A haunting saga of real world horrors in the Jim-Crow era South. Dark, winding, and filled with emotionally fluid prose, The Reformatory shows us, thrA haunting saga of real world horrors in the Jim-Crow era South. Dark, winding, and filled with emotionally fluid prose, The Reformatory shows us, through the eyes of a child, the shattering of innocence that comes as a result of racism, trauma, and injustice, as well as the long-hidden truths of the mass incarceration, torture, and murder of Black men and boys, which continues today. A physical manifestation of grief, rage, and longing, the ghosts of this novel are a compelling note of all that is left unsaid, undone, by young lives senselessly extinguished. Historically rich, informative, and deeply moving, this disturbing coming of age is a necessary look at the ways in which lives are buried and forgotten for the simple crime of being born in a prejudiced society. However, this story is not without hope, and a look towards a future in which justice not only crawls from the shadows, but thrives. ...more
A tragically beautiful coming of age that honors the everlasting, bittersweet echoes of first love, and the ways that grief completely shapes the fabric of our lives. Told in parallel narratives and overflowing with emotion, this novel is a compelling journey of self acceptance, and how we must reconcile the past in order to make the most of the future. With heartfelt and fluid prose, How We Named the Stars highlights the complexities of the heart; how memories haunt us, yet give us a comforting escape, how love is a pain worth enduring, how stories give voice to the deepest parts of our souls, the truest reflections of ourselves. This novel looks into the chasm of loss, the never ending veil that it casts, the ways that we heal, we grow, but continue to walk hand in hand with the grief that shaped us. An effective tribute to love, to family, to homelands, and to oneself....more
A riveting coming of age saga against the backdrop of politically turbulent 1990’s Columbia. Through the eyes of two young girls of different backgrouA riveting coming of age saga against the backdrop of politically turbulent 1990’s Columbia. Through the eyes of two young girls of different backgrounds, brought together through circumstance and torn apart by secrecy and tragedy, Fruit of the Drunken Tree is a raw exploration of classism and poverty, political brutality, and the devastating costs of revolution. It is also look at the hard truths of seeking asylum, of starting over from zero in a country that is not always a welcoming host. Discussing redemption, the shattering of childhood innocence, and coming to terms with the lies that both shield and obstruct us, the novel is a powerful journey through a life of survival and realization, from the perspectives of protagonists who embody the fragility of youth and the dangers of a government on the brink. ...more
A riveting family saga that follows generational trauma and the cycles of destruction that ensue. Unflinching and candid, Mother in the Dark is a discussion around the complicated bonds between mother and children, the steadfast love and jealousy between sisters, and the ways in which we cling to shreds of the past, for better or worse, as we face an uncertain future. Gorgeously written, this novel is not just a story, it is a window to the hearts of so many, who hurt and hurt in turn, who love fiercely, uniquely, who are turn between the familiarity of how things are, no matter how stagnant, and the fear of risking everything for the way things could be. It is a whispered memory, a cry of recognition, an olive branch among ashes. Honest and raw in its depiction of mental illness and the slow ways in which a life can unravel, this is one heartrending read on a family who runs against the current to each other time and again. Searing and relatable, this is a truly effective read....more
A breathtaking family saga on love and storytelling. Following three generations of a Dakhota/Sioux family and the dolls who shaped their childhoods, this novel is a harrowing look into the immense cruelty colonial America imposed on indigenous communities. Eloquently written and overflowing with emotion, A Council of Dolls is a devastating account of generational trauma and the ways in which we attempt to encapsulate all of the loves and losses, the relationships we have with the women who paved the way for us, on paper. Blending fact and fiction into an incredibly powerful journey of trauma and healing, this is a novel that radiates with the memories that become tangible, the precious things that have the power to transform our surroundings, to fuel our imaginations and hearts, to push us gently forward, to live on, and live with love. A courageous, wise work of endless heart....more
A haunting, powerful coming of age that exposes a hidden, disturbing section of Korean history. Lyrical and unflinching, The Stone Home discusses the atrocities committed at government-sanctioned reformatories, but also the fiercely devoted bonds between brothers, mothers and children, new companions bonded by solidarity. It showcases that humans are capable of the most unspeakable cruelty, but also of unparalleled good, and of everything in between. It is a tribute to a mother’s love, her sacrifice, and the ways in which our memories affect the ways that we see the world. It is a look into the impossible choices that we must make in life, for survival, for justice, for closure. This novel, though heartbreaking, also shimmers with hope; it is a call to the forgotten, a whisper on the breeze that we remember, we look for them, to them. Beautifully written, enlightening, and emotionally hard-hitting, The Stone Home is an incredible account of human suffering and human perseverance, of hate and love, of old lives and new, of honoring those absent and finding those lost....more
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