The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
 
 

‘Tiến is a second generation immigrant. His parents came from Vietnam to the US. His days are split between his home life, where his parents speak mostly Vietnamese to him and each other, and school, where he has American friends and speaks only English. Since his English is better than his Vietnamese he is worried that he can’t tell his parents one very important thing. He’s gay. Alongside school and reading fairy tales in English for his parents he tries to figure out how he can tell them and what they will think.

This. Is. Incredible. This book is the most stunning graphic novel I have read so far. The art is absolutely beautiful and the symbolism through the three different colors, red, blue and yellow, is just beautiful. Aside from the gorgeous artwork, the story moved me beyond any other book I have read. I kept having to close the book and take a second, either to suck the tears back in, to try and comprehend my growing rage or to quickly scream with joy with a big fat smile on my face. And all of this happened within a day. I simply could not stop reading.

I also really love that our main character does have supportive people in his life. It’s not him against everyone. He has friends that are there for him, no matter the ups and downs. They are there for him through his anxieties about coming out and his excitement about the school dance.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. And as someone who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community myself it is truly an amazing read. This is 100% a five out of five star book for me. And I truly hope you will pick it up and give it a go because I believe it deserves much more attention.’

Beautifully reviewed by Daniela Sarah Gram

Happy reading!

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF THE MAGIC FISH

Isabella Smith
State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
 
 

“Back on track with this international, political thriller. Louise Penny does the writing while Hillary Clinton adds the storyline. And it works really well!

Europe is experiencing a number of terrorist attacks and the US Secretary of State, Ellen Adams, is traveling the continent trying to figure out who is responsible in time to prevent attacks on US soil.

The story is complex but once it gets going ‘State of Terror’ is a fast-paced page-turner.

It’s like a Jack Ryan story but with tons of girl power, as Ellen Adam ‘kills it’ as Secretary of State.”

Thank you Lotte for this review!

Happy Reading!

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF STATE OF TERROR

Isabella Smith
Manifesto, On Never Giving Up by Bernardine Evaristo
 
 

“This is a wonderful and amazingly well-written book. A great mix of Evaristo’s own experiences growing up and what that structure has given her in the form of strengths and benefits as well as limitations.

The book is a piece of modern ancestral history as well as the story of her success, initially just personally but subsequently also for the world with the huge bestseller Girl, Woman, Other”.

PS: We also agreed that the book has a fantastically inviting cover! Never underestimate the power of the cover 💪

Thank you to Christa Broend for the lovely review and to everyone else for sharing your book experiences with us.

And as always message us to reserve a copy of this book, that we are certain would make a wonderful Christmas present ⛄️

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Isabella Smith
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
 
 

As someone who grew up on a steady and beloved diet of Nancy Drew mysteries, it is heartwarming to see that they still appeal to the next generation. Thanks Dani for the wonderful review - and for renewing my faith in the power of a good old fashioned mystery.

‘Nancy Drew, your average 18 year old girl, has her life flipped upside down by a thrilling mystery. It all starts one day as she’s driving and manages to see a little girl fall from a stone wall. After rescuing the little girl and bringing her home she meets the girl's two aunts. This is where Nancy learns of old Josiah Crowley who has recently passed. The two aunts tell Nancy how they expected an inheritance since that is what the old man himself had told them and some other relatives and family friends, but alas there was no money left for them. Josiah Crowley’s entire estate had been left to the stuck up Topham family, who Josiah hadn’t even been fond of. Leaving most to believe that there had to be a later will.

This is enough to stir Nancy who ends up on a nail biting adventure filled with sleuthing, robbers, new friends and a solid mystery. The mystery of an old man with a secretive way of writing his last will, so secretive that it stumps almost everyone except for Nancy Drew.

I picked this up mostly for the nostalgia factor. But I had forgotten what a joy this series is to read. I’ve always loved mysteries and grew up reading Nancy Drew and watching the Nancy Drew movies of the 2000’s so I can’t see a world where I don’t like this book. This book is fun, light and a page turner, especially great for this time of year. I love that the main character is a young woman who manages to be a good person all while outsmarting the antagonist and saving the day in the end. I find this especially impressive since the books first came out in the 1930’s. What I also really love about these books is that even though they make a series they are great stand alones as well!

So grab a Nancy Drew book, get comfy and see if you can figure out the mystery before Nancy does.

- Daniela Sarah Gram

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK

Isabella Smith