Happy May! April wasn’t my best month for reading — between traveling and taking on some new responsibilities, some reading tip was chewed up by other activities, but I’m still proud of everything I read. From an antiracist book to an advanced reader copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest work, I read a lot of wide-ranging works this month. Let’s get started!
one | Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi — Audiobook
This abridged version of Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi edited and presented by Jason Reynolds is approachable, informative, and impactful. I’ve read many an antiracist book in the last year, and this selection presented new information in a clear, concise way that left me thinking about my own prejudices and racism. No rating
two | Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid — ARC, E-Book
The Riva family is famous. Not only are a few of them pro-surfers and models, but they throw the wildest beach party every summer that anyone who is anyone always makes sure to attend. This year, things are different. This year, by 8 a.m., everything is up in flames.
Reid tells the timeless story of what it means to be family — chosen and otherwise. She alternates between two timelines, the 80s with the current Riva family and telling the Riva family backstory, which, of course, is full of heartbreak.
This story is full of twists that yank at your heart, and it is un-putdown-able. 5/5 Stars
three | The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Alice and her mother Ella have always been followed by bad luck. Everywhere they went, something always went wrong. They blame their grandmother and mother, Althea Proserpine, the famous author of the dark fairy tales set in the Hinterwood. One day, when Alice finally thinks the bad luck has stopped, her mother is taken from her, and she must trust the one person she knows who has any knowledge of her grandmother and her fictitious world that may be plaguing Alice. A fun story with a few twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. 3/5 Stars
four | Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Ravka has been torn in half by the Shadow Fold, and now, it’s up to an unassuming girl, Alina Starkov, to save the nation. When Alina finds out she has hidden abilities that may be able to save her nation, she is whisked away to become a member of the royal court. While there, she is trained to be a Grisha, a member of the magical elite, and she is accepted by one of the most powerful people in the court, the Darkling. But of course, everything is not as it seems, and when Alina is warned against trusting the one she loves, she must run for her life.
This is a fun, exciting young adult novel that has just enough magic and romance to keep you interested and entertained. I’m excited to read the rest of the series. 5/5 Stars
five | Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
Rick Deckard has a license to kill — kill androids that is. It’s 2021 (or 2048 depending on the version of the book you read), and San Fransisco lies under a radioactive cloud of dust. The world experienced World War III making it uninhabitable, and while most people have escaped to live on Mars with androids serving them, some have stayed on Earth. Rick makes a living by hunting androids that have escaped enslavement on Mars for a better life on Earth. He is tasked with killing six androids in one day, which is unheard of, and he’s about to experience a life-changing mission. Like most of Dick’s work, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? leaves readers guessing far past the last page.
Happy reading,
Kimberly
