Kill a Man

Orlando, Steve. Kill a Man. 2020. 128p. ISBN 9781949028478. 

When James watches his father, kickboxer DJ Bellyi die during a fight with Xavier Mayne in the ring, his whole world crumbles. This is made worse when it is revealed that DJ Bellyi had thrown gay slurs against Xavier Mayne during the fight. Xavier never fought again. 

Years later, James Bellyi has joined the ranks of the MMA, becoming a star and on track to earn top endorsements. However, during a press conference his next opponent reveals that James is gay, and, taken by surprise, James is unable to defend himself. Suddenly, everything that he has built collapses, as no one in the MMA wants to fight a gay guy. James finds himself cast out and abandoned by his friends, his trainer, and his fans. 

Hoping to return to the MMA and earn a title fight, James turns to the only person who could understand his situation. Xavier Mayne continued to train young fighter, but avoided the limelight. Can James reconciles with the man who killed his father so that he can reach the top? Can Xavier forgive the man he killed in the ring long enough to help his son?

Salt the Water

Iloh, Candice. Salt the Water. 2023. 288p. ISBN 9780593529317.

Cerulean is a free spirit caught in a higher schooler body. they've lived their whole live encouraged and supported to be themselves by two amazing parents and a great support network. Unfortunately, high school is all about conforming and following rules and regulations, even if these rules don't make any sense at all. With six months to go before graduation, Cerulean is counting the days before they get to leave their public school and fulfill their desire of living off the grid with friends, away from the capitalist system that has undermined their lives and that of their community. 

Cerulean is particularly resentful of her English teacher, who seems to have it out for them, calling them the wrong name and making insinuating remarks that they are not as smart as they think they are. During a high stake test, despite being warned not to leave, Cerulean finds themself suffering a bathroom emergency, so they sneak out of the room and return a few minutes later. Unfortunately, their teacher noticed their absence, and Cerulean's test is shredded and thrown in the trash. This send Cerulean over the edge, and they have a very robust verbal exchange with the teacher that earns them an out of school suspension for three weeks.

Not wanting to deal with the consequences, Cerulean stops attending school. Why put off their dream when they could start it now? What's the point of school anyway? But the money Cerulean had saved for their future is suddenly needed when their father, the rock of the family, suffers a catastrophic injury in his restaurant, with massive burns on his body, and equally massive medical bills. Cerulean's funds are now needed to keep the family afloat. With all of these obstacles in their way, can Cerulean still pursue the future they have been dreaming of?

A novel in verse, Salt the Water explores nonbinary representation of African-Americans and the measures that must sometimes be taken to prevent others from silencing one's voice. Containing a severe critique of a school system unable or unwilling to accommodate the realities lived by their students, the book offers a gritty portrayal of life in an urban school and what it means to not belong.

Imperialism

Lenin, vladimir. Imperialism. 2022. 318 mins. ISBN 9781781984444.

Best known as the first leader of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin was also Communist philosopher and thinker who expounded on social, historical, and economic issues. While the world was engulfed in the First World War, Lenin wrote Imperialism to present his theory that capitalism, taken to its extremes, created monopolies and generated the need and desire for colonialism, the conquering of new markets and the imposition of one's social structures on another society. These actions in turn fostered imperialism, a practice where strong nations gain political, economic, and social dominance over weaker ones, exploiting their resources and people for their own benefit. The First World War was an excellent example of this, according to Lenin, with Imperialist powers on both sides seeking to retain control of the parts of the world they already controlled.

As a capitalist business became more efficient and generated extra capital, it sought to improve and expand its services while also acquire its competitors, to reduce competition and increases prices. Successful businesses could achieve a monopolistic status at home. As it continued to generate capital, it would then seek additional opportunities outside the boundaries of its state. As it expanded elsewhere, it could lobby its own government to impose favorable terms on the other countries, and, when profits were threatened, the State could militarily intervene. This in turn led to imperalist expansions, and inflict pain and suffering on the local populations as they were mercilessly exploited.

Though Lenin's vision of the world never came to be, his views on imperialism and the exploitative nature of colonialism remains important to understand the world we live in today.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 11

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 11. 2013. 210p. ISBN 9781421558868. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Having been entrusted with investigating the Seven School Mysteries in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 10, Yukio leads his brother Rin and the Exwires as they take on the demons and other ghosts that plague True Cross Academy. Yukio remains still plagued with his own doubts about whether he himself is infected by demonic powers as he observes his brother gaining more control over his own abilities.

Meanwhile, the Illuminate's plan progresses along, as demonic chaos spreads throughout the land. Their man-made Gehenna Gate all but insures that Assiah will be consumed by destruction, unless the Vatican manages to stop them in their tracks. But when revelations indicate there is a spy in the Japan branch, at True Cross Academy, all eyes turn back to Japan...

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 12.

Miles Morales Suspended

Reynolds, Jason, and Zeke Peña. Miles Morales Suspended. Book 3 of the Miles Morales Graphic Novels. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9781665918466.

Miles Morales got himself in trouble when confronting a racist teacher, and he finds himself spending a whole day isolated in a classroom with other delinquents following his in-school suspension. Though a kid with superpowers, Miles can't get himself out of punishment, and must watch the clock slowly tick by as he waits for the end of the day. Fortunately, the girl he has a massive crush on is also in the room with him, and so are others who have also gotten in trouble. Supervised by the girl's gym teacher and a school guard, Miles and the rest of them must complete a ton of work packets before the end bell.

As Miles attempts to do anything more than babble with his crush, his spider sense begins to tinkle. Something feels odd. Staying focused on not screwing up in front of his crush, Miles once again has to save the world from a dastardly villain who thinks he can destroy Black and Brown history!

The Puppets of Spelhorst.

DiCamillo, Kate. The Puppets of Spelhorst. 160p. ISBN 9781536216752.

Walking in town one day, an old salty captain saw five puppets in the window of a toy shop. There was a girl, a boy, a king, a wolf, and an owl. He immediately felt the need to purchase the girl puppet. When the owner told him he must buy all five, the captain relented and agreed. The girl puppet reminded him of a girl he had once been in love with. Placing these puppets in his trunk, the old captain soon died, and his puppets found their way to a family with young children.

The king always loved to order everyone else around, for what is a king supposed to do? The girl loved to sing, but she only knew one song. The boy knew he was destined to be a hero, for why else would he have a bow and a quiver filled with arrows? The wolf was very impressed with her sharp teeth, and she knew everyone should be scared of her. The owl was filled with wisdom, but longed to fly the skies. As the puppets discovered their new home, they also found new desires and developed new relationships and understandings with each other. Each of them realizes that they are part of a story, and despite their ups and downs together, they belong with each other. The two girls who now own the puppets craft a play they perform in front of their family. In this play, the puppets end up acting the story of a young man who is cursed by a wizard to lose the love of his life, and who looks for her the rest of his life, in a story that resembles that of the old sea captain.

Beautifully told, the story of the puppets resemble folk tales, with bigger than life characters who discover themselves during their adventures, even if they are only puppets. Wherever we found ourselves on the road of life, we can always trust that we will find friends along the road.

You're gonna die alone (& Other Excellent News)

Donalson, Devrie Brynn. You're gonna die alone (& Other Excellent News). 2023. 244p. ISBN 9798212186452.

One of TikTok's hottest star, Devrie Donalson delivers witty and entertaining views on many aspects of life while exploring her own biography, and comes to the conclusion that you will die alone, and that's okay! Society has conditioned us to want to have a partner, a soulmate, a lover that we can spend our days with. But your best friend, the person you should love the most, is the person you spend the most time with throughout your life, and that is you! You are always with you, working, playing, sleeping, and enjoying or regretting life. 

Devrie provides vignettes of her life, examining such aspects as what she would want for her funeral service when she dies; how she grew up in a religious household but eventually realized that the Christians that claim to worship God are not ready to be accepting and welcoming, despite the teachings of Jesus; and how her college house was haunted with a ghost in the attic. All of these vignettes serve to explore existential truths that apply to everyone, regardless of gender, age, religion, and identity. In the end, Devrie reveals the universal truth that the only thing that we can count in life is change.

Fans of humorous writing and of self help will appreciate this short book, and might learn a thing or two about their own lives.