“All we were promised” Ashton Lattimore

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Ballantine Books (Random House). Includes “Author’s note.” To be published April 2, 2024.

In 1833 Carrie and her father Jake were slaves on a Maryland plantation. After running away they changed their names and spent the next 4 years in Philadelphia. There James’ light skin enabled him to pursue whiteness and richness as his furniture making business grew, while Charlotte worked as his maid. Her resentment grew at his ability to freely move about while she had to stay home. She was lonely and wanted to make something of her life. After meeting Nell, a rich Philadelphian from a powerful Black family, Charlotte began sneaking out weekly to attend literary and Anti-Slavery meetings with her.

Though Nell had grown up rich and entitled she felt the other rich Black families of Philadelphia could do more for escaped slaves. They felt raising money was enough while Nell believed hands-on work was needed. She was thrilled to discover a kindred spirit in Charlotte and, though she was not of her social circle and her parents did not approve, Nell took her to Anti-Slavery meetings that included one in which a white mob attacked the speaker and the audience.

Evie had toiled alongside Carrie in Maryland and was in Philadelphia with her mistress for a short time. Though she had not seen her in four years, after she caught a glimpse of her at the market, she became obsessed with the idea of escaping. Though scared for her own freedom Charlotte enlisted Nell’s help to figure out a way to help Evie.

What Charlotte, Nell, and Evie didn’t know was that the anger of white Philadelphian’s towards anything or anyone having to do with anti-slavery was about to explode. The newly built Pennsylvania Hall and the Anti-Slavery convention were the sparks that lit the flames which forever changed their lives.

This book is a page turner filled with historical facts. A notable one is that Philadelphia, the so-called “cradle of liberty” and “city of brotherly love” had such a sordid history when it came to black and white relations. Another is its six-month loophole law (meant to keep slavery alive and well) utilized by George Washington and other slave owners to maintain the status quo.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The life she wanted” Anita Abriel

Rated 2 stars ** ebook. Lake Union Publishing. 2023.

Pandora’s father was a tennis instructor at the home of a wealthy New York family. Surrounded by the elegance they inherited from their parents, Archie and his sister Virginia treated her like family inviting her to their activities and parties. As Pandora grew older her father warned her against getting turned by riches, expecting her to go to secretarial school. It was 1926 and he’d saved money for years to pay her fees, but she didn’t want to go. Instead, she yearned for a life of fortune that would enable her to become a fashion designer. To live her dream, she needed to marry a rich husband.

Such is the far-fetched premise of this book. Though Pandora is beautiful, she’s penniless. Though normally she would be shunned due to her social status, she gets invitations to balls, events, and soirees meant for the rich and famous. She manages to find time to sew beautiful gowns to wear to these events, always hoping to get a ring on her finger. Lo and behold she finds a rich husband, but it ends in tragedy. Since this book is fantastical anyway, it makes sense her tragedy turns to joy as she finally gets to the top of the mountain and finds another golden ring.

Though I like historical fiction, I wasn’t a fan of this book because I knew the reality of a poor girl making it in a rich world is usually slim to none. However, if you want a bit of fluff to while away your summer days, this is the book for you.

I’ll leave it up to you Adults to decide if you want to read it or not.

“The scarlet letter” Nathaniel Hawthorne

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Signet Classics. New American Library (Penguin Group). (Includes “The custom house” short story and a “Selected Bibliography”). 2009.

In 1642 Boston, Massachusetts had no patience for anything that fell outside of Puritanical Biblical interpretation. Hester Prynne was in an unfulfilled marriage, and her husband had disappeared, so she found sinful love in the arms of another man. Once she became pregnant, she was expected to gain a bit of leniency from the town’s elders by revealing her lover’s name. Her refusal to do so sentenced her to months in prison, where her daughter was born. She also had to wear a scarlet “A” on her bosom for the rest of her life, in a time where everyone only wore somber hues to show religious devotion. When her husband returned, he vowed revenge while Reverend Dimmesdale displayed mental weakness due to his inability to stand by Hester’s side when she was released from prison. Over seven years this mental weakness eventually extended to his entire body.

The strength from Hester’s character is constantly contrasted with the combined weaknesses of both her husband and the Reverend. Though love led to their tragic downfall, Hester’s love for her daughter and her father never failed.

This sad tale was written in 1850 and has been taught in high schools across the country, but this was the first time I had read it. After reading “Hester,” I was determined to read “The scarlet letter” to see if Isobel was a prototype for her. I would say the main similarities were they had the same character strength, and both were embroidery experts.

If you haven’t read “The scarlet letter,” or read it in high school, I encourage you to pick it up. Hawthorne’s writing style is extremely descriptive, so you may have to read several sections of text more than once to figure out what he’s talking about.

Recommended for Adults.

“Hester” Laurie Lico Albanese

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Publishing Group). 2022.

When Isobel was young her mother told her to hide her ability to see colors since one of her ancestors with the same gift had been proclaimed a witch. In 1829, when she was nineteen years old, she and her husband left Scotland and set sail for America. Within a few days of arrival in Salem Edward headed out to sea to make his fortune. Her dreams of opening a dress shop were ruined when she discovered Edward had stolen the money her father had given her. To avoid starvation, she was forced to work for pennies embroidering gloves for rich women.

Twenty-four-year-old Nathaniel Hathorne noticed Isobel and, unable to keep her out of his mind, began to follow her. At first exchanges were perfunctory but, as they spent time together, their mutual attraction became evident. Though she knew it was wrong, Isobel loved him. For his part Nathaniel was drawn to her because she resembled a character in a story he was writing. When she became pregnant, Nathaniel abandoned her. It was up to Isobel to use the strength she inherited from her ancestors to make a way for her daughter and herself.

This book is about a young girl meeting the man who would go on to become the famous author Nathaniel Hawthorne, and how the past can either make or break you. Hester, the adulterous woman forced to forever wear a scarlet “A” in Hawthorne’s classic “The scarlet letter,” is presumed to be based on Isobel. I have never read “The scarlet letter,” but plan to do so and see how it matches this book. I dare you to read or reread it too.

Recommended for Adults.

“Private label” Kelly Yang

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Katherine Tegen Books. (HarperCollins.) To be published May 31, 2022.

Seventeen-year-old Serene’s birth father lives in China, but her mother refuses to discuss him after leaving him behind to come to America while pregnant. After years of hard work she fulfilled her dream of becoming a famous fashion designer, and Serene is hoping to become one too. Though they had the financial riches of their neighbors she was the only Asian at her school, so it was hard to integrate. It took years of forgetting her culture and granting favors before the “in” crowd accepted her.

Lian Chen moved from Beijing to California because of his father’s job. He hates school, where he’s the only Asian boy, everyone makes fun of him, and no one bothers to learn his real name. His mother is obsessed with having him attend M.I.T., but he wants to be a standup comedian. Advised to take a leadership role at school, Lian decides to start a Chinese Club. When gorgeous Serene (the only other Asian) joins him there, Lian is shocked.

After finding out her mother has pancreatic cancer, Serene is more determined than ever to find her father. She joins Lian’s club to learn to read Chinese, and they bond while she learns about her culture. As her mother’s health deteriorates, and investors plot to sell the company she created, Serene knows she will have to save her mother’s legacy. While Lian negotiates through his mother’s expectations for him, and Serene plans strategies, both learn the importance of following your heart and your dreams despite what others may think about you.

I absolutely loved this book! Serene and Lian were believable characters with very real experiences. As usual, Kelly Yang knows how to write a book that comes from the heart.

Recommended for ages 16 and older.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“A woman of endurance” Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Amistad Press (HarperCollins). To be published April 12, 2022.

In 1836, when she was 18 years old, Keera was captured from the home she shared with her mother in Yorubaland, West Africa. She and hundreds of others were forced onto a ship, where they endured an agonizing ocean crossing. All were beaten and starved, while every man on deck abused the women and young boys. After being sold into slavery and given the name of Pola, she spent years working sugarcane on a plantation in Piñones, Puerto Rico. There she was sexually abused and tortured regularly by individuals and groups of men. Forced to bear children who were taken away as soon as they were born Pola lost her faith in Yemayá, the water goddess who was supposed to give her strength and energy. After 13 years she was desperate enough to escape, but doing so led to recapture, a severe beating that left her almost dead, and resale to another sugarcane plantation in Carolina.

Pola’s new life in Carolina and the roles she plays there are very different from what she experienced at her former plantation, but she is constantly on the offensive. After having been abused for so many years it was very difficult for her to trust others, or to even love herself. The other slaves take her under their wings to help her learn they are her family, and help her get past her former life so she can become the strong, independent woman she was meant to be.

Told through flashbacks and the present time, Llanos-Figueroa’s powerful story of an almost broken woman who worked hard to not let her spirit be fully crushed by her abusers is an amazing read. Learning about slave life in Puerto Rico through Pola’s words in “A woman of endurance” was painful, but it made me proud of my Afro-Latina Puerto Rican heritage. The next time I travel to Puerto Rico I’ll visit Piñones and Loíza with fresh eyes, and look forward to learning more about my Afro-Latina culture through the descendants of Yorubaland who still live on La Isla.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Those kids from Fawn Creek” Erin Entrada Kelly

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins). To be published March 8, 2022.

Life was ordinary in the boring town of Fawn Creek. Everyone grew up together, and they always did the same old things. Nothing ever changed. They only had twelve kids in seventh grade so, when Orchid Mason showed up out of the blue to become student number thirteen, Grayson was amazed.

Grayson has learned to keep his head down, due to a big brother who bullies him and parents who don’t listen to him, while his best friend Dorothy is scared of everything. Both have learned to keep their thoughts to themselves so it felt natural to be drawn to the friendly, outgoing new girl who didn’t seem to have a care in the world. Orchid told exciting stories of her travels and adventures, and gave Grayson hope of having a life outside of Fawn Creek where he could be the fashion designer he dreamed of becoming.

Not everyone is happy to have a new girl in Fawn Creek. Renni had used her condescending, bullying ways to make herself the leader of her peers for years and, though she moved to the next town, she was still in charge. Janie was also jealous of Orchid, and always did whatever Renni wanted her to do. Together, they hatched a plan for Orchid to make sure everyone knew they were still in charge.

Young readers will relate to the issues faced by the kids from Fawn Creek, as they all know what it’s like to want to be and to do something different. “Those kids from Fawn Creek” is a story of hope, friendship, and learning how to stand up for what’s right – even if you’re standing all alone.

Highly recommended for ages 10-14.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Beneath a blazing sky” Amanda Hughes

Rated 4 stars **** ebook. Bold women of the 20th century #1. Lillis and James. 2020.

It is 1903, and Piper Albrecht loved roaming Steeplechase Park in Coney Island where she lived with her mother and pet monkey above a stable that housed their ponies and camels. She had proven her toughness to the neighborhood boys by fighting better than most of them so, together, they sneaked into shows on the bustling boardwalk, and made a living working the crowds to help their parent’s businesses. The police warned her father she would be sent to reform school if she kept fighting so, after she got into trouble again, he sent her to live with her rich aunt Tilly in Manhattan.

It was hard to adjust to life away from Coney, but Tilly understood her free-spirited ways. She was a well-known speaker in the Suffragist Movement, speaking about the importance of getting the vote and being treated better in factories. Over the years, as they travelled to rallies, Piper gained a new respect for women on the front lines and the uphill battle they faced for their rights.

In 1914 Piper’s job took her to Europe, about to be thrust into war with Germany. Over time, as the Great War raged, she found herself involved in relief efforts for the starving people of Belgium, running away from German soldiers, and taking on a new identity to save her life. As she goes from one adventure to another, Piper shows everyone that she is a survivor.

Piper’s life is captured through flashbacks and the present time as moments in history are mentioned like the Great Molasses Flood and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Other historical topics, like the Women’s Suffrage Movement and life in Belgium during World War I, are more deeply explored. Though Piper had many more adventures than a typical girl of her era would have had, Hughes finds a way to tie them together into a storyline that will keep readers interested.

Recommended for Adults.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

“Sofía Acosta makes a scene” Emma Otheguy

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House). To be published January 25, 2022.

Ten-year-old Sofía Acosta comes from a family of ballerinas. Her parents were famous dancers in Cuba before they came to the United States, while her thirteen-year-old sister is fated to become a star. Even her little brother is an amazing dancer. Only Sofía has two left feet, but has been dancing since kindergarten where she met her best friend Tricia. Together they plan to be cast as Party Scene dancers in the upcoming Nutcracker production.

Since the Acosta family are all ballerinas, Sofía believes she needs to become one too even though her joy lies in costume design. Burying what she really wants and not making scenes comes naturally to her, especially if it makes Tricia uncomfortable. When an affordable housing unit is proposed for their part of town Sofía is surprised at Tricia’s objections. She’s gotten so used to putting Tricia first that she starts to believe what she says about leaving American jobs for Americans and about not wanting change to come to their neighborhood. As Sofía learns about the difficulties faced by Latinos and others who come to this country, she begins to understand the importance of standing up for what she believes. It is only then that Sofía learns she and her family stand for more than ballet.

“Sofía Acosta makes a scene” has many similarities to Meg Medina’s 2019 Newbery winning title “Merci Suárez changes gears” with its themes of family, love and tough decisions that need to be made. Pairing Sofía with Merci would create interesting discussions with young readers.

Recommended for ages 10-14.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The dressmaker’s gift” Fiona Valpy

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Lake Union Publishing. 2019.

When Harriet was a young girl her mother committed suicide. As a result she resented her father for remarrying, her stepmother for not being her mother, and herself for not being enough to keep her mother alive. Harriet had always had a love for fashion so, when she found a photograph of her grandmother Claire and two other women in front of a dressmaker’s shop in 1941 Paris, it cemented her desire for fashion to become her career choice.

After getting an internship to the shop where her grandmother once worked, Harriet’s flat mate Simone reveals that Mireille, her grandmother, is one of the women in Harriet’s photo. Harriet didn’t know anything about her mother’s side of the family, so was astounded to learn their grandmothers were members of the French Resistance. The dressmaker shop where they worked was their cover as they undertook dangerous missions and, through their stories of bravery in the midst of horror, Harriet’s mind is opened to what inherited trauma really means.

Told through flashbacks and the present time, “The dressmaker’s gift” reveals the hazardous life of those who chose to resist the German occupation of France as members of the French Resistance. These brave men and women helped turn the tide of the war, and are remembered in the author’s dedication.

Recommended for Adults.