids being able to be just kids. Shark Teeth is a difficult story, but anyone should read it.