Elizabeth Acevedo’s novel in verse, Clap When You Land (Harper Teen 2020), sings with beauty, love, loss, and family. Told in alternating views, the novel follows two teenagers whose father is killed in plane crash – neither knowing of the other’s existence. But when the plane goes down and they must accept that their belovedContinue reading “CLAP WHEN YOU LAND – Elizabeth Acevedo”
Author Archives: Tommi Powell
BLACK SUN – Rebecca Roanhorse
Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun (SAGA PRESS 2020) was one of last year’s hotly anticipated releases, and I can see why. Inspired by various pre-Columbus American cultures, this epic fantasy is full strong female characters, magic, politics, and prophecies. It is the first of the Between Earth and Sky series, and Fevered Star is slated forContinue reading “BLACK SUN – Rebecca Roanhorse”
THE STILLNESS BEFORE THE START – Jennifer Ann Shore
If you’re looking for a well-written YA romance that is sweet with endearing characters, look no further than Jennifer Ann Shore’s The Stillness Before the Start (2020). Shore is phenomenal at capturing the voices of teenage girls who are strong and confident while still figuring life out. I don’t read this genre often, but IContinue reading “THE STILLNESS BEFORE THE START – Jennifer Ann Shore”
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL – Zakiya Dalila Harris
Zakiya Dalila Harris’s The Other Black Girl (Atria Books, 2021) is a surprising, unsettling, laugh out loud, edge of your seat sort of read that comfortably sets you down one path before abruptly shifting gears and leaving the reader gulping up each page to the end in what becomes one hell of an unexpected ride. Continue reading “THE OTHER BLACK GIRL – Zakiya Dalila Harris”
THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND – Jojo Moyes
The Girl You Left Behind (Penguin Books LTD (Great Britain), 2012, Viking Penguin (USA), 2013) is the first Jojo Moyes’s book I’ve read. I’d been reluctant to read Moyes due to plagiarism allegationsand likely will not read The Giver of the Stars for those reasons, but I did enjoy The Girl You Left Behind. WrittenContinue reading “THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND – Jojo Moyes”
THE RIB KING – Ladee Hubbard
Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben may be the two you recognize, but they’re certainly not the only racist imagery used to market goods in America’s tortured post-civil war through today era. Black iconography has long been something that has fascinated Americans, and black caricatures and stereotypes were used to sell, sell, sell – largely toContinue reading “THE RIB KING – Ladee Hubbard”
THE SECRET, BOOK & SCONE SOCIETY Ellery Adams
A few months ago, I entered a “name the cover” contest that Ellery Adams was hosting on Insta. (If you don’t follow her, you should. She has fantastic content and gorgeous bookish photos!) She surprised me by including one of her books in the prize package and what a fun little treat The Secret, BookContinue reading “THE SECRET, BOOK & SCONE SOCIETY Ellery Adams”
SLOW DANCING ON DINOSAUR BONES – Lana Witt
I picked up Slow Dancing on Dinosaur Bones by Lana Witt (Scribner 1996) from a local library sale a few years back. Intrigued by the title, I tossed it into my purchase pile without hesitation. ($5 boxes, y’all. $5 boxes.) It’s sat on my TBR since. I finally picked it up and read the blurb,Continue reading “SLOW DANCING ON DINOSAUR BONES – Lana Witt”
WHEN WE LEFT CUBA – Chanel Cleeton
Next Year in Havana was a delight of a read, and I was thrilled to see that Chanel Cleeton let another Perez sister tell her story. When We Left Cuba (Berkley 2019) follows Beatriz Perez, the sugar heiress turned exile turned spy. Beatriz’s role in the Cuban Revolution was touched on in Next Year inContinue reading “WHEN WE LEFT CUBA – Chanel Cleeton”
A COURT OF MIST AND FURY – Sarah J. Maas
When I started A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, I thought it was a trilogy and committed to the first three. I’ve since learned the series does not stop with A Court of Wings and Ruin, but I don’t know that I’ll continue with the subsequent installments. I say that partlyContinue reading “A COURT OF MIST AND FURY – Sarah J. Maas”
A Girl Named Tommi 