In fact, summer reading can be a critical way to fight back against summer slide—or, the tendency for students to forget some of what they learned over the year. Research indicates that kids who read over the summer gain a month of reading proficiency, while students who don’t just stagnate in their literacy, but lose two to three months of reading proficiency, leaving a gap in overall literacy of three to four months!...
Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E As soon as I started thinking about this list, I knew Nextwave: Agents of HATE by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen had to be on it. This book is one of the most in-your-face ridiculous comics I have ever read, and it is GREAT. There is actually a character whose name used to be Captain ****. Steve Rogers had to beat him up for that and wash his mouth out with soap....
Emily Woo Zeller is one such narrator for me! I first took notice of her narration work in the YA realm, but I was pleased to learn that she had narrated an adult book I really enjoyed a few years back, and she’s narrated everything from science fiction to nonfiction! Her most recognizable audiobook title may be Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, but she is a dynamic voice actress with a great list of titles....
Nu Nu Yi’s Smile as They Bow was banned for almost a decade by the Burmese government. Its publication and translation to English is thus a victorious ode to the demarginalization of queer experiences. While this might be the shortest book in our list, it still is one of the most memorable. (Burma/Myanmar, 146 pages) (Vietnam, 152 pages) (Philippines, 155 pages) (Indonesia, 192 pages) (Thailand, 206 pages)
Yes No Maybe So by Aisha Saeed and Becky Albertalli This YA novel is inspired by the authors’ own experiences canvassing for their local representative. It’s about Jamie, a shy guy hoping that his volunteer hours will be spent behind the scenes, and Maya, who has a heap of personal problems and doesn’t need to add political canvassing to her to-do list. When they’re thrown together, they find a lot of common ground and maybe some romance as they go door to door....
Joe Harper has backpedalled throughout his life. A once-promising guitar prodigy, he’s been living without direction since abandoning his musical dreams. But Joe finds an unlikely path to redemption when he starts working for the bohemian conceptual artist October Danko. Sorrow is a poignant story about friendship and love, art and music, and how these pursuits can save us from ourselves. “An art infused story about love with achingly beautiful characters....
There’s also a lack of diversity and inclusion in publishing in the United Kingdom, Britain included. The Guardian reported on a survey in 2019 that showed publishers aren’t doing enough to “improve the racial and regional diversity of the publishing workforce.” Keep in mind that there are contemporary authors from the region doing great work, and there are different ways to work towards increased representation. One way that readers can make a difference is by reading diversely – not only does this show the industry that minorities authors have reader support, you’ll get to enjoy a lot of good books that are worth reading....
The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman’s Journey to Love and Islam by G. Willow Wilson This might be the most thought provoking book I’ve read in the last few years. I go back to it often. I had very little knowledge or understanding of Islam prior to reading Wilson’s memoir. What I did know came, ironically, from the comic book Ms. Marvel, which Wilson also writes. I think what struck such a chord for me with The Butterfly Mosque was that Willow Wilson could have been any of the girls I knew in college....
A good book makes the best gift. Check off your holiday shopping list with the best books for friends and family. Nobody has time during the holiday season to read! There is gift shopping, decoration shopping, outfit shopping, and then the actual parties to attend. Plus, there are relatives to visit and relatives visiting. But as bookworms, we still want to read, too! So if you are aching for a juicy romance and a cup of tea to curl up with in a chair, but have less time than usual, try out these holiday novellas!...
Women’s heroes are everyone’s heroes! In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote, we read books that are by, for, and about powerful women of all ages. A pre-teen who helped discover the world’s first dinosaur bone, a young women in the early 20th century who braved the illness and death of the radium factories and fought a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights, or teens—one black, one white—who rely on each other to survive a night of violent race riots in their city—these are the stories of remarkable women of history and resourceful everyday girls....
After a reading slump, I look for something short to read. That way, I can have the satisfaction of finishing a book without reading hundreds and hundreds of pages. Usually, finishing one short book is enough to remind me that I am capable of making the time to read. The novels on this list are not only short, but highly engrossing. This list contains recent releases as well as a few older titles, in a range of genres....
You’ve been warned. 6 Extremely Disturbing Books You Just Have To Read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn I’m starting here because this popular read was my first real foray into the world of unreliable narrators. When Amy goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, her husband Nick is the main suspect. His guilt is implicated in her diary, through which Amy recounts their experiences up until her disappearance. I was completely surprised by the twist and immediately made my partner read the book and then watch the movie with me....
From Maya Angelou to Gabriela Mistral, these women’s books have had a global impact that continues to be felt today. Here are six authors of color whose work has helped transform the landscape of literature. Maya Angelou Maya Angelou’s list of accolades is far too lengthy to name in full, encompassing dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. The acclaimed poet and memoirist is known for her lauded series of autobiographies, including her most famous title, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings....
I’ve also focused on fun ways to celebrate that do not require being in big crowds or attending massive events. Big Pride events are fun for lots of people! They’re important! But they’re not for everyone. Also, we’re still in a pandemic. I used to feel left out — or like there was something wrong with me — when I was younger, because I never wanted to go to big Pride parades....
If you’re just here for some recommendations and have no idea what I’m talking about when it comes to video games, that’s cool, too! Feel free to also check out our beginner’s guide to the genre here. Now, let’s dive into these cyberpunk worlds glitch-free (unless they’re the kind that affects our roguish anti-hero characters) and forget all about the travesty of Cyberpunk 2077. There, there. I hope these stand-ins for Cyberpunk 2077 ease the pain of the letdown just a little....
A few things before we actually get into the list. First of all, this list is by no means complete or comprehensive. There are many more translated SFF books out there you can read! Second, I tried to pick a wide variety of countries. Though I mentioned Spanish, that’s not the language I’m focusing on today. And last but not least, all of these stories are heavily speculative. I tried to stick to the more defined fantasy and sci-fi genres — but not all books will strictly belong to one or the other....
If you have ever been around a group of preschoolers, you will know that this is a huge undertaking. If left to their own devices, small children end up piled together like puppies. When sitting on a bench, they pack together like sardines in a tin. Little kids often forget their glasses, chew on their headbands, and pull out their own hair bows. How are they going to keep masks on their faces?...
If you also can’t get enough suspenseful page-turners in your reading life, here are some upcoming 2020 releases you’ll want to check out: Deep State by Chris Hauty, January 7 This compelling debut novel from screenwriter Chris Hauty takes place in Washington, D.C, following the recent election of the highly divisive President Richard Monroe. In the midst of heightening partisan tensions, the White House chief of staff is found dead....
Murder mysteries, even the bad ones, are fun. It’s really easy to find a whole lot of badly written murder mystery novels that are still great reads because you’re just dying to find out whodunnit. But finding those that actually stick with you long after reading them, the way any good novel does, can be a bit more complicated. Here are a few of my favorite murder mystery books that I recommend to friends and, in some cases, have read more than once (yes, even though I already know who did it)....
