Hello! Yes, it may be almost the end of July, but I still need to talk about my favorite book of June. June was such a great reading month, and it was difficult to choose just one to choose from, but here we are! (I felt like when I finally get around to posting this, it will already be time to pick my favorite book of July, but here we are). As always, here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.
So my favorite book I read in the month of June was The Sound of Stars, a debut sci-fi novel by Alechia Dow. I had my eyes on this book for a while (and honestly the cover is absolutely stunning), and when I saw it was available through the NoVa Teen Book Festival, I quickly ordered myself a copy. Since many festivals were canceled due to concerns around COVID-19, I wasn’t able to get the book signed, but it still arrived on my doorstep with a few other book-swag items, such a a “rebel librarians” button I’ll wear with pride when I go back to work. And let me tell you, the story inside may be just as stunning as the cover, and it had me intrigued from beginning to end.
Two years ago, an alien race, the Ilori, invaded Earth, resulting in the death of one third of the human population. Many of those still alive are watched in Ilori-controlled centers. One such center lies in what remains of New York Center, where seventeen-year-old Janelle (“Ellie”) Baker risks her life to run a library, allowing her fellow neighbors to experience the emotions that reading can bring, in a world where emotional expression can be ground for execution. Enter lab-made Ilori M0Rr1S (“Morris”), who discovers the library, but instead of turning her in, he offers her a deal – he will keep her and her loved ones safe, if she collects all the music she can find. When events thrust the two of them on a road trip across the country, with a bag of books and their favorite albums, Ellie and Morris discover that creating their own story, and a song of their own, may be the key to saving them both, and, perhaps, the rest of humanity.
This book was able to tackle so much social commentary while still being a book about an alien invasion and a duo teaming up to save the world. Ellie’s discussion about how her neighbors looked down upon her and her family when they moved into the apartment building, even in a place as racially and socially diverse as New York City speaks volumes about what’s going on in the country. References to books such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (which Morris reads from Ellie’s library) and individuals who had been killed by police and haven’t found justice highlight just how far we still have to go. It had a nice balance between light and serious discussions, which I find can be hard to find in YA novels that are trying to weave social commentary into their plotlines. Speaking of plot, I thought the storyline was unique and well-developed, from the quotes at the beginning of every chapter, to the alternating points of view between Ellie and Morris, and even the Starry Eyed interviews layered between chapters in every section. I didn’t find it predictable, and when that last section hit I wasn’t sure whether things were going to turn out well. Some people may be disappointed by the ending (as it doesn’t fully wrap up the entire story) but I find it leaves room for more story in The Sound of Stars universe, should Alechia Dow choose to write some in the future, which I sure hope she does. The relationship between Ellie and Morris, the progression we see from their first encounter, I found delightful and they will forever have a special place in my heart.
Two things that really stuck out to me while reading – the asexual representation and the anxiety rep. Ellie suffers from anxiety, in addition to hypothyroidism, and took medication for both before the Ilori invasion. Several times throughout the novel, when Ellie can feel her anxiety become heightened, she counts backwards from five, reciting things she can sense to calm her breathing. This is an exercise I typically use when I can feel an axiety attack creep up on me, so it was nice to see a character undergo the same thought process. Ellie is also on the asexual spectrum – I believe the label she chooses is panromantic demisexual (and if not I will correct this post upon reread) and her conversations with her friend Alice (an allo individual) regarding sex and relationships was something I incredibly related to. Alice doesn’t understand Ellie’s need for a strong emotional connection before she can feel attraction, and sometimes Ellie even wishes she was different so she could be as carefree with her sexuality as her friend. But seeing Ellie and Morris develop that emotional connection over the days they’re together, and Ellie feeling that love and connection because that emotional bond was formed, let’s just say it made my little ace heart very happy.
Things have been a bit hectic for me, recently, so some of my details might be a bit foggy, but I can definitely saw that The Sound of Stars is a story that I will continue to revisit time and time again. From its commentary to its romance, to all the sci-fi elements in between, I feel that I will be able to leave each reading experience with a newfound appreciation. I cannot wait to see what else Alechia Dow has in store for us in the future, as I will be keeping close eye on her upcoming books. If anything about The Sound of Stars even remotely interests you, I highly recommend checking it out when you get a chance,
Places to find The Sound of Stars:
Amazon
Goodreads
Alechia Dow’s site
Harlequin
The Lit Bar (Black-owned bookstore in the Bronx)
Thoughts About Things 