I have decided to give the 2023 FOLD challenge a go this year! I think I might not stick super rigidly to the specific type of book per month (debut, Speculative fiction) but I am looking forward to finding books to meet the diverse authors portion of the challenge.
I am also really excited that the Children's version of the challenge is the same but with picture books or middle grades of course. I am going to try to do a #Middlegrademonday post each month with a book that meets the author criteria as well. If I can find some great picture books as well, maybe I'll even share some of those as well. I'll be adding to this post each month, so definitely check back later in the year and see what I've been up to!
January 2023: A Debut Title by a Muslim Author
I decided that I wouldn't worry too too much about the "debut" part. I don't think either of my book choices this month were debuts but they were both authors I had never read before so they are a debut for me I guess!
Middle Grade Selection: Amal Ubound
By: Aisha Saeed
I read Amal Unbound to my grade 4/5 class a few years back and they were very into it. The story is about a young girl who happens to do the wrong thing at the wrong time in front of the wrong person and ends up being forced into servitude. The book explores themes like girls rights, the right to education, servants and slaves, power and corruption, and the true meaning of freedom. My students loved it because it was a bit more on the mature side, there is a bit of a mystery/crime theme once Amal is in the role of servant for a corrupt leader, and the themes are ones that speak to middle graders.
Additionally, Amal's life in Pakistan is very different from most of my student's lives in Canada, so it gives them a window into another culture, country and social system. This book offered many opportunities for discussion and perspective taking. While I think it might be a little heavy for my current group of 3/4s, I would definitely recommend this book for Grades 5-8, and potentially, depending on the group, grade 4s or grade 3s as well. This was also my Middle Grade Monday pick for January 30, 2023. Check out all of my other MGMs here
And here is where find you can find Amal Unbound on amazon
Adult Selection: Hana Khan Carries On
Uzma Jalaluddin
Instagram post:
I am excited to participate in the fold's reading challenge check out my posts each month with my adult and middle grade books that celebrate a different author and story from diverse literary communities. This month, the focus is debut books by Muslim authors. I am already cheating by choosing books that are not technically debuts, but the authors are new to me and the point is to try new things so 🤷♀️
I'm also running a little behind... #teacherlife So I'm sharing my pick for this month for the adult category, but you'll have to stay tuned for the review. I'm a few chapters in and loving Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin
Update: April 8, 2023
I just finished Hana Khan Carries On and while it was a bit late and maybe not a debut, I must say - the fact that this one was a Canadian author and set in Canada, really focusing on the experience of Muslim-Canadians made this one super exciting for me. It felt like the first one I have read so far that really met my need for more diverse reads, the epitome of what the FOLD challenge really is.
Hana Khan Carries On tells the story of Hana, a 24 year old young woman who lives in Toronto with her parents. Along with her mother, her older sister and her brother in law, the family runs a halal restaurant called Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. Hana also works for Radio Toronto as an intern and produces her own podcasts about her experiences as a Muslim and Canadian woman. When a competitive new halal restaurant is announced to be opening down the street she begins to worry about the fate of her family's restaurant. Together with family and friends, a hilarious group of quirky characters, and a number of serious and important issues facing Canada's diverse communities, this book is equal parts entertaining and informative - storytelling at its finest.
Jalaluddin offers many opportunities for reflection and consideration of diverse perspectives throughout her story. I'd like to examine a few of these ideas below.
"I felt foolish now. Why hadn't I thought to take active steps to help Three Sisters? My time would have been better spent working on our restaurant's website or encouraging my mother to revamp the menu or invest in modest renovations, or even using social media to engage in targeted advertising. Instead I had delighted in trolling Aydin to give myself some power. It had been for my benefit only; it hadn't helped Three Sisters at all."
After seeing the effect of her online trolling on Aydin's business, Hana begins to reflect on the ways in which she channeled her energy towards hate rather than love. She realizes that she could have spent time supporting and building up her family's business rather than trying to take down another small business with similar core values. I think that we all need that reminder sometimes. Instead of wasting time trying to bring down those around us through negative comments, we could use our time better by working on self-improvement and supporting ourselves and others.
In one section, Hana, Aydin and Rashid are sightseeing in downtown Toronto, Rashid is taking videos to share with friends and family back in India, when they are harassed by racist Canadian citizens using hate speech and eventually physical violence to intimidate and threaten the three young people. As I was reading this section I thought back to a class trip I took with grade 5/6 students to this exact location, we visited the CN tower, the Ripley's aquarium and other sites described in this chapter. It was easy to picture the tourists and the busy Toronto area as well as the awe that Rashid likely was in, considering I had witnessed it on the faces of a bunch of 11 year olds just a few years ago. To think how different and scary this version of events was in comparison to my experiences hit hard. Not all of my students on this trip were white, but it was pretty obvious we were a school group, and I can't imagine anyone making comments to my young students questioning their origins, but I know that will happen to many of them, likely many times, in their lifetime. Whether or not they are born in Canada, or even their current citizenship status is not something that a stranger has the right to ask them, nor should it even matter. At any given moment there are probably thousands of tourists in downtown Toronto doing the exact same thing Rashid, and my school group were doing. Whether the tourists came from India or Winnipeg shouldn't matter, taking photos of the CN tower are innocent actions any tourist might make, and prejudice assumptions about their intent solely based on the colour of their skin or the clothing they are wearing is ridiculous. I 100% can imagine this happening and am fully aware that it does every single day, and not just in Toronto, but it shouldn't.
In another section, Hana reflects on an experience in school when a teacher had incorrectly listed on of the pillars of Islam and she tried to correct him. Having limited stories or tv shows to reference, she struggled to prove her point. In all honesty, she shouldn't have needed any sources to prove her own cultural understandings, but I can see why that would be really challenging for a young person to try to handle when there are limited representations of your cultural background in the media or the texts in your school and even community at large. This emphasizes the importance of organizations like FOLD and authors like Jalaluddin creating and spreading word about and creating diverse texts to broaden the images we are exposed to on a regular basis. If we do not give young people mirrors as well as windows into their cultures and the cultures of others, then anything else we are doing to try to teach the importance of diversity will not go very far.
Such a great book, I definitely recommend it and I am so glad that I was able to read this one as part of the FOLD challenge. It has me re-energized and ready for the next fold book I tackle!
February 2023: Speculative Fiction by a Black Canadian Author
Ok so I had to look up the term speculative fiction. I was like Fiction? Easy. Black Author? Easy. Canadian? Ok that limits things a bit but I'm sure I can find something. Wait speculative basically means Sci Fi?! Impossible. Just Kidding... but also not. If I had to rate genres from most to least favourite, Sci Fi would be way down there with Engineering Textbooks and Hunting or Fishing Guides. Needless to say, I needed the FOLD's suggestions for this category...
One of FOLD's suggestions was: Butter Honey Pig Bread, by Francesca Ekwuyasi I gave it a shot, but it was definitely not a good fit for me... Here is the description:
An intergenerational saga about three Nigerian women: a novel about food, family, and forgiveness.
Francesca Ekwuyasi’s debut novel tells the interwoven stories of twin sisters, Kehinde and Taiye, and their mother, Kambirinachi. Kambirinachi feels she was born an Ogbanje, a spirit that plagues families with misfortune by dying in childhood to cause its mother misery. She believes that she has made the unnatural choice of staying alive to love her human family and now lives in fear of the consequences of that decision.
Some of Kambirinachi’s worst fears come true when her daughter, Kehinde, experiences a devasting childhood trauma that causes the family to fracture in seemingly irreversible ways. As soon as she’s of age, Kehinde moves away and cuts contact with her twin sister and mother. Alone in Montreal, she struggles to find ways to heal while building a life of her own.
Meanwhile, Taiye, plagued by guilt for what happened to her sister, flees to London and attempts to numb the loss of the relationship with her twin through reckless hedonism.
Now, after more than a decade of living apart, Taiye and Kehinde have returned home to Lagos to visit their mother. It is here that the three women must face each other and address the wounds of the past if they are to reconcile and move forward.
I did not make it very far... So I googled Black Speculative Fiction and found: Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
Adult Selection: Brown Girl in the Ring
Synopsis:
The rich and privileged have abandoned an alternate Toronto, leaving the rest of the population behind barricades and unable to escape. There, the inner city returns to an older way of life — farming, bartering, herbal medicine, and mysticism — until the wealthy decide to prey on the impoverished communities for organ donation, and a young mother must turn to spiritualism and ritual to save her family.
My thoughts:
Well I actually read it, so that is something! I was definitely confused and lost for a bit, but I did like a few things. First, I liked that there was this almost post-apocalyptic feel to the setting, yet things were described in a very relatable way, it was believable - that this sort of thing could actually happen in similar circumstances. I also thought this organ donation concept was interesting, that perhaps in the future we will no longer have organ donors or that it might become an even more confusing ethical debate. I also liked the suspense around knowing that Tony had a mission which may include murdering someone and how that all unfolded. So while it was by no means a favourite book of mine, it was not as bad as I thought it would be and I am glad that I was able to see it through to the end. Plus it feels good to have my first FOLD challenge book officially in the done section!
Middle Grade was a bit tougher...
As with the adult selection, I found this book outside of the FOLD suggestion list. I wanted a Middle Grade, and there was only one FOLD middle grade suggestion, it was: Metatron's Children, by Chy Ryan Spain, illustrated by Sydney Kuhne (Middle Grade)
The year is 2130 and society as we know it has collapsed. Two Black non-binary siblings embark on an epic journey to ease the loss of their parents. Along the way, and with the help of a few friends, they unravel a mystery that very well may save what’s left of humanity. Metatron’s Children is an Afro-futuristic narrative of resilience, resistance, and redemption. This is Book #1 of the series.
It sounds pretty cool, but I just wasn't sure that it would fit well as a middle grade and also had a hard time finding a copy at my library. So I searched the internet again and came up with this one.
Middle Grade Selection: Last Last Day of Summer
By: Lamar Giles, Dapo Adeola (Illustrator)
**Disclaimer, this one is not Canadian.
Synopsis:
When two adventurous cousins accidentally extend the last day of summer by freezing time, they find the secrets hidden between the unmoving seconds, minutes, and hours are not the endless fun they expected.
Otto and Sheed are the local sleuths in their zany Virginia town, masters of unraveling mischief using their unmatched powers of deduction. And as the summer winds down and the first day of school looms, the boys are craving just a little bit more time for fun, even as they bicker over what kind of fun they want to have. That is, until a mysterious man appears with a camera that literally freezes time. Now, with the help of some very strange people and even stranger creatures, Otto and Sheed will have to put aside their differences to save their town—and each other—before time stops for good. (Goodreads)
My Thoughts:
This funny, outlandish middle grade novel tells the story of two cousins who wish they could soak up just a bit more summer vacation. Sometimes you get what you wish for and it doesn't always end up being quite what you imagined, and that is certainly the case for Otto and Sheed! When the entire town freezes, the boys are left to save the town, avoid crazy creatures and somehow get things back to normal and bring an end to summer vacation. The book has a high energy level and quick pacing to it that is sure to capture the attention of middle grade readers. There are funny moments for sure and the characters are well developed. I initially thought about reading it as a back to school book for my grade 3/4 students, and while I think they would enjoy it and could definitely myself purchasing a copy for my classroom library, I'm not sure I want to do a novel study on it, though I probably could make it work. I could also see using it as a mentor text for an alternative "what I did on summer vacation" writing prompt! There are also some good middle grade themes woven throughout, such as believing in yourself and working together/being supportive. It is a good book and one I would definitely recommend.
Well as tough as my February Challenge was, it actually was pretty successful! Did I find a new favourite genre? Absolutely not! But maybe there is something to be said for trying something a little outside your comfort zone. See you in March!
March 2023: A fiction or non-fiction book about an immigration journey
I'm not going to lie, March has kicked my butt. I cannot believe it is only the 13th... there are definitely too many days in this month, while also not being nearly enough time to get it all done! So reading has taken a backseat this month. And while I am definitely cheating by choosing books I have already read (again) this month, the are two books I definitely need to share!
Middle Grade Selection: The Boy in the Back of the Class
I read soooo many books about immigration. I have no idea which adult one to feature this month, but I definitely have a top middle grade book! Last year I read The Boy in the Back of the Class by Onjali Rauf and my students really loved it. One thing that is really neat, is that we don't know until the very end if the main character is male or female, so my class actually used it as an opportunity to practice using "they/them" rather than gendered pronouns - whether or not this was the author's intent, I'm not sure. So the book is about a middle grade student from the UK who has a new student join their class from Syria shortly after the refugee crisis. The book looks at prejudice and discrimination, as well as race and diversity, and grief and trauma. My students got into the book right away and definitely wanted to explore the themes. We had lots of great discussions about societal views of refugees as well as the problems that take place around the world that lead to people needing to flee unexpectedly, perhaps with only their backpack. I would definitely recommend this book for middle grade readers and look forward to reading it with my class again in the future.
Adult Selection: Children of the Land
I actually am pretty interested in the titles selected by FOLD as this month's recommendations, but being the busy month it was, I wasn't on top of tracking down any of those books. All the Shining People, by Kathy Friedman Hotline, by Dimitri Nasrallah Dandelion, by Jamie Chai Yun Liew and Nila the Bleeding Garden, by Laila Re were the adult suggestions this round. I will definitely have to look back on those ones down the road! In the meantime, I decided to check my To Read Shelf to see if there were any immigration books I had not read, and found Children of the Land by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo.
This memoir is divided into 5 sections or migrations, each with several short chapters therein. The migrations explore the deportations of the author's father and mother, as well as his own travels between the US and Mexico and the challenges his family faced in trying to become American citizens. Despite being divided into sections, this book is by no means chronological and even within a section it time hops often between one chapter and the next. As long as you are paying attention, this is no problem, but I'll be honest and share that I did zone out a bit and get a little confused at times! The author is actually an award winning poet, and this is quite clear very early on, as it was one of the most literary memoirs I think I've ever read. It was extremely well written and would make a perfect book to discuss figurative language and prose, but there were times where I felt it dragged a bit, especially with all the time hopping added in. As with other immigration novels and audiobooks I've consumed lately, there were similar themes of discrimination/prejudice, the meaning of being a citizen or member of a country, and the multi-year struggles with many hoops to jump through to meet all of the legal requirements. It certainly makes me thankful to have been born in Canada and automatically a citizen, but I can't imagine how hard it must be living in that limbo for so many years, with a constant fear of being deported, as was the case for the author's family. While this was not my favourite memoir, I did enjoy it, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy a more literary writing style!
April 2023: A book of poetry from a small press
As a teen (or tween) I used to love writing silly poetry with my friends. Since then poetry has not been my favourite thing to read or write. That being said, this is exactly why I am doing this challenge! I need to diversify my reading, and while I of course want to diversify the voices I am reading, it also means the genre and type of writing as well! So here we go... time for some poems...
Middle Grade (Early Years) Selection: Today I Am A River by Kate Coombs, Ills: Anna Laitinen
This sweet picture book in verse weaves together beautiful illustrations with the imagery in the text to create a wonderful master piece. Each poem (page) is another element of nature, including trees, rivers and owls. Each poem includes some rhyming words, but does not follow a standard ABAB or AABB pattern, in fact there are actually quite a variety of rhyming patterns that would be interesting for children to explore. It would also be interesting to look at the use of repetition and alliteration - can you tell I'm a teacher? lol. In summary, this is a beautiful book inside and out, and would be a perfect addition to a family bookshelf or an elementary library, as it is full of great literary ideas and has picturesque images and words to soothe readers. I would highly recommend it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Sounds True Publishing for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
Adult Selection: Don't Go Over the Bridge By: Jaclyn Cohen
As I said previously, I'm really not much of a poetry reader anymore, and the fact that this one was a mix of poetry and prose had a really hard time holding my attention, so sadly I DNF'd it... but there was one verse that I really thought was interesting:
...back in the days of World War II I read in that textbook the textbook still has the USSR stamped across the world map and there's a list of names of the students before me who read it and signed their names into history my name's in there too for an eternity like forever and a day or until they're trashed for a new edition
I just thought that this idea of textbooks and their context in the telling of history was interesting. How in a matter of a few lines it shows that the textbook is both obsolete (mentioning USSR) but also constantly being replaced (trashed for a new edition) reminds me of how often our tellings of history change, especially depending on who was the source of the information! I wonder which snapshot in history this particular textbook uses when referencing Indigenous people. Likely not in a very positive light anyway... I also enjoyed the mention of the other student's names. It was fun looking back at who had my textbook the year before, or wondering who got the textbook that formerly belonged to your crush or friend's sibling or the cool girl from the grade above you. The idea that both the textbook itself (and ideas included in it) as well as the names written on the pages both show history in a different way is also kind of cool.
Was April my best FOLD month? Probably not... but a mystery or crime fiction by an Asian Canadian author sounds promising! See you in May!
May 2023: A Mystery or Crime Fiction by an Asian-Canadian Author
Well I was too scared to read the YA option or my second choice Adult Mystery/Crime Fiction, but I did get one read and I loved it!
Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee tells the story of two teenage girls who disappeared only to be found 28 years later in their late foster mother's deep freeze. Hopping between decades and exploring the reasons the girls went into care, the foster mother's surprising family history, and some of the challenges and constraints of the foster care system in Canada, this novel sheds light on issues that have been longterm problems through a mystery/suspense lens.
It was the perfect amount of creepy/crime drama for me. It reminded me of like Law & Order or similar shows where there is the crime reveal and a few suspenseful scenes but for the most part it is low key enough that I was having nightmares lol! I'm a bit of a baby when it comes to scary things! Anyway it was a good level of drama and suspense and the story unfolded with enough unpredictable moments to keep me guessing while still being very easy to follow and you got enough information about the characters, setting and conflict.
I also appreciated the deep dive into issues with the foster care system. I read a lot of books about adoption and fostering, but the majority are UK based or if Canadian, usually focus on the treatment of Indigenous children. Knowing that Indigenous children are over-represented in the foster care system (2022 stat - Manitoba has about 10,000 in care and 90% are Indigenous, the 2016 data for percentage of Manitobans who are Indigenous is 18%), it is absolutely important that those stories are told, but I did enjoy reading about a different minority group in this story. Some of the other themes/storylines I thought were interesting include: grooming, neglect stemming from single parent (single income) and lack of child care, the impact of childhood trauma on future parenting outcomes, the impact of foster care on the bio children, the high demand for quality care providers, the ease at which young girls can disappear and be completely lost in the system, and more.
I would definitely recommend this book! And, for the first time, as I was reading, I thought: "I'm so glad I did this FOLD challenge because otherwise I never would have read this book". Out of all of the categories, this one was definitely one I was nervous about, but it turned out to be so great! So go read diverse books!
June 2023: A book that celebrates Queer Joy by a BIPOC author
As usual, I'm behind in reading and posting.. It's mid-July and I just finished my June selection last night... Oh well. What matters is that I loved my choice!
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera was an eye-opening, heartfelt coming of age and coming out story of a young woman trying to make sense of her place in the world in the early 2000s. The story is broken into 4 parts, each representing a part of Juliet's summer of self-discovery. We start out in the Bronx where Juliet describes her life with her Puerto Rican family, her first real relationship with Lainie, and coming out to her family. Next, she gets the opportunity to complete an internship with someone she hopes could be her mentor, Harlowe Brisbane, a queer feminist author from Portland, Oregon. It is in this section of the book that transforms Juliet's worldview and not only inspires her but also breaks her heart multiple times. Hurt by Harlowe's unexpected and very public racist comments directed at her, Juliet flies to Miami to spend time with her cousin and aunt in the third section of the book. Here she learns about the welcoming BIPOC gay community, and finds herself a community unlike any she has found before. Finally, she returns to Oregon with a new perspective, newfound wisdom and no rose-coloured glasses.
There is so much I love about this book. If I had to choose the thing I loved most it would be being transported back to 2003 and learning about the feminist and LGBTQ movements at that time in the United States. In 2003 I was a white heterosexual 12 year old in Canada, so Juliet's experience in this time period was almost completely opposite to mine. I had no clue what was going on post 9/11 in the US, nor did I really even understand what it meant to be a lesbian or a feminist, but what makes this book so special, is that Juliet also didn't really know either. I feel like this would be a great book for anyone who feels a little in the dark about issues such as: racism, microagressions, LGBTQ rights, pronouns, feminism, and the BIPOC community. In this story Juliet learns about all of these things, and seeing them from her perspective might be the perfect lens for someone who is unaware. Juliet also has to find ways to ask questions, and as a person who identifies as BIPOC and a lesbian, she is able to ask those questions in a different way than a white heterosexual person. One of the things discussed in this book is the weight that BIPOC people often are expected to carry as they are required constantly to educate white people about their challenges. I definitely don't expect them to, but sometimes people need someone to ask and a safe space to learn, this is one of those safe spaces because it is a book you can read privately and determine what you still need to learn.
I definitely found this book met the "queer joy" mark. Celebrating women of all shapes, sizes and sexualities was a huge part of this book. I think a young person considering coming out and wondering about acceptance or loss would find this book really inspiring. Juliet does not have a sunshine and roses experience, but her own self-love and self-acceptance may help readers see that they too can find a loving community that sees them for who they are, and if there are people who don't accept you, there are others out there who will. I am certainly no expert in this area but I feel like it might just be a book that helps someone.
Overall, this book is super well written, enjoyable and a perfect fit for this FOLD category (although it is not Canadian)! I would definitely recommend it. Until next time (hopefully soon since it is already mid-July....), happy diverse reading!
Bonus Adult Selection - this one is Canadian:
The Foghorn Echoes by Danny Ramadan
This one is super cool, and while it took me forever to get it off my TBR and actually read it, I am so glad I did.
This novel tells the story of two boys from Syria in the early 2000s who explore a forbidden relationship which will change both of their lives forever. When Hussam's father catches him acting on his feelings for his best friend Wassim, an accident occurs, however their secret remains a secret, at least for the time being. Knowing that their love needs to be kept under wraps, but still having such passion towards each other, the boys struggle to remain platonic, and eventually they are found out and separated. Hussam ends up in Vancouver, where he is openly gay, leading a dangerous life caught up in drugs, unsafe sex and alcohol, all while being controlled by his older gay sponsor. Wassim stays in Syria, tries to start a heterosexual relationship, fathers a child, but is completely alone.
I liked the Hussam sections better than the Wassim ones, I think in part because there was more action and more storyline in those sections, and I may have also just enjoyed the character more. Wassim's sections were important to the story though, and so I did really try to pay attention during them haha. His sections also introduced a little bit of supernatural ideas, like ghosts, which may have made them more difficult for me to follow as I am just not at all a fantasy type person. By the end of the story, I saw the two sections come together and appreciated Wassim's story almost as much as Hussam's.
I really like this quote from the book description on Amazon: "Masterfully crafted and richly detailed, The Foghorn Echoes is a gripping novel about how to carve out home in the midst of war, and how to move forward when the war is within yourself." I think that really does sum it up well.
This one is definitely a great pick for FOLD's June Challenge, and one I would absolutely recommend!
July 2023: A book by a Black author from the East Coast
September 23, 2023
This one took a while lol. I was waiting for two books to come from the library for this category (well I still am waiting for one... must be a good one if it is taking this long for me to get off the hold list!) and while I was waiting some books from my August category came in. I read Abolitionist Intimacies thinking that it was for my August theme, when it was actually for my July one. Anyway, it would probably fit in both categories.
Description:
In Abolitionist Intimacies, El Jones examines the movement to abolish prisons through the Black feminist principles of care and collectivity. Understanding the history of prisons in Canada in their relationship to settler colonialism and anti-Black racism, Jones observes how practices of intimacy become imbued with state violence at carceral sites including prisons, policing and borders, as well as through purported care institutions such as hospitals and social work. The state also polices intimacy through mechanisms such as prison visits, strip searches and managing community contact with incarcerated people. Despite this, Jones argues, intimacy is integral to the ongoing struggles of prisoners for justice and liberation through the care work of building relationships and organizing with the people inside. Through characteristically fierce and personal prose and poetry, and motivated by a decade of prison justice work, Jones observes that abolition is not only a political movement to end prisons; it is also an intimate one deeply motivated by commitment and love.
My Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I am just not a fan of collections of essays or anthologies so this one was a bit doomed from the start. The content and ideas were great, but the writing style made it hard for me to hold my attention. I also thought it was great that the author included stories of so many different people who have real experiences to share, however, using their first initial only made it hard to tell if these were the same people or a new person with the same initial. I would have much preferred other aliases such as made up names or organizing the writing to stick with one story at a time rather than being theme based (ie. tell A's whole story before telling J's story vs talking about A and J in one chapter then mentioning A again later on). Names also just tend to be more memorable and allow the reader more of an opportunity to connect with the stories. Once I started struggling to follow I started skimming, which admittedly makes it even harder to follow but is a bad habit that I tend to get into when I can't follow something easily from the beginning lol. I did end up finishing the book though, but only dove in for short periods of time in sections I found more interesting than others.
I'll pop back in once I have the other book I ordered in my hands! Maybe this time next year?!
November 2023
I had originally put this book on hold at my local library several months ago as it was a recommendation from @the_fold for July (A book by a Black author from the East Coast) but it took a while to come in so I just finished it a few weeks ago. (I also delayed in posting because well... report cards) Anyway, this book exceeded all of my expectations. It was. SO. GOOD.
Hold My Girl by @charlenecarrauthor tells the story of two women who happen to be at the same party when the world around them gets some incredible news; a critical error occurred a little over a year ago at a fertility clinic, and it will impact their lives forever. Doing a deep dive exploration into race, law, discrimination, single motherhood, adultery, infertility, biology, the meaning of parentage, surrogacy, and so many other interesting topics, this book leaves you unsure what the answer should be, right up until the final decision comes down in court. You feel immense sadness for both mothers, put in an unimaginable situation and in a very public and judgemental way. In some ways it reminded me a bit of a Jodi Picoult book with the legal stuff and the slow reveal of the evidence/full story, but honestly, I loved it even more! I'm definitely going to have to check out her other books!
Thanks #thefold for the recommendation. I may be a few months late, but I will also add this one to my blog for
August 2023: A book that explores the justice system by an author with lived experience
Based on Fold's suggestions, I actually am reading multiple books that perfectly fit this category. I finished one, but have a few others on the go.
Harvesting Freedom
Gabriel Allahdua
Description:
When Gabriel Allahdua applied to the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Canada, he thought he would be leaving his home in St. Lucia to work in a country with a sterling human rights reputation and commitment to multiculturalism. Instead, breakneck quotas and a culture of fear dominated his four years in a mega-greenhouse in Ontario. This deeply personal memoir takes readers behind the scenes to see what life is really like for the people who produce Canada’s food.
Now, as a leading activist in the migrant justice movement in Canada, Allahdua is fighting back against the Canadian government to demand rights and respect for temporary foreign labourers. Harvesting Freedom shows Canada’s place in the long history of slavery, colonialism, and inequality that has linked the Caribbean to the wider world for half a millennium—but also the tireless determination of Caribbean people to fight for their freedom.
My Thoughts:
It took me a long time to finish this book, partly because I got married when I was halfway through it, and partly because it was fairly dry. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it and am so glad I read it, but it is written in a more non-fiction, almost detached way, with the odd anecdotal story. I thought the author's descriptions of life before, during and after living on the farm were super well done, and I have a much better understanding of the plight of migrant workers in Canada. Definitely a book to check out if you don't know much about this part of Canada's economy and history, and an important read for Canadians especially.
Bonus Selection:
I read Solitary by Albert Woodfox as the August challenge selection after also reading Harvesting Freedom for this challenge topic, but I am really glad I read both since they couldn't be more different and are both great in their own way. In Solitary, Woodfox shares his life story which includes his years as a troubled youth in Louisiana, and his time in Angola Prison, 40+ of which were in solitary confinement. The treatment he received while institutionalized is horrific and the fact that he managed to survive at all is incredible, but the fact that he was a leader, role model and advocate for himself and his fellow inmates is truly unbelievable.
There were moments I felt a little too much detail was included, especially related to specific court cases, but for the most part, the writing is excellent and the story is a good length with decent pacing. I learned a lot about a world I know little about, and also saw the impact that race has on treatment in prisons, especially in the past when there was segregation, though I'm sure there are still challenges in this area today. It made me want to know more about the Canadian prison system, and the impact on Indigenous people who make up the majority of our prison population. Maybe a good future read!
Thanks as always to The Fold for giving me ideas for diverse themes and reads!
September 2023: An Audiobook by an Indigenous Author
In complete un-Angie-fashion, I managed to finish my September adult selection during the actual month of September! However, in true Angie-fashion the audiobook version was abandoned for the physical copy about 25% of the way in... you win some, you lose some.
I chose Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. It had been on my list for a while and miraculously I was able to get an audiobook copy and then also a physical copy quite quickly from my library (I'm still waiting on my July pick so that tells you how much faith I had in the turnover speed of books I've placed on hold). I started listening to the audiobook and was instantly drawn in, perhaps too much in some ways. The emotional nature of the stories in this book was causing me some stress and sadness, and I usually listen to audiobooks before bed so coupled with my chronic psychological insomnia.... this wasn't the right audiobook for me. That being said, when I did start the physical copy I was pleasantly surprised by how much I retained when I listened to the audiobook (making reading go quickly). I often find that I can follow non-fiction audiobooks better than fiction, but the writing in this one (and narration) was so strong, I was able to follow it quite easily.
This book alternates main characters between chapters, but the narration is third person, so even though the stories jump around a bit, readers aren't necessarily waiting for the next chapter to see a different perspective, but instead each chapter offers another part of the story. Each of the characters have things in common, with the main commonality being their time at an Indian Residential School called the Mission, but also experience the PTSD in different ways and lead very different lives after leaving the school. Some of the characters cope with addiction, while others try each day to work towards great goals. Some characters try to reconnect with friends or family, while others feel constantly on the run. The trauma experienced at the school stays with each of them forever, and the coupled with the racism and discrimination they experience, makes life even harder.
I would definitely say this is a must-read for all Canadians, and while it is emotional and there are definitely some triggering moments, it is also a really interesting and thought-provoking book, one I would absolutely recommend.
October 2023: A book featuring Magic by a Latinx author
Ok here's the thing, I love these FOLD challenges but this is a bit too specific and magic is really not my thing so I gave myself some creative agency here and decided to skip the magic part. I also have wayyyyyyyy too many books on my TBR (both the digital list on goodreads, and the imaginary one in my head) and too many actual books on my kindle and my overflowing bookshelves so I decided on top of forgetting about the magic part, I was going to also pick a book that I actually already had on one of these lists and shelves. Hence my choice for this month was: My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez.
At 15 years old Elizabeth is left alone in Tucson, Arizona when her immigrant parents and younger brother are forced to leave the US and move back to Mexico. With her parent's dreams of seeing Elizabeth achieve success they were not capable of, the most important thing becomes ensuring Elizabeth gets an education in America, even at the loss of family.
Life is not easy for Elizabeth, even before she is left on her own as a minor. Growing up, her family lived in extreme poverty because her parents were only in America on temporary visas and were not legally allowed to work. With a constant fear of deportation, her parents did not apply for any of the social assistance programs Elizabeth and her younger brother Fernando were entitled to as US citizens, worried the applications would be flagged. After her parents are denied reentry into the states, Elizabeth cares for her younger brother for a few months, and then is left alone with neglectful strangers to survive until graduation. Here she experiences loneliness and loss, while trying to be an adult without any of the resources she needed.
There were a lot of moments in this story that I could relate to in terms of my own childhood trauma. While much different than Elizabeth's my trauma did also involve being given adult responsibilities at too young an age. The frustrations she shared rang true for me in many instances, especially when she was expected to act as an adult without being given the resources or information required to do so successfully. I often found that the impossible was expected of me on a regular basis, but secrets or information were kept from me or resources were inaccessible to me even though I needed them in order to act like the adult I was expected to somehow become.
I learned a lot about the immigration system in the US, especially the problems faced by Mexican citizens in the mid 2000s. I had no idea there was a "show my your papers" law which required officers to demand immigration papers from anyone at any given time. Or that in 2010 there was a bill in Arizona that banned ethnic studies, including books by Mexican authors in school libraries. I can only imagine how hard that must have been for so many immigrants and even American citizens with Latinx backgrounds during that time (and I'm sure it continues today or at least in recent years).
There were many quotes in this book that left me thinking, but this one impressed me the most:
In many ways the river taught me about life: that wealth and poverty are in proximity, but always separated; that people don’t like what they can’t control, preferring instead to reward you only when you fulfill their narrative about who you are supposed to be; that there are seasons of lack and plenty, of drought and flooding. In many ways, my life would mirror the river and its seasons, full of living things fighting to survive among invasive species. But in one way my life would never mirror the river: I would always return to Mexico.
Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez. My Side of the River (Kindle Locations 41-45). Kindle Edition.
The symbolism, metaphor and just beautiful writing in this quote really summed up the story for me and it was found so early in the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot and also connected with the author/narrator quite a bit. It was easy to follow in a memoir narrative chronological style and I appreciated the anecdotal and informative pieces woven throughout. A great book for anyone wanting to learn more about the immigrant experience in the southern US. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
November 2023: An Epistolary title by an author from a Marginalized Community
I don't really know if this one counts, it for sure is Epistolary, but I'm not sure if the author is from a marginalized community. The author may be Jewish but I feel like I'm just looking for a reason to make this one fit so I will try to read one of the FOLD recommendations as well, but since I listened to this fun audiobook at the end of October, I figured it wouldn't hurt to include it in here.
I really enjoyed listening to this fun audiobook! The story is told through letters between two dogs, Zippy and Wilson, and their grandmother, Vivianne (their owner, Pamela's mother). The letters tell the story from primarily the dog's perspectives but in between the chaos of Wilson teaching Zippy about life and Zippy getting into puppy trouble, there are narratives about relationship issues, alcoholism, and grief. The narrator did a great job with this unique story and gave the two dogs their own unique voices, helping with the entertainment piece and giving the dogs their own personalities. This is the perfect book for pet owners who treat their pets like children and talk through them. A fun book I would definitely recommend. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to and review this audiobook!
December 2023: A book by an author who identifies as MAD or who writes about mental health
I read Unsilenced by Amy Gamble. Apparently I'm on a bit of an Olympic memoirs kick lately, as I recently read 9 lives by 39 and I am listening to Rachel Denhollander's memoir, but this one is not about a gymnast for once! Amy Gamble is completely vulnerable as she reveals her most difficult moments and deepest secrets related to her struggle with mental health. Amy's mother is bipolar, so when she receives the diagnosis that she is too, she understands what it means, but is reluctant to agree. After receiving "help" from a series of absolutely horrendous mental health practitioners she sets off on a viscious spiral of events which puts her in harms way many times. Gamble experienced multuple instances of sexual abuse in childhood and once she decides to try to work through that trauma, the counsellors and psychiatrists she trusts lead her down a very dangerous path. It is heartwrenching and dispicable to read about the care she received but it shows how difficult it is for someone with preexisting mental illnesses to be heard in a broken system. The entire story is gripping and chaotic, giving the reader a glimpse into the author's perspective and fluctuating state of mind. Like many trauma-based memoirs, it does jump around a bit chronologically, and is at times a bit hard to follow but I loved it and was easily able to just go along for the ride.
I would highly recommend this memoir and am so glad I got a chance to read it, thanks to Netgalley and the author/publisher, SpeakUp4Mental Health LLC!
Fold Wrap Up
Here's my #foldchallenge23 wrap up!
I really enjoyed participating in this challenge this past year and am excited to do it again in 2024. I feel like I already do intentionally read a lot of diverse authors, but I think that this challenge helped me in a few ways. First, there are about 4 recommendations per month, so I discovered new books I probably wouldn't have otherwise found; most notably: Hold My Girl by @charlenecarrauthor and Juliet Takes a Breath by @quirkyrican. Second, as much as I (at times) found the limitations on genre a bit frustrating (ie. speculative fiction and epistolary - which I had to then look up the meanings of lol), it did force me to read outside my comfort zone, and I ended up loving The Conjoined by @jensookfonglee. Third, it made me make an effort to consider whether or not the diverse authors were Canadian, and while I did not stick to that for all of the months, I did make an effort, only about half of my selections were Canadian. There are so many great Canadian books and authors out there, but with so many American influences in our media, it can be hard for those Canadian authors to shine. By participating in @thecanadianbookclubawards and @the_fold challenge I had a chance to read some great Canadian authors that were new to me.
My plans for 2024:
1. While I did attempt to read a middle grade/children's book for each month as well, that was a little too much for me. I've decided this year I will read either a children's book or an adult book per month (more if I want to of course).
2. #thefoldchallenge24 actually is less specific in the genres (yay) so I will try harder to stick to the actual categories not fudge them to make a book I want to read fit (at least less than last year anyway...)
3. I will try to read a Canadian author for each category if possible, even if it means buying a book (rather than using the library or sticking to my shelves if neither has the right fit book), because at least I am supporting a Canadian author, even if I am not sticking to my goal to declutter my TBR and limit my spending on books. Don't get me wrong, all that is important, but if I always pick the most accessible books, am I really diversifying my reading?
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