Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the April challenge to fulfill prompt #15 A book written by a Pacific Islander author. In honor of
AAPI Appreciation month in the US!

Please include the following:

Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?

I had a hard time finding an author & book I wanted to read. I read A Little Life. I have wanted to read this book since it came out. Would you recommend this book? I never know if I should recommend books that tear you up & don't put you back together. The writing was beautiful. The story was unrelenting trauma. While reading it I was begging the author to please give the characters some kind of peace. I don't think happiness was an option.

Title: Where We Once Belonged
Author: Sia Figiel
Would you recommend this book? Yes! But if you are not Indigenous or Pasifika, this could be a more challenging read. It isn't a linear read by any means, and it is much more poetic than Western lit.
I love that Sia Figiel uses traditional Samoan storytelling ( su'ifefiloi), which is also a traditional way of sewing and basketry, along with weaving in Samoan myth and legend. A very sensorial view of everyday life in the early '70s Samoa, coming of age as female, and all the traditional ways of life juxtaposed with colonialism.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

I would definitely recommend this book. I borrowed it because this prompt was challenging and it was available at the library. I started reading and couldn't stop so I read this early on in the year. I really enjoyed the characters but be warned this is a plague book.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

I would recommend this book. I listened to it. I really liked the story. It was easy to follow and I was generally interested in all the characters. My only complaint was the style of speaking the narrator chose was annoying. Given the suggested grade level, I guess he chose an appropriate style but it was still annoying.

Title: The Last Rose of Shanghai
Author: Weina Dai Randel
Would you recommend this book? I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is not my usual thing to read but it was engaging.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier
Would you recommend this book? Yes, it was very hard to put down once I got into it.

Monica wrote: "Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

I would recommend this book. I listened to it. I really liked the story. It was easy to follow and I was generally interested in all the characters...."

I also listened to it and I was so torn because most of the time I enjoyed his performance, but it felt like every so often it would cut in with very random overly-dramatic sentences. I was thinking maybe it was more of an editing/directing thing because they also sounded slightly different. Sort of like they were recorded again and inserted, so I thought maybe someone said "make this part more dramatic." It was very jolting though. Some of the voices were annoying and some names/words were mispronounced too. But overall, I enjoyed the audiobook and I really liked the story.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

I would definitely recommend it. It was an interesting fantasy, and didn't really read very YA to me. Quick and engaging with likable characters and lots of adventure and intrigue.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

I would definitely recommend it too. It grabbed me immediately and was a quick read and although I guessed the revelation very early on, it didn't take away from the enjoyment. The characters were engaging and the story well told.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

I had just checked out this book when this challenge was announced AND when I found out that the author was local and we might get to do an author visit! The book was fantastic, so I am very excited about both of these things.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

Yes, I'd recommend- I really enjoyed this one and would never have stumbled across it if not for the challenge.
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier
Would you recommend this book? Sure. Although I didn't really like the narration choice either.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

Would you recommend this book? Yes, I really enjoyed this book a lot. Great characters, interesting storyline, good world build. It was a lot of fun, for a plague book anyway.

Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier

Would you recommend this book? Definitely. Really liked the story. Wish this was a series where I could keep going back to this world.

Finished a week ago —

Title: The Whale Rider
Author: Witi Ihimaera
Would you recommend this book? Absolutely, I loved it! It would also work for “a book with two languages.”