Audiobook Review: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

 The Nickel Boys is getting a lot of hype, and I understand why.

The Nickel Boys chronicles the story of Elwood, a black teenager from Tallahassee, Florida in the 1960s. Elwood's parents have abandoned him, and his grandmother is raising him. Elwood is smart and determined. When he is accepted into the local black college, his future is bright. Everything comes crashing down when Elwood is in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up in a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy.

The black "students" are kept separate from the white, and even though the mission statement says the school provides "physical, intellectual and moral training," what it really provides is a horrific existence where students are worked hard, provided little nourishment, and beaten and sometimes even killed for small infractions.

Elwood is optimistic, being a follower of Martin Luther King, and believes he can overcome his environment and continue to love his captors. His friend, Turner, thinks Elwood is crazy, the world is out to get them, and they need to avoid trouble at all costs.

This story is all the more harrowing since it is based on a reform school that existed during that time and, of course, ruined the lives of many, many black children.

I liked The Nickel Boys. It helped that is was a short book. I still felt it dragged at the beginning, but I needed to find out what happened. The ending was a surprise, but that is all I'll say. The book makes you sad, and frustrated, and outraged, as is intended. I'm not sure I'd consider it one of The 10 Best Fiction Books of the Decade (Time Magazine), but that is just my opinion. I do think it is worth the read. Also, The Nickel Boys would be a great classroom read for high school students.

Published by Doubleday, 2019
Audiobook obtained from the library
 224 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Audiobook Review: The Quiet Game by Greg Iles

The Quiet Game is the first book in the Penn Cage series. I had read Natchez Burning, not realizing that it was the fourth book and enjoyed it so much I wanted to start at the beginning.

Penn, a prosecutor in Houston, has been trying to get over the death of his wife and decides to return home with his young daughter to heal. Instead of healing, he puts himself, his parents, and his daughter in grave danger as he investigates a 30-year-old unsolved murder of a black man in Natchez. There is much resistance from the town, both black and white, to opening this case again. Penn doesn't understand why.

Getting to the truth of what really happened almost destroys everything Penn has, but he can't give up until he gets some resolution. No matter what the cost. That's just the kind of guy he is.

The story contains the beginnings of what could end up a romance for Penn, which as a reader you really want. He's suffering and you want to see him happy. These books are very long at 20 hours -- some would say a bit bloated. But I enjoyed the details and Iles' writing style is interesting. It helps that the narrator, Tom Stechschulte, does a great job of pulling you into the lives of these characters.

I received this book from libro.fm. I have really enjoyed this audiobook service, and you should check it out if you are interested. Not as many books as Audible, but I've been able to find everything I wanted.

If you are at all interested in Civil Rights murders in the south during the 60s and beyond, check out the Penn Cage series. I've really become attached to these characters and plan to continue with Turning Angel, the second book.

Published by Dutton, 1999
Audiobook obtained from libro.fm
433 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: March, Book One, by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

March: Book One is the story of the life of U.S. Congressman John Lewis.  It is the first of a three-part graphic novel series about his life.

John Lewis was (and is) a staunch supporter and fighter for civil rights.  March: Book One is the beginning of his life when he discovered Martin Luther King and several other civil rights leaders. John Lewis got arrested for the first of many times in this book.

His philosophy is all about passive, nonviolent resistance. At the end of the book, he makes a point of discussing that this fight is not only against the white leadership but also the black leadership because so far, they have been content with "partial segregation."  John Lewis was one of the first of the new generation that would only be content with true equality.

I enjoyed this book and learned some things about the history of the civil rights movement.  I did find the print to be extremely tiny, but my eyes are old and this may not be a problem for everyone. The book goes back and forth from the past to the present very abruptly because it is told as if John Lewis is telling his life story to a couple of children in 2009. In some spots, there is a (very tiny) date indicated so you know you've jumped, but not every time, so I kept having to backtrack.

The artwork is black and white and goes well with the text.  I'm not a fan of graphic novels. I read the bubbles in the wrong order -- it's not a natural thing for me.  I read too fast and don't always take the time to look at the art, but March: Book One is worth the time.

March: Book One is nominated for the Lincoln Award, Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award for 2018. Students interested in the history of civil rights should not miss this one.

Published by Top Shelf Productions, 2013
Copy obtained from the library
121 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Audiobook Review: Natchez Burning, by Greg Iles

At almost 36 hours, I think Natchez Burning is the longest book I've ever listened to. But it was good!

Natchez Burning is the 4th book in the Penn Cage series.  I didn't realize that.  Somehow I thought it was the first.  But as I was listening, it seemed like some of the things referred to were probably in a previous book.  I don't think it's necessary to read the others first, though. (Although I have put them on my list.)

Penn Cage is the mayor of Natchez, Mississippi.  His father, Dr. Tom Cage, has been a respected physician in Natchez since the 1960s.  He is respected by both white and black people and has always treated them fairly.  When Tom is accused of murdering his long-time African American nurse from the 1960s, Penn believes there won't be a problem clearing him given his reputation.  His nurse, Viola, was in the last days of suffering from cancer, and even though euthanasia is illegal, with Tom's reputation things should be okay.

But they are not.  Tom is keeping secrets from Penn, and they have to do with an elite group of the KKK called the Double Eagles murdering several African Americans in the 1960s. Penn hooks up with Henry Sexton, a local reporter who has been researching these cases for many years, to try to figure out how to help his father.  And Henry, of course, wants to bring the Double Eagles to justice.

This story goes on and on, but there's never a dull moment.  Iles provides quite a bit of background at times, but Natches Burning never failed to keep my interest. There are many colorful (and vile) characters who are constantly putting each other in danger. And many descriptions of torture beyond belief. It is incredible to me that this all happens in the span of four or five days, I believe.

The harrowing conclusion builds and builds and I had invested so much time, but I still thought the ending was really abrupt. There were some major loose ends that are left hanging, and I just needed more wrap up of the aftermath and time for my emotions to subside.

The narrator, David Ledoux, has a great voice and distinguishes the characters without going over the top.  He is, however, pretty slow.  After about half way through (and my third time checking this out), I decided speeding it up to 1.5X was perfect. (I used my library's audio download service, which automatically checks things back in after 3 weeks.  There was a wait list for this book, so I had to wait three times in between listening. This took me a while to finish.)

I enjoyed Natchez Burning and like Penn Cage enough to see what else he gets up to.  If you are willing to spend the time, I highly recommend it.

Published by William Morrow, 2014, audio by HarperAudio, 2015
Audiobook obtained from the library
880 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

Dreamland Burning is a powerful book.  I know I'm not the first to say that, but it's the truth.  Gut wrenching.

Dreamland Burning uses dual narration effectively.  Rowan narrates from the present, as human bones are found in the floor of what used to be the servants quarters in her century old house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Rowan's family doesn't have servants, but they are wealthy.  Her mother is African American and her father is Caucasian.

Will is the other narrator, who slowly takes us through the events leading up to and during the Tulsa riot in 1921. Will's father is Caucasian and his mother is Native American. And yes, he does reveal whose body is under the floor and I was surprised.  The clues are vague, but tend to lead in a different direction.

It's a good thing the narration switches back and forth.  When it got to the point where my discomfort was getting to be too much, the narration switched at just the right time.  This pulls you through the book very quickly.

Dreamland Burning is much more than a forensic investigation, although that lends a very interesting aspect to the story.  It's an examination of race relations in the 1920s and perhaps more importantly, in the current day.

The messages are powerful.  But the story is captivating and in no way preachy. I'm a white woman who lives about 25 miles from Ferguson, Missouri, and I have preconceived notions about "justice" and those notions recently  have been constantly in flux.  (Not that proximity means I have more feelings than anyone else, but somehow seeing your locality portrayed on the news night after night seems more personal.) Dreamland Burning has helped to clarify those feelings some more.

I'm not here to rant, but this story has a nice, fairly happy ending -- at least it seems like it might.  I'm not sure many of the other stories recently in the news do.

Somehow I've got to get my teens to read this book.  It seems like they either all go for fantasy or romance, not hard-hitting contemporary novels.  I may just force this one on my book club next year...

Published by Little, Brown BFYR February 21, 2017
Copy obtained from the library
371 pages

Rating: 5/5

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Book Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley @robin_talley

Lies We Tell Ourselves is a heart wrenching story about school desegregation in Virginia -- with an added complication.

Heart wrenching is a very accurate description. Nine students will attend the fictitious Jefferson High School after winning a suit filed by the NAACP. Now, we've all seen famous pictures from the 60s when this phenomenon was occurring. But those pictures are from the first day. This book recounts the day after day relentless persecution suffered by these teens. Spit wads, taunts of "nigger," shoving and pushing in and out of school, and many other occurrences were common, everyday experiences. It never got better. There was virtually no support or assistance from the faculty or administration. These kids weren't welcome at extracurricular events. And the prom was cancelled because parents didn't want their white kids at the same dance as blacks which just adds to the hatred.

Sarah is our main character, and she is forced to work on a school project with two white girls, Linda and Judy. They meet in a secret back room where Judy works, so no one knows.  Linda's father is the editor of the newspaper and one of the most vocal supporters of segregation. Linda is also afraid of him -- he's a moody and sometimes violent father.

Lies We Tell Ourselves is told from both Linda's and Sarah's perspectives. Their feelings for each other begin at hatred, and eventually turn into friendship and more. Both are confused about their feelings.

We get to know several characters, and that makes the story become real. There are side stories -- Sarah & Linda both sing. Sarah's sister is also attending Jefferson, and Sarah feels like she must do everything to protect her. Linda is dating a much older guy and plans to get married as soon as she graduates. This is a book about the 1960s in general, as well as desegregation.

There is violence against the teens who attend the white school. Some of them don't survive the environment and end up quitting.

Lies We Tell Ourselves speaks to the reader about strength and perseverance and standing up for what you believe. It strongly addresses how easy it is for teens to believe whatever their parents have taught them and how difficult those beliefs are to change.

I almost felt like the lesbian issue was taking on too much. It was dealt with realistically, but the controversy is already so complicated it was almost overwhelming. Sarah is a devout Christian, and prays fervently for God to help her stop these feelings. This issue does make Lies We Tell Ourselves stand out from the crowd, though.

There's a lot here to discuss. Lies We Tell Ourselves is a difficult book to read, but necessary. We still live with prejudices today -- whether about race or other topics, and this book will do a lot to get the conversation started.

Lies We Tell Ourselves is one of those "everyone needs to read this" books. And then everyone needs to discuss it.

Published by Harlequin Teen, September 30, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
384 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Tour and Review: Neverwas, by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed & Larkin Reed

My Review:

I rarely read book blurbs. So, when I agreed to read Neverwas, I didn't know what I was getting into! I didn't remember details of Amber House, so when I started reading Neverwas, I was a bit confused. The world was different. The house was the same, but the country, the politics, and the personalities of some of the characters was totally different.

Then Sarah started having visions and receiving messages that were telling her things were wrong. Things were not the way they were supposed to be, and I realized that we are now in an alternate universe. How cool!

I won't go into too many details of this strange world, but the Nazis won the war, and there's no such thing as civil rights. But, some things are good! Sarah's parents get along great, and her mom has no intention of selling Amber House.

Jackson is helping Sarah to interpret her visions, and they decide that they must try to do something to make the world go back the way it was. Sarah has to figure out what she needs to change in the past, then she and Jackson have to figure out how to do it.

This quest is very exciting, but sometimes the solutions came a bit to easily (although not ALL the time!) I found the details of all the ancestors and what each of them did to be a little bit difficult to follow, but those details aren't really important. There's only a couple of people from the past that end up being critical to the events that changed the world.

I wish I would have been able to read Amber House again, right before Neverwas. You really need to read them in order, and I would have liked the details of Amber House to have been a bit more clear in my mind. I definitely recommend this series to teens who like a little paranormal adventure. We have ghosts, time travel, and visions (both past and present) to keep you entertained while you are visiting Amber House.

Don't leave yet! Scroll down to see my puzzle piece for the tour -- you can win a signed first edition copy of Neverwas!

Published by Arthur A. Levine Books, January 7, 2014
eBook obtained from the author
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

Here's my puzzle piece:

In NEVERWAS, Sarah must piece together the mystery of her forgotten past with the help of clues left behind by her great-grandmother, Fiona Warren.  For readers interested in the chance to win a signed first-edition hardback of NEVERWAS -- with an exclusive hint for what's in story for Sarah in the final book, OTHERWHEN, hidden inside -- visit each blog on the tour for the month of December, collect the various lines from the poem, arrange them in the proper order, and submit the final sonnet by New Year's Day for a chance to win the special copy of NEVERWAS! Submit your poem to: http://www.amberhouseblog.com/

Visit these blogs to find previously posted puzzle pieces on the tour:

Whispering Pretty Stories
Marie Loves Books 

Bibliophilic Monologues
Books Take You Places 

Tomorrow's tour stop is:

Zach's YA Reviews 

About the authors:

KELLY MOORE is a New York Times best-selling author, former litigator, and single mother of three. Her latest project, the young adult fiction series THE AMBER HOUSE TRILOGY, co-written with her two daughters and based loosely upon her own family history, examines fourteen generations of Maryland women and their ties to the past, present, and future.  The first book in the series was nominated for the 2014 Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award for its realistic portrayal of characters with autism; Moore is outspoken about her inclusion in the autism spectrum, and is dedicated to autism awareness.

TUCKER REED is an award-winning fiction and nonfiction writer.  She has been recognized on the national level for her short stories, essays and poetry.  She is also a notable political blogger and has appeared on CNN, CBS, ABC and HuffPost Live, as well as featured in articles published by TIME magazine, Marie Claire magazine, Ms. magazine, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian, among numerous others.

LARKIN REED is a professional photographer, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in filmmaking. In 2013, Reed established her own multimedia production company, and has subsequently produced and directed several short films.

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Audio Book Review: Necessary Lies, by Diane Chamberlain

I found Necessary Lies to be totally absorbing and also heartbreaking.

Wow. The issues in this book. Jane is newly married. It's 1960 and her husband is a doctor, and he's appalled that Jane wants to work. In his opinion, she should stay home and have babies. Jane has other ideas. She gets a job as a social worker. Her clients will be from one of the poorest counties in North Carolina, and yes some of them will be black!

Jane's husband is no support at all. As Jane muddles through trying to figure out what is right for her poor welfare clients, she has no one to turn to.

Our other narrator is Ivy, once of Jane's clients. She's 15 years old, and living as a share-cropper on a farm. She lives with her elderly grandma (a diabetic), her sister (mildly retarded), and her sister's son, two-year-old "Baby William." Baby William is also behind in his development.

We have Jane's issues because of her non-traditional desire to work, and we have Ivy's welfare family who only survive because of the generosity of the farmer. But, the biggest issue that Necessary Lies tries to address is North Carolina’s Eugenics Sterilization Program. Ivy's sister has been sterilized and she doesn't know it. Jane's mentor believes that Ivy needs to be sterilized too, and she's already started the application process.

Jane is terribly idealistic. TOO idealistic. Some of her decisions were so hasty and based on emotions alone. She could have waited and consulted other professionals before making some of the decisions that she made. She just gets deeper and deeper until she's dug herself a hole she cannot get out of. Her motives are true. She is the sweetest person, and truly believes that she must stop Ivy's sterilization at all costs. And I mean ALL costs.

The fact that the eugenics program depicted in Necessary Lies is totally real (and was legal in North Carolina until 1975!) just makes the story more riveting. There is a lot more to this story, but I think you should just experience it for yourself, so I won't babble anymore.

The dual narration works very well in Necessary Lies. The "encircling" story -- the prologue and epilogue -- is also very effective.

I would recommend Necessary Lies to readers who enjoy historical fiction and especially the social issues of the 1960s. The audio book narrator, Alison Elliott, is superb. Her voices have different nuances for the various characters but still sound totally natural. I would definitely recommend the audio version of Necessary Lies.

Published by St. Martin's Press, September 3, 2013, Macmillan Audio
Audio book obtained from the library
352 pages

Rating: 4/5

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