by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@ashley_dicksonellison)
The truth is, as I was reflecting on my reading during the second half of 2024, I realized I didn't read many books I really loved. I am participating in a grad program this fall, and I'm loving the program, but it is consuming all of my extra time, and I'm doing a lot of reading for my three courses.
I've also been listening to fewer audiobooks because I've been using my "down time" to process/clear my mind rather than to cram in more listening, so I've been reading and listening less. That said, I have read a few outstanding books, and I'm sharing five of them below. If you'd like to see my favorites from the first half of the year, check out this post.
H. B. Akumiah's Bad Witches (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) - Wow, this is a debut that I thought was fantastic. It centers three young women, all of whom are celebrating turning 22, and the bizarre series of events that ties them together as they discover things they did not know about themselves. This reality of the three young women unfurls alongside important events happening within the Witch Sphere, the hidden witch world that is having its own crisis. With intricate world building, complex characters, and a fun and twisty plot, this witchy novel did not disappoint. It is the start of a series, and I'll be excited to check out book two when it comes out!
Alexis Castellanos's Guava and Grudges (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) - I haven't read many romances recently, and I've enjoyed very few of the ones I've read, but this lovely young adult romance hit just the right chord for me. This one has a family feud at its center and a star-crossed lovers vibe to it that worked for me. Ana Maria is entering her senior year and longs to take over the family bakery, but she is desperate to make some much-needed changes to bring it into current times. Her father, determined to maintain a traditional Cuban presence and menu, refuses to evolve with the times. Her mom wants her to go away to college and to get out of their small PNW town, but Ana Maria has her own ideas, despite the fact that she can't forget Miguel, the mysterious boy she met on the a tour while visiting LA. Ana Maria longs to be creative with her recipes and begins working on them in secret. As the novel evolves, that is not the only secret she's keeping.
Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) - I have enjoyed reading the same books as my ten year old recently, and she shared this one with me when she finished it. I love Sharon M. Draper but hadn't read this one yet, and I'm so glad I got to it! This centers Melody, an eleven year old with cerebral palsy who is nonverbal and in a wheelchair. Despite Melody's physical limitations, she has a vibrant, brilliant mind, and she lets the reader into her world throughout the novel. Melody's resilience, sense of humor, and compassion shine through as she shares her unique perspective. I absolutely adored this novel, which I finished right before the movie adaptation came out. My daughter and I are looking forward to watching that together!
Elizabeth Gilbert's City of Girls (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) - I read this in the summer, and while it was not at all what I expected, I absolutely loved it. (I have no idea why I thought this, but I had expected a dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel... It's historical fiction instead! Not sure where I got that preconceived notion as it was not based on reality.) This book, set in the 1940s in New York, looks at Vivian Morris as a young woman coming of age after a very sheltered upbringing. This is the story of an old woman looking back on her life (Vivian is in her eighties when the story begins and is telling her story), and through that retrospection, she traces the winding road that led to her unique and powerful journey.
Waubgeshig Rice's Moon of the Crusted Snow (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) - Speaking of post-apocalyptic books, this beautiful, sparse novel centers a very small northern Anishinaabe community as they find their way forward within their community after what appears to be a cataclysmic larger event that cuts them off from connection with the world. I loved the way Rice explored the tension between the traditional ways, many of which need to be deepened or rediscovered, and the modern world. The relationships at the center of this book were lovingly crafted, and the perspective on how a community can survive and care for its members was powerful. We discussed this as our November book club pick (you can listen here), and we both loved it. I'm eager to read book two.
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