What Toi Read in July

We aim to please here at Lit Carnivale. You have the option to read the reviews below or scroll down to watch the review video. In July 2020, Toi read 0 nonfiction books, 1 middle-grade book, 1 picture books, 1 Anthology (cozy mysteries), 0 romance, and 1 horror/suspense thriller. Check it out.
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Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Rating 5.0

This is the type of story I wish existed when I was a kid. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy stories and stories about heroes, but I haven’t always had Heroes that looked like me. Yes, of course, it’s true that I am a fan of Marvel’s Storm and Black Panther, but what’s great about Tristan Strong is that he feels more real and he doesn’t have superpowers. I like the fact that he’s a young man but this book doesn’t get caught up into some of the typical tropes of middle-grade and young adult stories where everything is just kind of whiny for no reason. Don’t get me wrong, it does have some of those moments, but they all serve a purpose at some point.

I read this story at a time in my life when I really was seeking and needing something uplifting and empowering. This book came along at just the right time. After the murder of George Floyd in the Resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, reading this book helped take away some of the pain and gave me hope. This book offered an escaped that didn’t pretend like the world was perfect or try to cover up the wrongs of the past with tales of fairies and magic, though I recognize there is a time and place for just such an escape.

The imagery and symbolism within this story is powerful. Tristan Strong gets sucked into another world where monsters are out to get the good guys and the monsters are literally the shackles worn by slaves. I won’t go into too much more detail there ‘cause I don’t want to give away spoilers, but you can see them clearly on the cover of the book. There’s so much more to it, even down to the point of what and who the villain at the end ultimately ends up being. I was shocked and moved and almost to the point of tears once it all came together and I don’t even know if that was the purpose of it all. As a black person, it was emotional, and still, I believe other people of color will be moved by it, and perhaps even some woke non-POCs will feel the weight of the villain’s revelation. Whether the same emotion is felt or not, I believe all readers will understand the important transformation Tristan goes through and all the lessons he learns along the way.

What’s also great about this book is that it is funny and adventurous. It was wonderful to see old folktales being depicted as new gods and seeing old African Gods blended with these folk tales to create a world I could not have imagined as a kid. Nothing against the Greek pantheon of gods, but we’ve all seen them so many times, that this was a truly refreshing mythological world to dive into. I can’t wait for the next book to come out so that I can find out more about these characters and see what they get into. I really must have more Gum Baby in my life.

I hope this book is one day taught in schools, sooner rather than later.

I feel like there’s so much more I want to say about how amazing this book is, as far as breaking down the characters and breaking down the plot and symbolism and the humor but it’s just all very emotional right now. Maybe a year from now I can revisit this review and add more to it, but for now, just know that this has been the best book that I’ve read all year (maybe a few years), which I wasn’t expecting since I just read a book last month which had been the best thing I’d read all year.

Highly recommended!

Mystery Follows Her
Rating 4.0

This was a fun read I discovered because of an author I follow who contributed one of the stories in this collection. It was nice to get a sampling of other cozy mysteries from authors new to me.

While Buried by the Beach was the story that had me laughing the most it was not my favorite, but it came in a close second. Closed out was the story that really pulled me in. It started out kind of sad and then frustrating as the mystery unfolded. It was a delightful roller-coaster ride getting to the conclusion.

The Mystery of the Stolen Ring came in third and also brought in the laughs, while Treasures in Heaven almost had me in tears- in a good way. When the Clock Chimes Two also made me laugh as did others. I don’t know if I need to keep going listing and ranking every story in the book because, honestly, there wasn’t a single story I didn’t like.

I think my only complaint is that, for me, the first story “Thanksgiving and Theft” should have appeared later in the collection. I don’t have a clear reason as to why but I think it’s because while some of the stories deal with death, this one also deals with loss. It may have been too sad of a start for me, though the story ended on a high note.

In any case, I was happy to discover these lovely stories and their authors.

Recommended to fans of cozy mysteries.

The Girl Who Talks to Ghosts
Rating 5.0

This is the second in a series and switches the main supporting character from the first book to the MC role and vice versa. Kate has taken on an unusual case, even for her, and calls on Jackson for support. They again find themselves traveling outside the U.S. and soon realize language barriers and currency exchanges are the least of their worries.

For the first time, Kate isn’t trying to help a ghost, but the soul of a living girl trapped in between both worlds and Kate is figuring out what to do along the way. I love the way Kate is portrayed as confident and strong and yet willing to admit her mistakes. While Jackson is the muscle and charm of the pair, it’s clear that Kate is stronger in other ways that often ends up saving their lives. Jackson is also a source of distraction for Kate as they both recognize their potential for a romantic relationship.

Considering the times we live in, I feel it important to list this potential relationship as a possible trigger for those who haven’t read the first book because it would be an interracial relationship. For me, it’s simply another layer to their already complex and enjoyable story. Besides, romance is in no way a major or even minor subplot in this series so far.

This book was a lot scarier than the first, but because I read the first book, it helped me cope with some of what I read. For some reason, whether books, film, or TV whenever kids are thrown in, it always feels creepier. Yet, as someone who’s still on the fence about horror as a regular genre to read, I did find the frights to be sophisticated and meaningful, not just gory for the sake of it or all shock value.

I have the next book in the series and look forward to seeing where these characters go next.

Highly recommended to horror, suspense thriller, and paranormal fans.

A Sloth’s Guide to Mindfulness
Rating 4.0

This is a cute book but I thought it would be a little more “deep”. I like this book because it’s mostly suitable for kids but is actually for adults. (This is not a bedtime story.) The illustrations are minimalist and clever.

The overall tone of the book seems to focus on positive thinking and general ideas that appear to be representative of many eastern philosophies. It feels as if the author attempted to cram centuries of complexity into a few short cartoons which may or may not have much impact to the reader. In some ways, the book is practical and even delightful, and in others, it fell flat. Still, overall, it got me thinking about my own thought processes.

I feel that if this book is meant to be a self-help guide, it will divide readers into the ones who get it and the ones who don’t. I think it takes a really open mind to look past the adorable images to see the seriousness at the root of the book’s message. If it’s just meant to be a light, entertaining read, that gets you thinking about ways to be mindful, I think it excels.

For those who faithfully practice Western religions, this book may not vibe well in the context of a self-help book but could still be valuable as entertainment. In any case, I don’t think there’s ever anything wrong with spreading a message of positive thinking, thankfulness, and self-care whether you meditate on it or not.

Recommended to those who enjoy meditation and minimalism.

So, did you read any good books in July? What did you think of the ones I read? Until next time, I hope you love books as much as #carnieluvsboox.

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