Marian Y

"Mrs. Planksy's Revenge" is a delightful book, a nice combination of mystery, humor, and a little romance. Mrs. Plansky is a 71-year-old widow living a comfortable, if lonely, life. When Mrs. Planksy falls victim to cybercrime, she refuses to be a victim. Instead, she sets out on an international adventure to regain her fortune and her dignity. As an older reader, I appreciated that the protagonist/heroine was 70 years old. The characters in the story are well-developed and memorable. The story does serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of cybercrime. I immediately changed all my passwords! While in the mystery genre, "Mrs. Plansky's Revenge" has enough action to keep you turning the pages, but it is not too dark or intense. This is a great book for a vacation read or a fun, light read for a book club.

"This Other Eden" is a remarkable book of historical fiction based on a disturbing true story from the early twentieth century on an island off the coast of Maine.  Built around the themes of heritage and home, the story is told in language so rich that the setting comes profoundly to life.  The book highlights tragedy bred by prejudice and brilliance found in unexpected places.  Book clubs will find weighty topics for discussion, such as eugenics and bias.  Teens looking for a challenging read will find young characters to care about.  If you like historical fiction that makes you want to learn more and lyrical prose that paints vivid images, this is an excellent book for you.

Raw and heartbreaking, "Wade in the Water" by Nyani Nkrumah tells the story of an 11-year-old girl in 1980s Mississippi. I found this to be a worthwhile, thought-provoking book. I gained some perspectives I hadn't previously considered about slavery, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, and the impact of these eras on individuals in more recent times. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of our country's racial history. While the book features a pre-teen protagonist, due to some of the content in the book, I believe it is best suited to an older teen/adult audience with trigger warnings for abuse. "Wade in the Water" could provide a profound and provocative discussion for a book club. I think individuals who appreciate "The Bluest Eye" (Toni Morrison), "Color Purple" (Alice Walker), and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (Maya Angelou) will also appreciate "Wade in the Water."