"From the Ashes" by Jesse Thistle - A memoir of a life surviving the streets

From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle is a true story, and what a story it is!  Jesse tells how he grew up and it was far from the ideal childhood.  In his teen years and beyond, he made some wrong choices and suffered the consequences.  It is inspirational because he turned his life around.  This was a very honest book and I enjoyed it.  He told his story very well and I think anyone would like this book!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Heaven, My Home" by Attica Locke (a Highway 59 novel)

In Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke, Levi is a 9-yr.-old alone in the dark in a boat where the motor just died.  Not good.  Darren is called in to find out what is going on because Levi has been missing for days.  This book is okay, but needs more action.  The story line was good though.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)   

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"The Last House on the Street" by Diane Chamberlain

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is about Ellie, a teenager during the 60s when civil rights was a very hot topic and the KKK was very active.  Ellie joins SCOPE against her parents' will which is an organization the canvasses Blacks to encourage them to register to vote.  In 2010, Ellie returns home from moving to California to take care of her sick brother and mother.  She meets Kayla, Ellie's ex-boyfriend's daughter and old memories come back.  The truth of what really happened to a Black guy named Win that Ellie fell in love with while working with SCOPE comes out.

This is a heartbreaking story about racial tension in the 60s.  It starts out pretty slow and goes back in forth in time alternately focusing on Ellie and Kayla.  It certainly has some surprising turn of events and shows a very dark part of U.S. history.  I was deeply engrossed in this book, but liked others by this author better.  This is a sad read, but interesting nonetheless.  (Karen's review, 4 stars) 

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"Fox & I--An Uncommon Friendship" by Catherine Raven

Fox & I by Catherine Raven is about her friendship with a fox!  Catherine is a park ranger who begins a friendship with a red fox when their paths crossed.  I learned a lot about foxes and also some other animals when I read this book.  The best part of this book is her interactions with the red fox.  I especially enjoyed the part where she reads Dr. Suess books to the fox!  This is a good, happy non-fiction read.  (Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)  

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Top Ten Tuesday - New Authors Read in 2021

I don't usually participate in these, but this one intrigued me and I had the time so thought I'd participate with That Artsy Reader Girl.  Here are my Top Ten new authors to me with the books I read in 2021 in the order which I liked them:

(1)    William Kent Kruegar - THIS TENDER LAND:  Historical fiction about two brothers and their friends escaping from an Indian school. (Gerard & Karen 5 stars)

(2)    Sally Hepworth - THE GOOD SISTER:  Story about an autistic librarian and her sister.  (Karen 5 stars, Gerard 4.5 stars)

(3)    Matt Killeen - ORPHAN MONSTER SPY:  Historical fiction in Nazi Germany about a girl who assists a spy.  (Gerard & Karen 5 stars)

(4)    Melanie Benjamin - THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD:  Sad historical fiction about prairie school teachers and the children who got caught in a blizzard.  (Gerard 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(5)    Heidi Perks - HER ONE MISTAKE:  Two women and baby sitting gone wrong with twists and surprises along the way.  (Gerard 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(6)    Meredith May - THE HONEY BUS:  A memoir of how the author was saved by bees.  An educational read about bees.  (Gerard 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(7)    Phillip Margolin - A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH:  Robin, a defense attorney defends two men charged with murder who she believes to be innocent.  Lots of action and twists.  (Gerard - 5 stars, Karen 4 stars)

(8)    John Feinstein - THE WALK ON:  A good sports story about a high school freshman quarterback and his team.  (Karen 4 stars)

(9)    Fiona King Foster - THE CAPTIVE:  Adventure, suspense, survival and family secrets.  (Karen & Gerard 4 stars)

(10)    Jane Choate - THE STOLEN CHILD:  Romance between the father of a stolen child and an ex FBI agent who helps him find her.  (Gerard 4 stars, Karen 3 stars)

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