Anthropocene Reviewed

 

Anthropocene Reviewed:  Essays on a Human-Centered Planet  by John Green

(from Amazon)

The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar.  Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together.  John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.

(My Review)

Dang!  John Green made me cry!   And laugh.   So, this is just a collection of essays, thoughts, ponderings, reviews of things Green believes that humans have impacted.  He's such a witty writer, and he is so transparent, that he hits on subjects that we all can appreciate.  This is a great read!

The Gilded Ones

 

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna YA

(from Amazon)

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.  But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.  Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.  Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.

(My Review)

In this fantasy novel, Deka is a gilded one, meaning that her blood runs gold, which a sign of impurity.  She is sent to train in army of girls like herself.  She soon learns more is not as it seems.  She soon learns secrets about herself, that explains why she has unnatural intuition.  I loved this kind of story where character discovers things about themselves.

Shatter Me

 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi  YA

(from Amazon)

One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill.  No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon.  Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.

(My Review)

This book was pretty intense.  In this dystopian novel, Juliette is being held prisoner because her touch is deadly.  Now, they want to use her as a weapon.  She doesn't know who she can trust.  I thought it was sad, and my heart ached for her trauma.  This is the first book in a series of 7, so it will be interesting to see how her character develops.

1.  Shatter Me

2.  Unravel Me

3.  Ignite Me

4.  Restore Me

5.  Defy Me

6. Imagine Me

7.  Believe Me

Amari and the Night Brothers

 

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (book 1 of 2:  Supernatural Investigations)  Middle Grade)

(from Amazon)

Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good.  So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton—if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.  Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny—especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.” With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

(My Review)

I LOVED THIS!!!  Amari and the Night Brothers totally gave me the Harry Potter vibes.  Amari's brother is missing.  She gets sent to a secret school, which happens to be a school for magic.  She finds out she has magical powers...  B.B. Alston has created a fun, magical world and I can't wait for the next book.

1.  Amari and the Night Brothers

2.  Amari and the Great Game

Neverworld Wake

 

Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl  YA

(from Amazon)

It's been one year since graduation, and Beatrice Hartley has mixed feelings about joining her friends for a weekend reunion.
     She's right to be worried. After a night out, they narrowly avoid a collision with a car on a deserted road. Or so they believe.
     Back at the mansion where they are staying, a mysterious man knocks on the door during a raging storm. He tells them that they must make a choice: one of them will live, and the rest will die. And the decision must be unanimous.
     Soon time backbends. Beatrice and her friends are forced to repeat that dreadful day so many times they lose count. With each replay, events twist and fears come alive in horrifying ways.
     This nightmare, this nothingness . . . this is the Neverworld Wake.
     To escape, they have to vote. But how do you choose who to kill? And then how do you live with yourself?

(My Review)

Hmm...this book was weird.  Not bad, just weird.  After an accident, a group of friends get stuck in a "ground hog's day" loop until they decide/vote which one of them will LIVE.  Their decision leads them on an adventure to discover why they are in the situation, and to solve the murder of one of their friends a year before.  I thought the author did a good job taking this very complicated concept, and making a very interesting story.  The characters were college-aged, so I am not sure if this, technically would be considered YA (Amazon says it is).

Firekeeper's Daughter

 

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley  YA  

(from Amazon)

Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team.  Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug.  Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.  Now, as the deceptions―and deaths―keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

(My Review)

I thought this book was very interesting.  It was an intriguing look into the Native American culture of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but also had a mystery that kept you guessing right until the very end of the story.

New releases I'm looking forward to!

 The following are new books that either have recently been released, or are soon to be released, and that I am looking forward to reading.  

A Box in the Wood by Maureen Johnson (already released - June 15, 2021).  I love this series!  It's a great YA mystery series set in a boarding school.  It has great characters, and I love that because of the location of the school, it gives the isolation thriller vibe!  This is the fourth in the Truly Devious series.  

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz.  (Just released today - August 3, 2021).  This was just announced today as a Reese Witherspoon Book Club book.  This psychological thriller sounds great!  Two friends go backpacking in South America, and end up with a dead body in their hotel room.   Hmmm..  right up my ally.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConoghy.  (Just released today - August 3, 2021).   Two sister on a team to reintroduce gray wolves to the Highlands of Scotland.  It seems to be successful, until a farmer ends of dead.  Are the wolves to blame, or someone closer to the sisters??  

The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding.  (To be released on August 10, 2021).  This is a psychological thriller about a family.  Small pranks start happening, and they begin to escalate revealing secrets...

Survive the Night by Riley Sager.  (Already released - June 29, 2021).  I loved Home Before Dark!  This book looks to be different.  A guy gets a ride share with a stranger, things get creepy.  This sounds like some of the horror movies I watched as a kid.  I'm definitely looking forward to this one.  

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-lyimide.  (Already released - June 1, 2021). This is a YA book.   I have heard so many good things about this book.  Imagine a mix of Gossip Girl and Get Out!  I can't wait to read this one!!!

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean (Already released - May 18, 2021).  I mean, come on!  Look at this cover!!  It's so beautiful, I was immediately drawn to this book.  This YA book is one of Reese Witherspoon's Book Club selections.  It's about a Japanese-American girl who finds out that her father is the crown-prince of Japan.  Definitely getting the Princess Diary vibes here.  Yes, please!

How We Fall Apart Katie Zhao. (To be released on August 17, 2021).  This YA book is being compared to a mix of Crazy Rich Asians and One of Us is Lying.  I'm definitely looking forward to this one.

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee.  (Just released today - August 3, 2021).  This YA book sounds so creepy and awesome.  It's about a boarding school with a history of witchcraft, and two students who start digging up the past.  Yes!

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee.  (Okay, not too recently released - March 2, 2021).  This is another Reese Witherspoon selection.  In this YA book, the main character is the daughter of a lady's maid who anonymously writes an advice column, which she uses to address problems she sees in society.  This leads to backlash.  This books looks like it has some Titanic, and maybe some Bridgerton vibes.  Looks like a good read.

Ophie's Ghost by Justina Ireland.  (Already released - May 18, 2021).  Yea!  This one just popped into my Libby/Overdrive bookshelf (audiobook).  This is a middle grade book about a young girl, Ophie, who learns she can see ghosts.  Due to tragic events, she and her mother have to leave Georgia and move to Pittsburg.  Her mother gets a job in an old manor house...ghosts...you can see where this is going.  Yes, I can't wait!

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk.  (Already released - April 27, 2021).  This is another middle grade book.  I am so enchanted by the cover!  The main character, Ellie, and her family, move from town to a home in the "wilderness" to start a new life.  This book sounds so beautiful and heartwarming!

Okay, I could go on, but I will stop here.