Good Reads {July 2016}

Summer is made for devouring books, isn't it? We have all been busy reading, reading, reading around here. Here are just my favorite books from the month of July.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
In Homegoing, two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born in different villages in Ghana. One sister marries a white slave-trader and the other is imprisoned as a slave and shipped off to America. Moving from generation to generation and alternating between the two sisters' progeny, the novel tells the epic story of a family divided. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel.

Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott
This young-adult novel-in-verse is based on a true story of two girls at Auschwitz. The point of view alternates between Fania and Zlatka and is a story full of hope and the power of friendship in the worst of times. In 1944, Zlatka makes an origami heart for Fania's birthday, using stolen materials. This paper heart survived and is on display at the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre. Incredible, beautiful.

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood
This story starts with heartbreak. The boy, whose name we never know, is dead at age 11, and his father, Quinn Porter honors his son's Scout obligation to elderly Ona Vitkus. An unlikely friendship ensues. Beautifully written, this is a gem of a story.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I am late to the party on this one -- it has over 26,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.8 rating overall, and I think it's all deserved. This biography of Louis Zamperini is raw and gripping and engrossing. Zamperini is a rascal as a child, an Olympic runner as a youth, and then a World War II airman whose plane is shot down over the Pacific. It's a story of survival and optimism in the bleakest of conditions. What an incredible tale told by a masterful writer.

Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island by Will Harlan
I picked up this biography of Carol Ruckdeschel because she has worked tirelessly to protect sea turtles, and as you know, we are big fans of sea turtles at our house. The biography tells both the story of Ruckdeschel, a self-taught biologist, and the story of Cumberland Island, a barrier reef island off the coast of Georgia. I found it engaging and have added Cumberland Island to my list of wild places to visit.

Last Ride to Graceland by Kim Wright
A light summer read, this is the story of Cory Ainsworth who sets off to Graceland in Elvis Presley's Stutz Blackhawk to answer one question: is Elvis Presley her father? While searching for the truth about her father, Cory discovers herself.

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
I am a sucker for a good memoir and this was a great memoir. Wariner grew up in a polygamous Mormon compound in Mexico. The story is raw and riveting and I just couldn't put it down. It's sad and beautiful and full of hope at the same time. An eye-opening read.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty's books are not great literature, but they sure are fun, fast reads. There is a lot of drama in the little town of Pirriwee, from school bullying and helicopter parents to domestic violence and secret affairs. The novel starts with a murder, but who is the victim and what happened? A page-turner, this book is great summer read.

The Last One by Alexandra Oliva
This novel begins with a Survivor-like premise. Twelve contestants compete to solve problems and overcome challenges in the woods. But on a solo challenge, disaster strikes and the contestants are on their own, unaware of what's happening in the real world. Perfect for fans of Station Eleven, I loved this novel!

What have you read lately?