NEW REVIEW: Juliet Carr - Contorted

Contorted - 
Juliet Carr - 
Available Now! - 
1 out of 5 books - 


Contorted by Juliet Carr tells the story of a young Sharmeka Jackson. Her mother is always gone, leaving her to fend for herself and her siblings. Sometimes her mother is gone for weeks at a time strung out on drugs. With all that Sharmeka is dealing with, she has failed middle school two years in a row. It is not that she is stupid by any means; it's just that life has dealt her one hell of a hand.

Sharmeka loves her mother more than anything and just wishes her mother would get better so they can be a family. If it wasn't for her best friend, Rico that lives across the hall that sells drugs, she would not know what would have happened to her and her brother and sister. Without Rico's help, they would have nothing to eat. Sharmeka never stops to wonder why it is that Rico is so intent on making sure they are all okay and that she attends school.

Contorted by Juliet Carr was a story told in first person. The story was all over the place, skipping from here to there. The timeframe of the storyline was very unclear and I am still unsure of how old the main character Sharmeka was. The ending was too rushed because it skips to two years later. With a good developmental editor, this story could have easily rated a higher rating.

Reviewed by Leona Romich for Urban Reviews

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NEW REVIEW: Nick Lake - In Darkness

Nick Lake - 
In Darkness - 
Available Now! - 
3.5 out of 5 books - 

In Darkness tells the story of a young thug named Shorty who’s recovering from a gunshot wound in a local hospital. When a devastating earthquake hits Haiti, Shorty finds himself buried under the ruins of the former hospital. All he has left… is his will to live.

I wasn’t sure if I could get through this book without shedding a few tears. We all have seen the aftermath of an earthquake while watching the news, but you can never truly experience the true effect of it unless you lived through it.

Nick Lake does an extraordinary job of capturing moments of Shorty’s life trapped in the rubble. In the beginning of the book, I felt myself grasping for air as though I was trapped with Shorty.  While he was trapped in the ruins, he finds himself dreaming of Toussaint L’Ouverture, a former slave who led the revolution of Haiti. I didn’t particularly care for the back and forth between Shorty & Toussaint life, but once I realized the connection between the two characters, it became an easier read.  In Darkness is a powerful read. I would definitely recommend this book.

Reviewed by Orsayor for Urban Reviews

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