Tag: #bestbooks

Whalefall

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Daniel Kraus

Have you noticed that there have been a weird number of instances where paddleboarders or kayakers have narrowly missed being swallowed by a whale? What would happen upon ingestion? Would death be imminent? Would you be crushed by jaws or suffocated in the confines of the esophagus or stomach? Well, Whalefall is a novel where our main character, Jay, finds himself within the confines of a whale’s digestive tract.
Jay Gardiner believes that the only way can can reconcile himself with the suicide of his abusive father is to go on a solo scuba dive in the area where his father drowned recover his bones. Shortly into his dive, Jay spies a giant squid and is enthralled with the creature to the point of distraction. A sperm whale suddenly appears and swallows the squid sucking Jay into its mouth in the process. Once inside the whale, Jay realizes that he only has one hour left of air in his tank and, therefore, has to figure out a way to save himself before it’s too late.
Alone in the dark confines of the whale’s belly (one of its bellies), Jay is forced to confront the hatred he feels towards his father, the love he wishes he had, and the guilt that consumes him.
I read this novel in one evening. Very short chapters, a fast-pace, a sympathetic main character and a tonne of facts about the ocean, biology and the anatomy of whales make this an amazingly engaging read. This book is perfect for reluctant readers and/or as a read-aloud for junior and senior high school students. There is one chapter in particular where Jay has an emotional inner dialogue with the whale (or his father) that I would have two students read it aloud to the rest of the students (it is a truly emotionally raw and beautiful dialogue). . Kraus’s writing is wonderfully vivid and can be VERY descriptive regarding the gooey, bloody squishiness of the internal goings-on of a living being. And then, at times, descriptions are incredibly and poetically beautiful. For example:
It is the moon, pale blue, mottled, massive, dream legend. Rising. A ship of gods from primordial tar, yard after yard of wrinkled black bulk, a farce of size displacing the entire ocean. There’s an Omega shape in phosphorescent white, and Jay’s stupor permits the dull understanding that this crescent is a mouth, twenty feet of closed mouth and this obsidian skyscraper is no surfacing Atlantic. No colliding planet. It is a living thing. (Kraus pg 80). How amazing is this!!!

There’s a Trigger warning for mental, verbal and physical abuse and suicide.

None of This is True

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Lisa Jewell

This book ruined my plans for the day. Once I started it, I could not do anything else until I was finished. It was creeeeeeeeepy!!! A perfectly paced plot that created a crazy sense of suspense. In fact, he plot immediately sucks you in, and you can’t escape until you reach the “wtf” conclusion.

The story is about Alix Summers and Josie Fair. Two women, strangers to each other, who just happen to be “birthday twins”. But having the same day of birth is the only thing these two women have in common. They meet by chance at a restaurant whilst celebrating their birthdays! Alix is a beautiful, vibrant woman with a podcast celebrating the accomplishments of women who have overcome adversity. Josie is an unassuming part-time seamstress who is in want of a life different from her own. When Josie discovers who Alix is, she approaches her with a proposition; to tell the story of her life, a life she is determined to change.

However, Josie’s life has been anything but normal. Soon Alix uncovers uncomfortable truths about this birthday twin of hers (little objects are beginning to disappear from her house, and Josie is spotted on her home’s security camera rifling through recycling). Is Josie a victim? Or is she a psychopath?

Loved this novel. Perfect if you are looking for a quick-absorbing read.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the free copy.

When Women Were Dragons

~ Lisa Helm ~ 1 Comment

by Kelly Barnhill

On April 25, 1955, thousands of women spontaneously morphed into dragons. Some flew off without incident, but others left a trail of death and destruction behind them. What would cause these women to do such a thing? After all, they should have been perfectly happy and content in their socially suitable lives. But to change into something fierce and beautiful and utterly independent! What a horrible tragedy. And all hoped it would never happen again….but it did.
This novel follows young Alexandra (or Alex as she prefers to be called) from childhood to young adulthood as she navigates a world where female role models struggle to figure out their identities. Alex’s aunt Marla is a dynamic woman who flew aircraft in the war, works in a garage and has never married. Alex’s mother was a gifted mathematician who built a name for herself in banking and investment but chose to become a wife and mother and leave her mathematical aspirations behind. And seeing how the story takes place in the 1950s and 60s, this struggle for identity is divisive both in society and the family dynamic. To make matters worse (or better), it seems that those women breaking from the societal norm of how “womanhood” is defined spontaneously turn into dragons. Alex must first decide how she views herself in a society defined chiefly by men and then decide what path she will take to live as her authentic self. Will that include turning into a dragon? Read the novel to find out.

The Invisible Hour

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Alice Hoffman

I had forgotten I liked Alice Hoffman’s writing. The Invisible Hour was THE perfect re-introduction to her storytelling. This is a novel about the power of books, a belief I hold near and dear to my heart because I have seen it manifested over and over again in my students. When Ivy is little more than 17 years old, she becomes pregnant and disowned by her parents. Being in such a precarious situation, she is easily convinced to join a cult where she is partnered with none other than the cult leader himself, Joel Jacobs. But when her baby Mia is born, she recognizes the prison in which she has placed her daughter and looks for ways to instil a sense of freedom in her daughter. This freedom includes finding sanctuary in the town’s library, where Mia falls in love with the writing of Nathanial Hawthorn; in fact, the first book she picks up is The Scarlet Letter, and in it is an inscription from Hawthorn himself that seems weirdly and intimately linked to Mia herself born over a hundred years after Hawthorn’s death?
When Mia is threatened with torture and imprisonment within the cult, she finds strength in Hawthorn’s words and escapes the only world she’s ever known.
This story has a little bit of everything: time travel, romance, and drama, but mostly it is a novel about how we can find strength and belonging in books, and I love this.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the free copy.

You can buy The Invisible Hour August 15!

Morgan is My Name

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Sophie Keetch

In High School, I loved Mary Stewart’s Arthurian Legend series. My favourite character was Morgan, sister to Arthur, apprentice to Merlin, sorcerous in her own right, but a minor character with the likes of Arthur and Merlin being the story’s focus. On the other hand, Sophie Keetch has written an entire book telling Morgan’s story. Yay!
The novel starts when Morgan is a young girl and her father, the king, is killed. King Uther comes to court and forces the Queen (her mother) to marry him and then pretty much dictates the lives of everyone in the land as most kings were wont to do in the middle ages. Ever the rebel, Morgan is sent to a convent where she is delighted to have the opportunity to study (her passion, anatomy and healing). But her stepfather king eventually interrupts her happiness and orders her back to court, where she has to stifle the powerful woman she is if she is to survive the politics of the land. But just how long will she be able to live a life dictated?
I loved and loved LOVED this book. I loved the characterization of Morgan. I loved the strong female characters presented. I loved the love story, the political intricacies and the elements of “Arthurian legend” woven throughout. What a great addition to my summer reading.
Keetch writes in prose that is accessible to every reader.
Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the free copy.

Bad Cree

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Jessica Johns

I am fascinated by movies and books that use elements of horror as symbols of grief. The film Babadook is a perfect example of this; the Babadook monster is grief itself (and I’m NOT usually a horror fan). Bad Cree does something similar. Our protagonist is a young Cree woman named Mackenzie who is LITERALLY haunted by the unexpected deaths of her Kokum and sister. She has terrifying dreams of drowning and being stalked by crows, dreams that are beginning to cross into her real world. She wakes up drenched after dreaming of drowning, and another morning she wakes up clutching a bloody head of a crow after dreaming of aggressive crows.
The only people who understand what Mackenzie is experiencing are the only people who can save her; her family. Mackenzie heads home to High Prairie, Alberta, where she literally has to battle her grief “monsters” with the help of her powerful women relatives.
This book is an amazing story of resilience, grief, identity, and the importance of family. It is also beautifully written. Johns is a master of description and detail; I felt I was standing beside Mackenzie through everything she was going through…a place where, at times, was an extremely uncomfortable place to be.

I would definitely have a couple of copies of this novel in my classroom for an independent novel study, or as a book club option.

Death at the Party

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Amy Stuart

The story starts with our protagonist watching a man die. She pulls her phone out a couple of times, tempted to call 911 but pauses.

No, it would be better if he were dead.

We then flashback to that morning. Nadine Walsh, daughter, wife, mother, is making the final preparations for her mother’s birthday party that evening. Throughout the day we meet various people who will be attending the party. We are introduced to these potential partygoers (one of which is our victim)  through the critical lens of Nadine herself, so some of them we like, and the others,

well, we don’t like quite as much.

Is this because we are influenced by Nadine herself?

And just to make our reading a bit more uncomfortable, Nadine isn’t exactly the most sympathetic of characters until… well, I won’t spoil it for you.

I loved this book. It was perfect for a weekend read on my balcony sipping a cosmopolitan. A perfect addition to your summer reading list.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the copy.

No Two Persons

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Erica Bauemeister

No Two Persons is an amazing story about the power of books. In this novel we trace the impact one story can have on numerous people.
The story starts with the author Alice who has always known she would be a “magician”and create new worlds using words. At first Alice doubts her ability to write. She is consumed by heartbreak after the loss of the one person who believed in her gift and who loved her unconditionally. However it is because of this heartbreak that she manifests her novel Theo. Bauermeister writes of Alice’s inspiration in such a beautiful way it has become one of my favourite parts of the book.Theo eventually becomes published and then the rest of the book is filled with individual chapters that tell the stories of varied individuals and their spiritual encounter with Alice’s novel. Each character’s story shows us that one book can weave its magic in everyone whether it be a famous movie star, a homeless teenager, or a middle aged caretaker. The power of story knows no bounds. I was also so grateful that such a beautiful story possessed a satisfying conclusion.
I would definitely reccomend this book to my High School Students. It would also be suitable for critical analysis, and for studying symbol, theme, character, and style. A highly reccomended mentor text.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the free copy.

Ever Since

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Alena Bruzas

The novel is a real and raw story centered around the dynamics between a group of friends the summer of their freshman year. It is about their friendships, their fallout, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness.
The novel deals with really weighty subjects: sex, sexual abuse, date rape, alcohol abuse, and emotional abuse.
The characters are diverse in ethnicity and gender identity.
Again, it is REAL.
If you’ve got a teenager in your life, this novel would offer AMAZING points of discussion around sexuality, friendship, victimization, healing, and empowerment.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the free copy.

Closer by Sea

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Perry Chafe

It’s been 3 years since 12-year-old Pierce Jacobs lost his father to the sea, and his heartache and guilt haven’t gotten any better, not even with the support of his two friends, Bennie and Thomas. The only person who seemed to know what he was going through was Anna Tessier, a girl a couple of years older than him, but now she, too, has disappeared.
Pierce has always felt the authorities gave up too soon when finding his father. He is determined not to let the same thing happen to Anna, so with the help of his friends and Bennie’s cousin Emily, they go “undercover” to determine who is responsible for Anna’s disappearance. Living on tiny Perigo Island, just off the coast of Newfoundland, their suspects are few. Could it be the “outsider” Solomon Vickers, a recluse who lives on the island for part of the year? Or maybe it’s one of the “Arseholes”, a group of older boys who take pride in bullying the younger kids? Then there is the assortment of visitors on the island, many of whom have the potential to kidnap a young girl. Then there is also the sea itself. Unforgiving and unrelenting in its beautiful destructiveness.
I really loved this book. As soon as I started reading it, I knew immediately it would be perfect for a novel study for junior and senior high. It possesses beautiful imagery, an interesting assortment of characters, and a variety of themes (friendship, grief, coming of age, industrialization, identity, and environmentalism, to name a few) with the potential for rich classroom discussion.
Thank you to Scribner Canada and Netgalley for the free copy.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Patti Callahan Henry

Well, this was an absolutely wonderful book.

At the beginning of the book our main character, Hazel is working at an antiquarian bookstore unpacking and itemizing rare books (my DREAM JOB)! However, she is soon off to bigger and brighter experiences moving on to a much more elitist job at an auction house in London. But before she leaves this charming little shop, she comes across a storybook that possesses a tale that shakes her to her very core. You see, when she was a young girl she used to tell her little sister Flora the story of  “Whisperwood” , an imaginative world where they would be safe and happy and distracted from the war. Hazel and Flora have had to flee their home and parents in London to escape the bombing and it is up to Hazel to protect her little sister while they are away. Tragically, one day Flora disappears, everyone believing she accidentally tumbled into the river and drowned. And now, like a ghost from the past, the story she has told to only her little sister has appeared. Hazel then sets out in search of the author of this book in the hopes to find out information on her sister’s disappearance or maybe, hopefully, finding her sister alive after all these years.

A lovely, lovely, story. Well written, suspenseful, wonderful plot complications and characterization. Definitely one to put on your summer reading list.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the free copy. The Secret Book of Flora Lea is in bookstores now!

Looking Glass Sound

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Catriona Ward

Looking Glass Sound is the second book of Catriona Ward that I’ve read this year, and with it, Ward  has proven to be one of my new favourite authors. 

Our protagonist Wilder Harlow seems to be a troubled youth who, having no real friends at school, is happy to meet two young people at the family’s summer home in Maine. However, what at first seems to be a summer of fun and sun and new friends soon turns into a nightmare when Wilder begins to believe that someone he loves may be a serial killer.

Flash forward and we find Wilder, a university student where he has begun to deal with  PTSD of that notorious summer by writing a memoir about his experience. Unfortunately Wilder’s trauma is exploited by someone he is close to who takes his memoir and uses it to write a best selling novel. To deal with this betrayal, Wilder returns to the summer home to face the memories and heartache life has dealt. 

I was expecting this novel to be an easy mystery with tinges of horror (like Little Eve) but I soon realized that it is also an assortment of complex character studies woven into a layered plot that leaves the reader wonderfully perplexed at times. I’ve read some reviews from people who found it a confusing read, but if you take your time to enjoy the story, all will be revealed with patience. 

I would recommend this novel to my high school students (and use portions of it) for examples of suspense, character building, and author craft.

I loved this book. I will be buying it in hard copy for a re-read. 

Looking Glass Sound will be available to purchase in August!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the free copy.

The Lives of Puppets

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by T. J. Klune

The Coachman- “Humans were foolish. Careless. Cruel. But only a few. Most were full of light.” (The Lives of Puppets).

I found this book absolutely enchanting. Part Pinocchio, part Frankenstein, part Wizard of Oz, Klune beautifully writes a fairy tale about a time when humans were extinct and the world was run by machines. It is a story about creation and destruction, friendship, and, most importantly, a story about accepting who you are and discovering your purpose for existing.

This novel is a quick heart warming read with strong themes. It is perfect for a personal weekend read and for classroom discussion.

“We’re not the same,” Dad had said, voice gentle and soft. “But know that I was alone and sad before you came into my world. You Gave me hope, Victor. It started in the tips of my toes before it rose through the rest of my body and lashed firmly in my chest. It has never left. It evolved into something so much greater. And it’s because of this feeling that I can say I don’t need you to be like me. I need you to be like you”. (The Lives of Puppets).

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the Advance copy.