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Nine-year-old Leon dotes on his little half-brother Jake and ends up tending to all Jake's needs since their white mother is undone by drugs and mental illness. Leon's absent father is Caribbean; Jake's is white. In foster care, Jake gets adopted out, but Leon, deeply confused and heartbroken, stays with his caretaker, Maureen, and when she gets sick, with her sister Sylvia. Both women love Leon despite their imperfections. Leon meets a few equally imperfect role models at a nearby garden allotment, but racial tensions erupt in the neighborhood. I feared for Leon greatly until things finally looked up. We see everything through Leon's narration, including his fanciful dreams and his awareness of hypocrisy behind the social workers' smiles. English setting, an emotional workout.
Ciaran was only 12 when he took responsibility for killing his foster father. His older brother, Thomas, was also at the scene of the crime. Two women, one on the force and the other Ciaran’s probation officer, have their doubts, but the primarily male department ignores them--a confession is a confession. Now Ciaran is out of juvenile prison, the brothers reconnect, and it's clear to us that Thomas calls the shots. The brothers' complex relationship is revealed, with a mix of love, fear, and manipulation--terrifying to witness. A tragic, compelling story. Belfast setting.
In 1982, Dawn, married to Heron and mother of 3-year-old Maggie, falls in love with Hazel. She tries to be a good wife but can't ignore her deep feelings. She finally asks for a divorce, hoping to retain custody, but the court is loaded against exposing children to "perversity." In 2022 we meet Maggie again, now with her own family. She has few memories of her mother. Heron, who brought up Maggie on his own, has tried to expunge any reference to Dawn. He's just trying to follow conventional mores, not acknowledging the unspoken void that has plagued Maggie throughout the years. But now, facing his imminent mortality, he gives Maggie access to documents that lead her to Dawn, who's been living with Hazel for decades. The book shines a light on a very dark time. A cautionary tale, considering the direction that's weighing on us these days. Set in England.
Meet Tama (short for Tamagotchi), a very expressive magpie. She bonds with Marnie, who's recently lost a baby. Marnie's husband Rob puts up with the weirdness of having a wild creature integrated into their household, but it's a stretch, especially when the media discovers the story, and their quiet, rural life is disrupted. However, it also becomes a source of income, as the tale of Tama and subsequent merch go viral. Rob is a woodcutter; at the carnival, he's a favorite to win the yearly contest. Lots goes wrong (no surprise). Throughout the book, the subject of nature vs civilization plays out vividly. Narrated mostly by Tama herself, a very original, well-drawn character. New Zealand setting.
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