Solitary by Albert Woodfox

This is a tale of oppression, false charges, racial  prejudice, and the loss of loved ones.  It's the story of someone who spent over 40 years in jail.  Mostly in solitary confinement.  The saddest part is that is a true story.  This is non-fiction.  The story horrified me.

Grove Press sent me ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published March 5th.

This a very chilling story where justice wasn't served correctly, wardens could punish you with false charges and trying to appeal was being ignored.  Mr. Woodfox had more patience than I do and he kept his hope alive even if they tried to tamp it down.  What helped him get through it were his friends in jail, his family, and the supporters who knew he was not guilty of the crime he got convicted on.  

He went to jail as a young man.  By the time he came out, he had great grandchildren.  His mother and various friends died while he tried to while his time away.  Sorrow was a big part of his life, but he tried not to show it.  Just like he didn't show his anger.  Hiding emotions gives them nothing to use against you.

Such blatant racism seems like it couldn't be but they are still killing black men because they are afraid of them.  Most of them didn't have a weapon but the cops are on high alert and overreact.  In this story, since the warden cooked up the crime, they didn't want to let him out because he'd talk about it.  And not only that, he became part of the Black Panthers group.  Whites thought they were militants.  They were trying to protest the wrongs in the world but they didn't harm people.

The most depressing part of the situation is that such racism is still here.  Anyone of a different color, religion, or different cultures is still viewed negatively.  I was taught none of that mattered.  If you were nice, you could be friends with me.  If you treat me badly, no matter who you are, I will stop being friends.  We're all human, why not be kind?  

Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story by Leslea Newman

Gittel and her mother are going to emigrate to America.  But her mother is ill and isn't allowed passage.  So Gittel must go by herself...

Abrams Young Readers sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It is being published today.

She keeps her relative's name and address close with her and offers it to the custom's official on Ellis Island.  Alas, it got damp and is all smudged.  However a journalist takes her picture for the paper and her mother's cousin comes down to find her.

My Grandfather worked as a translator for the US troops in WWI and got citizenship.  He worked in the states to get enough money to bring Grandma over.  She arrived with a three year old child he didn't even know he had.  They went through Ellis Island, too.

There are many stories about emigration, even from many years ago.

Auntie Poldi and the Vineyards of Etna by Mario Giordano, John Brownjohn (Translation)

Auntie Poldi is still having her hot affair with the policeman she met on her last murder case.  She's not supposed to interfere but she likes working for him and can ask questions he can't.  When she goes to a winery's party, she's attracted to the owner.  When he leaves her and says he will back soon, she drinks more than she should.  She awakens in his bed with him sleeping on the other side.  She blacked out, so she doesn't know what happened.  The worst part is that when she's sneaking out, she goes through the grape fields and finds a dead body...

HMH sent me an ARC to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published March 5th.

The dead woman was a fortune teller.  She was supposed to be meeting with Poldi later but now that would never happen.  She finds there was another murder in the area.  She starts looking for connections, asks a lot of questions and snoops everywhere.  

Her detective tells her to stop, she doesn't listen.  The more she finds out, the more danger she's in.  This time the Mafia seems to be involved.  Just as she's getting close to the truth, her detective tells her he's marrying someone else and will be moving.  She shuts down for a few days and her heart hurts but she carries on.

She finally gets recruited by the police to be part of the investigation and does help solve the case.  She's got as many morals as an alley cat, doesn't fear much, and will wander into trouble instantly but she's also smart and uses her brains...

Little Apocalypse by Katherine Sparrow

This is a fantasy tale with monsters.  Only kids can see them.  So that leaves kids as the only ones who can fight them...

HarperCollins and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published March 12th.

Celia's parents have gone out of town and she's home alone.  She's assured them she'd be safe by herself.  But she didn't expect them to have an earthquake either...

She had noticed a young man on her way to library but he disappeared on her.  Then when she's in the hallway and everyone is checking with the other neighbors to ensure everyone is safe, she notices him and several kids going up the stairs to the roof.  She goes back in the apartment but can hear them moving up there, so she goes up to see them.  They avoid her as best they can, but she learns his name:  Demetri.  She'd like to be friends with him but he tells her to stay away.  Then he comes to her apartment and wants to hide from someone there.  She lets him and asks him questions but he doesn't have much to say.

She goes to a meeting at a church and finds herself in a group of Hunters.  They search for the big monsters.  She thinks they are her friends but her opinion changes in time.

The Hunters search for Bigs.  The Bigs search for Littles.  And somehow Celia has become a part of all this.  It's dangerous and it's a war.  It's creepy and it doesn't turn out exactly happy ever after but it's an interesting tale that keeps you reading. 

Dragonfell by Sarah Prineas

Rafi is a boy who lives with his father.  His mother died long ago.  He's a bit odd and scares some people but he's a nice boy.  It's just that he has been dragon touched.  Heat and cold don't bother him.  He tries to hide his differences but it's hard when a factory owner comes to town, sees what he is and wants him.  He doesn't want to go with them.  So they come back to kidnap him...

HarperCollins and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 6th.

His father tells him he will have to run to stay free.  He heads out for the next town with a dragon.  Theirs disappeared and he thinks it's dead, so he'll see if the other dragon can explain it.  What he finds is that someone is killing dragons and intends to kill them all.  The little dragon tells him he must save them if anyone can.  When he finds a young girl being left as dragon food, he saves her.  They head out together to fight for the dragons.

The factory man is after him, so it's a challenge to stay ahead of them.  Not all the dragons are very friendly so that's scary, too.  And when he gets to final challenge, he finds something out about himself he never knew.

This is written for young adults and it's written well.  I enjoyed reading it.  I don't think the war between men and dragons is over but at least it's settled down for a while.

The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets

She's finally found a job that fits her.  She works with dogs to find scat and get knowledge about the animals that live in the area they examining.  She really enjoys working with the dogs.  When they assign her to Tate, she discovers she might have a romantic interest, too.  Life is good.  But it doesn't stay that way...

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published March 5th.

The story begins with her learning her new job, training her assigned dog, and working with Tate.  Eventually she falls in love with Tate and sleeps with him.  But when she finds out about the murders done near their base of operations, she looks into the local cases.  She notices Tate can be charming and nice and he can be brash and odd, too.  But she loves him and tries to work around it.  Then she finds out that Tate has been attacked by a bear and killed.  She grieves him but she also wonders if he might have had something to do with the murders.

When she asks a former investigator to help her sort out her suspicions, he agrees.  The first thing he discovers is that Tate isn't who he said he was.  After she shares conversations with him, he finds Tate knows things that only the murderer would.

Marian checks on his work schedule and finds he wasn't around when the women died, so she thinks she was mistaken.  Then she checks further and finds out he lied about where he was.  Suddenly it could be possible...

This is a tale of those that died earlier, just how manipulative Tate could be, and even more about him.  She's trying to prove it but she might not live long enough to do so.  Tate has more surprises for her.

This is a thriller with a batch of horror mixed in.  It keeps you reading.

Sasha and Puck and the Potion of Luck by Daniel Nayeri, Anneliese Mak

Sasha hates it when her father gives out a potion to help the local villagers.  Her mother is the one with magic.  She's away now and he follows her recipes but Sasha is afraid that his potion might fall flat and then he'd get fined.  They don't have money to pay for a fine.  So she follows his customer and tries to help her...

Albert Whitman and Company and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published March 1st.

It seems the young woman wants to have luck on her side when she goes to a lady with her matchmaking chicken.  Her father scheduled the visit or she wouldn't go, but she has to now.  What Sasha tries to figure out is which male she's interested in.  In just one afternoon she has three suspects.  She's also made an unexpected friend.

As she checks out the men she learns some amazing things.  They aren't all how they appear.  Will she be able to help her get the right one?

This story is humorous and fun to read.  Sasha and Puck make a good team.  You want to help them with matchmaking?