Finding Refuge

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri is an emotional story of profound loss and struggle. It is also a story of strength and hope.

Nuri and cousin Mustafa have an incredible bond which has allowed them to grow their own successful beekeeping business. The telling of the beekeeping is beautiful and full of symbolic meaning to me (I wrote my Master’s thesis on bee imagery!). Their peaceful existence is upended when Syria is sieged, which causes horrible loss for both of them. They both lose a son, and their apiaries are burned to the ground. Mustafa leaves to join his wife and daughter; he sent them to the UK before the real danger started. Meanwhile, Nuri’s wife Afra won’t leave. She was blinded by the explosion that took their eight year old son, and she refuses to leave their home… until they are given no option.

The story continues following Nuri and Afra’s journey to find refuge. Their travels are filled with danger, filthy camps, and so many others with their own stories of pain and determination. Both are traveling in the wake of severe depression and PTSD. Through all of this, Nuri’s only driving force is to rejoin Mustafa and to somehow get back a little of their previous existence.

This story has a beautiful flow as it reveals previous events and characters. I found it incredibly touching and powerful.

Small Town, Big Drama

Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann is the perfect fix for soap opera fans. The Briscoe family has its share of drama. June and Peter are parents to three children. Their daughter Thea purposefully moved far from her family, and sons Hap and March have not been in contact since March’s affair with Hap’s wife Vera. Peter also has twin children in town, Arlo and Artie, from one of his numerous infidelities. (Note- several spoilers ahead…)

After estranging himself for two years, March returns to town in an attempt to make amends with his brother and mother. This seems to set off a string of other events that force the family to come together, and to confront their own shortcomings. June reflects on her tainted marriage and her damaged relationships with Thea and March. Hap and Vera must face the actual problems in their relationship now that March is back in town. Can Hap ever truly forgive his brother and can March overcome his own rage issues? Artie and Arlo’s close-knit relationship is put to the test when Artie’s new boyfriend is accidentally killed.

There are many intricate pieces to this novel with switching viewpoints from most of the important characters. Readers become familiar with the whole family; it’s impossible not to take sides or to root for favorites.

Signs of Growth

You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino is one of this year’s Intermediate Nutmeg Nominees. Jilly is a pretty typical twelve-year old; she enjoys participating in a chat group, and joking around with her parents and friends. Her chat group is based on a novel series that is very popular. When her new baby sister is born without hearing ability, Jilly gets advice from one of her fellow gamers who is also deaf.

Understanding a disability such as a hearing impairment is only one of the many discussion-based topics that the author has included in this book. There are also issues of racism, discrimination, police brutality, and inclusion of same gender and inter-racial relationships (Jilly’s aunts).

Jilly learns more about herself and her family, and she grows in character throughout her interactions with all of the important topics in the story.

Bestseller

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz is one of my favorites so far this summer.

Jacob has been chasing after the success of his first bestselling novel without much luck. It seems he is destined to spend his time teaching other aspiring writers instead of doing his own. All that changes when he meets an obnoxious student name Evan Parker whose story idea is a sure winner. Some time later, Jacob finds out that Evan died leaving behind no close relatives (to his knowledge). Jacob takes a risk and writes Evan’s story, and in doing so, attains all the success and notoriety he expected from such a great plot.

All would be great until Jake starts getting threatening messages from someone who knows that Jake stole the story. Jake worries that the fame he’s achieved will be destroyed. He decides to do his own investigating to figure out who is sending the messages, and if he/she can be stopped. Through this, Jake has his new wife by his side (although she is seemingly unaware of the threats). Excerpts of Jake’s bestseller, Crib, are woven throughout the book, essentially providing important clues to Jake’s enemy. The author brings both plots to a shocking conclusion almost simultaneously.

This book will resonate with anyone who has had glimmers of writing a novel, as well as anyone who loves suspense.

Greek Tragedy

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides is a psychological mystery. Mariana is struggling through the loss of her husband after his disappearance a year ago, when her adopted niece Zoe calls for help. Zoe’s college friend was brutally murdered. Mariana is a group therapist, and she has a particularly challenging patient whose obsessive and attention seeking behaviors have been unsettling to Mariana and to his treatment group. It seems like a good time to get away for a bit.

Mariana travels to Cambridge to support Zoe, and in doing so, she becomes involved in the investigation. Her top suspect is the adored and handsome young Greek professor who is followed by a group of beautiful, wealthy students dubbed the Maidens. The Maidens are the professor’s alibi, but the evidence against him is stacking up. Especially when two more girls are killed.

Throughout he story we read snippets of the killer’s letters which show his abusive background and psychological instability. Readers must decide if the letters are written by the professor, Mariana’s patient, or someone else. Mariana stays with the investigation until finally confronting the actual killer in a surprising twist.

New Identity

Genuine Fraud by e. lockhart is another of my daughter’s recommendations. Nothing is quite what it seems in this wild story. The chapters are numbered sporadically in order to gradually build Jule’s story, which starts with her being tracked by a private investigator.

Spoilers: It isn’t until the very end of the book that we find out that pure chance brought Jules in contact with a vivacious, wealthy young woman named Imogen. Jules latched onto Imogen, and bathed in her attention and friendship. She became part of her social circle. Things start getting creepy when Jules reveals her obsessive feelings toward Imogen.

All is seemingly fine so long as nobody questions Jules’ motives. Readers begin to realize that Jules will stop at nothing, even murder, to get what she wants. This quick review only touches on the intriguing and crazy events of this book.

Taking Off

Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos is Nova’s story. Nova is autistic and mostly nonverbal.

Nova and her older sister Bridget have spent most of their lives in and out of various foster families. They are between families when Nova is taken in by the West family. It seems that Bridget has run off with a boyfriend, but promised Nova that she would return to watch the Challenger take off. Nova is extremely interested in everything to do with space travel, and it is a special bond shared between the sisters.

The story follows Nova’s adjustment to a new school, friends and family. Each chapter is followed by Nova’s letter to her sister which essentially recaps the events in her voice (this was a bit redundant for me). Nova has always been underestimated and misunderstood because of her disability, but now she has a supportive family and an appropriate school placement on her side. Bridget is the only missing piece.

Spoiler: Events countdown to the ill-fated Challenger launch. The aftermath of the launch forces Nova to face the fact that her sister will never come back. This is a touching story that can build empathy and understanding about autism.

Marching Along

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King is a trippy, young adult read. Lucky Linderman just completed a very challenging ninth grade year. His story slips among the events from his past school year, present time and his dreams. Lucky’s lucid dreams started when he was seven years old, following a promise to his dying grandmother that he would find and return his POW/MIA grandfather. His grandfather went missing during the Vietnam War. Lucky’s dreams all involve finding and connecting with his grandfather, but he is never able to bring him home. He does bring home a memento from each dream.

After years of bullying coming to an ugly head, Lucky’s mom decides it’s time to get away. The escape is due to Lucky’s latest encounter with his almost lifelong bully, but it is also due to the strained relationship between Lucky’s parents. Lucky and his mom go to spend a couple weeks with his mom’s brother and sister-in-law in Arizona. Lucky grows from this experience in all the right ways: physically, mentally and emotionally. He creates interesting relationships with his aunt and uncle and a beautiful neighbor with her own baggage. The ants are a metaphor for people’s problems; ultimately everyone has them in differing degrees. Lucky is finally able to figure out how to confront his problems.

This story was unique with strong character development, and it left me with many questions relating to Lucky’s dream states.

Cold Revenge

Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd tracks Evie aka Petie’s attempts to keep her true identity hidden while planning revenge against the man who ruined her life.

Evie was just beginning probation following time in juvenile detention before getting what seemed like a dream job. The job turns into a nightmare when her employer, Donald White, frames her for the murder of a mother and son. Evie manages to escape during a chance accident while being transported to her life sentence in prison. She becomes Petie and starts working for a remote fishing/wildlife service in Alaska.

Petie is able to reconnect with her mother and sister, while also making important contacts. Her connections to a powerful businesswoman along with help from an unexpected ally allow her to finally face the elusive Donald White, who is now attaching himself to her mother.

It was an okay read.

Life or Death

Exit by Belinda Bauer follows the events of a botched euthanasia case. The Exiteers are a small group of carefully trained men and women who bring an easeful death to those in need. Felix and new recruit Amanda are Exiteers on scene when the wrong man is euthanized. Ailing father Skipper was supposed to be killed, but instead his son Albert dies. This leaves Albert’s son Reggie, new Exiteer Amanda (who also happens to be Reggie’s girlfriend), and their housekeeper as possible suspects. This prompts a steady plot to figure out how/why the mix up occurred.

The story transitions between Felix’s and the police investigator’s points of view. Felix tries to make amends by getting to know the intended “patient” Skipper and conducting his own investigation of sorts. Meanwhile, the police are trying to track down the Exiteers and motive which unravels an entire gambling racket.

This was a slow, steady read for me with well-written characters and events.