Category: book reviews

Shred Sisters

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

By Betsy Lerner

I come from a family of sisters, so naturally, at times, I gravitate towards novels that present a sister dynamic. Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner is one such novel.

Sisters Olivia and Amy are polar opposites of one another. Olivia is magnetic and confident, whereas Amy is inconspicuous and awkward. When they are younger, there is no love lost between the sisters because Olivia isn’t the most loving of older sisters; on top of often mercilessly bullying Amy, she makes high-risk decisions which result in behaviour and consequences that threaten to rip the family apart.

I liked this novel well enough. When Olivia and Amy were younger, I could feel empathy for both, each dealing with the reality of their lives and not being happy with it. However, once the women got older, I lost a bit of empathy for Amy as she began to make decisions that aren’t “high risk” to her physical well-being but rather, well, for lack of a better term, stupid and selfish. My allegiance to each sister changes.

This novel successfully presents how mental illness can affect a family. How heartbreaking it can be to consider disowning a loved one because their destructive behaviour potentially creates an undue hardship on you, especially in a time and place where the support system for mental illness is severely lacking. Can you love a sister enough to keep her in your life even though she damages your success, happiness and mental well-being? Or do you love yourself enough to let her go?

Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Press for the copy,

I Died on A Tuesday

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by Jane Corry

Have you read this book? I picked this one up at the airport. It is a good “light” read (light as in style and prose, not necessity the subject matter; I mean, it is, after all, about death).

The story is set in the aftermath of a horrific hit-and-run and delves into the consequences and repercussions for everyone involved. 

Twenty years ago, on a quiet seaside road, Janie was riding her bike early in the morning when she was suddenly struck by a white van. But Janie did not die ( now, this isn’t a spoiler because the VERY first chapter is written in italics from Janie’s point of view). Horrifically, Janie remains in a comma, alone with only her thoughts and memories of the life she had led thus far. 

The story is also about Robbie, a famous singer-songwriter and musician. Now Robbie is linked to Janie. You see, he was a passenger in the van that hit her all though years ago, and he is riddled with guilt, not just because he was riding in the vehicle involved in a hit and run, but because he knows who was driving and divulging that truth would put his and his family’s lives at risk. 

The novel is written from alternating points of view: Janie, Robbie and a middle-aged woman named Vanessa. Now, Vanessa’s link to Janie is that her husband was one of the detectives assigned to find the person responsible for Janie’s injuries. Vanesa also serves as a victim’s advocate in court.

There is also a smattering of other characters with chapters written from their points of view, newspaper clippings of the case, diary entries and song lyrics. 

This novel is a perfect vacation novel. It possesses simple themes of guilt, redemption, forgiveness and resilience. Short chapters, varying points of view and a plot filled with twists and turns and connections that, for the most part, the reader can’t see coming. 

For She is Wrath

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by Emily Varga

Full disclosure: I both read and listened to this novel. The audiobook’s narrator is AMAZING, making it worth downloading.
I really liked this book. But then again, I always like books with strong female protagonists, especially ones that can be viewed as resilient, courageous heroines. For She is Wrath is a wonderful retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, but this time as a Pakistani romantic fantasy. Loving the classic, I couldn’t help but be enamoured of this tale.
As with the Count of Monte Cristo, our tale begins with a daring prison break. Fast-paced and immediately engaging, we follow Dania, a strong-willed and determined young woman, on her bloody and daring journey from prison to the man who betrayed her…the man she loved.
This plot-driven novel is what young adults most often gravitate to first. It reads like a movie and would be an excellent addition to a classroom library and an engaging read-aloud.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the free copy.

My Darling Dreadful Thing

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by Johanna Van Veen

What a wonderfully gothic tragic love story! I may have found a new favourite author to add to my list. Johanna Van Veen is a master at creating atmosphere. Creepy, sad and at times ominous. Our protagonist, Roos, has had a tragic life. Roos has been made to participate in her abusive mother’s seances since she was a child and showed a connection to the spirit world. She would have likely continued this life if it hadn’t been for a beautiful young widow, Agnes, who participated in a seance one evening. Agnes and Roos quickly find a connection to each other because they share one extraordinary thing in common…they both possess spirit companions. Agnes invites Roos to come and live with her in the decrepit, haunting estate left to her by her husband. Shortly after her arrival,  Roos realized there is more to the estate than first meets the eye. Her spirit companion can feel it too, and soon, strange noises and smells make Roos curious to find what or who else lurks in the hallways of her new home. What she finds is more than disturbing to both her and us, the reader.

The Puzzle Box

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by Danielle Trussoni

The first Trussoni book I read was Angelology…if you haven’t read it, you should. Since then, Trussoni has written a number of books, one of which was The Puzzle Master, where our protagonist is Mike Brink, a fascinating character with ‘acquired savant syndrome. You see since Mike suffered a traumatic brain injury whilst playing football, he’s been able to create and solve intricate puzzles. He sees and, at times, feels patterns and solutions to the most complex and compelling puzzles. In the novel The Puzzle Box, Mike is challenged by Japan’s Imperial Family to open the infamous Dragon Box. But solving this puzzle is more than problematic. It’s deadly. Scores of individuals have died attempting. 

This novel is great fun. I find the character of Mike Brink fascinating; he is brilliant, socially awkward, and silently lonely, and it is hard for someone to understand him and his gift. The premise and plot of this book are highly engaging, and you will have read it in its entirety in a day.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the free copy.

Swan

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By Sisdura Ludwig

What drew me first to this book was its cover. What a beautiful, whimsical piece of folk art. What drew me second was the fact that it is a novel in verse. I absolutely adore a novel in verse, especially for middle and high school students.
Swan is a poignant true story about a 12-year-old girl named Anna. Born in 1858 in Millbrook, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Anna was different from other girls; in fact, Anna was different from EVERYONE. You see, Anna is significant, not just big, but giant. At twelve, she is 6 feet 10 inches tall and is considered a wonder by everyone from the neighbour to the shoe pedlar. 
But Anna doesn’t want to be a wonder. She wants to be a regular girl with pretty shoes. 
As she ages, Anna discovers a way to use her peculiar size to help her family and figures. If everyone is going to look and stare at her anyway, she might as well make money to support her family, so she joins the circus as a “curiosity’.
Ludwig is a beautiful writer. Her word choice and lyricism are charming and sincere. Swan will serve as an invaluable mentor text in junior and senior high, showcasing the power of language and storytelling. Some examples of her beautiful writing are;
“I don’t know why 
God made the ground
So far from my head.”
“If God created a perfect world 
In only seven days
Why don’t I fit anywhere?”
What a fantastic discussion you could have around these two quotes alone!

Thank you to Netgalley and Nimbus Publishing for the free copy.

The Trouble with Hereos

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by Kate Messner

The Trouble with Heroes is a book in verse, one of my favourite formats, especially for middle school fiction. This novel is about grief, anger, and self-discovery. Written in first person, Finn Connelly is still grieving the COVID death of his father. His grief is manifesting in ways that are detrimental to Finn’s growth and well-being, and he is, well, he has resorted to skipping school, failing his courses, and vandalizing the local cemetery. To make amends for this crime, Finn is assigned make-up assignments, particularly in Language Arts and Phys Ed. To do so, Finn must complete a poetry project centred around the theme “what makes a hero and put in 14 hours of “moderate to strenuous” activity.

Finn must hike all “forty-six Adirondack High Peaks to atone for his crime AND make up the course material and requirements. 

This novel is filled with the most engaging verse, a combination of humour and beautifully emotional lyricism. It also includes the formats of newspaper articles, instructions written in prose, photographs, recipes, and letters, indeed, one of the best examples of a hybrid text.

Finn’s journey of self-discovery and overcoming grief is beautifully developed through first-person narration. Messner effectively captured the voice of an adolescent boy through his humour, sarcasm, and view of the world and society.

This novel would be a VERY effective mentor text to use in the classroom. The theme, character development, writing formats, point of view, imagery, various poetic devices, and tone are all literary devices worth noting and can be illustrated effectively using Messners writing as an example.

The Trouble with Heroes is a versatile addition to any school or middle school classroom library. It’s not just a great read for individual students, but also a fantastic choice for book clubs and classroom book studies. Its engaging verse, unique writing formats, and relatable themes make it a book that can inspire a variety of learning experiences. 

The Trouble with Heroes will be published in April 2025. Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books and Netgalley for the free copy.

The Bookseller’s Wife

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Book 1 of Chiswell Street Series
by Jane Davis


Dorcus Turton comes from a family whose name historically holds power and respect. However, as the only surviving heir, her life has been challenging. Upon the death of her mother, her father started a downward struggle of alcoholism and gambling debt. Dorcus runs a girls’ school out of their home and takes up some seamstress tasks, but she can still not stave off the debt collectors, so she resorts to taking in renters. James Lackington and his wife turn out to be more than just renters; they are a wonderful addition to Dorcus’s life, with their kindness and generosity and their tremendous love of reading and books, something with which Dorcus strongly identifies. The Lackington’s dream is to become booksellers, and with the help of Dorcus and her father, their dream soon comes to fruition. Of course, tragedy strikes in the form of sickness, death and heartbreak, and Dorcus’s life drastically changes, but will it be for the better?
I really liked this book….up until the last third. The author went from a wonderful exploration of a resilient woman’s life during Georgian London to a focus on the politics of the time. The political atmosphere of the time is, of course, essential to character choice and the advancement of the plot. I just wished it was more woven into the plot instead of reading like a textbook. I was also a little disappointed in the book’s ending; it seemed rather abrupt, but then I realized that this book is the first in a series. So now I know that this isn’t the end of Dorcus’s story.

Thank you to Rossdale Print Productions and Netgalley for the free copy.

I Who Have Never Known Men

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by Jacqueline Harpman

I Who Have Never Known Men is an apocalyptic novel about the end of man and womankind.
The unnamed narrator only knows one world: a prison with 39 other women hidden in an underground cave. She is the only child in the group and has no recollection of what the world was like before their imprisonment. We never know why these women are in prison; we only know that a political event led to the imprisonment of all women with men as guards.   If you liked the series Wool by Hugh Howey or have an attachment to Plato’s Republic, you will appreciate this story.
Something happens (we never know what) where the women are suddenly and surprisingly released and are faced with freedom.
This novel made me feel overwhelmingly sad. I thought it was all about loneliness and isolation. But then I thought about it and talked about it, and I came to realize that it really is a story of survival and resilience. Our narrator lived a life of agency and made decisions truly on her own.
This novel would make a solid addition to a High School reading list as it lends itself to wonderful discussion on theme and author choice.

Where I End

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by Sophie White

Did it like this book? It was enthralling, highly atmospheric and deeply, deeply disturbing. 
I like books that jar me out of complacency.
This novel is rife with trigger warnings. While I’m not particularly fond of body horror, its inclusion in this book was not gratuitous. Instead, the descriptions served to enhance the theme, atmosphere, and characterization.
So, what is this gothic horror novel about?
Aoileann is a teenage girl who is trapped. She’s trapped on a remote island with her catatonic mother and her abusive grandmother. Aoileann’s entire life centres around the care of her mother, and this obligation has turned to hatred (often referring to her mother as “the bed thing”. 
The hatred is caused, in part, by a family secret…what caused her mother’s state? Both her father and her grandmother refuse to give answers.
Desperate for love, familial or otherwise, Aoileann is drawn to a newcomer, Rachel, a young mother who has arrived as an artist in residence. Aoileann’s desperation for love and companionship drives her to do almost anything for attention. Soon, she begins to resent the time and attention Rachrel has towards her newborn. 
Written in the first person, the reader is privy to an uncensored reading of Aoileann’s true thoughts, making her a very creepy, unsympathetic character. 
This is in no way a happy book. I needed to go hug a puppy after reading it. 
The author, in her forward, shares her inspiration for this story. 
So, did I like this book? I have been thinking about it on and off since I read it, a sure sign that I found it impactful. 
This novel lends itself to high school discussion on genre, theme, definitely atmosphere and the impact of first person point of view.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and Netgalley for the copy.

I Am Wind: An Autobiography

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written by Rachel Poliquin illustrated by Rachel Wada

This book is BEAUTIFUL. Poetry, science, culture, folklore, history artwork. This book is a perfect example of how to use a multitude of genres to teach a concept.  A quintessential hybrid text. 

First of all, Wind is personified. It is the main character of the text. Wind tells us their story through poetry:” I Am Wind/I whistle. I howl/I’ll steal your hat, your house, your kitten, your kite/ I whisper whisper whisper secrets in the leaves…I am the Great Rushing in All Directions” (Poliquin). Wind is portrayed as a beautiful, gentle friend and destructive enemy. 

Wind also tells us their story through history with little “Wind Chronicles,” which describe types of winds in various cultures and record historical events of destruction and peril caused by tornados and storms.

Wind also charmingly tells of its characteristics directly (as if in an extended character sketch): how it is created, the types of wind forces, how man has harnessed Wind for its own uses (sailing, wind farms), how it is perceived in mythology, and its multitude of names in various cultures.

Throughout all of this wonderful poetry, prose, and information are the most beautiful paintings in the most vibrant colours. A multitude of lessons could be created from the artwork alone.

For educators and families with young children, I am Wind: An Autobiography is a delightful addition to your library. It’s not just informative; it’s engaging and absolutely beautiful. This book will captivate your little ones, making learning a fun and interactive experience.

…oh and the book creators live in British Columbia so we’ve got some Canadian content AND indigenous content (this always makes me happy).
I will be recommending this book to every teacher I know!

I will definitely be recommending this book to every teacher I know!!

You will be able to own this book November 5, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the free copy.

The Poppy War

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by R.F Kuang

I love the Poppy War. It is intense. It is heavy. It is magical. It is heartbreaking. I thought about the characters and their choices long after I read it. 

When I first encountered Kuang’s work in Babel, I was struck by her distinctive writing style. It’s a style that I envy, one that I wish I could emulate. Her sentences are not just words on a page, but lyrical, concise, impactful expressions that brim with imagery and emotion. 

When you start reading The Poppy War, you’ll want to gulp the plot down as quickly as possible, but you will choke on its intensity and detail. No. You have to sip. There is SO much information regarding plot character and world building in each and every sentence.

Rin, our tragic hero, is a war orphan fostered in the Rooster province. She’s faced with a future dictated by her fate, one that she refuses to accept. Instead, she sets her sights on a different path, one that leads to the Kejee, the Empire-wide exam . Passing this exam would grant her entry into the most prestigious military school in the Empire, a chance to shape her own destiny. 

While at school, Rin uncovers her heritage, a revelation that sheds light on her unusually powerful gifts. This aspect of the story not only adds depth to Rin’s character but also enriches the world-building, as it reveals a hidden layer of the book’s supernatural realm.

Having yet to graduate, Rin and the rest of her fellow schoolmates are thrown into a war where they have to put to use the skills and strategies they have learned in real-life and death battles.

The Poppy War is not just a novel, it’s a rich tapestry of themes. It delves into the ethics of war, exploring concepts like genocide and the means justifying the end. It grapples with identity, power, and responsibility. And it celebrates the bonds of friendship. These themes are not just surface-level musings, but wonderfully complex and beautifully developed, with more to come in the second and third books of the trilogy. 

The world-building is enthralling. The political systems, cultures, supernatural realm, military, and educational systems are beautifully detailed, and all contribute successfully to the progression of the plot, the development of characters, and the strengthening of themes. 

The Poppy War has become one of my favourite books of the year. I am in the process of reading the second book the in the trilogy, and it’s starting off as just as wonderful as the first.

The Foxglove King and the Hemlock Queen

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books 1 and 2 of the Nightshade Crown by Hannah Witten

The Foxglove King

Who doesn’t like a novel about a young woman who has escaped from a cult using only her wits and her ability to wield Death Magic. Unfortunately her wits and her ability aren’t enough for her to escape her entrapment by the Presque Mort (yay for Warrior Monks). Lore is forced by the Presque Mort to work for the king, using her gift to find out what is behind the death of entire villages in the realm (these deaths are being blamed on an enemy country thus causing political tension). What a fabulous premise for great action. 

During this time, Lore becomes entangled in two complicated relationships; one to Gabrial, himself a warrior monk (so yes I’m partial to Gabrial) and the other to Prince Basitan the “pot stirring” heir to the throne.

The Foxglove King is an easy, enjoyable read with a likable heroine and a plot sprinkled with politics, the supernatural and glimmers of romance that is bound to develop in subsequent books.

A perfect series to start this summer!

The Hemlock Queen

So I had to take the time to read the first of Nightshade Crown Series before I could start The Hemlock Queen. Maybe I needed a palate cleanser of a different genre before I read the second in this series because I found the plot a bit plodding and therefore didn’t enjoy it as much as the first.

One of my favourite characters from the series is Gabriel but we didn’t see him as much and therefore was only mildly involved in the plot and in Lore’s character development.

Although I was bored at times, I still enjoyed being immersed in the world building and I still love Lore as our heroine so I will more than likely continue to visit the Sainted King’s Court.