Let Me Hear a Rhyme. Tiffany D. Jackson. 2019. Katherine Tegan Books. 384 pages. [Source: Public Library.] If there was ever a book written that speaks directly to the soul of 14-year-old me, it is Let Me Hear a Rhyme.  On its surface, it’s a touching story of a group of friends refusing to let their friend become another anonymous victim of street violence. But it really feels like a long-overdue homage to the New York hip-hop scene at one of its most pivotal periods. The story takes place on the heels of the Notorious BIG’s murder, and opens with the funeral of Steph, a 16-year-old aspiring rapper.  With that major spoiler out of the way, the book turns to his sister Jasmine and his two best friends, Jarrell and Quadir, as they reckon with his loss and attempt to secure his legacy as one of the best to put on for Brooklyn. During their quest, they discover that each of them knew less about Steph’s life than they could have imagined.  Let Me Hear a Rhyme doesn’t leave out any of the memorable people, places, and sounds of the New York hip-hop scene in the late ‘90s. Anyone who…

Wonder. Christina C. Jones. 2019. Warm Hues Creative. 283 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] I’ve grown to look forward to the new book that comes on the heels of any Christina C. Jones announcement that she’s trying something out of her comfort zone. From experience, I know that book will test boundaries, explore new ideas, and make me check my assumptions about my own worldview. Wonder is no different. It is a post-apocalyptic reimagining of a classic fairy tale that felt so right that it stands on its own. Wonder focuses on Aly, a 25 year old living more than a century after modern-day climate change has reared its ugly head, leaving Earth a collapsed shell of itself. A talented hair stylist who works in the privileged Apex, Aly lives in the less affluent Mids. Her ability to straddle both worlds is based on a keen ability to navigate relationships, social class, and the dangerous streets of her home. With only her grandmother and sister, Nadiah, in her life, Aly lives her life nose to the grindstone, until her sister goes missing. The rest of the book follows Aly as she ventures outside her city limits to find out who took her sister and determine how to get her back. In…

A Spark of Light. Jodi Picoult. 2018. Ballatine Books. 384 pages. [Source: Public Library.]  It’s hard to temper your expectations when you know a book starts off with what many consider a worst-case scenario – a hostage situation at a women’s reproductive health care center. I came into this book bracing myself for the worst, but still clinging to hope that there could be a happily ever after … of sorts … for the characters. The book presents a great deal of tension, obviously. There is, of course, the suspense of wondering how the hostage situation will resolve and how many casualties will lie in its wake? But more than that, there’s the tension of a divisive topic – abortion rights — what perspectives will be presented, and how, if at all, that impacts the overall narrative. This was my first foray into Picoult’s writing, and I have to say I was impressed. What became immediately apparent to me was how balanced her writing felt in the face of such a polarizing topic. I expected to read this book and just know I’d be able to pick out any pro-life or pro-choice leanings. I’m glad to say I couldn’t because…

Luca Lashes Visits Mommy in the Hospital. Nicole and Damir Fonovich. 2013. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] Luca Lashes Visits Mommy in the Hospital gives you what you’re expecting. The title character experiences a hospital visit to a loved one from the eyes of a young child. I appreciated that it provides detailed yet broad descriptions of what someone could expect if they’re seeing someone who is ill, from the nurses adjusting the patient to the various IVs and machines.