Make your Home Among Strangers, Jennine Capo Crucet

Lizet is the daughter of immigrants (Cuban), the first person in her family to graduate High School and has now been accepted to Rawling's University in New York. Her family and boyfriend are not please with her decision to leave them, to leave Miami and go to New York. Despite their lack of support, Lizet heads off to NY.

She finds that University life is much more difficult than anticipated, she's struggling to acclimate to her new life. Her grades are bad, she's failing and has just been accused of plagiarism. She makes a last minute impromptu to decision and one that she can't really afford to go back to Miami for Thanksgiving. She hopes that she will be able to have a conversation with her family about what's going on in her life but an usual event takes place that cause a major distraction with her mother.

Ariel Hernandez a young boy is found floating on a raft from Cuba. His mother was seeking asylum and tragically died. His immigration status becomes a major issue, overshadowing Lizet's arrive as her family, her mother in particular becomes a major participant in seeking asylum for Ariel despite this father being in  Cuba and wanting him to return.

Lizet's life is in turmoil and she is faced with some decisions to make and find herself. Make your Home Among Stranger is an interesting enough read but has some slow moving moments, when you push through it, it makes the read worth it.

The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth We

Clemantine's story about the Rwanda genocide is an important one.  One that should be told and shared over and over. It's about fighting to live, fighting for the next day and the day after that.

This book is her experience in fleeing the Rwanda War, finding her way to  America. She spent six long years traveling though seven African counties before reaching safety.

This books is touching and emotional but it lacks flow and ease. It's very jarring and the time line jumps all over the place. This can work when done correctly but in this case it distracts from a very important story.

I wouldn't recommend this book as an introduction of what happened in Rwanda as it lacks background information but if you want a read on self determination and survival this book is for you!

The Dead Zone by Stephen King

The Dead Zone is a brilliant read that keeps you flipping the pages. It's a fun read from start to finish.

After an accident, John Smith is given the "second sight." It is both a cursing and a blessing. It brings forth good fortunes and dooms. After a night of wins on this way home  he is in a car accident that results in a coma. Upon waking from his 4 year coma he is "gifted" with full fledged clairvoyance.

He goes on a journey that takes him from one disaster to another. He feels darkness in people and is pulled into the deepest, more frighting darkness when he comes across, presidential candidate Greg Stillson. A simple handshake gives him insight into the evil that lays in this man. Greg Stillson is apocalyptic and lures people in with this outrageous personality (cough ... cough.. much like Trump).
Greg Stillson is the biggest bad, the biggest evil and the bogeyman. John Smith has to stop it but will he succeed?

This novel is incredibly interesting. It was published in 1979 and is frighting and almost prophetic. Greg  Stillson is  Trump. This book gave me goosebumps and is probably one of my favorite reads.

Dear Edward Novel by Ann Napolitano

Expected publication: January 2020

Twelve-year-old Edward Adler is the soul survivor of a plane crash. His brother, parents and 183 passengers perished in a plane crash from Newark to Los Angels.  Edward's story is told in past and present day but essentially deals with the aftermath of the plane crash. 

After a lengthily stay in the hospital, Edward goes to live with his Aunt and Uncle. He has to readjust to life, being a soul survivor and navigate around his injuries. Edward quickly bonds with and develops and intense and heart warming friendship with his neighbor Shay.  She helps him heal and find solace in his life. She helps him adjust to major changes in his life such as attending a public school (he was home schooled before) and to come to terms with and find a level of peace association with being the sole survivor.  This is incredibly pivotal as it helps him deal with an unexpected discovery. 

Napolitano writes an incredibly moving story and the way she captures the moments on the doomed flight put's you in the plane seat. The background stories on various passengers adds to the story