The Downstairs Girl

Jo Kuan is living in a time where being Chinese is not looked upon favorably. She works in a hat shop until she is fired by her racist boss. She gets a job as a ladies maid for the most disagreeable girl in town. She and her protector Old gin live in the basement of the house where the owner of the newspaper lives. She can hear their conversations and grows up listening in until she feels like they are her family. When she hears the paper is in trouble, she creates an advice column called Ask Miss Sweetie. Miss Sweetie has some progressive ideas about how people of different races and genders should be treated. The column saves the paper but sets the town talking- who is Miss Sweetie? Jo knows if they find out, she will be in major trouble. There are many other subplots to this delightful book. Jo is fierce and determined and the people around her make her stronger- either because they try to keep her down or try to build her up. Of course there is a little, sweet, love story, some dastardly deeds, and a race to save her family and herself. I loved this book. It was different then anything else I have read in a while. I love historical fiction and I highly recommend this gem of a book. Happy reading my friends- stay safe in these strange times.

The Beautiful

This novel brings back the vampire tale. Set in New Orleans, it tells the story of Celine, a girl who has fled Paris after killing a man. She finds herself living in the Ursine convent for girls with no where to go. Her skills as a dressmaker bring her to the attention of a group called La Cour de Lions. They are mysterious and dangerous. Celine also attracts the attention of the leader Sebastien Saint German. He is a legend in the city. She knows he's dangerous but she doesn't care. As girls start getting killed around her, Celine has to figure out if she can trust Sebastien when all signs point to RUN AWAY. The supernatural forces start to circle the wagons and a dangerous enemy returns to the city. Celine is right in the cross hairs. Should she run away from the city she comes to love? Or from the boy who could be the death of her. Or undeath of her. I didn't love this book. I loved the setting but none of the characters really caught my interest until the last few pages. Great cliffhanger and a good segue to the sequel. I wouldn't have read it unless it had ended as it did. So as for recommending, there are better books out there right now in my opinion, but if you have missed the vampire genre, give it a try. Happy reading my friends!

The 57 Bus

This is the true story of Sasha. They are a transgender teen who was set on fire on the bus ride home. It is also the true story of Richard. He is the teenager who set Sasha on fire. It is a story of misunderstanding and misinformation and mistakes. It is also the story of forgiveness and change. It will cause you to think about how we incarcerate juveniles and the messages we send about people who are not like us. It is about prejudice and hardship and growing through both. I highly recommend it to everyone. I couldn't put it down. I hope you feel the same. Happy reading my friends.

Serpent and Dove

I kept seeing this title in my Insta feed. So why not? It has all the makings of a page turner- witches fighting the church, a marriage of convenience, questionable parentage and motherly love. Of course none of those are cut and dried. Lou is on the run. Not only is she a witch, but she is being hunted by her own coven for nefarious purposes. Reid has been sworn to find and burn witches at the stake. He was brought up by the Archbishop so he has been taught to hate the witches. But circumstances being what they are, Reid and Lou wind up in a marriage that will save both of them from some extreme trouble. Lou must keep her true nature from Reid so he doesn't turn her and her friends in. Reid must learn to question his belief system when he finds Lou more than meets the eye. As the two of them join forces, they find out more about each other than they bargained for and it will turn both their lives upside down. I really liked the characters in this book, I was surprised how quickly the love story took hold, none of that will they or won't they. Of course, as the book unfolded, they are going to have plenty to get in the way of their romance. I think the students in my class will like this book. It has just enough of everything, but be aware there are some racy scenes and language, so not for a younger reader. That being said- two thumbs up. Happy reading my friends!

Iron Flower

The sequel to Black Witch did not disappoint. So if you haven't read that yet, stop now and proceed to the bookstore. (yes, they still exist) Elloren and her gang of oppressed friends are trying to fight the government that would like to see most of them dead. The wolves, the selkies, the icarals, the fae, you name it, the government want them dead. But Ren and her friends will not be going down without a fight. I mean, they have a dragon on their side for goodness sake. And maybe, just maybe, each of them is more than they appear. Especially the granddaughter of the Black Witch, who may just have a wand up her sleeve. As terrible things happen to her friends, she is fighting her growing attraction to Yvan as her aunt pushes her to wand fast to Lukas Grey. Nothing in Elloren's upbringing has prepared her for the events she faces, but she is becoming her own person, determined to save those she loves. I love this series, it has many adult themes but the underlying societal messages are relevant today. I liken it to a more adult and diverse Harry Potter world, where good fights evil and those who are not fitting societies norms find each other. What are you waiting for- get to the store and buy this series or stay on the couch and download it... Happy reading my friends.

Call Down the Hawk

It is fitting that my last completed read of the decade (where does the time go) is the newest by Maggie Stbievater. My darling Rylee bought this for me (my book soulmate and former student) and I have been eagerly anticipating a return to Ronan Lynch. Now if you haven't read The Raven Cycle, you do need to back up and start there. This is about the brothers Lynch. Ronan, the dreamer, Declan the reliable and Matthew the dream. After the death of their father, they are finding a way to make their way in the world amongst some mind shattering secrets. On top of all that, someone is hunting and killing dreamers to save the world from an apocalypse. When they meet Jordan Hennessey, another dreamer, they are in even more danger than they realize. A mysterious man named Bryde may be both the answer they are looking for and the most terrifying of them all. I loved this book, I like the world they live in. I enjoyed getting to know and understand Declan more and loved the glimpses of Gansey and Blue and Adam. It was like meeting up with old friends after graduation and helping them solve some world changing issues. I haven't read anything by this author that I haven't liked and she wrote one of my top 5 in The Scorpio Races. Give it a chance in this new decade and as always, Happy reading my friends!

Angel Mage

It is prophesied that Liliath will return and bring about destruction. Anyone who shows signs of her powers is sent to the Tower for safe keeping. But what they don't know is that she is already among them and searching for the last pieces of her puzzle. When she finds them, she will bring back a powerful angel that may destroy the earth. In this time, people have the ability to call on help from the angels using icons. This has a cost, usually in bits of your life. Four strangers are brought together by Liliath as they have pieces of an angel inside them. She needs them to unleash her love. They don't know why they have been brought together, but feel they have known each other all their lives. They work together to figure out what is going on. But will it be in time to save themselves? I don't think I would recommend this book to my students, The subject matter requires a thoughtfulness and patience that most of my students don't possess. And there isn't enough action to keep them engaged. I may be saying this because I really didn't enjoy this one, and it was hard to me to finish. Especially knowing what I had waiting on my shelf. Not every book is for every reader and this one wasn't for me. Happy reading my friends.