Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is our Albright College Zoom Book Club read for April and oh did I love this audiobook version, Narrated by: Lynnette R. Freeman, Simone Mcintyre!!! There was so much I loved about this book---family problems, secrets causing mysteries, and the different settings with the beauty, culture, food and angst.

Many thanks to Casey Ciocca for lending me this book! It is also going to be our Albright College Zoom Book Club for April. This debut is a must read! The book starts with a huge mystery that is uncovered very slowly, rocking Bennie & Byron's world and everything they knew and believed. This book awesomely covers many years, many different characters, and many different plots yet Wilkerson weaves them seamlessly. The mysteries and betrayals as they are uncovered are mind altering---what will happen to Benny & Byron plus all the other characters that will be affected by the truth----too long in coming. Will Byron & Benny survive the audiotape their mother dictated before her death. A must read!

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The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my sister in law, Donna Gola for recommending such a great book! I listened to this amazing audiobook narrated by Alana Kerr Collins & Jason Culp and could not stop as the reader is swept into Sophie's life and hardships. Sophie is Irish and living miserably in a NY tenement when she answers a mail order bride ad place by a Martin Hocking. Sophie ran from Ireland and now runs to California marrying a man she does not know but he has told her he is a widower and has a young daughter, Kat. She meets and marries him a few hours later and settles into life in a nice home with a husband who travels selling insurance (Martin barely provides any information about his job and travels) and a daughter who does not speak (why?). Sophie falls in love with Kat and spends all her time coaxing her to daughter to speak. The day before the famous 1906 San Francisco Earthquake hits, Sophie's life is thrown into chaos with the arrival of a pregnant woman on her steps. Such a great historical fiction novel about the fierce love of women, the bonds of friendship, and the mess of marriages. Highly recommended!

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Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Starfish by Lisa Fipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This middle grade novel in verse is a must read for all- students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors. Ellie has been bullied in thoughts, words, and actions since she was five and what makes it worse is that her family is complicit. Having a large best friend in Viv has been her savior but Viv is moving away. As Ellie's mom rachets up her agenda for gastric bypass surgery, her psychiatrist father takes her to see a therapist. Lisa Fipps really knows how to show the reader Ellie's beautiful tortured soul and fragile self. Together with her therapist and new next door neighbor, Catalina and her whole family---Ellie's journey to confronting her bullies, her family, and herself is so important. A gripping novel in verse sprinkled with hope, honesty, and strength will pack a punch all readers need! Highly recommended!

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The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to my daughter-in-law for passing this gem along to me! Identical twins Harper and Tabitha have quite a life and I could not stop turning the pages as we learn about their (separate) lives when their parents divorce and each take one twin! The changes in their lives and loves were scintillating, awesome, and heartbreaking (at times), highly recommended!

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The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the narration of Ruthie Ann Miles , Kimiko Glenn , Alexandra Allwine , Gabra Zackman , Jeremy Bobb , Joy Osmanski , Emily Walton , Erin Wilhelmi in this totally absorbing historical fiction taking place in China in a remote Akha village. Life is difficult until one day a man and his son come to their village in search of PUR tea. Li-yan translates for the village elders and her family, she also goes to school for higher education, marries and moves from her mountain village. This was such a compelling story about family, tradition, culture, the modern world, and how strong women in one family share their heritage with angel tea trees. I will not soon forget Li-yan, her mother, and the daughter she gave up for adoption---they were separated but their bonds were strong and lasting.

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Even If Your Heart Would Listen: Losing My Daughter to Heroin by Elise Schiller

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44540937-even-if-your-heart-would-listen" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">Even If Your Heart Would Listen: Losing My Daughter to Heroin by Elise Schiller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My heart ached as I read Elise Schiller's account of her daughter, Giana's life with her illnesses of asthma, her drug addiction and her sudden death from a heroin overdose. With the world gripped by opioid addiction, Elise's heartfelt agonized story is needed. There is much agony and anger that goes along with addiction and this book tells the truth about what Elise feels, what she learns and how she is continuing to deal with the loss of her daughter.

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Home Safe by Elizabeth Burg

Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy Elizabeth Burg and this book about a woman (an author) who has lost her husband, is grief stricken, and pondering why she and her daughter are at odds was a great read. I loved the plot, what did deceased husband, Dan, do with the $850,000 that he took from their account? Helen's insecurities, isms, and her forays into author appearances and teaching a writing class were all so interesting in getting to know who Helen really is and how she is grappling with life after Dan. I loved the character, Tom Ellis, and would have loved to have more of him in the book. Her daughter, Tessa, reminded me of how my sisters and I speak to our mom-"Mom, Mom, Mom!" Helen annoyed me often, but I saw how I am now too with my mother. A quick beach read!

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Sparrow by Sarah Moon

Sparrow by Sarah Moon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this award winner as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge. Oh did I love Sparrow's journey, from a lonely child who loses one friend and never seems to make another. Sparrow spends her time becoming a bird and flying. It is when she is on the roof at school that people think she will jump, that Sparrow goes into counseling and oh what a journey she begins with Dr, K. Sparrow and her mom go through a very difficult period too, not talking to each other. It is so beautiful when Sparrow discovers music, how it heals her, energizes her and speaks to her---when Sparrow, her mom and Dr. K talk and settle on Sparrow going to a 3 week long music camp...OMG I just loved Sparrow's spirit as it soared, made friends, wrote songs, played the bass. The best book ever! Quite the debut!!!

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Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is just one example why I love the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge Challenge!!! This book is a Morris Award winner and one I might have missed but I loved it so much, I might have to read it again or listen to it- this is definitely a favorite. I read so many books and I am crushed by the horrors of violence, abuse, negativity, mean girls...but this debut author really knows how to write about the dysfunction that is Kiko's life (and teens will definitely relate) from an abusive mom, to a father who has a new family that has replaced Kiko's to remote brothers Kiko doesn't know how to talk to---this created the stifling isolation and socially awkwardness that is Kiko's life. Bowman's writing takes the reader into Kiko's head and heart and shows repeatedly how she is stunted by fear but Bowman also gives Kiko hope that she pins on her best friend, getting into art school, and then re-finding her childhood friend. I loved how her best friend tells her to grow lady balls in a note as she goes of to early admittance to college. This begins Kiko's challenging, growing self-awareness that she needs to depend on herself to change and grow... and by going out to California with Jamie to visit art schools, meeting famous painter who becomes her mentor, trying constantly to be STRONG, that the real Kiko begins to emerge. Some people have said that Jamie is too perfect but I think Bowman nailed it when she crafted him- when Kiko and Jamie were growing up (back then life was GOOD) they got each other, were best friends, and totally enjoyed each other. Now fast forward to running into him at a party---he is still the Jamie she knew and loved - but she is fractured and not the friend he remembered but like Adam rescues Julian in A List of Cages by Robin Roe, so Jamie rescues Kiko, but Kiko will complete the journey with her lady balls, while Jamie, always understanding her, will wait and understand. I loved this book so much!!!

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