Fate Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

 

Last night, I finished reading Fate Breaker by Victoria Aveyard. The conclusion to the Realm Breaker series, this high fantasy novel takes place directly after the events of Blade Breaker. After the slaughter at Gidastern, the companions are separated and not sure who is still alive. As Corayne decides to search for the Elder enclave of Sirandel in the Castlewood before heading to Iona in the eastern kingdom of Calidon, Andry, Valtik, and Charlie are on their own journeys eastward and Dom, Sorasa, and Sigil must escape from imprisonment in Ascal, the capital of Galland. Meanwhile, Queen Erida and Taristan determine their next moves to find Corayne and the remaining Spindleblade and conquer the realm for What Waits.

This novel could not have been a better ending to the Realm Breaker series. I thought it was absolutely breathtaking and I didn't want it to be over by the time I got to the end. The story was full of action and adventure and the stakes were higher than ever, creating a high level of suspense. If Corayne and her companions failed, it would be the end of the realm and the death of all they held dear. As I read, there were a few plot twists I saw coming and others that took me by surprise. Most of all, though, I loved how this book continued to humanize Taristan even while Erida was falling deeper into darkness in her desire to rule over all and not show weakness. The climax was everything I hoped for and more. If you enjoyed the rest of the series, I can't recommend Fate Breaker enough.

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

 

Yesterday, I finished reading The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day. This narrative nonfiction book tells the real-life story of the robbery of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in Paris, France, in 1911 and how the painting never should have existed in the first place. Alternating between 1911 Paris and Renaissance Italy, the author describes the fascinating life of scientist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci, the unlikely series of events that led to da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa, the detectives who tried to solve the mystery of who stole the Mona Lisa, and how it was actually found.

I found this book absolutely riveting. While I was aware that the Mona Lisa had been stolen from the Louvre at some point in its history, I never knew the complete story until I read this book. I especially enjoyed learning more about Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa, the detectives who worked on the case, and the different suspects. The author's writing style was so engaging and I was eager to learn the identity of the Mona Lisa's thief and how he had the knowledge to actually carry out the robbery. I was definitely surprised when it wasn't any of the main suspects of the era and the police had written off someone that it really could have been. I also loved the illustrations by Brett Helquist because I thought they were quirky and a little funny. Overall, anyone who likes thrillers or art history should read The Mona Lisa Vanishes.

Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles

 

On Friday, I finished Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles. This realistic fiction novel is about Lawrence, a twelve-year-old boy who moved from Charlotte to Larenville, North Carolina, with his mom and sister to live with his granny after his pop went away. When he gets into one too many fights at school, he is suspended and has to find something to do with his time other than sitting at home all day. Although he feels like no one listens to him, Lawrence meets a neighbor, Mr. Dennis, who works at the rec center and begins helping him each day. As he spends his days at the rec center and finds himself interested in the chess program, he gets to know the other kids, including developing a crush on one of the girls, Twyla. On the other hand, he doesn't get along with a boy, Deuce, at first. When Lawrence learns that a few of the kids will be chosen to compete in the Charlotte Classic chess tournament, he commits to learning the game so that he can go back to Charlotte.

Even though I personally don't like playing chess, I really liked this novel. At the beginning, I felt bad that nobody really believed that the fight Lawrence was in with Billy Jakes wasn't his fault and wanted him to get his act together so that he wouldn't be blamed for being a troublemaker. I thought it was really good for him to help out at the rec center because it gave him a sense of responsibility and he didn't want to screw things up. He was also able to meet and befriend other Black kids in Larenville. Although he and Deuce got off on the wrong foot when Deuce took his earbuds, the other kids were really nice to Lawrence and he and Deuce eventually connected over his pop's music. I also enjoyed Lawrence's relationship with his little sister, Nikko. Things seemed really hard on them, especially when their mom lost her job and had to find a new one working night shifts. Most of all, though, I love how Lawrence discovered that he could be good at chess with practice. I was eager for him to earn one of the three spots to go to the chess tournament in Charlotte, his hometown. I recommend Not an Easy Win to anyone who likes rooting for an underdog.

OceanX Adventures by Kate Jerome

Over the past few days, I read the first three books of the OceanX Adventures series. This adventure series is about Marena Montoya, an eleven-year-old girl who agrees to be the new junior science reporter for the local aquarium's newsletter at the encouragement of her fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Foster. In the first book, Mystery at the Aquarium, Marena writes her first article for Mrs. Diaz while trying to solve the mystery of the power outages at the aquarium. Mentored by Dr. Anna Knowles, Marena, her best friend Aisha, and her older brother Lucas search for real scientific evidence and use critical thinking skills to find the culprit of the power outages. In the next book, Danger in the Deep Sea, Marena and Aisha discover an important clue in finding the shipwreck of the San Luis Pedro and its treasure. When Marena becomes an accidental stowaway on the OceanXplorer, she and Lucas embark on a journey to help hunt for the San Luis Pedro. In the third book, Daring Dolphin Rescue, Marena wins a grant from the National Aquarium Association and goes on a research trip to Monterey, California. Although she doesn't get along with her study partner, Samuel, at first, they eventually work together to learn about how whales and dolphins communicate from Anna. When Marena and Samuel investigate an underwater noise issue after helping rescue a baby otter and a dolphin, they get trapped on a boat and have to find a way to escape.

I've long been interested in the oceans and marine science, so I really enjoyed this series. I loved following Marena's adventures and learning more about the oceans and marine animals. I thought it was really cool that these books use real science and they helped me understand more about how scientists explore the oceans. I also liked that Marena had so much support around her from Aisha and Lucas to Anna and Mrs. Diaz. This series is great for kids because the science is explained in a way that's easy to understand. Additionally, the situations Marena finds herself in add a dash of suspense, making an engaging read. Any kid who's interested in the oceans and sea creatures should check OceanX Adventures out.

K Is in Trouble by Gary Clement

 

On Friday, I read an advanced reader copy of K Is in Trouble by Gary Clement. This graphic novel is about K, a boy who is kind and polite, but always gets in trouble despite doing what he is told. In five interconnected short stories, adults are always ready to blame K for doing something wrong. From going to school and getting sick to helping out and being thirsty, he is always getting on someone's bad side whether they are his parents or strangers on the street.

This graphic novel was such a fun and quick read and I really enjoyed it. Across the five stories about K, I laughed at times because of the ridiculousness, but also felt sorry for K because he never actually did anything wrong. It really did seem like the world was out to get him and most of the adults were just plain old mean and impolite. I loved all five of the stories, but my favorite was the first one, "K Is Late", when K meets a talking beetle after being late to school. I thought it was quite insightful and got the book off to a wonderful start. I also liked the quirkiness of the illustrations because it really added a unique style to the tales being told. I think the author did a fantastic job at representing how outrageous and unfair childhood can be sometimes. As a series opener, K Is in Trouble is a terrific choice for young people.

Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford. This historical fiction novel in verse is a journey through the author's family history. Her ancestors were among the founders of Maryland, but she could only trace them back five generations before the path went dark. From the small pieces of information she was able to gather, she tells the painful, yet hopeful, story of her kin. Through her poems, she brings to life and light the perspectives of her own ancestors (including an Isaac Cooper whose name was in a list of property in a ledger from 1781), Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and even Wye House itself, the plantation where her ancestors were enslaved.

This book tells a story that will stick with me for a very long time. Even if it's brutal and poignant at times, it was an amazing read, and I enjoyed how Carole Boston Weatherford included so many different voices. Although she certainly could have just included her ancestors, she also wrote poems from the perspectives of the Lloyds and Francis Scott Key, which showed how slavery was perpetuated by those born in slaveholding families. I definitely think it was necessary that she shed a light on that part of history because this country's founding fathers had problematic opinions, were cruel to those different from them, and didn't always do the right thing. Most importantly, the story shows how America was built from the labor of enslaved peoples. America couldn't have become the nation it is today without Black families, like Carole Boston Weatherford's. Even the poems from inanimate objects were fascinating, how they could only watch as atrocities against humanity were committed. Last, but not least, the scratchboard illustrations by the author's son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford, were absolutely beautiful. I loved the detail in all of them, the play of light and shadow and the emotions on the faces. I can't imagine how much time, effort, and love went into each picture. Kin: Rooted in Hope is phenomenal and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who wants to read a personal story of slavery.

An American Story by Kwame Alexander and There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds

 

On Sunday, I read two picture books: There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds and An American Story by Kwame Alexander. There Was a Party for Langston tells the story of Langston Hughes and a party that was held in his honor at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in February 1991. Many African American authors attended this event, including Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka who were caught dancing together.

This picture book was both fun and informational. I enjoy learning more about Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Amiri Baraka through the writing of the story, and it was really neat how the illustrators, Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, used handmade stamps to create the pictures. I especially loved how they incorporated words into the illustrations. I think it shows how Langston Hughes was "the king of letters" and a "word maker" as the story describes him. The scenes from the party were playful and joyful and made me want to join the guests. I liked seeing that the library can be a place for celebration. At the end, there is a note from the author, Jason Reynolds, explaining his inspiration for writing the book. There Was a Party for Langston is a book for all ages and anyone should read it.

Nonfiction in nature, An American Story explains the history of slavery as told by a teacher, Ms. Simmons, to her class. People were stolen from their villages in Africa and taken on crowded ships in chains across the Atlantic to America where they were sold and had to work in fields and homes owned by white people for free. They weren't allowed to learn how to read and write and sometimes families were even split up. Despite the hardships, they were resilient and never lost hope that they would be free someday.

Covering a topic that is difficult to discuss, this picture book is powerful. The author, Kwame Alexander, did a commendable job of explaining slavery for children. As I was reading, I got a sense of how painful it was for Ms. Simmons to tell her students the story of slavery. It made me so sad and angry that something like slavery could happen because people are people no matter what they look like. I especially liked the message that it's important to tell the truth even when it's hard as Ms. Simmons's students remind her. I also thought the mixed-media illustrations by Dare Coulter were absolutely beautiful. When I read that some of the illustrations were sculptures, I was stunned because she used them so seamlessly with paintings and drawings. I had to take a second or third look at some of the illustrations to see how she created them. She is really an amazing artist, and I'll definitely keep a look out for books illustrated by her in the future. Finally, because slavery is a horrific part of American history, I appreciated the moments of hope and strength in An American Story. At the end of the book, there are notes from both the author and the illustrator. Although this book is written for children, I recommend it to everyone.