A lengthy legal battle ensued. Initially Ebens and Nitz were charged with manslaughter but sentenced to probation with no jail time. The Asian American community was shaken by this verdict. They would no longer remain silent. Asians and Pacific Islanders united to protest, seek legal redress, increase media exposure, and join with other civil rights advocacy groups.

With excellent pacing and stunning detail, Yoo uses newspaper reports, court documents, and in depth interviews to recount events leading up to the horrific crime and its long-term affects.

The work is well documented with an extensive timeline, 311 source note citations, numerous photos, and suggested reading. The author’s Afterward personalizes the story of racism and brings current events, especially the world wide pandemic the part these events influence current episodes of verbal, and hateful attacks on Asians.

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement chronicles a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. The story chronicles history of a racially motivated hate crime, creation of the first pan-ethnic Asian American civil rights organization, and the genesis of the Asian Lives Matter movement.

One day she is noticed by two wealthy siblings who take a fancy to this odd young woman with exceptional style. They invite her into their world of excess and decadence. Soon her days are spent lounging in their posh residence and her nights are devoted to an endless stream of parties. She becomes a dressmaker for the elite, creating couture for members of London’s hip social set. There are stolen kisses with the guitarist of popular band. It’s a life that she never dreamed could be hers.

Until...Estelle’s world of opulence evaporates. All gone. Literally overnight.

Johnson brings readers along for Estelle’s journey from rags to riches.  In the "I never saw that coming" catagory, there is an unexpected plot twist in the book's final pages. Hello, Cruel Heart is filled with fascinating characters, 1960's trivia, and vivid scenes contrasting abject poverty with exorbitant wealth. A cinematic tale that is as savvy as Estelle’s fashions.

Post Script: The story features two dogs. Buddy, Estelle’s dearest companion was rescued from a trash heap. Wink is a a one-eyed Chihuahua. Estelle clearly loves both of these canines. There is no depiction or suggestion of animal cruelty throughout the tale.

Beth tries to understand and manipulate events, hoping to make everything “better.” A quiet observer who clings to her idealization of the group, she goes to extraordinary measures to get along and go along, even when it doesn’t feel right.

Gilbert's characters, as seen through the lens of Beth’s perception, often reveal their personalities through dialogue. A hallmark of her writing is an exploration into the essence of each individual while simultaneously illuminating the group’s dynamic. Tiny intimate details give the story its emotional depth. One of the most heart wrenching scenes occurs when Beth stands outside her father’s house, but never steps up to his door.

After a series of missteps and misunderstandings, Beth finally acknowledges that music gives direction and purpose to her life. As she plays her violin, she becomes one with the music. Following her passion requires courage and a belief that embracing music does not mean the end of treasured relationships.

Frankie is plunged into a sordid life of drugs, violence, and corruption. He is required to carry a loaded gun, serve as protection and lookout on posse raids, package and transport shipments of marijuana. Membership in his uncle's posse lasts a lifetime. He may never op out. ​Things are further complicated when he is attracted a beautiful and talented student, an artist whose work serves as pointed social commentary. To make matters worse, her father is a police sargeant.

Frankie’s father dies. His mother and best friend are dead. The dream of studying in the United States has evaporated. His uncle’s syndicate requires him to kill and commit other horrendous acts. This is his current existence.
Frankie considers his future as a posse member and knows that can't go on living like this. The stress has become unbearable. He wonders: Is there a way out?

Hall keeps readers on tenterhooks. Will Frankie find a way to extricate himself from the posse? Can he salvage his dream of attending college in the United States? What will become of the relationship with his girlfriend? And ultimately, can he save his own soul? Is there hope?

Your Corner Dark depicts a world of poverty, desperation, and organized crime with an intensity and immediacy that doesn’t let up until the last paragraph on the final page. I couldn't put it down.

There is so much to see and experience here. The book is replete with themes: tides, time, renewal. One of the fascinating aspects of this book is the study of the effects of time, both positively and negatively. Time takes its toll on the boat. It slowly deteriorates. ​In the intervening years the effects of pollution take a toll on the condition of the seashore.
The boat rides the tide. It is the undertow and current that determine the boat's fate.
​​A new sailor turns the tide: People act, reversing the gradual destruction of coastal life. With time and effort the beaches and ocean return to the abundant aquatic life it once nurtured.

The Old Boat tells a tale of generations. This is not a "once and done" book. Each reading reveals more little gems.

Where's my heart?

As fate would have it, a family of brothers rush to the dying girl’s aid and fill the gaping hole in her chest with a mechanical heart built by the clockmaking brother. This heart sputters and stutters, but it works. Sophie has a new functioning heart. She also has a home. The brothers are enchanted with this charming, albeit naive princess. They are determined to protect her from the machinations of the queen. Sophie, on the other hand wants to get back to the kingdom, certain that her betrothed prince will rescue her and help her vanquish the queen.

What's to become of a young heir to the throne who has been constantly told that she is too week, too soft-hearted to be a monarch? How can a girl who has only a loud clunking mechanical heart attempt a journey to find her real heart and reclaim her rightful place as ruler of the kingdom?

Donnelly is a master storyteller. Sweeping in its scope, at turns violent then becoming tender, the pace keeps readers’ hearts racing. Sophie’s life is fraught with peril. She is battling foes both visible and unseen. Danger awaits at every page turn. Tension builds with a constant stream of crescendos, leading Sophie to a precipice from which there appears to be no escape.

A word about the setting. The tale is filled with references to the land of the Grimm brothers.  Food is described in mouthwatering detail: schnitzel, mushroom strudel, spaetzle, plum cake. There are sly references to things Germanic. Who knew that polka music serves as a poison antidote?

Jones brings her considerable performance gifts to the narration. Each character's voice is distinctive. For a family of German brothers, that is quite a feat. Of note is the voice of Sophie, who begins the story as a girl with a soft and gentle heart, tentative and unsure. As the tale progresses, our heroine becomes more confident. The final scenes depict a woman who has overcome obstacles and is now stronger and more resilient.

There are many dark forces at work here and the evil queen in not Sophie's greatest enemy. There is a villain more fearful than the queen. There is deception. There is betrayal. There are vicious vipers, a giant scorpion, and of course, a poisoned apple. But far more deadly, there is self-doubt. Donnelly does not let up. The tension escalates as Sophie races against time to defeat her foes and reclaim her heart. A fairy tale retelling not to be missed.

Try this selection of tantalizing bonus treats. If you enjoyed Poisoned, try reading Stepsister. Meet Jennifer Donnelly and discover her inspiration for Poisoned.

The result of her plan is not exactly what she envisioned. The pirates want her to be their “mother.” She will do the cooking, mending, and laundry. Wendy wonders: Where is the adventure she longed for? And where is Peter Pan?

She discovers that there’s a lot more happening in this fantasy world. Hook’s objective is to destroy Neverland and Wendy has unwittingly become an accomplice in his sinister plan. She realizes that she has played into his schemes and determines that she must outwit Hook. This involves obtaining Peter's shadow and returning it to its rightful owner, recruiting the Lost Boys to help her defeat Hook and save Neverland.

The narrative is fantasy from Wendy's perspective, exploring the relationship between reality and the land of stories. Wendy discovers that the Neverland she and others dreamed of has become her reality. She wonders if imagined stories can truly come to life.

An interesting subplot is the relationship between Tinkerbell and Wendy. Initially Wendy is thrilled with the prospect of meeting a fairy, a tiny little being who sparkles and can fly. She hopes that they can become friends. This enthusiasm is squashed by the fairy’s excessive jealousy. Wendy examines her feelings for Peter and knows that while she is intrigued by this boy who never grew up, that’s just it. He will never grow up. She wants more from a relationship than this youngster can offer her. It takes time and patience but eventually the girl and fairy reach a truce and take tentative steps toward friendship.

After successfully dealing with pirates, fairies, Captain Hook, and The Lost Boys, Wendy comes to terms with who she is and what her life will be. She wants to return to England but no longer in the role of surrogate mother. She wants to be her own woman and pursue her own dreams. Writing stories will certainly be a part of that dream.

Bennett's narration captures the distinctive personality of each character. Her lovely British accent gives the tale an enchanting storytelling quality.

Camila constructs an elaborate charade to conceal from her family her passion for fútbol and her identity as La Furia. She tells her mother that she is with a friend when she participates in games and team practice. So that she can’t be contacted, she allows her phone to run out of minutes. She waits until no one is home to wash her uniform and pretends to study for an upcoming medical school entrance exam.
Her life is further complicated when a childhood friend, now an international fútbol star, returns to Argentina for a brief visit. It is apparent to both that this is more than friendship. The attraction is mutual. Camila faces a heart wrenching dilemma. Does she abandon her dream of becoming a world class athlete and follow the guy who makes her heart sing? Or does she remain focused on her life-long ambition and reject his offer of a life together?

This story is about choices. Hard choices. Camila agonizes over her decisions, recognizing that with each choice, she may be closing a door. Will she choose to follow her passion for fútbol or succumb to her desire to be with the boy she loves? Can she stand up to her abusive father? Will she remain silent? Can she confide in her mother?

Narration moves fluidly between Spanish and English. Madariaga flawlessly differentiates the varying degrees of English fluency among her Spanish-speaking characters. Singing flows beautifully as a natural extension of the narration. The longing, indecision, frustration, and passion of an older teen is clearly evident in this performance.

The author obviously knows and loves the sport. The play by play descriptions bring readers onto the pitch, delivering immediacy and fierce intensity to the narrative. Méndez storytelling is a polished gem. Her characters are multifaceted. The narrative reveals their sparkling qualities as well as inherent flaws. Their lives are messy. There are no simple solutions. Things are not perfect. However, there is hope.
Furia is intense, filled with desires and dreams, heartache and disappointment, pain and passion. Camila is a girl of my heart.

Soon after this tragedy, she is assigned a new Shield. His name is Red and he is a Skyhunter, half-human, half-machine creation of the Federation. With massive metallic wings hidden in his back, he possess impressive fighting capabilities. The final phases of  Red's Skyhunter transformation were never completed and he now is a captive of Mara.

Is he a Federation operative? Can she trust him?

Lu has created a fantastic universe teeming with complex characters and high-stakes confrontations. She knows how to build tension and keep readers rapidly flipping pages to discover what will happen next.

Warning. This is the first book in an ongoing series. The conclusion of Skyhunter will leave readers on tenterhooks. Please Marie Lu don’t make us wait too long.

This explosive cover introduces Punching the Air's powerful message. Inspired by the life and writings of Yusef Salaam, exonerated after serving almost seven years for a crime he did not commit, authors Zoboi and Salaam have joined forces to create an extraordinary novel in verse.

As a young Black man falsely imprisoned, he experiences shock, confusion, despair, anger, discouragement, and mistrust. Over time his feelings slowly evolve as he meets people that he can trust and is given an opportunity to create meaningful art. He begins to hope. ​The change in Amal is evident throughout the book, revealing his developing self-awareness and literary skill.

Herrise’s narration is understated, allowing Amal’s "old soul"  to take center stage. Hearing the poetry read aloud magnifies its impact.

This is a story of pain and poor decisions, of circumstances that in an instant can change the trajectory of a life. Amal’s anguish bleeds through each phrase, each page. It’s raw. It’s real. Ultimately it is a story of overcoming impossible odds and holding on to hope. A must read.