Becca

This is a gorgeous, somber book about the disconnect between how we talk about America and how America functions. Glaude weaves together the past and present seamlessly, incisively describing the consequences of exceptionalism and whitewashing history.

Begin Again feels startlingly fitting after the events of January 6th, and mere days after the Senate neglected to convict. Glaude talks about Baldwin's efforts to bear witness and tell the truth about what he witnessed, even and especially when it was painful. Likewise, if America is ever to live up to its ideals and its rhetoric, we must stop telling ourselves comforting lies and start telling ourselves harsh and whole truths about who we are and how we got here.

Glaude depicts Baldwin with so much care and depth. He explores how critiques of America can feel like personal attacks because the narratives we use to characterize ourselves are so wrapped up in believing ourselves to be examples to the rest of the world, to be superlatively hardworking and powerful and successful, of being proud and rightly so, of being right, of being white.
He also pushes back against reductive understandings of “backlash” as a pendulum inevitably swinging back and forth. He talks about the continuum connecting George Wallace to Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. He talks about the potential we have.

I have hundreds of Kindle highlights, but it really is one of those books I think you need to read in full to grasp its scope and purpose. In one sense I think everyone should read Begin Again, but I don't think it's the best starting point for folks new to nonfiction about racism. Baldwin's words are poetic and intentional, but (at least for me) it takes time for them to sink in, and even then I feel like I'm just beginning to understand his full meaning. His perspective is potent and searing.
Take your time with this one, but read it if you can.

Some of us may think of racism and its harms in abstract terms. We know that sometimes, somewhere, somewhen, there exists wrongful discrimination, wrongful convictions, and at worst, wrongful executions. The War Before crystallizes that harm in a collection of essays, interviews, and speeches shared posthumously on behalf of Safiya Bukhari, a member of the Black Panther Party.Because of COINTELPRO, the FBI program overseen by J. Edgar Hoover, the Black Panther Party can be particularly difficult to glean an accurate history of. In early 2020s America, we continue to see how dis- and mis-information are sown to discredit all sorts of political figures, stances, and processes. The War Before is an intense and personal firsthand account of belonging to the Party at both its height and demise. But it's also a fascinating look into the efficacy of “repeating the lie.”Safiya covers much ground. She talks about how viewing yourself as part of a community (vs. as a distinct individual) sustains work against injustice. She talks about how much of themselves members of the BPP sacrificed to the movement; their educations, their families, their health, and often life itself. She talks about how white women universalized their experiences of sexism, while in the same breath decried sexism in the BPP as somehow uniquely pernicious. She makes interesting points about how just as the white working class has historically been pitted against impoverished people of color, so too have Black men and women been pitted against one another. She talks about finding Islam and how it informed her political organizing. I always find it interesting to read about how spirituality fueled much of the Civil Rights Movement, whether it be through Christianity as with Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, through Islam (in- and out- side of the Nation of Islam), or interfaith involvement by Unitarian Universalists. One last takeaway that I found equal parts inspiring and tragic: how very young so many of our most dedicated activists are. Safiya talks about folks joining the cause at age 15, 16. This pattern replicates today in figures like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, David Hogg, and perhaps most relevant here, Mari Copeny, aka “Little Miss Flint.”If you've made it this far, I'd suggest this to people who liked [b:When They Call You a Terrorist 34964998 When They Call You a Terrorist A Black Lives Matter Memoir Patrisse Khan-Cullors https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1499148072l/34964998.SX50.jpg 56239969], [b:Assata 100322 Assata An Autobiography Assata Shakur https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328857268l/100322.SX50.jpg 943760], or really any [a:Angela Davis 5863103 Angela Y. Davis https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588859674p2/5863103.jpg]. On the other hand, it stands in stark contrast to something like [b:Black Klansman 37901607 Black Klansman Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime Ron Stallworth https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522357130l/37901607.SY75.jpg 41816799] or even the [b:March 17346698 March Book One (March, #1) John Lewis https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360539808l/17346698.SX50.jpg 24086771] graphic novels.

Imagine a world where the specter of your great-grandmother walks you home from school. A world where ghosts not only exist, but are elected as sheriffs and presidents. Where humans are called breathers and Christians are a fringe group called Crucians whose beliefs about resurrection befuddle the countless spirits moseying about. A world where a house that isn't haunted, is far scarier than one that is. Why aren't there any ghosts here? They're everywhere else. What's wrong with this house?The premise of The Perfectly Fine House is so hilarious and delightful that its poor execution is especially aggravating. The worldbuilding makes sense. The initial source of conflict is intriguing. I think the main pitfall is poorly developed characters, especially women. When a character feels fleshed out (dead or alive), you may not like them or agree with their decisions, but at least you know who they are. When characters feel flat, the plot falls flat, and you're left with questions. Questions such as, why does everyone blame Kyle, a single being, for an all-consuming unpredictable evil no one in the world understands? Why do Kyle and Donna come at Buster Beats guns ablazin' instead of just asking him how the modules work? Why do both Kyle and Donna fall hard into respective instaloves? How old is Eileen? More generally, why is pedophilia kind of spun as merely unconventional? What is going on with Donna and her rampant yet unwarranted body image issues? Why is everyone glaring all the time? Why wasn't this horror book scary? Why was the ending just...destitution and that's it?If you're into other books authored by white dudes who don't know how to sustain a cool premise, check out [b:The Humans 16130537 The Humans Matt Haig https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353739654l/16130537.SY75.jpg 21955852] or [b:Reincarnation Blues 33571217 Reincarnation Blues Michael Poore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500555996l/33571217.SY75.jpg 54372404].

The Mere Wife was sold to me as a combination of Beowulf and [b:Stepford Wives 52350 The Stepford Wives Ira Levin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554371721l/52350.SY75.jpg 1534281], and from that moment I couldn't have been more invested. It is a descriptive, weird, winding book about motherhood, monsters, and war. It's hard to summarize without giving details away, but I'll give a broad overview: Atop and sometimes inside a mountain live a woman and her son, who have survived through everything and on nothing. At the base of the mountain, atop piles of graves and secrets, sits Herot Hall, a perfectly manicured, affluent suburban community full of women somehow in control of everything and nothing.There is much to be gleaned from The Mere Wife. How the trauma of war stays with you no matter how long it's been. How much and how little people can survive. How sometimes women are more easily believed when they're lying or keeping secrets than when they're telling the truth. How those underestimated and overlooked sometimes find their way into the most power without anyone even realizing it. Pick it up for a much different take on gender than [b:The Handmaid's Tale 38447 The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) Margaret Atwood https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578028274l/38447.SY75.jpg 1119185] or [b:The Power 39402272 The Power Naomi Alderman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521910552l/39402272.SY75.jpg 50108451]. For fans of [a:Ira Levin 8050 Ira Levin https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1195044387p2/8050.jpg], [a:Shirley Jackson 13388 Shirley Jackson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550251468p2/13388.jpg], [b:Naamah 40917488 Naamah Sarah Blake https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532458699l/40917488.SY75.jpg 63793336], and maybe [b:My Sister, the Serial Killer 38819868 My Sister, the Serial Killer Oyinkan Braithwaite https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523366732l/38819868.SY75.jpg 60394238].

A Place at the Table is a collaborative middle grade realistic fiction tale about friendship and immigration. Our two protagonists are Sara, a Pakistani American Muslim, and Elizabeth, a Jewish American whose mother emigrated from the UK. They're both starting sixth grade at the same middle school in Maryland, where Sara's mom is teaching a cooking class. Sara and Elizabeth have a lot in common. They each have two brothers and no sisters. Both of their moms are vying for US citizenship. They're both attentive to their parents' struggles and determined to fix things. At times Sara and Elizabeth feel overwhelmed and even resentful of the pressure placed on them. And both girls have ongoing questions about whether they'll ever be able to prove their families are American enough to those who define our nation in ways that will always and automatically exclude so many. A Place at the Table is a beautiful, sweet, funny, real, moving book. The authors touch on so many important themes—the relationship between anti-Semitism and racism, how readily children absorb their parents' stressors and worldviews, the experience of being parented by someone suffering with depression, the mismatch between how we perceive ourselves and how others see us, the list goes on. I'm impressed at how much ground was covered without things becoming too heavy or congested. The way these topics are addressed shows awareness about their relevance to young people, yet stays accessible and idealistic enough for the age group. In all, this is a gorgeous story that made me cry a little and made me hungry a lot. I'd recommend it for fans of [b:Front Desk 36127488 Front Desk (Front Desk, #1) Kelly Yang https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507986199l/36127488.SX50.jpg 51903030], [b:From the Desk of Zoe Washington 45169415 From the Desk of Zoe Washington Janae Marks https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560957404l/45169415.SY75.jpg 60426059], and maybe even [b:Darius the Great Is Not Okay 37506437 Darius the Great Is Not Okay (Darius The Great, #1) Adib Khorram https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520460519l/37506437.SX50.jpg 58014975].

Nishat is a Bengali teenage girl whose family lives in Dublin, Ireland. Her younger sister Priti knows Nishat is a lesbian, but their parents have no idea. Likewise, none of Nishat's friends and peers at their all-girls Catholic secondary school know. After a family wedding where Nishat runs into an old friend, things get complicated, then convoluted, then ugly. Friendships are challenged, boundaries are toppled, and henna tubes are the weapon of choice.Fundamentally, The Henna Wars is about learning to own aspects of your identity others are quick to judge, and reconciling culture and faith of origin with queerness, embodying both simultaneously with pride and challenging assumptions about their capacity to coexist. Sometimes learning to accept yourself can be enough, even if others don't, and even if you wish they could.Don't let the pretty pink cover fool you, though; this is a pretty painful book. The protagonist deals with rejection from all fronts, but Nishat can be hard to root for at times. Sometimes her anger feels unjustified even though she may be right, and other times I felt she was wrongly blamed for abstract failings. In general, both the pacing and tone felt erratic to me. There's less an enemies to lovers trope and more just a hot and cold dynamic that neither readers nor characters can fully grasp. It's confusing and bad things keep piling up through the very end, which makes certain resolutions feel unconvincing and a bit too convenient. But if you enjoyed [b:The Hate U Give 32075671 The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1) Angie Thomas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476284759l/32075671.SY75.jpg 49638190], [b:Here to Stay 38571446 Here to Stay Sara Farizan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519835672l/38571446.SY75.jpg 60180442], [b:I Wish You All the Best 41473872 I Wish You All the Best (I Wish You All the Best, #1) Mason Deaver https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538483349l/41473872.SY75.jpg 61277384], or [b:A Very Large Expanse of Sea 38720939 A Very Large Expanse of Sea Tahereh Mafi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558453377l/38720939.SY75.jpg 60301626], and you're prepared to read about a rough coming out experience, try The Henna Wars.

Avery and Zib are close in age and home address, but very different in personality. Zib finds joy in being daring and getting her hands dirty. Avery finds solace in predictability and good manners. On their respective walks to school, they hit a wall. On the other side awaits adventure, danger, a whole lot of birds, and an unlikely friendship.In the tradition of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, The Phantom Tollbooth, and other classics of middle grade fantasy, Over the Woodward Wall is a story about strange dynasties, falling down holes, finding brick roads, cowardice and companionship, and how much things can change through quests to get back to normal.The tone and pacing both stand out; Baker/McGuire has a knack for quietly and beautifully describing terrible events. Several weighty themes are explored—autonomy, consent, and caring about people without knowing them well, even if you couldn't be more different in what you value most. How those we trust have their own blind spots and ignorance, and that doesn't make them dishonest. I'm torn on what to rate this. The writing was flowery, but it really resonated with me. I have a soft spot for almost every character introduced, and I like that there were two protagonists instead of one. But the pacing was strange, and I can see a lot of readers hating the ending. I don't think I feel that strongly, but it did feel like a last minute setup for a sequel that I don't know needs to exist. In general, I wish this author would write fewer books that are a little longer. I feel like we're just getting to the heart of a story right as it wraps up, and that's a pity. In all, Over the Woodward Wall is weird and charming, and I will begrudgingly but definitely read [b:Across the Saltwise Sea 56179349 Across the Saltwise Sea A. Deborah Baker https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png 87513137].

If you want to curl up on the couch with a book on a cold, dreary day, Anxious People fits the bill. It even takes place around the holidays.

One December 30th, a bank robber demands cash from a cashless bank. When that doesn't pan out for obvious reasons, the bank robber flees and runs through the first open door he finds, inadvertently crashing an apartment viewing. An open house suddenly morphs into a hostage situation. The police are called, or they would be, if anyone could get a signal. When they finally do show up, things only become more convoluted.

The premise is ridiculous and funny. Backman strikes the right balance between the absurd and the mundane, levity and sentimentality, and weaves in enough mystery to keep you invested. At first you hate everyone, or at least I did. But the characters' lives intertwine in unlikely ways, and as they reveal more about themselves and learn more about one another, their harsh edges soften. They recognize the humanity in each other, and in turn you see the humanity in them.

Not all of the twists worked for me, and some of the social commentary felt trite. But at the end of a year like 2020, I figure we could use reminding that all any of us can do is save who we can and show mercy. Maybe especially to ourselves.

I can't think of many books to compare this to, but if you like Barry, It's a Disaster, Knives Out, or are an anxious person, try Anxious People. Content warning for suicide.

Betty is basically everything I wanted [b:Where the Crawdads Sing 36809135 Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582135294l/36809135.SY75.jpg 58589364] to be, and then some. A sprawling, beautifully descriptive girls' coming-of-age with a rural setting and heaps of brutality thrown at a protagonist far too young to confront all she survives. First of all, pretty much assume that if a content warning exists, it applies to Betty. Examples include but are not limited to incest, pedophilia, rape, parental abuse, death of pets (I will never recover from this part), institutionalization, self-harm, suicide, murder, sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, slurs, I am not kidding; this many terrible things happen. Approach this title with caution. It is rough, and I feel like I have to say that outright. That said, if you have the stomach for it, it will win your heart. And by win I mean break.There are lots of lessons in Betty:-How marrying or parenting people of color doesn't automatically make a white person any less racist-How trauma begets trauma, and simply knowing about what those you love have endured can be its own staggering burden to bear-How supporting those with mental illness does not always mean taking them to doctors or hospitals, and in some cases means preventing just that-How racism is overtly taught, and how classism compounds racism and sexism-How men can teach their daughters and wives that girls are capable and powerful, worthy of leadership and respect-How the impact of kind, supportive men matters until it doesn't, when you're at the mercy of so many more men who are aggressively the oppositePerhaps most of all, though, Betty is a book about a father who makes whimsy out of misery, a man quick to remind those who have no fight left in them that there is magic to be found and reason to hope. It's about a man who never gives up on and never stops believing in his broken family of broken people, and a daughter who follows his lead.If you liked [b:Where the Crawdads Sing 36809135 Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582135294l/36809135.SY75.jpg 58589364], [b:The Female of the Species 25812109 The Female of the Species Mindy McGinnis https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1455917180l/25812109.SY75.jpg 45668311], [b:Okay for Now 9165406 Okay for Now Gary D. Schmidt https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388860777l/9165406.SY75.jpg 14044509], [b:Sweep 37811512 Sweep The Story of a Girl and Her Monster Jonathan Auxier https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1536675436l/37811512.SX50.jpg 59489664], or memoirs like [b:The Glass Castle 7445 The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523542886l/7445.SY75.jpg 2944133] and [b:Educated 35133922 Educated Tara Westover https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506026635l/35133922.SY75.jpg 53814228], and you've braced yourself, pick up Betty.

Ellie, short for Elatsoe, is a 17-year-old Lipan Apache girl who can wake ghosts. Her connection to animal and human spirits alerts her when loved ones are thrown into life-threatening danger. After a sudden death in the family coupled with false claims of no foul play, Ellie is determined to seek out clues and justice, without knocking too much loose (aka free) from the underworld. With a fae male cheerleader at her side and eager ghost pup Kirby circling their ankles, they work together to uncover what really happened, and to make sure it stops.Elatsoe is a story about death, and how the road to closure can be painful. It's a story about friendship and family, but also about culture and history. It's about how our ancestors can inform who we are, for better or worse. It's about which lives are treated as disposable, and where the line between collateral damage and unforgivable suffering is drawn. It's a story about how asexuality doesn't prohibit someone from leading a life full of love. It is lyrical, sad, intriguing, and ultimately hopeful. Ellie is a weird protagonist in all the best ways. I'm not quite sure why, but in a year like 2020 it really hit the spot. I'd recommend this to fans of [b:Pet 38612739 Pet Akwaeke Emezi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550603866l/38612739.SY75.jpg 60224408], [b:Small Spaces 36959639 Small Spaces (Small Spaces, #1) Katherine Arden https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539180297l/36959639.SY75.jpg 56656020], and [b:The Astonishing Color of After 35604686 The Astonishing Color of After Emily X.R. Pan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516893525l/35604686.SY75.jpg 51583878].

Felix Ever After is as beautiful a story as its cover. Felix is a trans artist who lives in New York City. More than anything, he wants to get into Brown. But deep down he worries that he isn't good enough. And not just for Brown; for a lot of things. Fundamentally, Felix feels undeserving. He's unsure of his talent, unsure of his worth, and more and more, unsure of his identity. Right after he thought he finally had it figured out. This book is as relatable as it is unique. Blessedly, and this is rarer in YA than you might think, the characters talk how young people talk. The pop culture references aren't grating or obtrusive. The funny parts are funny without the author having to identify them as such. Callender describes complex topics in an enlightening way without being too formal or preachy. Instead of Felix teaching the reader, we learn and grow with him. Here's a handful of points Callender makes:-Sometimes parents let their kids down when they need them most-Transphobia can fester even in the most “liberal” and “diverse” environments-Trauma can both impulsively fling you into conflict and make you immediately crumble-A disconnect can form between what you believe in general or for everyone else, and the grace and advocacy you apply to yourself-Wealth determines how easy it is to escape consequences for your actions, but coming from wealth does not guarantee support, material or otherwise-When you're unsure of your identity and self-worth, nothing is more jarring than someone so confident and absolute in their declaration of your wrongness-Sometimes when people are hateful towards you, you feel the shame that belongs to them. You shoulder the weight of what they did, and they count on that. As long as you stay down, they escape accountability-Stories about queerness are not always about shifting from one identity to another and then planting there forever. In Felix's case, transitioning itself is not resolution. Queerness includes questioning, fluidity, and being able to change your mind (or never make it up). You don't have to be sure of yourself to accept yourself.Try Felix Ever After if you like [b:Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda 19547856 Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Simonverse, #1) Becky Albertalli https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1402915678l/19547856.SY75.jpg 27679579], [b:Radio Silence 30653843 Radio Silence Alice Oseman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1467051579l/30653843.SY75.jpg 45055773], [b:Red, White & Royal Blue 41150487 Red, White & Royal Blue Casey McQuiston https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566742512l/41150487.SY75.jpg 61657690], or [b:Eliza and Her Monsters 31931941 Eliza and Her Monsters Francesca Zappia https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476994065l/31931941.SY75.jpg 52586056].

Mañanaland is an enchanting middle grade novel about how both closure and courage come in many forms.

Max lives with his Papá and Buelo in a small village presided over by stone tower called La Reina Gigante. Max wants three things for his twelfth birthday: to make the village fútbol team, to find his mother, and for his dad to trust him enough to let him do things on his own.

The cover is incredible. I would frame a poster of it in my home. But it's also just a beautifully written book. I love nothing more than finding books and television and movies written for a young audience whose creators think highly enough of children to make something so carefully crafted.

The writing is flowery without being tedious. The messages about taking risks for the greater good don't feel too trite because Muñoz Ryan discusses how sometimes people who do the right thing are maligned. Sometimes, and maybe even often, doing what's right is sacrificial and painful. Instead of wrapping everything up in a bow, Mañanaland encourages its readers to learn to make peace with what might remain unraveled indefinitely, without giving up hope.

I knocked off one star only because I felt certain reveals were predictable and rushed, largely because of the pacing. I wish Max had started his journey with Isadora earlier so the end could wind down a bit slower. But it is a moving, pretty, cultural story that stands out for several reasons. In this instance, feel free to judge a book by its (gorgeous) cover.

Early on in this book a joke was made about Jeff Bezos being smart, and I hate Jeff so much I considered DNFing right then and there. And well, I should have listened to my gut. I wanted so badly to love Stay Gold, but it was rough. I only dip below two stars when I'm mad.Pony is a trans boy starting his senior year at a new Texan high school. His sister and mom are supportive (one more emphatically than the other), but his dad is aggressively the opposite. Pony's determined to fly under the radar by staying deep in the closet. He doesn't want the attention and harassment that being out can bring. He just wants to hang with the boys and date a cheerleader. Normal stuff.Georgia is a popular cheerleader who all the guys lust after, Pony included. Though she's perfected her image, she sometimes feels stifled by her carefully built facade. She's scared that being fully herself will ruin the life she's created for herself. How can she write for the school newspaper and cheer? How can she justifying dating the quiet new kid instead of the star quarterback?So that's the premise. I was intrigued. And the cover! Just gorgeous. The trans pride flag color scheme is so pretty. Stay Gold has a certain “Trans 101” vibe, but I don't mind that. I like to see fiction destigmatize and educate. And I want to emphasize that #ownvoices trans fiction is vitally important, maybe especially for younger audiences. Perhaps because of this, I also think those books and authors tend to be held up to disproportionate scrutiny, as though there is more at stake and thus more to lose. All that said, I really truly struggled with this. Here is a spoiler-y list of reasons why: -We've already covered this, but calling Jeff Bezos smart. I hate Jeff Bezos-The dialogue does that rapidfire witty Gilmore Girls thing that I find in a lot of YA contemporaries. Sometimes it's funny and fun to read, but other times it's unrealistic and almost tiring. Exhaustingly snarky-Sure, a lot of stories about teenagers are about not knowing where you fit, but who even is Georgia? Does she like cheerleading? Does she like her friends? Why is Mia her best friend but also consistently awful to everyone she interacts with, including Georgia? What is going on?-In that vein, why is Georgia always saying Lauren needs to learn how to stand up for herself instead of focusing on how Mia pushes all of her friends around with no regard for their feelings and opinions? It's good to know how to advocate for yourself, but why is Mia someone people need to learn how to stand up to? -Pony ambushing Georgia outside her house late at night after she explicitly said she was not ready to talk as though that's not 1) a flagrant violation of boundaries and 2) terrifying-Unironically using the term friend zone in 2020-Max demanding Pony be a vocal advocate for trans rights when it is *his choice* to remain closeted while existing in unsupportive home and school environments, putting forth a bewildering ultimatum whereby Pony has to either share a petition on Facebook or lose a close friend who is one of his few ties to queer safe spaces?-When Georgia said she couldn't rag on the guy her friend was dating because Pony is trans???????-That trope where an old person is shoehorned into the plot to teach the protagonist a poignant life lesson then promptly dies-The half-assed redemption arc for Pony's absolute nincompoop of a father who is volatile, dangerous, and openly despises both of his children-Surprising Pony by driving him back to where a hate crime literally just happened to him then Georgia saying he had to see it through because “all these people showed up for you”-Just have Kelly and Taylor be homecoming queens, what's the problem?-The ending in general was...a mess. What a chaotic, slapdash, intensely upsetting culmination of events. And then all these characters actually sprinting in at the last second to be like “REMEMBER ME? I'M HERE TOO AND NOW THERE IS CLOSURE”-McSmith is in no way to blame for this one, but Stay Gold somehow manages to namedrop both Chadwick Boseman and RBG, and that was kind of painful and unexpected right about nowI am willing to grant that this might just not be a good fit for me. I would say give it a chance if you like [b:Tweet Cute 45045129 Tweet Cute Emma Lord https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558456354l/45045129.SY75.jpg 66924806], [b:Autoboyography 28919058 Autoboyography Christina Lauren https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490425916l/28919058.SY75.jpg 49135502], [b:A Very Large Expanse of Sea 38720939 A Very Large Expanse of Sea Tahereh Mafi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558453377l/38720939.SY75.jpg 60301626], [b:I Wish You All the Best 41473872 I Wish You All the Best Mason Deaver https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538483349l/41473872.SY75.jpg 61277384], or Jeff Bezos.

Dreadnought is about a closeted trans teenager gaining superpowers and transitioning in one life-changing, sudden moment. By allowing Danny's body to match her sense of self as that same body gains superhuman strength and the ability to fly, Daniels throws power dynamics off-kilter in a moving, fascinating way.As we all know, many (real and fictional) coming out stories are prefaced with apprehension about how family and friends will react. Especially when you're dependent on parents for food, clothing, and shelter, coming out can be dangerous for closeted youth. By contrast, Danny gets to come out right after gaining the ability to bend metal with her bare hands as easily as origami paper. She can run incredible distances at incredible speeds without fatigue. She can fly. Needles and bullets bounce off her skin. Anyone who might wish her harm will have a hard time making good on their threats. She is not at anyone's mercy; if anything, they're at hers.But then the other shoe drops. Just because someone can't beat you up, doesn't mean they can't hurt you. No matter how fast you can run, no one can outrun the emotional toll of abuse and trauma. No one can outrun loved ones who react to you being openly yourself with selfishness, aggression, and cruelty—not even a superhero. And so Dreadnought is a story that upends power dynamics while emphasizing their pervasiveness. It's a story about deciding to believe in yourself when the people who should always have your back turn their backs on you. It's a story about how people can make your life more about them than you, and victimize themselves while attacking you. It's a story about a teenage girl who doubts herself but is more capable than she realizes, aka, a story about a teenage girl. It is fast-paced, heart-wrenching, but ultimately hopeful and even fun. And for obvious reasons, it's an especially refreshing time to read a trans #ownvoices fantasy book written for young people. If you like [b:Fierce Femmes 32279708 Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars Kai Cheng Thom https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480517872l/32279708.SY75.jpg 52903547], [b:The Refrigerator Monologues 32714267 The Refrigerator Monologues Catherynne M. Valente https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477836652l/32714267.SY75.jpg 53293963], [b:I Wish You All the Best 41473872 I Wish You All the Best Mason Deaver https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538483349l/41473872.SY75.jpg 61277384], or Netflix's I Am Not Okay With This, you might like Dreadnought.

What a magical, funny, heartwrenching book. Some things I really loved: –The depiction of grief as ambivalent. Feeling both like you left them behind and they left you behind. Feeling guilty for still being here and anger because they're not anymore. How the happiest memories turn sharp and painful. See also: [b:A Monster Calls 19229818 A Monster Calls Patrick Ness https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435813838l/19229818.SY75.jpg 13492114]–How Tristan gets to be scared. He gets to admit it, out loud, to himself and others. He even gets to go to therapy and get something out of it. And when he's honest about being afraid, he isn't met with ridicule. Because you can be courageous and terrified. You can be vulnerable and be a hero. See also: Into the Spiderverse–It's not often that fantasy featuring a male protagonist surrounds that protagonist with girls. And yet Tristan fights alongside Ayanna, Thandiwe, Chestnutt, and Gum Baby. Each have distinct personalities (and I love all of them), but are smart and capable in their own ways. The group dynamics feel refreshing and natural. Gum Baby is an icon, obviously.–How the noble quest to save the world is basically just roadblock after roadblock. Things don't always go to plan, and if this year has taught me anything it's that when things are already bad it's easy for them to get worse. There was something relatable about grandiose plans toppling basically as soon as they were made, over and over. Tristan is an endearing, compelling protagonist who is more than anything a friend. His boxing and storytelling skills are a beautiful combination and show clearly how athleticism and artistry are not mutually exclusive and often support one another. The diversity is intentional and powerful. The folklore brims with whimsy. It's exciting and intense, but it's also just a lot of fun. I'll be pestering everyone to read it.While unique, it's also one of those texts that reminds me of lots of other books. I'd recommend this if you like [b:Alice in Wonderland 24213 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass Lewis Carroll https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327872220l/24213.SY75.jpg 2375385], [b:Inkheart 444331 Inkheart (Inkworld, #1) Cornelia Funke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394957292l/444331.SX50.jpg 2628323], [b:The Strangers 40390757 The Strangers (Greystone Secrets, #1) Margaret Peterson Haddix https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529990008l/40390757.SY75.jpg 59931992], [b:Small Spaces 36959639 Small Spaces (Small Spaces, #1) Katherine Arden https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539180297l/36959639.SY75.jpg 56656020], or [b:Morrigan Crow 34219873 The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1) Jessica Townsend https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1573171204l/34219873.SX50.jpg 55271407].

Dorothy Roberts is just brilliant. I need more people to read her so we can talk about her work. Years ago I read [b:Killing the Black Body 229445 Killing the Black Body Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty Dorothy Roberts https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388801372l/229445.SY75.jpg 222199], and it really challenged my understanding of how racism and classism are used to portray certain women as inherently unfit for and undeserving of motherhood. Fatal Invention is both very different and not at all. Here Roberts shows how some scientists grasp at straws to “prove” there are biological differences between socially constructed races. In the 21st Century, genomic science in particular has been used to separate humans into biological races, despite the Human Genome Project finding far more genetic variation within races than between races. Billions are funneled into research that simultaneously 1) desperately hunts for and 2) assumes as incontrovertible truth, genetic differences between races. Instead of helping vulnerable communities access clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and well-funded schools and hospitals, institutional problems are explained away at the molecular level. Genes become a facade for racist policies to hide behind in a supposedly colorblind, postracial society. Defining race as biological/genetic instead of social/political absolves the state of responsibility to confront racial gaps in housing, education, employment, and healthcare. During a pandemic with racial disparities, this is an especially vital topic. But really, it's hard to summarize this book. Roberts covers a ton of ground. Her arguments are nuanced and layered. It can get dense, but I find her writing beautiful.It'll be interesting to see how Fatal Invention compares to [b:Medical Apartheid 114192 Medical Apartheid The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present Harriet A. Washington https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387667004l/114192.SY75.jpg 109960], which I've been putting off because I'm squeamish and scared. For another book about how science is used to justify social hierarchies and their troubling outcomes, try [b:Delusions of Gender 9468462 Delusions of Gender How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference Cordelia Fine https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328288818l/9468462.SY75.jpg 12635310].

I've been meaning to read Akata Witch since I checked a library copy in a few years back with a Post-It stuck to the cover singing its praises. Whoever that patron was, they were right. Akata Witch is magical. By the author of the adult sci fi novella [b:Binti 25667918 Binti (Binti, #1) Nnedi Okorafor https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433804020l/25667918.SY75.jpg 45491127], Akata Witch is middle grade fantasy following a preteen named Sunny. Sunny is many things, but she struggles to fit anywhere neatly. She's lived in both the US and Nigeria, putting the phrase African American in a new light. She's Black but albino, meaning she's simultaneously defined by melanin and lack thereof. And she's a Leopard Person in a family of Lambs, meaning she has powers and abilities no ordinary human can harness, but wasn't born into the support most Leopard People grow up surrounded by. Sunny embodies so many things at once that she's often excluded for not being “enough” of any one thing. I was fascinated by how Okorafor portrayed disability. Lots of stories made for children address difference, but Akata Witch is not about managing or overcoming things like albinism and dyslexia. What is disability in Lamb society is ability in Leopard society. Leopards celebrate diagnoses Lambs ridicule. They are sources of strength and talent and indicate future prosperity. I'm still working out how I feel about Sunny not needing accommodations for albinism after discovering her powers, but it's an interesting perspective regardless. While incredibly whimsical, this book is often also gruesome and scary, especially for the age group. I think that's intentional—sometimes children are faced with trials they shouldn't have to endure. I do wish that the adults in the story had been kinder to the children. This choice might be just as intentional, and maybe I'm just sensitive. But I like seeing young characters met with patience and understanding. Anyway, if you like the [b:Percy Jackson 28187 The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) Rick Riordan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400602609l/28187.SY75.jpg 3346751] series, the [b:Nevermoor 34219873 The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1) Jessica Townsend https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1573171204l/34219873.SX50.jpg 55271407] series, [b:Children of Blood and Bone 34728667 Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, #1) Tomi Adeyemi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516127989l/34728667.SX50.jpg 55911580], or [b:Pet 38612739 Pet Akwaeke Emezi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550603866l/38612739.SY75.jpg 60224408], try Akata Witch. Now I really want pepper soup and a wasp artist.

This cover and title alike will surely catch your eye, but this book wasn't written to make white people feel bad about things they have no control over (like the race they were born into). It's written to help everyone do something about what we have control over (challenging racist ideas and policies). Like Kendi's work, though by nature critical, the takeaways are determinedly hopeful.

This is a refreshing perspective after reading several books about the US. Eddo-Lodge is British, and a lot of the history she recounts was new to me. Interestingly, she says her history lessons about racism growing up also centered the US, as if one country has a monopoly on structural white supremacy.

She also writes about how anti-racism relates to gender, class, and feminism. Her book taps into the 2008-2018 era, from the Great Recession to the aftermath of Brexit and electing DJT. She talks about persecution complexes and how nationalists co-opt progressive terminology to justify anti-immigration sentiments, Islamophobia, and general claims of reverse racism.

This is both very readable and nuanced. Eddo-Lodge is fantastic at reducing complex sentiments to single sentences in a way that encompasses all the nooks and crannies of an idea. It's superbly done and I'm sure anyone who picks it up will get something out of it.

I'd heard high praise for The Warmth of Other Suns, but reading a 600+ page nonfiction book? In this economy? Trust me when I say it's worth it.Wilkerson is a journalist by trade whose aim in writing this was to provide a more expansive and nuanced understanding of the Great Migration, a decades long process wherein several million Black Americans moved from the South to the North from the 1910s to the 1970s. Doing justice to a phenomenon so widely spread through time and geography is a mammoth undertaking. Wilkerson interviewed over 1,000 migrants. Three interviewees are featured: 1. Ida Mae, who migrated in the 30s from Mississippi to Chicago2. George Starling, who migrated in the 40s from Florida to New York City3. Robert Pershing Foster, who migrated in the 50s from Louisiana to Los AngelesThere are many highlights and takeaways in a book with such depth. You see how leaving the Jim Crow South was for some migrants like attempting to escape an abusive relationship. Secretly making preparations, telling few if any of their departure, leaving quiet by panicked under cover of darkness, well aware that if caught they might be hurt or worse. You see how the movements North mirror immigration across the Atlantic—how Southern migrants spoke with accents unfamiliar to those born and raised in the North. How they brought regional cuisines and customs with them. How they lived packed like sardines in certain neighborhoods. How they had to work grueling and low-paying jobs few others would consider. Wilkerson talks about how many unions wouldn't allow Black migrants membership. She discusses the arbitrary nature of segregation—how states separated races on public transit differently than one another, so passengers and train cars had to be shuffled around accordingly when state lines were crossed. She discusses how Black Americans were jailed without evidence, only to be dragged out of cells to be lynched before they could go to trial. She discusses how local police and sometimes state and federal backup turned a blind eye to or even participated in the lynchings and riots they were meant to be quelling. She discusses how long it took for integration court rulings and legislation to be enforced in certain parts (hint: decades). She discusses how Black migrants earned half as much for the same work, only to be charged double the rent for the same apartment.This isn't necessarily key to the story, but at one point Wilkerson makes a point that's stuck with me. In an era where masculinity was so defined by whether you could provide for and protect your family, Black men experienced racism as a form of emasculation. They were called “boy” by white men younger than them who they had to always call “Sir.” They could do backbreaking labor in searing heat every day for a year, only to come away earning not a penny, or worse, somehow in debt. They couldn't safely stand up for themselves or their loved ones. They couldn't intercede to prevent their sisters and wives from being harassed on the street. They couldn't stop a white child from bullying their children. They could be lynched for anything or nothing, and none of the perpetrators would be charged, let alone found guilty. It didn't matter that they were smart or hardworking or strong. To know their place was to know the danger of knowing their worth, or even letting others suspect they might know it. Suffice it to say, The Warmth of Other Suns is nothing short of a triumph. Everyone should read it. It's intimate, hopeful, sad, impressive, eye-opening, moving, the list goes on. It is written beautifully. So much historical nonfiction can feel dense and textbook-like; this could not be further from that. It is profound and a new personal favorite of mine. Now to get my hands on [b:Caste 51152447 Caste The Origins of Our Discontents Isabel Wilkerson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597267568l/51152447.SY75.jpg 75937597].

Growing up in white suburbia, I didn't think of racism as institutional until I was in college. Privilege can blind those with it to its existence and impact. I was interested to read this adaptation of [b:Stamped from the Beginning 25898216 Stamped from the Beginning The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America Ibram X. Kendi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440457523l/25898216.SY75.jpg 45781103] for younger readers to see how Reynolds conveys ideas I didn't wrestle with until adulthood to school-age kids. As always, he knocked it out of the park. His writing is gorgeous. Accessible while recognizing the intelligence of his young audience. Honest with touches of levity. He prevents it from getting too dense with shorter chapters and occasional reminders about how different figures and ideas connect.Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is how we teach US history in the US. How some say removing Confederate monuments is “erasing history.” How some might consider this book too “biased” to be assigned in a classroom. As if Confederate monuments are unbiased, as if they don't promote a specific understanding of figures and events for a specific reason. History is not something to absolve ourselves of. It is something to reckon with. Honesty and accountability are prerequisites to growth. By being uncritical of our past, or even acting like it has no relation to the present, we do ourselves a grave disservice—some of us more than others. We should talk about how Thomas Jefferson was racist. We should talk about how racist dog whistles like “law and order” and “superpredators” have been weaponized by both Democratic and Republican administrations. The first step to solving a problem is admitting there is one, and reading (not to mention teaching) books like these from a young age will help us do just that.

A few days ago it was announced that the officer who shot Michael Brown in Ferguson six years ago won't be charged. A gut punch in the midst of ongoing worldwide protests against police violence. Angela Davis addresses this and a whole lot more in this collection of interviews and speeches. Freedom is a Constant Struggle is a book about intersectionality and transformative change. Though short and somewhat redundant, there's a whole lot to percolate on. Davis packs wisdom and brilliance into few words, and sometimes you (or at least I) need time to sit with what she says to digest its full meaning. Many feminists understand how sexism connects with racism and homophobia. There is a certain level of consensus that zeroing in on gender as a sole or primary form of oppression is impossible and insufficient. But here Davis urges us to expand our thinking geographically and temporally. How do present struggles link up with past and future struggles? How does Ferguson relate to Palestine? How does Portland relate to Hong Kong? Making these connections is a prerequisite to meaningful social change. In a culture where we are taught to think of ourselves as distinct individuals and are taught to think of education as a means to a material end, it can be difficult to really reimagine how we could do things to better serve everyone. To reimagine what our society could be rather than simply assimilating marginalized peoples into what already is. By connecting inequity here to inequity there, by building coalitions across identities and struggles where previously there was misunderstanding and contempt, we get out of our own way, enabling ourselves to see the roots we aim to grasp and extricate. Marriage equality and implicit bias trainings, and even, Davis adds, prosecution of individual police officers, will not get us far unless we address what allows these patterns to emerge and problems to reproduce unchecked. As Audre Lorde famously said, the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house. This is hardly a good place to start your antiracist or feminist reading, but Davis is outstanding. I'm excited for her [b:next release 53657256 Abolition. Feminism. Now. Angela Y. Davis https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590836554l/53657256.SX50.jpg 83977949].

Even more charming than the first! A refreshing look at communal living, from the way Rinn's village raises tea dragons collectively to how readily everyone learns sign language when a deaf child is born. Gorgeous artwork, endearing and effortlessly diverse characters, a very grumpy tea dragon who never says a word but speaks to me unlike any character I've ever come across. Characters who are willing to reevaluate plans when faced with new information and perspectives, even if it means their wallet takes a hit.This series is basically a warm hug, something all of us need in a year like this one. O'Neill reminds us that supportive loved ones are the best antidote when you're down, and that we all take turns lifting each other up. I'd especially recommend to fans of [b:The Hidden Witch 36637409 The Hidden Witch (The Witch Boy, #2) Molly Ostertag https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526269049l/36637409.SY75.jpg 58403610] and [b:Mooncakes 44774415 Mooncakes Suzanne Walker https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565183719l/44774415.SY75.jpg 57982519].

A quaint, short graphic novel about the value of being patient in a world that keeps moving faster and faster, leaving many people and skills forgotten. It's a book about mindfulness, regard for history, and understanding that the importance of an art is not determined by how popular or profitable it is.

Overall, a quick and enchanting read with adorable, soft artwork. Surprisingly diverse without feeling hamfisted. If anything O'Neill shows how simple it is to accept and celebrate differences. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

A fantastic and timely book about the need to broaden our understanding of what counts as a “feminist issue,” lest we leave the majority of women behind.

Kendall talks about what I sometimes call “but for this feminism”—a severely limited form of feminism subscribed to by women who are privileged in every way but one. Women who are white, cis, straight, able-bodied, financially secure. Women who demand that women of color or poor women or queer women somehow distinguish sexism from racism or classism or transphobia, and what's more agree that gender is definitely the most oppressive oppression.

Any attempt to confront an “ism” must center the most vulnerable, the most underresourced and undervalued. Equity will not trickle down; inequity needs grasped at the root. Access to education, food, housing, and healthcare are feminist issues. Climate change is a feminist issue. Police violence is a feminist issue. Addiction and gang violence are feminist issues. Immigrant rights and indigenous rights are women's rights. Trans women are women, and trans rights are women's rights.

Hood Feminism is accessible and eye-opening. Kendall makes it clear that there is no one-size-fits-all sexism. Efforts towards equity need to be for everybody, not just the Megyn Kellys and Lena Dunhams (don't even get me started). Kendall will show you how Breonna Taylor's death is as feminist an issue as the wage gap. Hood Feminism is both a seminal feminist text and a seminal antiracist text. Highly recommend.

Whew. This is one of those books that, if you come to it with an open mind, can change your entire outlook. If you let it, it can deeply impact how you see yourself, our culture and society, and what the former should do for the latter. It is expansive yet accessible. It addresses blind spots and inconsistencies you didn't realize were nagging at you. It shows how regardless of skin color, all of us have skin in the game. It's stirring.

One of the most interesting aspects of How to Be An Antiracist is its tone. Somehow while making a case for how pernicious, deep-rooted, and widespread oppression truly is, Kendi remains not just determined, but optimistic. He acknowledges the mammoth effort and time it will take to undo racism, even likening it to metastatic cancer. But he also acknowledges that humanity has existed far longer than racism. It was created, and it can be uncreated. The moment we decide there's no reason to hope is the moment we guarantee our defeat.

How to Be An Antiracist upends many things I've believed for years. That ignorance and hatred lead to racist policies, whereas Kendi argues the reverse. That black people can never be perpetrators of racism, and white people can never be victims of racism; he pushes back against both of these notions.

By including different phases of his life in every chapter, Kendi shows how critical ongoing self-reflection is to antiracism. We can't hold policymakers accountable if we don't hold ourselves accountable. Antiracism is not a box you check, but a decision you make once, then again, over and over throughout your life. It's a continual commitment, riddled with mistakes and setbacks, as any fight for the betterment of humanity is.

How to Be An Antiracist is timely and inclusive. Ibram Kendi adds nuance and clarity to a vital topic. It's challenging without being alienating. It's an invitation to take responsibility, and then action.