Towers Trilogy (Karen Sumner-Smith): In a world where magic is currency and status, Xhea, who has no magic of her own, scrapes out a meager existence in the Lower City by plying her ability to see ghosts. One day, a man from one of the floating Towers, brings her a glowing ghost and asks her to hold onto it. The ghost Shai and Xhea form a friendship that will change the world of the Lower City and the Towers. Xhea and Shai’s characterizations are both excellent, and their friendship drives a compelling story about privilege and change. Read this series if you’re looking for a good story about female friendships changing the world.
Top Books, March 2017
April 7, 2017 by sinistmer
How to understand Israel in 60 days or less (Glidden): Cartoonist Sarah Glidden documents her experiences on a Jewish birthright tour to Israel and her struggles to understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Glidden effectively takes the reader through her reflections and gives a nuanced picture of life in Israel. While this would not be a good primer on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, readers will find themselves wanting to know more.
Passenger Duology (Bracken): Etta is a world-class violinist; on the dawn of a major performance, she is spirited away from her world and flung back to the American Revolution. The patriarch of the Ironwood family, the most powerful time traveler family, wants her to track down an astrolobe, a powerful time travel artifact, and he holds her mother hostage to ensure her cooperation. Nicholas-a young man under the thumb of the Ironwood family, is pulled into the quest as well. Together, Etta and Nicholas have to work against the clock and learn about this new world. Bracken delivers an engaging time travel story about discovering your place. This YA series will be sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats.
Binti: Home (Okorafor): While Binti has been enjoying her time at the Oozma University, she still struggles with her experiences during her trip out to the intergalactic University. To settle herself, she decides to return home in order to center herself. However, Binti’s experiences have significantly changed her–will she be able reintegrate herself into the community she left behind? The sequel to Okorafor’s Binti is just as imaginative as the first book; Nnedi Okorafor expands the setting considerably as Binti navigates her time at home. Check this out if you are looking for awesome science fiction!
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