Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Our return to school is rapidly approaching!  It seems we will be going back half-days, five days a week.  The Library will still be open during study hall, but sign in will be QR code rather than laptop.  I moved the tables and chairs to be 6 feet apart. We will have some new roommates this year.  Ms. Eburg, a new English teacher, will be taking the Conference Room where Mrs. Pazsak was. Five different teachers will rotate through with their Academic Labs.  I also heard Mr. Pistone will have a class or two in our space, but that's not definite yet.  Ms. Deninger and the English Department's Book Closet will be in our back room temporarily.  A full house!  

So, today's review.  This was recommended to me by Amazon.  I've been on a supernatural/witch kick as of late, so I'm guessing that's where this came from.  This was...interesting.  Think The Giver and Gathering Blue meets The Grace Year, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Crucible.

Which is my problem with it.  Nothing was really original.  Readable for sure.  Even enjoyable.  But I wasn't shook the way I was reading Gathering Blue or The Grace Year.  I'm finding originality lacking in some new books, as evidenced by my last THREE reviews.  Is it my own fault for reading similar books?  Perhaps.  Which is why my next is completely out of the genres I've been stuck in (The Field Guide to the North American Teenager).  The book that'll follow is the book club selection Just Mercy.  Unrelated, I suggested Tigers, Not Daughters for October, and I will moderate. 

In this story, Immanuelle is the mixed-race, illegitimate daughter of a suspected witch and poor man from an ostracized family.  Her mother was betrothed to The Prophet, a Pope-like figure leader of their village.  Her parents were burned at the stake.  Living under the care of her grandmother, the Dark Wood calls to her, and it appears her first menstrual period brings about a curse from the Witches of the Dark Wood.  The Prophet's Son, a secret disbeliever, tries to help her break the curses and plagues.  Immanuelle knows change is coming, and it comes with her power.

Like I said, readable and enjoyable.  Not original.

I'll be heading in tomorrow to hopefully process all these donated books from me!  My book order for this year has not been approved yet, so I do not know when or if we will get any new books (sad emoji)!

Please stay safe!