Book Review: The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan

The Bitter Side of Sweet is emotional and powerful.  The story of these poor children will break your heart.

Fifteen-year-old Amadou's main concern is taking care of his little brother, who is too young to be held to the standards of the masters who set the quotas for harvesting the cacao. Two years ago, when they signed up for a season of harvesting to help out their impoverished family, they had no idea that they were signing up for a life of slavery.  They have never been paid, and have no way of escaping this life.  They are beaten regularly, hungry all the time, and Amadou has taken more than his share of the punishments because he covers for his brother.

When a girl arrives and is expected to join them in their harvesting, everything changes.  She is a fighter -- much like Amadou used to be.  He tries to convince her that there is no escape, but she continues to fight and be beaten for her behavior.

These three kids do manage to escape, in an unbelievable set of lucky circumstances, but their journey is only beginning.

They are surprisingly resilient, and they finally find a few adults who are willing to help them (barely.) The story of the girl and how she got herself into this situation is slowly revealed. And the mostly happy ending is a relief.

You can't help rooting for them.  I did have a minor problem with the lucky breaks they got, but there were plenty of hardships to go along with them.  The Bitter Side of Sweet is supposedly based in truth. There are children right now, mostly in Africa, harvesting cacao so that all of us on this side of the world can get our chocolate fix.  It makes you think.

There is an author's note at the end where she explains a bit about this mostly ignored problem.  I would have liked a bit more about this.  There is an act that has been passed to protect these children, but she states that it isn't doing much good. She gives suggestions about contacting chocolate companies in this country.  She mentions "fair trade" cocoa, but I'm not sure how to get such a thing.  She does refer to her website (www.TaraSullivanBooks.com) for more information.  The Bitter Side of Sweet would be a great classroom read and provides a good start to get students to do some research.

The Bitter Side of Sweet is a quick, easy read and does a good job of keeping you turning the pages.  This would be a good one for middle school or high school, including reluctant readers, who enjoy survival stories.

Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons BFYR, February 23, 2016
Copy obtained from the library
310 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Diamond Boy, by Michael Williams

Diamond Boy is a compelling story about a really screwed up political situation.

Patson's family is moving to Marange, where his (evil) stepmother's brother owns a huge diamond field. They have no intention of working in the diamond mines. Patson's father will teach at the local school and Patson and his sister will attend the school.

First of all, they barely make it to Marange alive. They lose most of their belongings and only arrive safely due to the help of a guide, who also becomes a good friend. And, the school is closed, Patson and his father must work the mine fields. They live in an old barn, with a bunch of other families. Patson's stepmom moves in the main house with her brother.

The dream is to find the big diamond that will make you rich. Hundreds are trying to do so. But if they find anything, they must hide it from the owners of the mine.

Soldiers from the corrupt Zimbabwe government eventually take over the mine, and things get even worse.

The stepmom is totally wicked. It's entirely her fault that all this happened in the first place. I find it hard to believe Patson's sensible father would let her walk all over him like that. I find it hard to believe he ended up with her in the first place.

Diamond Boy is a heartbreaking story based on true events in Zimbabwe's recent history. The story definitely keeps your interest. Patson becomes very strong. He risks everything for his family, overcoming unbelievable odds.

There are several side characters that serve to make Diamond Boy a full and complete story. Boubacar, the guide, and Patson's friend, Arves, are both special characters.

I believe Diamond Boy will appeal to teens, and even young teens, who enjoy adventure and survival stories. You can't help but feel Patson's fears and anguish. Diamond Boy is also a slice of recent history that most you people are probably unaware of. I'll be happy to recommend this one.

Published by Little, Brown BFYR, December 2, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
400 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Audiobook Review: Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese

Cutting for Stone is a rich, beautiful, epic story of the life of twins in Ethiopia, although I did find it a bit heavy with detail.

Marion Stone is the narrator of Cutting for Stone. He has a twin, Shiva. These twins were born in Ethiopia in a poor hospital where their mother, Sister Mary Joseph Praise, and their father (a doctor) worked. Sister Mary Joseph Praise was Indian and their father from Britain, so even though the twins spend their entire childhood in Ethiopia, they are not natives.

Their mother dies in childbirth, and the twins are almost lost too. Their father, Thomas Stone, disappears, so Marion and Shiva are raised by two doctors at the hospital in Ethiopia. Their lives are surrounded by love, by the hospital, and by Ethiopian life. At times, politics gets in the way -- Ethiopia becomes very unstable. So much so, that Marion must leave and ends up in America. He becomes a surgeon like his father and his stepfather.

There is so much to this story. You learn every detail about the lives of the main characters (and I haven't even mentioned all of them.) You learn everything about Ethiopia. You learn almost everything about being a surgeon in a poor hospital (both in Ethiopia and in New York.) Honestly, it's almost too much. If I had been reading the print book rather than listening to the audiobook, I may have given up.

But I like my audiobooks "epic" and Cutting for Stone fit that requirement perfectly. Verghese is a master storyteller. Unexpected things happen. A lot happens. After all, this story follows the twins through almost their entire lives. You will feel a lot of emotions: sadness, fear, tension, and love.  After all, you will know these characters VERY well.

I highly recommend the audiobook. Sunil Malhotra, the narrator, speaks with an Indian accent, but it is very easy to understand and really adds a lot to the telling of Cutting for Stone.

If you are in the mood for a detailed, atmospheric book that will immerse you into the culture and lives of its characters, give Cutting for Stone a try.

Published by Knopf, 2009
Copy obtained from the library
560 pages

Rating: 4/5

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