Nicholas McCane
Payback
Chicago Police Department Commander Jon Burge’s state-sanctioned “interrogation” ring that operated within the department for decades brutalized more than one hundred African Americans. This is a collection of five true stories about racism and reform, crime and corruption, justice and injustice in Chicago.
This is a 35 page short story written by Natalie Y. Moore. The whole time I was reading this, I had flashbacks. I was born and raised here. And I will never forget. I remember how they beat us and harassed us. How they would stop me for no reason and illegally search me. This would occur about three times a day. I will never forget how many times they arrested me for nothing. For walking to the store with my brothers to get groceries. They would tell us that three or more in a group was mob action. They charged me with ridiculous offenses like huffing paint, gang loitering, and or course mob action. I remember how they would put me in the back of a police car and take me to an empty field. They made me sit in the car and watch a bunch of them form a circle around someone and beat whoever was in the middle of it. And how they would tell me I was next. I had to be no older than 11 or 12. I remember in 1995 when they snatched one of my 15-year-old friends (who had done nothing wrong). They charged him with R*** and mur***. They gave him a 40-year sentence. After 17 years inside, DNA proved they had the wrong guy. I have many stories and still carry many scars, physically and mentally. I even remember when they tried to say I r***ed a white woman. But thank God she told the truth and said it wasn’t me. As you can see, this book was very triggering. I’m so glad I read it and will read any and everything I can find by this author.
Chicago Police Department Commander Jon Burge’s state-sanctioned “interrogation” ring that operated within the department for decades brutalized more than one hundred African Americans. This is a collection of five true stories about racism and reform, crime and corruption, justice and injustice in Chicago.
This is a 35 page short story written by Natalie Y. Moore. The whole time I was reading this, I had flashbacks. I was born and raised here. And I will never forget. I remember how they beat us and harassed us. How they would stop me for no reason and illegally search me. This would occur about three times a day. I will never forget how many times they arrested me for nothing. For walking to the store with my brothers to get groceries. They would tell us that three or more in a group was mob action. They charged me with ridiculous offenses like huffing paint, gang loitering, and or course mob action. I remember how they would put me in the back of a police car and take me to an empty field. They made me sit in the car and watch a bunch of them form a circle around someone and beat whoever was in the middle of it. And how they would tell me I was next. I had to be no older than 11 or 12. I remember in 1995 when they snatched one of my 15-year-old friends (who had done nothing wrong). They charged him with R*** and mur***. They gave him a 40-year sentence. After 17 years inside, DNA proved they had the wrong guy. I have many stories and still carry many scars, physically and mentally. I even remember when they tried to say I r***ed a white woman. But thank God she told the truth and said it wasn’t me. As you can see, this book was very triggering. I’m so glad I read it and will read any and everything I can find by this author.
This is a modern day (2014) retelling of Steven King’s Carrie. A biracial girl, Maddie Washington, lives with her racist father. Because of his racism, he wants her to be perceived as white. This takes place in a fictional sundown town of Springville, Georgia. Once she’s outed as black, all hell breaks loose.
The book summary doesn’t do the book justice. The incredible writing hooked me from the first chapter. I loved this book. It’s a great YA horror.
The audiobook brought the podcast segments of the book to life. Can’t recommend it enough. This is the third book I’ve read by Tiffany D. Jackson. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
This is a modern day (2014) retelling of Steven King’s Carrie. A biracial girl, Maddie Washington, lives with her racist father. Because of his racism, he wants her to be perceived as white. This takes place in a fictional sundown town of Springville, Georgia. Once she’s outed as black, all hell breaks loose.
The book summary doesn’t do the book justice. The incredible writing hooked me from the first chapter. I loved this book. It’s a great YA horror.
The audiobook brought the podcast segments of the book to life. Can’t recommend it enough. This is the third book I’ve read by Tiffany D. Jackson. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
No Spoilers
The book is about a 24-year-old female named Nic who is not doing so well in life. She lives alone in a dinky apartment and works at a dead-end job she’s been at since high school. She has also just gotten arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Everyone has felt sorry for her ever since her older sister (Kasey) disappeared without a trace.
On the night Kasey went missing, her vehicle was discovered over a hundred miles from home. The only clue to her disappearance is another female named Jules. She disappeared from the same area in the same way two weeks earlier. With very little evidence to go on, the case went cold.
One day, Jules’ sister (Jenna) finds Kasey’s sister (Nic). They team up to find their missing sisters.
This is my first book by Ashely Flowers, and I really enjoyed it. I finished it in one sitting. Every time I thought I had this mystery solved, the twist kept on twisting. I loved the pacing. It was a fun read and I recommend it. Those last few chapters were insane.
My only issue was that there were a few subplots that were only put in there, so you couldn’t predict the ending. And although nothing is wrong with that, the subplots remained unresolved.
No Spoilers
The book is about a 24-year-old female named Nic who is not doing so well in life. She lives alone in a dinky apartment and works at a dead-end job she’s been at since high school. She has also just gotten arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Everyone has felt sorry for her ever since her older sister (Kasey) disappeared without a trace.
On the night Kasey went missing, her vehicle was discovered over a hundred miles from home. The only clue to her disappearance is another female named Jules. She disappeared from the same area in the same way two weeks earlier. With very little evidence to go on, the case went cold.
One day, Jules’ sister (Jenna) finds Kasey’s sister (Nic). They team up to find their missing sisters.
This is my first book by Ashely Flowers, and I really enjoyed it. I finished it in one sitting. Every time I thought I had this mystery solved, the twist kept on twisting. I loved the pacing. It was a fun read and I recommend it. Those last few chapters were insane.
My only issue was that there were a few subplots that were only put in there, so you couldn’t predict the ending. And although nothing is wrong with that, the subplots remained unresolved.
This book is about a 12-year-old girl named Felicia (FeFe) Stevens and her three friends Stacia, Precious, and the new friend Tonya. Most of this book takes place in Chicago during the summer of 1999, but will later show how she ended up. The location being the notorious Robert Taylor projects just before their demolition. The book shows how each girl’s summer differed completely from one another. This book is raw. The Author Toya Wolfe doesn’t hold back giving you front row seats into these drug and gang infested buildings. This should be a gut punch to city officials.
My mother grew up in these projects, and I was born and raised about a mile west of them. The 1990s were the most violent decade in Chicago. I have terrible memories of this place, and Chicago as a whole. The author brought me back. I grew up on these streets. I had to take breaks while reading just to reflect.
What I liked most is that it was from a female’s POV. I was one of those troubled youths that played in the streets. It was extremely violent for little boys. I never even thought about what it must have been like for girls. This was an outstanding read!
I listened to the audio as I read the physical copy. The narrator Shayna Small did an amazing job, except for one word. She repeatedly mispronounced the word “DuSable” in DuSable High School.
This book is about a 12-year-old girl named Felicia (FeFe) Stevens and her three friends Stacia, Precious, and the new friend Tonya. Most of this book takes place in Chicago during the summer of 1999, but will later show how she ended up. The location being the notorious Robert Taylor projects just before their demolition. The book shows how each girl’s summer differed completely from one another. This book is raw. The Author Toya Wolfe doesn’t hold back giving you front row seats into these drug and gang infested buildings. This should be a gut punch to city officials.
My mother grew up in these projects, and I was born and raised about a mile west of them. The 1990s were the most violent decade in Chicago. I have terrible memories of this place, and Chicago as a whole. The author brought me back. I grew up on these streets. I had to take breaks while reading just to reflect.
What I liked most is that it was from a female’s POV. I was one of those troubled youths that played in the streets. It was extremely violent for little boys. I never even thought about what it must have been like for girls. This was an outstanding read!
I listened to the audio as I read the physical copy. The narrator Shayna Small did an amazing job, except for one word. She repeatedly mispronounced the word “DuSable” in DuSable High School.
Non-Spoiler section: All of this part is in the summary (Spoiler section after this).
8-year-old Bela loves her family. It’s her, her mom, dad, and grandma. Oh yeah, I forgot, there’s also “Other Mommy”. Other Mommy is a monster who constantly asks Bela, “Can I go inside your heart”. At some point, Bela understands unless she says yes, her family will soon pay. Other Mommy really needs an answer.
Incidents Around the House is not the best title for this book. This title should have been “Incidents around Bela’s ass” lol. Because the monster went wherever she went. This was a great read, and I enjoyed it. It’s a chilling, slow-burn horror. If you enjoy psychological horror, haunted house stories, and creepy AF, you may enjoy this.
I listened to the audiobook as I read along with the physical copy. Loved the audio!
Spoiler section: Stop here if you haven’t read the book.
Here are a few things I liked and disliked.
I love that “Other Mommy” was visible to everyone, and not just contained within the house.
I’m used to the troupe of the cheating drunk husband/father and the nearly perfect wife/mother. In this one, the wife is the horrible mother and wife. I don’t care for the trope, but it was good to give the men a break.
There were a couple of scary scenes that were very creepy and well written. And I soaked it up like a sponge. It is literally the reason I read this genre.
Things I didn’t like so much.
I predicted the twists early on.
They didn’t explain Other Mommy well. We learned nothing by the end of the book.
Mom was super annoying.
Didn’t like how both parents would get drunk, sit next to their daughter while she slept, then talk about adult stuff.
The ending was just okay for me. I believe grandma became “Other Mommy” earlier than the book led on at the end.
Non-Spoiler section: All of this part is in the summary (Spoiler section after this).
8-year-old Bela loves her family. It’s her, her mom, dad, and grandma. Oh yeah, I forgot, there’s also “Other Mommy”. Other Mommy is a monster who constantly asks Bela, “Can I go inside your heart”. At some point, Bela understands unless she says yes, her family will soon pay. Other Mommy really needs an answer.
Incidents Around the House is not the best title for this book. This title should have been “Incidents around Bela’s ass” lol. Because the monster went wherever she went. This was a great read, and I enjoyed it. It’s a chilling, slow-burn horror. If you enjoy psychological horror, haunted house stories, and creepy AF, you may enjoy this.
I listened to the audiobook as I read along with the physical copy. Loved the audio!
Spoiler section: Stop here if you haven’t read the book.
Here are a few things I liked and disliked.
I love that “Other Mommy” was visible to everyone, and not just contained within the house.
I’m used to the troupe of the cheating drunk husband/father and the nearly perfect wife/mother. In this one, the wife is the horrible mother and wife. I don’t care for the trope, but it was good to give the men a break.
There were a couple of scary scenes that were very creepy and well written. And I soaked it up like a sponge. It is literally the reason I read this genre.
Things I didn’t like so much.
I predicted the twists early on.
They didn’t explain Other Mommy well. We learned nothing by the end of the book.
Mom was super annoying.
Didn’t like how both parents would get drunk, sit next to their daughter while she slept, then talk about adult stuff.
The ending was just okay for me. I believe grandma became “Other Mommy” earlier than the book led on at the end.