What I Read in April

Intro

I am super late, but that is because I've been working on multiple things the last couple of months. So here is my late monthly reading wrap-up for April. I had a good month: relaxing reads and one action-packed middle grade.

Books and the Star Ratings

In April, I read 3 books. A slower month than March but still a good reading month. This puts me 3 books ahead of my goal, and I am good with that. I read Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia (4 stars), The Marriage He Demands by Brenda Jackson (3 stars), and Consequences of Passion by Yahrah St. John (3 stars).

Who Should Read What

I enjoyed the books. Super light reads after reading two longer science fiction/fantasy stories in March. I needed the mental break, plus work was kind of like drinking from a fire hose. I would recommend the 2 romance novels to anyone who wants a fun, quick read. I finished both within a day. Of course, if you are a Brenda Jackson fan like me, you pick up the books many times to check in on the family. This is another book in the Westmoreland/Outlaw family. Not the best or most original, but it was enjoyable for a rainy Saturday.

I would recommend Tristan Strong to families. This would be a great book to read as a family and discuss the themes and ideas the book presents. It is a middle-grade book. So the characters do have that childish quality to them, but I think anyone can enjoy it at any age.

Favorite Book

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is my favorite book of the month. This book hits on grief, and it handled the sheer emotions a kid could feel when they feel guilt from surviving when a friend doesn't. Mbaila pulls you into the anger and sadness and even the desperation that Tristan feels. I got so many lessons from this book, and it made me think. Even though this book handles grief, it made me think about how the US handles mental health for kids after school shootings.

Parents, read this book with your child and discuss why African American stories aren't told, why our history seems to start with slavery, how to deal with grief and the importance of storytelling. This is a Rick Riordan Presents book, and that imprint introduces rarely written about legends. This book introduces African American folklore heroes and African gods, which was great to me. This book would be a great way for children interested in their family's stories.

Conclusion

I know this is super late, but I think it's a great way to kick off this site and showcase some of the content I will be posting.

If you need some recommendations, check out my Goodreads. And then follow me on Instagram and Twitter.