One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Oddly enough, I seem to read less in the summer. I wanted to change that this year, so I decided to start off with a trending YA title. I figured it would be entertaining and easy to read with shorter chapters—perfect for the countless interruptions that come with staying home with the boys. This book had a Breakfast Club gone bad vibe. Five seemingly random high school students are serving detentions. When one of them winds up dead, a circus ensues. Alternating in point of view between the four surviving detainees, One of Us is Lying was just the right read to help me fight the summer slump. I’d recommend it to anybody who enjoys young adult fiction and mystery/suspense.
A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Similar in title and organization to the television series This Is Us, A Place For Us intermixes scenes of a Muslim family, gathering in present time for the wedding of eldest child, Hadia, with formative scenes in the clan’s history. These memories are not told through flashbacks, but an ever shifting present tense that also swaps points of view. This format caused me to take a while to get engaged in the novel, but by its closing pages, I felt completely connected to the family. It’s hard to discuss the plot of this one without giving too much away, but it deals with child estrangement, racism, religion, family dynamics, love, addiction, and so many other important motifs. One of the most powerful things I took from this book, albeit fiction, was how the issues listed above are prevalent in a myriad of cultures. They don’t discriminate. Despite the slow start, I would recommend this book to all my fiction loving friends.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Reading Everything I Never Told You was a perfect progression from A Place For Us. Both examine families dealing with tragedy; in this case, the drowning of eldest daughter, Lydia, in the lake near their home. This one also shifts back and forth in time and perspective as it delves into the dynamics of the Chinese-American Lee family both before and after the death of a child. This book was beautifully written, well-paced, and engaging. I would definitely recommend it.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne
I knew going into Cursed Child that, because it’s a play, it would be a different sort of read than the rest of the Harry Potter series. Still, I can’t deny the excitement I felt to be reconnected with so many of my favorite characters. Beginning, literally, where we left them on platform 9 and three quarters nineteen years after Voldemort was defeated at the Battle of Hogwarts, this tale focuses on Harry’s youngest son, Albus, who has been sorted into Slytherin house alongside his fast friend, Scorpius Malfoy. The two embark on a dangerous journey back in time to try to save Cedric Diggory from his unfair death in the Triwizard Tournament. I really enjoyed reading about Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Draco as they try to navigate parenting whilst showing that they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. I’d love to see this performed live, and I’d recommend to any Harry Potter enthusiasts.
