Johanna Porter Is Not Sorry
by Sara Read
Graydon House, 2023
Sometimes, you find yourself relating to a character so well, even though you have little in common. This is how I felt reading Johanna Porter Is Not Sorry.
Johanna is a single mother of a teenager, a former artist, and a current art teacher. She’s seemingly content in her life, except she’s been invited to a gallery showing for her former mentor/lover. It was 20 years ago, and she wants nothing to do with him again. She goes anyway and ends up stealing a painting. It’s not just any painting. This painting is of her–and it’s worth millions of dollars. From that moment on, Johanna’s decisions sometimes seem to come from left field, but every single one of them is about how she’s going to reclaim the life she wanted 20 years ago.
As an artist, Johanna has a unique way of seeing the world, and it resonated with me. I love the struggle she has with whether to jump back into this world of art and being an artist and what that means now that she is twenty years older. It hit something. That leap of faith you must take when you’re forty feels so much different than it did when you were nineteen. This is what made me connect with Johanna Porter the most.
In addition, being a mother now causes her to see things differently, and there are so many times when she thinks about her daughter, who is almost the same age as she was when the painting was made, and compares herself at that age. Or maybe I was just making those connections. It was really lovely to watch as she came to terms with her past and, at the same time, stepped into her future.
House of Salt and Sorrows
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House of Roots and Ruin
by Erin A. Craig
Delacorte, 2019 and 2023
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HORAR, although it has some of that same intensity at the start, doesn't feel as ominous. There is something to be said about knowing these sisters have already accomplished goals and slayed demons or whatnot. How could there be any other issues so big? But as you start to realize what Verity is realizing, it hurts. It's hard to grapple with. And if I say much more, I'll give too much away!
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I'll admit that I did not tear through this as I have other stories that I love. With Craig's writing, I need time--no, I WANT time--to dabble my toes in a murky lake, wander through garden mazes, and study the features of a kind and gentle boy. There is something about her writing that urges me to slow down and enjoy the experience of reading. Even as tensions rise and I'm feeling the need to rush, I can't. That's the beauty of her writing.
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So meet the Thaumus sisters and delve into their world of monsters and gardens and oceans and ghosts. Oh, so many ghosts! Although you could definitely read HORAR without having read HOSAS, I recommend reading the first one. I think it makes for a better reading experience.
Legendborn
by Tracy Deonn
Read by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Simon Schuster Audio, 2020
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King Arthur and his round table, mixed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, mixed with secret societies? Yes please!
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I'm not sure how Tracy Deonn has melded all these ideas into one fabulous universe, but she has and it's amazing. When Bree Matthews starts at UNC, she's trying to move on, past her mother's death and into her future. Her first night on campus in the high school scholars program, and she finds herself in the middle of something she can't explain. With memories of her mother resurfacing, Bree is pulled into a secret society of the Legendborn, descendants of King Arthur and his round table who work to rid the world of demonic beasts and keep humanity safe. It isn't long before she realizes that she's in over her head and she'll need more than future king Nick to help keep her safe from both demons and Legendborn alike.
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Deonn weaves in Arthurian stories and folklore as well as American history--real American history. Bree's race is and the lack of diversity both on campus and --most especially--within the society are not brushed aside. Bree deals with racism on many levels as she discovers more and more about the Legendborn, her mother, and her own family's history.
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I loved this book and the audio version was a great choice. Joniece Abbott-Pratt brings Bree's voice to life. Some audiobooks are more difficult for me to follow when there are so many characters, but I didn't feel like with Abbott-Pratt's performance. I was never confused or lost and her performance held me on until the end.
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My only complaint is that I went to buy the next book, but it's not out until November and I have to wait. I've already preordered the audio version so I can continue Bree's adventure.
Small Favors
by Erin A. Craig
Delacorte Press 2021
Goodreads
Amazon
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It's been over two weeks since I finished reading Small Favors and I am still thinking about it. When I first read House of Salt and Sorrows, I knew that I'd need to keep Erin Craig on my Automatic Buy list for new books.
Ellerie lives in the beautiful town of Amity Falls, tucked away in the woods and protected from the evil creatures that roam beyond its borders. She longs to be like her twin , Samuel, and have the freedoms he's given. When a terrible tragedy befalls the town, Ellerie finds she must step up and take charge of her family. With the arrival of a stranger and odd happenings around town, Ellerie's quiet life is becoming anything but that.
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I was really taken by this entire book. I loved the twists and turns that Erin Craig takes us through. She gives clues to what's happening, and although I had made guesses that were close to being correct, I in no way had it all figured out.
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Ellerie is a strong character who is stuck between doing what she thinks is right, her love for her brother, and doing what makes her happy (or at least what she thinks will make her happy). I would love to read more about her and when Erin Craig publishes a new novel (whether or not it's about Ellerie) you can bet I will buying it!
What I Carry
by Jennifer Longo
Random House Books, 2020
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One of my favorites so far this year!
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Muiriel--named after John Muir, the natural and environmental philosopher--has learned a lot from her namesake. One of those is to only carry the items you will absolutely need. This has served Muir well as she moves from foster home to foster home, doing her best to keep her emotional load as light as the physical load of her suitcase. From the start, we know that Muir doesn't want a forever family--she learned pretty young that it was all a bunch lies adults tell kids. She knows that if she wants to survive when she graduates in the spring and is free from the system, keeping her record as clean as possible is in her best interest. Working towards the dream of becoming a park ranger is NOT in her best interest. When she's taken to Francine's house, though, Muir finds herself getting a little comfortable. Too comfortable. And then suddenly there are friends and a dog and attachments that she cannot handle. She needs to stay the course and keep her sights low--but with each day that gets more and more difficult.
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I really loved this book. I enjoyed the idea of the things the took with her from house to house and how she determined what was important enough to keep, to add to her suitcase. The backstory attached to each of those mementos was so telling and it makes you think of all the STUFF you accumulate.
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This was a beautiful story. Each of the characters who support her along the way are just perfect for Muir. Despite their own imperfections, they are what she needs in those moments and she is what they need.
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I highly recommend this book. It is definitely a YA novel. There are some curse words, mentions of drug and alcohol use, and mentions of sex. Although we don't see sex on the page, it is discussed in a very factual and open way that allows the character to be safe and take care of herself. She is almost 18.