female characters – Peaceful Reader

Best of Elementary Fiction 2022

As a reader for the Iowa Children’s Choice Award committee I am pushed to read quite a few interesting elementary chapter books. This year 9 took me by surprise and worth passing on to you.

1. Alone by Megan E. Freeman (2021) : This is a fabulous dystopian novel in verse about young Maddie who finds herself completely alone after a secret sleepover. She learns to survive on her own with only George, her neighbor’s Rottweiler, as her only companion.

2. The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake (2019) : This was the perfect year for me to read this sweet novel about Sunny and how her heart transplant pushes her to figure out much about her life.

3. Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman (2021) : Kabir has been in jail his whole life with his mother who was convicted of a crime she didn’t commit. A new ruling pushes Kabir into an unknown world for him and he needs to learn to survive the streets of India on his own.

4. Violets are Blue by Barbara Dee (2021) : Wren is dealing with divorced parents, a new stepmother, and trying to fit into a new school. She finds her niche helping out with makeup for a theatre production as her mother struggles with this new life without her husband.

5. Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing (2021) : Maya is nervous about moving up to 5th grade and how her school life will go with her two best friends in a different class. When she discovers a forgotten robot her life takes off in a new direction.

6. Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca (2021) : Reha is tied between two worlds-school where she navigates being the only Indian American student and home where her parents have certain expectations for her. She doesn’t feel connected to her amma until Reha discovers that her mother is sick.

7. Where We Used to Roam by Jenn Bishop (2021) : At the beginning of Emma’s 6th grade year, just as she’s making cool artsy friends, her brother is injured in a football game which sends their family on a whirlwind year.

8. The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloane (2021) : I love Sloane’s writing and this one was no exception. Sila’s mother travels to Turkey to fix an immigration issue and has been gone for a long time. Sila and her father have to learn to live on their own and the two discover quite a bit about each other with a few new friends.

9. 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr (2021) : Rigel loves her life off the grid in the Alaskan wilderness until her parents get divorced and she has to move to Connecticut with her mother and siblings. Life is very different in her new surroundings as she learns to deal with city life, other people, and her father’s betrayal.

While the list is numbered it isn’t in any particular order because each of these chapter books stand on their own with different stories to tell. I think fiction books help young people learn something new and unique about other people and cultures. Give any of these books a try and let me know what you think.

My 2022 Adult Favorites

So many good books this year. I’m sure I say that every year but last year I only picked 6 favorites and this year I have 12. I also read more this year than last which is good thing. Enjoy my brief descriptions and let me know if you enjoyed any of these as well.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022) : I liked The Storied Life of AJ Fikry which prompted me to read more of her writing. This one is by far my favorite book of the year. Snappy characters combined with a very interesting story line about gaming and gamers but really it’s about life, love, and deep friendship.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (2021): I enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow and heard all the hype about this and it followed through. Emmett Watson’s story will stick with you. Told from multiple points of view the tale takes shape just over 10 days. Fascinating.

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson (2021) : This book really took me by surprise. I read it for book club and coming from the small publishing house of Milkweed Editions I was happily immersed in the story of Rosalie Iron Wing in the past and the present. I turned around and bought several copies straight from Milkweed to give as gifts.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich (2021) : I’m a huge fan of everything Erdrich writes and this one told the story of the pandemic and George Floyd’s murder through the main character Tookie’s eyes. As an ex-convict for a bizarre crime she is out and enjoying somewhat of a good life when the world seems to turn upside down. Intense.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) : I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this through NetGalley and I read it fast on my iPad, which is unusual for me as I’m more of a book in hand person. I’m not even a tennis fan but Carrie is an electric character and her life struggles as a champion tennis player were intriguing. Through all the ups and downs she is a survivor and you root for her to find happiness. I like TJR’s writing skills and Daisy Jones and the Six is still one of my all-time favorite stories.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (1993) : This author has been swirling around my radar for awhile and I just hadn’t taken the time to read her many books. The story was hard to read because there is suffering but hope is ever present because Lauren Olamina is a survivor, always looking ahead to how she feels and the next path to take. Reading this book starts me on a journey to finish Lauren’s story and to read Kindred.

Nightcrawling by Leila Motley (2022) : Another tough story with an amazing young hero in Kiara as she fights for some kind of life in Oakland, CA. She is constantly chasing a way to make money to take care of her brother and her young neighbor and to stay in the apartment. She battles landlords and sleazy cops and yet things never really get better. A beautifully written debut novel.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (2022) : I heard about this on The Readheads podcast and it sounded like a perfect crime novel for me; not too scary but lots of twists and turns. I tend to be very picky about this genre and don’t like it when pieces are left hanging. This was intense without scaring me and had plenty of interesting connections.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy (2021) : Wow! This was another book club choice that amazed me with it’s rich story of Inti Flynn and her sister. Inti arrives in Scotland to help a team reintroduce wolves into the area and she has a tough time fitting in with the town characters and she finds herself mixed up in a few local problems. She is a character that will stick with me plus I loved the wolf angle. Her website lists a new book, Migrations, that looks just as appealing.

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (2017) : Second book by Zevin on my list! I read this one because I’d heard she had a new one coming out-Tomorrow and Tomorrow…– and I wanted to read something else by her first. This one, told from 5 female perspectives, is one of feminism, forgiveness, and family. Aviva’s story is about making amends and the transformative power of new beginnings. Embeth Levin, the congressman’s wife, tells her story of constant betrayal with such honesty that I ended up loving her even as she snaps at those around her. Everyone is carrying a heavy weight in this tale.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (2020) : I’ve read O’Farrell’s This Must Be The Place which was also very interesting. Hamnet was unique in that she takes the story of William Shakespeare’s family life with Agnes and his three children and shows how the story of Hamlet is born from the depths of grief. Just so interesting!

The Last Guest House by Megan Miranda (2019): This was another murder mystery about a small vacation town in Maine. I read it in 4 days because the characters of Sadie Loman, a wealthy summer resident and local Avery Greer are captivating when they connect and become friends. We quickly see the tragedy and learn more about each character and their families. This one, while compelling, did have one or two holes in the story but the overall feeling kept me turning pages. I have All The Missing Girls on my TBR pile.

If you stuck with me to the end thank you! I’ve noticed that 10/12 books feature strong female characters. My favorite conversation is always to find out what others are reading and which books you absolutely loved. Give me some suggestions. May 2023 be another great year of connecting, reading, and writing.

Quick Best Books List

If you are looking for last minute book ideas for this holiday season I have a couple of suggestions for you!

Hat for Mrs. Goldman by Michelle Edwards (2016) – while not a new release this book is all about the spirit of giving. Mrs. Goldman knits for all her friends and family and little Sophia loves to make the pom-poms to top off the hats Mrs. Goldman creates. When Mrs. Goldman gives her own hat away Sophie takes it upon herself to knit a hat for her. I’ve read it to many classes in the last week to remind students that a simple act of kindness is gift – worthy. Directions to knit your own hat are at the end of the book.

Other children’s books:

Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury (2020) – Quick little zen lessons from Big Panda and Tiny Dragon arise from their simple conversations. Beautifully drawn illustrations. Reminds me of Charlie Mackesy’s book, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse.

Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing (2021) – Great chapter book for 3rd-5th grade filled with a long-lost robot, Maya, and an interesting cast of school characters getting ready for this year’s science fair. I hope Ewing has more adventures planned for Maya!

Alone by Megan E. Freeman (2021) – Dystopian chapter book story of a young girl left behind in her small town after a state of emergency is called and her entire community is relocated including her family. She has to learn to survive on her own with her neighbor’s dog as her only companion. Written in verse with a strong female character.

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibbs (2019) – This is a fast-paced mystery that features a smart young person who is forced to use their code-breaking skills to outsmart Einstein. This book is a favorite at school right now with all upper elementary students. There are two more in the series with a fourth one in the works.

Adult Choices:

We were Dreamers by Simu Liu (2022) – Simu played the son in Kim’s Convenience and went on to star as superhero Shang-Chi. His story as a Chinese immigrant brought to Canada by his parents is fraught with problems and trauma but also uplifting and filled with a lot of truth. I read this in one weekend.

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson (2021) – I read this for book club and simply adored it. The story shares the struggle of a Dakota family attempt to preserve the old traditions. Rosalie is the last remaining relative in her family and raised by a foster family after her father dies. She learns later that she has living relatives and as she seeks them out she learns what she needs to about herself and her family. Beautiful written.

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (2017) – Years ago I read and loved The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by this same author and I wanted to read more of her books. This one has a lot to do with how women are treated by society, in social media, and the press. Jane Young is just trying to get beyond her past and a mistake she made years ago when the details slowly come out. Told through 5 different women each story connected and sharing with us the struggles we all face. I am currently reading her latest Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (2022) and two chapters in I know she’s written another favorite of mine.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) – Competitive and uncompromising Carrie is a force to be reckoned with as she comes back to professional tennis after a short retirement. I love every book I’ve read of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s book with Daisy Jones and the Six another top choice.

Whether you buy this as gifts or get them from the library for yourself enjoy each of these titles as the weather here gets chilly and perfect for reading. Be merry and kind…

Book Talks and a road trip…

I finished two fabulous books this week both with stand up female characters. One book is an adult fiction, the other an elementary fiction and both celebrate a life worth living!

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry) is about a young woman, Aviva Grossman, who makes a mistake as a 20-year-old by flirting with the congressman she interns for one late night in the office. Even though he turns her down in the immediate he begins an affair with Aviva his intern and former neighbor. They are very private for a long time but one night after a car accident the affair comes out. This idea sounds so cliche like Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy but it is how Zevin changes the trajectory of this young Aviva as she reinvents herself. There is a comment on the back that says this is the best slut-shaming book around. While it’s frustrating to read the mess her life becomes because of this affair (an how his life continues on as a congressman) it is also powerful to see how she transforms that makes this book soar. I really want to read Zevin’s new book Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow but the holds are long so I thought I would try another one of her books. Highly recommend. From the public library. (2017)

The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan (I’ll be There & Counting by 7’s) is the story of young headstrong Sila as she impatiently awaits her mother’s return from Turkey. Her mother has been sent back to her home country to retrieve some mis-filed paperwork or risk deportation. She misses her mother a great deal but one day she meets an interesting man, a lottery winner who now owns a vast farm property. Her father is summoned to fix this older gentleman’s broken down truck and an unlikely friendship forms between the three. The story takes a surprising twist when an elephant is rescued from a disbanding circus. All the feels for this delicious story of hope, friendship, and a need to make things right for those you love. I love all of Sloan’s books. Highly recommend. From my school library. (2021)

In other exciting news I finished the first season of The Lincoln Lawyer and have embarked on the amazing journey of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, both on Netflix. When my husband and I are together in the same room for more than a few minutes we continue to catch up Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

Speaking of husbands we celebrated our 21st anniversary this weekend with a trip to Iowa City even though we were married in Galena, IL. I had a library meeting there (always great to talk books for three hours! Before my meeting we enjoyed a delicious brunch at Goose Town in the Northside neighborhood. Our Groovy daughter works there and we had to try the amazing farm-to-table menu. On Sunday night we ate at ReUnion Brewery also very good especially the hand breaded and hot onion rings. We stayed at a the classically remodeled Highlander Hotel which was a supper club years ago and is enjoying a funky new life. Peace, love, and harmony baby!

Books and food and so many other tidbits

Dance has taken over our life and when we are not at dance Groovy Girl is on my computer working on homework. 9th grade honors classes are pushing her and keeping her busy.

School has me super busy as I’m constantly tweaking lessons and working with our young leadership team. In between and sometimes because of school I’ve been reading some great books. Hansen’s 6th grade book club just finished The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. This book is underappreciated. A few libraries in our district don’t even have copies!

It is a beautifully written story of a young Ojibwa girl and her family as they rotate through the seasons. The accelerated kids in my book club thought it was interesting and the book brought forth a lot of discussion.

At home I finished The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald; a fresh fun story about a young Swedish woman who travels to Broken Wheel, Iowa to meet her bookish pen pal. By the time Sara arrives her pen pal, Amy, has died. The very small town rallies around her and the results are often strange and bittersweet. I enjoyed this tale for its quirky cast of characters and all the book trivia.

My husband and I sometimes read books to each other and we recently finished The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. This is a psychological thriller and I’ve seen a lot of up and down reviews. We enjoyed it and love trying to figure out where the story is going. This one kept us guessing for a few plot twists. Next up we are going to read a classic thriller by Nancy Price-Sleeping with the Enemy.

I made the butternut squash soup, the potato and swiss chard dish and the butternut tabbouleh from my last blog post. All were delicious. Later tonight I’m going to make my stepmother’s zucchini bread for my husband because I have two that are oversized from our school garden. First I’m going to relax with some friends, music, and wine. Just the way to spend a Friday night. Groovy Girl made me dinner also; a veggie wrap using gluten-free wraps from Aldi. Something she watched a YouTube video about…

I’ll have to work harder to wrestle the computer away from her so I can write more before the month closes out.

Enjoy the weekend!!

Excellent (and Wildly Quirky) Fiction Selection

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Maria Semple

2012

Little, Brown, and Company

This has literally been on my actual to-read pile for over a year. My 22-year-old stepdaughter read it, liked it, and left it for me. A few months ago a friend chose it as our book club choice for April. That forced me to pick it up, dust it off, and give it a try. I loved it. We had our meeting on Monday and it seems everyone in our group felt the same way.

It was so easy to read and I was captured by this unusual family of geniuses. I wanted to know more about each one of them. Bee, an elementary student at one of Seattle’s many private schools, is anxious to head off to a private academy on the East Coast, following in her parent’s academic footsteps. She is smart but there is so much more to her as she remains fairly calm and happily involved in her life throughout the book. I love that she picks a trip to Antarctica as her reward for good grades. This is what can happen when parents offer up “you can have anything you want in exchange for good grades!”

This particular request throws Bernadette, Bee’s mother, for a major loop-de-loop! Bernadette has not been dealing well with her life after their move from LA to Seattle. Her husband has thrown all his energy into his grandiose work at Microsoft wear he pads around barefoot lauded as some kind of creative genius. Bernadette is left to do the stay-at-home mother thing and this is not her talent. She does not feel any connection to the other parents from Galer Street School and thus has no allies, no one to share her thoughts and feelings. This book is Bee’s look back at her mother and how she got so far off track.

This story is told in a very nonlinear fashion, is extremely current with its language and social media conversations, and is just such a fresh fun read. If you haven’t picked this one up yet don’t hesitate. Thank you Maria Semple for writing such a unique story of love and acceptance.

My library visit.

I picked up quite a bag full of books the last time I was at the library and have been reading furiously since then and guess what, I still can get them finished!

My life next door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (2012); Great YA fiction. Loved the relationship between Jase Garrett and Sam Reed. Samantha’s mother is a piece of work and easily could go down as one of the top ten terrible fiction examples for mothering. She’s a single mom with a big trust fund so she’s snooty and has never embraced the more earthy Garrett family, the next door neighbors. Sam, on the other hand, is fascinated with the Garrett family and spies on them from her bedroom rooftop. The Garretts are the polar opposite of Mrs. Reed; messy, loud, affectionate, and kind and Samantha quickly becomes one of them as Jace befriends her. There are several different surprises in this debut tale.

Rules of Summer by Joanna Philbin (2013); Rory McShane has had a tough life so far. She also has an inssuferable mother who chooses terrible men over motherhood. Rory takes a job as an errand girl for the wealthy Rule family and even though she hasn’t had a parent to look up to she certainly has a strong moral compass. Set against the backdrop of East Hampton, NY Rory learns a few new lessons but leaves with a sense of purpose about her own life and what kind of person she truly is. Philbin is a wonderful writer and I’ve enjoyed her Daughters series as well.

Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson (2013); Amazing historical fiction, a sequel to Hattie Big Sky, that continues her journey as she heads to San Francisco with an acting troupe. Hattie is full of spirit as she meets new friends and gets a job at the famous San Francisco Chronicle. It may not be as a star reporter as she would like yet for now she’s just happy to walk through the heavy doors everyday. Hattie is such an enjoyable character that I would love to see a third book chronicling her next adventure as she moves to the Pacific Northwest! What do you think Kirby Larson?

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

I brought three books with me on vacation and I finished one quickly (Strange but True by J. Searles), I started another that didn’t grab me right off but when I arrived at my in-laws amidst one of our many early book discussions they highly recommended Chris Bohjalian’s book. It also happened to be the book my mother-in-law’s book club would be discussing and also “Would I like to come to book club with her?” Yes! Yes, of course I would.

Always ready for book discussion and the challenge of reading a 293 page book in just a few days I was thrilled to be asked. I was easily pulled into this engaging and informative book about the Armenian genocide. What Armenian genocide you ask? Just what I said and every book club member we gathered with on Tuesday night! What? Parts of world history we know nothing about…not that hard to believe, sadly even though we were a learned community of women. Thankfully Chris Bohjalian chose to write his 15th novel about his Armenian roots so that we could learn more and carry that forth into the world.

It begins:

“The young woman, twenty-one, walks gingerly down the dusty street between her father and the American consul here in Aleppo, an energetic fellow almost her father’s age named Ryan Donald Martin, and draws the scarf over her hair and her cheeks. The men are detouring around the square near the base of the citadel because they don’t yet want her to see the deportees who arrived here last night-there will be time for that soon enough-but she fears she is going to be sick anyway. The smell of rotting flesh, excrement, and the July heat are conspiring to churn her stomach far worse than eve the trip across the Atlantic had weeks earlier. She feels clammy and weak-kneed and reaches out for her father’s elbow to steady herself. Her father, in turn, gently taps her fingers with his hand, his vague and abstracted attempt at a comforting gesture.” (1)

Written in 2012 Bohjalian writes this historical fiction from a female perspective in both 1915, Syria, and present day, Bronxville, NY Elizabeth Endicott, a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, arrives with her father to bring aid to the displaced Armenian population and Laura Petrosian, a writer who tells the story backwards as she remembers her childhood from her grandparents “Ottoman Annex” home. Laura discovers mysteries about her own family history as she searches for answers about her grandparents.

I loved how these two stories intersected and became one. I loved how slowly many secrets were revealed. At first it was jarring to get yanked to the present, to the beginning of Laura’s story, as I was so fully engaged in Elizabeth’s daily struggles adjusting to her surroundings. I got used to Laura’s interjections as the story continues. The book does share many repulsive stories of what women suffered at the hands of the Turkish soldiers. It’s gruesome and sadly still commonplace that women bear ungodly amounts of horror at the hands of men in power, or men hoping for power, or men lacking in power. Highly recommended. Find Chris Bohjalian on twitter @ChrisBohjalian.

After this tale it’s hard to pick my next read. College Boy just finished and recommended Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan and I have Forever by Pete Hamill still to finish.

Attending my mother-in-law’s book group was inspiring as they’ve been together for 20 years and share a common love of children and teaching. The appetizers were delicious and the company was excellent. I’m so glad I was here and had read enough of the story to participate in the lively discussion.

4 New Books to LOVE!

At the beginning of September I challenged myself to read through my big and beautiful, ever-growing pile of ARC’s from Little, Brown and Company. I aimed for ten and finished seven. Here I bring you the top 4 realistic fiction titles to look for.

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King: This was my absolute favorite story. I’m now a huge fan of A.S. King and her coming-of-age, coming-to-grips tale of Astrid Jones. She’s unusual and knows it yet longs for the shelter of a loving family and honest friends. She struggles with her own identity, familial disfunction, her sexuality, and what it means to be a good and true friend. This story is a marvel and Astrid is a character that I think about often. Buy this for your library or a teenager in need. Booklist Online has a very creative interview with A.S. King – read it, it will make you laugh. (ARC provided by Little, Brown, and Company, release date October, 2012)

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher; The Matthews family is broken in every way. Jaime, the youngest, narrates the story of this family’s critical loss. Rose, Jaime’s sister and twin to Jasmine, dies from a terrorist bomb in a local park. Jaime’s mother, trying to heal herself, attends a local grief group, meets someone else and leaves the family. In order to douse the overwhelming pain Jaime’s father drinks. Eventually Jaime, his sister, Jas, and father move to the country to get out of London and away from the Muslim’s. Jaime’s father blames all Muslim’s for the death of his daughter and he emotionally abandons his two living children while grieving for Rose. This book brings out the blanket racism that clouds good judgement as Jaime, in his little country school, befriends a local Muslim girl. This book by debut author Annabel Pitcher is beautifully written with rare wit about a topic that will have people talking. (ARC provided by LBC, August, 2012)

DJ Rising by Love Maia; Music is Marley’s world. With a scholarship to attend a prestigious school and a job busing tables at a hip restaurant he has his hands full just trying to make it on his own. In the midst of his own teenage life he juggles caring for his drug-addicted mother who never recovered from the death of her husband, Marley’s music-loving dad. Marley has two dreams: one is to DJ at a fancy club and the second is that the beautiful Lea Hall will talk to him. When his mother tries to recover, and the DJ world starts to suck Marley in, will he be able to accomplish any of his real goals as he learns to figure out what is most important? This book is well worth reading as you want Marley to triumph over the life he’s been handed and Maia’s lyrical writing make it a quick read. Soundtrack to come according to her website. (ARC provided by LBC, Feb., 2012)

The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney; At first glance this could appear to be a fluff YA chick read but there is much deeper stuff below the surface. Budget cuts leave Julius P. Heil High without a football coach or a team causing several affluent families to take their young players to private schools. With so many young men gone the girls start looking at the second and third tier of eligible guys. The theatre geeks, the band boys, and the stoner dudes suddenly all have a place at the table. Through this new adventure Kelly begins to see her old band-friend, Hunter, in a new light; he could be truly crush-worthy if the plastic girls (the “Spandexers”) can keep their hands off him. I enjoyed this story as it explores high school stereotypes and told through Kelly’s and Hunter’s alternating chapters. Hunter is a boy I would have loved and you will cheer for him as he finds his true voice. Flynn Meaney is also the author of Bloodthirsty. (ARC provided by LBC, August, 2012)

These four easily captured my attention. I have several others still to review including an elementary fiction title and four picture books and I am happy to share these exciting titles. The common denominator is identity which is something teens struggle with whether gay, straight, male, female, rich, or poor and these titles raise awareness for this angst.

Thank you Zoe!! You make my day with your monthly emails.

The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus

I read several books while I was on vacation in Colorado and this one was by far my favorite. About a year ago I finished One Thousand White Women by Fergus as well and loved it. My friend, Rocky, lent me the book and then gave me this one to read. It’s always interesting to me how some people hit upon an author they like; it’s like the stars and the moon aligning just right as you search a book store which is how he felt. I appreciate his trusting nature because both books sat on my to-read pile for a few months before I had the chance to read them. He’s been patient with me though because he knew it was worth the wait. Thank you, Rocky!

The Wild Girl; The Notebooks of Ned Giles, 1932 (2005) shares two separate stories that merge into one well-crafted historical fiction gem. From the point-of-view of La Nina Bronca (a Native Apache girl) and Ned Giles we can fully appreciate each angle of the story. La Nina is hunted by the evil Billy Flowers and his pack of mangy dogs through wild Mexican terrain. He is an expert tracker and she is exhausted and starving. Once his dogs tree her he takes her in to the closest town and drops her off with the local authorities. It was all about the hunt for him yet Flowers’ part in the story is not over-he’ll be back! Ned Giles encounters La Nina Bronca weeks later as he comes through town heading to Mexico for an Indian Expedition meant to bring home a young Mexican boy kidnapped by an Apache tribe.

Fergus writes well from a female perspective and it is easy to fall in love and have the most empathy for La Nina Bronca because he’s framed her with such a beautiful yet violent story. Ned also is an easily understood character as he is a young orphan out in the world searching for his way. Fergus adds in a memorable cast of characters that help both Ned and La Nina Bronca along on their journey. Tolley, a gay socialite, is hysterical and balances well against Margaret, the more serious sociology student, sent on the expedition to learn more about the tribe. Billy Flowers and Indio Juan serve as crazy antagonist’s on both sides of the clan.

I hope Fergus continues to write and that my friend Rocky will keep lending them to me. I read this one faster than One Thousand White Women so I’m improving my turn-around time-now I know that inside the pages of a Jim Fergus novel lies a good and enticing story!

Find more about Fergus here at his website.