The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The Secret Library is the second Kekla Magoon book I had on my TBR for this year after loving Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem which was cowritten with Cynthia Leitich Smith. I recieved an arc to review from Candlewick Press.

The Secret Library follows Dally, a biracial 11 year old girl who lives with her white single mother. Dally's grandfather has recently passed and her mother's main focus is grooming her to one day take over the family business. Dally decides to open a letter from her grandfather that she was instructed not to open until age 21 and discovers the instructions to a library hidden in an old Black neighborhood. The library has volumes upon volumes of books specific to individuals and their family histories which including everything from miscellaneous events to well kept family secrets. Through these books Dally is able to time travel back to the time period they're dated and follow her family history. At first the secrets are short and just glimpses of her parent's past. But then she finds herself on a pirate ship at sea with one of her ancestors.

Had I read the comps which included Kindred I would've had a better idea of what this book would read like.  It was less fantastical adventure and more reconciling with the past while meeting ancestors that help her reconcile with her biracial heritage. Despite being a middle grade book with an 11 year old character I feel like this book was written for the adult reader. There were multiple of plotlines the author tried to fit in here and some got more page time then others. As an adult with the context and understanding of what Magoon was trying to do it was still a lot for me. And I wonder how children who are being introduced to some of this history for the first time through this book will reflect on this book. Because Dally comes in with a knowledge and understanding some people don't until they've reached adulthood.

Dally is an avatar through which we taken through events in the book rather than a character with her own agency. We don't spend enough time with her in the present day to understand her outside of her status as a biracial girl who longs for adventure. Her issues with her mother are never quite resolved and the ending was unexpected and unsatisfying. I'm struggling with what message to take away from it. There's also a bit of romanticizing the idea of being an activist that I'm seeing in a lot of books lately targeted towards children of color but without portrayal of any real danger. That's not to say children shouldn't be taught to stand up for what they believe in but Dally very easily escapes difficult situations and is eager to march and fight. And it's important that we be transparent and let children know there is a level of risk and sacrifice associated with be an activist which is why not everyone is willing to take on that role.

Overall I left this book feeling exhausted and confused about the intended audience. 

Hovergirls by Geneva Bowers

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I've been following Geneva Bowers on Instagram for a couple of years because I love her illustrations. Her art style is just so cute! And I previously read a board book she did the illustrations for Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps, a book I can't stop recommending. So I had not read the original Hovergirls web comic but I was excited to check out this version of it in graphic novel form with updated artwork. I received an arc from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review.

Hovergirls follows two cousins Kim and Jalissa Vasquez who move to Los Aquaceros together to start a new life. Kim has dreams of becoming a model and fashion designer while Jalissa is just trying to keep things together. It's not long before they discover they have special powers when strange aquatic monsters start attacking the city every time it rains. 

Hovergirls is a throwback to the magic girl stories with pretty powers and fashionable outfits. Kim is excited to live out her heroine dreams and plan her fabulous superhero look. While cold Jalissa is more concerned about getting to sit down and watch her soaps while trying to keep the two of them afloat. It's that bubbly sunshine character alongside the moody mean girl type we've seen in countless media. Kim is ever the romantic and get's starry eyed over a cute surfer who is strapped for cash and constantly asks her to give him a loan.

Where the art delivers the actually storyline of itself struggles a bit as readers get further in. Almost as if she wanted them to have magical powers but realized a villain was needed at the last minute. When it's the slice of life stuff with the girls working at the coffee shop and struggling to get by in a new city it shines. When it came time for the plot to develop further that's where things got a little muddied and became rushed and I wasn't quite convinced. 

With a book like this I did wonder what the teen reception will be since so many thing referenced here  were callbacks to the 00s. Would the running gag of crazy soap opera plots land with them as a joke today when we're no longer in the era of watching soap operas on tv during the summer because that's what's on daytime tv? Even when I was a teen we were moving away from those shows and some of the ones parodied here we ended up canceled. Which also made me think about how these graphic novels are categorized as more publishers mainly known for their prose books acquire them. Why are some of these marketed as YA simply because they have young characters? Even ones like Wash Day Diaries that have characters in their 20s dealing with very adult situations get labelled as YA. Why is there still a stigma against graphic novels and comics being aimed at adults? 

While teens are able to read this one there's a huge level of adult nostalgia that makes this book work. Overall it is a cute story that makes me yearn for magic girl content. The ending is left open to be a continued series and I'm wondering what direction it can go in with a little more development.

King of Dead Things by Nevin Holness

Welcome Back, Booklovers! King of Dead Things came on my radar with it's promises of Afro-Caribbean fantasy and a fresh fantasy from a Black British author. My love of reading stories about Black people from all over the diaspora and specifically seeing Black boys at the forefront of the story made this a must read for me. If you're interested keeping reading. 

King of Dead Things follows the Malcom and Eli, two Black teens navigating London's magical underbelly. Eli, has no memory of where he came from but he does have special magical skills which he uses to heal people and do odd jobs for his landlord, Pam who rents him a room above her West Indian takeout restaurant. Eli is tasked with retrieving the fang of Osebo, a weapon with magic draining capabilities. Malcolm has powers that can wake the dead and an infamous father who he can't seem to escape despite his absence. Eli and Malcolm's paths cross when bodies start turning up of people who've had the magic ripped out of them.

While the promise of Afro-Caribbean fantasy drew me in, I have to admit that it also made me a bit hesitant seeing it as a selling point. I'm just remembering past experience where I read books that made that promise yet failed to deliver. King of Dead Things did not disappoint when it came to highlighting not only Caribbean mythology but also traditions and superstitions like the nine nights featured here. People who've grown up in the culture will find themselves smiling at familiar sayings and attitudes from some of the characters.

Nevin Holness does a great job making the voices of both Eli and Malcom as well as side characters like Max, Sunny, and Pam distinct which kept my attention. She's also great at these vivid descriptions whether it be food or emotions that really have you immersed in the scenes every chapter. This is a character driven story and I was especially drawn to Malcolm and his relationship with his father. The first in a duology, the ending leaves you ready to know what will happen next. 

Out of Office by AH Cunningham

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I don't think I even checked the premise of Out of Office before I decided to read it. Truth be told A.H. Cunningham had me at Afro-Panamanian love interest. There's not a lot of traditionally published romance that highlights the multiculturalism of Black people so it's a treat when I discover one. I received a finished copy from Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. You can buy the book here. 

Genevieve is a woman who has a lot of pressure on her to succeed. She works for a major hospitality company and has been in Panama for the past few weeks helping open a new hotel chain. And now she's finally giving herself a vacation despite her mother's insistence on keeping her attention laser focused on the promotion she's up for. Adrian, the owner of a local transportation company invites her to spend some time at his family owned hostel and see where the chemistry between them goes and Gen decides to take a chance. But can their relationship survive once they're no longer in vacation mode?

This book explores what happens after the I love yous are exchanged and the couple has to learn to face the real world. I find most of the vacation romances I've read focus on the build up and then the declarations of love. Gen has great intentions. She wants to build her career to the highest it can go but she also wants to be able to build up her community. While Adrian is more focused on having a work- life balance and spending as much time as possible with the family he has left. As Gen moves up in her career she's discovering she has less and less time to focus on the things she loves.

The conversations that the book has about career and finding the right balance were well done. I liked the realistic relationship between Gen and her mother who tries so hard to push her and in some ways lives through her. I appreciated that her mother isn't demonized despite her harsh demeanor. Instead it's acknowledged that her mother is on a different path and an explanation is given for why she is the way she is but ultimately it's up to Gen to decide if that path is the same one for her.

A little more was needed when it came to the development of Adrian. Unlike Gen who is going through a journey of learning to value her own needs, he has his life together. Even his one flaw of being a people pleaser is still a loveable trait because it fuels his dedication to making things easy for her and making the relationship work. It would've been nice to see him challenged as well. 

Another treat is the tidbits of Afro-Panamanian culture and history that are included in a way that doesn't feel like the author is trying to teach the reader. But instead that Adrian is trying to Gen a little bit more about his community. 

Earth Day Book Recommendations

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Earth Day is right around the corner and I am all for talking about respecting the Earth from a young age. For Easter I gave all the young children in my family their own grow kits so they can try growing something of their own. I wanted to recommend some children's books that features kids caring about the Earth.

Zandi's Song

Zandi was always thinking and dreaming about the ocean. Then, one special day, the ocean calls for her. Zandi tentatively approaches the water—and that’s when her adventure begins! She soon finds herself transformed into a mermaid and on an unforgettable underwater journey, where she hears the song of the ocean.

But there is something threatening this magical world. Is the key to protecting it buried in stories from the past? Join Zandi in her mission to protect our beloved oceans, in this inspiring story written by South Africa’s first Black female free diving instructor.

Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps

When Kenzie slips on her mermaid tail, she becomes Mermaid Kenzie, protector of the deeps. One day as Kenzie snorkels around a shipwreck, she discovers more plastic bags than fish. Grabbing her spear and mermaid net, she begins to clean up the water and the shore--inspiring other kids to help. 

Miguel’s Community Garden

Miguel is throwing a party at his community garden for all of his friends, and he needs help searching for sunflowers to complete the celebration. What do we know about sunflowers? They're tall with petals and leaves—and, hold on, is that a sunflower? No, that's an artichoke. Where, oh, where could those sunflowers be? Can you help Miguel find them in time for his party?

Jayden’s Impossible Garden 

Amidst all the buildings, people, and traffic in his neighborhood, Jayden sees nature everywhere: the squirrels scrounging, the cardinals calling, and the dandelions growing. But Mama doesn’t believe there’s nature in the city. So Jayden sets out to help Mama see what he sees. With the help of his friend Mr. Curtis, Jayden plants the seeds of a community garden and brings together his neighbors—and Mama—to show them the magic of nature in the middle of the city.

Rocket Says Clean Up!

Rocket, is off to the islands to visit her grandparents. Her family loves nothing better than to beach comb and surf together...but the beach is clogged with trash! When she finds a turtle tangled in a net, Rocket decides that something must be done! Like a mini Greta Thunberg, our young activist's enthusiasm brings everyone together...to clean up the beach and prevent plastics from spoiling nature. 

Earthbred: This Light Of Mine

We all have special ways of being, thinking, feeling and doing that help to make you, YOU!

Emi loves her special connection to the earth, but learns to hide her skills after being teased at school. Can she learn how to learn to let it go? Will she learn how to celebrate her own unique talents before it’s too late for her garden?

Sadiq and the Community Garden

On the way to the library, Sadiq and his family pass an empty lot in their neighborhood. It looks like it could use some attention. Sadiq and his brothers and sisters come up with ideas for what the lot could be. A playground? A skatepark? Then a science unit about plants at school gives Sadiq and Hooyo another idea--a community garden! But where to begin? And how to get people involved? It's up to Sadiq and his classmates to "dig in" and make the community garden a success!

As the Seas Rise: Nicole Hernández Hammer and the Fight for Climate Justice

This inspiring picture book biography introduces environmental scientist Nicole Hernández Hammer, who was recognized by former first lady Michelle Obama at the 2015 State of the Union Address for her efforts to partner with vulnerable communities threatened by climate change.

Nicole had seen many sides of nature,

but nature was changing.

The climate was changing.

Bigger storms were brewing,

and she wanted to know why.

As a baby, Nicole survived an earthquake in Guatemala. She grew up in Guatemala’s beautiful jungles. Throughout her life, Nicole witnessed the power and wonder of nature. But she soon realized nature was in trouble. Her own community in Florida was struggling. And everyone needed to become resilient.