Once again I’m joining Modern Mrs. Darcy‘s mid-month Quick Lit, where we share short and sweet book reviews of what we’ve been reading lately.
It’s been an unusual reading month for me with very varied reading for a wide variety of reasons which resulted in more books completed than usual! One book was for my Scandinavian Book Club, a couple were read-alongs with my 6th grade son, one was for an author talk, and a couple just because I felt like it. Some books fulfilled prompts for reading challenges, others didn’t. It was a fun month of reading! What have you been reading lately?
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This was the second of three books for a schoolwide reading program that I read along with my 6th grade son. It’s a historical fiction book set in England during World War II. Ten-year-old Ada and her younger brother Jamie have a miserable homelife in London until they escape by joining other kids headed to the countryside as the threat of German bombings begin. Ada and Jamie are assigned to curmudgeonly Susan, and so begins a heartwarming relationship between Susan and the kids, but not without some bumps along the way. I’d been meaning to read this for a long time, and now I’m eager to read the sequel, The War I Finally Won.
Reading Challenges:
- Scandinavian Reading Challenge—n/a
- Reading Women Challenge—A children’s book
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge—A book you’ve been meaning to read
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Here’s another book that’s been on my TBR list for a while (since reading Salvage the Bones). I was planning to read it sometime this year thanks to the Reading Women Challenge, but when I saw that Jesmyn Ward was coming to town to speak, it jumped to the top of the list. This book drops you in on 13-year-old Jojo, son of a White father and Black mother, who lives in rural coastal Mississippi with his Black grandparents along with his toddler sister and mostly absent mother. He and his sister are joining their mother and her friend on a roadtrip to get their dad who is being released from prison. The story takes place over about 4 days. During this time, the complicated and heartbreaking history of the family is revealed through memories shared and visits by ghosts from the past. It is beautifully written. And hearing Jesmyn Ward speak about her writing experience was icing on the cake.
Reading Challenges:
- Scandinavian Reading Challenge—n/a
- Reading Women Challenge—A myth retelling AND Bonus: A book by Jesmyn Ward
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge—A book you’ve been meaning to read
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
I didn’t intend for this book to be for me, but rather for my 9th grade son. However, I’m the one who ended up reading it. It’s a young adult novel described as Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club. I don’t know Pretty Little Liars, but I was a fan of The Breakfast Club and was intrigued. It’s about five high schoolers who end up in detention together. One dies while they’re all there, and the other four are then suspects and a murder investigation ensues. These teens are your typical stereotypes of high school kids – the jock, the princess, the brain, the outcast, and the bad boy – but with some modern-day diversity. And all your stereotypical high school behaviors are there. Despite that, it was an addictive, fun, and fast read.
Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson
This was the final of three books I read along with my 6th grade son for a schoolwide reading program. It’s the story of three boys who plan and execute a very special goodbye for a favorite teacher who can’t complete the school year due to a cancer diagnosis. We see the day unfold through their eyes; each chapter is from a different boy’s perspective. I really enjoyed the slow reveal of finding out why Ms. Bixby was so special to each of them. Being a former teacher, I always love finding a “teacher-making-a-difference-and-being-appreciated-for-it” story and this was a sweet one. A great big thank you to my sister who gave it to me for a birthday – and an apology for waiting so long to read it!
Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolito
(Translated from the Swedish by Rachel Willson-Broyles)
The author takes us into the mind of 18-year-old Maja who’s on trial for her involvement in a school shooting in a wealthy suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, that left her boyfriend and best friend dead, along with others. We alternate between her time in the jail cell and in the courtroom along with flashbacks to her life leading up to the shooting. The book started a little slow, but as I got further into it, it was a page-turner that had me very eager to find out how it all could have come to this. Many timely issues to consider: school shootings, mental health, immigration, gun violence, wealth, class, parenting… We had a great discussion at my Scandi Book Club meeting. I highly recommend it! (This book has been adapted into a TV series coming to Netflix April 5.)
Reading Challenges:
- Scandinavian Reading Challenge—A book set in a Scandinavian capital OR a book from a favorite category from last year’s challenge (a crime novel by a Scandinavian female author)
- Reading Women Challenge—A romance or love story
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge—A book in translation
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
I’m fascinated by lesser known World War II stories, and this is a young adult book that delves into such a topic, the Soviet annexation of Lithuania in 1940 and the subsequent deportation of thousands of Lithuanians to Siberia. In particular it’s about Lena, a 15-year-old Lithuanian girl, who is rounded up along with her mother, younger brother, and many others and transported via cattle car to a labor camp in Siberia. It is a brutal and harsh time. The occasional kindness and sympathy from others make it more bearable. Lena is an artist and a strong and bold girl determined to record atrocities and survive and be reunited with her father who was arrested and imprisoned elsewhere. The mother is an admirable woman as well. It was an eye-opening book which I’m glad to have read and highly recommend. (A movie based on the book, titled Ashes in the Snow, came out January 2019 and can be found at hoopla.)
Reading Challenges:
- Reading Women Challenge—A historical fiction book
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge—A book about a topic that fascinates you
What have you been reading lately?
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I loved “The War that Saved my Life.” I also have fourth-grade students in my library who have enjoyed the story. Thank you for letting me know about the sequel.
Now, I want to read “SIng Unburied Sing.” Just added it to my audio library rental list. Tusen takk!
I love how middle grade books can be enjoyed by such a great age range. I hope you enjoy Sing, Unburied, Sing!
These all look like great reads! Thank you! Have you read “Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys? It’s really fantastic. I can’t wait to read this other one of hers!
I haven’t read Salt to the Sea yet but it’s on my TBR list, even higher now that I’ve read Between Shades of Gray. Thanks for stopping by!