Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer

Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer 

June 2022

Part mystery, part historical fiction with fascinating characters and insights into life in the 1500's, situated in a historic English manor in the present. Hannah and her precocious and troubled son Nicky, are staying with their Uncle Christopher in the manor, when Nicky discovers a body in a bricked-up forgotten section of Ashton Hall in Cambridge, England. This book has so many layers of engagement! What begins as a mystery morphs into a woman's journey to freedom. If you are a fan of historical fiction with a twist, this is for you. I learned so much about Tudor England. The author uses the discovery of a body, the time of difficult religious turmoil (Catholics vs Protestants), and pestilence as the backdrop for an intense family drama unfolding in the present. Belfer explores many relevant topics including sexual identity, fidelity, and neurodiversity which she does with great power and finesse through well-drawn characters. The Audible narration was especially captivating! I highly recommend this book!

Jaema Berman

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott 

Superb, chillingly darkly hilarious and heartbreakingly horrific. A black author is on a book signing tour for his best selling novel, Hell of a Book. He is experiencing loads of anxiety-out of body experiences- as he travels from city to city presenting in books stores, TV studios, and Town Hall venues essentially to discuss the success of his book, the plot and the reasons he wrote it. His brain literally becomes more and more unhinged as he pushes himself into discomfort and his behavior/persona gradually unravels. He is haunted by his brutally violent past resulting in flashbacks to personal tragedies that cloud his ability to function and remember details about his life. The writing is superb, chillingly, darkly hilarious and the story heartbreakingly real and horrifying. 

I could not put it down. The writing is mature and powerful. I appreciate reading about social topics that give me insight and understanding and I feel like in this case, Mott highly succeeded. It did win the 2022 National Book Award. My rating:

JB

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Firekeepers Daughter by Angeline Boulley

2021, 496p. Henry Holt and Co. 

https://catalog.tln.lib.mi.us/?section=frbr&iid=1028415&currentIndex=0&view=frbrFormatDisplayDetailsTab&facetFilters=%5B%5D

This extraordinary debut novel by Michigan Ojibwe author, Angeline Boulley in 2021, Firekeeper's Daughter was named one of the top YA novels of all time by Time Magazine. Taking place in Sault Ste, Marie, MI, the novel introduces you to Daunis, recent a high school graduate, hockey player, brilliant, half  Ojibwe-half white, dealing with identity and the pressure of living up to social and family expectations.  

In a community that values hockey "gods" and social status- where youth born into the indigenous community are looked down upon and judged because of their blood purity, tribal membership and ability to collect tribal annual funds, teens like Daunis and her brother Levi have opportunities like college but struggle with the easy availability of money and drugs. 

The plot, characters and good story writing makes this reading experience one of my all time best reads. I appreciate the author's use of Native American language, ritual ceremony, traditions, prayers and perspective that added much poetry and power to my understanding of this Michigan community-it's history and subsequent struggles that still exist. 

You are on a journey of self exploration and coming of age with a character who feels like she just steps off the page. I think that this book will become required reading in the near future. Read it now for the power and poetry.  

My Rating 5 stars! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Read this now! Daunis Fontaine will capture your heart and stay with you always! 

JB

AWARDS: 

2022 Michigan Notable Book

A PRINTZ MEDAL WINNER!
A MORRIS AWARD WINNER!
AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD YA HONOR BOOK!

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.

“One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels.” —Good Morning America

A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection
Amazon's Best YA Book of 2021 So Far (June 2021)
A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection
An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Selection
A PopSugar Best March 2021 YA Book Selection

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a fabulous novel of Black Caribbean heritage, family and the things that hold us together. It tells the story of adult siblings, Bennie and Byron who's mother, Covantina, has died and left them a recording and Black Cake to be eaten when 'it's time". 

The author combines an epic tale of survival as well as deep insight into relationships, family secrets, and the effects of racism on lives from the perspective of  Coventina in the 1960's as well from her children's challenges finding meaningful careers and relationships. The writing is captivating and I learned a great deal about Caribbean, British and American culture in regards to immigration and some of the difficulties faced in the last 50 years.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I highly recommend Black Cake. It is a delicious novel!

Jaema