Kathleen:
Jeanine:
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
It’s a multilayered story about identity, family and secrets that doesn’t shy away from tricky issues like race and bigotry. Never preachy, the author takes on these heavy issues with compassion to create this compelling and still entertaining story of identical twins Stella and Desiree. The girls run away at 16 and end up living two very different and separate lives, one black, one passing as white. Their choices – and secrets – lead to life altering consequences. I truly enjoyed this book!
Michelle
Prepare to be transported to a lush and vividly drawn colonial India. On New Year’s Eve, 1913, Madeleine “Maddy” Bright meets Luke Devereaux and thus begins a whirlwind narrative set against the backdrop of World War I and spanning two continents. With echoes of Ondaatje’s English Patient, this, too, is a story begging to be filmed – one whose imprint will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Gorgeous, glittering, and at times gut-wrenching, Meet Me in Bombay is historical fiction at its best. I listened to the audiobook and Aysha Kala’s narration is…perfection.
Katie
Love that Dog by Sharon Creech
Written as a diary and in verse, the story of Jack and his dog Sky captured my heart. Jack hates poetry, until his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, types his words up and puts them on the board. Slowly, Jack discovers his voice through the power of verse. Love that Dog explores how poetry on some paper (in just the right shade of yellow) can soothe the soul and heal a broken heart. A perfect read to celebrate National Poetry month. The classic poems are included at the back.