My Top 10 Favorite Reads from 2019

Okay, so I realize that 2020 has been here for over four months now, but I still thought I’d share a few of my favorite books I read last year. I hope you find this helpful if you are still looking for something new to read during this time when we could all use a bit of magic. (If you do choose to read any of these, please consider purchasing them from independent book stores. Of course, the library is always an option too.)

1. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan

I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I checked out The Sword of Summer from my local library. What I did know is that Rick Riordan is a brilliant writer (my favorite, actually), and that his popular Percy Jackson books have never failed to disappoint. But when I had decided to start following Percy’s adventures almost a decade ago, I already loved Greek mythology and had a fairly extensive knowledge base about it. I could not say the same about the Norse mythology that frames the Magnus Chase series. But even though I knew little about the Norse gods and stories (apart from what I’d learned through Marvel’s Thor franchise, which obviously is not much), this series quickly became a new favorite of mine.

Unlike most stories, this one starts with a death. More specifically–the protagonist’s death. Before he died fighting a fire giant, Magnus had lived out on the streets ever since his mom died two years before. Of course, it would be a very short book if it had simply ended this way. But Magnus was offered a new life after finding himself in the halls of Valhalla with other einherjar (heroes who died in battle and now reside in Hotel Valhalla). Now Magnus is faced with the reality that the Norse gods are real, he himself is the son of a Norse god, and now with the help of his friends, he must save the world. Riordan’s classic wit and humor coupled with a cast of memorable characters including a Muslim American Valkyrie, a fashion-forward dwarf, a deaf rune-casting elf, talking goats, and a few of the Norse gods, made it almost impossible for me to put down.

2. The Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan

Whoa! Number two is another Rick Riordan series? Yup! This is the last one on this list though. I promise.

Okay, so do you remember Miguel and Tulio singing about how tough it is to be a god in The Road to El Dorado? (As context for those who have not seen this beautiful animated film, these two characters are very much human. The people of El Dorado only thought they were gods and worshiped them as such.) Well, in this book series, the god Apollo discovers how tough it is to be a human. More specifically, a teenage boy, complete with acne and everything. Stripped of his godly powers (and charming looks), he comes to depend on his new demigod friends to help him regain favor with his father, Zeus. To do that, they will have to restore five of his own oracles, which, for some reason, have “gone dark.” Much excitement awaits you should you choose to join Apollo (now known as Lester Papadopoulos in his new teenager body) in his perilous quest. And, if you are a fan of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and/or The Gods of Olympus series like I am, you get to revisit some familiar faces. So that’s a fun bonus!

3. Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue

If it weren’t for my grandparents, I probably would never have known about this book. I am honestly so glad they lent it to me because it opened my eyes to a whole new way of storytelling.

Room is told from the perspective of five-year-old Jack, who had lived locked in a shed with his young mother all his life. The situation is terrible, of course, but Jack’s narration brings innocence and lightheartedness into a dark reality. Room, as he and his mother call their confined space, is his everything. It’s where he has watched hours of Dora the Explorer. It’s where he has learned to read. It’s where he has made friends with the tiny critters who enter their space. Because this is his world, he has a limited grasp on what is real and what isn’t. He and his mom are real, but he isn’t even sure if their captor, Old Nick, is entirely real. Jack’s mother is determined to widen Jack’s perspective. She believes her son should see the real world, the world she came from, the world that was stolen from her.

4. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Color Purple was something I figured I should read, not just because it is a classic, but also because I knew Alice Walker herself was coming to speak at my alma mater. I felt I could not listen to her without having first read her most popular work. But no matter the reason for reading it, I am so glad I picked up this empowering novel.

Celie, an African American woman living in Georgia in the early 1900’s, narrates most of the book through her letters to God. These letters highlight her growth as she reclaims her life–a life stained by years of abuse by her father and her husband–mostly with the help of other African American women. Sisters, mothers, friends, lovers. Walker artfully uses these relationships to reclaim power and bring light to the darkness. After reading this book, it is easy to see how it has been met with such acclaim.

5. The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes (first in the Storm Runner series)

Okay, Riordan did not write this one, but the Storm Runner series is part of the Rick Riordan Presents lineup. For those who have not heard of this, Riordan is using his platform to spotlight authors from underrepresented cultures so that they can tell their own stories, relying on mythologies from their own cultures.

In the case of The Storm Runner, Cervantes draws from Maya mythology to cultivate a high-stakes adventure centered around her Hispanic teen protagonist, Zane. One of the reasons I particularly enjoyed this novel is that it challenges our thinking about how we picture fictional heroes. Often we imagine able-bodied, able-minded individuals, but such is not the case in this instance. Zane has what is known as leg length discrepancy, meaning that one of his legs is shorter than the other. Although Zane might have to use a cane, he is just as strong and capable as any of our favorite heroes. What else do we know about our young protagonist? Well, it turns out that he is linked to a prophecy. He’s destined to release a powerful evil god from the confines of the volcano near his New Mexico home. After his dog, Rosie, dies in her effort to protect her human friend from a demon runner, Zane only wants to rescue the brave canine from Xia’alb’a, the Mayan underworld. But he cannot avoid his destiny. Before he can save his dog, he must save the world by taking on his role as the Storm Runner.

6. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (first in the Pandava series)

This is another series in the Rick Riordan Presents lineup. (Noticing a pattern here? Okay, I admit it. I love mythology and YA fantasy. But you won’t find any more after this one on this list.)

Chokshi draws from Hindu mythology in this thrilling adventure story of a young girl named Aru, who is notorious for lying. It’s kind of her superpower. But what’s wrong with a little lie if it makes life more interesting? The reality: she lives in a museum with her mom. No adventures for her. That is, until her classmates arrive at the museum and dare her to rub the cursed Lamp of Bharata. Suddenly she finds herself releasing the Sleeper, a demon destined to summon the god of destruction, which would naturally end the world. Oh, and now her mom and classmates are frozen in time. But Aru won’t have to save the world on her own. The spirit of one of the legendary Pandava brothers lives within her, allowing her access to worlds and characters she would not have been able to see if she was an ordinary human. With the help of her ‘sister,’ Mini (another reincarnated Pandava brother), and with the guidance of a pigeon named Boo, Aru is about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. There’s no way she could have imagined this on her own!

7. What We Were Promised by Lucy Tan

London. Paris. Los Angeles. New York. These cities are undisputedly some of the most famous in the eyes of the Western world, and as such, they very often serve as the backdrops for many books, TV shows, and movies. But Tan’s debut novel brings another city filled with just as much hustle and bustle to the world’s attention: Shanghai.

After living in the States for fifteen years, Wei and Lina Zhen return to China and end up living a life of luxury. They seem to have it all: a kid, money, an ayi (a housekeeper) named Sunny. But when Wei’s brother, Qiang, comes for a visit after years of no contact with his family, secrets begin to come to light. The past and the present become intertwined as Tan expertly reveals the history and the secret hopes and dreams of the Zhen family and even of the silent onlooker, Sunny.

8. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

You probably know the basic premise of this story even if you haven’t read the book or watched any of the movies before: A man creates a monster. The monster then proceeds to bring fear and total chaos to the innocent people he comes across. But there’s still so much this book has to offer–so many psychological and philosophical dilemmas to consider. Honestly I’d probably read it again and again just to return to the Creature’s long and sorrowful tale about his life without the guidance and love of his creator. Heck, I even wrote a ten-page paper relying mostly on that story within a story. (If you ever want to know how the Creature’s tale relates to John Milton’s Paradise Lost, I would be more than happy to enlighten you.) Oh, and if you read this book, you can be one of those nerds who corrects people whenever they refer to the Creature as Frankenstein. (I personally wear that badge with pride.)

9. Off the Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

So here’s the thing: I checked out Off the Page from the library before realizing that there was a book before it. (I normally make sure I read books in order, but I really liked the cover image of a paper prince coming out of a book. Yes, this totally means I judged a book by its cover.) But this book works as a standalone novel, and the authors did well in recounting the important plot points that had happened earlier. So that was a relief.

This book is perfect for fangirls everywhere who have dreamed about existing in the same world as their favorite fictional characters. Delilah had wished Oliver, the prince in her favorite fairy tale, into existence, and now the two of them are dating in the real world. But as we all know by now, magic comes with a price. In order for Oliver to live in our world, someone must take his place in the fairy tale world. Edgar, the son of the woman who had created that world, does just that. But it turns out that “happily ever after” isn’t something that comes as easily as these characters had hoped, especially when the book, in its attempt to restore order to both worlds, brings nothing but chaos.

10. The Marlowe School series: Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

This book was actually a lot darker than what I’m used to reading, but it was captivating nonetheless. The writers create a world based on Faustian principles–teens give up their souls to the devil, who is currently in disguise as a governess named Madame Vileroy, in exchange for “gifts.” Only three out of the five children actually made these deals, but all five of them benefit from Vileroy’s guidance. The powers she gifts the teens allow them to succeed academically and socially at the prestigious Marlowe School. But of course, a deal with the devil requires a great deal of sacrifice–more than anyone ever bargains for.

Honorable Mentions:

1. Origin by Dan Brown

I could not write this list without at least mentioning this book. It probably could have made my top ten if only it hadn’t taken me so long to read it. The plot itself is filled with a great deal of suspense and drama, but Brown’s descriptions tended to slow me down. I mean he clearly did his research–not that this in itself is a bad thing, of course. I’m all for writers doing their research. I highly recommend it actually. It’s just that I found myself at times eagerly waiting to get back to the plot instead of reading more about Spanish architecture.

Edmond Kirsch has made a discovery that will undoubtedly change the way everyone perceives Earth’s own beginnings and future, as the famous billionaire futurist aims to answer two of life’s most important questions: Where do we come from? And where are we going? But just as Edmond is about to present his findings to the world, everything goes horribly wrong. It seems someone is out to silence Kirsch and ensure that no one ever hears his message. Luckily, Robert Langdon and Ambra Vidal are prepared to search throughout Barcelona for the answers they need to unlock perhaps the most important presentation of all time. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, especially when it is rumored that Langdon has kidnapped Ambra, the future princess of Spain. But these two heroes will do whatever it takes to uncover their friend’s, and ultimately the world’s, greatest secrets.

2. What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen by Kate Fagan

This book was difficult to read, too, but for a totally different reason. Fagan attempts to understand what went so wrong in the life of Maddy Holleran, a star athlete whose young life tragically ended in suicide. Pulling from her interviews with Maddy’s family and friends as well as from Maddy’s personal text messages, she grapples with the terrible truths of anxiety and depression–experiences that too many young people know about all too well. It had seemed like Maddy had a promising future ahead of her. After all, she succeeded in everything she did, both academically and athletically. But this overwhelming pressure to succeed combined with a multitude of other factors brought the young Holleran, a college freshman at the time, past her breaking point. As someone who frequently deals with anxiety, I found myself constantly relating with Maddy. I might not have been a star athlete (or an athlete at all), but her struggles with modern academic and social pressures are all too familiar. The book itself is masterfully written and definitely worth the read, but as I said before, it’s not easy to get through.

Have you read any of these books before? If so, I would love to hear your thoughts about them. What were some of your favorite reads from last year?