My Book Reviews

Category: Social Issues

The Journey Home by Conrad Jones

The Journey Home by Conrad Jones Book 3

Release: March 27, 2023
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Red Dragon Publishing LTD
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon

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The saga continues with Kalu in grave danger in London, while his son Beb flies into rebel-controlled Chad with his wife and baby. They’re trying to cross the border into Nigeria to find his long-lost sisters in Monguno. This story will drag you along at 100mph as each perilous journey unfolds and it exposes the horror of each situation. Is this family cursed or can they find each other and a peaceful existence?
“If you’re looking for something to open your eyes, break your heart, and look to take action to promote change, start with The Journey.” Tiffany Hall – Beyond The Stars
“I have never read a book before where I have had to stop reading because I couldn’t cope with the emotions the book engendered in me but the author writes so powerfully that I HAD to finish it.” Joanna Lanum – Guest Reviewer
“Such an intense, chilling and eye-opening novel which is guaranteed to leave you utterly speechless.” Kaisha Holloway – The Writing Garnet
“The plot line is superb and the characters are brilliant and really help carry the story forward.” Donna Maguire – Donnas Book Blog
“It had me captivated until the end. An easy, fast-paced read!” Gemma Myers – Between The Pages Book Club

About the Author:

Conrad Jones spent 12 years working for the biggest quick service restaurant brand in the world.

On March 20th 1993 the IRA terrorist organization bombed the shopping center outside the restaurant he was managing that day. The experience fueled an interest in the root causes of extremist terrorists and the reasoning why its perpetrators feel justified in taking innocent lives. That incident sparked the story of ‘Soft Target’.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The Journey Home Review:

“The Journey Home” is a satisfying conclusion to the series and equally as good as the first two books.

While the second book was probably my favorite in the series, I enjoyed how the author concluded the series in this book. Once again, I loved the multiple storylines, where Jet targetting Kalu and Kissie on one end, Beb and Amira on a dangerous journey to go home, and Isime and Oke adjusting to their life back in Monguno. This book stood apart from the other two because of Oke and Isime. I adored the humor the author added to their dialogues and how lighthearted some of their conversations were, even amidst the chaos.

Moreover, the author also adds a touch of adventure to each chapter. You think the horrors of the previous two books are over, but our characters are always on the lookout and encounter life-threatening situations. Beb and Amira’s story was also interesting, and I enjoyed Omar as the supporting lead. Similarly, Nazia’s storylines were heartbreaking, and seeing how raw the author described the scenes was shocking.

The only reason why I didn’t enjoy this as much as book two was because of Kalu’s storyline. The earlier books were gripping because they tackled realistic situations that the characters faced, like amidst the Russo-Ukranian War or the challenges they faced in Africa, including a potential pandemic. However, the arc with Jet, while entertaining as it was, felt a tad fictional (like reading a James Bond novel) and didn’t resonate with the series’ theme. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the storyline and found the scenes very entertaining.

Overall, you must read the entire series in order because they are gripping, wonderful, and makes you appreciate life and family. It is one of my favorite series I have read this year!

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Journey Home by Conrad Jones Blog Tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.

April 29, 2023
The Journey Back by Conrad Jones

The Journey Back by Conrad Jones Book 2

Release:June13,2022
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Red Dragon Publishing LTD
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon

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The Journey Back is the blistering sequel to The Journey. Kalu is a doctor, who escaped an extremist revolution in Nigeria. He tried to get his family across the Sahara to look for passage to the safety of Europe but they were duped by ruthless people traffickers and his wife and two daughters were lost at sea. Fast forward twenty-years and his daughter, Kissie is in Ukraine when Russian tanks cross the border and his family are in terrible danger again. What the reviewers are saying;

“If you’re looking for something to open your eyes, break your heart, and look to take action to promote change, start with The Journey.” Tiffany Hall – Beyond The Stars
“I have never read a book before where I have had to stop reading because I couldn’t cope with the emotions the book engendered in me but the author writes so powerfully that I HAD to finish it.” Joanna Lanum – Guest Reviewer
“Such an intense, chilling and eye-opening novel which is guaranteed to leave you utterly speechless.” Kaisha Holloway – The Writing Garnet
“The plot line is superb and the characters are brilliant and really help carry the story forward.” Donna Maguire – Donnas Book Blog
“It had me captivated until the end. An easy, fast-paced read!” Gemma Myers – Between The Pages Book Club

About the Author:

Conrad Jones spent 12 years working for the biggest quick service restaurant brand in the world.

On March 20th 1993 the IRA terrorist organization bombed the shopping center outside the restaurant he was managing that day. The experience fueled an interest in the root causes of extremist terrorists and the reasoning why its perpetrators feel justified in taking innocent lives. That incident sparked the story of ‘Soft Target’.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The Journey Back Review:

This series is just so hard to put down! After reading the first book, I was excited to get my hands on “Journey Back” to see how the Sammi family saga continued.

The author outdid himself in the plot, and I loved the multiple storylines. On the one hand, Kalu has an imposter as a son who has returned and is involved in shady activities, and you wonder how much torment Kalu cant take. On the other hand, we have Kissie, who has grown and has her life in danger in Chornobyl amidst the war between the Ukrainians and Russians. Then, we also learn that Oke and Isime are alive in Mongumo and at risk because of a new pandemic eradicating their friends and family. But what happened to Beb? Well, he has his storyline that is also gripping with family drama! The author wonderfully toggles between each arc and progresses it so beautifully!

It’s hard to choose which storyline I liked because I enjoyed them all, although I loved Kalu and Kissie. I loved how the author portrayed the various emotions Kalu faces, knowing what happened to Beb. Similarly, the author makes the story relevant by adding elements of the Eusso-Ukranian War into the plot. He portrays the scenes so realistically that I felt like I was reading entries of a journalist who witnesses the tragedies happening there. I loved this book more than the first, and I don’t know how the author would top it off in the sequel. On a side note, Katouh was also sizzling as a supporting character, and I hope he is more prominent in the next book!

Overall, “Journey Back” is a fantastic continuation, and if you haven’t read the Journey Novels series yet, you must check it out!

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Journey Home by Conrad Jones Blog Tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.

April 29, 2023
The Journey by Conrad Jones

The Journey by Conrad Jones Book 1

Release: February24,2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Red Dragon Publishing LTD
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon

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The Journey is a must-read thriller. The gripping story of a young boy and his family, driven from their home by war and indiscriminate violence. Like millions of others, they attempt the treacherous journey across their war-torn continent, trying to reach the safety of Europe. The truth is, Europe doesn’t want them and thousands die every month at the hands of thieves and profiteering men to whom life is cheap. The story is fast-paced, at times heart-breaking but it will pull you along at 100 miles an hour. It will make you think and it will make you question your perception of refugees.
Most of all it will make you ask if your family was in peril, what would you do

“If you’re looking for something to open your eyes, break your heart, and look to take action to promote change, start with The Journey.” Tiffany Hall – Beyond The Stars
“I have never read a book before where I have had to stop reading because I couldn’t cope with the emotions the book engendered in me but the author writes so powerfully that I HAD to finish it.” Joanna Lanum – Guest Reviewer
“Such an intense, chilling and eye-opening novel which is guaranteed to leave you utterly speechless.” Kaisha Holloway – The Writing Garnet
“The plot line is superb and the characters are brilliant and really help carry the story forward.” Donna Maguire – Donnas Book Blog
“It had me captivated until the end. An easy, fast-paced read!” Gemma Myers – Between The Pages Book Club

About the Author:

Conrad Jones spent 12 years working for the biggest quick service restaurant brand in the world.

On March 20th 1993 the IRA terrorist organization bombed the shopping center outside the restaurant he was managing that day. The experience fueled an interest in the root causes of extremist terrorists and the reasoning why its perpetrators feel justified in taking innocent lives. That incident sparked the story of ‘Soft Target’.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The Journey Review:

There are books you read that make you appreciate your life because you read the turmoils that the characters go through, knowing this happens in reality. I loved Kalu and his family in the story and was rooting for them to escape danger. Kalu does everything to protect his family, and some scenes just broke my heart because of how people took advantage of him. He has a beautiful relationship with Esse, and his children, Beb, Kissie, Oke, and Isime. Each of them goes through some ordeal, and I liked Beb and how he initially wanted to grow up so fast before he witnessed the horrors. The supporting cast is also memorable; I loved Alice, and my heart went to her.

The author’s strong point is being bold and gentle with the storylines and not sugarcoating them for the reader. Some memorable moments were when Beb goes to save the woman when Kalu sees what happens to Beb, or the exciting climax where you wonder what would happen to the family. Moreover, the author also writes the landscape so realistically. You see how horrible and selfish even people like the shopkeeper become when water becomes an expensive commodity, and people use any advantage to make a quick buck. The story also ends in a shocking way that makes you immediately want to pick up the next book to discover what happens to these characters.

Overall, “The Journey” is a fascinating start to the series, and I wonder how the author would top it up in the continuation.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Journey Home by Conrad Jones Blog Tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.

April 29, 2023
The Nightmare by Fiona Hogan

The Nightmare by Fiona Hogan

Release:2 Oct. 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: SpellBound Books
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Amazon UK, Amazon

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A COLLECTION OF DELICIOUSLY DARK & TWISTED TALES TO GET YOU READY FOR HALLOWEEN

I set the table for you, come sit.

I hope you enjoy my humble fare, a selection of only the darkest of delights. But make sure and pull your chair in closer to the hearth for the night falls and the wind blows wild muffling the sound of approaching footsteps. Something comes, something creeps ever closer. A nightmare thing.

Enter a dark place between fact and fiction.

On a cold winter’s night whilst crossing the frost covered field to fetch water, a child hears a sound on the air, an infant’s cry. But no baby awaits her hurried progress.
A pensioner rapidly losing her memory exists in a twilight world where only a lost love can bridge the gap between past and present.

A young man at a boutique music festival discovers more than romance in the fading forest.

Something travels the cosmos, a creature of nightmare and terror. A veiled medium sits at a table in a Victorian parlour waiting.

Amongst the lamb, a wolf harvests souls in a bid for promotion.

THE NIGHTMARE – A selection of gothic and contemporary dark fiction from F.B. Hogan.

About the Author:

F.B. Hogan is a writer, blogger and poet living in the midlands of Ireland. She masquerades as a sensible adult and mother to five children and cat but lives and breathes purely for horror.

Fiona writes in a mix of genres and you can also find her collection of humorous and supernatural tales – The Lights Went Out and Other Stories on Amazon under the name Fiona Cooke. Her novella, a romantic comedy set in Kerry, Ireland – What Happened in Dingle, is also available to download on Amazon.

She scribbles random thoughts about nature, her work and anything that amuses her at her blog https://unusualfiction.wordpress.com/

Fiona has signed a two book contract and her first book, a collection of deliciously dark and twisted tales will be published in October, kicking off SpellBounds SHOctober Horror fest.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

The Nightmare Review:

The author begins the collection with “Always,” with a fascinating character Anna. I thought the author wrote her story well with a surprising climax.

“Down in the Darkness.” Poor Maggie Anne. This tale was creepy, especially when she heard the sound from the well.

Death comes calling – Tommy and Marian – where Thomas gets a surprise visit that changes his life.

You won’t feel a thing – This one was eerie because I’m not too fond of hospitals and syringes. Doctor Graham gave me the creeps in the tale.

The Game – I liked this story because of the main character Mark. While the story is disturbing, it made me realize like our lives are just a sequence of games and depend on how we play them.

Ventry – This one was probably the most atmospheric tale in the story about two people meeting together. The scenes where he stalks her, in the beginning, gave me chills.

Fin De Siecle: This was my favorite story in the series. The way the author described the creature and its actions were brilliant.

I’ve Got my Eye on You: Another one of my favorites. I love stories that twist and shock you, and all the three characters, Bradley and Ange and Joey, were creepy.

The Nightmare: The Thing in the Attic was the highlight of the tale. I only wish this had been longer.

Dragon: A short yet fun story about a girl who thinks she sees Dragons.

Untitled – this was the most extended story in the collection and filled with corpses, coffins, and creepy mansions, as a creature chases the main character.

Overall, “The Nightmare” is a perfect collection of spooky stories to read at this time of the year.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Nightmare SHO Oct Wk1 by Fiona Hogan Blog Tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.

October 2, 2021
Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened by Emily Blejwas

Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened by Emily Blejwas
Release: April 14th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:

A poignant story of a boy picking up the pieces of his life after the unexpected death of his father, and the loyalty, concern, and friendship he finds in his small-town community.

Justin doesn’t know anything these days. Like how to walk down the halls without getting stared at. Nor what to say to Jenni. Or how Phuc is already a physics genius in seventh grade. Or why Benny H. wanders around Wicapi talking to old ghosts. He doesn’t know why his mom suddenly loves church or if his older brother, Murphy, will ever play baseball again. Or if the North Stars have a shot at the playoffs. Justin doesn’t know how people can act like everything’s fine when it’s so obviously not. And most of all, he doesn’t know what really happened the night his dad died on the train tracks.

And that sucks.

But life goes on. And as it does, Justin discovers that some things are just unknowable. He learns that time and space and memory are grander and weirder than he ever thought, and that small moments can hold big things, if you’re paying attention. Just like his math teacher said, even when you think you have all the information, there will be more. There is always more.

Set during the Gulf War era, Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened is a story about learning to go on after loss, told with a warmth that could thaw the coldest Minnesota lake.

Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened Review:

Wow! I was just speechless after reading this book. It talks about a subject which I feel needs to be written carefully. The topic being how to deal with the loss of a loved one and the author perfectly captured it.

The story is very simple, yet so beautiful and poignant. The author tells us how people cope with death differently. For Justin’s mother, it is about turning towards religion and God. Murphy wants to become an atheist because he doesn’t believe anymore. Justin is still trying to find out what happens and looking into science and parallel dimensions. The book talks about coping in so many layers. Moreover, it tells us that in the end, we just need to live in the moment and cherish it. But it also highlights the importance to know the history of anything to appreciate if more. I loved the whole angle of Justin researching the history of his town to have others connected to it.

Another aspect that I loved about this story is that there are no good or bad characters. The author did not stereotype the characters, and captured them realistically. They are all normal decent people who are living their lives. On a side note, I also liked the friendship between Jenni and Justin. Phuc is a wonderful side character, but I wish the author had given him a better name *lol*. I loved all the facts he mentions about parallel dimensions and infinite possibilities we have. Another reason I liked the story was for all the war trivia it mentioned. It gives everyone an idea of the background behind the Gulf War and Vietnam. Overall, I truly loved reading this book, and now want to read the author’s other works.

May 4, 2020
The Stray and the Strangers by Steven Heighton, Melissa Iwai

The Stray and the Strangers by Steven Heighton
Release: September 1st 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Source: Netgalley

Synopsis:

The fishermen on Lesvos call her Kanella because of her cinnamon color. She’s a scrawny, nervous stray — easily intimidated by the harbor cats and the other dogs that compete for handouts on the pier.

One spring day a dinghy filled with weary, desperate strangers comes to shore. Other boats follow, laden with refugees who are homeless and hungry. Kanella knows what that is like, and she follows them as they are taken to a makeshift refugee camp in the parking lot of an abandoned nightclub. There she comes to trust a bearded man — an aid worker. She gradually settles into a contented routine, given shelter like the other refugees who line up for food and sleep on the ground for a few nights before being taken to a much bigger, permanent camp that the aid workers call Mordor.

Kanella grows healthy and confident. She has a job now — to keep watch over the people in her camp.

One day, a little boy arrives and does not leave like the others. He seems to have no family and, like Kanella, he is taken in by the workers. He sleeps on a cot in the food hut, and Kanella keeps him warm and calm. And then two new adults come to the camp. Kanella is ready to defend the boy from them, until she is pulled away by the bearded man. They are the boy’s parents, and now he must go with them.

The camp is eventually dismantled, and Kanella finds herself homeless again. Until one night, huddled in the cold, she awakens to see two bright lights shining in her eyes — the headlights of a car. The bearded man has come back for her, and soon Kanella is on a journey, too, to a new home of her own.

The Stray and the Strangers Review:

A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Groundwood Books for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of “The Stray and the Strangers” for my review.

I enjoyed reading this cute children’s book! I am very happy that there are more children’s books published highlighting such essential topics. Moreover, I think it is important for everyone to read such books to understand the difficult life of refugees. It also highlights the hardships they face when their whole livelihood is no more. This tale highlights the lives of millions of refugees who came to Lesvos after fleeing war. It is told from the perspective of a stray dog Kanella, the stray dog.

Kanella is adorable as the main character and gives the book a feel of innocence from trying to understand the situation. In fact, I loved how the character balanced the seriousness of the theme with the light-hearted nature of Kanella, when she interacts with the refugees. I also love the bond she develops with the bearded man and the boy. However, I wish the story had been longer for us to know more about the people that Kanella interacts with. At the same time, I think the way it was told was apt since we only see the story from Kanella’s view.

I really liked the author’s style of writing and hope to read more of his works int he future. The illustrations by Melissa Iwai also compliment the story well. Overall, this is an interesting book to read.

April 27, 2020
A Journey Toward Hope by Victor Hinojosa, Coert Voorhees, Susan Guevara

A Journey Toward Hope by Victor Hinojosa, Coert Voorhees, Susan Guevara
Release: March 1st 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Six Foot Press
Source: Netgalley

Synopsis:

Every year, roughly 50,000 unaccompanied minors arrive at the US/Mexico border to present themselves for asylum or related visas. The majority of these children are non-Mexicans fleeing the systemic violence of Central America’s “Northern Triangle”: Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

A Journey Toward Hope tells the story of Rodrigo, a 14-year-old escaping Honduran violence; Alessandra, a 10-year-old Guatemalan whose first language is Q’eqchi’; and the Salvadoran siblings Laura and Nando. Though their reasons for making the journey are different and the journey northward is perilous, the four children band together, finding strength in one another as they share the dreams of their past and the hopes for their future. Written in collaboration with Baylor University’s’ Social Innovation Collaborative, A Journey Toward Hope is a celebration of their humanity and an ode to the power of hope and connection even in the face of uncertainty and fear.

Journey Toward Hope Review:

A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Six Foot Press for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of “Journey Toward Hope” for my review.

This is a short yet beautifully written children’s picture book. Firstly, the illustrations by Susan Guevara are breathtaking. Each page has a beautiful watercolor feel to it with bright colors that make the story stand out. Moreover, you immediately root for all the characters because they are brave and hopeful! No matter how arduous their journey is, they keep moving on for a better future. Also, I loved how the book depicted each character as a separate animal to showcase their strengths. Furthermore, I found the footnotes at the end of the book very informative as well. It has a note from Baylor University that talks about how there are many children who migrate from Central America to the United States for various reasons, and not all of them are pleasant.

While I loved how positive and hopeful the characters sounded in the book, I wish the author had also depicted the dangers better. As this is a children’s book, I can understand the limitations to what they can put in. However, the story makes it sound like the kids have a fun time sitting on top of trains and have no problems in Mexico City like theft etc. It would have been nice if the author included this somehow. Also, I cannot imagine the street life in Mexico City being friendly towards homeless children. But this is a very minor aspect.

Having said that, I really liked the rest of the book. Overall, this is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that I feel should be in all the schools and libraries.

April 12, 2020
An Unexpected Gift by Ajay K. Pandey

An Unexpected Gift by Ajay K. Pandey
Release: May 28th 2019
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Westland
Source: Amazon

An Unexpected Gift Synopsis:

‘Giving up is not an option when someone calls you mother.’

Abhay, still struggling with the grief of losing his wife, is unable to cope with his job and the care of his toddler son. So, when the mysterious Sheetal enters his life, applying for the job of looking after Ayush, he is thrilled.

All Sheetal has ever wanted, even as a child, is to be a mother. Circumstances mean that she might never be one. The almost instant bond between her and the young boy is balm to her soul and like a godsend to Abhay.

Still, something about Sheetal nags at him. She seems perfect, but why is she so reluctant to show him her identity card? What is she hiding?

What happens when Abhay finally discovers her secret? Does he stand by her side, or abandon her, as everyone before him has done? And what is the gift that she gives him, a gift that will change his life?

In An Unexpected Gift, bestselling writer Ajay K Pandey brings to us an emotionally resonant story that questions everything we believe about friendship, love and motherhood.

Review:

Watch my video review of An Unexpected Gift by Ajay K. Pandey

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/_aEoB9zi_Og[/embedyt]

I really liked reading this book. This is one of the books that has such a simple story to it, but the topic is on something that is so relevant in today’s world that the reader would immediately get hooked on to. It gives a glimpse of a transgender’s life in India, on how brutal their lifestyle is, and how brave they are for facing life day by day knowing the pain, ridicule and hardship that would need to face. It shows how prejudice and small minded some people can be when they encounter a transgender in the Indian society. Overall, this is a beautiful story of acceptance, friendship and a mother’s love while highlighting an important topic.

August 3, 2019
The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel

The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel
Release: August 20th 2019
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Source: Netgalley

The Other Half of Happy Synopsis:

Quijana is a girl in pieces. One-half Guatemalan, one-half American : When Quijana’s Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn’t know more about her family’s heritage. One-half crush, one-half buddy : When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she’s found true friends. But she can’t help the growing feelings she has for Jayden. One-half kid, one-half grown-up : Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what’s going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.

In the course of this immersive and beautifully written novel, Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole. This lyrical debut from Rebecca Balcarcel is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.

Review:

A big thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for sending me an advanced e-copy of “The Other Half of Happy” in exchange for my review. There are many things I really liked about this book, and a few things that I did not.

To begin with, I loved almost all the characters in this story. I especially loved the father and how optimistic he is and tries to keep his family on track and bonds with is children. I also loved the mother’s character for being the more grounded one and looking for solutions to fix the problems. Jayden in Zuri are also wonderful friends to Quijana. Most of the characters are very dynamic and lovable and you instantly root for them. The author progresses with the storyline so smoothly that even though there is drama, it is not over dramatic. There is no unnecessary jealousy between the friendships, hardly any hostility between characters. Everybody genuinely loves one another, even if they have family issues. The author has also remarkably portrayed that no matter how many hurdles life throws as you, life keeps going, and you need to look forward to each day.

Grandmother Miller is one of my favorite characters, and I love some of the quotes she imparts, such as: “Figure out what makes you amazing” and “Embrace the adventure”. One of my favorite lines is when she tells Quijana:

“You’ll flourish in your life, that’s certain. But you’ll grieve, too. And not just for me. All your life, you’ll be letting go of things. The secret is to relish the moments as they happen, but let endings happen, too.”

The author has also thrown in wonderful quotations from Cervantes “Don Quixote”, which makes me want to pick up the book from my bookshelf and read it.

My main problem was Quijana’s character at certain parts. She appeared to be way too selfish at certain pivotal scenes and thinking only about herself. Even when her Grandmother passes away, all Quijana thinks of if she was about to fill out the bus form. She acts way to impulsive and stubborn and does not listen to others at times. Also, I felt like the author tried to highlight way too many issues in one book itself. One chapter talks about autism, another about cancer, then about a gay character coming out, then one about racism etc. Moreover, I felt that the author just touched the surface of these issues without really dwelling into it. While I agree that these are relevant topics, I think it was just too much in one book. As they say, sometimes less is more.

Don’t get me wrong. I still think this is a charming book and there are some parts which are truly beautiful. If the author has just made Quijana’s character less self-centered and annoying, I would have really enjoyed reading it. Overall, “The Other Half of Happy” is still a fun, breezy read, and I would give it a rating of 3.75 out of 5 stars.

June 29, 2019
Snow Lane by Josie Angelini

Snow Lane by Josie Angelini
Release: January 2nd 2018
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Amazon

Snow Lane Synopsis:

Fifth-grader Annie is just like every other girl in her small suburban town. Except she’s starting to realize that she isn’t.

Annie is the youngest of nine children. Instead of being considered the baby of the family, she wants to carve out place for herself in the world. But it’s hard to find your destiny when the only thing you’re good at is being cheerful. Annie is learning that it’s difficult to be Annie, period, and not just because her clothes are worn-out hand-me-downs, and she suffers from a crippling case of dyslexia, but also because there are secrets in her life no one in her family is willing to face.

Josie Angelini presents a story about a resilient girl who, in spite of many hardships, can still find light in the darkest of places.

Review:

I had mixed feelings about “Snow Lane”. While there are some parts that really stood out, I felt like the overall execution could have been better.

The characters are the strong point of the book. The author has wonderfully written the characters and I liked Annie and Jordan from the get go. The protagonists focus on doing what they feel is right even if nobody understands them. The supporting characters are written in a down to Earth and three dimensional manner where you can easily relate to them. There are instances where I hated Fay, Aurora and Nora, but also felt bad for them at times. Personally, I felt that almost all the characters were interesting and would have loved to read more about them. Moreover, loved the interactions between Annie and Jordan. One of my favorite scenes is when Annie and Jordan react to the Challenger explosion, as it is so powerful and moving.

However, the main thing that threw me off was the pacing and the story-line. Firstly, I felt the first half of the book was very slow and didn’t know where it was headed. The first half just talked about Annie’s personal problems in school and interactions with her friends and family. It was only towards the second half of the book where I felt like things were picking up. But, things picked up too rapidly and I felt like there was too much going on in the second half. I thought the author was trying to put too many social causes into this story in the latter part. We read about sibling rivalry, abuse, depression, social acceptance and what not. There was even a part where the author implies that JP is gay and I thought she would dwell into the LGBT cause, as it was unnecessary.

I really enjoyed Josephine Angelini’s style of writing, and I would love to check out her other books. This book would have been perfect if she focused on a specific cause with certain characters. Also, while I can understand that children from overly religious families tend to curse and rebel against it, I really didn’t feel the need for so many expletives to be mentioned here as it is targeted towards a younger audience.

Overall, “Snow Lane” is a very nice story but slightly missed its mark in becoming something great.

July 14, 2018