Matrix

Matrix by Lauren Groff is about a twelfth century young woman, half-sister to the Queen of England, who was exiled to an abbey to live among the nuns.

Marie, half-sister to Queen Eleanor, only spent half a year at court when Eleanor sent to her live at an abbey in the county - far from court. 

When Marie arrived, at seventeen years old, the abbey was a poor and gloomy place. Born in the north of France, orphaned, moved to court and then exiled, Marie knew little of religion when she arrived at the abbey. 

Over time, Marie will learn to love the abbey, the sisters, and her life. As she is promoted, she does what she can to strengthen the abbey. She changes rules as she goes until she has a fortress of safety in a time when women had few safe places in the world.

Though not interested in the time period, Groff's excellent story telling had me right away. This is a story based on a real historical figure in early England / France. A woman who had a great influence on her community and country.

Groff, Lauren. (2021). Matrix. New York: Riverhead Books.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built (A Monk and Robot Book #1)

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers is the first book in the Monk and Robot series. 

Sibling Dex is a monk who is changing their job and planning to go on the road to offer tea service. After declining the optional training session, Dex is on the road with this Oxbike and trailer.

Tea Service is a ceremony where the monk parks, sets up a seating area and anyone can come and talk about their problems or ideas. At the end of the talk, the monk makes them a tea appropriate to the discussion / feelings expressed.

This is a part of Panga human culture centuries after the split between humans and robot. The land was divided fifty percent for humans and fifty percent for robots. 

When Sibling Dex decides that even the small villages are not as remote as they were hoping, they decide to try a pilgrimage to a former temple in the wilds.

Not too far off of the paved human road, Sibling Dex meets a robot! This is the first conversation between human and robot since the split. 

Chambers is a wonderful writer who brings humanity to her characters - regardless of species. This discussion between two very different beings illustrates what humans think of themselves versus what others might see. A beautiful book for all humans!

Chambers, Becky. (2021). A Psalm for the Wild-Built. New York: Tor.

Ayesha at Last

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin is a retelling of Pride & Prejudice set in a Muslim community in Toronto, Canada. 

Ayesha Shamsi is a substitute teacher. She writes poetry. And she is considered too old to marry. She is focused on her career and is comfortable with who she has become. 

Her younger cousin Hafsa is in the process of finding a husband. Her goal seems to be someone handsome and rich. She trusts the process of arranged marriages.

Khalid Mirza works for a large technology company. He has been praised for his work but his new boss seems to want him out due to his traditional wardrobe. As a devout Muslim he feels most comfortable wearing a robe and a long beard. 

Clara, Ayesha's best friend and Khalid's co-worker has a plan to set them up. But after a rough introduction, a false assumption and mistaken identity, they are off to a bad start. 

Jalaluddin has written a wonderful love story set in the Canadian Muslim community. 

Jalaluddin, Uzma. (2018). Ayesha at Last. New York: Berkley.

Music From Another World

Music From Another World by Robin Talley is a discovery of new ideas as two students in California are assigned as pen pals by their conservative religious high schools. 1977

Tammy Larson, in Orange County, attends a conservative Christian school started by her aunt. To try to process what she is being asked to do, she starts a diary to Harvey Milk.

Sharon Hawkins, in San Francisco, has just found out her brother is gay. She joins him for a protest of an anti-gay bills passage in Florida. The protest is led by Harvey Milk, who is running for office. 

Sharon and Tammy find they have something in common - punk music. Sharon goes to a club in the Castro and hears local punk women and Tammy has found Patti Smith. Neither had heard music that matched their feeling before. 

Talley is a historical fiction master. She always chooses interesting times to set her novels of strong young women. 

Talley, Robin. (2020). Music From Another World. New York: Inkyard Press.

Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean

Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in Their Quest for Treasure, Religious Freedom - and Revenge by Edward Kritzler is the history of the Jewish men who traveled with explorers from Europe in the hopes of finding a land where their people could be safe and free.

In the fifteenth century, many Jews fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, others become Conversos. At the time, it was not safe for Jews anywhere in Europe - where they were scattered after being expelled from the land of what is now Israel with the destruction of the Second Temple. There were restrictions on where they could live, the type of jobs they could hold (which were often in commerce as the Christians of the time felt the fields were below them), and with whom they could interact. This was true all over Western Europe, creating a kind of loose alliance of people who knew they were the only ones who would look out for each other.

With the explorers of the new world, each ship had a Jewish man aboard - both doing his job and hoping to discover a land where he could move his family to safety.

During this time, the first country to openly welcome Jewish people, Holland, let to the oldest Jewish community in Europe, in Amsterdam. Rabbi Samuel Palanche ran the community as well as being an explorer and pirate who participated in many raids against the Spanish and visits to North and South America.

This book includes great tales of part of Jewish history few know about. Including in places like Jamaica, Barbados, Brazil, and the southern United States. Even the famous savior of New Orleans Lafayette is included. If you are interested in history or pirates, this is a must read.

Kritzler, Edward. (2008). Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean. New York: Anchor Books.

Disobedience

Disobedience by Naomi Alderman is a book that will stay in your thoughts for a long time after you finish reading. 

Ronnit Krushka grew up in an orthodox Jewish community in London. She was raised by her father after the death of her mother. Ronnit always pushed against the role she was given as a girl in that community. Now she lives in New York City. She has not been back home to Herndon for years.

When her father dies, she decides to go back. She wants her mother’s silver candlesticks, the things that remind her the most of her mother. Since the rift with her father is no longer a factor, she tells her cousin Dovid that she will be coming. Ronnit wonders where her best friend from childhood is now, she surely left the community like Ronnit.

Ronnit plans to spend a week or two in the place she grew up. She will clean out her father’s house and see some old friends, as well as her favorite cousin. But the community seems strange after so long away. And the men who run synagogue and community – not because they are especially pious, but because they are rich – are not as scary as they once were.

Alderman has written a thought-provoking novel. The three main characters are well developed and humanely flawed. Each has a decision to make. While I was not in love with all the characters for the whole book, that may be why I am still thinking about them well after finishing. This is a great book. (Based solely on the movie preview, they have changed the story quite a bit for the screen version.)

Alderman, Naomi. (2006). Disobedience. New York: A Touchstone Book.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown is a coming out story - for the second time.

Joanna Gordon has made a deal with her father. He is getting married to wife number three and they are moving from Atlanta to a small town in northern Georgia. Jo has agreed to go back in the closet. She figures it is only ten months until she graduates and leaves for college.

Part of her dad's reason for asking this is that he is worried for her safety in small town, religious American south. Jo agrees with it to not make waves with the new in-laws.

Then she meets Mary Carlson. And it seems like it is going to be harder to keep her promise. All of the reasons she agreed to this awful idea seem less important that being herself.

Brown has written a sweet, complicated story of love and coming out. She has included religion and shown how it is possible to be out and faithful. The book is filled with great characters that make small town America seem less scary to us city lesbians. Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit is a great read.

Brown, Jaye Robin. (2016). Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit. New York: Harper Teen.

Elantris

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson is a fantasy masterpiece - combination of politics, religion, relationships, a land on the brink of destruction and a complete world created out of a great imagination.

Sarene, Princess of the island nation of Teod, is on her way to Arelon to meet her finance - Prince Raoden of Arelon. While the marriage is a political one to give Teod an ally and Arelon a navy, Sarene and Raoden have been communicating and are looking forward to getting to know each other better.

But when Sarene arrives, a few days early to surprise Raoden, the King tells her that he is dead and that according to the contract, she is officially married to the deceased Prince.

Prince Raoden, is not dead, but has been afflicted by a transformation - one that used to make the gods of Elantris, a city within Arelon that used to govern but somehow when wrong ten years ago. Now when a person is chosen they do not become god-like, they become spotted with an apparent disease and are considered dead - thrown into the city of Elantris with the gate locked behind them. But, as Raoden discovers, they are not dead.

While Sarene tried to find out what happened to her prince, forces are at work to prepare the people of Arelon to a religious take over by a priest whose country controls all lands except Arelon and Teod. Sarene must work with the royalty - the lords who before Elantris fell were the merchant class - to try to save her new kingdom.

Sanderson has created a land of intrigue, a web of politics and religion, and a world where magic has died. This is a great book set in a similar world to his book Warbreaker but at a different time.

Sanderson, Brandon. (2005). Elantris. New York: Tor.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is the story of one young woman making a difference.

Princess Elisa of Orovalle is being married today on her sixteenth birthday. She will be marrying the king of the neighboring land of Joya D'Arena - a man she has never met.

Once married they will travel to his land. Elisa will be accompanied by the two people she trust most in her life - her nurse and her maid. She will move to a land where she knows no one else.

There is something about Princess Elisa that makes her a target in her own country and by moving she may be safer. She has been blessed with possession of the godstone - a jewel that appeared in her belly on her naming day. Once every fourth generation one person is chosen to become a hero or accomplish a great feat. Elisa cannot imagine what she will do to complete hers.

Carson has written an enjoyable novel with an unlikely hero who is forged by her journey into the savior for her people.

Carson, Rae (2011). The Girl of Fire and Thorns. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Moon at Nine

Moon at Nine by Deborah Ellis is the story of two girls who fall in love in Iran in 1988 - based on the true story of one of the characters.

Fifteen year old Farrin lives in Terran. She has many secrets. In a society where people can be arrested by the Revolutionary Guard for saying anything that can even loosely be seen as anti-government, it is likely that there are things to keep hidden in every family. But Farrin's parents have parties celebrating the Shah and hoping for his return to power - acts that could have them executed.

Farrin goes to a school for academically talented girls. She has no friends and is watched by the student monitor who loves her role as a tattle-tale. Then one day at school, Farrin meets Sadira.

Farrin is instantly intrigued by Sadira. She cannot stop thinking about her. And as their friendship grows, they come to realize that they feel more than friendship toward each other - feeling that, if discovered, could lead to imprisonment or death.

Ellis has written a book based on the story of someone she knows. The story is true but names and dates have been changed to protect family members still living in Iran. She captures both the oppression and the hope of Iran after the revolution - and the desperation two young women feel within a society where they do not control their own lives.

Ellis, Deborah. (2014). Moon at Nine. Toronto: Pajama Press. 

Invisible City (Rebekah Roberts #1)

Invisible City by Julia Dahl is the first book in her Rebekah Roberts mystery series about a New York journalist. Dahl has been a reporter and editor in print and television. This is her first novel.

Rebekah Roberts is a stringer for the New York Tribune and is sent wherever the paper needs a journalist in the five boroughs. Her latest assignment will be her most important story - one she will not let go after one day's reporting and will change the way she looks at her own story.

When the body of a woman is found in a Gowanus scrap yard, Roberts is there to report what she sees. But when the woman turns out to be Jewish, the police allow the Hasidic community to take the body. Roberts is sent into a world she has often wondered about but never visited. Her past and her current assignment collide while Roberts tries to find a killer the NYPD does not seem to want to find.

When Rebekah Roberts was very small, her mother left her father to return to the Orthodox community. Rebekah has been mad at the mother she does not remember, but this case could give her insight into why her mother left. Maybe as an adult she will be able to understand better why her mother abandoned her.

Combining a mystery with a great character, Dahl has started a series readers will devour. Her writing is excellent, her ability to describe an event or setting honed in years of award-winning journalism, and her plot is one that will draw fans of more than just mysteries. Invisible City is an excellent start to a series readers wait impatiently to continue.

Dahl, Julia. (2014). Invisible City. New York: Minotaur.

Warbreaker

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson is the story of two princesses, the God King, a lesser god who doesn't like his job, and a man trying to prevent a war.

Hallandren is ruled by a council of gods, the Returned. These are men and women who died but came back to share their wisdom, eventually dying again in order to use their Breath to help someone else. The Returned are lesser gods who serve under the God King. The society is built around the use of Breath, or BioChromatic magic. Everyone is born with one Breath, but if you gain more you can use it to accomplish things. The more you have the more clearly you see the world. For example, with the first heightening comes perfect pitch and with the second comes perfect sight - being able to distinguish colors in a similar way as perfect pitch is to sound.

The kingdom next door to Hallandren, Idris, used to be part of one nation. The rightful heir to the thrown left Hallandren and has a treaty with them to keep the peace. The treaty states that the king of Idris must present a princess to marry the God King. King Dedelin has trained his eldest daughter, Vivenna, her whole life for the role. But when the time comes, he sends his youngest, Siri. Either one who would experience total culture shock at the differences between the two kingdoms.

 Sanderson's Warbreaker is considered must-read fantasy. It is epic and BioChromatic magic is as unique and interesting as any form of magic yet written. Though the book is six hundred pages, I want a sequel!

Sanderson, Brandon. (2009). Warbreaker. New York: Tor.

The Assassin (Grafton and Carmellini #3)

The Assassin by Stephen Coonts is the third book in his series featuring Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini.

After his son is killed in Iraq, a high up political official contacted the president and asked him if there wasn't a back channels way to go after terrorist. He and his group of friends would gladly supply the money if the president could point him toward the expertise. So the president called Jake Grafton - retired Navy Admiral now working for the CIA.

While highly unorthodox (aka illegal) a team is set up to track the active terrorists of al Qaeda, including the leader Abu Qasim who escaped a botched G-8 meeting attack in France due to the interference of Grafton and Carmellini. Now teams of ex-special forces snipers are taking out high ranking terrorists. But Qasim will soon find out where this new threat is originating and who is in charge.Soon Qasim will be after Grafton, Carmellini and the seven financial backer of the group tracking him.

Coonts writes high stakes thrillers with the best of them. And Carmellini, a relaxed CIA sanctioned burglar, teamed up with a no nonsense Admiral will have the bad guys running for cover. These books are intense but light reads that will eat up a subway commute.

Coonts, Stephen. (2008). The Assassin. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Sparks

Sparks: the Epic, Completely True Blue, (Almost) Holy Quest of Debbie by S.J. Adams is a young adult coming of age novel.

Debbie Woodlawn has done everything with her best friend Lisa since sixth grade. Now a junior in high school, it is time for Debbie to come to terms with the fact that she is in love with Lisa. But Lisa just got a boyfriend. Now Debbie has to either find new friends or come out to Lisa in the hopes that she secretly feels the same way.

When a classmate suggests she speak to Emma, Debbie does so reluctantly. Emma and her best friend Tim have created their own religion. It is called the Holy Church of Blue. As Blueists, Emma and Tim has written commandments go on holy quests when necessary. It is necessary for Debbie to go on such a quest now.

With the help of her new friends, Debbie will confront Lisa and hope for the best. But along the way, the quest will take her on a wacky journey of discovery reminiscent of a Libba Bray novel. Adams has created a quirky and lovable story that will inspire readers to be more open-minded and go after what they seek.

Adams. S.J. (2011). Sparks. Woodbury, MN: Flux.

If You Could Be Mine

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan is the story of first love between two women... in Iran where they could be sentenced to death for it.

Sahar has been in love with her best friend Nasrin since they were six years old. They have promised each other to always be together. But now that they are becoming adults it is expected that they will each get married.

When Nasrin's family announces her engagement, Sahar tries to think of a way to stop the wedding. In Iran the only crime as heinous as homosexuality is adultery. They cannot continue to be together if Nasrin gets married.

When Sahar's cousin brings her to a party to try to cheer her up, she meets a woman who was born a man. There is no law against being transgendered - it is seen as fixing nature's mistake. If Sahar becomes a man, she can marry Nasrin...

Farizan has written an intense coming of age novel. The characters face a situation that every young LGBTQ person has to face, but in even more dire circumstances due to government and religion in their country.


Farizan, Sara. (2013). If You Could Be Mine. New York: Algonquin Young Readers.

A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants

A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants by Jaed Coffin is the story of one multicultural man's journey to connect with half of his heritage.

Jaed Coffin was born to a Thai mother and American father. He grew up in Brunswick, Maine with visits to his mother's home village of Ponomsarakram, Thailand. Each trip to Thailand reminded him of how American he was and each trip home left him wondering how he could become more Thai.

Once his grandfather died, his mother no longer took him to Thailand, but at his grandfather's funeral a monk asked his mother to send him back to spend time at the temple when he grew up. Years later in college, Jaed decided to spend some time being a monk to find his Thai heritage.

Knowing few words in the language, and after years of not seeing his Thai relatives, Jaed traveled to Panomsarakram. He was initiated as a Buddhist monk, shaved his head and donned orange robes.

For three months, Jaed stayed at the temple. A Chant to Soothe Elephant is the story of that time in his life and what he learned and failed to learn as a monk, how he connected and failed to connect to Thai culture and the time spent learning to meditate, or not.

Coffin, Jaed. (2008). A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants. Philadelphia: DeCapo.

Unorthodox

Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman is her story of growing up Hasidic. Born in Brooklyn into the Satmar community of ultra-orthodox Jews, Deborah grew up in a world that few outsiders have ever glimpsed.

Before World War II and Hitler's attempt to murder all Jews, many of the orthodox Jewish communities in Europe were losing people to some form of assimilation. But as a response to the genocide, a few rabbis began new, more stringent communities to fight back against annihilation. One of these rabbis form the Satmar community in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

Many may classify Satmar as a cult do its separation from the outside word and its strict laws and rules about everything - many of which are much more restrictive that the original rules in the Torah. Deborah grew up with very delineated boundaries - where she could go in relation to the neighborhood she lived in (she did not visit Manhattan until high school even though she could see the skyline from home), what she could wear due to modesty, what she could read and what her role would be in society (women's domain is the home; girls are only educated to 10th grade as any more would be a waste).

Deborah knew she didn't quite fit in from an early age. But her whole world was Williamsburg. Her family was there, though her mother had left the community. Everything she knew was there. For a time her only refuge was the books she read when she snuck into the public library. But the stories allowed her imagination to grow eventually allowing her to see a way to another life.

Feldman bravely chronicles her early life as an ultra-orthodox Jew in Brooklyn and her eventual escape into our broader society. She is the first woman to leave the Satmar community and be allowed to take her child with her to her new life. Her book is heart-wrenching and compelling and worth a read.

Feldman, Deborah. (2012). Unorthodox. New York: Simon and Schuster.

When She Woke

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan is a masterpiece of a dystopian novel that is soon to be considered a classic.

Hannah Elizabeth Payne has been convicted of murder. She will spend 30 days in a mirrored room while all of America watches. These 30 days will be her chance to try to get used to the fact that her skin has been died bright red - like a stop sign. She is sentenced to 16 years as a red for the crime of abortion.

In a future where the separation of church and state has blurred, using a virus to color people's skin according to their crime (yellow for misdemeanors, blue for child molester, and red for murder) and allowing them to live in society is seen as a deterrent. Only the most violent of criminals are locked up. But a life as a Chrome makes you a target for the righteous who feel a need to take action based on their interpretation of what God would want.

When She Woke has been called a dystopian Scarlet Letter. Jordan has created a thought-provoking thriller that will keep readers thinking about the many political, social and religious topics she weaves into the story. Amazing book!

Jordan, Hillary. (2011). When She Woke. New York: Workman Books.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth is a coming of age story about a girl who is becoming someone her community does not want her to become - and their reaction to her "lifestyle."

At the beginning of the book, in 1989, Cam is enjoying her junior high school summer break with her best friend when her parents are killed in a car accident. Her first reaction is relief that they will never know she has been kissing another girl. But Cam's range of feelings and stages of grief are also influenced by the fact that her Aunt Ruth, who comes to live with her, a very religious. And not just religious, but evangelical, right-wing conservative religious.


Readers will follow Cam through swim team, track, and being a lifeguard. She does a good job of staying under the radar while watching every movie made and experimenting with a few girls - that is, until she meets Coley Taylor.

While she is spending time with Coley, Cam is caught and sent to God's Promise Residential Discipleship Program to find her way closer to God and forget about her incorrect ways. Of course, a school full of queer kids who range from those who want to become straight to those who feel there is nothing wrong with being gay is the perfect place to find yourself if you are a tough young lesbian.

Danforth has created a brilliant, positive queer novel for anyone who has been through the process of coming to terms with themselves and/or coming out. Great book!


Danforth, Emily. (2012). The Miseducation of Cameron Post. New York: Balzer and Bray.

Quaking

Quaking by Kathryn Erskine is the story of a teenager finding her place in the world.

Matt (short for Matilda) has lived with every distant relative she never knew she had. Now her third cousin is taking her to yet another home. She will be living with Sam and Jessica and their adopted son, Rory in a small town in Pennsylvania.

By now Matt has closed herself off to people. She is used to not staying anywhere long as the people get tired of her or need to focus on their own children. Now she is with this Quaker couple who are preaching peace.

At school there is no peace. Matt's World Civ class is taught by a man who thinks if you are against the war in Afghanistan then you are anti-American. The houses of worship in town, that are calling for an end of the war, are starting to be vandalized.

Erskine has written a well-crafted tale of Matt's learning to trust people again as her desire to fight for peace outweighs her need to stay hidden. Quaking has a similar feel to Speak though not quite as dire. It is a great book that will make readers think about the US's place in the world.

Erskine, Kathryn. (2007). Quaking. New York: Philomel Books.