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All That Shines by Ellen Hagan

Review: All That Shines by Ellen Hagan

Contemporary, Poetry, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,
All That Shines by Ellen Hagan

All That Shines
Ellen Hagan
Bloomsbury
Published September 5, 2023

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About All That Shines

A contemplative novel in verse that questions what it means to lose everything you once treasured and rediscover yourself, falling in love along the way.

Chloe Brooks has only ever known what it’s like to have everything. Her parents’ wealth and place in society meant she had all she wanted, and friends everywhere she turned. Until it all crashes Her father is arrested in the middle of the night, under investigation for fraud.

Bankrupt and facing foreclosure, Chloe must forgo her lavish summer plans as she and her mom are forced to move into one of the rundown apartments they still own, just outside Lexington, Kentucky. Without her riches, Chloe loses her friends, her comfort, her confidence, and her sense of self, unsure of who she is and if she is even worth anything if she nothing to offer.

To Chloe’s surprise, she bonds with her neighbors, Clint, Skye, James, and Natalia, and they introduce her to the side of Kentucky she’s long ignored. Her new friends are the only ones who see her for who she truly is, but will they stay by her side once they discover her family’s true identity, or will Chloe lose them, too?

In her signature captivating verse, Ellen Hagan encapsulates the hesitant joy of reshaping your identity and rediscovering yourself.

My Review

This is the third novel in verse by Ellen Hagan that I’ve read, and I always enjoy the way she captures emotion with her writing. Both RECKLESS, GLORIOUS GIRL and ALL THAT SHINES are set in Kentucky and touch on state pride and love. It’s so rich and deep that it doesn’t surprise me at all that the author is from there herself.

I loved the relationships in the book between Chloe and the other kids at the Limestone Apartments. I loved the way they pulled her into their family and the way they reacted to information about Chloe’s past. Chloe’s relationship with her mom also really touched me. It was so sweet watching them both figure out how to connect to themselves, each other, and their possible new community in this new life they were living.

The only thing that I struggled with was how quickly Chloe believed her dad was guilty and how his guilt seemed a foregone conclusion. I wasn’t sure if that was because she knew things and had put pieces together. She seemed to describe herself as feeling close to him but also a little afraid of him, so I expected her to wrestle more with whether he was truly at fault.

I ended up assuming that that part of the story was summarized so that we could move on to the bigger, more central parts of the book: Chloe’s personal reformation.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. I think DON’T CALL ME A HURRICANE is probably still my favorite of the books I’ve read by Ellen Hagan, but I liked a lot of things about this book, too. Readers who enjoy novels in verse or stories about resilience and community should add this one to their reading lists.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Chloe is from a white, wealthy family. Minor characters are BIPOC and LGBTQ+.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Mentions of suicidal thoughts.

Drug Content
Chloe and her friends get drunk on champagne at her dad’s business celebration.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of ALL THAT SHINES in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Running for Shelter by Suzette Sheft

Book Review and Content, Historical, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Running for Shelter
Suzette Sheft
Amsterdam
Published November 9, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Running for Shelter

Vienna, late 1930s. Bright, red-headed Inge Eisenger leads a privileged life with her glamorous, distant mother. When forced to flee from Nazi-occupied Austria to Switzerland, Inge sees her young life turned upside down. She hopes to finally connect with her mother during their escape, but her mother soon abandons her. Vulnerable and alone, Inge makes her way to Paris before reuniting with her grandmother in Central France. But even there, Inge endures one hardship after another—all while her grandmother keeps a family secret that, if revealed, could result in their whole family’s demise.

RUNNING FOR SHELTER is written by Inge’s 15-year-old granddaughter, Suzette Sheft. The gripping, true story offers a window through which young adult readers can witness the challenges of growing up during the Holocaust. As this important chapter of history fades from living memory, Inge’s tale offers hope to a new generation who must also cultivate courage and determination in the face of personal and political challenges.

My Review

I love that the author chose this way to honor her dad, who passed away when she was thirteen, but whose interest in family history inspired her own. And to honor her grandmother, whose life story this book is based upon. What a cool tribute to them both.

Each chapter begins with a date, helping to anchor the reader in the timeline of not only the story, but also in history. The story begins in 1937 and ends in 1946, so it covers almost a decade, which is pretty much half of Inge’s life at that point.

So many people were part of Inge’s journey through the war. It was cool seeing the way communities pulled together and/or went into survival mode as war threatened them. Some scenes felt really filled out, and it was easy to imagine myself in them. Others seemed to move more quickly and left me with questions.

I was a little bit confused by the marketing of the book. It didn’t read like a nonfiction title or list sources in the way I would have expected, but the subtitle flags the story as true. The publisher lists it as a novel based on a true story, which is what it felt like reading it.

On the whole, I thought this was an intense story about a young Jewish girl’s struggle for survival in Europe during World War II. I hadn’t read anything deeply similar to Inge’s experience, so I’m glad to have broadened my understanding of that period of history.

Content Notes for Running for Shelter

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Inge Eisenger is Jewish and Austrian.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
A man hired to transport Inge to France rapes her. It’s not described on scene, but the lead up is pretty harrowing.

Spiritual Content
For a long time, Inge does not know she’s Jewish as she was raised by a nonpracticing mother.

Violent Content
See sexual content. Inge learns a friend was killed by a German bomb.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of RUNNING FOR SHELTER in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community by Lois Peterson

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community
Lois Peterson
Illustrated by Taryn Gee
Orca Book Publishers
Published October 12, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community

There are 150 million people experiencing homelessness worldwide, and that number is increasing every year. Homelessness is not a choice, yet it exists in almost every community. But why are people homeless? Who are they? What can you do? In SHELTER: HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY, readers will get answers to these complex questions. They’ll learn about the root causes of homelessness and its effects, and what people and organizations around the world are doing to address the problem.

It shares the personal stories of people who live on the street and the adults and kids who work with them. As a former homeless-shelter worker, author Lois Peterson encourages young people to approach the issue with knowledge and compassion. She dispels some of the myths about homelessness and makes the case for why everyone deserves a safe, permanent place to call home.

My Review

The author of SHELTER has been both a librarian (where she encountered homeless people regularly) and the executive director at a homeless shelter. So, she brings a lot of personal experience to the book. She also includes bits of stories about different people she’s met and their situations. This helps to illustrate some of the information and statistics presented about the homeless.

Since the author is Canadian, a lot of the information relates to how homelessness is viewed and handled there. She also includes statistics and information about homelessness in the United States. The book is full of facts and ideas for how to help. It discusses what kinds of interventions have been shown to work and how people can help in their own communities.

Possibly one of the coolest parts of the book is that over and over the author tells about kids who’ve been inspired by volunteer work to create their own charities or inventions to help homeless people receive care and services. I thought that was particularly inspiring. There are also some great lists, both for additional nonfiction resources and fictional stories highlighting the challenges of poverty and homelessness.

This book would make a great resource for a classroom, public or home library. It would also serve as a helpful resource guide for youth at religious institutions. I think it’s a great way to begin to get more educated about homelessness and learn ways to help in a local community.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
The book includes short snippets of stories from people who are or have been homeless, including Indigenous and Black interviewees.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some references to churches and other spiritual centers offering support or services for homeless people.

Violent Content
Brief references to risks associated with homelessness, such as being assaulted or robbed.

Drug Content
Reference to some homeless people struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of SHELTER: HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Birdie’s Billions by Edith Cohn

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , ,

Birdie’s Billions
Edith Cohn
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Published December 14, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Birdie’s Billions

For as long as eleven-year-old Birdie can remember, it’s always been just her and her mom, which means there’s not a lot of extra money to spend on things like new clothes and batons from the fancy gymnastics store. Still, they always find a way to make ends meet. Then Birdie makes one silly mistake that has a big consequence: Mom loses her job. Now things are more dire than ever, and Birdie knows it’s up to her to fix it.

When Birdie discovers a huge stash of cash in an abandoned house, she just knows it must be the answer to their problems. But the people who left that money behind aren’t willing to give it up so easily. Does “finders, keepers” count when it’s half a million dollars?

In this heartfelt small-town story from beloved author Edith Cohn, Birdie learns how to balance what’s right for her family-and herself-with what’s the right thing to do.

A savvy young girl finds half a million dollars and wonders if she can keep it in this charming middle grade mystery that asks big questions about right, wrong, and what you’d do for family.

My Review

Oh. My. Goodness. This book. First of all, I adore that the story explores ideas about integrity versus lying with good intentions. I thought it was really cool the way Birdie wrestles with what to do with the money she finds and what lies are justified so that she can use it to help others.

I also thought it was awesome that she’s a skater. It’s another hobby that I feel like is still underrepresented in books, though it’s possible that I just don’t encounter the books that are out there? Either way, there aren’t enough skateboarding characters in my life.

True to a lot of middle grade books, Birdie not only wrestles with family relationships, she also faces challenges in her friendships. I like that this book explored differences that can come from class but that those differences weren’t the whole story about what went wrong with Birdie and her bestie. I liked that there was more to the story there.

I also enjoyed the goofy characters and sweet moments of connection as well as Jackpot, the amazing cat.

On the whole, this is a great book for readers who enjoy stories about strong girls facing relationship challenges or complicated moral choices. I think readers who enjoyed CHIRP by Kate Messner or THE KATE IN BETWEEN by Claire Swinarski will enjoy this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Major characters are white. Birdie’s dad is in prison and her family is poor.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None in the text. Birdie calls her friend’s mom a curse word (which isn’t spelled out) after she blames Birdie for something unfairly.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A couple of older boys bully Birdie and her friend while they’re skateboarding on the street. A girl gets injured when she’s walking in a part of a house she’s not supposed to be in and falls through the floor.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of BIRDIE’S BILLIONS in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Barking to the Choir by Gregory Boyle

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Barking to the Choir
Gregory Boyle
Simon & Schuster
Published November 14, 2017

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Barking to the Choir

In a moving example of unconditional love in dif­ficult times, the Jesuit priest and bestselling author of TATTOOS ON THE HEART, Gregory Boyle, shares what three decades of working with gang members in Los Angeles has taught him about faith, compassion, and the enduring power of kinship.

In his first book, TATTOOS ON THE HEART: THE POWER OF BOUNDLESS COMPASSION, Gregory Boyle introduced us to Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention program in the world. Critics hailed that book as an “astounding literary and spiritual feat” (Publishers Weekly) that is “destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality” (Los Angeles Times). Now, after the suc­cessful expansion of Homeboy Industries, Boyle returns with BARKING TO THE CHOIR to reveal how com­passion is transforming the lives of gang members.

In a nation deeply divided and plagued by poverty and violence, BARKING TO THE CHOIR offers a snapshot into the challenges and joys of life on the margins. Sergio, arrested at nine, in a gang by twelve, and serving time shortly thereafter, now works with the substance-abuse team at Homeboy to help others find sobriety. Jamal, abandoned by his family when he tried to attend school at age seven, gradually finds forgive­ness for his schizophrenic mother. New father Cuco, who never knew his own dad, thinks of a daily adventure on which to take his four-year-old son. These former gang members uplift the soul and reveal how bright life can be when filled with unconditional love and kindness.

This book is guaranteed to shake up our ideas about God and about people with a glimpse at a world defined by more compassion and fewer barriers. Gently and humorously, BARKING TO THE CHOIR invites us to find kinship with one another and reconvinces us all of our own goodness.

My Review

I read this book after TATTOOS ON THE HEART and before reading Fr. Boyle’s third book, THE WHOLE LANGUAGE. Meaning I read them in the order they were released.

The title of BARKING TO THE CHOIR comes from a conversation Fr. Boyle had with one of the employees at Homeboy Industries. He had to talk to him about his attitude. The guy responded telling him he was “barking to the choir,” sort of a mashup of “barking up the wrong tree” and “preaching to the choir.”

In this book we get even more stories about kids that Fr. Boyle watched grow up. There are more stories about their lives and how working at Homeboy Industries changed them. The book isn’t strictly about that, though.

Many chapters bring a focus to the way that these former gang members’ lives changed the people around them for better, too. Including Fr. Boyle himself. He talks about the importance of showing up and being open when working with the poor. You don’t show up expecting to make changes and be the person giving the advice and support. You show up prepared to receive. That hit me pretty deep, too. I think it cuts straight to our motives when we try to help others. It gives a great way to check those.

Taking vs. Giving Advantage

Another thing that really stuck with me is from a story he related about an interview with Anderson Cooper. In the interview, Cooper told him that people say he’s naïve, that the homies take advantage of him. Fr. Boyle responds with something like, “how can they take advantage when I’m giving it freely?”

That made me think a lot, too. Sometimes I talk myself out of doing something for someone because I’m worried about what their motives are or what might happen. And it’s not bad to consider those things and be aware. Personally, I’m wrestling with the concept of showing love because I’ve decided to rather than because someone deserves it. It’s an ideal I want to embrace.

Compassion and Covid

In the midst of Covid, there have been a lot of conversations about how much empathy or patience or compassion some people deserve. This is especially true if it seems like they’ve disregarded safety or other guidance. I don’t have all the answers there. It’s a super complicated question. I’ve decided sometimes I will respond with kindness because that’s who I am (or who I want to be!). Sometimes my response doesn’t have anything to do with the other person’s behavior. So I guess this book has challenged me to apply that idea a little more broadly or in different circumstances.

I’m excited to read Fr. Boyle’s next book. I recommend them to anyone interested in the intersection of faith and social justice or in gang intervention programs.

Content Notes for Barking to the Choir

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Father Boyle tells stories about white, Latinx, and Black gang members and former gang members.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used pretty frequently. Some crude language used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
The book centers on the idea of kinship from a Christian perspective and talks a lot about who God is (loving and compassionate) based on the Bible. There are some (positive) references to other faiths and beliefs.

Violent Content
Brief descriptions of abuse and gang violence.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog.

Review: Freerunner by Kathy Cassel

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , ,

Freerunner
Kathy Cassel
Elk Lake Publishing
Published May 16, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Freerunner

Night is Kia’s favorite time, when she freeruns to outdistance the memories of abuse she suffered as a young child. But when former reality television star Terrence Jones arrives at their school as the new head track coach, things begin to change in unpredictable ways.

Kia tries out for the team to fit in, but just as she’s gaining a new sense of normal, her abuser steps back into her life. Not only that, but being on the track team causes even more turmoil. Why does the assistant coach, Cassandra Clark, dislike Terrence Jones so much, and even more troubling, why does Coach Clark dislike her so much?

As the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, Kia realizes she has to choose between running from her past or saving a child from the same sort of abuse she suffered. But will she have the courage to do so?

Set against the backdrop of the sport of freerunning, Kia must decide whether she will continue running or face her past abuser in order to save another child.

My Review

I feel like this is going to be a difficult review to write– not because the book was bad, but because I am still sorting through my feelings on it.

First, what I liked: the easy friendship between Thorn and Kiana was great. I loved the way they stuck up for each other and bonded over their shared love of freerunning. I liked that the story wasn’t about them developing a romantic relationship.

The family relationships are complicated (in a good way). Kiana’s mom isn’t making good choices, but she reads as a desperate woman who’s barely keeping her head above water. That’s no excuse for the things she does, but it makes her a complex character.

As I read, I felt the sinister nature of the relationship between Kiana and her grandfather. There are no graphic descriptions of him hurting anyone, but I had no trouble believing him capable of it. And the way he flipped things around to deflect blame from himself and used charm and fake innocence to avoid judgment or consequences was super creepy. Believable and creepy.

On the other side, the story raises a couple of issues that get left unaddressed. In one scene, Kiana’s grandfather leads a little girl from the church toward his car, claiming he has permission to take her home. The children’s director tells him no one is authorized to do this without having written consent from the parent first.

Not long after that, Kiana’s coach insists on giving her a ride home from the church because it’s dark out, and he feels it’s unsafe for her to walk home.

Kiana also discovers her grandfather lurking around her school and track meets, and immediately she feels creeped out by this. In one scene, her track coach finds Kiana and Thorn freerunning in a sketchy part of town.

In both of those sets of instances, both men do very similar things. Obviously Kiana’s history with them makes a huge difference in how she feels about this, but I wished that the story drew a more clear line on what’s safe versus unsafe behavior. I felt like, though his motives seemed to be pure, Kiana’s coach should not have crossed those lines.

I think having those two characters– the coach/hero and the creepy grandfather both committing some of the same actions is what made it stand out to me.

Overall, though, I enjoyed reading a story that followed a girl interested in freerunning and track. I think fans of THE THING WITH FEATHERS by McCall Hoyle will find FREERUNNER to their liking.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Kiana’s mom is white and she believes her dad is black. Her grandfather sexually abused her when she was younger.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A couple of racial slurs and references to them.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to sexual abuse. No graphic descriptions. Reference to a couple being caught having sex (not shown).

Spiritual Content
Kiana joins a church group and learns about trusting God from her track coach.

Violent Content
Multiple references to sexual abuse (not graphically described). References to physical abuse and brief descriptions of a woman killed by her abuser. Reference to a group attacking a man in prison, leaving him in critical condition. A man kidnaps a girl. Someone dies falling from a building.

Drug Content
A woman drinks beers after work.

Note: I received a free copy of FREERUNNER in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.