#the weight of our sky hanna alkaf

[a-brown-girl-recs-books]

Y’all don’t appreciate Hanna Alkhaf enough

If you don’t know, Hanna Alkhaf is the author of The Weight of Our Sky, Queen of the Tiles, and more.

She is Muslim, Malaysian, and an outstanding author. I’ve only read The Weight of Our Sky and it was sensational.

The Weight of our Sky is historical fiction and takes place in 1969, during Malaysia’s race riots. The main character has OCD and her intrusive thoughts are all about her mother, who goes missing during the riots. While I cannot comment on the OCD or Malay rep, let me just say the Muslim rep was amazing. I don’t know how to hide spoilers on tumblr so I won’t write about it here, but I personally view Hanna Alkhafs work as revolutionary.

After all, she was the first author I’ve ever seen make the triggers very clear. The trigger warnings she included were not some tiny little fine print that would be very easy to accidentally skip. No, it was clear right from the get-go that The Weight of Our Sky is a triggering novel that not everyone can/should read.

Not only that, there were some minor controversies with her middle grade novel, The Girl and The Ghost. In the arcs she accidentally used wording similar to that abusers usually use. Author Aisha Saeed pointed it out and instead of defending herself or getting upset, Hanna Alkhaf fixed the issue and apologized. WHEN SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG SHE FIXED THE ISSUE AND APOLOGIZED!

She deserves all of the love. Obsessed with her.

[ya-world-challenge]

Book Review - The Weight of Our Sky (🇲🇾 Malaysia)

[image 1: book cover; image 2: map of Malaysia; image 3: aftermath of riots, Kuala Lumpur, 1969 source: Getty]

YA World Challenge book for 🇲🇾 Malaysia

The Weight of our Sky

Author: Hanna Alkaf

A Malay girl searches for her mother while battling OCD, finding help from a Chinese family in the middle of violent and tragic race riots in 1969 Kuala Lumpur.

Review

This book was amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat to the end. I felt that the author’s depiction of Melati’s OCD “djinn” was very real and excellently done. At times during the book I could really feel her anxiety myself. The writing is gripping and really pulls you in. Melati’s OCD is numbers, counting, and imagining her mother’s death. People with anxiety or OCD might find the descriptiveness of her condition triggering - it is very much there the whole book.

Melati, despite being Malay, is rescued by a Chinese woman when riots break out following an election and Chinese and Malays starting murdering each other in the streets. She finds refuge in the Chinese family’s home, guilty over leaving her friend behind and anxious to find her mother. She finds a friendship with Vincent, one of the two sons of the family, who helps her plans to look for her mother.

One thing about this book is that it does not favor one ‘side’, but rather shows the complexity of prejudice and the shortsightedness and error of those both Chinese & Malay (and the Indians caught between). It shows how people, even family we love like Vincent’s brother, can get caught up in their hate when we follow the mob, a truth that is still very relevant today. But it’s also about a girl caught up in an unfortunate event and finding the strength to conquer her inner demons.

I appreciated this book for a look at a piece of history I had never heard of, along with some in-depth characters and fast-paced story.

Other reps: #mental health (OCD) #no romance

Genres:  #historical, 20th century

★  ★  ★  ★  ★    5 stars    

Read it at:  Bookshop.org  |  Scribd  |   Amazon

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌙 Ramadan Mubarak - Books ft. Muslims

🦇 Good morning, my beautiful bookish bats. To celebrate this Islamic holy month, here are a FEW books featuring Muslim characters. I hope you consider adding a few to your TBR.

❓What was the last book you read that taught you something new OR what's at the top of your TBR?

🌙 A Woman is No Man - Etaf Rum 🌙 Amal Unbound - Aisha Saeed 🌙 Love From A to Z - S.K. Ali 🌙 Hana Khan Carries On - Uzma Jalaluddin 🌙 Yes No Maybe So - Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed 🌙 Evil Eye - Etaf Rum 🌙 I Am Malala - Malala Yousafzai 🌙 Exit West - Mohsin Hamid 🌙 Written in the Stars - Aisha Saeed 🌙 The Night Diary - Veera Hiranandani 🌙 Much Ado About Nada - Uzma Jalaluddin 🌙 The Eid Gift - S.K. Ali 🌙 More Than Just a Pretty Face - Syed M. Masood 🌙 Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero - Saadia Faruqi 🌙 If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan 🌙 Snow - Orhan Pamuk 🌙 Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged - Ayisha Malik 🌙 The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad 🌙 And I Darken - Kiersten White 🌙 The Last White Man - Mohsin Hamid

🌙 Hijab Butch Blues - Lamya H 🌙 The Bad Muslim Discount - Syed M. Masood 🌙 Ms. Marvel - G. Willow Wilson 🌙 Love from Mecca to Medina - S.K. Ali 🌙 The City of Brass - S.A. Chakraborty 🌙 The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim 🌙 A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar 🌙 A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi 🌙 An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi 🌙 The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan 🌙 The Moor’s Account - Laila Lalami 🌙 Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian 🌙 Salt Houses by Hala Alyan 🌙 When a Brown Girl Flees by Aamna Quershi 🌙 Jasmine Falling by Shereen Malherbe 🌙 Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad 🌙 Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini 🌙 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 🌙 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 🌙 Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

🌙 Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie 🌙 All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir 🌙 The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik 🌙 Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin 🌙 A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif 🌙 Chronicle of a Last Summer by Yasmine El Rashidi 🌙 A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena 🌙 Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga 🌙 The Mismatch by Sara Jafari 🌙 Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah 🌙 You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen 🌙 Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali 🌙 Once Upon an Eid - S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed 🌙 Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan 🌙 Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson 🌙 The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar 🌙 A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan 🌙 Nayra and the Djinn by Michael Berry 🌙 All-American Muslim Girl by Lucinda Dyer 🌙 It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi

🌙 The Marvelous Mirza Girls by Sheba Karim 🌙 Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg 🌙 Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf 🌙 How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi 🌙 Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan 🌙 Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam 🌙 She Wore Red Trainers by Na'ima B. Robert 🌙 Hollow Fires by Lucinda Dyer 🌙 Internment by Samira Ahmed 🌙 Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa 🌙 Love in a Headscarf - Shelina Zahra Janmohamed 🌙 Courting Samira by Amal Awad 🌙 The Other Half of Happiness by Ayisha Malik 🌙 Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy 🌙 Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed 🌙 Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed 🌙 Muslim Girls Rise - Saira Mir and Aaliya Jaleel 🌙 Amira & Hamza - Samira Ahmed 🌙 The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf 🌙 Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan

🌙 As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh 🌙 Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan 🌙 Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao 🌙 The Yard - Aliyyah Eniath 🌙 When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar 🌙 The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty 🌙 Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja 🌙 The Chai Factor by Farah Heron 🌙 The Beauty of Your Face - Sahar Mustafah 🌙 Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

[jesncin]

Do you have any favorite books or comics that you'd recommend?

Superhero comics or in general? I'll go in general, haha:

Our Dreams At Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani

This is the book series I'm most obnoxiously recommending people. It's influenced me ever since, Lunar Boy is a direct homage to this short series in many ways. It talks about the lived realities of being queer and Japanese in Japan- the queerphobia, the mental health struggles, the relationships (romantic and platonic) in an in depth way. It opened my eyes to what the queer narrative can be, and I'm forever grateful for it. This story is so good it actively ruins all other queer media for me, haha.

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Yang and Gurihiru

This is the book I most successfully recommend to people. What can I say that I haven't said many times before? A reimagining of the classic Klan of the Fiery Cross arc from the classic Superman radio show, empathetically revitalized. A story that actually acknowledges and understands Superman as a direct immigrant allegory?? Where he relates to a Chinese American family being targeted by the Klan?? I love it, and many people have picked up how I'm influenced by it! You don't need to know anything about Superman or his lore, this is a very accessible story for newbies. If you want to know why I love Superman, this is it. This story is so good it actively ruins all other Superman media for me, haha.

Salt Magic by Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock

One of my recent all time favorite graphic novels!! This story is everything I love about fairytales perfectly told in the graphic novel format. When a mysterious woman curses a family farm by turning their water supply into entirely undrinkable salt water- Vonceil must embark on an adventure to uplift the curse that hangs over her family history. Also Rebecca Mock's art is INCREDIBLE.

Homunculus by Joe Sparrow

Shortbox, the publisher for this comic, is retiring soon so order this book now! Or any books from them that you fancy (discount code here)! From the indie scene, Homunculus is a beloved short comic about a machine with growing sentience witnessing the end of the world, and what comes after. The style is lovely and the story is deceptively simple! It's heartbreaking by the end.

Berrybrook Middle School Series (Awkward, Brave, Crush, Enemies) by Svetlana Chmakova

This series is the reason I wanted to make middle grade graphic novels, and is in my humble opinion- the best in the business. Each story is self contained, with a cast of recurring characters that all go to Berrybrook middle school. It covers a wide variety of young experiences in an empathetic way that doesn't feel like you're being talked down to. It's a book series that nurtures the children it's for. I cried reading Brave, and Crush is such an important book that I'm ecstatic that kids get to read.

The Weight Of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

If you liked my Who Is Superman: A Private Interview with Lois Lane comic and want to learn more about the historical context behind it- I recommend The Weight Of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf. It doesn't cover the same history (this book is about the 1969 race riots in Malaysia), but it's such an eerily similar incident that I felt myself reflected in it. Hanna is an incredibly vivid writer, and she handles so many topics with sensitive care. She highlights that historical events like this need to be remembered, and how fictional stories can breathe new life into an increasingly forgotten history. Also Hanna is so nice.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (original idea by Siobhan Dowd)

One of my all time favorite novels, with hauntingly beautiful mixed media illustrations by Jim Kay. I love how this book covers grief in such a messy and fantastical way- showing how its young protagonist has larger than life feelings he's trying to contain from the looming eventual death of his mom's illness. This book is special because it was conceived originally by Siobhan Dowd as she was going through terminal cancer, in collaboration with her editor and Ness. It feels like an intimate experience, and this heavy feeling of grief carries the whole book in a memorable way.

Those are my fav books off the top of my head! Happy reading :>

[study-with-aura]

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

My brother is home! My brother is home! I am posting this now, so I have time to be with him tonight after ballet! He's going to take me and pick me up! I am so excited! We're currently watching the docuseries together while I'm posting this, but I am still getting what I need from it. It's mostly review for me since I'm giving my final presentation for World History on Friday!

Now I am going to go and hang out with Julien. And don't worry, after he came in (I thought it was Dad getting home!) and tackled me, I tackled him and squished him in the squishiest hug I could! Expect a much happier Aura now that my brother is back!

Tasks Completed:

Geometry - Finals review (focused on right triangles and trigonometry today)

Lit and Comp II - Reviewed Units 21-23 vocabulary + read the news + completed revision and final draft of non-fiction writing assignment (due tomorrow) + CLEP Test practice question + reviewed study guides

Spanish 2 - Reviewed La Ropa vocabulario + reviewed future tense

Bible I - Read Matthew 26

World History - Worked on final presentation

Biology with Lab - Dissected a frog (virtual, but it was still fascinating and gross at the same time) + reviewed notes

Foundations - Read more on wisdom + practiced speech + presented argumentative speech

Piano - Practiced for two hours in one hour split sessions

Khan Academy - Completed High School Geometry Unit 5: Quiz 1 and Quiz 3, Unit 5: Lesson 7 practice “Solve for an angle in a right triangle” and Unit 5: Lesson 9 practice "Right Triangle Trigonometry Word Problem" + completed High School Biology daily mastery challenge, Unit 3: Lesson 6 practice "Cellular Respiration" and Unit 1 test (90%) + completed World History Unit 1: Lesson 8 practice "Ancient Andes", Lesson 6 practice "Indus Valley Civilization" and re-took Unit 1 test (78%, it went down 3%?)

CLEP - None today

Streaming - Watched Empire Games Episode 5

Duolingo - Studied for approximately 30 minutes (Spanish, French, Chinese) + completed daily quests

Reading - Read pages 207-244 of The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

Chores - None today

Activities of the Day:

Personal Bible Study (Proverbs 16)

Ballet

Variations

Journal/Mindfulness

[thedisabilitybookarchive]

'The Weight of Our Sky'- Alkaf, Hanna

Disability Rep: Anxiety (MC), OCD (MC)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age: Young Adult

Setting: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 1969

Additional Rep: Muslim Malay Female MC, Chinese Male Major SC, Asian SCs

For more information on summaries, content warnings and additional tropes, see here:

[sanpape]

I just finished the weight of our sky by hanna alkaf and i think i gotta go stare at my ceiling for a couple hours

[bensbooks]

Books 79-90 of 2024

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket

The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

Sleeping Dogs by Sonya Hartnett

The New Life by Tom Crewe

Yesterday's Dead by Pat Bourke

The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon

Abnormal Statistics by Max Booth III

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

[pagebypagereviews]

New YA Book Releases for Teens: A 2023 Guide The world of Young Adult (YA) literature is constantly evolving, offering fresh narratives that resonate with teens across the globe. As we navigate through 2023, a plethora of new YA book releases are set to captivate the hearts and minds of young readers. From fantasy epics and sci-fi adventures to poignant contemporary tales, this year promises a diverse selection of stories that will entertain, challenge, and inspire. This article delves into some of the most anticipated YA books of 2023, highlighting their themes, plots, and the unique elements that make them stand out. Exploring the Latest in YA Fiction The landscape of YA fiction in 2023 is rich and varied, with authors exploring complex themes such as identity, resilience, and the quest for belonging. These narratives not only offer escapism but also provide young readers with the tools to navigate their own lives. Below, we explore a selection of titles that are generating buzz and excitement among the YA community. Fantasy and Sci-Fi Adventures "The Starless Crown" by Jane Yolen - An epic fantasy tale of a young girl who, after receiving a deadly prophecy, embarks on a journey that could either save or doom her world. "Galaxy's Edge" by Amie Kaufman - A thrilling sci-fi adventure set in space, where a group of teens must navigate the complexities of the universe, friendship, and love to save their home. Contemporary Tales with a Twist "You've Reached Sam" by Dustin Thao - A heart-wrenching story about love, loss, and the possibility of saying goodbye, this novel explores the impact of grief on a teenager's life. "The Weight of Our Sky" by Hanna Alkaf - Set against the backdrop of historical events, this novel delves into the struggles of a teen battling OCD amidst societal chaos. Diverse Voices and Stories "Firekeeper's Daughter" by Angeline Boulley - A groundbreaking thriller that combines Ojibwe culture, a compelling mystery, and a profound exploration of identity and belonging. "Ace of Spades" by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé - This gripping novel tackles issues of racism and privilege within a prestigious academy, through the eyes of two black students. Why YA Books Matter Young Adult literature plays a crucial role in addressing the concerns, dreams, and challenges faced by teens today. These books offer more than just entertainment; they provide a mirror for young readers to see themselves and understand others. YA novels often tackle difficult subjects with sensitivity and honesty, allowing teens to engage with complex issues in a safe and relatable context. Moreover, the diversity of characters and settings in YA literature has significantly increased, offering a more inclusive and representative selection of stories for readers of all backgrounds. The Impact of Representation Representation in YA books is vital for fostering empathy, understanding, and self-acceptance among teens. Reading about characters who share similar experiences, backgrounds, or identities can be incredibly affirming for young readers. It helps them feel seen and understood, and can also boost their self-esteem and sense of belonging. Additionally, diverse representation in YA literature exposes readers to different cultures, perspectives, and life experiences, promoting open-mindedness and inclusivity. Looking Ahead: The Future of YA Literature The future of YA literature looks bright, with authors and publishers increasingly pushing the boundaries of genre, theme, and representation. As we move forward, we can expect to see more innovative storytelling techniques, a broader range of voices, and even greater emphasis on inclusivity and diversity. The evolution of YA literature reflects the changing dynamics of society and the growing complexity of the world in which teens are growing up. By continuing to offer stories that are both reflective and visionary, YA books will remain a vital source of comfort, inspiration, and learning for young readers.

Conclusion The new YA book releases of 2023 offer a treasure trove of stories that are as diverse as they are engaging. From fantastical worlds and sci-fi adventures to contemporary tales rooted in real-world issues, these books promise to captivate and inspire teens. Beyond their entertainment value, YA novels play a critical role in helping young readers navigate the complexities of adolescence, offering insights into identity, resilience, and empathy. As the landscape of YA literature continues to evolve, it remains an essential pillar in the development of young minds, encouraging them to dream, question, and understand the world around them. With so much to look forward to, 2023 is poised to be a remarkable year for YA literature.

[lainahastoomuchsparetime]

2023 Reading Challenge Update (January-March)

You can check out my whole 2022 reading goals post here! I am still doing quarterly updates for some reason. I don’t know why, when I haven’t blogged since February. Oh, well, here’s that. As usual, I’ve been doing the Fold Reading Challenge this year. January’s challenge was to read a debut title by a Muslim author and I chose: The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Summary (from goodreads):…

[sometimes-reading]

books i read in august

i don’t really know yet how i plan to structure this blog (most likely with reviews/discussions of books i read as i read them, rather than monthly reviews), but i had a pretty good reading month in august before i started this blog and i wanted to share what i read.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

this is a young adult novel told in verse about a teenage boy who is deciding whether or not to kill the person who killed his brother. it takes place in a very short time frame and details his experiences going down the elevator in his apartment building on his way to kill the man.

i liked this book. i think that it's objectively well written, and the author clearly has a strong command of language. however, i felt like the verse format wasn't as conducive for this story. i generally like verse format novels, and i think that they are interesting, but this one was just missing something for me. the language was really good as i mentioned, but the poems in the book were very short and i felt that they could have been more fleshed out. i didn't really feel like i knew the characters other than their family history and their relationship to the immediate plot, and i would have liked to feel more connected to them. i also found the ending to be really unsatisfying and it was kind of hard to tell what happened; it didn't feel like the novel went anywhere specific and i was generally a bit confused.

tl;dr: this book was well written in terms of the language used, but i didn't feel like the execution of the plot was as strong. i liked it, but it didn't become a favorite for me.

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

this is a young adult novel about a teenage girl in malaysia living through the violent racial conflict of 1969. this girl, melati, also has undiagnosed ocd which she believes is a demon that has the power to kill her family and friends if she doesn’t perform certain rituals to protect them. when she gets separated from her mother during the conflict, she has to deal with her ocd and find a way to reunite with her mom with the help of a teenage boy from the other side of the racial conflict.

um. wow. i say 4 stars, but it was probably a 4.5. i felt so much empathy for melati throughout the book. as someone who often struggles with a lot of the same tendencies as melati, the descriptions of her compulsions really hit home for me. i know first hand how difficult it is to constantly feel like it is your responsibility to protect everybody you love and care about. the way her anxiety was characterized felt very accurate to me. it is also a very interesting subject for a novel; i have never read anything about the racial conflict in malaysia before, so it was a new perspective. i thought this book was really well written, especially for a debut. i would definitely recommend it for those who like young adult fiction and books that accurately depict mental health issues.

tl;dr: this is a very good book. i would highly recommend it for its accurate depictions of ocd, its characterization, and its unique plot and subject.

Loveless by Alice Oseman - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

this is also a young adult novel. it is about an aroace university student, georgia, who is discovering her sexuality and the importance of strong friendships in her first year at school. it’s also written by the author of my favorite book, radio silence.

this is another book that is maybe more on the level of a 4.5, but i rounded up this time. i read this book very quickly. alice oseman’s characters are always so easy for me to fall in love with. the way she writes authentic teenagers is incredibly impressive, and the exploration of characters and themes never ceases to impress me. it only took me a couple of days to read this book, and i just kept wanting to come back and pick it up again. the characters and the writing style impressed me a lot, and i think it’s a very solid book. i didn’t like it as much as radio silence, which is my all time favorite book, but i could definitley see a lot of elements of the same writing style that i love so much. it’s also written by an aroace author, so it’s an own voices story, and it’s always good to get more solid representation in books. my favorite part of this book was obviously the characters. they were all really well written in my opinion, and their interactions and relationships were really realistic.

tl;dr: a great book! alice oseman is an incredible author and her characters are some of the most genuine teenage characters that i have ever read. i would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of ya contemporary literature, especially if you like oseman’s other works.

Another Country by James Baldwin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

this is a 1960s novel that explores themes of race, love, sexuality, truth, and success. it is set in 1960s new york, and it is an insightful depiction of the conflicts present at that time. it’s also still highly relavent.

i read this book for school over the summer, and i really enjoyed it. baldwin is an impressive author, and his use of language and imagery was consistently lovely. i also thought that the way he addressed complex themes was very cohesive, mature, and insightful. i also didn’t feel like it was particularly conflated. sometimes literary fiction can feel out of reach, but this was generally easy to read and i was able to interpret the messages pretty well. this is a really well written book and i would absolutely recommend it. it is quite long, so it took me a while to read (but that’s also because i was doing pretty heavy annotating), but it was well worth the effort. it also made me interested in reading more things by james baldwin.

tl;dr: a well written, interesting literary fiction novel about life and conflict in 1960s new york. not too difficult to understand, and still very relavent. highly recommend!

I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

this follows two different perspectives - jimmy and angel. jimmy is the frontman of a popular band, along with rowan and lister. angel is a huge fan of the band, along with her friend juliet. the book follows the events that somehow lead to angel and juliet becoming caught up in the lives of the three band members. it is an exploration of coincidence as well as the relationship between fame and fandom.

this is another alice oseman book! i love her writing, but this one wasn’t as strong for me. i didn’t feel as connected to the characters, which tends to be my favorite part of her books. maybe it’s because it was told from alternating perspectives; maybe it’s because there were more characters that i would consider part of the main cast than in some of her other books. i still liked it a lot, obviously, and i still think that it was very well written, but it just didn’t capture my attention as fully as radio silence and loveless both have. it could also just be that the subject of the book was a little bit less interesting to me. still, i thought it was an interesting exploration into the intricacies of fame, and that was a topic that i hadn’t really read about before. i also loved the similarities / overlapping phrases (?) between the two perspectives. good book, but not necessarily a favorite of mine.

tl;dr: this is an interesting book, but it didn’t speak to me as much as some of the author’s other writing has. i would still recommend it if the topic seems interesting to you, but i do think her other books that i have read are better (this is obviously very subjective as the premises of those books just interested me more).

[theridgebeyond]

📚 Katelyn’s 2022 Booklist 📚

January

The Change (Animorphs #13) by K.A. Applegate

The Unknown (Animorphs #14) by K.A. Applegate

The Escape (Animorphs #15) by K.A. Applegate

Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by David L. Weaver-Zercher, Donald Kraybill, and Steven Nolt

Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West (Bloody Jack #5) by L.A. Meyer (reread)

February

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

The Whole-Brain Child: Twelve Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.

March

Trying Differently Rather Than Harder: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders by Diane Malbin, M.S.W.

Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance by Reggie L. Williams

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (reread)

April

Call Down the Hawk (The Dreamer Trilogy #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater (reread)

May

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

The Warning (Animorphs #16) by K.A. Applegate

[ya-world-challenge]

Hello!

I was wondering if you had any good recommendations for books containing disability/disabled characters? Fiction or non fiction. I'm trying to put together a little disability literature resource, and I've occasionally seen you share some books on it. I thought your blog would be an excellent place to come to for some more global ones!

Thank you, and I hope your reading is going well!

Oh wow, I haven't been making many lists lately so I'm not searching out books as much as I used to. But here are some more global/non-US ones that I know of/have gathered from various lists ( I haven't read all of these but most are on my TBR if I haven't.) I'd love to see your resource when you're finished!

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman (India) A girl must relearn to dance with her new prosthetic.

One for All by Lillie Lainoff  (France) In 17th-century France a girl with POTS/chronic dizziness wants to become a Musketeer.

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf (Malaysia) A girl with OCD must survive riots in 1960s Malaysia to find her mother.

Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack (medieval Khazaria) A Jewish girl defies angels to find her twin a cure for his leprosy.

The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani (fantasy N. Africa/Arabia-ish series) A girl with clubfoot teams up with a thief to tackle child trafficking.

The Library of the Dead by TL Huchu (Scotland, diverse heritages, series) Magical mysteries with a wisecracking wheelchair-user secondary character.

I Am Not Alone by Francisco X. Stork (Mexican-American) Contemporary novel about an undocumented boy developing schizophrenia.

Scar of the Bamboo Leaf by Sieni A.M (Samoa) A girl with a limp finds a relationship with a delinquent newcomer boy.

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor (Nigeria) A woman with cybernetic enhancements due to disability finds herself on the run.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor (Nigeria) A girl with albinism discovers that she has magical powers.

On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis (Netherlands) An autistic girl worries about being chosen for a survival group before an apocalypse.

Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali (Qatar) Romance where the love interest has multiple sclerosis

Torch by Lyn Miller-Lachmann (Czechoslovakia) 3 teens try to escape communism, including an autistic boy whose father threatens institutionalization.

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray (pan-African fantasy series) One of the main characters has OCD.

Dear Fang, With Love by Rufi Thorpe (Lithuania) A bipolar teen and her estranged father search for their heritage in Lithuania.

Long Macchiatos and Monsters by Alison Evans (Australia) Short romance with 2 disabled trans people.

Russian Doll by Cristelle Comby (Swiss author, set in London) Series of mysteries with a duo of private detectives, 1 of whom is blind.

Crazy by Benjamin Lebert (Germany) Autobiographical coming-of-age, the MC has partial paralysis

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 We shouldn't wait until May every year to delve into the beauty of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices. In May, I shared a list of the NEWEST AAPI books out this year. To keep promoting AAPI authors, characters, and stories, here are a few Young Adult AAPI books you can add to your TBR for the remainder of the year!

🏮 The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han 🏮 My Summer of Love and Misfortune by Lindsay Wong 🏮 Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi 🏮 When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert 🏮 To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 🏮 I Will Find You Again by Sarah Lyu 🏮 Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi 🏮 American Panda by Gloria Chao 🏮 When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon 🏮 Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman 🏮 Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao 🏮 Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao 🏮 Want by Cindy Pon 🏮 The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf 🏮 A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata 🏮 Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon 🏮 Everyone Wants to Know by Kelly Loy Gilbert 🏮 A Pho Love Story by Loan Le 🏮 The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad 🏮 Prepped by Bethany Mangle 🏮 The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn 🏮 Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi 🏮 Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park 🏮 This is Not a Personal Statement by Tracy Badua 🏮 The Cartographers by Amy Zhang 🏮 The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim 🏮 This Place is Still Beautiful by Xixi Tian 🏮 Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido 🏮 I'm Not Here to Make Friends by Andrew Yang 🏮 The Queens of New York by E. L. Shen 🏮 Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying 🏮 These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi 🏮 Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim 🏮 The Marvelous Mirza Girls by Sheba Karim 🏮 A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

[jesncin]

Fanart of "The Weight of Our Sky" by Hanna Alkaf. An incredibly important fictional retelling about a girl with OCD navigating the 1969 race riots in Malaysia.

As a Chinese Indonesian who went through really similar history within my lifetime, this book is difficult but so compelling.

[study-with-aura]

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Three more days, three more days! I have no idea what I am going to do with myself during my usual study hours next week. It isn't officially summer break until after that because I will still have ballet and piano (practical on May 28). I suppose I will start working on my music history studies. It's a self-paced course that I am taking for it, but I want to be prepared to take the exam in December. I could take it in August, but I am taking Music Appreciation next year for academics, so it makes sense to add that to my independent study before the exam. I simply have to take it before I sign up for any level 10 exams (if I pass my level 9 exams! I will pass them!).

My brother is coming home soon! My brother is coming home soon! Yes, that was meant to be repeated! I can't wait!

Tasks Completed:

Geometry - Finals review (focused on similarity and proofs today)

Lit and Comp II - Reviewed Units 18-20 vocabulary + read the news + completed first draft of non-fiction writing assignment and editing (due Thursday) + CLEP Test practice question + reviewed study guides

Spanish 2 - Reviewed Los Adverbios y Los Muebles vocabularios + reviewed present perfect + reviewed informal commands

Bible I - Read Matthew 25

World History - Took a quiz + answered question about conflict/wars between nations and peoples

Biology with Lab - Completed Invertebrate Survey Lab + continued germination lab

Foundations - Read more on wisdom + finished first draft of argumentative speech and editing

Piano - 60-minute piano lesson + practiced for one hour

Khan Academy - Completed High School Geometry Unit 4: Quiz 3 and Unit 4: Lesson 6 practice set "Prove theorems using similarity" + completed High School biology daily mastery challenge + completed World History Unit 6 test (80%, there were no Unit 4 or 5 tests)

CLEP - None today

Streaming - Watched Empire Games Episode 4

Duolingo - Studied for approximately 30 minutes (Spanish, French, Chinese) + completed daily quests

Reading - Read pages 184-206 of The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

Chores - Laundry

Activities of the Day:

Personal Bible Study (1 Corinthians 4)

Ballet

Pointe

Journal/Mindfulness