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Books 7, 8, & 9

I finished another three books this week.  Enjoy the reviews below!

# 7. The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston

     This book introduces Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, a 384 year old witch.  Throughout the centuries, she has been terrorized by a man that she was once infatuated with.  Elizabeth, firstly known as Bess, once lived in a quaint little home with her mother, father, and two younger siblings.  When the plague hits their small village, the family is ripped apart with the sickness taking the lives of Bess' two siblings and father.  When she becomes ill herself, Bess' mother takes it upon herself to sell her soul to the devil so her only remaining child might be spared.  She becomes a witch who is caught and tried for her affiliation.  At her mother's demise, Bess is instructed to go to Gideon, for he will know what to do in order for her to survive.

Brackston tells the story of Bess and how she had to change her name and her life in general as century after century rolled on.  See, Bess herself has become a witch too, and is blessed/cursed to have an immortal life.  I felt like the story would never end.  The text was very wordy and detail oriented, so if you're into in depth descriptions you will probably love it.  This is the first of a series.  I doubt I take the time to read them.  I rated this book 3 out of 5 stars.


#8.  Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple

     I loved this book.  Eleanor is the typical fifty-something year old pre-menopausal woman who feels altogether less than what she used to be.  The beginning and ending of the book quotes how today will be the day that she does something different than her usual routine.  I loved the constant stream of  thoughts that continually poured out of her mind.  It is such a sweet book about sisterhood, and taking on one's former self to truly find out who you are again.  You will love her son, Timby.  He's absolutely hilarious, often putting his mom in impossible situations.  


# 9. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

     From the first page, I was hooked.  This book digs into the social issues that take place between African Americans and the law enforcement.  I am adamant about looking at both sides of any story.  The media has flooded our minds with finding rational reasons on why police brutality exists.  This story paints the picture from the perspective to those who are on the other side of fence.  Angie Thomas does a wonderful job putting the reader into the mind of sixteen year old Starr Carter.  Starr saw her best friend at the age of nine get shot down and killed during a drive-by shooting.   At sixteen she attends a party and runs into a childhood friend, Khalil.  They meet up and because of circumstances are forced to flee the party.  On the way home, they are pulled over by a police officer.  Starr has been taught to always keep your hands visible, look the officer in the eye, be polite, answer all the questions - things we all should do in similar situations.  Khalil automatically is nervous, knowing how the media reports on how black people are treated by the law enforcement.  There is nothing in the car that might cause him to get in trouble.  Khalil questions why they were pulled over in the first place.  This one question alarms the police to get him out of the vehicle.  When he leans over to make sure Starr is fine, he is shot multiple times in the back and dies.  A true tragedy for Starr, having to witness another one of her best friends get murdered for no reason.  This book showcases how Starr overcomes her anxieties.  She becomes an advocate for her neighborhood.  She has a voice, and she is choosing to use it.  Based off of Tupac's Thug Life, The Hate U Give will leave you breathless until the very last page.  





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