Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this middle grade novel in verse from awesome Margarita Engle! Told from 2 points of view (and one is a dog) this is the story of boy who has suffered trauma at his mother's hands, she was involved in dog fighting (she made her son responsible for taking care of the pit bulls - those who were injured, feeding them, and forcing him to be involved in the dog fights. Tony continues to have nightmares, does not know what love is, and lives in fear. When his mother lands in jail for cruelty to animals, a compassionate social worker finds an uncle, Tony, did not even know about. Tio lives in the Sierra Nevadas with his search and rescue dog, Gabe, and as a park ranger, he rescues lost hikers, guides nature walks, and takes care of trees. Together Tio and Gabe take this very sad, tormented Tony and show him, love, friendship and a real home. I could not put this book down; it was filled with many search and rescues, Tony learning to be a rescue for the dogs, and Tony trying to find a lost hound and getting lost himself. I LOVED THIS BOOK ad the pictures were awesome too!

View all my reviews

This Is My America by Kim Johnson

This Is My America by Kim Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Jennifer LaGarde (@jennlagarde) for this recommendation from her Purposeful Prose Summer Reading Exploring Inequity in the US Criminal Justice System!!! OMG, everyone needs to read this debut author book, Kim Johnson has spent her life being involved in social justice and organizations, her Author's Note is especially relevant stressing this book is a work of fiction but also calling out racism, police brutality, wrongful incarceration, white supremacy and hate groups and the death penalty. She gives facts and figures too. But her story about Tracy Beaumont and her family's troubles was haunting; I could not put it down. Tracy is an awesome protagonist, her friends are supportive, and her family is tight---Tracy's letters to Innocence X (she writes them monthly for the 7 years her father is in prison) and with the troubles visited on them and how they are viewed in their community and society; this is a must read for all----highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Concrete Rose (The Hate You Give, #0) by Angie Thomas

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dion Graham awesomely narrates this stunning, authentic novel about Maverick Carter's teen life (he is Starr's father from THUG) as he deals with fatherhood, loss of his cousin, life with the King Lords, dealing drugs, his father in prison, his mother holding down 2 jobs. As Maverick tries life without dealing drugs, he works for his neighbor in his store and his garden. He learns so much but he feels like he is working for the lowest wages and his old life comes calling again. I loved Dion Graham's narration, it was so powerful catching Mav's insecurities, heartache and frustrations. I also loved his girlfriend, Lisa, who wanted more and did not ever give up hope. This is a must read for teens as they find out what life is really like for African American teens who have parenthood forced on them in high school, their decisions and how they proceed in life. Highly recommended!!!

View all my reviews

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is so important now, with the wrongful arrest of Amal, his trial and conviction. In a hard hitting novel in verse, Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam, craft an all too real story of a young African American who is failed time and time again, jailed and stripped of his humanity and hope. I grasped onto his anger as he turns it into hope through art, drawing and painting, he begins to accept those he is incarcerated with and how together they must become peaceful yet powerful to right the wrongs of racial profiling and prison reform failures. A must read for all!

View all my reviews

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to my god-daughter Casey Swiski for giving me her copy of Just Mercy---OMG, it was so good, compelling and very many times, just awful to read. Bryan Stevenson taught me so much about the really tough job he has trying to save those on Death Row. He also gives important details on the history of the courts, prisons, racism and the injustices still being perpetrated today. I thank him for being committed to the prisoners, their families, and communities to strive for justice for those who have been incarcerated with little help from lawyers and the legal help they need to have their cases heard. The US has a broken system that Bryan Stevenson so eloquently delivers; but he and those he tries to help, suffer as well too. The world needs more Bryan Stevensons! A must read for all!!!

View all my reviews