Truth Talks

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom follows events during and after World War 2, starting in Greece under Nazi invasion. Moments of absolute horror are graced by moments of kindness and courage.

There are four main characters and the narrator is Truth. Characters are brothers Sebastian and Nico, their friend Fannie, and Nazi Udo Graf. Their lives intersect and impact one another in different ways throughout the story.

Young Nico is separated from his family when he hides during their evacuation. Udo Graf is the ruthless Nazi in control who moves into Nico’s home. He uses Nico’s honesty to help his cause by having him assure his fellow Jewish people that boarding the trains (destined for concentration camps) will bring everyone back together to a safe, fresh start.

Sebastian resents his brother for staying behind. While on the train, he volunteers Fannie (his childhood crush) to be thrown off as an escape. This sets her on a completely different path.

Each character is in a unique but troubling situation. Sebastian is with his family (father and grandfather) at Auschwitz, Nico is constantly on the move and living a life of lies to survive, and Fannie finds refuge in unexpected ways.

Fannie and Sebastian find each other after the war. Eventually, all characters become reunited during a day meant to commemorate the Jewish people from Greece who lost their lives. Of course, I’m skipping the numerous moments that transpire between for the sake of keeping this brief.

This book reminded me a bit of one of my all-time favorite books, The Book Thief, due to having an omniscient narrator, strong characters and powerful messages about life/survival.

Dragon Riders

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is first in a fantasy series that I am hooked on! A student recommended this book, and it was a perfect read during the December break.

Violet is the youngest of three (sister Mira and deceased brother Brennan). Her father was a scribe, and Violet was happy to follow the same path in his memory. Instead her mother, General Sorrengail, forces her into the Riders Squadrant (same as her sister Mira). This is almost certain death considering her fragile body. Riders are given death defying stunts in preparation to become dragon riders and lethal fighters.

The tests are difficult enough for Violet, added to the fact that multiple students would love to kill her for her perceived weakness or as retaliation against her mother for authorizing the death of anyone involved in the rebellion against their kingdom.

The story tells how Violet manages to survive and become a fierce rider, as well as how she becomes aware of secrets being kept by those in charge.

While I am not normally a fantasy fan, this book had so much to keep my interest, including plenty of magic, action, romance, and of course, there are dragons.

Amazement Park

Hide by Kiersten White brings fourteen unassuming twenty-somethings into a twisted game. They’ll need to hide in order to survive seven days in an old, abandoned amusement park.

Each character is unique and brings his/her own baggage. Mack is the main character. She feels confident about her chances to win considering that she survived her father’s murderous rampage against her family. She didn’t expect to get close to a few of the other contestants, especially one in particular.

The players come to realize that there is a creature hunting them down two per day. This happens every four years due to a curse upon the town’s founding members. By sacrificing some of their own, they can bring continued prosperity to their families.

But Mack and the few remaining players plan to outsmart the game in order to save their lives. This is a decent read with some creepy parts.

Live Well

The Measure by Nikki Erlick delves into a life in which everyone has the ability to know exactly when they’ll die. All people twenty two years old and up receive a box containing a string. The string’s length determines their life span.

Several characters’ experiences are explored in the aftermath of this life-changing event. Many of their tales intertwine in varying degrees.

String length becomes a divisive element in the world. One presidential candidate begins to campaign that short stringers shouldn’t hold certain jobs (military, president). There are many other situations also at stake, familial, romantic and friendships. Some choose to open their box while others don’t and the way they treat each other ranges too.

The main theme is that life is precious and its length doesn’t change the impact a person can have. This book will appeal to those who like emotional, thoughtful stories that explore multiple characters.

Power Trip

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell tells the downfall of a wealthy family due to some crazy houseguests. David, his wife and two kids along with another couple slowly infiltrate and eventually take over all aspects of the house.

The book is told from multiple perspectives. Henry is the wealthy son who narrates the past events including the decline and eventual death of his parents and David. Lucy is his sister. She has been living in France since leaving the house. She has two kids from different marriages, and they’ve been scraping by. Now she is trying to get back to London to see the baby. The baby, Libby, is the final perspective. She was born just about a year before everything came to an end in the house. She is now twenty five, and has inherited the huge house along the Thames. Her birthday is bringing the now grown children back for a reunion of sorts.

This is an engaging read with plenty of surprises and crazy situations.

Writerly Life

Bunny by Mona Awad has a very trippy Mean Girls/Heathers meets Frankenstein vibe.

Samantha is part of an exclusive creative writing program in which she is the sole outcast of a clique of women. They refer to each other as Bunny. At the beginning of a new semester, Samantha is invited to become part of their group.

She falls out of touch with her only friend Ava, and spends several drug/alcohol filled months with the Bunnies. Their purpose is to turn actual rabbits into men while maintaining several odd routines both in and out of class.

Samantha finally creates her own man, and this is when everything starts to unravel between her two worlds.

I’m not sure I really understand what actually transpired, but I love that I’m still thinking about it. It’s a creepy, twisted and strangely satisfying read.

Before Fame

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is an autobiography of his life before becoming a well known tv personality.

Noah’s birth to an interracial couple is a crime in apartheid South Africa. Much of his young childhood is spent pretending his mom and dad are not his actual parents (depending on the neighborhood they’re in or who they’re with).

Noah writes his life story by mixing in historical information about post apartheid in South Africa. He describes himself as a colored person, neither fully black nor white. This automatically sets him up for many uncomfortable situations in school and life as he attempts to fit in.

His mom is a very important part of his life. She is devoutly religious and they spent every Sunday going from church to church. She raised him to be an independent thinker. Noah was always a troublemaker and entrepreneurial. He started making money off his peers at a young age.

He recounts many of his pivotal life stories. There is a mixture of funny, scary and emotional events that make up Noah’s life. This was a very interesting read and it opened my eyes to a life and place I had no prior knowledge about.

Murder House

The Only One Left by Riley Sager is a caregiver’s experience with a murderous patient.

Kit feels some kinship to her patient, accused murderer Lenora Hope, because Kit is surfacing from being falsely accused of killing her own mother. Lenora is mute and can only use her left hand following a stroke. She has been locked away in her home for practically her entire life (following the murders of her parents and sister). When Kit arrives following the mysterious disappearance of the previous caregiver, Lenora seems willing to share the truth of her past. She begins typing out her story for Kit.

Lenora’s truths are eventually revealed with several twists along the way. While this story wasn’t a personal favorite for me, I’m sure it will appeal to some murder mystery fans.

Riding Waves

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver tells Demon’s story from birth to adulthood.

Born under unusual circumstances, he is raised by his single mom (his father died in an accident) and by elderly neighbors (who are also raising a grandchild). His mom is an on and off again addict.

Demon’s life is sent on a bleak spiral once his mom marries an abusive man. This chain of events leads Demon into foster care before he eventually becomes an orphan. His foster homes range from neglectful to physically abusive.

He eventually finds his paternal grandmother; a woman he had only vaguely heard about. His grandmother sets him up with a better lifestyle, but he eventually falls out of it due to an injury and subsequent drug abuse.

There are so many interesting characters that weave in and out of Demon’s life, and a deep love of community embedded in the events. It’s a complex and well written story with too much detail to include in this brief summary.

Love that Lasts

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune is a slow-moving romance.

Fern and Will spend an incredible day together, but Fern already has a boyfriend. Despite this, they vow to meet a year later at Fern’s family’s resort on the lake. They plan to review their goals with each other. But Will doesn’t show up.

Fast forward ten years later. Fern’s mom passes away, leaving her with a big decision. Will she sell the resort that has been in her family for years, or will she take it over (in doing so giving up her own business plans)?

Will comes back in the picture as a consultant. This complicates matters even more as she experiences long buried feelings for him. Throughout the book are flashbacks from their first day together, and clips from her mom’s journal. L

ife takes unexpected turns, and the best-laid plans may change.