Hello happy readers! Thank you for joining me in my second newsletters (If you missed it you can find the first one here).
I was delighted by the response to my first newsletter — thank you all so much for your support! I’ve especially loved the personal notes and messages I’ve been getting from some of you who picked up one of the books I recommended. I hope you’ve been enjoying reading them!
Book Giveaway Winners
I’m excited to get to give away some books! I chose three winners this time just for fun and because I was so delighted to get so many subscribers.
If you are a winner, I will be contacting you via email with more information about picking out the book you would like me to send you. Congratulations and happy reading!
Ok, let’s jump into round two….
Recommendations for Young Readers
Board Books
Global Baby Girls by The Global Fund for Children
Also in the series:
Global Babies
Global Baby Bedtimes
What others say: This book shines a spotlight on girls from around the world, celebrating their strength, diversity, and potential. Vibrantly colored photographs embrace our global diversity and give glimpses into the daily life, traditions, and clothing of babies from around the world. Simple text in Spanish and English teaches the littlest readers that everywhere on earth, babies are special and loved.
My take: I love these books! I read Global Babies first, Global Baby Girls second, and then Global Baby Bedtimes. I highly recommend all three, but suggest getting Global Baby Girls first. These board books are great for the youngest readers — after all, babies love to look at other babies! Each spread features adorable real-life photos of two babies from different cultures around the world and there is simple, upbeat text that goes along with the photos. These books are some of my favorites to give to new parents.
Picture Books
Ursa’s Light by Deborah Marcero (ages 4-8)
What Others Say: A dream to fly is fulfilled in an unexpected fashion.Ursa the bear stands out from all her classmates due to her exceptionally vivid imagination.
My take: Ursa is a curious, daydreaming bear who dreams of flying. She carefully observes animals and machines that fly and then tries to replicated them, only to meet with repeated failure. In this soft “girls doing STEM” book, the illustrations are intricate and the overall storyline of using your imagination and persevering is lovely. (Also, I love how much the little brother bear looks up to Ursa!)
Recommendations for Middle Readers
Early Chapter Books (Fiction)
Unicorn Rescue Society: The Creature of the Pines (Book 1) by Adam Gidwitz, Hatem Aly (Illus.) (ages 7-10)
Titles in the series:
The Creature of the Pines (Unicorn Rescue Society)
The Basque Dragon (Unicorn Rescue Society)
Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot (Unicorn Rescue Society)
The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande (Unicorn Rescue Society)
The Madres de Aquas of Cuba (Unicorn Rescue Society)
The Secret of the Himalayas (Unicorn Rescue Society)
What Others Are Saying: Are you ready to protect the creatures of myth and legend? Then you belong in The Unicorn Rescue Society. Elliot Eisner isn't exactly thrilled with the first day at his new school. His class is going on a field trip to a creepy forest called the Pine Barrens. The trip is being led by Professor Fauna, the weirdest teacher Elliot has ever met. And the only kid who will talk to Elliot, Uchenna Devereaux, isn’t afraid of danger. She likes danger.
My take: This series of books has been fun to read with my seven-year-old. They’re accessible fantasy-adventure chapter books for newer readers. Each book in the series introduces a new fantastical creature (Sasquatch, Basque dragon, chupacabra) that is in danger — usually from the greedy, scheming Schmoke brothers — and Elliot (a white boy), his friend Uchenna (a Black girl) along with Peruvian Professor Fauna (the leader of the Unicorn Rescue Society) have to help protect and defend them. Along the way they learn about different places, cultures and stories from around the world. It’s my understanding that each book has a different co-author who is knowledgable about the culture/myth being portrayed in that book, which I think is a great idea. Illustrated throughout, this is the perfect fit for newly independent readers looking for a story full of adventure, fun, and friendship. There are currently six books out in the series, and I expect there will be more.
Middle Grade Books (Fiction)
The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz, Hatem Aly (Illus.) [yes, the same duo behind The Unicorn Rescue Society!) (ages 10-14)
Note: A 2017 Newbery Honor Book
What Others Are Saying: An exciting and hilarious medieval adventure
My take: Set in 1242 the story of three children — William, an oblate on a mission from his monastery; Jacob, a Jewish boy who has fled his burning village; and Jeanne, a Christian peasant girl who hides her prophetic visions, along with Gwenforte (a possible saint) — is told by different narrators throughout (a nod to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales). The text is delightfully illustrated (in the style of medieval illuminated texts) as well. The children embark on various adventures through France, meeting with knights, royalty, and the Inquisition along the way. The story manages to balance very complex issues (antisemitism, racism, xenophobia) with silly, fun moments (stinky cheese, farting dragons, children cracking up because a donkey can also be called an “ass”). All aspects — the serious and the silly — are thoroughly researched and based on real historical events or actual medieval tales. I would highly recommend that parents read this alongside their children so you could discuss any of the more upsetting historical realities together.
Recommendations for Older Readers
Young Adult Books (Fiction)
Anna K.: A Love Story by Jenny Lee
What Others Are Saying: At seventeen, Anna K is at the top of Manhattan and Greenwich society (even if she prefers the company of her horses and dogs); she has the perfect (if perfectly boring) boyfriend, Alexander W.; and she has always made her Korean-American father proud (even if he can be a little controlling). Meanwhile, Anna's brother, Steven, and his girlfriend, Lolly, are trying to weather an sexting scandal; Lolly’s little sister, Kimmie, is struggling to recalibrate to normal life after an injury derails her ice dancing career; and Steven’s best friend, Dustin, is madly (and one-sidedly) in love with Kimmie.
As her friends struggle with the pitfalls of ordinary teenage life, Anna always seems to be able to sail gracefully above it all. That is…until the night she meets Alexia “Count” Vronsky at Grand Central. As Alexia and Anna are pulled irresistibly together, she has to decide how much of her life she is willing to let go for the chance to be with him.
My take: I love a good modernization of a classic novel (in this case, Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina) and this one is extremely well done! First, rest assured that even if you’ve never read Anna Karenina you can and will enjoy this updated version (and if you are familiar with Tolstoy’s novel, you’ll delight in recognizing the characters). Like any good retelling, it sticks with much of the source material, but deviates when necessary (for modernization reasons, or just to change the plot to be more satisfying). It has the fabulous, ridiculous wealth (and constant brand-name dropping) of a book like Crazy Rich Asians but with teens! (making it more like Gossip Girl). It’s a compelling story of first love and heartbreak, sexytime, scandals, lies and tragedy. Whether or not you think you enjoy YA, I’d recommend you pick this one up!
Fiction
The Library of Legends by Janie Chang
What Others Are Saying: A captivating historical novel in which a young woman travels across China with a convoy of student refugees, fleeing the hostilities of a brutal war with Japan and attempting to save a priceless treasure, a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore known as the Library of Legends.
My take: I love historical fiction about places and time periods I don’t know much about, which was the case for me with this book set in China in 1937. Add to that a premise in which students have to flee their university and save precious books and I was in! I was not expecting the magical element to the book and once it popped up the book took a different direction than I was expecting, but I ended up enjoying the mix of real events and mythology/magic. The story begins in Nanking at Minghua University and follows Hu Lian and her classmates as they walk a thousand miles to (hopeful) safety in China’s western provinces. The student refugees experience frequent attacks, hunger, hardships, murder, arrest and, yes, love.
Graphic Novel (Fiction)
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
What Others Are Saying: A new collection of comedic, autobiographical, and illustrated essays from Allie Brosh’s childhood; the adventures of her very bad animals; merciless dissection of her own character flaws; incisive essays on grief, loneliness, and powerlessness; as well as reflections on the absurdity of modern life.
My take: Like her first book, Hyperbole and a Half (which I highly recommend you read first!) this book made me truly laugh out loud several times and it made me cry. I’ve long been a fan of Allie Brosh, having first encountered her work online in the late-’00s. Her strange, seemingly simple illustrations and her hilarious storytelling sucked me right in and there are several of her original comics (The Year Kenny Loggins Ruined Christmas, The God of Cake) still make me cry laughing just thinking about them.
After her first book came out in 2013 and was a hit, a second book was expected soon, but then Brosh disappeared from the scene for many years. Her second book (out in 2020) covers these seven difficult (it turns out) years when she dealt with crippling depression, the sudden unexpected death of her younger sister, her own divorce and her parents’ divorce. Therefore, many of the chapters in this second book are necessarily much sadder and heavier than in the first book (this book is also literally very heavy. It’s a thick book printed on thick paper. Just FYI). In particular the chapter about her sister was so heartfelt, moving, perfect and loving it straight-up made me sob. I think she’s brave to not have shied away from telling these harder stories, so please don’t let that put you off. There are still many laughs to be found (I really enjoyed the chapter about her neighbor, Richard and the one about the goose coming into the house, as well as the one about the mysterious poop appearing in the house made me cry laughing). Highly, highly recommend!
Non-Fiction
Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy by Rachel Ricketts
What Others Are Saying: A revolutionary offering that addresses anti-racism from a comprehensive, intersectional, and spiritually-aligned perspective. This actionable guidebook illustrates how to engage in the heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices that racial justice educator and healer Rachel Ricketts has developed to fight white supremacy from the inside out, in our personal lives and communities alike. It is a loving and assertive call to do the deep—and often uncomfortable—inner work that precipitates much-needed external and global change. Culturally informed, secular spiritual exercises, such as guided meditations, transformative breathwork, and journaling prompt unpack our privilege, and take up the ongoing fight against oppression, while transforming our own lives along the way.
My Take: I am relying more here on the publisher’s description of the book because I knew I’d have a hard time putting it into words myself. Like many, I’ve been trying to do the work of educating myself more about anti-racism, racial justice and white supremacy. Which, for me, means reading (because I approach everything in my life through books). Of all of the books I’ve read on racial justice in the past year or so, this one has stuck with me the most. It has a different approach that really resonated with me (to use language from the publisher, I think it’s the fact that it has actionable items and is mindfulness-based that really worked for me). If you’ve been meaning to read an anti-racism book, I definitely recommend this one.
Quick Rec:
Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of ‘80s and ‘90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss
What Others Are Saying: For fans of vintage YA, a humorous and in-depth history of beloved teen literature from the 1980s and 1990s, full of trivia and pop culture fun. Those pink covers. That flimsy paper. The nonstop series installments that hooked readers throughout their entire adolescence. These were not the serious-issue novels of the 1970s, nor the blockbuster YA trilogies that arrived in the 2000s. Nestled in between were the girl-centric teen books of the ’80s and ’90s—short, cheap, and utterly adored.
My Take: A pick based entirely on nostalgia for all of the (terrible! but important!) books I read growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s. If you ever read the Sweet Valley High or Babysitters Club books or were a fan of R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, Lurlene McDaniel (among many others), you’ll enjoy this book. If nothing else, it’s a joy to flip through the pages and gasp, “I remember that book!” (Wait Till Helen Comes, The Dollhouse Murders, Girl Talk) when you see the many, many cover images included. If you actually read the essays, you’ll find them both snarky and thoughtful. I truly appreciated the author’s ability to balance mocking the books with a real respect for how important these books and particular storylines were to a lot of young readers.
Podcast Recommendation: If you enjoy Paperback Crush then I also highly recommend listening to the podcast Double Love in which two Irish women re-read and discuss all of the Sweet Valley High books. It’s a hilarious podcast that has brought me many hours of delight!
Everything Else I’ve Read Since the Last Newsletter…
Feel free to ask me about any of these titles if you’re interested in hearing what I think!
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson
Parachutes by Kelly Yang
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kel
All Adults Here by Emma Straub
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
The Firekeeper’s Daughter
The Hidden Life of Trees
Thanks for reading! I hope you found a title or two in here that has piqued your interest.
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Giveaway: Each time I send out an issue I will select, at random, a subscriber to receive a free book, so please subscribe!
Happy reading!
I just finished Anna K, which was very enjoyable. I spent much of my reading being super judgmental of the largely absent & overly permissive parents of all these teens, which I think makes me old, officially.