August Book Clubs Book Review
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Pippa Fitz-Amobi has always been an overachiever. She loves challenges and discovering the truth, no matter where it leads her. That's probably why she decided to solve a murder for her Senior Capstone Project.
Five years ago, Andie Bell went missing. She was presumed dead, killed by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who committed suicide soon after sending a text to his father, confessing to the crime. As more evidence came to light, Sal Singh looked more and more guilty.
So when Pip knocks on the Singh's door, the most hated family in Fairview, declaring to Ravi Singh that she thinks his brother is innocent. Suddenly, Pip finds herself investigating a closed case. She knows Sal Singh is innocent and will do anything to prove it. But as the suspect list grows and becomes more personal and the threatening notes continue, Pip can't help but feel like she's in over her head, but it's too late to stop now.
I can officially say I found my new favorite book of 2023. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder took me on a rollercoaster of emotions I was unprepared for. It deserves so much more than five stars! There were times when I almost burst into tears from the utter pain and heartbreak that Holly Jackson put me through. Other times, I laughed out loud, but nearly 100% of the time, my anxiety was through the roof.
At every turn, it seemed like Pip was throwing herself into danger, and somehow, she almost always came out on top. My heart rate skyrocketed whenever she was close to being killed or caught. If I were Pip, I would have given up on the case in the name of self-preservation, but once Pip Fitz-Amobi sets her mind to something, nothing will stop her, even a few threatening notes.
And then there's Ravi Singh. An innocent boy who everyone hates because of his brother. He's naturally quiet, desperate to reveal the truth about his brother's innocence. While his quiet, tough exterior sets many people off, we soon find out that he's a sarcastic ray of sunshine that will stand with Pip through thick and thin. Even though Pip didn't need a protector for most of the story, I found it adorable how he always tried to keep her safe, warning her against doing dangerous things that she still inevitably did.
Not only did Holly Jackson create lovable characters but an amazing plot. The book was fast-paced, keeping me on my toes as I flew through the book, desperate to know who the true murderer was. Every scene and clue was purposefully crafted to lead you to the killer, and then, just as you thought you were getting close to finding out the truth, Holly Jackson sends you on a wild goose chase.
Despite this book being labeled YA, it was darker than I expected. And I loved every second of it. It dealt with heavy topics that were explained simply enough that younger teenagers could read without freaking out, but the point was definitely made that everything in this book can happen in real life.
All in all, this book is perfect for true crime lovers who love a good thriller that will leave them guessing at every turn.
The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende
1938 Vienna, Austria, Jewish six-year-old Samuel Adler is sent to England by Kindertransport after his mother secured him a spot aboard after the tragic events of Kristallnacht. Now Samuel, the only one in his family to survive the Holocaust, spends his time in England bouncing around foster homes before being adopted by a kind and welcoming Quaker couple. A portion of The Wind Knows My Name follows Samuel's journey into adulthood as he navigates his new life after moving to America.
In 1981, after the El Mozote massacre, seven-year-old Letitia Cordero and her father fled El Salvador into America as the sole survivors of their family.
In 2019, seven-year-old Anita Diaz and her mother were taken into custody in the United States after fleeing into America illegally to avoid the violence in El Salvador. Now detained and separated by her mother, Anita is left to fend for herself as she's shuttled between foster homes, all while being blind and a foreigner. Anita copes with her loneliness and longing for her mother through conversations with her deceased sister. Selena Duran, a social worker assigned to Anita's case and a member of the Magnolia Project for Refugees and Immigrants, with the help of Frank Angileri, a lawyer, works to reunite Anita with her mother. But after a particularly traumatizing event at Anita's foster home, the two managed to track down Letitia Cordero, a distant relative of Anita's who is staying with an elderly Samuel Adler during the pandemic.
The book follows as the three lives are intertwined with each other—three stories, three similar circumstances, and decades apart. The story continues, showing Samuel, Letitia, and Anita's impact on each other as they share the healing journey.
The Wind Knows My Name is such a beautiful and touching story that shares the testimonies of thousands of people throughout history. Isabel Allende created a symbolic parallel between Samuel, Letitia, and Anita that showed no matter how many decades apart, the war still has the same outcome.
Written by Carlie Renee
