One Chapter

The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold

Dang! I picked this book originally based on cover love and I’m so glad that it caught my eye. I absolutely loved it! I’m not normally a sci-fi reader and seeing the size of this book, I almost walked away but this book was amazing! This was one of those books that I couldn’t stop thinking about as I tried to close the book and walk away. I loved how the author weaved the story together and the second half of the book, was incredible,

I felt connected to Nico in this book and I enjoyed being a part of her journey. I can’t describe Nico and her father’s bond, as I feel that the word love doesn’t define it properly. It felt greater than love. As she sat with her father reminiscing and discussing their future, they didn’t have to see eye-to-eye but they did have to respect one another. You could tell that they appreciated each other and felt fortunate to have each other. From Nico watching The Deliverer, to walking with Harry, to her meeting the other survivors, and following the plan, I traveled with her as she made her way.

I did take a few side trips away from Nico where I met the other characters in the book on a more personal level. From when Nico first described him, I pictured The Deliverer as something from The Twilight Zone. This character was brilliant. Where do you come up with this stuff? This character was primo! I can’t go into too much detail The Deliverer but this character generated more, “What?!” “No way!” out of me then, anyone else.

Nico meets other survivors on her journey which amount to about a handful of individuals to remember. Remembering how Nico lived, I had to wonder what was going through her head when she first saw them. These individuals don’t realize how important they are to Nico and vice versa. Everyone knows what they need to do to keep the swarm away as they’re out in the open traveling. Letting their guard down, they would be able to hear the hum before they’re under attack, they just won’t have much time to do so. Each of them has seen what the swarm can do and they don’t want it to happen to them. There is a bit of romance in this book with the characters but nothing dramatic or heavy.

I was surprised how fast I read this book. There was this momentum throughout the book, yet as I got to the second half of this book, the momentum increased as little details began to appear and everything started to come together. It was entertaining as the author began slipping these subtle details into the story, it was like I had discovered a clue. I really hoped that I had caught all of these little details as I read the story. It would have been nice to reread the book now that I have the whole picture in front of me but I needed to return the book to the library as someone else had a hold on the book. I’m going to put this book on my birthday list and I hope to get my own copy because I definitely need to read this one again. I highly recommend it, even if you don’t read sci-fi, if you like apocalyptic, fantasy, or dystopia books, this is one you should read. 5 stars

The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold

I have only 52 pages left of this post-apocalyptic adventure left and I need to pause. Breathe, It all comes down to this. The Deliverer, Nico, Harry, the flies, the pieces are aligning….

They Call Us Enemy by George Takei

This book is a true account of George Takei’s experience in internment camps during WWII. I read a lot of WWII books and it was shocking to read about these camps here in the U.S.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1941, the President signed a proclamation stating that every adult Japanese citizen in the United States was now an Alien Enemy. This meant that George’s father, after living 23 years in the U.S., was now an Alien Enemy and under strict rules. Speaking to Congress, the President declares War not long after that. California’s Attorney General decides that he’s going to start excluding Japanese individuals around certain areas. He begins to round them up and house them together. This made me angry as I read about his agenda, as there was no reason behind his actions, besides his own agenda. Many individuals were stripped of their own possessions and they were left with nothing. How was he able to do this? The restrictions became tighter and tighter as he pulled on their reigns.

As George’s family was moved around, the illustrations in this graphic novel did an excellent job portraying the author’s attitude at what was happening in his life. Just looking at the illustrations, you can sense how things are with the family as they try to adjust. Mother carried with her hope, as she made her way to the camps. Her forbidden item had to be heavy as she lugged it around but she was determined to bring it. She did, “not want to leave it behind” and she was also looking out for her children. I liked how his father stepped up and made the best of his situation at the camps also. His family was definitely a bright spot in the camp. I found this graphic novel very interesting and educational. It one that you should look into if you like this type of book. I appreciate George sharing his story with others.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

The ending of this book was fantastic! That was one adrenaline rush! I seriously don’t think I took a breath as the minute-by-minute action played out. As I reflect back on this book, I realized just how much I enjoyed it. After I had been introduced to the characters, I didn’t want to put this book down.

Zoey didn’t want to be on the debate team, nor did she want to be a part of the debate club. It’s not like she didn’t have an opinion, its just that she doesn’t like to talk out loud in class and isn’t that important in debate? Zoey’s teacher sees something in her and she motivates her to join. As Zoey attends a few of the meetings, I had to laugh as she begins scribbling information down and it seems as if she’s just “existing” while she’s there. You can tell she’d rather be anywhere else then, sitting there in these meetings. Yet, she’s listening and she’s grasping what’s really transpiring all around her, is anyone else doing the same?

Zoey’s life at home is complicated. She has three younger siblings (Hector, Bryce, and Aurora) which she helps care for when her mother works at the Pizza Pit. Zoey doesn’t see her father and Bryce and Aurora don’t visit their father either. Her mother is trying, she really is. With a roof over their heads and a bed to sleep in, her mother is trying to make a better life for her children. They’re all currently living with Hector’s father, Lenny and his grandfather in a trailer. Sounds cozy, doesn’t it?

I could see myself in Zoey’s mom, so much that it hurt. Her mom saw a goal and she was trying to reach it. In-between her and that goal were her kids -that’s it……nothing else. She was trying to make a better life for them and that was her goal. Zoey: her view through the lens was different. With everything that Zoey is juggling, she wants to help her mom now.

This is an excellent story that addresses the issues of poverty and abuse through the eyes of a middle-schooler. I really enjoyed how Zoey’s knowledge of debate came into play and how Zoey’s character matured in this book. Zoey relationships with her peers and her family played a huge part in her life. The responsibility she shouldered and her attitude was remarkable. I loved how realistic this book felt and how smooth the writing was. It deserves more than 5 stars!

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain. This has been my precept lately and when I read about August’s language teacher giving his students precepts to reflect upon monthly, I was moved. In fact, there were many characters in this book reflecting back on their actions and/or their comments because sometimes, individuals act spontaneous. I enjoyed all the characters in this book, each one of them was important to this story. August may have been the common thread that linked them all together but they were all needed, to make August into the best person that he could be.

I can’t tell you how many times I have read parts of this book over the years. As a substitute teacher, I would read this book in various classrooms when I would do a read-aloud with the students. I never heard a student tell me they didn’t enjoy the book, in fact, most kids got excited when I read it to them. They would try to tell me different parts of the story and I could definitely feel their enthusiasm. I had no desire to read this book after reading the disjointed version over and over throughout the years. Book Club came to my rescue and dang, what a book! I laughed, cried, and gave my copy of the book a good talking to, a few times as August ventures inside a school building. Don’t go to school, go to school, don’t go, go, heck…..I don’t know. I wobbled back and forth, as August tried to decide what he should do about attending school in a building vs. being home schooled again by his mother.

August knows the reaction that he’ll receive when he goes to school, he’s been getting it his entire life. He wants to think that he’s used to it but in reality, he knows he’s not. His mom feels that since it’s 5^th grade, all the students will be new to the building and it’s a perfect transition time but August knows that he still has the disadvantage. After the school tour, August feels that it’s not as bad as he thought yet, when he actually attends the school, it’s harder than he thought.

I wasn’t ready for parts of the story as I read them. In the back of my head, I’m thinking positive thoughts but I know that negative things can happen, when “it” happened. They made me feel as if I’ve been run over by a bus. I know kids can be cruel, I know they can be truthful and honest but wow, seriously? I loved August’s sister, Via. She’s the real deal. She tries to toughen him up as she throws punches at him and he has the choice to either fight back or walk away. I believe that Via hoped that he’d confront her, she wanted him to push back, as that made him stronger.

Being a kid is hard, you want to fit in, but where? There’re many examples of this in the book, and the reality of it hits home. Kids want to be accepted, they want to a part of something, I think everyone has this feeling sometime in their life as I read, I understood the position they took. Sometimes I didn’t like it but I understood it. I think both his peers and August matured in this book. I liked how the teacher was trying to get his students to think on their own when he assigned the precepts. He wanted them to apply the various concepts and form an opinion, then they were to express themselves on the various subjects. I think this is a great exercise will help the students grow internally.

I’m so glad that I was forced to read this book for book club as I don’t think I would have read this book otherwise. I now want to see the movie as I heard it was good and was close to the book.

There were many great quotes in this book but these stand out as my favorite:

“Now, unless you want to be treated like a baby the rest of your life, or like a kid with special needs, you just have to suck it up and go.” (guess who said that?)

““Do people go out of their way to avoid touching you, Vic?” he answered, which left me momentarily without an answer. “Yeah, right. That’s what I thought. So, don’t compare your bad days at school to mine, okay?””

Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison

Love makes some individuals blind and stupid. Claire claims that she loves Jack and Jack feels that Claire is the one yet, let’s be real here. Do they think that they can hide parts of their lives from each other, when they’re days away from tying the knot? I wasn’t sure who was wearing the better disguise, Claire or Jack? I do know that I enjoyed discovering how they each thought that they had the upper hand.

I was in Claire’s corner as I learned how closed-lipped Jack was about parts of his life. Was he just wanting to move on or was he trying to hide something? She knew that she wasn’t Jack’s #1 but I wasn’t prepared for how this really affected her. The longer I read the book, I thought perhaps they might just be right for each another, as Claire’s secrets were disclosed.

Setting in motion the events leading up to their wedding ceremony, the parties arrive on the island and I was in awe. Talk about money! It’s an amazing place but dang, this wonderful day was turning into a nightmare. A nightmare that I enjoyed but the individuals on the island, weren’t having so much fun.

The author did a great job disclosing their secrets and I enjoyed the implications that these had on the individuals involved. A time for celebration, the main characters were on edge while many of the guests were enjoying themselves on the island, I liked how there was this mix as it provided an element of uncertainty in the book. This was a great mystery that I had a hard time putting down.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. #HerDarkLies #NetGalley

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Jane was their dog walker, a new face, who was just looking for a fresh start, trying to put her past behind her. Welcome to Thornfield Estates, where everyone has secrets and nothing is private.

I listened to this book on audio and the characters definitely shined. These Southern women provided me with some great laughs as they tried to be discreet about their actions. Jane runs into Eddie, whose wife is missing and soon, Jane becomes a constant figure in Eddie’s life.

There were a few great twists in this story yet some parts of this story were predictable as I read. I liked the story’s pace and how the story unfolded as it kept me engaged. Even though the ending may seem to be open-ended, I liked how the book ended.

Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne

Sky’s playing field is the basketball court but she can’t stay there forever. On the court, she’s confident and free yet off the court, Sky insecurities control her. When she talked about Lay Li, this story sounded all too familiar.

Lay Li and Sky were best friend, the emphasis is on the word, were. Sky discovers that Lay Li is not girlfriend material as she doesn’t have Sky’s best interest in mind afterall. Its hard to come to this realization and then, to have to walk away from this close relationship but she had to.

Written in verse, this was a great book about relationships and about taking care of yourself.

White Ivy by Susie Yang

She thought she was privileged so she took what she wanted, even at others expense. As she looked at the lives around her and compared them to her own, she wanted to fill in the missing pieces but at the same time, Ivy knew that she had to be the person that others saw her to be. Ivy was a devious character, someone who could play you and you wouldn’t even know it.

I found the beginning of White Ivy engaging as I learned about the character of Ivy. Ivy was born in China and when her parents moved to America, they left her behind. When she was 5, they send for her. She lives with her parents and her grandmother, Meifeng. Oh my gosh, Meifeng! This woman was such a powerful influence to Ivy growing up. Meifeng and Ivy went shopping at Goodwill, good old grandma shows Ivy how to shoplift and price swap. I couldn’t believe it! The “shopping” at Goodwill was just the beginning for Ivy.

Ivy obtains free tuition from a private school since her father works there and she begins seeing items that she’s missing in her life and her “shopping” expands. Ivy also begins to take interest in Gideon who goes to school with her. When she returns home from a trip, she’s heartbroken as she discovers that they’ve moved, and she can no longer attend that school and see Gideon. I found this middle section of the book a bit drawn out and long.

Years later, Ivy later runs into a relative of Gideon but she’s supposedly into Roux. This woman! I could have smacked her a few times towards the end of the book where things really picked up and I couldn’t put the book down. When is this girl going to wise up? Was she going to go after Gideon after all this time? What about Roux and what they had? Dang, girl!

This book was not what I had expected. If you can work through the middle of the book, it’s a great book to read. I read this book for my Read Woke Challenge.