Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa

Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa

Find It @YCLD:  Here

What It's About: Sunil Yapa revisits the chaos in the streets of Seattle, WA during the 1999 WTO protests.  Readers are introduced to characters on both sides of the conflict, including protesters, police, and a delegate from Sri Lanka.  The novel takes place during one fateful day of the protests, examining different aspects and viewpoints of this turbulent moment in U.S. history.

What I Thought: Yapa’s debut novel is an edge-of-your-seat, though-provoking read that gave me all the feels - horror, amazement, terror, and hope, to name a few.   Each character brings his or her own history to this pivotal moment, creating a maelstrom of emotions and thoughts that intersect and intensify their interactions with one another.  This novel is well-researched - Yapa spent time listening to audio and viewing filmed footage of the protests - and the end result couldn’t be more explosive and magnificent. 

Readalikes: The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner, Dissident Gardens by Jonathan Lethem, and Want Not by Jonathan Miles

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Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

 What I Read: Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Broken Monsters is a crime/fantasy/suspense novel set in Detroit, Michigan. A gruesome killing is discovered and Detroit Police Detective Gabrielle Versado is given the lead on the case, while trying to maintain a relationship with her teenage daughter, Layla, who is keeping her own secrets.  Writer Jonno has recently arrived in Detroit from New York City in the hopes of discovering a story amidst the ruin and decay of the once vibrant city.  Homeless ex-convict T.K. only wants to help his friends and forget his troubled past.  Broken Monsters is the story of what happens when this diverse group of characters are forced to confront their worst fears.

 What I Thought: Lauren Beukes’ Broken Monsters is both character and plot driven.  I became increasingly pulled into the story, which is many-layered and suspenseful.  The characters are diverse - gritty, professional, artsy, naive, compassionate, and arrogant - a combination that reflects the city of Detroit’s struggle to survive.  Beukes is critical of our current obsession with social media, which is given a large role in her novel and while at times this becomes a bit preachy, it doesn’t ruin the story.  Overall, I found this to be an edge-of-your-seat read that I found trouble putting down.

 Readalikes: The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes, Niceville by Carsten Stroud, and The Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue

 Or look this book up on NoveList!

A Buzz in the Meadow by Dave Goulson

A Buzz in the Meadow by Dave Goulson

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: A Buzz in the Meadow by Dave Goulson


Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Author and biologist Dave Goulson purchased a farm in the French countryside in order to create a wildflower meadow to attract all sorts of wildlife, but his main interest is insects, bumblebees in particular.  This is the story of his observations of the myriad ways in which nature is connected.

What I Thought: Goulson’s insights into the natural world are inspiring and often humorous.  I spent many hours in the backyard and on walks observing the often overlooked life of insects and plants while reading this book.  Each chapter is dedicated to a particular insect or plant.  The chapter on flies is especially engrossing (with “gross” being the dominant theme!).  Goulson also explains the many ways humans are affecting the environment, with helpful suggestions that aren’t preachy or condemning.  Goulson ends the book with this bit of inspiration:  “This book is intended to inspire, to encourage everyone to cherish what we have, and to illustrate what wonders we stand to lose if we do not change our ways” (Goulson 251).

Readalikes: Attracting Native Pollinators:  Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies:  The Xerces Society Guide by Eric Lee-Mader, Seeing Trees:  Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees by Nancy R. Hugo, The Bees by Laline Paull, and The Sixth Extinction:  An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: Gabi, A Girl In Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Find It @YCLD:  Here!  

What It's About: This is a YA (Young Adult) novel that follows a Latina high school student during her Senior year.  Gabi, the main character, chronicles her life at home and school with humor and grace.  She deals with anxieties about weight, applying to colleges, two best friends – one who is pregnant and one who has decided to come out of the closet -- a father addicted to meth, an overprotective mother and overly religious aunt, and an emotional younger brother, all while becoming a poet and falling in love.

What I Thought: Although the subjects discussed in this YA novel are serious, Gabi’s interpretations are insightfully humorous.  She is a smart, honest, and determined young woman who loves her family and friends, food, and poetry.  Her descriptions of Mexican food will have you searching out the nearest taco truck! There are also poems throughout the book, both by Gabi and well-known poets.  I love this book – I think many teenagers will bond with Gabi and her friends as they experience their last year of high school. And, if literary prizes influence your reading choices, Gabi, A Girl In Pieces is the winner of the 2015 William C. Morris YA Debut Award.  I would recommend this novel to older teens, as there are sexual references and some language concerns. 

Readalikes: How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, and Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Find It @YCLD:  Here!

 What It's About:  Lawyer Bryan Stevenson's account of his work with the law project, The Equal Justice Initiative he created with Eva Ansley, on behalf of inmates on death row, serving life sentences, unlawfully incarcerated, and juvenile prisoners. An eye-opening account of the injustices many incarcerated individuals face, including those who have been wrongfully convicted. Stevenson shares many of their stories, focusing on Walter McMillian, who seeks Stevenson's help in proving his innocence.

What I Thought:  The United States has the largest prison population in the world.  Statistics show a disproportionate number of prisoners are non-white and/or low-income citizens.  Bryan Stevenson’s work with the Equal Justice Initiative has exposed many of the unfair and unjust prosecutions that have ended in life-sentences and the death penalty.  The stories that are told within this book are heart-wrenching and often too horrifying to be believable, but that is why they are so important for the public to read.  I believe if you read only one book this year, Just Mercy should be at the top of your list. 

Readalikes: The True American:  Murder and Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas; The Divide:  American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap by Matt Taibbi

 Or look this book up on NoveList!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: The story of HeLa cells, which were derived from cancer patient  Henrietta Lacks without her knowledge or consent. This is the story of Henrietta’s tremendous contribution to science that has helped save countless lives throughout the world, yet created an emotional and physical toll on her surviving family.

What I Thought:  An honest, straight-forward account of Henrietta Lacks’ sacrifice. This work of nonfiction explores the damage caused to her family, both emotionally and physically, as well as the joy and pride they’ve experienced knowing the positive difference their mother's life has made to medical science. A triumphant story of loss, family, crisis, our country's difficult history with race, and ultimately, love. Author Rebecca Skloot explains the scientific aspects of the story with clarity and insight -- these sections throughout the book are never too complicated for even the unscientific population.

 Readalikes: The Emperor of All Maladies:  A Biography of Cancer  by Siddhartha Mukherjee; Notes from No Man’s Land: American Essays by Eula Biss

 Or look this book up on NoveList!