The Elephant Girl by James Patterson and award-winning author Ellen Banda-Aaku

The Elephant Girl by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this sad, poignant story about a young African girl, her love of elephants, her loss, and her redemption. Jama relates to animals, less so with her friends, family and villagers. When poachers try to kill a mother elephant Jama has become attached to, the villagers & the rangers do not understand when the fearful elephant, trying to protect her baby, stampedes and kills Jama's mother. What transpires is an insightful, uplifting story for Jama who only wants to take care of elephants and expose the poachers. this is an issue that happens time and time again in Africa and other countries as the elephants are poached for their tusks, rendering baby elephants orphans and terrifying the natural order of the elephants. A must read!

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Sooley by John Grisham

Sooley by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Dean Looney for this awesome read! I loved the character of Sooley, a teen from war-torn Sudan and the plot contains some Philadelphia mentions (Jay Wright, Villanova Basketball) and reading this 2021 book in which South Sudan is in a war ---and also now in 2023 South Africa is suffering from tribal wars. I have read/known as a high school librarian refugees like Sooley and it is so painful to read/see how these shell shocked "boys" experience war, murder of family members, isolation and a new world to become used to in the United States. Grisham had me turning the pages as I fell in love with his best friend (in North Carolina) as he becomes Sooley's friend, roommate, then manager. The reader will root for Sooley, he is a great main character! I loved all the basketball games, players and challenges Sooley faces.

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My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book but disagreed with the ending...that said Korede is a strong but conflicted character with a sister, Ayoola, who uses her beauty and personality to fool everyone. Even Korede can't believe the lies her sister tells about her...but on to other parts of the book...I could not put down this slim book because I like to read books about serial killers. But that said I feel the author took Korede's strength of character and used it against her. The reader does not find out far into the book about their family dysfunction, maniacal father with his beatings and perverse thoughts on marriage, family and what people think about him. As Korede has no friends, she confides in a comatose patient in her hospital all that bothers her about her sister, her killings, and her own part in these. She is in love with Tade who has no idea she even exists, until her sister, the serial killer, comes into the hospital and he falls hard for her. What to do, tell Tade about Ayoola or keep silent? You read the book. I just feel Korede standing by her sister is a HUGE mistake! It is taking family love and caring for your sister no matter what too far.

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Akata Warrior (Akata Witch #2) by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved the narration by Yetide Badaki so much - she excelled in both books! I loved Akata Witch, not so much Akata Warrior- why? There was not enough action (like the 1st book--- find who is maiming and mutilating and killing young children- criminals) too much about finding out about her abilities and being Leopard and the culture of the Leopard people. I realized Sunny and her friends saved the world in a convoluted round about way but there was not enough struggle to keep me turning the pages---except when her brother is beaten up in the beginning of the book as part of joining a long lived gang at his school and Sunny and ChiChi's way to get justice for him and end the long history of the gang---it was awesome, could not stop listening. I did not find the battle to save humanity as compelling as the first book.

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City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to and loved narrator, Pascale Armand's many voices in Anderson's oh so compelling thriller of lies, murder, gangs, African mining, and family ties. Tina has been nursing her hatred for Mr Greyhill for over 5 years; he killed her mother and she was going to ruin him. With best friend & tech wizard Boy-Boy Tina is determined to infiltrate Mr Greyhill's home, access his computer and finding the truth- destroy him financially & personally. But in his office at his computer she is startled to find a gun aimed at her and Michael Greyhill, her long time friend (who is supposed to be at boarding school) is aiming a gun at her. As she tries to figure out how to fool Michael, he proposes how he will help her find her mother's murderer (of course he does not think it is his father). Tina was so filled with hatred, anger, and the urge for revenge, you can't help but want this solitary girl to triumph in every way possible. But as the odds mount against her, Tina will find out who her true friends are, but will she be able to accept, survive the truth? Such a spine tingling story about family, the awfulness that is Congo, horrid business practices, militias goondas, killing and survival. Highly recommended, teens will love the spine tingling, break neck speed of this book!!!

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Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yetide Badaki did a stellar job of narrating this fascinating audiobook about young teens in Nigeria who have mystical powers and must help find who is maiming and mutilating and killing young children. Author Okorafor uses mythology, magic, fantasy, to weave a masterful mystery. Sunny, and her three friends Orlu, Chichi and Sasha made a great team as they become Leopard People and bond over juju, sports, and chittim. I can't wait to read Akata Warrior and jump right back into this world!

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How Dare the Sunrise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of #yearofya June nonfiction twitter chat. Sandra's voice was penetrating in her description of her wonderful family before, during and after the massacre making her a child of war. She is unflinching in her honesty, her pain, and her hopes. The reader learns about her little known African tribe, that becomes a pariah and one of genocide. Sandra's journey to "rich American dream" is shattered as she and her family stumble trying to assimilate, learn English, and craft a life in the bad neighborhoods. Sandra's different schools she attends allows her to see the racism prevalent in America and with her continued grief over her little sister Deborah allows her to rise up to become an impassioned & eloquent leader & speaker for refugees, those who are different, those who are struggling. A must read!

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The Good Braider by Terry Farish

The Good Braider by Terry Farish
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this popular paperback as part of the 2017 Hub Challenge & loved it even more that when I read it in 2013!!! Viola's harrowing journey with her family from the war torn country of Sudan to Portland, Maine. Before laving Juba, Viola is raped by a soldier; her self worth and her bride price are stripped. Farish does a superb job painting the fear, anguish and despair of Viola and those in her community in fear for their lives while trying to flee a country gripped in civil war. Once Viola, her mother and little brother escape, Juba, they begin a long perilous journey to Khartoum. Once Viola arrives in Portland, Maine settling into a community of African immigrants, attending school and working a job there is the clash of the new American culture and preserving the Sudanese culture. This novel in verse achieves the beauty of Viola's new American world and harsh reminders of the brutal civil war, Viola's voice is strong, happy, conflicted, scared, and hopeful. I loved the braiding title, which symbolized Viola's African world of beauty and how once in the US, she does not braid anymore and will not have her own hair braided. It is through her friends and family from the Sudan as well as her American friends that Viola finds her place in her new world of Portland, Maine. This is a must read for young adults; they will learn about the genocide the Sudanese suffered through, they will appreciate the customs and community that are so important to Viola. What is even more important for teens is to see the world through Viola's eyes and the positive and negative impact of American culture on immigrant communities. Powerful, this book is beautiful!

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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Trevor Noah's life is unbelievable- born to a black mother and white father in apartheid Africa; he was not welcome in any world- white black or mixed and after apartheid things changed but the archaic beliefs of many of the tribes and the government continued. I loved Trevor's narration; his voice was beautiful, believable, laugh out loud funny but also sad, angry, and questioning. His mother was his constant growing up; she made him go to church every Sunday many times for the whole day. She raised him with a tough hand but she did it all in love. For all that went wrong in his life, Trevor remained positive and upbeat. A must read from a young man who lived through hell, eeked out a life, always loved and respected his mother. Highly recommended!

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Threatened by Eliot Schrefer

Threatened by Eliot Schrefer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for this gripping jungle adventure! Luc is a juvenile who lives in Gabon, Africa. His mother and sister died of AIDS and Luc is working off his debt to Monsieur Tatagani, a sleazy moneylender. He keeps track of all the orphans in his debt, through fear. Luc sees an opportunity to escape when an Arab, Professor Abdul Mohammed (Prof), arriving with a metal case and a monkey, asks Luc to accompany him into the lush jungle, known as Inside, to study chimpanzees for National Geographic. Prof pays off Luc’s debt, thereby freeing him from Tatagani’s ruthless servitude. Despite Luc’s young age, he is a character who is wise beyond his years and will continue to question and worry why Prof chose him for this chimpanzee mission. As Luc and Prof begin their research, Luc learns much from Prof and uses his school knowledge and his mother’s herbal remedies to survive the chaotic life that is the Inside and chimpanzee behavior. Schrefer’s story is compelling and like his first novel, Endangered, the threat to the jungle animals’ existence makes for heart-stopping reading. The reader will grow with Luc as they witness human predators, like Monsieur Tatagani, who kill, trap, and destroy chimpanzee babies, mothers and males. The reader will root for Luc as he forges a relationship with Drummer, the chimpanzee he frees from a trap and as he nurtures Mango, a baby chimpanzee who lost her mother. Will Luc remain Inside and call the chimpanzee community his family? This book will definitely be enjoyed by middle school and high school readers and I highly recommend this book to adults as well as animal lovers . Equally important is the Author’s Note at the end which has so much information and further reading on chimpanzees, Gabon, Jane Goodall, and the AIDS crisis in Africa.


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Parched by Melanie Crowder

Parched by Melanie Crowder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an apt title, Sarel's family life has been decimated with the arrival of men looking for water. They murder Sarel's parents and set their home on fire with Sarel terrorized thereafter with the recurring fire nightmare. If she did not have her father's dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks)I know she would have perished from grief. Each night Sarel would lock the herself and the dogs kennel and they would drape themselves across her body. For awhile there was water but it became evident that the water was drying up. There is a boy, Musa, who is in shackles and being held against his will because he can find water just by dowsing sticks. Musa escapes his captors and walks across the desert and finds Sarel and her dogs. The mother dog, Nandi, knows Musa is the boy who will find them water. Melanie Crowder's plot, characters, and their exhaustive, painful search for water is a must read. It will make readers aware of how many throughout the world are losing their water source and how we must work on conserving this natural resource before it is too late.

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