By Trevor Noah
4 stars
Trevor Noah, host of the Daily Show, grew up in South Africa. The end of apartheid came when he was a child and he was witness the lasting effects that the police state had on his society. Told with humor and positivity to reflect on difficult situations, Noah discusses his adoption of a chameleon like persona in order to fit as someone with a white father and black mother, a crime at the time. Besides occasional repetitiveness, I thought this memoir was really well done and I look forward to reading more from him. Especially, how he ended up in the United State. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A List of Cages
By Robin Roe
3.5 stars
This story follows two different perspectives. Julian is a freshman who lost his parents young and has been living with his abusive guardian. Adam is a senior whose house Julian stayed as a foster child in the months immediately following being orphaned. This is a great story of what a friendship can be and how kindness prevails. Julian's view is haunting and heartbreaking and Adam is a likable character, however, he felt a little too perfect a character at points. I also felt that the adults in this story were sidelined in this book which made the last half fell somewhat unbelievable. Overall, this is an good young adult story about friendship. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Second Mrs. Hockaday
By Susan Rivers
4 stars
Told in epistolary form, this novel explores the first years of marriage between an innocent young woman and a soldier in the civil war. Griffyth instantly decides to ask for Placidia's hand in marriage the first time he lays eyes on her. Immediately after the marriage, his second, he leaves to go fight in the civil war, leaving Placidia alone to manage the farm. This novel explores the isolation and violence she encounters while trying to hold everything together in her husband's absence. The whole book is a puzzle with each letter adding a different piece to the mystery behind what happened to Placidia during this time. I liked the format and while it distanced the characters some, overall I enjoyed it. I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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