It has been a while since I participated in the many Friday bookish memes. Today, I bring you the book Boomi’s Boombox which explores so many facets of life and the wonders and struggles within through the story of 12 year old Boomi, and a really cool boombox!

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The Book: Boomi’s Boombox

Book Info

Description

Acclaimed author Shanthi Sekaran delivers a powerful story about grief, family, dance, and friendship that follows a young girl who accidentally travels back in time to meet her dad as a child that will change her life forever. Perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish and The Ethan I Was Before. A Junior Library Guild Selection!

When Boomi’s dad dies of Covid, the rest of her life topples like a row of dominoes. First her best friend, Bebe, stops talking to her. Then she gets kicked out of her ballet academy. Her mom becomes hyper focused on her weight. Her grandmother sinks further into the shadows of her mind.

Then Boomi is given one last gift from her dad: his old boombox. Inside it, she finds a mix tape and a note: You can change your life. When she presses play on the boombox, her life really does change: she’s magically transported to Thumpton-on-Soar, England, 1986. And her dad’s there!

But he doesn’t know he’s her dad—he’s twelve, just like Boomi. Boomi starts to see what being twelve was like for her dad, growing up Indian in a town that wanted to silence people like him. She starts to understand why he never went back. But why is Boomi sent back to Thumpton? Is she supposed to save her dad? Or change her life?

My First Thoughts on this Current Read

I knew I had to read this book when I saw the author’s name. Shanthi Sekaran’s Lucky Boy (women’s fiction) is an amazing read that deals with motherhood, immigration, and so many other issues. Plus, much of Lucky Boy takes place in the Bay Area and that was an added appeal for me.

Coming back to Boomi’s Boombox now, I am currently still reading this one and from the very first lines, Sekaran’s writing has captured me once again. There is so much I know I am going to love within its pages, including the dual timelines, the time-travel concept, music and dance, cultural connections for me, and of course, the multigenerational and family aspects, along with the other tough issues like body-image and racism.

Bookish Memes featuring Boomi’s Boombox and More

(1 & 2) Book Beginnings and First Line Friday

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.

Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.

There’s something you should know about the summer. It’s a time for dreamers and time wasters, for half-baked ideas and unfinished songs. It’s a blink of a season. There’s never enough of it. One day it’s spring and the next it’s autumn, but for a shimmering moment in the middle, summer steps into your life, your sudden best friend, taking your hand, babbling in your ear, showing you her secrets, promising to stay forever.

3 Friday 56

THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up on Freda’s Voice and visit others in the linky. 

Around me, the colors of the world faded to yellows and golds. I hovered in the rain, and then, out of nowhere, came a blinding flash. Followed by a BOOM. Soft light. Silence. Nothing.

4 Book Blogger Hop

The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.    

What questions would you ask any author if you had the chance?

Just one word: HOW?!!

5. Other Musical Books, because, Boombox!

I have way too many musical books and books about music to share with you, but limiting it to ten today. And mostly children’s books here.

• Ada’s Violin. A picture book inspired by a true story, this one is sure to inspire you to follow your dreams, no matter the obstacles. My thoughts on the book are here.
• Alias Anna. A brilliant middle-grade read. This one is also based on a true story and comes from the Holocaust. Read my review here.
• The Dance of the Violin. One more true story for you, this time featuring the famed Joshua Bell as a young violinist. A beautiful picture book that literally sings to you.
• Hip Hop Speaks to Children. A collection of wonderful poems perfect for Black History Month and any other time of the year. This one comes with a CD that makes it a must-have physical copy for your library. Check out my thoughts for this book.
• Jazz Owls. This middle-grade book is a historical novel in verse based on the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 by Margarita Engel.
• The Little Guitar. A sweet read for young readers. Like the description says, this one is an inspiring tale that is heartbreaking at times, and you can see my complete review for this book here.
• Making Their Voices Heard. A story of friendship, of music, of inspiration, of powerful women, and so much more, and overall, a story that needs to be read.
• Queen of Tejano Music: Selena. Another picture book that taught me a lot about someone I had just known by name. 
• RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. A gorgeous and totally inspiring look at Aretha Franklin’s journey to R-E-S-P-E-C-T! My thoughts for the book are here.
• Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin. A fun read with vibrant illustrations that is sure to have you and your young readers turning on some music to enjoy.

And Now, the End of this Post

Dear reader, which of the books have you read (the featured one plus the others)? Any thoughts on them? And as always, I welcome your recommendations for similar books (for any and all ages, fiction or nonfiction).