This is NOT a completed list of the books that I read in 2019, but a brief recap of some of the important books that I finished the year reading:
- I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter – by Erika L. Sanchez Takes place in Chicago. Julia struggles with mental health and self-discovery as she mourns the sister she’s lost and learns more about her family’s past. This is a coming of age story that really extends through Julia’s high school years. We see her as she falls deeper and deeper into a depression that almost costs her her life. But then we see her parents struggle with the possibility of loosing two daughters, which opens them up to much needed dialogue and understanding with Julia. Cons: Conner, her white boyfriend from the rich part of town. I didnt love him. Pros: her friend Lorena. Also, the highlight on mental health took a deep and dark turn, but added so much to the story. Juju review: 5/5
- The Things We Cannot Say – by Kelly Rimmer (audible) Takes place in Miami/Poland. This story jumps in time between modern day Miami, and Poland in the midst of World War II and the 1940s. I don’t read a lot of WWII fiction (or non fiction for that matter). I didn’t love the modern day family, yet I thought the story poked at a couple really important themes of modern day families, which kept me hooked enough. I really enjoyed the story from Alina’s point of view. While this story is predictable, and the overall theme is hard, it is a pleasant read. It was much better than expected. (I chose this one somewhat randomly because my mom accidentally ordered it on audible). Juju review: 3.5/5
- Juliet Takes a Breath – by Gabby Rivera Takes place in the Bronx/Miami/Portland, Oregon. Juliet comes out to her family, and then heads to a summer internship in Portland, Oregon, where she works as an assistant for Harlow Brisbane, a famous, white feminist. Juliet spends the summer discovering her feminism, her lesbianism, and becoming comfortable with the truths about herself. She struggles as she learns that her “well intentioned” feminist heroine has a white washed and overly simplistic view of feminism as it pertains to women/nonbinary/trans people of color – including of Juliet, herself. In the end, with the help of some friends, and relatives, she is opened up to a world that is so much bigger than the one Harlow Brisbane is a part of; and she is able to reconcile her beliefs about Harlow, while still recognizing the importance of her role in Juliet’s own self discovery process. Juju review: 5/5
- Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama Alison tells the tale of her mother through a “Comic Drama” that outlines years of therapy and her relationship with her mother, which has been hard, pretty much from the beginning.
- Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone – by Brene Brown (audible) Brene outlines her findings on the idea of belonging and explores the famous quote by Maya Angelou, ” You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all.” Juju review: 5/5
