But Koyanagi endeared me to the story of Alana Quick, a dreadlocked sky surgeon in Heliodor City on the planet Orpim.

Ascension by Jacqueline KoyanagiĪscension was an out-of-the-box read for me, considering I don’t read a lot of science fiction. Not a book for everyone (but it should be), On the Come Up has a unique voice. She becomes a movie star, falls in love, and charts her path – and we know she’ll be all right. AnnMarie is engaging, smart, and endearing. Yet there was so much more to AnnMarie than her surroundings, a fact beautifully drawn by filmmaker Weyer in On the Come Up, a novel based on a true story. On the Come Up by Hannah WeyerĪnnMarie Walker simply could have been product of her public housing upbringing. Her growing pains from the previous novel are testaments to Simpson’s talent, tying religion, sports, sexuality and love. Just as intense is Simpson’s I Am Your Sister 2, with Symone Holmes undergoing painful flashbacks while finally achieving her dream as a WNBA player. If you haven’t read any of the Choices series, please get on that. Hearts were broken, truths were told, and love brought people together.

Full Circle, this final novel starring Denise, Lena, Cooley and Carmen, said everything that needed to be said by the last page. What more can I say about a beloved series that has come to a close? That Skyy needs to write more books, that’s what. Hands down, Hagar has the best characterization I’ve seen in a novel this year. Even as ladies in her Georgia town of Zion can’t vote unless through a man, Linny strives to make her voice heard. She can match wits and strength with any man, but knows being a woman is her greatest asset. Why? Because of Madelyn “Linny” Remington, the main character of Nicholson’s novel about a 1914 woman who doesn’t follow the strict conventions of her time. I finished reading this book only a couple of weeks ago, and just like that it became my favorite book of 2013. Browse through my garden of good and lovelies, shall you? Descendants of Hagar by Nik Nicholson Most importantly, I’ve read some fabulous books – both of the lesbian and the mainstream variety. And I’ve branched out and tried some ideas that I’m definitely carrying into the new year. This year has been one of the best for me at Sistahs on the Shelf. This week’s topic: Top Ten Books I Read In 2013 Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

I Am Your Sister by Ericka K.F. Simpson