We have a shorter-than-usual roundup of books today, but included in this list are a few awesome books (including two that are in my Top Five so far this year) and plenty of diversity. Let’s get to the reviews!
MIDDLE GRADE
Frindle, by Andrew Clements—Nick Allen has always been a class clown who will seize on any opportunity to liven things up in the classroom. He worries he may have finally met his match with his formidable 5th-grade English teacher, Mrs. Granger, who is known throughout the school for her strictness as well as her passion for the dictionary and word origins. When Nick tries to waste Mrs. Granger’s class period by asking about the dictionary, he is assigned an essay on the topic, leading him to a deep-dive on word origins and, ultimately, to the decision that HE should invent a word of his own. He begins calling his “pen” a frindle and before long the name has taken off. . . spreading throughout the fifth grade, the school, the town, and even the country. At first the notoriety is fun, but Nick quickly realizes he has started something he has no power to stop, and he and his classmates learn an important lesson about fads, language, and the power of words.
I recall reading this with a group of students in my teaching days and enjoyed introducing the fun story to my own kids, who loved it. The book is fast-paced and funny while also presenting several learning opportunities about the development and usage of language. My own kids had fun coming up with some new names for household objects and brainstorming what it would take to make our new names go viral. And we all swooned over the heartwarming ending. This is an excellent chapter book for early readers but also worked great as a read-aloud for our family.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 5 Stars on Goodreads) // Charleston’s Rating: 4.5 Stars // Sullivan’s Rating: 4.5 Stars // Kalinda’s Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Print
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo—Ten-year-old Opal has just moved to the trailer park in the small town of Naomi, Florida, with her pastor father (known to Opal as “The Preacher”). It’s been just the two of them since Opal’s mother abandoned them when Opal was three, and Opal is struggling to make friends in town until one day when she goes to the grocery store and comes home with a dog.
“Winn-Dixie” (whom Opal has named for the store in which she found him) becomes Opal’s gateway to community in town, and soon the two of them are able to count many locals as friends—from Miss Franny Block (the librarian) and Otis (who works at Gertrude’s Pets) to Gloria Dump (a recovering alcoholic) and even Opal’s snobbish neighbor, Amanda Wilkinson. For Opal and her newfound community, it will be a summer that is impossible to forget.
This charming novel was the 2000 debut of Kate DiCamillo, who has gone on to publish many beloved Middle Grade books. It’s a sweet story with memorable characters and valuable themes of friendship, redemption, forgiveness, and learning to find joy in the midst of loss, longing, and regret. My kids and I all enjoyed the humor, and the deeper moments sparked some good discussion. We followed up our reading by watching the film adaptation and really enjoyed it; it was faithful to the book and the casting was superb.
My Rating: 4 Stars // Charleston’s Rating: 4 Stars // Kalinda’s Rating: 4 Stars // Sullivan’s Rating: 3.5 Stars // Book Format: Mostly Print (though we listened to a couple of chapters on audio and were surprised by a few differences—most notably, the audiobook mentions the characters reading through Gone with The Wind while their reading material has been changed to David Copperfield in the updated print version)
NONFICTION
Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, by Charles Duhigg: Communicating is something we all do, but not everyone does so with the same level of skill. Investigative journalist Charles Duhigg recognized his own inadequacies at communicating at work and home, leading him to pen this book that “is an attempt to explain why communication goes awry and what we can do to make it better.” At the book’s core is the concept that there are actually three types of conversations: practical conversations that ask What is this really about?, emotional conversations that ask How do we feel?, and social conversations that explore Who are we?; and when we aren’t having the same kind of conversation as or partners, we fail to connect. Duhigg helps readers identify the types of conversations we are engaged in and employ key skills within each type. These concepts are fleshed out through storytelling in various scenarios, from TV writers’ rooms to jury deliberations to marriage counselors’ offices.
This is such a relevant topic in this time period when miscommunication and polarization seem to have reached a fever pitch. Duhigg’s ideas and insights apply at multiply levels, from family communication regarding everyday scenarios to online discussions over hot-button issues. Though Duhigg touches on conversations about very difficult subjects (such as gun control and vaccines), he (mostly) remains neutral in his presentation, keeping the focus on how to communicate about such topics without expressing too much of his own personal opinions (though he does reveal a progressive bias in the final section). I appreciated his ability to tone done the inflammatory rhetoric, himself modeling balanced and helpful communication.
The ideas presented here aren’t exactly original, but they are packaged in a way that is memorable and extremely useful. I will be keeping many of the book’s strategies in mind as I communicate with everyone from my kids to friends to strangers.
My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Audiobook
An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions, by David Zweig—With the Covid pandemic and its multitude of tragedies and missteps in the review mirror, it can be tempting to leave the past behind, ignoring the mishandling of MANY aspects of the pandemic in favor of simply moving forward. But a failure to examine past mistakes could lead to even bigger future ones, which is why books such as this one are so important.
Journalist David Zweig was one of the millions of parents whose children were prevented from attending school in the spring of 2020 and whose schools remained closed months later, despite the fact that students in Europe and even many peers at home (in private schools, and in public schools in conservative states) had safely returned to class. Zweig began reporting on the issue, and in Abundance of Caution he offers his extensive indictment of the American health officials, media, and politicians whose drastic measures proved not just unnecessary but deeply harmful for American children. In exploring the reasoning and implementation behind these moves, Zweig invites his readers to begin asking important questions about how and why decisions are made, the narratives that inform political and cultural dynamics, our societal tendencies to trust “the experts” (and how those experts might be ill-intentioned or, at the least, ill-informed), and the actions that can and should be taken in times of crises.
This book is a powerful analysis of one of the most defining moments in recent history. Even though my family was not directly affected by school closures (since we homeschool, and because my kids weren’t yet school-age in the spring of 2020), I was obviously aware of all that was going on with schools at the time and was alarmed. Now I see how much more I should have been concerned, as Zweig has proven how truly unfounded the decisions around school closures (as well as masks, distancing rules, etc.) truly were! And although it is frustrating to realize how much we the public were misled regarding all things Covid, I appreciate Zweig’s rigorous reporting and bold truth-telling. Zweig is clearly not afraid to make waves with his investigations, even among friends (he is a Democrat and his views on this issue are not popular with members of his political party), but his writing is unapologetic and extremely helpful for both understanding the Covid pandemic and knowing how to approach similar issues moving forward. My one qualm with the book was its length: Zweig covers a lot of ground, and while the countless data points are certainly important, they could have been consolidated for the sake of a less tedious reading/listening experience.
My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Audiobook
FICTION
My Friends, by Fredrik Backman—Twenty-five years ago, in a distant seaside town, a group of misfit teenagers forged an intractable bond, seeking refuge in each other when their home lives were far from safe. Their days of laughing and sharing secrets on an abandoned pier were preserved in a painting that in the present day is one of the most recognizable pieces of art in the world. The painting has meant much to many, but none more than Louisa, an orphan and aspiring artist who is certain she will find the meaning and belonging she sees in those three friends, if only she can see the painting in person.
In an unexpected turn of events, Louisa is gifted the painting and embarks on a cross-country journey with Ted, one of the boys on the pier who spends the journey regaling her with tales from those long-ago summers. Together they process the grief of their many losses while also coming to understand themselves and each other in light of all they’ve gone through.
Backman is on my short list of auto-read authors, and this latest release definitely does not disappoint. Once again he has delighted us with a heartwarming cross-generational story packed with quirky humor, profound insight, unforgettable characters (who are believable and flawed but impossible not to love), and a surprising story that takes plenty of unpredictable turns. This is a story of friendship and found family and the ways that personal connection can help us survive and heal, even when life is overwhelming. The story is at times devastating: there are hard things here, including child abuse and abandonment, but these harder moments are mostly off the page and softened by humor and glimmers of kindness and hope.
Art plays a prominent role as well, and Backman has quite a lot of interesting things to say about how and why we create art and the way that it can help us find meaning and make sense of things that should be utterly senseless. This is also a road trip story, which was fitting as I read this while driving across the country with my family. Luke and Charleston were a bit confused by my reactions—laughing one minute (I had to read all the funny bits aloud to them so they could understand) and shaking with tears the next. Backman carries us on quite the emotional journey with this one, but I loved him for it.
A few things that didn’t necessarily detract from the reading experience but that I do want to point out: this is a book in translation, and I noticed that more than here than in Backman’s other books; there are quite a few words and phrases that didn’t entirely make sense, which I assume was due to things being lost in translation. Also of note: Ted is 39 and yet described as much older; if his age wasn’t given, I would have assumed he was in his seventies or eighties and this was strange to read as a 41-year-old who doesn’t feel too different than when I was in my twenties and thirties.
I couldn’t help but think of All the Colors of the Dark as I read this: both are hard stories about misunderstood teens who find solace in each other and whose tragedies ripple across generations through the new identities and relationships that are forged and also through the art that comes from those experiences. While Whitaker’s book is still the frontrunner for favorite book I’ve read this year, I’m certain that My Friends will also be in my top five.
My Rating: 5 Stars // Book Format: Kindle
The Bright Years, by Sarah Damoff—In the late 1970s, Lillian and Ryan are newly married and seem to have the perfect life. They’re so in sync, they’ve even combined their last names, settling on the joint married name of Bright. But when a daughter, Georgette (“Jet”), enters the picture, past demons come to haunt them. The couple can’t outrun his family history of alcoholism, or her early orphanhood, or the child she gave up for adoption as a teenager. Over the next thirty years, echos of past trauma and tragedy reverberate through four generations of Brights as they come together and pull apart, encountering unthinkable heartache while still keeping their hearts open to the brightness that refuses to be obliterated.
This story is unbelievably sad, yet I couldn’t look away. Not only is the prose exquisite, but I was enraptured by Damoff’s ability to capture the nuances of generational tragedy and addiction through a family that perseveres despite all that is stacked against them. To be clear, this book is riddled with every imaginable trigger, but also filled with hope. And while I struggled at first to connect with the characters due to the fast pace (with each chapter checking in on the family in a new year), I warmed to the voice and the pacing once the point of view changed to that of Lillian and Ryan’s daughter, Jet. I especially enjoyed Jet’s time line that almost mirrors mine (she is born in 1986, two years after me): the book is filled with cultural references and historical moments that Jet experiences almost when I did.
This is a beautiful and redemptive story of parenthood and family, death and resurrection, navigating addiction, forgiveness without blind trust, and learning how to love when love does not come easily. Coming in at under 300 pages, this isn’t long but jam-packed with eloquent insight and hard-won emotion; tears were flowing for me from the start, and by the end I was sobbing so heavily I could hardly see to read. It’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever read, but also one of the best. To riff on a quote from the book, there is goodness here: in her writing, Damoff doesn’t “hide from pain or play. . . [This story has] open eyes and an open heart—a rare combination in a world where one of those usually closes the other.” What an incredible debut, and I can’t wait to read more from this remarkable author. (After reading, I needed to know more of her story and began listening through a few of her podcast interviews. I loved learning that Damoff is an INFJ and an Enneagram 1, like me, and that the first version of this novel was entirely told through letters—all factors that likely contributed to my love for this book.)
My Rating: 5 Stars // Book Format: Kindle
Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame, by Olivia Ford—At seventy-seven, Jenny Quinn believes her best years are behind her. And while she hasn’t raised a family or had a big career, she’s had a good life with Bernard, her dear husband of nearly sixty years. But Jenny’s never done something just for herself, so on a whim she decides to secretly apply to become a contestant on the TV Show Britain Bakes.
Much to her surprise, Jenny is welcomed onto the show, launching her into an unfamiliar yet exhilarating world of camera crews, timed challenges, stiff competition, and baking for more than just her adoring family. But Jenny’s exciting new opportunity brings up long-ago memories surrounding a secret she’s kept from Bernard for the entirety of their marriage —a secret that could shatter the pristine image he’s held of his wife for all these years.
This book has all the ingredients of a perfect feel-good novel: an endearing seasoned protagonist with a mysterious past, plenty of baking discussion, and the intrigue of a not-too-high-stakes baking show. I loved each of these elements, particularly the relationship between Jenny and Bernard, but I was surprised by the sadness in this book (Jenny’s backstory is completely heartbreaking), and while I did end up really liking this part of the book, I wish I’d been prepared for how difficult Jenny’s past would be for me to read. (Further details would contain too many spoilers, but I will say I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone who struggles to read about infertility or unexpected pregnancy). I also had a hard time stomaching Jenny’s secret-keeping from Bernard, as I tend to hate plot lines that revolve around unnecessary deceitfulness.
Ford has done a wonderful job of bringing the same sense of kindness and warmth that we all get from watching The Great British Baking Show into this book that was undoubtedly inspired by the show in both subject and tone. The descriptions of Jenny’s bakes, and the nostalgic moments they evoke, are incredibly lovely. I would have liked to see more of the actual baking show in the book: here it is presented as a conveyer of the story, but not the primary story itself, and I wanted more cinematic baking show scenes as well as greater character development for Jenny’s fellow contestants.
Though it was not exactly what I expected, I found this to be a delightful read. The food descriptions are tantalizing, and Jenny’s story of realizing her dreams at an older age—and the way that her loved ones rally around her ambitions—is hopeful and inspiring. Like My Friends, this was another book that had me crying happy AND sad tears throughout. I would love a companion cookbook!
My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Kindle
If We Were Villains, by M.L. Rio—Oliver Marks spent the last ten years in jail for a crime he may or may not have committed. Now, on the day of his release, Oliver is met by the detective that put him behind bars who wants to know the truth of all that happened a decade ago. . . . .
Flash back ten years, when Oliver is one of seven fourth-year students studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college. For four years, Shakespeare has dominated their lives both on and off the stage, with the friends speaking to one another in Shakespearean rhymes and interacting within their set roles of hero, villain, tyrant, empress, ingenue, and extra. But soon their obsessions with each other grow toxic, leading to breaks in reality that ultimately result in tragedy.
On paper, this book should have worked for me: it’s an atmospheric Gothic campus novel with a fantastically eerie campus setting, strong character development, palpable emotion, literary narration, clever story construction, and plenty of psychological exploration. I loved the idea of this book, but not the execution. The mystery is a VERY slow burn that never really grabbed my attention before dissolving into an unsatisfying conclusion. The characters are ridiculously pretentious and (subsequently) extremely unlikeable, and their immaturity and self-absorption drove me mad. And I can imagine that Shakespeare fans would love the incorporation of Shakespearean quotes into the dialogue, but I found this to be distracting, and my lack of Shakespeare knowledge meant that the numerous plays that are performed by the characters—whose themes and stories figure into THIS story—were lost on me.
I can see that this is well-written and I understand why it is popular with many readers; I wish I could count myself among their ranks, though I don’t regret having read this one to finally know what the fuss is all about.
My Rating: 3 Stars // Book Format: Kindle
Have you read any of these titles? I’d love to hear your thoughts!