Adult Book Review: Let Joy Arise by Ashea Goldson

 

Let Joy Arise

Ashea Goldson

Paperback

Published: 1st edition (June 26, 2012)

Kensington Urban Christian;

ISBN13- 978-1601627278

Rating: 5 stars

Never let anything in your past affect what God has for your future.

Taylor Carter has not always been a Christian all her life. Before Taylor found God she was in a very serious car accident that killed the married man that she was involved with and also took away her ability to walk. After all that was said and done with this life altering event, Taylor still was able to see her way through.

Fast forward to the present; Taylor is now the owner of Push It Fitness center and married to Keith Bryant. Of course like many say, you cannot be a child of God and not have trials. The wife of the man that was killed in the accident that she was involved in is back to get Taylor. She has a serious case of a woman scorned syndrome. Added to the chaos, Taylor has to deal with the house guest from hell named Paul who is the good friend of Keith, and may hold the key to a painful past that he has hidden from his wife.

Will Taylor and Keith’s marriage survive all trials and tribulations? Will Taylor continue to support her husband once his secret past comes to light?

For a reviewer that is not a fan of Christian fiction I will say that I thoroughly enjoy this book. It was just enough religion to know that is Christian fiction but enough that it is not thrown in the reader’s face. The characters in this novel are those that the reader can relate to, from the wild roommate to the holy sister-in-law. For this to be a debut novel she knocks this one out the ballpark. Yes, I do see the best is yet to come.

Rating 5 stars.

Reviewed by Patrice Smith

YA Book Review- The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

The Boy in the Black Suit
Jason Reynolds
Hardcover
Published January 6, 2015 
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 1442459506 ISBN13: 978142459502
Rating: 4 stars
Grades 5-8







Meet Matt. He is a teenage boy, whom along with his dad is trying to recover from the death of his mother. Matt is taking the death as most teenagers would but his father is having a rather difficult time and turning to drinking as a means for soothing his pain. Matt starts a job with a local funeral home. His interest on how other's grieve their loss of the love ones helps Matt to little by little overcome the loss of his mother. With is dad in the hospital recovering from a gruesome car accident, Matt gains a mentor in Mr. Ray, the owner of the funeral. While working for Mr. Ray, Matt attends the funeral Lovey’s grandmother. He recognized Lovey from the Clucket Bucket. With similar tragedies in each of their lives would bring Lovey and Matt together but that is not the case. What is the connection between Matt’s best friend Chris and Lovey? Will this bring a wall between Lovey and Matt?

With such an ease to read, Jason Reynolds gives Matt the image of any young man that everyone knows. Everyone goes through a lost in their life, with makes this book universal. Nothing never seems to go over the head of the reader and adapted for those in grades 5-8.

Jason Reynolds is a new voice in the world of young adult fiction. His works do not only appeal to those that are of his ethnicity but those of any other race. He is the writer next door and his writing style invites anyone into a place that is familiar. Author of When I Was the Greatest, for which he was the recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe.

Reviewed by Patrice Smith 
Librarian Assistant III/ Young Adult Specialist





St. Andrews Regional Library
Charleston County Public Library
1735 North Woodmere Blvd 
Charleston, SC 29407
843-766-2546 www.ccpl.org

HOT NEW AND REVIEWED!!! Benito Runs by Justine Korman Fontes

Benito Runs by Justine Korman Fontes

Benito is a fun loving teenage that has the family unit that almost teen would want. However, the family is torn apart when his dad is called for duty to service his country. The family feels lost without the father but knows that he will come home one day. The family's dream comes true but only partially. Xavier, Benito's father, comes home suffering from PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder. Now the family that Benito once had has changed. With this sickness he father acts, speaks, and does everything differently. The smiles and laughs that were so dear to this family are gone. Benito is so affected by his father's disorder that he decides that leaving the situation is the best thing. Will he leave his family or will be a true survivor and stick in there?


This was such a great and quick read. This is an issue that many teens deal with mainly because many of our service members coming home from a long difficult war. I am very pleased that the author chose this topic. The words and flow of this novel had the young adult in mind. I can see many shaking their heads in agreement to many situations that happen in this novel. A job well done.

Rated: 5 stars
Rated by Patrice Smith

Check for these and other hot new novels at your nearest branch of the

Charleston County Public Library. 

St. Andrews Regional Library

1735 North Woodmere Drive

(Behind Village Square Shopping Center)

Charleston, SC 29407

843-766-2546

www.ccpl.org

BOOK REVIEW- RAISING KANE BY DARRIEN LEE (5 STARS)

Raising Kane By Darrien Lee  

Everyone deserves a second chance.

Denim is back and she has crossed the path of someone else that needs her help. Denim meets her new neighbor in the weirdest way. Kane is a sixteen year old student at a private school. She has a father cares who for her deeply and a mother that is addicted to drugs. The paths of Denim and Kane cross as Kane decides that she is going to run away from home. Drama at McDonald’s between Kane’s mother (Yolanda) and her gets so out of hand that the police are called and her father has to place a restraining order to protect his family. Kane is frustrated with having to be a second mother to her two younger brothers. She tells her father that she wants a normal teenage life but that is impossible with all the responsibilities that she has. This is where Denim comes in. Denim starts to spend time with Kane and her brothers. At this time Kane’s father notices that she is growing up and that she needs to be around others her own age. Yolanda sees the damage that she has caused her family and really wants to overcome her addiction. Devin sees all the pain and beatings that Yolanda is taking from the hands of Leon and decides it is time to help her overcome her demon. With the help of Devin, Yolanda overcome the drugs but also falls in love with him.

Will the relationship between Kane and her mother be mended? Does overcoming an addiction means a happy family? Will Kane be able to have a teenage social life or will she always be a second mother?

With this novel Darrin Lee deals with the subject of addiction and the dynamics of the family. He nailed it on the head with making sure he includes the feelings of the whole family. The handling of the subject matter was very much at a level that many teens can understand. Lee places words in a way that the teenage reader is not feeling like a young child but as an adult that they are growing into.

Raising Kane by Darrien Lee receives 5 stars.

Book Review Alert. 5 ***** Read!!! Denim Diaries 2: Grown in Sixty Seconds by Darrien Lee

Denim Diaries 2: Grown in Sixty Seconds by Darrien Lee

The second installment of the Denim Diaries, Grown In Sixty Seconds, brings us back to the lives of Denim, Dre’, DeMario and Patrice. All I can say is never burn a bridge cause you never know when you will have to go over it again…

This time around Demin and Dre’ are so in love. The relationship between these two has them feeling like they are on cloud nine. One morning Demin wakes to see that the man that she is in love with is gone without a trace. His whole family has left and he has not even said goodbye. Where can he be? What has made him leave so quickly? Will Demin and Dre’ ever have a drama-free relationship?

With everything that is going on Demin starts to take things out on everyone. One of those people has been her long time friend, Patrice. Patrice and DeMario have been together for quite sometime and have a baby girl that is on the way. Well, Demin is not too fond of the things that have been happening in  the life of Patrice and a heated argument ends the relationship between these two friends. A chance meeting in the mall brings the two exfriends face to face after months of silence. Will Demin be able to be there for Patrice in her time of need or will she make the rift between her and Demin even bigger… Watch for the twist that answers this question.

Darrien Lee has another page turner. I could not put this book down. Enough drama to keep you wondering what will happen next. He gives his characters a real life sense. You can really see this happening to someone that you know. Also he brings in the family unit  and shows that what happens to one can effect everyone in the household. I would recommend this book to either gender that is between the ages of 15-18 because some of the situations in this book are very mature.  5 star read... All day long...

Book Review 5 ***** Read!!!! 16 Going on 21 by Darrien Lee

16 Going on 21 by Darrien Lee

Teenage love is such an innocent thing but at the same time it can be such a trying time for both parent and child. Meet sixteen-year old Denim Mitchell. She is very smart and has a great head on her shoulders. This all comes from the guidance that she gets from her family unit. But Miss Denim has a serious crush on a childhood friend and neighbor, Andre Patterson. Andre aka Dre’ is the star on the basketball team. He is what you think of as the big man on campus. Dre’s family life is the total opposite of Denim’s. His family is involved with some illegal activity. One night changes the feelings from a simple crush to something much more. Denim and Dre’ are wanting to explore the love that is presented to them but because of the differences in lifestyles, Denim's mom and dad are not really in favor of this. Denim goes to Dre’s birthday party and the night goes bad. First she goes without her parent’s permission and then someone gets shot. Who is the person that was shot and what do he/she have to do with Denim.  Will the trials of family life, school, friends, and a crazy one night give the relationship a chance?

Darrien Lee gives a breath of fresh air to African American young adult literature. He gives younger readers the same drama you would see in adult novels but more on a level in which they can understand. Also he shows respect to the parents for not making the book over indulgent with sex and drugs. This book is given 5 stars. being a thirty-year-old woman it had me on the edge of my seat and brings back the memories of my teenage years.

This book is apart of a series that is called the Denim Diaries. The next book in the series is Grown in Sixty Seconds…. Look for the review on this one pretty soon.

Book Review: Broken Promises by Darrien Lee

Broken Promises by Darrien Lee

In this fourth installment of the Denim Diaries, Demin introduces us to her new coworker Levar and his sister Tiffany.

Levar is the new intern that makes his debut at the very end of book 3 (Queen of the Yard). Tiffany is Levar’s younger sister and competes in Double Dutch tournaments. His family has had very troubling time in the last couple of years with the loss of their father, leaving their mother, Regina, and the two of them, until she meets a man by the name of Dexter. Dexter and Regina have been dating for only six months but both have strong feelings for each other. Levar uncertain how to feel about his mother dating another man, but one thing is for certain, he does not trust an older man around his little sister.

After the party held at their house for a special event, Tiffany withdraws from everyone and everything, even the passion Double Dutch. Denim overhears Tiffany crying and is trying to figure out what is wrong with her. Levar also notices the change in his sister and is very concerned. What happened to Tiffany? Does it have anything to with Dexter? Who got hurt and why?


The book is definitely a recommended read for both teens and parents. There is never a dull moment as you enjoy the offering and the superbly crafted and surprised laden plot will always keep guessing. The offering is perfect for any gender between the ages of 12-17.



Reviewers Rating: 5 Stars *****

Reviewed by Patrice