Andrea's Book Blog: "Sempre" by J.M. Darhower & End it Movement!

Thought I would post about a book I read over a year ago, "Sempre" by J.M. Darhower, which means Forever in Italian; it is a young adult book read. It’s a very well written story and it will make you wish you spoke Italian (Teroro) if you don't already.

I was asked to be involved in a book support read group on this book since Sunday and thought I would share this really great find of a book. I would say this book is a cross between The Godfather and a young romance story that is action packed with twists and turns you don't see coming. I love it when a book also can shed some light on a current issue in society and this one shines a light on human trafficking. It is not all in your face, it hits you from behind. I had thoughts that Jada Pickett Smith would love to get her hands on this book to make a movie, since she supports education on and efforts against human trafficking.

Book Description from Amazon: This is a story about sacrifice... death... love... freedom. This is a story about forever. Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco had vastly different childhoods. Haven, a second-generation slave, grew up isolated in the middle of the desert, her days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life of privilege, never having to answer for anything he did. Both now seventeen, a twist of fate causes their worlds to collide, making them question everything they ever believed. Entangled in a web of secrets and lies, they learn that while different on the surface, they have more in common than anyone would think. In a world full of chaos, where money and power rule, Haven and Carmine yearn to break free, but a string of events that started before either were born threatens to destroy them instead. Murder and betrayal are a way of life, and nothing comes without a price-- especially not freedom. How much will they have to sacrifice? Can they escape their pasts? And, most of all, what does it mean to be free? Not everything is as it seems, and no one can possibly come out unscathed, but maybe, just maybe, it’ll be worth it in the end.

Just wanted to leave you with this last quote from the book that sums his thoughts in his senior history class. The teacher talking about President Lincoln’s speech and the 13th amendment that freed the slaves in the United States.

Carmine says: "All those people died and it didn't change anything, because it doesn't work if they don't enforce it. They just ignore it, turn their backs and say it's not their problem. They can say slavery ended all they want, but that doesn't make it true. People lie. They'll tell you what they think you wanna hear, and you'll believe it. Whatever makes you feel better about your dismal little lives."

That's enough, Carmine.

So, whatever. Go on being naive. Believe what the history book tells you if you want. Believe what Mrs. Anderson wants me to tell you about it. Believe the land of the free, blah ,blah, blah, star spangled banner bull**it. Believe there aren't any slaves anymore just because a tall guy in a big ass top hat and a bunch of politicians said so. But I won't believe it, because if I do too we'll all *****ing be wrong, and someone has to be right."

That was intense right? Well, you read the book you will find out the story surrounding this statement and just know this is one exciting story - it makes you laugh, cry, and think.
It just so happens, that I found out today that Nick Cannon and many others are asking for people to mark an X on your hand to represent an end to human trafficking. You can check out the movement and for information on this Facebook and this post link.
This gives me a great opportunity to talk about an added piece to my blog that will be coming soon. As you may know I have been blogging for two months and have found that I need to change blog hosts. I will soon be changing to a new blog site so that I can do all the things I would like to do with this virtual book club. With that, an added page of authors’ causes and organizations they support will be featured. If you do know me personally, you know that giving back and paying it forward is very important to me and I am sure I am not the only one in thinking this - know that we are put on this planet to do so.

So look for that coming soon.

http://enditmovement.com/
http://www.jmdarhower.com/

Let me know if you check it out :-)

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Happy Release day Jullian Dodd ! Let's show her some hometown love, the author is from my home town Omaha, NE (Millard). I soon will be meeting her, details of that are coming soon , but for now either catch up on the next installment or start with the first book in the series and you can read about that below!