Kindred is a modern classic for a reason. If you haven't heard of it, Kindred was published by Octavia Butler in the late 1970s. It is about a Black woman named Dana who mysteriously travels back in time to 1819 and is mistaken for a slave. On her first trip back in time, she saves a small red haired white boy named Rufus from bodily harm. When she starts going back in time again, Dana begins to realize the time discrepancies and patterns in her mysterious travel. 

Each time Dana travels back in time, she finds Rufus in trouble and she continues to help him. The stakes are always high, what if Dana is accused of being a runaway? What if she is whipped or beaten? The stakes climb exponentially when Dana travels back in time with her white husband, but she returns to the 1970s without him- by no fault of her own. 

This story kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat. I loved how Octavia Butler's writing felt as fresh and new as a recently published book and that she discussed topics that are just as relevant today as they were fifty years ago including the family dynamics around interracial marriage and the desire of white people to view the past with rosy glasses and then try to run from it whenever possible. I think I should have seen the end coming but it became a tense, slowly unraveling twist that I enjoyed immensely. 

I think Kindred is a fantastic book, a must read for anyone who likes historical fiction or dual timeline stories. The magical realism or sci-fi elements here are so well done but not written in so much detail that it creates wholes in the logic, so don't let that scare you away. Just pick up this book as soon as you can!

When Trying to Return Home is a wonderful short story collection around the theme of belonging. I loved the first and last stories the most, but I found almost all of them engaging and enjoyable. There was a good variety of perspectives and narrative styles. The title story was almost more of a poem and was very striking. I highly recommend this book.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking is a fascinating and informative read, regardless of how you identify your personality. I learned so much from this book that I’m eager to reflect on and apply to my life. 

Susan Cain explains introversion and extroversion in a way that is more encompassing than just shy or gregarious. In this way, she caught me attention early on and I enjoyed every minute of my time reading. I learned that introverts often share some key traits and that it exists on a scale, like many other traits. One part that stuck out to me was the explanation of self monitoring as a separate attribute and one that can vary widely in introverts (or extroverts). 

With chapters about how to manage differences in relationships, how to manage being an introvert at work, and how to raise an introverted child (as well as many other sections), I found this book superbly organized. I will be approaching so many things with a new lens and appreciating more aspects of myself after reading this book. Certainly, the overarching theme is that introversion can be a valuable trait and can be used to accomplish great things (as defined by the individual) as opposed to the message common in western societies that extroversion is preferred. 

Even if you never pick up nonfiction, I urge you to read this one. It’s one of my favorite nonfiction reads of all time and will stick with me for a long time to come. 

A really solid historical thriller set in the American South in the 1960s, this story follows two black sisters who must run away from Alabama after a white man dies, throwing them into suspicion. 

The multiple points of view were really effective and the twist surprised me, even if I should have seen it coming. I recommend this for fans of historical fiction and thrillers that are tense but not scary. 

Just bored and having trouble following the characters on audio despite great narration. 

The Death of Vivek Oji is a book that captures more depth and beauty than you might think possible in its slim 245 pages. Emezi is a talented writer who creates beautiful, flawed characters that feel so real. I wanted a bit more of this book, but that’s just a testament to how much I loved the storytelling, I wasn’t ready to let go. 

Vivek dies unexpectedly at a young age. When the body shows up at his parents house, everyone is shocked. Emezi slowly unravels the story of his death from multiple perspectives. It is so moving and honest. It is sad but it is also uplifting. I don’t want to say more, just jump in and read this. 

Starfish is a middle grades novel in verse about Ellie, an overweight eleven year old. Ellie is the youngest of three children, and both of her big siblings criticize her size. One of her siblings is responsible for her awful nickname, Splash. Despite that, Ellie loves to swim every morning- it’s the only place she feels weightless. 

Ellie’s mom is constantly bemoaning her weight and limiting her food. Her father is a bit more supportive and early in the story, he begins taking Ellie to therapy. I loved Ellie’s growth in therapy and how she took that into her world. 

This is a heavy book. It brought up a lot of my past experiences with a fat phobia parent. Take care of yourself if you read this, but please don’t write it off. It is beautiful, brave, and full of messages we all need to hear. 

I have been a Kelly Yang fan for several years now. I’ve read almost all of her books and I’ve never been disappointed. I was over the moon to get an ARC of her newest book- Finally Seen. 

Finally Seen is the story of Lina, who has been living in China with her grandmother. When Lao Lao goes into a nursing home, Lina comes to California to live with her parents and little sister, Millie. Lina has a lot of feelings to process, sadness from missing her grandmother, confusion about why her parents left her behind years ago when they immigrated to the US, and now the challenge of learning English.  

On top of all of that, Lina’s family is struggling to come up with past due rent after the pandemic lockdowns as the eviction moratorium is about to end. Lina’s mom has a bath bomb shop on Etsy and her father is overworked and taken advantage of by a local farmer. 

Combined with bullying at school, it might sound like this book is all sad but it is uplifting and beautifully balanced. Lina is taken in by the school librarian and the ESL teacher and she also makes a dear friend right away named Finn. Yang weaves reading into the story, specifically graphic novels, and we see how this changes Lina and her friends for the better. 

The plot hinges on a very realistic scenario about book challenges, and you will leave this one inspired, fired up, and maybe with some wet eyes. I don’t know how she keeps doing it but she does, this Kelly Yang book is perfect. I can’t wait to buy a copy for my shelf to read with my son when he’s a bit older. This book is for all ages. Read it asap! 

Why We Forget and How to Remember Better intrigued me when I was browsing titles. I have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease and I want to do what I can to maintain brain health for myself. 

I found parts of this book interesting, but overall I feel it was far too long. At 12 hours, it’s a long audiobook and most of it felt targeted at college students which is not my current life experience. The sections on is it normal aging or is it a brain disease was the most important for me, and I’m glad I stuck it out for that section. 

I think this book is great for students and with organized chapters, it is the kind of book that you could pick and choose what is of importance to you. However, I’m less enthusiastic about it as a nonfiction read from cover to cover. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.