I don't think I really, truly loved any books I read in September. So, I'm showcasing the fact that I did already meet my reading goal for the year, so whatever happens is fine with me. Most of the books I read, I read in the spring. In the last 3 months, I've read very little. This isn't actually because of the baby but more because I'm just generally stressed out on the whole, so I don't read.
Heating and Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly
This was a waste of time. Sorry.
Whenever I feel iffy in the middle of a book, my strategy is to go to Goodreads and check out the reviews. This one obviously has many 4 and 5 star reviews. But I always learn more from feedback and constructive criticism than I do from praise and accolades. ANYONE can write a summary and say a book was "GREAT!" and "Everyone should read it!".
Looking at this story through my teacher lens, I saw the cycle of poverty. I saw the effect of it on education. I saw the effect of it on families and the choices they had to make. I've taken a few courses on generational poverty and that's what I saw in this book: People who can't get out of the cycle they're stuck in and then being forced to turn to gangs and drug-dealing to make enough to survive. That is the theme of this book: the whole story is centered around Starr's parents sending her and her brothers to a prep school that is 45 minutes away. It's the device that moves the plot because Starr wouldn't act the way she did if that weren't the case: Starr wouldn't have the struggles of being "two different people", as she says she needs to be.
Anyway. I didn't love it for a few reasons. This review is so thoughtfully done, though. If you have 24 minutes, please watch. (Slight spoiler in white: In the end, I thought it was good YA, but was written in a very stereotypical way? I liked Starr's mom a lot. I didn't like the way joining the riot was considered the way for Starr to get her voice heard. That isn't constructive to anyone looking at this as a model for how to make a difference.)
What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan
This was an important story to tell, but I felt like there were a few things wrong with it. I wish someone who actually knew Maddy had written it. I wish there had been some closure about what was wrong with her. Was it depression? Was it mental illness?
I wish (I REALLY wish) the author had not inserted her own story into the book. Every other chapter was about the author's (non) struggles. Or maybe they were struggles, because we all have struggles, but it was no comparison to Maddy's suicide. It was super annoying. I think a documentary 20/20-style could've done the job of this book. The story NEEDS to be shared and I'm so glad a foundation has been set up to help college students who are in the same situation. But the way the author put the book together wasn't the best.
Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris
Ugh. I didn't finish this. I read about 1/3 and got bored and then never had the desire to sit down and finish it. Feel free to email me spoilers...I would pick up her next book because I liked her first two, but this one wasn't great.
Linking up with Jana and Steph for the FOURTH anniversary of Show Us Your Books!
