Publisher Blurb: Hetty Rhodes and her husband, Benjy, were Conductors on the Underground Railroad, ferrying dozens of slaves to freedom with daring, cunning, and magic that draws its power from the constellations. With the war over, those skills find new purpose as they solve mysteries and murders that white authorities would otherwise ignore. In the... Continue Reading →
Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney, Illustrated by Robyn Smith
Summer vacation, racial tensions, and super powers... Not to mention a crush, a bully, and a solid group of friends. Nubia: Real One is an awesome graphic novel that highlights McKinney's ability as a storyteller. I was constantly impressed with the expression of Nubia's character: the strength but also the vulnerability in the face of... Continue Reading →
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Mini Review)
I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man with two faces. And thus begins one of the best character studies I've ever read. The Sympathizer follows a Communist double agent through the Fall of Saigon and his move to Los Angeles as a refugee. His primary job is to take care of the... Continue Reading →
We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen
Zoe trying to do good now, but Jamie is just trying to steal enough to escape to a tropical island. Two low-key supers. One a villain who uses his Mind Robber persona to rob banks. He has the ability to cut out memories from people's heads... An effective way of threatening tellers. And then there's... Continue Reading →
The Children of Red Peak by Craig DiLouie
After a reunion of sorts at one of the survivor's funeral, the last four people left alive in a cult's aftermath ponder the 15-year anniversary. All have been dealing with the post-traumatic stress of their experiences in direct ways. Deacon is developing a concept album with his punk band. Beth is a psychologist who is... Continue Reading →