May 2024 Reads
Time to ramp up reading for summer!
I’m baaaaaacccckkkk! It’s been a minute since I published my monthly reads and reviews here, and I’ve been missing it. Last summer, I was taking courses for my master's in education, which I completed in December 2023. I’m getting back into the swing of having time for pleasure reading and figured I would start sharing my reviews online again.
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (young adult fiction) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jewell Parker Rhodes is my favorite young adult author, and this book is another excellent work. It is a quick, easy read for upper-elementary or middle-grade students. This book tackles the subject of systemic racism in our schools in a way that students can easily understand. Learning about the sport of fencing was also interesting since I was previously not very familiar with it. It is an excellent book for upper elementary and middle school readers.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was not an easy book to listen to as an audiobook or read as a paper book, mainly because many of the things in the book seem to parallel real things happening these days, like the attack on women’s reproductive rights we are currently undergoing. I originally started it a couple of years ago and didn’t finish it, but with the current environment, I thought it essential to know all I can about this piece of fiction that sometimes seems all too real. Claire Danes did a fantastic job narrating this book, and I have so many unanswered questions at the end of it. It was definitely different than anything I’ve ever experienced before. I gave it four stars instead of five only because there were so many unanswered questions at the end. I know there is a sequel, and I will be reading it, but it felt a bit unfinished for my preference.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I chose this audiobook because I felt I was left hanging by The Handmaid’s Tale’s ending and wanted to know more. I was not disappointed; I liked it more than the first book as it explored why Gilead was the way it was.
What was scary was how many similarities there were between The Sons of Jacob and the far-right religious zealots we are dealing with today. I wish EVERY woman would read BOTH The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments, as they were very eye-opening. And don’t just watch the show…it’s never the same.
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a fast-paced thriller with quite a few unexpected twists. While it was one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while, there were a couple of twists towards the end that were harder to believe, but I liked this book as it kept you guessing. The author did a great job of developing the two main characters, Chelsea and Ellie, so you grew to care about both of them — at least, I did.
She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow…I did not expect much from this book, but I enjoyed it! There were many unexpected twists and suspenseful moments where I dropped everything I was doing to listen and get so wrapped up in the story. I did figure out one of the storylines reasonably early on, as there was just one supporting character I didn’t trust from day one (I won’t say more to avoid spoilers).
This was my first Mary Kubica book, and as much as I enjoyed it, I plan to check out her other titles.
That’s it for my May reading. It was a lighter month than I would have liked, but the last month of the school year is brutal for teachers, and many nights, I was just so exhausted when I got home that I didn’t have the mental bandwidth for anything other than dinner and bed!
I’m hoping to get a great deal of reading done this summer. Last summer, my time was consumed by graduate school, so it will be nice to kick back with a book I’m reading just for enjoyment! Feel free to post any recommendations in the comments. My TBR list is always open for new books!
