Tag #yanovels

#BookReview Dark Sons By Nikki Grimes

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Synopsis:

Sam can’t believe it when his father leaves the family to marry another woman–and a white woman, at that. The betrayal cuts deep–Sam had been so close to his dad, he idolized him. Now who can he turn to, who can he trust? Even God seems to have ditched him.

Ishmael is his father’s first son, the heir, his favorite. But when his father is visited by mysterious strangers who claim that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, will finally give birth to a legitimate son, Ishmael is worried. And when baby Isaac arrives, Ishmael becomes more isolated from his father. Could Abraham’s God, who had spoken to Ishmael’s mother, to whom he has made countless sacrifices, now betray him in favor of this new son?

Review/Thoughts:

Dark Son’s is told in two perspectives written in verse. There is the perspective of Ishmael who is having a hard time of having “two mom” after his dad has another child with a new woman. Ishmael doesn’t know how to truly feel about this, he does know that he is hurt because the time spent with his new wife has left him and mom alone.

The second perspective is of Sam who is basically going through the same thing.  His dad remarries and soon after he has a new baby boy. Sam is hurt and confused as to why his dad would leave him for a women and have a new child. He questions God throughout the story asking questions like “if my Dad really loved me why did he leave me?”

Both Ishmael and Sam are trying to figure out ways to cope with this new change yet try to let this new change affect their relationship with God and their family. They both have anger towards their family and a feeling of not being loved or wanted.

In the end they both learn to accept the change and love their new brothers and take acceptance for the new families their fathers have created.

I always enjoyed Nikki Grimes writing. Books written in verse in my favorite type of writing style. I also liked that she used small pieces of the Bible to tell the story of Dark Son’s.

Rating: 4⭐

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

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Synopsis:

June’s life at home with her stepmother and stepsister is a dark one and a secret one. Not even her dad knows the truth, and she can’t find the words to tell anyone else. She’s trapped like a butterfly in a net. Then June meets Blister, a boy from a large, loving, chaotic family. In him, she finds a glimmer of hope that perhaps she can find a way to fly far, far away. Because she deserves her freedom. Doesn’t she?

Review:

Paper Butterflies is a very intense novel. One of the most intense stories I have read in a very long time. This story is about a biracial girl named June. June mother (who is black) dies by drowning when she is young. June’s dad (who is white) remarried a woman named  Kathleen and she has a daughter of her own named Megan. Even since June was in grade school Kathleen and Megan both abused June in awful ways. The abuse June had to go through by Kathleen was mind blowing. Kathleen hated June one part because she was half black and her mother was black. In the book this is brought up a lot. Kathleen had her daughter Megan help her in the abuse of June.

June’s dad was no help at all. June wanted so badly to reach out and tell her dad what was going on behind his back but he always stood and took Kathleen’s side no matter.

June meets a boy who ends up being not only her best friend but someone she loves. He goes by the name Blister.

June only wanted her voice heard and to be understood. She wanted the world to know about the abuse she was going through each day. She eventually told Blister.

In the end this is a very exhausting, emotional, frustrating and upsetting book to read.

My final thoughts:

My feelings changed with each chapter as I read. I felt for June at times I felt I was going through what she was facing. I felt so sad for her but was rooting for her at the same time. I enjoyed Blister’s and June time together with their friendship and love was nice to see. It was set up to be a real friendship before they started to say I love you. I wanted the best for June and Blister. Every chapter they were together made me smile. I liked the writing and the realistic nature of the story. I had an emotional connection with all the characters which never really happens when I read books. This story took all my feelings and I have to say I really enjoyed it.

Trigger warning:
Physical abuse, bullying, death, prison, death row

Rating: 5⭐

#BookReview: Little Peach By Peggy Kern

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Synopsis:

What do you do if you’re in trouble?

When Michelle runs away from her drug-addicted mother, she has just enough money to make it to New York City, where she hopes to move in with a friend. But once she arrives at the bustling Port Authority, she is confronted with the terrifying truth: she is alone and out of options.

Then she meets Devon, a good-looking, well-dressed guy who emerges from the crowd armed with a kind smile, a place for her to stay, and eyes that seem to understand exactly how she feels.

But Devon is not what he seems to be, and soon Michelle finds herself engulfed in the world of child prostitution where he becomes her “Daddy” and she his “Little Peach.” It is a world of impossible choices, where the line between love and abuse, captor and savior, is blurred beyond recognition.

This hauntingly vivid story illustrates the human spirit’s indomitable search for home, and one girl’s struggle to survive.

My review and thoughts:

This story is about a 14 year old girl named Michelle who didn’t have the best conditions at home. So she figures she can run off to see her friend in New York and have a better life. Michelle had no money when she got to New York and didn’t know where to go. She befriend a man named Devon. Devon promised her the world. He promised to take good care of her and give her anything she needed, as long as she followed the rules.

Michelle friends two other girls Kat and Baby. With no knowledge of how her life will change Michelle is thrown into prostitution in which she is selling her body to men every night. Devon and the other boys in the group has Michelle, Kat, and Baby hooked on drugs as well.

This story was so hard to read that I had to put the book down for a little while until I was ready to finish it. The story really does depict the dangerous situations these young girls are out into for these other men. As I was reading my heart was full hoping for the best for Michelle. The sad and unfortunate thing is this happens every single day. Young girls are recruited into a prostitution ring and it’s hard for them to get out, or make it out alive. I hear and see horrible stories like this being told all the time.

Honestly I feel this story was well written and informative. It also discussed a real topic that the media is not coving as often as they should. So many young girls go missing and are never to be returned because of this very problem. I enjoyed the writing and how realistic the events in this story were. I would recommend to anyone who wants more clarity on this topic.

Rating: 5⭐