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Adult Fiction, Book Reviews · May 1, 2019

REVIEW| The Secret of Clouds

The Secret of Clouds - Book Review

Summary

In The Secret of Clouds, young teacher Maggie Topper begins tutoring a sick young boy, Yuri, at home when the school asks her. At first, Maggie is hesitant due to some past experience with a sick child. However, as she tutors Yuri, the two bond closely. The novel alternates between past and present. In the past, we meet Katya and Sasha, Yuri parents and discover the unfortunate circumstances that lead them to their present.

The Good

I loved reading about Kiev, Ukraine, especially in such a historical context because I went to medical school in Ukraine. Author Richman also paints an interesting picture of Katya as a ballerina, and I found the couple’s lives in Ukraine to be the most interesting parts of the story. Close enough are the scenes with Maggie’s parents — her eccentric violin-making father and food-loving mother.

The Secret of the Clouds also fosters an appreciation for the work that teachers do. Maggie constantly thinks of ways to make learning more exciting for her kids. I have a friend who teaches kindergarten and I couldn’t help seeing a bit of her in Maggie.

The Bad

This book was ridiculously predictable — not a single thing surprised me while I read and I’m very easily surprised. I kept holding my breath for a plot twist that never happened. Fortunately, this novel is still somehow readable, albeit not compulsively. A few aspects of the plot were also terribly clichéd, although the writing is thankfully strong.

Overall

[bctt tweet=”Despite being terribly clichéd at multiple points, The Secret of Clouds is a moving book about the power of a good teacher and living life to the fullest.” username=””]

Despite being terribly clichéd at multiple points, The Secret of Clouds is a moving book about the power of a good teacher and living life to the fullest. I did not regret reading this one and would recommend to anyone who needs a mostly predictable tearjerker. If you’re curious about the Chernobyl disaster or life in Ukraine in the 1980s, this might be the pick for you.

[bctt tweet=”If you’re curious about the Chernobyl disaster or life in Ukraine in the 1980s, this might be the pick for you.” username=”afomaumesi”]

I received a copy of The Secret of Clouds from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Buy This Book

The Secret of Clouds

More Book Reviews

  • Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon
  • Family Trust by Kathy Wang
  • The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib

Have you read this book or anything by Alyson Richman? What did you think? What are your favorite historical fiction picks? I’d love to know!


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Comments

  1. Carol says

    June 20, 2019 at 1:39 pm

    I just finished this and I appreciate your thoughts on this one as I’m mulling over my review to publish Friday! My thoughts are similar to yours! Although it’s predictable it did touch my heart because I was a teacher for 17 years!

    Reply
    • Afoma Umesi says

      June 20, 2019 at 9:52 pm

      Aww, yes, it certainly would. I enjoyed it for sure!

      Reply

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🏡 The Parent Trap meets The Holiday 🏡 🏴 🏡 The Parent Trap meets The Holiday 🏡 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 In The House Swap, tweens Allie and Sage are forced together when their families plan to swap houses goes awry. Allie is a British girl living in the countryside and preparing to be a spy when she grows up. She’s also the (overlooked, she feels) middle child, stuck between a teen brother and a talkative little sister. 

🇺🇸 Sage is an only child in sunny California, growing up with parents who seem to be growing apart. She gets more worried when she discovers that only her mom will be coming with her to the English countryside. Both girls realize that they have more in common than they think and decide to help each other — Ally with Sage’s parents and Sage with being Allie’s friend.

🏄‍♀️ The House Swap is a cozy, charming middle grade book about family (history & secrets), new friendships, and navigating parental divorce. Reminiscent of the beloved movie, The Holiday, this middle grade book is perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good reading experience with a touch of history, family drama, and characters you can root for.
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Books mentioned:

A SKY FULL OF SONG by @susanlynnmeyer 
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🏊‍♀️ Aniana is a child of Dominican paren 🏊‍♀️ Aniana is a child of Dominican parents growing up on Galveston, an island in the state of Texas. Her mom has undiagnosed PTSD from the death of her (Aniana’s mother’s) brother years ago in a storm back in their home country, so she doesn’t want her daughter near the water. Aniana’s father wants his daughter to pursue her passion and takes her to swim meets without her mother’s knowledge. 

🦴 But when Aniana wakes up one day with painfully swollen joints and other weird symptoms after swimming, their secret is exposed, and Aniana is faced with a new diagnosis that may threaten the one sport she loves.

🏝️ Aniana Del Mar Jumps In is a tender, moving middle grade verse novel about disability, sports, family trauma, and standing up for your dreams. 

❤️This verse novel is excellently written and painfully honest about the challenges of bridging the culture and communication gap when a parent has unresolved emotional trauma. Ani does a fantastic job of standing up for her goals, and the ending is very satisfying.
Which middle grade authors are your auto-buys? I h Which middle grade authors are your auto-buys? I have so many that I’m making this a series! So excited to spotlight more of my favorites 🥰❤️
If you’re big on graphic novels like I am, here If you’re big on graphic novels like I am, here are 3 exceptional MG options to put on your TBR this year 😍

Books mentioned:

HOOPS by @tavaresbooks 
FOUR EYES by @thirdrex 
DOODLES FROM THE BOOGIE DOWN by @stephguez 

Books shown in montage in order of appearance:
SUNNY MAKES A SPLASH
ALLERGIC
HOOPS
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Atinuke is a British- Nigerian author of chapter books and picture books who spent her formative years in Nigeria. Her stories are whimsical but realistic and focus more on the character and their family than they do on locale. I love her storytelling and I love that more kids are getting to see Nigeria through the eyes of her characters.
Middle grade books written in a unique format can Middle grade books written in a unique format can be hit or miss for some. Here are 3 (+1) of my favorite unique format stories done right!

Books mentioned:

WHAT HAPPENED TO RACHEL RILEY by @claireswinarski 
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LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU by @kloshaughnessy 
THE NIGHT DIARY (which is written in letters in her diary to her deceased mom — voiceovers are hard!) by @veerawrites 

Do you love any stories written in multiple/unique formats? I’d love to hear!
🫁 the first own voices cystic fibrosis novel ✨

🐬 centers young Penny, a middle schooler with cystic fibrosis. Penny has to take digestive enzymes and do her breathing treatments to help her lungs get rid of mucus that affects her breathing. While her CF case is relatively mild-moderate, she still struggles with being chronically ill. 

🚤 One day a dolphin shows up in the lake near their house and Penny feels a strong connection with the animal. It turns out the dolphin (who Penny names Rose) is also sick and needs to return to her pod to get better. Penny may be the only one who can help the scientists take Rose back. But can she do that, when she feels so drawn to the animal?

🫁 No Matter the Distance is a beautiful middle grade verse novel about living with cystic fibrosis and finding belonging in community. Also starring an adorable dolphin and warm family dynamics, this book will appeal to kids who love animals, books about sisters, and stories about chronic illness and disability.
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