Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this debut book since I had seen this title on many lists and recommendations from bloggers, like Pernille Ripp. This is an urban fiction book with many diverse characters; I thought of the many diverse students in my high school and was reminded of many students and their friendships, circles, and culture. I rooted for Moss, he suffers from panic attacks and a sense of foreboding and negativity due to seeing his father shot as a youngster. His friends were all supportive of Moss as he was of them and I was so happy and surprised by his mother's unwavering love and support. The police situation and the school's attitude were unnerving and I questioned the awfulness but so much coverage in the news makes it a sickening reality and ripped from the headlines news coverage. Especially important to read is Moss's mom and her advice about Anger- "Anger is a gift. Remember that.You gotta grasp on to it, hold it tight and use it as ammunition. You use that anger ti get things done instead of just stewing in it. Trust me, y'all."

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Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this audiobook, with awesome narrators Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Chris Chalk, and Rutina Wesley. The saga, both past and present, of a Mississippi family which includes loving grandparents, awful parents, and their children who cling to one another, was tough to listen to especially when Leonie narrated her chapters. She was someone who never should have had children! She was a drug addict, selfish, mean to her children, and rebuffing her parents, who were truly good people. The description of the harshness of their lives, with uncles (brothers, fathers) dragged to jail (called Parchment) for no reason at all and toiling for years under the repressive eyes and whips of jailers, also gives us the character, Richie, who is too young to be in Parchment, and the object of beatings who dies and returns as a ghost, fills out this story of the south, racism, prejudice, and the ties that bind and sour families. Jojo's chapters and his love for his baby sister Kayla, were so sad, truthful, horrific in detail and sentiment, but thankfully, they are both resilient and loved by their grandparents. Highly recommended!

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s and Crown Books for Young Readers, for the ARC, Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Debut author, Nic Stone, has crafted a realistic fiction and urban fiction novel all teens will be clamoring to read. With the ripped from the headlines news of teens being shot by police and police violence, Stone has written a powerful, hard hitting novel I could not put down. I ached for Justyce, a black teen in a mostly white prep school who is unjustly judged by a white cop; roughed up and handcuffed, as he tries to help his drunk, white girlfriend. The title, Dear Martin, comes from the letters Justyce writes to Dr. King as a project to himself, as he tries to emulate King’s style and words to sort through racism, oppression, and injustice he encounters. Justyce’s problems intensify as he becomes more and more embroiled in incidents that involve him, his school friends, and his neighborhood acquaintances. As Martin leans on friends, his debate teacher, and debate partner (love interest), he becomes more and more disillusioned. Stone’s writing, her characters, and plot were all powerful reminders that there is still a great divide in our world and she raises many valid questions about problems our society needs to solve. Justyce’s world and struggle brings many needed diverse voices and issues to all readers. Today’s teens care about the heated, frustrating questions and concerns Nic Stone tackles in her haunting debut novel. Highly recommended!

Review of AudioBook
I listened to this wrenching book for the #2jennsbookclub twitter chat to take place Thursday, April 12 at 8PM EST and Dion Graham's narration of the book, plot and character's was just authentic, moving, and once again plunged me to awful depths with Justyce's confusion and despair after he is arrested. Nic Stone has penned a book ALL must read- there is still so much that needs to be done - African American teens must not be profiled, violated, assaulted and killed...they deserve much better.

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I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina

I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, Tony Medina's graphic novel sheds a light on the Black Lives Matter Movement, racial profiling, police violence, and minorities who are senselessly beaten, attacked and murdered and no one is held accountable. I liked the foreword by Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director 0f the Equal Justice Initiative, and delves into the horrid history of being of color in America. Tony Medina's Author Note is compelling and the Real Life Ancestors who appeared in the book. But I think even more impressive are the authors (on the back cover) who sing the praises of this graphic novel, the need for all to read it, and the power of this book now! I will certainly be reading Tony Medina's Resisting Arrest book too. I read this for #yabookchat and we will be discussing this heartbreaking book Monday 2/5 at 9PM EST, come join the discussion!

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