#Irene Latham

[bookcoversonly]

Title: D-39 | Author: Irene Latham | Publisher: Charlesbridge (2021)

[goneahead]

~~~Irene Latham

[drsonnet]

African Town

By Charles Waters and Irene Latham

Category: Teen & Young Adult Fiction | Teen & Young Adult Historical Fiction

Chronicling the story of the last Africans brought illegally to America in 1860, African Town is a powerful and stunning novel-in-verse. In 1860, long after the United States outlawed the importation of enslaved laborers, 110 men, women and children from Benin and Nigeria were captured and brought to Mobile, Alabama aboard a ship called Clotilda. Their journey includes the savage Middle Passage and being hidden in the swamplands along the Alabama River before being secretly parceled out to various plantations, where they made desperate attempts to maintain both their culture and also fit into the place of captivity to which they’d been delivered. At the end of the Civil War, the survivors created a community for themselves they called African Town, which still exists to this day. Told in 14 distinct voices, including that of the ship that brought them to the American shores and the founder of African Town, this powerfully affecting historical novel-in-verse recreates a pivotal moment in US and world history, the impacts of which we still feel today.

[youngreaderreviews]

Book Review: The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha

The Cat Man of Aleppo Written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha. Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu.

Genre or Category

Caldecott Medal book OR Newbery Medal book

Target Age Group

PreK-6th grade

Recommended for ages 4-8 years, grades PreK-3rd grade.

Format

Physical, print / Audio (VOX Book)

Summary

Aleppo is Alaa’s home, which he treasures dearly despite the ongoing war in Syria. Many of his neighbors flee, Alaa stays to help those in need- both human and animals alike. Alaa may be an ambulance driver, but he’s also the caretaker for Aleppo’s many cats. In his journey to take care of these cats, Alaa does even more good for his community and makes some friends along the way.

Justification

This book was chosen because it fulfills the category “Caldecott Medal book OR Newbery Medal book.” In 2021, The Cat Man of Aleppo received honors for the Caldecott Medal, which is an award that recognizes outstanding American picture books for children. This specific award is gifted to the illustrators of the books that are awarded and honored. In addition, this title also received the 2020 Middle East Book Award, which recognizes youth literature that contributes towards meaningful understanding of the Middle East. It has also received a glowing review from Kirkus Reviews. 

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating setting, accuracy, and mood.

Setting

The setting is established quickly in the first few pages, which is explicitly stated by Alaa himself and in the narrative written by the authors. Without this, the reader can still tell where the story is located based on the context clues provided by the illustration, which is not always easy. The clothing seen on the background characters, the architecture, and the presence of different foods and spices tells us that the setting is in the Middle East, which is helpful to the reader if they aren’t familiar with Aleppo or Syria. Additionally, showing Alaa in a war-torn environment emphasizes how he feels and why.

In reference to VOX books specifically, which is the version being reviewed, the different sound effects used throughout the readalong helps to immerse the reader. Not only are there sounds of people, but there also sounds from vehicles, animals, and conflict. One thing to note is the use of a cat’s meow to signal when the page is being turned. Although the meows are delightful, they remove the reader from the immersive effects.

Accuracy

Although this book does not include a bibliography for works about Alaa, it does include a list of art references, which the illustrator used to design the backgrounds and characters seen throughout this book.  In order to guarantee accuracy, the illustrator utilized memoirs, videos, photos, and other forms of media. It is also stated that the cat sanctuary in the book is based on two separate cat sanctuaries, which were blended together. It should be noted that interviews were conducted with Alaa Aljaleel himself, which is why there is a lack of bibliographic information.

Mood

There are many different moods that are explored throughout this book. At some points it is fearful, other times it is lonely, but it ends on a hopeful note. The mood is shaped both by the writing and the illustrations. The writing helps the reader through using descriptive language and the illustrations show different forms of body language, while also showing mood through a variety of color schemes. 

In reference to VOX books specifically, which is the version being reviewed, the audio present in the readalong helps emphasize the mood of this book. These sounds also influence the mood of the reader because of the immersive effect it has. The mood can also be seen through the speech of the narrator, whose energy and tone changes throughout the story.

References

Latham, I., Shamsi-Basha, K. (2020). The cat man of Aleppo (Y. Shimizu, Illus.; R. Faragallah, Narr.) [Audiobook]. G.P. Putnam's Sons. VOX book. Listening Library.

Latham, I., Shamsi-Basha, K. (2020). The cat man of Aleppo [Cover illustration] (Y. Shimizu, Illus.). G.P. Putnam’s Sons. https://images4.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9781984813787

[thedepressedjuggalette]

I didn't know about this shit but it's actually real. I'm not fucking joking.

Look at this shit. I knew the book bans were fucking stupid but THIS STUPID??? Seriously????

If you want to see what else is banned go here:

https://pen.org/banned-book-list-2021-2022/

Obviously it's only from 2021 to 2022 so it might be outdated but according to the 2022 to 2023 "Can I Touch Your Hair?" by Irene Latham is STILL BANNED.

https://pen.org/2023-banned-book-list/

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Celebrate National Poetry Month with this display in our Children’s Room, featuring:

My Dog May Be a Genius by Jack Prelutsky illustrations by James Stevenson

Thelonious Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie: A Revolting Rhyme by Judy Sierra With Delicious Drawings by Edward Koren

This Poem is a Nest by Irene Latham, Art by Johanna Wright

Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Poetry For Young People: Maya Angelou, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

[words-read-words-unsaid]

Multicultural Children’s Book Day

I was gifted the book Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War! The book is being published by an imprint of Lerner books (www.lernerbooks.com). The book was researched by children’s author, Talia Aikens-Nunez whose previous publications include the OMG series. Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War is a nonfiction chapter book. While war history is not really my favorite subject to read about, Aikens-Nunez does a great job of capturing your attention with a great introduction. The book is filled with great facts and maps at the beginning of each chapter. I love the inclusion of a glossary as well as a bibliography. While it was a struggle for me to read because of the topic, I really appreciated learning about a facet of history I was not super-familiar with before.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2023 (1/26/22) is in its 10th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Ten years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission & History HERE.

MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)

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MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Sivan Hong, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Josh Funk , Stephanie M. Wildman, Gwen Jackson, Diana Huang, Afsaneh Moradian, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Eugenia Chu, Jacqueline Jules, Alejandra Domenzain, Gaia Cornwall, Ruth Spiro, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young/Twin Powers Books, Kimberly Lee , Tameka Fryer Brown, Talia Aikens-Nuñez, Marcia Argueta Mickelson, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Jennie Liu, Heather Murphy Capps, Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney, John Coy, Irene Latham and Charles Waters, Maritza M Mejia, Lois Petren, J.C. Kato and J.C.², CultureGroove, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Red Comet Press, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Nancy Tupper Ling, Deborah Acio, Asha Hagood, Priya Kumari, Chris Singleton, Padma Venkatraman, Teresa Robeson, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Martha Seif Simpson, Rochelle Melander, Alva Sachs, Moni Ritchie Hadley, Gea Meijering, Frances Díaz Evans, Michael Genhart, Angela H. Dale, Courtney Kelly, Queenbe Monyei, Jamia Wilson, Charnaie Gordon, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Debbie Zapata, Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, Natasha Yim, Tracy T. Agnelli, Kitty Feld, Anna Maria DiDio, Ko Kim, Shachi Kaushik, Shanequa Waison-Rattray, Susan S. El Yazgi, Shirim Shamsi

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📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 9 pm EST for the 10th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party!

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 26, 2023, at our virtual party! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c4PKSi9HTzU0QeiW1tZvbox_EAK1pwdl/edit

[grackle-crackle-books]

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha, Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

Genre/category: Caldecott Award Honoree 2021, Picture Book

Targeted Age: PreK to 2nd graders

Quick plot synopsis: When people must flee war in Aleppo, Syria, they're forced to leave beloved pets behind. Alaa, an ambulance driver, stays in Aleppo and takes care of lonely, scared cats.

Why I chose The Cat Man of Aleppo: The Cat Man of Aleppo is a 2021 Caldecott Award Honoree that depicts kindness following tragedy. Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, known as Alaa in the book, is a real-life cat rescuer in Aleppo, Syria. A note from him appears at the beginning of the text. This book covers his story and shows the very real horror that is the Syrian civil war (2011 - ). I selected The Cat Man of Aleppo because I think it’s the perfect book to introduce concepts that Western children would not otherwise see. The story also concludes with notes from Latham, Shamsi-Basha, and Shimizu, discussing their own connections to the story, Alaa, and Aleppo.

Evaluation:

Yuko Shimizu’s digitally colored ink illustrations support the mood of scenes in The Cat Man of Aleppo. Bright pages with a bustling bazaar are immediately followed by a nearly all-black page spread featuring Alaa grieving in front of a view of Aleppo burning. The illustrations show the war-torn Aleppo that surrounds Alaa as he helps injured people. These pair with the text’s description of the increasing emptiness of the city. Brighter colors seep back into the pages as the cats are introduced. With the rescue of the cats, hope begins to find its way back into Alaa and Aleppo. Additionally, Shimizu put a lot of effort into research to represent Aleppo and its people as accurately as possible. For example, when researching Alaa myself, I recognized a real-life cat because I had seen him in Shimizu’s artwork.

The Cat Man of Aleppo tells the true story of Alaa’s efforts to protect and care for abandoned animals in Aleppo. The book follows events from his first efforts feeding cats in the street to the assistance for orphaned children he now provides. Some elements of Alaa’s story are left out, such as the bombing of the original cat sanctuary. It would have been interesting to see this event addressed, and how it contributes to Alaa’s heroic perseverance in the face of devastating loss. However, I can see why various details such as this were left out for brevity’s sake. Leaving the sanctuary bombing out also makes the story less traumatic for younger audiences. Additionally, some of the elements of Alaa’s story not in the text are referenced in the authors’ notes.

Cultural details in Latham and Shamsi-Basha’s text helps the reader to imagine the Aleppo that thrived before the war. We learn that Aleppo was a city of “pistachios and jasmine soap��, of “boiled corn and dried figs” (Shamsi-Basha & Latham, 2020). Rather than see Aleppo as only a dangerous place, The Cat Man of Aleppo encourages the image of the city as hopeful, human, and deserving of protection. These details about the food, trees, and fashion of Aleppo create this image. Alaa loves his country, his people, and of course, his cats.

Do I recommend it?: Of course! The Cat Man of Aleppo tells a powerful story of helping others in the face of horrible devastation. It’s a great way to introduce children to this topic and encourage them to follow Alaa’s example and make a positive impact on the world.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2022, January 10). Randolph Caldecott Medal. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecott

BBC News. (2019, March 7). Return of the cat man of Aleppo. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47473772

Shamsi-Basha, K., & Latham, I. (2020). The Cat Man of Aleppo (Y. Shimizu, Illus.). G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

[librarianswithattitude]

#FridayReads African Town, by Irene Latham and Charles Waters and A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, by Emma Southon.

[firstbooknyc]

[macrush53]

Poetry Friday: A Response Poem

Poetry Friday: A Response Poem

Thanks to Liz at Elizabeth Steinglass for hosting Poetry Friday

Back in April, during National Poetry Month, I had the opportunity to sub i a fourth grade class. I read the book CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR?: POEMS of RACE, MISTAKES, and FRIENDSHIP by Irene Latham , Charles Waters. This was a 2018 CYBILS Poetry finalist.

As the students listened, I had them write down words and…

[the-book-ferret]

Wild Peace by Irene Latham and Il Sung Na is a lush, soothing mindfulness picture book about finding solace in the natural world.

[bookaddict24-7]

New Young Adult Releases Coming Out Today! (January 4th, 2022)

___

Have I missed any new Young Adult releases? Have you added any of these books to your TBR? Let me know!

___

New Standalones/First in a Series:

Serendipity by Various

It Will End Like This by Kyra Leigh

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker

Echoes & Empire by Morgan Rhodes

African Town by Charles Waters & Irene Latham

The Kindred by Alechia Dow

Murder of Crows by K. Ancrum

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord

The Chosen One by Echo Brown

In Every Generation by Kendare Blake 

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg

The Crossing Gate by Asiel R. Lavie

___

New Sequels: 

Where the Drowned Girls Go (Wayward Children #7) by Seanan McGuire

One True Loves (Happily Ever Afters #2) by Elise Bryant

The Burning Swift (Shadow Skye #3) by Joseph Elliott

___

Happy reading!

[diceriadelluntore]

I miei Libri del 2021

1 - David Quammen, Spillover, Einaudi

2 - Roberto Calasso, Come ordinare una biblioteca, Adelphi

3 - William Godwin, St. Leon. L’alchimista, Edizioni Haiku

4 - Winfried Georg Sebald, Austerlitz, Adelphi

5 - Alessandro Barbero, Dante, Laterza

6 - Douglas Stuart, Storia di Shuggie Bain, Mondadori

7 - Arundhati Roy, Il Dio delle piccole cose, Guanda

8 - Fernanda Alfieri, Veronica e Il Diavolo. Storia di Un esorcismo a Roma, Einaudi

9 - Aldo Cazzullo, A Riveder Le Stelle. Dante, il poeta che inventò l’Italia, Mondadori

10 - Carlo Greppi, Si stava meglio quando si stava peggio. 20 luoghi comuni da sfatare, Chialettere

11 - Hervé Le Tellier, L’anomalia, La Nave di Teseo

12 - Martin Latham, I racconti del Libraio, Rizzoli

13 - Simon Winchester, I Perfezionisti. Come la storia della precisione ha creato il mondo moderno, Hoepli

14 - Emmanuel Carrere, L’avversario, Adelphi

15 - Anthony Trollope, I Diamanti Eustace, Sellerio

16 - Stefania Auci, I Leoni di Sicilia, Nord

17 - Stefania Auci, L’inverno dei Leoni, Nord

18 - Golnaz Hashemzadeh Bonde, Un popolo di roccia e vento, Feltrinelli

19 - Abir Mukherjee, Un male necessario, Feltrinelli

20 - Irene Vallejo, Papyrus. L’infinito in un giunco, Bompiani

21 - Mary S. Lovell, Cote D’Azur 1920-1960. Gli anni d’oro della riviera francese, Neri Pozza

22 - Viola Ardone, Oliva Denaro, Einaudi

23 - Ruggero Cappuccio, Capolavoro d’Amore, Feltrinelli

24 - Youssef Ziedan, Nel Castello di Fardaqan, Neri Pozza

Il numero di libri rispetto al 2021 è lo stesso 24, ma Ho letto meno pagine 8664, lontano dal mio obiettivo delle 10 mila. Sono però sempre più soddisfatto delle mie scelte, le mie fonti di suggerimento si confermano ottime e sono felice che quest’anno, dopo molto tempo, ho letto nuovi autori italiani.

Il libro è una delle possibilità di felicità che abbiamo noi uomini 

Jorge Luis Borges

[richincolor]

January Releases

And we're back! As usual, there weren't many new releases in December, but January is a completely different story. Here are titles that have been released already and will be released before the end of the month.

Week of January 4th

African Town by Irene Latham and Charles Waters G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

In 1860, long after the United States outlawed the importation of enslaved laborers, 110 men, women and children from Benin and Nigeria were captured and brought to Mobile, Alabama aboard a ship called Clotilda. Their journey includes the savage Middle Passage and being hidden in the swamplands along the Alabama River before being secretly parceled out to various plantations, where they made desperate attempts to maintain both their culture and also fit into the place of captivity to which they’d been delivered. At the end of the Civil War, the survivors created a community for themselves they called African Town, which still exists to this day. Told in 14 distinct voices, including that of the ship that brought them to the American shores and the founder of African Town, this powerfully affecting historical novel-in-verse recreates a pivotal moment in US and world history, the impacts of which we still feel today. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Chosen One by Echo Brown Ottaviano

There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite graduating high school in Cleveland as valedictorian, Echo immediately struggles to keep up in demanding classes. Dartmouth made many promises it couldn’t keep. The campus is not a rainbow-colored utopia where education lifts every voice. Nor is it a paradise of ideas, an incubator of inclusivity, or even an exciting dating scene. But it might be a portal to different dimensions of time and space—only accessible if Echo accepts her calling as a Chosen One and takes charge of her future by healing her past. This remarkable challenge demands vulnerability, humility, and the conviction to ask for help without sacrificing self-worth.

In mesmerizing personal narrative and magical realism, Echo Brown confronts mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging as they steer the fates of first-generation college students on Dartmouth’s campus. The Chosen One is an unforgettable coming-of-age story that bravely unpacks the double-edged college transition—as both catalyst for old wounds and a fresh start. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

In Every Generation by Kendare Blake Disney-Hyperion

A new Slayer for a new generation…

Frankie Rosenberg is passionate about the environment, a sophomore at New Sunnydale High School, and the daughter of the most powerful witch in Sunnydale history. Her mom, Willow, is slowly teaching her magic on the condition that she use it to better the world. But Frankie’s happily quiet life is upended when new girl Hailey shows up with news that the annual Slayer convention has been the target of an attack, and all the Slayers—including Buffy, Faith, and Hailey’s older sister Vi—might be dead. That means it’s time for this generation’s Slayer to be born.

But being the first ever Slayer-Witch means learning how to wield a stake while trying to control her budding powers. With the help of Hailey, a werewolf named Jake, and a hot but nerdy sage demon, Frankie must become the Slayer, prevent the Hellmouth from opening again, and find out what happened to her Aunt Buffy, before she’s next.

Get ready for a whole new story within the world of Buffy! — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Ivory Key (The Ivory Key Duology #1) by Akshaya Raman Clarion Books

Vira is desperate to get out of her mother’s shadow and establish her legacy as a revered queen of Ashoka. But with the country’s only quarry running out of magic–a precious resource that has kept Ashoka safe from conflict–she can barely protect her citizens from the looming threat of war. And if her enemies discover this, they’ll stop at nothing to seize the last of the magic.

Vira’s only hope is to find a mysterious object of legend: the Ivory Key, rumored to unlock a new source of magic. But in order to infiltrate enemy territory and retrieve it, she must reunite with her siblings, torn apart by the different paths their lives have taken. Each of them has something to gain from finding the Ivory Key–and even more to lose if they fail. Ronak plans to sell it to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political marriage. Kaleb, falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani needs it to clear his name. And Riya, a runaway who cut all family ties, wants the Key to prove her loyalty to the rebels who want to strip the nobility of its power.

They must work together to survive the treacherous journey. But with each sibling harboring secrets and their own agendas, the very thing that brought them together could tear apart their family–and their world–for good. –Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Kindred by Alechia Dow Inkyard Press

To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…

Joy Abara knows her place. A commoner from the lowly planet Hali, she lives a simple life—apart from the notoriety that being Kindred to the nobility’s most infamous playboy brings. Duke Felix Hamdi has a plan. He will exasperate his noble family to the point that they agree to let him choose his own future and finally meet his Kindred face-to-face.

Then the royal family is assassinated, putting Felix next in line for the throne… and accused of the murders. Someone will stop at nothing until he’s dead, which means they’ll target Joy, too. Meeting in person for the first time as they steal a spacecraft and flee amid chaos might not be ideal… and neither is crash-landing on the strange backward planet called Earth. But hiding might just be the perfect way to discover the true strength of the Kindred bond and expose a scandal —and a love— that may decide the future of a galaxy. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

One True Loves by Elise Bryant Balzer + Bray

Lenore Bennett has always been a force. A star artist and style icon at her high school, she’s a master in the subtle art of not giving a . . . well, you know what. But now that graduation is here, she’s a little less sure.

She’s heading to NYU in the fall with a scarlet U (for “undeclared”) written across her chest. Her parents always remind her that Black kids don’t have the luxury of figuring it out as they go—they have to be 110 percent prepared. But it’s a lot of pressure to be her ancestors’ wildest dreams when Lenore’s not even sure what her dreams are yet.

When her family embarks on a post-graduation Mediterranean cruise, her friend Tessa is sure Lenore’s in for a whirlwind romance. But Lenore knows that doesn’t happen in real life. At least not to girls like her.

Then she meets Alex Lee. After their parents bond over the Cupid Shuffle, she ends up stuck with him for the remainder of the cruise. He’s a hopeless romantic and a golden boy with a ten-year plan. In short, he’s irritating as hell.

But as they get to know each other during the picturesque stops across Europe, he may be able to help her find something else she’s been looking for, even if she doesn’t want to admit it to herself: love. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg Underlined

Being crammed into a house in Queens with her cousins is not how Dua envisions her trip to New York City. But here she is, spending the holy month of Ramadan with extended family she hasn’t seen in years.

Dua struggles to find her place in the conservative household and to connect with her aloof, engaged-to-be-married cousin, Mahnoor. And as if fasting the whole day wasn’t tiring enough, she must battle her hormones whenever she sees Hassan, the cute drummer in a Muslim band who has a habit of showing up at her most awkward moments.

After just a month, Dua is surprised to find that she’s learning a lot more than she bargained for about her faith, relationships, her place in the world—and cute drummers. . . .  -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Serendipity: Ten Romantic Tropes Transformed edited by Marissa Meyer Feiwel Friends

The secret admirer. The fake relationship. The matchmaker.

From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, ten of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favorite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will swoon for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous.

Contributors include Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Leah Johnson, Anna-Marie McLemore, Marissa Meyer, Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Abigail Hing Wen. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes Bloomsbury YA

All Luis Gonzalez wants is to go to prom with his boyfriend, something his “progressive” school still doesn’t allow. Not after what happened with Chaz Wilson. But that was ages ago, when Luis’s parents were in high school; it would never happen today, right? He’s determined to find a way to give his LGBTQ friends the respect they deserve (while also not risking his chance to be prom king, just saying…).

When a hit on the head knocks him back in time to 1985 and he meets the doomed young Chaz himself, Luis concocts a new plan-he’s going to give this guy his first real kiss. Though it turns out a conservative school in the ’80s isn’t the safest place to be a gay kid. Especially with homophobes running the campus, including Gordo (aka Luis’s estranged father). Luis is in over his head, trying not to make things worse-and hoping he makes it back to present day at all.

In a story that’s fresh, intersectional, and wickedly funny, David Valdes introduces a big-mouthed, big-hearted queer character that readers won’t soon forget. –Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Symbiosis by Nic Stone Scholastic Inc

The royal palace of Wakanda is one of, if not the most, secure facilities on this planet—or any other. So the anxiety Shuri feels when she’s jolted out of sleep by the queen mother with the news that someone attempted to break into the palace—and succeeded—is significant. And as quickly as they broke in, they vanished.

The search for this interloper, a mysterious “symbiote” with superhuman speed and strength, will lead Shuri to the Jabari Lands, a remote, unforgiving part of the country she has never seen. And what she discovers will be more shocking than she could have imagined . . . — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Week of January 11th

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds artwork by Jason Griffin Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Jason Reynolds and his best bud, Jason Griffin had a mind-meld. And they decided to tackle it, in one fell swoop, in about ten sentences, and 300 pages of art, this piece, this contemplation-manifesto-fierce-vulnerable-gorgeous-terrifying-WhatIsWrongWithHumans-hope-filled-hopeful-searing-Eye-Poppingly-Illustrated-tender-heartbreaking-how-The-HECK-did-They-Come-UP-with-This project about oxygen. And all of the symbolism attached to that word, especially NOW.

And so for anyone who didn’t really know what it means to not be able to breathe, REALLY breathe, for generations, now you know. And those who already do, you’ll be nodding yep yep, that is exactly how it is. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Ashes of Gold (Wings of Ebony #2) by J. Elle S&S/Denene Millner

Rue has no memory of how she ended up locked in a basement prison without her magic or her allies. But she’s a girl from the East Row. And girls from the East Row don’t give up. Girls from the East Row pick themselves back up when they fall. Girls from the East Row break themselves out.

But reuniting with her friends is only half the battle. When she finds them again, Rue makes a vow: she will find a way to return the magic that the Chancellor has stolen from her father’s people. Yet even on Yiyo Peak, Rue is a misfit—with half a foot back in Houston and half a heart that is human as well as god, she’s not sure she’s the right person to lead the fight to reclaim a glorious past.

When a betrayal sends her into a tailspin, Rue must decide who to trust and how to be the leader that her people deserve…because if she doesn’t, it isn’t just Yiyo that will be destroyed—it will be Rue herself. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan Harper Voyager

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Monarchs (The Ravens, #2) by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige Clarion Books

The sorority girls at Kappa Rho Nu—the Ravens—are determined to restore balance to the world. After destroying an ancient talisman and barely saving their sorority in the process, they’ll go to any lengths to keep their secret as Westerly’s most powerful coven of witches.

Scarlett Winter, a legacy Raven, has finally gotten what she’s always wanted: the Kappa Rho Nu presidency. After the disaster that killed the sorority’s last president, Scarlett is determined that no sister will fall under the sway of wicked magic ever again. But the powers of the presidency have their own pitfalls—and Scarlett has big shoes to fill.

Vivi Devereaux, a freshman, finally knows what it feels like to belong. For the first time ever, she’s got it all: her Kappa Rho Nu sisters and a sweet (and hot) boyfriend. When Scarlett assigns Vivi the coveted role of social chair, Vivi is determined to live up to her Big’s expectations—even if that means dabbling in a new form of magic.

Unbeknownst to the Ravens, new rivals and ancient evils lurk on Westerly’s campus. With Kappa Rho Nu’s future on their shoulders and their pasts still haunting them, will Scarlett and Vivi be able to save their sisterhood once again? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Vinyl Moon by Mahogany L. Browne Crown Books for Young Readers

When Darius told Angel he loved her, she believed him. But five weeks after the incident, Angel finds herself in Brooklyn, far from her family, from him, and from the California life she has known.

Angel feels out of sync with her new neighborhood. At school, she can’t shake the feeling everyone knows what happened–and how it was her fault. The only place that makes sense is Ms. G’s class. There, Angel’s classmates share their own stories of pain, joy, and fortitude. And as Angel becomes immersed in her revolutionary literature course, the words from novels like The Bluest Eye and Push speak to her and begin to heal the wounds of her past.

This stunning novel weaves together prose, poems, and vignettes to tell the story of Angel, a young woman whose past was shaped by domestic violence but whose love of language and music and the gift of community grant her the chance to find herself again. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Week of January 18th

Akata Woman (The Nsibidi Scripts #3) by Nnedi Okorafor Penguin Random House

From the moment Sunny Nwazue discovered she had magic flowing in her blood, she sought to understand and control her powers. Throughout her adventures in Akata Witch and Akata Warrior, she had to navigate the balance between nearly everything in her life–America and Nigeria, the “normal” world and the one infused with juju, human and spirit, good daughter and powerful Leopard Person.

Now, those hard lessons and abilities are put to the test in a quest so dangerous and fantastical, it would be madness to go…but deadly not to. With the help of her friends, Sunny embarks on a mission to find a precious object hidden deep in a magical realm. Defeating the guardians of the prize will take more from Sunny than she has to give, and triumph will mean she will be forever changed. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party by Jetta Grace Martin, Joshua Bloom, and Waldo E. Martin Jr. Levine Querido

There is a saying: knowledge is power. The secret is this. Knowledge, applied at the right time and place, is more than power. It’s magic.

That’s what the Black Panther Party did. They called up this magic and launched a revolution.

In the beginning, it was a story like any other. It could have been yours and it could have been mine. But once it got going, it became more than any one person could have imagined.

This is the story of Huey and Bobby. Eldridge and Kathleen. Elaine and Fred and Ericka.

The committed party members. Their supporters and allies. The Free Breakfast Program and the Ten Point Program. It’s about Black nationalism, Black radicalism, about Black people in America.

From the authors of the acclaimed book, Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party, and introducing new talent Jetta Grace Martin, comes the story of the Panthers for younger readers—meticulously researched, thrillingly told, and filled with incredible photographs throughout. Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Shattered Midnight (The Mirror #2) by Dhonielle Clayton Disney-Hyperion

The Mirror: Shattered Midnight is the second novel in the innovative four-book fairy-tale series written by Julie C. Dao, Dhonielle Clayton, J.C. Cervantes, and L. L. McKinney, following one family over several generations, and the curse that plagues it.

Zora Broussard has arrived in New Orleans with not much more than a bag of clothes, a beautiful voice, and a pair of enchanted red shoes. Running from a tragic accident caused by her magic, Zora wants nothing more than to blend in, as well as to avoid her overbearing aunt and mean-spirited cousins. Music becomes Zora’s only means of escape, yet she wonders if she should give it all up to remove the powers that make her a target, especially as a Black woman in the South.

But when Zora gets the chance to perform in a prominent jazz club, she meets a sweet white pianist named Phillip with magic of his own, including a strange mirror that foretells their future together. Falling into a forbidden love, Zora and Phillip must keep their relationship a secret. And soon the two discover the complicated connection between their respective families, a connection that could lead to catastrophe for them both. In the era of segregation and speakeasies, Zora must change her destiny and fight for the one she loves . . . or risk losing everything. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Week of January 25th

Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life by Marilyn Nelson Christy Ottaviano Books

Augusta Savage was arguably the most influential American artist of the 1930s. A gifted sculptor, Savage was commissioned to create a portrait bust of W.E.B. Du Bois for the New York Public Library. She flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, and became a teacher to an entire generation of African American artists, including Jacob Lawrence, and would go on to be nationally recognized as one of the featured artists at the 1939 World’s Fair. She was the first-ever recorded Black gallerist. After being denied an artists’ fellowship abroad on the basis of race, Augusta Savage worked to advance equal rights in the arts. And yet popular history has forgotten her name. Deftly written and brimming with photographs of Savage’s stunning sculpture, this is an important portrait of an exceptional artists who, despite the limitations she faced, was compelled to forge a life through art and creativity. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Loveboat Reunion (Loveboat, Taipei #2) by Abigail Hing Wen HarperTeen

Sophie Ha and Xavier Yeh have what some would call a tumultuous past.

It’s a classic tale of girl-meets-boy, boy-meets-other-girl, heart-gets-broken, revenge-is-plotted, everything-blows-up. Spectacularly.

At least they’re friends now. They’ve left the drama behind them back in Taipei—at their summer program, Loveboat—forever.

Now fall is here, and it’s time to focus on what really matters. Sophie is determined to be the best student Dartmouth’s ever had. Forget finding the right guy to make her dreams come true—Sophie is going to make her future happen for herself. Xavier, on the other hand, just wants to stay under his overbearing father’s radar, collect his trust fund when he turns eighteen, and concentrate on what makes him happy, for the first time ever.

But the world doesn’t seem to want Sophie and Xavier to succeed. Sophie’s computer science professor thinks her first major project is too feminine. Xavier’s father gives him an ultimatum: finish high school or be cut off from his inheritance.

Then Sophie and Xavier find themselves on a wild, nonstop Loveboat reunion, hatching a joint plan to take control of their futures. Can they succeed together . . . or are they destined to combust? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Mister Miracle: The Great Escape by Varian Johnson illustrated by Daniel Isles DC Comics

Scott Free is a student at the Goodness Academy, on the planet Apokolips, ruled by Lord Darkseid. Sounds pretty cool, right? Wrong. Scott Free wants nothing more than to leave Apokolips for planet Earth; the only problem is that no one has ever left Apokolips of their own free will…or alive.

Scott Free has a plan, a foolproof plan, a plan that his found family depends on for their own freedom. But that plan never involved falling in love with the head of the Female Furies, Big Barda-the one person tasked with ensuring he never escapes.

From the Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author of The Parker Inheritance, Varian Johnson, and afrofuturist artist Daniel Isles (DirtyRobot) comes the story of an escape plan that will take a miracle to pull off. Lucky for Scott, everyone calls him MISTER MIRACLE! Okay, fine, no one calls him that…yet. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Overground Railroad (The Young Adult Adaptation): The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America by Candacy A. Taylor Amulet Books

A young reader’s edition of Candacy Taylor’s acclaimed book about the history of the Green Book, the guide for Black travelers

Overground Railroad chronicles the history of the Green Book, which was published from 1936 to 1966 and was the “Black travel guide to America.” For years, it was dangerous for African Americans to travel in the United States. Because of segregation, Black travelers couldn’t eat, sleep, or even get gas at most white-owned businesses.

The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, department stores, gas stations, recreational destinations, and other businesses that were safe for Black travelers. It was a resourceful and innovative solution to a horrific problem. It took courage to be listed in the Green Book, and the stories from those who took a stand against racial segregation are recorded and celebrated.

This young reader’s edition of Candacy Taylor’s critically acclaimed adult book Overground Railroad includes her own photographs of Green Book sites, as well as archival photographs and interviews with people who owned and used these facilities. The book also includes an author’s note, endnotes, bibliography, timeline, and index. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Red Palace by June Hur Feiwel & Friends

Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father’s approval.

But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher’s innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation.

In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

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The old tree leans in to listen and the dahlias in their Sunday dresses clamor for the best view and I know there must be sky and sun and tiny sprigs and sprouts shouting Look at me! but all I see is you. When Me Meet in the Garden by Irene Latham Garden Collection Soon! #gardendecor #garden #homedecor #gardendesign #gardeninspiration #gardening #gardenlife #nature #plants #decor #outdoordecor #outdoorliving #outdoordesign #outdoorfurniture #homedecor #outdoor  (at Yellow marigold) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTocfNePQh6/?utm_medium=tumblr