March Reading Wrap Up

At a Glance:

With March’s unexpected Safer-at-Home order, there was plenty of time to read. I finished 8 books: four graphic novels, two Young Adult novels, one work of nonfiction, and an adult fiction book. I’m linking to the Goodreads page for each book so you can add it to your “Want to Read” list. 

1. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo     | YA | Contemporary |
2. Waking Up White by Debby Irving                  | Adult | Nonfiction | 
3. Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige               | YA | Fantasy | 
4. b.b. free #1 by Gabby Rivera                         | YA | Graphic Novel | 
5. b.b. free #2 by Gabby Rivera                         | YA | Graphic Novel | 
6. Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson   | YA | Graphic Novel | 
7. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys        | YA | Historical | 
8. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng              | Adult | Contemporary | 

          + Waking Up White                                      – No misses

          + Between Shades of Gray

          + Little Fires Everywhere 

I finished Waking Up White for my social justice book club. Author Debby Irving explains how she “woke up” to the privilege her whiteness provides. She had a WASPy upbringing, and her father benefited from the GI Bill. After serving in the war, he received financial aid to go to college and buy a house. Irving was shocked to learn that these same benefits weren’t available for black soldiers who had served in the war. Irving’s parents had good jobs, savings, and were able to support their children’s education and housing purchases later on. Black families aren’t able to afford these types of inheritances. Irving goes beyond this example, though, and explains how a college class helped her to consider what the “White” race is and how the ideals she grew up with were different from other races and cultures. She gives lots of interesting stories about her racial education and how readers can discover their own misconceptions about race. A great read because it was so personable and humble. At times, a bit repetitive, but overall interesting content and reflections. 

Between Shades of Gray is a young adult historical novel set at the beginning of World War II. This book was recommended to me by some of my tutoring students. They had to read the book for school, but they thought I would like it. I did like it – which doesn’t surprise me. I used to read a lot of historical fiction, but I haven’t read it for years now. I think I got distracted by dystopian and fantasy novels. Between Shades of Gray takes place in Lithuania in 1941. One night, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and her younger brother are forced onto dirty train cars by Soviet soldiers and transported to work camps in Siberia. There’s no privacy, no food, no heat, no humanity. No matter how many books I read about World War II, I’m always amazed at how cruel humans can be to one another. This book was especially eye-opening because Germans weren’t the oppressors in this book, and Lina and her family weren’t even Jewish. Did you know that thousands of Lithuanian civilians were deported to work camps by the Soviets? After the Soviets, Lithuania was invaded by German forces – which they thought would bring them relief, but (we know) only led to the termination of thousands of Jews. When the Soviets became allies with the Americans, they slowly and quietly released Lithuanians from the work camps – some of which weren’t released until the early 1960s. However, these returning Lithuanians found their homes occupied, struggled to find work, and were not allowed to speak about their experiences. Lithuania isn’t a country I’ve learned much about, so this story was fascinating. It was tough to read at times, but somehow, there was always a glimmer of hope.  

Little Fires Everywhere has been trending lately thanks to Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington’s hulu miniseries. The book follows the picture-perfect Richardson family as they meet the single-mom and daughter occupying their rental property. Mia Warren is an artist who arrives with her daughter Pearl in an old VW van. The Richardson kids, though they have the best of everything, are each lacking in some way, but Mia seems to make them whole. When Mrs. Richardson goes digging into Mia’s past, she discovers a big secret. Meanwhile, the whole town is caught up in a custody battle. Friends of the Richardsons, the McCullough’s have always wanted their own child. When the opportunity to adopt comes along, they welcome the baby, whom they want to name Mirabelle, with open arms. But just before the adoption papers are finalized, the birth mother decides that she wants her baby – who she calls May Ling – back. A race and privilege battle ensues, prompting the question, who really deserves to be a mother? Is it best for the child to grow up with two parents who have money, or should she stay with her biological mother who barely makes ends meet? The book really turns into a reflection on mother-daughter relationships. An engaging read, Little Fires Everywhere was probably my favorite book of the month if I had to pick just one.    

• We had a bunch of books, graphic novels, and movies checked out from the library when COVID-19 rolled in. Our local library made the decision to close very early on, so we haven’t been able to refresh and get any new books. I would really like some fresh picture books to read to my daughter at night. I’d also love a new stack of graphic novels. Our library said that our materials are all due on May 1st – no matter when your books were originally due. I think one of the places I’m most looking forward to going once the pandemic is over is the library. 

Pages read in March: 1,750

 Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

My 5 Star Books of 2018

We’re already 18 days into 2019, but I still wanted to share some of the best books I read last year. I hope you’ll be inspired to add them to your TBR lists if you haven’t read them yet. Out of 59 books, I gave 13 books a 5 star rating on Goodreads. The chart below talks about 10 of these titles. While most of the titles are YA, I find it interesting that there are two graphic novels listed and a nonfiction book. Neither have appeared in my previous “Five Star” posts (check out my lists for 2015, 2016, and 2017). A tip: click on the infographic below so you can zoom in and actually read the text!

Honorable Mentions:

• Becky Albertalli’s books:
  • Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (and the adorable film adaptation, Love, Simon)
  • Leah on the Offbeat 
  • The Upside of Unrequited 
• Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
• One Dark Throne and Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake
• The Thousandth Floor series by Katharine McGee
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
• Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird #2) by Claudia Gray

Did any of the above books make it onto your favorites list? What were your favorite books of the year?

Powerful Graphic Novels

Last year during NaBloPoMo, I posted about feeling a bit lost when it came to the graphic novel genre. I’m intrigued by graphic novels. I want to like them. But I hadn’t really found a graphic novel that felt like it fit me.

So I kept trying.

I finally found several graphic novels that impressed me, so much so, in fact, that I now own a box set! And I would like to own a copy of the other great book, too.

Powerful Graphic Novels to Add to your TBR:

March, three book series by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell 

John Lewis – yes, the congressman from Georgia – shares his story of how he became a key figure in the civil rights movement. Book One covers John Lewis’s early life and how he became involved in the movement, including his meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr. The novel shows how the student movement began as they carried out nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins. While Lewis reflects back on how the movement began and changes he helped bring about, he’s also preparing for the inauguration of history-making President Barack Obama. Book Two is a bit darker, following Lewis as he and the Freedom Riders board a bus headed to the deep south. The riders are faced with violence, imprisonment, and arson. Book Three covers the Birmingham Church Bombing and how activists attempting a nonviolent march across a bridge in Selma were beaten by state state troopers.

• March is a powerful series that should be read by everyone. The Civil Rights Movement often gets boiled down to the basics in school, but I learned so much about other important leaders and organizations during the 1960s, what went into the planning of the March on Washington, and how dangerous it was for people to protest – even peacefully – and especially in the south. John Lewis is incredible and, as he points out near the end of the book, is the only one left of the “Big Six.” At only 23 years old, Lewis participated in sit-ins and peaceful protests, was a freedom rider, witnessed police brutality, endured jail time, met with President Kennedy to discuss the Civil Rights Bill, and spoke at the March on Washington before Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. We could all use a refresher on our recent past, and this book provides that information in a very accessible way. The comic book format makes it more dynamic and emotional than a history book. Great storytelling and great illustrations. I read March: Book One on my kindle fire and really liked how I could double-tap on a picture and the frame would enlarge on the screen. Then, by swiping, it would switch to the next frame in a really cool way. By double-tapping again, it would zoom out so I could see what the entire page looked like. I sometimes find reading graphic novels a bit confusing, so this feature was really great. The next book, I checked out from our library, and by the time I got to the third book, my husband bought me the three-book series because I talked about how well-done this series was. I’m glad that I own these. They are worth rereading. Five stars and beyond!

Speak: The Graphic Novel, by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll 

Melinda is just starting her freshman year of high school and she’s already an outcast. That’s because she called the cops on the big end-of-summer party – though no one is interested in her reasons for doing this. Struggling through a rough school year without her friends, parents who don’t pay attention, and teachers who are clueless, Melinda turns inward and mostly silent. Thanks to a passionate art teacher, time, and a need to protect others, Melinda finally reveals that she was raped by an upperclassman from her school.

• If you see this book in the library or at a bookstore, pick it up because you need to read it. Laurie Halse Anderson’s original novel Speak is the quintessential text on sexual assault for teens and young adults. It is a must-read because it’s so honest and real and poignant. Melinda’s voice – though she doesn’t say much – has so much to tell the reader. And in this version, what she doesn’t say is filled in by the expressive illustrations. This graphic novel, published almost 20 years after the original book, is a refreshing and relevant update, and just as important now as it was then. It’s not just important for teenage girls either – it is important for teen boys, college-age students, teachers, and parents. And even if you haven’t experienced sexual assault or harassment yourself, there is something for everyone to gain, whether it’s simply awareness or empathy. I don’t think you can walk away from this book without feeling something. Emily Carroll’s illustrations match perfectly with the text – it’s almost like they were always meant to be this way. I loved how the images stirred up feelings of sympathy, frustration, anger, and hope even though there’s not as much text to read as a full novel. Every few pages I found myself going “mmmm” – which meant, “Wow, Laurie and Emily, you just made an amazing point.” Even though I’ve read the original book multiple times and watched the movie, this still left an impression on me. Until women’s voices and victim’s voices are believed, until there’s no longer a need for #metoo and #timesup movements, until there is a belief that women’s rights are human rights, Speak will continue to be a necessary text. So read it. You won’t regret it.

Have you read any graphic novels this year? Tell me about them!