Well, April was a lot! The musical I directed at my school went super well but it was a lot of work. This weekend was a lot of napping... and finally a bit of reading! Since April was almost a write off when it comes to reviews, I decided to do an April and May post together this month.
All good things come to an end! I may have ugly cried when all of my grade 8 girls hugged me after the final performance of the musical I directed. 😠Who wouldn’t when they tell you you’re the reason they felt comfortable being on stage and thank you for giving them the opportunity to be themselves and make new friends?! I may be exhausted, but it was worth every late night, early morning, Saturday rehearsal and meetings galore, not for the beautiful flowers, but for the beautiful young humans I got to work with. 💕 P.S. 4 years ago (after the last musical I directed) my cat ate the flowers I was given and I spent the weekend bawling for a whole different reason - worried I may have killed my cat due to accidentally leaving a door open in an exhausted fog. Since I am exactly the same amount of exhausted, my lovely neighbour gets some new flowers
April 2023
April 8
Hana Khan Carries On
Uzma Jalaluddin
April 9
Better Off Wed
Portia Macintosh
Better off Wed is my second portia macintosh book and as much as I enjoyed your place or mine I loved this one so much more! In Better off wed the main character Olivia finds herself in a very unique situation - if she wants to get married in her dream wedding venue - a family tradition, she must marry her boyfriend of less than a year in less than a month! Not only that - she must share the wedding with her brother and his slightly bridezilla-esque fiancee. Olivia quickly learns that ignoring your gut feeling and a zillion red flags is the last thing you should do, especially when making life-altering decisions.
Filled with wedding-related fun, slow reveal secrets, and a cast of quirky characters, this book is perfect if you are currently in the midst of wedding planning like me, or just want to enjoy the drama from a distance while reading a fun rom com! Thanks so much to netgalley and book and tonic for giving me the chance to read and review this fun book, I look forward to reading more novels from Macintosh in the future!
April 10
The Girl in the Triangle Factory
Joyana Peters
This YA Historical Fiction is perfect for teen or adult readers who are interested in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the other societal issues that were pressing at that time, including the suffrage movement, unions/strikes, immigration and life in the tenements! The story follows two families who are working together to immigrate from Russia during the Pogroms to New York. Ruth is betrothed to Abraham and once she arrives in NYC she joins him in working at a factory to help save money for the rest of his family to immigrate. Both Ruth and her younger sister Ester have a passion for being involved and helping create change, they just have different ideas of worthy causes and their approaches could not be more different! Crammed together in a tenement apartment, struggling to make ends meet and still save for Abraham's family, all while facing long hours and unfair working conditions in a ticking time bomb of a factory, certainly adds lots of interesting dynamics to the story!
While it is listed as a YA it could easily be enjoyed by adult audiences, but features young adults as the main characters and thus would likely be appealing for a younger audience as well. I love how well researched and realistic the writing was! While things are a bit slower in the first half of the book, I could not put it down once I reached the midway point, and don't count on predictable endings - I was definitely surprised! I absolutely recommend this book!
April 13, 2023
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin
Man it feels good to finally crush this one! 💪 At just under 450 pages it is not the longest book I've read, but it is probably the heaviest!
I started listening to Welcome to Dunder Mifflin as an audiobook a few months ago at bedtime, but it was keeping me up too late listening 🤣 so I decided to switch to the hard copy version but it's a big one and it took me quite a while to pick away at it.
The book is written primarily by Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) and Ben Silverman, an executive producer, but it is written in conversation style, so many actors and crew members are quoted directly, and it feels much more like you are eavesdropping on a cast reunion than reading a book. On top of the conversation style writing, there are also many pictures, charts and "HR Profiles" giving all of the background information office fans were hoping for. An interesting story turned coffee table book is what this book is in essence, and it is very well done!
I would recommend both versions, the audiobook is read by several of the actors and crew so it is super entertaining, but it does not have the pictures. Either way it is an entertaining book and perfect for office fans everywhere!
Visions of the Crow
Wanda John-Kehewin, Nicole Marie Burton
I am really excited about this new #yagraphicnovel from @highwaterpress and Portage & Main Press!
This graphic novel tells the story of a young teen named Damon who is struggling with bullying/teasing at school, his mother's alcohol addiction and a lack of connection to his family and culture. Through the story Damon connects with Journey, a new student at his school who is also Indigenous, as well as some community and elders, mainly though visions. The story brings in Cree culture and language, while also covering topics that young people could benefit to read about, and information about Canada's history in an engaging way. Topics covered include: parents suffering from alcohol/addiction, intergenerational trauma related to residential schools, distancing oneself from the reserve/family, teen pregnancy, social assistance, therapy/counselling, connecting with elders and more!
While there is some use of "WTF" and symbols in place of a swear, there is minimal swearing other than words like crap, there is also some violence (bullying) and cigarette and alcohol use, but nothing too mature for older middle grade and YA readers. While it is likely too mature for my young students, I could definitely see having a copy of this book in my school library or in a middle school or high school classroom library. The content is interesting, the graphic novel style is accessible for struggling or reluctant readers, and it is another example of a diverse text that represents some of the students in our schools. I would highly recommend this one! Thanks so much to the publisher for giving me a sneak peak of this book that I'm confident will be a hit in schools soon!
April 20, 2023
Royal Coconut Beach Club
This fun fiction novel kept me guessing all the way through! Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club tells the story of Julia, a former lawyer turned fundraiser for the Addison Centre, a performance arts venue use by the rich locals as a source of competition and boasting when it comes to who can donate the most to have their names on the playbill. Julia quickly learns that her job is more about maintaining appearances and schmoozing with donors than marketing and searching for new donors. She also soon realizes that rubbing shoulders with the rich inevitably leads to scandals.
With relatively short chapters, this book felt like a really quick read, but it covered a lot of content. There were a few moments where I was a bit confused about the timeline (near the end it said it was only a little under a year but it felt like two full event seasons so I thought 2 at least?) but it was all chronological and easy to follow! There were enough interesting characters to keep you interested, and the author did a great job with slowly revealing things. The characters are mainly in their 40s and up so it also is a nice read for someone who is looking for more mature storylines.
Thanks to @katieandbreypa@meryl_moss@booktrib@dianebergner for giving me the chance to read this fun book. I definitely look forward to seeing what else this author writes in the future!
April 24, 2023
May 2023
May 4, 2023
I Got it From Here
Francesca Miracola
This memoir tells the story of a young woman who found herself in an awful relationship with seemingly no way out. When Francesca was a young adult, her Italian parents pressed upon her the importance of finding a good husband and settling down, asap. Although her parents didn't love the man she chose, they also didn't seem to see the signs that Francesca saw from the beginning, that this was not the right man for her. In the end, Francesca chose the confident, personable, Jason to be her husband, despite not feeling attraction or love towards him. After they married, her life became horrendous, with small children, an abusive and sociopathic husband, and a limited support network, Francesca risks everything to protect her children and herself from the maniac she married. After many years fighting custody battles, trying to protect her children, especially her middle child who was often the target of their manic father, and insurmountable legal fees, Francesca finally finds her way through the chaos and learns what in life is truly worth fighting for.
Once I was about 20% into the book it became impossible to put down. I found that the legal battles and the drama with her chaotic ex-husband and his family were absolutely enthralling. It was like each step of the way something more absurd happened. I also wanted so badly to scream about the awful system she was fighting and the corruption she uncovered. It is awful to think that a loving mother had to fight so hard to protect her children from their abusive and mentally unstable father and nearly loses everything at each turn in the story. It is heartbreaking to know this was a true story, but there is also much to be learned about perseverance and the lengths a mother will go to for her children. This is a very well written and interesting book and one I would definitely recommend!
May 7, 2023
Whistleblower
Kate Marchant
I just finished Whistleblower by Kate Marchant and it was SO good. This YA book tells the story of Laurel Cates, a Junior at Garland University who is pretty comfortable in her college life, living in an apartment with her best friend, enjoying watching her best guy friend Andre play football, attending classes, working at a country club and writing for her school newspaper. When a story begins to unfold about the football coach and some misogynistic comments and actions, as well as some rumours about charity funds being misused and some sexual harassment allegations, Laurel finds herself in some pretty difficult situations.
I really enjoyed this book that had the perfect amount of YA high-interest content, like parties, romance and college life, while also including a bit of race and LGBTQ issues, along with sexual harassment, standing up against powerful people, the ethics of journalism. I liked Laurel's character and the way she worked through her own internal conflict when facing challenging situations and conflict. I also appreciated that Marchant showed some of the negative sides of standing up for what you believe in, including potentially facing harassment, unfair consequences like job loss, and attempts by those in power to shut down your ability to speak up. I liked the variety of characters and the author's descriptions of setting, it made it easy to picture and follow along.
I loved this book and am so glad I had the chance to read it, thanks to Rachel at Wattpad! I would definitely recommend it, especially to readers who love YA and are looking for something with substance.
May 11, 2023
Margaret Klaw
Pub Date: May 23rd
This book was super good! The story follows a recently separated couple who are suddenly facing a custody battle as they file for divorce. Told from alternating perspectives, some of which include: the husband Jake, the wife Lisa, Jake's Lawyer Ellen, both of couple's children, Elizabeth and Charlie, the lawyer's teen daughter, the judge and many others community members (even the dog!), the story is brought together in so many interesting pieces. Much like a legal case likely unfolds, the author was able to paint a picture of the custody battle by offering snippets of information from a variety of perspectives, some of which felt like you might not have even heard if you hadn't asked the right question or been in the right place at the right time. This added some really neat dynamics to the story and made keep wanting more. I often was thinking "Oh man, is this character going to find out the truth about what happened?" and sometimes they did and other times they didn't! While there was definitely some time hopping, and unclear timelines, that added to the feeling that you were piecing together information. There were some storylines that didn't fully get resolved, which is something I usually hate in a book, but I actually think it was completely intentional and really fit well in this book because the author probably wanted you to feel the way a judge or jury likely feel, only getting part of the story and not getting the chance to follow up down the road. There was an epilogue and some interesting moments of closure, but still much left to the reader's imagination and it worked out super well in this book!
I would definitely recommend this book! It has some really interesting themes and ideas, including confidentiality, custody/parental rights, polyamory and divorce from all perspectives including the children. There were some elements of the story that reminded me of a Jodi Picoult book, but with just a little more wackiness. The characters were all interesting in their own ways and the multiple perspectives showed that the author has quite a range of writing styles and really carefully considered what each character might say or think in a situation. Really well crafted overall!
Thanks so much to Books Forward for giving me the opportunity to join this book tour! I hope the author, Margaret Klaw writes more books because I will definitely be lining up to get a copy and you should grab yours today!
May 13, 2023
In One Life and Out Another J Mercer Pub Date: May 16
I absolutely LOVED this YA. Go check out my full post to find out why!
May 15, 2023
The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh's Lunch
Check out my Middle Grade Monday Post here: https://teachreadinspire.wixsite.com/website/post/middle-grade-monday-2023
May 20, 2023
Anatomy of a Misfit
Andrea Portes
May 20, 2023
One Day With You
Shari Low
Oh Shari Low, you've done it again! This book was as fantastic as I hoped it would be! Much like her other "One Day" books, the story follows 4 main characters alternating perspectives in 2 hour blocks over 24 hours. The story begins when Max, Tress's husband is reluctantly leaving for a business trip 3 weeks before his wife's due date for their first child. Just after he leaves Tress goes into labour and begins trying to reach him. Max's best friend Noah is going through a rough patch with his wife Anya, and they are fighting yet again as she leaves for a business trip that same morning. Their farewell is not great and Noah is left wondering what is going on in his marriage. Meanwhile, Max is taking a cab to a random location to meet Anya, as it turns out, the two are having an affair and this will be their last "hurrah" before they end things for good, for the sake of the new baby. Finally, we also get to meet Nancy, a retired widow who is half-excited and half-dreading her high school reunion and a potential rekindling of a high school crush 40 years later. After many phone blunders including no service and secretaries who aren't in the loop about the lie, as well as a series of events that bring all of the main characters to a hospital at the same time, quickly the secret affair is no longer a secret, and even more than that, it will inevitably alter many lives forever.
Low does a great job of alternating between serious, high stress moments, and throwing in some comedic moments to make things a little more light. That being said, with the short chapters and alternating perspectives, it is extremely difficult to put down! As well, knowing that everything is taking place in one day makes you want to keep reading because you know there is so much action taking place and you need to find out what is going to happen next to the characters you love! By touching on issues that affect people across the life span, like loss of a partner, new motherhood, infidelity, regrets about past relationships and people changing as they age, Low meets her readers no matter what age they are at by creating meaningful connections between her characters that lead to meaningful connections for her readers.
I would absolutely recommend this book. It is a quick and interesting read with well-developed characters, interesting and comedic moments, and many opportunities for reflection. I think this would make a great book club or buddy read book and I can't wait to see what one of my favourite authors comes up with next. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for giving me the chance to read and review this fabulous book!
May 21, 2023
Wow! I absolutely devoured Night, Forgotten by Meghan Tozer!
Book three of my #maylongweekend reading #staycation, I read this book in less than a day. It was impossible to put down! I'm not a huge thriller/suspense fan, mostly because I find them pretty scary, but this one was the perfect psychological thriller for me. I was completely caught up in the storyline, and blown away by the ending! (Don't worry, no spoilers here!)
Julie has no recollection of what happened between when she arrived at her neighbour's Christmas party and when she woke up half naked in their bathtub, clearly having experienced sexual assault. Alternating between "then" (the night of the attack and the months immediately after) and "Now" the weeks and months after the birth of her child, we see Julie's mental health completely unravel.
I found at first that it was a bit tough to follow at times, because there were flashbacks even within the "then" and "now" sections to other times, like when Julie met her husband Owen, when they decided to have a baby, when she met her neighbour etc., but once I finished the book it all made so much more sense and I loved the way that it all played out. There were a couple of slightly scary moments, but I could handle it so I'm sure you can too! This book does include some trigger warnings: sexual abuse/rape and discussion of abortion.
Thanks so much to Breys Book Tours for inviting me on this book tour, I can't wait to see what other readers though! Also thanks to one of my fave publishers Wattpad for making this fantastic book possible!
May 22, 2023
Food Fight
Linda B Davis
I loved this Middle Grade! It was a lot of fun and really interesting. Check out my full review and all of my other Middle Grade Monday Posts Here: https://teachreadinspire.wixsite.com/website/post/middle-grade-monday-2023
Once Our Lives
Qin Sun Stubis
This book is so interesting and unique. I love that it is made up of family histories passed down generations about brave and independent women living in a cultural and historic period where women were bought and sold and undervalued across the board. While obviously very important contextually, I felt that the major events such as the wars almost blended into the background of the storyline, instead the stories of the women, impacted only indirectly by these world events, drove the timeline and the context. It was a really interesting writing choice and I really liked it!
I would definitely recommend this book, it is filled with really neat perspectives and some very intriguing storylines! Thanks to books forward pr and the author,for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
....AND THAT'S A WRAP
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