Trey's Reviews

Beautiful, descriptive writing brings this remarkable story to life. Evocative images of a landscape experiencing a climate crisis. A broken country in the aftermath of a coup. Ren, an old woman living wild on a mountain. Lieutenant Zoë Harkness, a battle-hardened soldier on a mission. Daniel, the impressionable young medic. Their three stories intertwine with the shimmering magic of the mythical rain heron. This is a subtle and yet stunning fable. The poetic prose echoes long after finishing the final page. —Trey

This book is part of our Spring Reading Challenge. Read more here.

In this bold, provocative debut novel, the stories of two immigrants from war-torn Pakistan and Iraq converge in San Francisco. Anvar and Satwa/Azza followed very different paths to get here. Now they struggle to make sense of their Islamic identity in modern America. Syed Masood is a gifted storyteller who writes with clarity, irreverence, and delightful wit. His characters come to life as they grapple with questions of religion, love, and family. This is a great story, delivered with exceptional skill. —Trey

Young adults have a unique perspective on the experience and reality of immigration. Their stories come to life in this remarkable anthology. My eyes were opened to insights new to me as each unique voice told a different story. The diverse group of talented authors evoked a range of emotions that lingered. Each story imparted a valuable lesson, leaving a distinct impression on me. This is a rich and rewarding book, well suited for YA and adults readers alike. — Trey

A wild and creative twist on the superhero trope. Who inflicts more damage on society, superheroes or the supervillains they fight? Anna is a hench, a temp worker for low-level supervillains. After becoming a victim of superhero mayhem, she uses her data-analysis skills to fight back. What ensues is a battle royale, with twists and turns aplenty. This is a fun, cinematic novel set in a comic book universe, unlike anything else you've ever read.  
— Trey

Planning to visit a black hole? This is your indispensable travel guide. Astrophysicist Janna Levin floats with you at the event horizon, explaining your options before you take the plunge. This is a well-written, accessible exploration of the current science of black holes. It will stretch your mind. Here’s a bit of her practical advice: Aim for a bigger black hole if you want to survive a fall into it long enough to reflect on your experience as it’s happening! — Trey

A powerful novel about a little known part of 19th-century history, The Exiles is the story of two young women, convicts, transported on a former slave ship into exile in Australia, and of an aboriginal girl taken from her people and forced to live with the English governor and his wife. A compelling narrative of strength in the face of abusive hardship and tragedy, it is a riveting book, hard to put down once started. Well-researched, well-written, excellent historical fiction. — Trey

A devastating, beautiful, and timely novel. Franny Stone is a strong but lost soul, damaged, desperate, infuriating, irresistible. She's on a mission to follow the final migration of arctic terns in a world where extinction has become the norm. The narrative of this mesmerizing sea journey is relentless. It produces a cold longing that burns in your core. This is a meditation, a mystery, an action-adventure, a character study, and a love story. It's gut-wrenching and breath-taking. I loved it.  —Trey

This book is part of our Fall Reading Challenge. Read more here.

Three paragraphs were all it took to pull me all the way into this intriguing portal fantasy. The entire book, Alix Harrow’s debut novel, lives up to the promise of its auspicious beginning. Set in the early 1900s, The Ten Thousand Doors of January transports the reader through secret magic openings to places of wonder and mystery. This is a book about books, a story about stories, a tale of courage, love, and family ties across time and space. Imaginative and enchanting!

A beautiful French novel exploring the difficult subject of mental illness. Written to the soundtrack of Nina Simone singing Mr. Bojangles, this is a magical love story. A young boy tells the story of watching his parents dance their way through life even as his mother descends into madness. This is a book that will make you laugh and cry. An international bestseller.