Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 10

Here’s the only adult fiction compilation post that I have for this year. Maybe next year, I’ll read enough for two compilation posts!

The Book of Lost Names (July 21, 2020) by Kristin Harmel.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Under dire circumstances, Eva Traube discovers she is skilled at forgery in 1942. She lives with her parents in Paris. While she was born in France and grew up speaking the language, it’s no secret that she and her parents are Jewish; her parents are Polish Jews. Tatuś is taken by French police. Eva and Mamusia flee to Aurignon in southern France, it being part of the Free Zone until it isn’t. Eva and her mom let a room from Madame Barbier. She’s part of an underground network helping people, mainly children, flee to Switzerland. She gets Eva in contact with Père Clément at the Église Saint-Alban, where she meets a handsome forger named Rémy Duchamp. Giving new names to those fleeing may help them survive, but Eva despises the idea that she’s erasing people; hence, The Book of Lost Names. The book itself is lost to the Nazis, and it’s in 2005 when Eva, now Eva Traube Abrams, sees a photograph in a magazine at her local library, where she works as a semi-retired librarian, now well into her 80s. She’ll fly to Berlin to reunite with the book. One thing lost to her is about to be returned, though so much and so many were lost to her during WWII, including Rémy, when the resistance cell they worked for was compromised. Eva’s son knows nothing of this part of her life. Is she ready to share it?

            It’s the title that caught my eye, and the story captured my interest from the first chapter. At turns heartfelt and heart-shattering, tender and devastating, this historical fiction novel is poignant, powerful and purposeful. Despite inhabiting a dark, terrifying time, the characters show bravery, courage and the resilience of the human spirit while walking amongst evil, much like far too many had to do in real life then and, sadly, are doing now. My first story by Harmel, and I was swept up in its emotion and realism. This story is thoughtful and compelling.

Happiness Falls (Aug. 29, 2023) by Angie Kim.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Their father is missing. The father is Adam Parson, and the mom is Dr. Hannah Park. Their biracial children are a mash-up of their names: twins Mia and John Parkson and Eugene Parkson, their 14-year-old brother, who’s six years their junior. Mia is the only one at home when Eugene comes running full speed ahead. He’s alone, disheveled and bloody with blood under his nails. Adam isn’t with him, not that Mia notices straight away, with her eyes shut against the sun. By the time Hannah and John have returned home from their respective workplaces, hours have passed. Eugene cannot tell them what happened to their father, as he’s unable to communicate orally or through writing. Eugene has both autism and the rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome. When Eugene gets in trouble for accidentally assaulting a police officer, it becomes even more imperative to learn what happened to Adam. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he’s fortunately able to be under house arrest at home instead of kept overnight in an unfamiliar environment (detention center) with complete strangers. As the rollercoaster search continues, it’s discovered that Adam had secrets of his own. Namely, the HQ (happiness quotient) and something major to do with Eugene. The clock is ticking in this investigation. What did Eugene witness?

            There is so much to this domestic drama that’s also a compassionate mystery containing themes of philosophical inquiry, the power of language and its role in perceived intelligence and human connection filled with emotionally rich storytelling. The story is told from Mia’s perspective. She’s hyper-analytical and very judgmental, and I struggled with her character. I can be as judgmental as the next person, but I was also raised to be compassionate. I can stand up for myself without coming across as disdainful. So, whereas John’s niceness as a narrator might’ve been easier to read, it’s Mia’s impertinent, over-thinking mind that moves the story along. I didn’t love this adult fiction novel, which I did read because of the hype – it’s a GMA Book Club Pick – but I can’t deny that it’s one of the smartest books I’ve read this year. It’s multi-layered and thought-provoking. This is a novel that shines with hope amidst heartache and wrests joy from tragedy.

The Sound of Sleighbells (June 27, 2023) by Janet Dailey.

*This is the sixth novel in a series.*

After divorcing her abusive husband, Ruth McCoy is looking to create happy memories and new holiday traditions for her kids: Skip (15), Janeen (6) and Tammy (4). Money may be tight, but she’s got a stable roof over her family’s heads and food on the table. Branding Iron, Texas, is Ruth’s hometown. It’s also Judd Rankin’s hometown, but she’s avoided him easily enough over the years. Her first love, she knows Judd’s history, of his time in jail, but Judd’s turned his life around. He owns a successful custom saddle-making business and Angus ranch. Skip’s friend, Trevor, convinces him to help him with a project out at Judd’s. Ruth is hesitant, worried that Judd and Skip will notice too much. When a blast from the past comes to Branding Iron, a man called Digger, Ruth fears it’s only a matter of time before her secret isn’t so secret anymore. Judd’s never truly gotten over Ruth, but will Ruth give him another chance?

            My first novel from the late author, I found this sixth in The Christmas Tree Ranch series to be sweet with tones of trepidation. While I read this one in the summertime, it’d be perfect for reading on a cold night, wrapped up in one’s favorite blanket with a generous mug of hot chocolate containing extra marshmallows. It is part romance and part intrigue. It’s a wholesome story for readers who love the magic of Christmastime any time of the year. I’m not big on romance novels, but this one with its multigenerational cast delivers good pacing and appeal for readers looking for chaste romance.

"A Healing Touch" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

A Healing Touch (Oct. 1, 2024) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

<This is a standalone novel with overlapping Stoney Ridge characters.>

The kind of doctor who still believes in house calls, Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus is in tune with addressing her patients’ physical needs as well as their emotional ones. When newly widowed Bee Bennett, breeder of Dutch Warmbloods, is facing breast cancer, Dok connects her with Fern Lapp. Bee doesn’t think she needs to talk to anyone, especially an Amishwoman that she expects to have zero connection with. Annie Fisher is Dok’s painfully shy office assistant, but she’s got a great mind for medical information and a calm demeanor in intense situations. When Annie feels called to something else, Dok will move mountains to help her, and she’ll recruit her brother David, Stoney Ridge’s Amish bishop, to assist. Annie will also discover that there just might be a young man out there that she’d like to marry. He happens to be an Amish EMT in a nearby town. And when an abandoned newborn mysteriously appears on the front step of her clinic one cold morning, Dok’s world takes a very unexpected turn.

            Anytime I pick up a novel by Suzanne Woods Fisher, I trust that it will be an excellent read. Yet again, this trust remains firm. The characters are endearing, if sometimes loud (Hank Lapp) or nosy (Sarah Blank, Annie’s friend), the plot is well-defined, the writing is engaging, and the setting is as charming as your most perfect day. It’s a delight to delve into this tight-knit community, strong of faith, but with very human struggles, too (e.g. extreme shyness, even a lack of faith). The author mesmerizes us with this Christian, contemporary Amish romance that encourages the soul like good medicine.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Fate Breaker" by Victoria Aveyard

Fate Breaker (Feb. 27, 2024) by Victoria Aveyard.

<This is the final novel in a trilogy.>

All must rise to fight or be destroyed by Queen Erida and Taristan, Prince of Old Cor, and her consort. The Companions have been rent from one another and are scattered over parts of Allward. Corayne an-Amarat forges on alone until the Elders of Sirandel in The Castlewood find her. Her Spindleblade lies broken amongst the ruins of Gidastern, but she’s taken Taristan’s, now the only Spindleblade in existence. Without it, he can’t open any Spindles or end the world, but with the might of Erida’s Gallish legion, the areas they’ve conquered, the Ashlanders (now with the newly dead from Gidastern and the battle that raged there) and their demon god, What Waits, power still rages from them, and they don’t plan to burn. The Companions, unsure where the others are and assuming the worst, are, all the same, converging on one spot for the final battle: Iona, the seat of the largest of the Elder enclaves. Andry Trelland is with Valtik – she’s probably the only one everyone feels assured is alive – Sorasa Sarn, Domacridhan of Iona and Sigaalbeta “Sigil” Bhur Bhar end up captured, and Charlon Armont runs away from Gidastern in fear and cowardice, but he’s bolstered and finds new courage when he reunites with his love, Garion, an Amhara assassin (but unlike Sorasa, he’s not exiled). Who will answer the call to action? The famed and feared Countless of the Temurijon (“The iron bones of the Countless will never be broken.”)? Who will arrive in time? The realm is vast, and travel isn’t swift, especially with the monsters of other realms lurking in the seas (krakens) and in the air (dragons). The battle of a lifetime is coming, and it will wait for no one.

            Here, evil is dynamic, the villains are complex, the heroes are a diverse and unlikely group, and goodness seems more a concept than anything tangible. With the Companions scattered throughout much of the book, having multiple narrators is helpful instead of overwhelming. The ultimate novel in the Realm Breaker trilogy, despite its 625 pages, has a continual sense of urgency. The final battle is expectedly fierce, like something epic in a Lord of the Rings movie, but (POSSIBLE SPOILER) the redemption arc right near the end fills me with disappointment. My expectation that there’d be a satisfying comeuppance didn’t come to pass, hence, I suppose, the disappointment. All the same, this YA fantasy is epic, fierce and ruthless. There is nothing haphazard about Aveyard’s writing. She’s an author who knows what she’s doing.

            Book 1: Realm Breaker

            Book 2: Blade Breaker

"The Blooming of Delphinium" by Holly Varni

The Blooming of Delphinium (Sept. 24, 2024) by Holly Varni.*

<This is the second novel in a series.>

When it comes to hidden talents, Delphinium Hayes has a unique one. She’s a synesthete and knows someone’s best or worst characteristic with one whiff of a person. Only she will smell their unique floral (or herbal) scent. For example, honeysuckle means bonded with love, while petunia always indicates anger and resentment. Her parents have never understood her, and the one person who did, Annie (her grandmother), has passed away. Her nose always knows until two men flabbergast her scent-driven world. Mason McCormack, real estate lawyer, is a player who uses Delphinium’s bouquets to impress and break up with women, and she cannot smell him. That’s never happened before.

            Then there’s Elliot Sturgis, the clean-cut, uptight-looking director of The Gardens Assisted Living Facility who’s so put together that he looks like he should be her parents’ kid. He smells like violets, and those individuals exude a “high standard of loyalty and love.” His scent is so intoxicating that she too easily loses her train of thought. He likes rules and maintaining order. Some of his mature residents at The Gardens do not appreciate this. They want tater tots twice a week, and Bob would eat tapioca every day. The residents continue to hang out at Delphinium’s shop long after the A/C is fixed at The Gardens, and they no longer have to hang out in Delphinium’s floral refrigerator to keep cool. The residents claim that Elliot lets them keep coming to her shop, because he has a crush on her. Sparks are definitely flying, but Delphinium’s got more on her mind. Her shop is about to be foreclosed on. This shop is her dream, for she loves flowers, but it’s also her tie to her late grandmother. How can love bloom when she’s mired in failure?

            Moonberry Lake is a fictional small town in Minnesota, and this second in the Moonberry Lake series is overall charming. There’s one moment where Delphinium’s outburst strikes me as childish, and it read as contemporary fiction versus Christian contemporary fiction, so subtle seems the faith or even faith’s growth (it is there, though). Delphinium is spirited in her bright, floral prints, and I chuckled aloud multiple times, just as I teared up when an earthly goodbye sprouted up. It’s refreshing like a cool drink and sweet, but not toothache-inducing sweet. As a Minnesotan, I can’t help but adore a Minnesota setting, even fictional, and Moonberry Lake is exactly the idyllic town I’d love to visit. Four out of five floral bouquets!

            Book One: On Moonberry Lake

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Fireworks" by Alice Lin

Fireworks (June 7, 2022) by Alice Lin.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Newly minted high school graduate Lulu Li has her summer all planned out before she and her best friends, Stephanie Nguyen (Vietnamese) and Ester Tan (Filipino), head to college. A culinary adventure in New York City and a day at Hersheypark are part of this plan. Avoiding her estranged father is also part of her summer plan. Not part of this plan? Kai Xu a.k.a. Kite. Lulu hasn’t seen Kite since junior high, when he left the U.S. for South Korea, eventually debuting with K-pop boy group Karnival. They’re now a major K-pop group, though they’re not at the megastardom level of BTS. Kite is supposedly home for health reasons, but there’s definitely more to it than that. Lulu is trying to find the easy friendship they once shared to balance the Firework (Karnival’s fandom) that she is but doesn’t claim to be. Lulu vehemently denies her feelings for Kite, which, naturally, only makes her feelings for him stronger. But how could a K-pop idol fall for an ordinary, everyday person like her?

            This YA romcom gives K-drama vibes and K-pop excitement with main characters who are Taiwanese American (Lulu) (or, more specifically, she identifies as Chinese by way of Taiwan, pp. 173-174) and Chinese American (Kite). The lighthearted moments balance the weightier themes present throughout: social media toxicity (including the very toxic fan behavior of sasaengs), mental health, and anger towards the divorced parent who cheated. The lack of privacy for K-pop idols is a topic, as is Korea’s workaholic culture for idol groups. For those who like to know, Lulu is bisexual. This standalone is engaging and contemporary, fast-paced and short enough for those with busy schedules (only 298 pages). I’d easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys K-pop. This teen romp has ups and downs and showcases the importance of connection and moving forward, because life often takes the squiggly path, not the straightforward one.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 9

Welcome to my only Christian/inspirational fiction post of 2024. For those who do read Christian fiction, who are your favorite authors and why?

A Beautiful Disguise (Aug. 22, 2023) by Roseanna M. White.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

With a flair for the bold, Lady Marigold Fairfax’s wardrobe isn’t fashion-forward because she’s style-obsessed. Instead, her eye-catching choices as Lady Marigold disguise her alter ego as Lady M and also one of the founding members of The Imposters, Ltd., with her brother, Yates, and two friends, Gemma Parks (a.k.a. G.M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her high society stories) and Graham Wharton. Left with an estate (and an earldom for Yates) on the brink of bankruptcy after their father’s death, the brother-sister duo opened a private investigation firm for the elite to spy on the elite. They have collected many secrets and are shocked when Lieutenant Colonel Sir Merritt Livingstone finds their card and hires the anonymous group to investigate Lord Thomas Hemming, their late father’s good friend. He might be a traitor, as someone is leaking information to Germany as tensions mount (it’s England in 1909). Sir Merritt has been a dedicated man of the Crown with exemplary service, having recently spent a decade serving the reigning monarch in the Coldstream Guards, but pneumonia lands him a desk job in the War Office Intelligence Division where Lord Hemming also works. The Imposters, Ltd.’s investigative services are beyond compare, but will they find innocence in their father’s friend? Or something nefarious?

            From bejeweled ballrooms to covert intelligence offices in London to an acrobatic Tower in Northumberland, the first in The Imposters series is engaging from the first page until the last. It’s a story showcasing hard work, up to and including manual labor, in an aristocratic society where money isn’t oft seen as an issue, but for the Fairfax siblings, the burden to keep afloat and maintain appearances is a weighted one. White crafts a series starter replete with great characters and a forward-moving plot set in Edwardian England that is interspersed with romance and investigation and fueled by faith. It’s a delightful, inspirational fiction, sleuthing adventure!

            Favorite line: “She simply preferred not to sit like a letter of the alphabet and pretend a ruler was jammed into her corset.” (p. 211)

The Heirloom (Sept. 12, 2023) by Beverly Lewis.

<This is a standalone novel that’s a prequel to The Shunning.>

With grief over her mother’s passing still feeling fresh with her father already remarried and reeling after a breakup with someone she thought was the one, 19-year-old Clara Bender doesn’t feel like she fits in in her more progressive Amish community in First Light, Indiana. With a new stepmom, Clara isn’t needed to manage her dad’s household, and there are few available young men in her small community. When she comes across letters from her mother’s dear aunt Ella Mae Zook, and reaches out to this great aunt whom she’s never met, she soon finds herself invited to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania’s, Hickory Hollow and the Old Order Amish community where Ella Mae, the Wise Woman, resides. Clara’s arrival for a week turns into a summer, and it’s an answer to prayer, because Ella Mae isn’t ready to move from the home she made with her late, beloved husband. The two women form a close bond quickly over their love of Clara’s mother and quilting. Together, the two of them set to restoring an heirloom wedding quilt from 1911 that once belonged to Ella Mae’s mother. Clara finally opens up about the relationship that fell apart, and Ella Mae shares the “unspeakable” tragedy from her courting years. Clara makes quick friends, including Katie Lapp (features in The Shunning), Lettie Zook (granddaughter to Ella Mae) and Rosanna Ebersol (a shy 16-year-old). She also meets some eligible young men from Hickory Hollow. Will she become flirtatious Tom Glick’s sweetheart girl? Or might thoughtful Aaron Ebersol catch her heart?

            Lewis’ prequel to The Shunning is an intergenerational novel of healing, love, new beginnings and moving forward. If Clara follows her heart, she’ll stay in Hickory Hollow amongst the strict Old Order Amish with their straitlaced bishop, but her father’s been adamant that she’ll return to First Light at summer’s end, where their Amish community focuses more on grace than excessive rules. Lewis graces readers with another tender, heartstrings-tugging, clean romance. Make a sweet, minty batch of meadow tea, find your favorite lap quilt and settle cozily in for this gladdening tale.

To Spark a Match (Nov. 14, 2023) by Jen Turano.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

Even though she’s a member of the New York Four Hundred, with multiple unsuccessful Seasons and a penchant for catastrophe, Miss Adelaide Duveen has long since resigned herself to the wallflowers section at parties and accepts that she’s destined to remain a spinster forever at her overripe age of 23. She doesn’t view this dismally, for it allows her to concentrate on her favorites: cats and books. She delights in spy novels, and when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide is all but convinced that she must help Gideon solve the case. This is the last thing that former naval intelligence agent Gideon wants. A well-known gentleman amongst the Four Hundred membership, he doesn’t want others to know the “accounting firm” he works for is a front for an investigation service. He also doesn’t want to risk others getting hurt. Considering he’s prevented Adelaide from pitching over a steep edge and put her out when she caught on fire, there’s no way Adelaide can be involved. He asks Miss Camilla Pierpont, a good friend of his, to take Adelaide in hand. Camilla, another member of the New York Four Hundred and an Incomparable when she debuted, has her work cut out for her. Adelaide’s putting up with it, because her mother’s overjoyed at Camilla’s involvement. Gideon, meanwhile, wonders aloud how Adelaide’s still alive, doing things like taking the El alone and shopping at Bainswright Books, which is in a seedier area of the city, and wandering down shady alleys unaccompanied. When Adelaide’s books are stolen right out of her hands, the potential for danger becomes real, and reinforces Adelaide’s drive to be part of the investigation. There’s clearly a spark between Adelaide and Gideon, but is it a spark of love or disaster?

            As someone who also loves cats (though I only have two, not 20+) and books, I definitely felt a kinship with Adelaide’s character. Turano’s stories are always charming, suffused with engaging characters, including forward-thinking, independent women, humorous dialogue and a fast-paced, energetic plot. Turano’s fans will sail through this fun, lighthearted romp amidst another matchmaking season. There is elegance and refinement mixed with sleuthing and adventure -- oh, and plenty of misadventure, too.

            Book One: A Match in the Making

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 8

Here I finally am with my first YA compilation of 2024. I’ve published more solo YA posts, which is why I didn’t create a second compilation post this year, as I originally thought I would. 

The Headmaster’s List (Feb. 28, 2023) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Her ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old Ethan Amoroso, is known as a reckless driver, so when 15-year-old Chris Moore is killed in a high-speed car crash with a tree, it’s easy for the public to skip over ‘innocent until proven guilty’ and proclaim him guilty, since he said he was at the wheel, but Spencer Sandoval, also 18, knows he wouldn’t be careless with the lives of others. His own? Sure, but not others’. Spencer dives into her own investigation into the crash, trying to find the memories of that night that she can’t recall. Was she drugged? Is it the trauma of the night? A brain injury? Why can’t she remember? And why is the picture of Ethan in her memory screaming her name “all wrong?” She has an ally in Jackson Chen, Ethan’s soccer teammate and best friend, and her new, loyal sidekick, Ripley, a service dog for her PTSD. She’s asking lots of questions, becoming obsessed (and dependent on her Vicodin Rx), and someone clearly feels threatened. Spencer receives a threatening note and someone tries to run her off the road one night as she’s biking home after work. Is it someone she knows? Or someone who’s heard her name through Peyton Salt’s popular, true crime podcast? What kind of truth is she getting close to that someone else doesn’t want to see the light?

            Like ripping off a bandage, I’ll state right off that I struggled with this book. I’ve enjoyed so many of de la Cruz’s stories, but this one drug on, and it began with guessing something [correctly] early on. It’s atypical of me to quit a story, so I read the novel in its entirety. Ripley is definitely a win for the story, her training a good balance to Spencer’s increasing obsession, likely related to her Vicodin dependence. Just because this story wasn’t a victory to me doesn’t mean it’s without merit. Indeed, it does have fascinating facets, venturing in a place ruled by pedigree and privilege. In an elite LA private school, race still stands out (Spencer occasionally refers to herself as the “brown kid”). This thriller has plenty of cute boys, a range of diversity and teen snark. Where it glitters, it’s also sinister, and the humanness can be razor-sharp. It’s a likeable YA thriller, just not one that resonated with me.

Revelations (May 9, 2023) by Bella Higgin.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

<Casual spoiler if you haven’t read the first story.>

When Renie Mayfield first entered Belle Morte, one of the vampire houses in the U.K., where vampires are A-list celebrities, living a life of luxury in their top-brand attire, she was a human selected as a donor to try to find her Vladdict (obsessed with vampires) sister, June. Now Renie is a new vampire, and the vampire responsible, the love of her life, Edmond Dantès, is confined to the secret cells of Belle Morte in cuffs of painful silver. June appears to have escaped and her whereabouts are unknown. June is beyond any help, but Renie continues to love the sister she once was. Renie’s desperate to free Edmond, locate June and punish the one who killed her sister. That someone isn’t working alone, and the betrayal runs deeper than the secret passageways of Belle Morte. The other U.K. houses are likely also compromised, as becomes apparent after they flee. It isn’t only the smell of blood that lingers within Belle Morte’s walls, but corruption, too.

            I’ll be frank. This is a vampire novel, so it’s not a story that I read expecting to be deeply complex. Indeed, the plot never wades into the deep end, but it depicts a lush setting, the allure of a glitzy lifestyle, the glamour associated with vampire novels and a fresh take on the genre. The world-building is detailed, especially if you like fashion. Renie is 18, making this a YA novel, but the intimacy in the story and the many adult supporting characters in the book make this a better choice for older readers. I don’t have children, but if I did, I wouldn’t want my 14- or 15-year-old reading it. There’s a centuries-wide age gap between Renie and Edmond, so maybe there’s a book club discussion in there about power dynamics if one wants to make this story into something deeper. If you like brooding vampires who are tall, dark-haired and handsome, this has got that. I’d recommend this for vampire aficionados and those who haven’t read any vampire novels since Twilight.

These Deadly Prophecies (Jan. 30, 2024) by Andrea Tang.

<This is a standalone novel, as far as I can tell.>

“I will die at the hands of my best beloved. So shall it be.” Chinese American teen Tabatha Zeng is the daughter of a lawyer mom and an engineer dad, and she’s chosen to pursue sorcery, much to the disappointment of her parents. At least she’s an apprentice to one of the world’s most famous sorcerers. It’s too bad that he predicts his own brutal death, and it comes true. Detective Elena Chang is the one-woman show of the occult crimes unit with the local police department. She’s very anti-magic. Callum is Sorcerer Julian Aurelius Solomon’s youngest son, and the only one of his children who’s a fortune teller (prophecy sorcery) like Tabatha is and his dad was. The twins and Callum’s half-siblings are Felix (the eldest, who excels at kinetic sorcery) and Circe (who casts illusions, which are often seen as fluff sorcery). Felix is believed to be the favorite child, but it’s Callum who has the gift of prophecy, the most coveted of the magics. Who is Sorcerer Solomon’s best beloved, and who will be bequeathed the Solomon Family legacy? There’s a murder to investigate, and with Tabatha and Callum being the last two to see him alive, they’re the prime suspects.

My first story from Tang is a YA murder mystery thriller with paranormal elements. While I didn’t love it, it’s sharp and clever with witty banter to boot, and it reads quickly. It’s a magical madcap mystery with the narrator (Tabatha) sometimes in reflection mode. For those who are drawn to YA novels with dark and light elements, this is an intriguing choice if they only decide to pick it up. Callum might’ve dubbed her the “squishy wizard,” but Tabatha is serious about her prophecies. She might be reciting one out to the world right now. Please handle with care. So shall it be.

Helpful note: “Not all spell casting is the same, but the three classes of sorcery – illusion, kinetic, and prophecy – can be broken down in broad strokes like so: wishing, willing, and wondering. Illusionists create their mirages by wishing them real, the same way you might wish to be married to your middle school crush by writing their name over and over again in your notebooks. Kinetics, meanwhile, take it a step further. Instead of simply wishing, they will their desires into true existence: the crack in the ground that starts an earthquake, the whirlpool curving the center of a calm sea, or, well, a fireball flung at a spoiled teenager’s Lexus.” (p. 83)

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 7

Hello, fellow readers! In this post, you will find my second middle-grade compilation post. It’s a variety of … fantasy. All right, so all three fall within the same genre, but they each offer something different. There’s a Nigh that’s like NYC, but also not really. There’s a genius-recluse with a Willy Wonka-esque imagination. And there’s a house with a girl in the wallpaper.

The Golden Imaginarium (Oct. 10, 2023) by Ellen Potter.

<This is a sequel novel.>

<No spoilers outside of what may be on the dust jacket.>

Weeks have gone by since Nell Batista and the other members of the Last Chance Club, Crud Butterbank and Annika Rapp, were in the Nigh. Mr. Boot continues to act as though the lot are hopeless, though Vanessa Habscomb is helpful. A visitor clearly not of the Hither shows up – he refers to a hamster as a “little animal thingy” – and informs the three that they’re being fast-tracked to become Watchers, skipping right over the Level Cs and going straight to the Initiation Trial. This is alarming, as they have neither the experience nor the practice. They will be armed with their very own briefcase of Fates, creatures from the Nigh. Nell’s case is disappointingly small and contains only two. Neither seems particularly useful. The more useful one is the Willaweeper called Winston, which Vanessa gave her, and is now hiding in her braids. Nell’s first trial is a success, as she disrupts a Flooper: “an unexpected choice that will alter important events in the future.” Tom comes to find her and brings her back to the Nigh, where Nell encounters Katerina, Abiba and Samuel. They are ghosts ... but they weren’t ghosts when Tom brought them from the Hither to the Nigh. Nell also meets Lysander, an Imp who wants nothing more than a home and a family (even if he won’t readily admit it). They’ll see Finfolk (mermaids), who likewise despise Magicians, and spot a Grubble (a Sasquatch). Folk don’t like the latter because they dig up gardens and smell like garbage (they’re pests). Now more than ever, Nell needs to excel at chopsticks-assisting spell work. Rumor has it that the small and wicked Minister is coming after them. If Nell fails any of her trials, the Umglick Spell will be performed, and she’ll lose all memories of magic, the Nigh and the brother she’s so desperate to return to the Hither.

The middle-school protagonists are easy to root for against the evil, children-stealing Magicians in this fast-moving fantasy adventure. There is comic relief, including a budding Girl-Imp relationship that teeters on comically romantic in its awkwardness. The youth all have varied backgrounds, but most characters appear to cue Caucasian. Nell, Crud and Annika have developed a tight-knit bond through the Last Chance Club, and the creature cast is ample and contains all manner of docile-to-vicious creatures. The ending felt rushed, but is a happy one, so I don’t know if this ends at a duology or if the saga will continue. At any rate, this is a duo that has entertained me, and I’d happily read more stories. Remember that the Nigh is just like home, right up until it isn’t. And if you hear a Wickle-wickle-feee! at your ear, know that danger is way too near!

            Note: In this story, dogges is said to be pronounced as DOWGS, but, if you’ve read my post for the first novel, you’ll notice it’s pronounced differently. I don’t know if it’s an oversight or if the author purposely changed it, but I’m noting it as-is for its respective book.

            Book One: Hither & Nigh

Not Quite a Ghost (Jan. 16, 2024) by Anne Ursu.

<This is a standalone novel.>

The house on 1664 Katydid Street sat silent and alone for a long time, but now Violet Hart’s family has moved into the house in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Change is everywhere for Violet. There’s the big move, for their old home became too small for their family of five (mom, stepdad, older sister Mia and younger half-brother Owen). Violet’s entered middle school, and she isn’t on the same team as her best friends, Paige and Ally. With the start of middle school, Paige now wants their pod to become a squad with Quinn and Kennedy. Okay. Fine. Change is healthy, right? She manages to make a new friend named Will. She meets him in the school’s library. Healthy! But what about this attic bedroom that Mia didn’t want, despite it being the bigger room? The walls are a drab yellow, “somewhere between mustard and vomit,” the floor looks like it’s “been attacked by several angry bears,” it smells like “a malodorous moat” and has walls covered in a chaos of vines, leaves and flowers that look like eyes. Is the wallpaper watching her? It’s creepy. Lately, she’s spending too much time in her creepy bedroom when she falls mysteriously ill. No one can pinpoint her invisible illness. Is she making herself sick? And is that ... an outline of a girl in the wallpaper?

            It’s middle school drama meets a medical mystery and the paranormal in this page-turning tale highlighting changing friendships, balancing schoolwork and navigating an invisible illness amidst being haunted. This middle-grade novel is insightful, sometimes intense and creepy in a way that gives one not-too-scary shivers down the back. It’s a story featuring a blended family and diversity of race and sexual orientation. Despite the twisty paranormal element, there is realism to the story, not only contending with the mayhem of middle school or COVID, but being invisibly sick. The story explores what it’s like to be sick in a way no one seems to understand and is therefore dismissed. It’s effortlessly empathetic yet haunting, vulnerable yet fierce.

            P.S. At least Violet finally got a cat! (Her name is Trixie.)

The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society (Sept. 5, 2023) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

Only eight answered the 108th question on the Octagon Valley Assessment for the Extra-Ordinary (OVAEO) and so only eight were invited to the Octagon Valley Institute. It’s an exclusive weekend with the mysterious, high-tech genius-recluse Onasander Octagon. 11-year-old Edwin Edgefield, a boy who’s small for his age and young for his grade, hopes to meet intelligent kids like him who’ll also accept him for all of his quirks and his eidetic memory. But the other students are so different that it makes them wonder if they’re all in the right place. There’s amateur rapper Eun-Kyung “Li’l Kimmy” Kim, skateboarding surfer Dilip Aggarwal, 12-year-old violin/conductor prodigy Julie Carter, mean girl Maureen Pearson, teacher’s pet Anabelle “Ting-Ting” Costanza, gamer fanatic Anton Chesky and spoiled rich boy Harold Postman Jr. VIII. How did Harold even get invited? (It’s a legitimate question, as Onasander wonders, too.) Their introduction to the Institute isn’t what they expected. Instead of a fulfilling weekend of lectures and rumored new tech, they’re blindfolded and thrown into a labyrinthine scavenger hunt. From an escape-room challenge to attacking piranhas to abductor ninjas, the weekend is getting weirder by the moment. They’ll have to utilize their inner weird and work together to discover the true secret of the Institute. It’s part of what makes them EXTRAordinary!

            This opener in the Octagon Valley series is a fast-paced, page-turning, action-adventure that’s part mystery and part dangerous obstacle challenge with humor, mischief and, it turns out, a healthy dose of scheming. The cast is ethnically diverse: Edwin is Black, Li’l Kimmy is Korean, Dilip is Indian and Ting-Ting is Filipino. There is representation to be found in characters who struggle with things like anxiety. A story with emotional intelligence, a Willy Wonka-esque imagination and high entertainment value, it will appeal to a wide range of readers. A few words to the wise: Don’t get YAK-ed.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 6

It surprises me, too, that I have enough for a third chapter books compilation. While it’s true that they read very quickly, I don’t typically focus on them like I have this year.

Astrid & Apollo and the Happy New Year (Aug. 1, 2020) by V.T. Bidania.

   Dara Lashia Lee, illustrator.

<This is part of an unnumbered series of books.>

Twins Astrid and Apollo are excited to attend the Hmong New Year Festival in their home state of Minnesota. The celebration, complete with entertainment and vendors selling food and gifts/souvenirs, is noisy and crowded. When they let dancers pass in front of them, they lose their parents and Eliana, their little sister, but they find a lost little boy and help him to find his family. They may have to approach one of the stages and ask the host to announce that they’re lost, even if it means being mistaken for performers in their special Hmong New Year attire.

            This story showcases that the wonderful cultures and traditions of others can be found right here in the U.S., and Lee’s illustrations are vibrant and expressive. The story and pictures have me wanting to attend a Hmong festival to experience new things, eat new foods and learn! Emergent readers will likely need help with the Hmong words, but there is a helpful glossary of those words before the first chapter begins. This is another delightful story from the Astrid & Apollo series.

Escaping the Fire (Aug. 1, 2019) by Emma Bland Smith.

   Mirelle Ortega, illustrator.

<This is the first book in a series.>

With his parents taking a sabbatical year, Gavin McNally’s family is taking the year to travel around the country in an RV. Gavin has four goals to accomplish as set by his teacher. (1) Change someone’s life; (2) Get to know a family member better; (3) Be a friend to nature; (4) Seek treasure. This annoys him, because who likes homework? Chloe probably does. His older sister. The family thinks they’re settled in for the night at a California campground when Gavin notices smoke and the red glow of fire. Haste is a must to reach safety, but Gavin strays from his family when he hears a dog. Her owner isn’t home. Rescuing the dog is a no-brainer, but how will they escape the fire?

            I flew through this first in the Gavin McNally’s Year Off series. It is a hi-lo book (high-interest, low readability), meaning it’s designed to engage struggling readers. It’s a chapter book, in which there is mostly prose with illustrations, but it features simple sentence structure, controlled vocabulary, a lower page count and very short chapters. The theme is potentially complex and the story age-appropriate, but the reading level is lower. This would be a good option for emergent chapter book readers who are, perhaps, hesitant in their reading abilities.

Mindy Kim, Big Sister (Aug. 6, 2024) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the eleventh book in a series.>

There’s a pint-sized addition in the Kim family, and it’s Mindy’s newborn brother, Min-jae Wei. His American nickname is going to be Charlie, because her stepmom (Julie) thinks it’s cute. Mindy’s Korean name is Min-jung, and in Korean culture, it’s common for siblings to have similar names. Mindy’s worried about being a good big sister, for she’s never been a big sister before. When sleepless nights take a toll on all of them – even Theodore, the puppy – Mindy’s determined to find a way to help her dad and Julie get some much-needed rest.

            As if Lee’s Mindy Kim stories didn’t already bubble over with cuteness, she added an adorable addition to the family. She also focused on the harder parts of having a newborn, like those sleepless nights affecting all members of a household, but she tells it in a way that’s easy to understand and thus is an accessible story for young chapter book readers. The story shines with authenticity, and Ho’s accompanying illustrations continue to be top-notch complements to Lee’s word pictures.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 5

The year is streaming on by, but here is the first picture books compilation of 2024. Better late than never, as the saying goes. It features three books I own and two library checkouts.

Baker and Taylor and the Mystery of the Library Cats (Oct. 4, 2022) by Candy Rodó.

Meet Baker. He’s serious, quiet and enjoys reading about history and faraway places. He reads to learn. Meet Taylor. He’s silly, outgoing and enjoys adventure stories. He reads for fun. Their cat friend, Flora, encourages them to visit other libraries, so they adventure to the main branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL). They arrive in Pennsylvania Station (over 650,000 people travel through Penn Station daily, making it the busiest transportation station in the Western Hemisphere), excited to meet two other library cats, but they can’t find them. With Baker’s trusty guidebook and Taylor’s keen sense of adventure, this book-loving feline duo are about to solve the mystery of NYPL’s Library Cats. They’ll take the subway, partake of a slice of NYC pizza and visit one of the city’s many bodegas.

            This first in a newly independent reader series contains thorough but simple digital illustrations complementing an unfussy adventure picture book featuring two bookish cats. It’s a light storyline that is uncomplicated and easy to follow. The pictures do not capture the constant movement and energy of NYC, but as that’s not the focal point of the story, that is a small thing. Still, I’ll admit that I found the factual tidbits and the factual back matter to be more engaging than the story itself. I picked up the book, not because I’m a cat-loving bibliophile (even though I am), but because I’ve visited the main branch of the New York Public Library!

            Note 1: For those who don’t know, Patience and Fortitude are the “library cats.” They’re actually lion statues. They’ve been guarding the main building of the NYPL since 1911.

            Note 2: The NYPL is the largest public library system in the country. It has 92 locations throughout the different neighborhoods in the city. The main branch is on 5th Avenue, between 42^nd and 40^th Streets. It was founded in 1895.

            Note 3: There are more than 10,000 bodegas (small grocery stores) in NYC. Many have a pet cat to keep mice away, but they greet customers, too.

            Note 4: Besides housing millions of books, the NYPL has also been home to the original toys of Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, and Kanga since 1987.

Eyes that Speak to the Stars (Feb. 15, 2022) by Joanna Ho.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

A Chinese American boy feels the hurtful sting of seeing his eyes represented as two slanted lines when all of his friends have big, round eyes. His Baba (dad) reassures him that “Your eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars. The comets and constellations show you their secrets, and your eyes can foresee the future. Just like mine.” The boy’s eyes are like Agong’s (Grandpa’s) and Di-Di’s (younger brother’s). His eyes are “visionary.” “And they are powerful.”

            This story is as mesmerizing and lyrical as its predecessor. It is lovingly validating and the young boy is quickly and beautifully reassured with eyes in his family that look like his. For me, growing up adopted in a family of Caucasians, this would’ve been a tough one for me as a young child. The only eyes in my family to compare to were all big, round eyes. Fortunately, as an adult, I appreciate the necessity for stories like this, that celebrate family, diversity and the splendor in our differences. Dung Ho’s illustrations complement Joanna Ho’s writing to perfection and not only depict the story as it moves along, but includes icons recognizable in Chinese culture like dragons, a Chinese street market and Kongming (Chinese sky) lanterns. Heritage should be embraced no matter where someone’s landed in the world, and this book showcases that.

            Companion to: Eyes that Kiss in the Corners

Jan Brett’s The Nutcracker (Nov. 16, 2021) by Jan Brett.

It’s Christmas, and Uncle Drosselmeier has brought mysterious boxes. Marie is enthralled by the Nutcracker who she declares “looks like a real boy who has traveled from a place far away.” Her brother, Fritz, wanting to see how the Nutcracker works, breaks him, prompting Marie to check on the Nutcracker in the night. She feels magic and gets involved in a battle between invading mice and Fritz’s toy soldiers led by the Nutcracker. The Mouse King is vanquished, and Marie and her Nutcracker visit a wintry wonderland. Is it real? Or is it all a dream?

            In true Brett fashion, the story is filled with vignettes alongside the picture spread. Normally busy, I felt like it was too busy. It didn’t deter me from liking the story that follows the well-known arc from E.T.A. Hoffman’s famous story. The language is descriptive, and the illustrations are vivid and incredibly detailed. The story incorporates familiar moments from the ballet. However, animals are the cast in the second act. Dancing bears perform the Russian Trepak, and elegant foxes perform the Danse Arabe. Wildlife in the vignettes are dressed in winter wear playing flutes and other instruments. It is a feast for the eyes and a dreamland of wonder with an Old World feel. It is a Christmas confection.

There’s a Ghost in This House (Nov. 2, 2021) by Oliver Jeffers.

A young, unnamed girl lives in a supposedly haunted house, but has she seen a ghost? No. “Perhaps you could help me?” she asks. She’s heard that they “are white with holes for eyes” and adds that they’re very hard to see. She says she’s looked all over – in the library, in the attic, behind all the wardrobes, under the bed (TWICE!) and even up the chimney – but she’s still never spotted one. Will you help her find the ghosts?

The girl lives in an 18th-century mansion with long hallways, quiet rooms and plenty of dark corners, but far from being spooky, this picture book is charming. Does it have eerie vibes? Sure, but they’re unthreatening in this story that reads rather like a seek-and-find. The ghosts on the vellum papers are Casper-adorable and have playful senses of humor. It’s a lighthearted treat to read.

P.S. My nephew LOVED this story. He read it first with his grandma (my mom, to me), and when I read it with him, he remarked with glee when I pointed out two ghosts that he’d missed the first time he read the story! Hands down, it’s a 10/10. How can it not be, when it’s nephew-approved?

We Are Water Protectors (Mar. 17, 2020) by Carole Lindstrom.

   Michaela Goade, illustrator.

“Tears like waterfalls stream down.” A black snake threatens to destroy Earth and poison her people’s water, so one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource. In Ojibwe culture, “women are the protectors of the water and men are the protectors of the fire.” Water is the first medicine, we come from water, and we all depend on water. The water protectors stand “With our songs / And our drums. / We are still here.” As long as water protectors exist, the black snake is in for a long fight. We are all related. TAKE COURAGE! WE STAND!

            Anishinaabe/Métis author Lindstrom and Tlingit descent illustrator Goade are a powerhouse team whose story isn’t only telling the readers to be observant. It’s a call to courageous action to care for our planet home, Earth. We stand not only for ourselves and our loved ones, but for all the creatures of the land, sea and sky who don’t have voices. It’s a passionate picture book with subtly bold, gorgeous illustrations. It’s inspiring and empowering. It’s educational without the weight of a class lecture, but the call to environmental stewardship is nonetheless impactful.