Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

SALT HOUSES is a debut novel by Hala Alyan which follows four generations of the Yacoub family and received starred reviews from Kirkus ("A deeply moving look inside the Palestinian diaspora.") and Publishers Weekly ("Chapters focus on different family members as time and geography shift."). 

I generally enjoy multi-generational stories and this one, while dealing with all of the interpersonal conflict amongst family members, also served to educate (or at least prompt questions) about cultural patterns and challenges in parts of the Middle East over the last 50 years. This fictional family seemed relatively affluent, but still faced major disruptions and felt the impact of the Six- Day War (1967 Arab–Israeli War), the invasion of Kuwait and conflicts in Beirut, Lebanon. At one point, a character muses, "What is life? ... Continuing to move, enduring, not stopping even when there is pain.  That's all life is, he wants to tell her.  It's continuing."

Consider pairing this with non-fictional works like Fast Times in Palestine, and add SALT HOUSES to your “to be read” pile. What else is already there? What are you looking forward to reading or recommending for summer reading?

New YA titles

Check out some new Young Adult titles that are forthcoming this Fall and Winter ... you can get a downloadable list of new books and also excerpts from writers like Kwame Alexander and Marie Lu at this link.  That page will also take you to previous Book Buzz editions so you may find some inspiration for your summer reading, too.

I recently read QUICKSAND POND by Janet Taylor Lisle – even though this is geared to younger students (the protagonist are about 12 years old), I have enjoyed other works by her (Afternoon of the Elves; Black Duck) and was looking for a relaxing read over the holiday weekend. QUICKSAND POND made for a very atmospheric read – as though you could smell the ocean and hear the insects.  Two girls, Jessie and Terri, discover a raft and have fun fixing it while building a friendship, too.  But danger lurks and there is a long ago murder involving an old lady who lives in a mansion near the pond. Doesn’t it sound perfect for the late elementary and early middle school readers looking for summer reading in addition to Nancy Drew and The Westing Game by Raskin or The Velvet Room by Snyder? The first half was great, but then the adults became involved and suddenly the girls are taught that a friendship with someone from one of “those” families was no longer acceptable.  From there, QUICKSAND POND told a story of snobbery and prejudice in an awkward and uncomfortable way, even though it received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus. 

I also had a chance to read a sneak peek excerpt of ONCE AND FOR ALL by Sarah Dessen. It was part of her latest novel (coming in early June) that features Louna, a soon-to-be high school graduate who spends summers working for her mother’s wedding planning business. Filled with details like a preference for (the easier to manage) DJs over live bands and sitting strategically in the BRR (back row right), ONCE AND FOR ALL promises a wonderful mix of romance and adventure as Louna is pursued by Ambrose, wayward brother of a bridal client. This latest book is sure to please the many fans of award winning author Dessen.