What I Read in May

Whoa, it's June. May was a six-book month for me, though two of them were very short YA books. They still count, though! YA books are books, too!

And before we get into my reads: It's my favorite day of the month, Book of the Month Club's book reveal day. Use my referral code to get your first month for just $1. I'm obsessed, & I know you will be, too.

Here's what I read in May. How about you?
 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

It's been a long time since I was as excited about any book as I was to read Ready Player One. How had I never heard of this book before?! Set in a not-so-distant dystopian future when virtual reality is more appealing than reality, the book follows its main character Wade as he & four online friends compete in a global online contest to uncover a fortune - & stop a corrupt, murderous corporation from taking over the Internet. One of my favorite books this year. ★★★★★
 

My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me by Jennifer Teege

How's that for a title? Teege, who is German-Nigerian by birth, was raised by her adoptive parents, though she has memories of her birth mother & maternal grandmother. She's shaken to her core when she discovers a library book that reveals that her maternal grandfather was Nazi commandant Amon Goeth, leading her to question everything she knows about herself, her family, & good versus evil. ★★★☆☆
 

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

As I read Teege's book, I felt compelled to re-read this, one of my favorite childhood books, written by the author of The Giver. Told from the perspective of Dutch schoolgirl Annemarie, it tells the story of how Annemarie's family aids in the escape of her best friend Ellen's family when the Nazis invade Copenhagen. This beautiful story of friendship, bravery, & heroism is just as moving as I'd remembered. ★★★★★
 

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

I liked but didn't love Hawkins' debut novel Girl on the Train, so I was excited to see what she pulled off next - & this spooky thriller didn't disappoint. It's written from the perspective of multiple townspeople following the presumed suicides of two local women at the local "Drowning Pool." I wouldn't exactly call it a thriller but it's a great "What the hell is going on here?" mystery with an urgency that kept me turning pages late into the night. ★★★★★
 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Is a "new classic" a thing? If so, this is one of them. It tells the story of 16-year-old Starr Carter, who lives in an all-Black part of town ruled by gangs but attends an almost-all-white prep school, leading her to feel like she lives two separate lives. When a cops kills her best friend during a traffic stop, Starr is the only witness - leading to national attend, local unrest, & plenty of inner & outer turmoil for Starr herself. A must-read. ★★★★★
 

Flight by Sherman Alexie

Zits, a biracial teen who wants to know all he can about his Native American identity, is a lifelong foster kid & repeat criminal offender who just doesn't care about life. But after shooting up a bank full of innocent people, Zits is thrust into a confusing but compelling series of time-travel experiences that change his views on racial identity, family, & what it means to be a good person. A quick but powerful read. ★★★★★ 

Comment to tell me what you're reading, then add me on Goodreads to keep in touch & see what I've read in months past.

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