Berani

Finished May 20

Berani by Michelle Kadarusman

This children's novel takes the reader to Indonesia, where young Malia has chosen a controversial topic for a school assignment, stop using palm oil to save the habitat of orangutans and other native animals. When she starts an online petition, she finds herself in real trouble, as the government education regulator suspends both her and her teacher. 

Malia is the child of an Indonesian father and Canadian mother, and goes to a private school. Recently Malia's father died and her mother plans to move back to Canada. So while she won't have long term effects from this, her teacher would. Malia looks to find a way to apologize while still being true to her feelings and values. 

Along with Malia's story is the story of Ari. He grew up in a small village where his family grew rice. His extended family saved for him to go live with an uncle and go to school. Ari works in his uncle's restaurant after school and weekends. He feels bad that his female cousin Suni isn't also given the educational opportunity as he feels that she is smarter than him. His uncle keeps an orangutan that he won in a card game in a cage in front of the restaurant. The orangutan, that they call Ginger Juice was treated like a loved pet when she was young, but put in the cage as she got older. His uncle also has a mynah bird called Elvis Presley that he keeps in cage as well. Both of them are considered 'attractions' by the uncle. Ari has connected with Ginger Juice and feels badly for her situation. When he attends a chess tournament and sees a flyer Malia created, he begins to wonder if he can change things, and save the orangutan. 

Besides the personal stories of these two young people, we also get to see how the orangutan feels. She reflects on her life with her mother before being captured, how she misses her life in the rainforest and her mother. She remembers the name her mother called her Berani, and thinks of herself as that. This aspect really shows the reader the intelligence in this animals and the cruelty of keeping them in this situation. 

This is a book that opens children's minds to other ways of living, and of choices that can be made that might take courage to begin. A really interesting and engaging novel. 

The Paradise Problem

Finished July 5

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

This romance novel is a lot of fun to read, as one would expect from this author duo. Anna Green married Liam "West" Weston so that both of them could access subsidized family housing at UCLA. Both had needed an affordable place to live to finish their degrees, and Anna's friend Jake had suggested his brother as a solution. Anna had started in pre-med, but ended up in fine arts, and Liam was working on his graduate degree in economics. Anna signed some papers when they moved out and went on with her life, working low level jobs and painting as much as she can. She has a manager for her art, but hasn't hit it big. Liam is now a professor at Stanford, specializing in corporate culture. He is also one of the four children of the CEO of Weston Foods, one of the country's biggest grocery chains. His father has always expected Liam to take the reins as the next CEO, but Liam wants none of it. Both of his brothers, Alex and Jake, as well as his little sister Charlie work there in executive positions, but Liam has managed to make his own way after his father cut him off when he was in university. 

Now Charlie is getting married, and Liam is expected to make his appearance at the destination wedding at a resort in Indonesia. He is also expected to bring his wife. 

Anna hadn't realized that they were still married, and she also had no idea that Jake and Liam were part of this wealthy family. When Liam shows up on her doorstep to ask her to play at being in a committed marriage with him, she has to admit his timing is good. She's been trying to pay all her dad's hospital bills, but has recently lost one of her jobs, and is taking a day to distract herself. With Liam's offer to give her money in exchange for her appearance, she knows it will help her situation immensely.

Liam's lies to his family also included Anna being in med school as he didn't realize she'd changed her career track, so there is another lie that she has to play along with. 

The setting is beautiful, a luxury private resort, with ocean cabins, exquisite food, and lots of fun activities. The family not so much. The tension between Liam and his father is huge, and hanging over Liam is a clause from his grandfather's will that means Liam won't get his inheritance until he's been married five years, which is coming up in a few months. Liam's mother, Janet is passive aggressive. His older brother Alex is just plain aggressive, and Alex's wife Blaire seems to drink an awful lot. Jake is, of course, the only one that knows the real story of their marriage, but he's only too happy to assist. I really enjoyed the parts that included Alex and Blaire's children, particularly their oldest, Reagan. She's at the age that things get hard, puberty, and Anna is only too happy to give some life advice and support. 

There are a lot of things going on under the surface here, but Anna and Liam find themselves getting along in ways that they hadn't expected, not to mention feeling some chemistry between them. There is fun banter, real attraction, and some great romance going on. I didn't put it down until I finished it. A definite winner. 

Girl of the Southern Sea

Finished July 18
Girl of the Southern Sea by Michelle Kadarusman

This story is about Nia, a girl who lives in the slums of Jakarta, but hopes for a brighter future. Nia's mother died a few years ago, and her father has been drinking the money away since then, leaving Nia unable to afford to go on to high school as she can't afford the fees. Her mother died giving birth to her younger brother Rudi, and Nia has cared for him since then. Her father makes a living by selling banana fritters from a cart at the train station, but the situation now, with him drinking too much, and owing money to the local alcohol supplier can't continue. Nia is determined to find a way forward that will allow her to do as her teachers and principal urge her to and go to high school so she can become a writer.
Since she was small, Nia has been fascinated by the legend of Dewi Kadita, a Javanese princess who was cursed by her stepmother in jealousy, and found a new home as the Princess of the Southern Sea, Queen of the Southern Ocean. Nia makes up her own stories about Dewi Kadita, giving her a pet monkey and adding more adventures to her life. She tells the stories to Rudi and other local children, and writes them down.
Nia has a good friend her own age, and is friendly with many other locals, including the lady who runs the fruit cart next to her father's at the station. When Nia survives a terrible bus crash, she comes to the attention of others, not all of whom have her best interests at heart, and when she finds that her father has promised her in marriage without even consulting her, she takes things into her own hands.
I liked her strong character, and her unwavering ambition.
This book opens children's eyes to another culture, the more difficult choices and situations faced by children in other countries, and an interesting legend.