Bookmarks: June Edition
Reviewing books that made it off the shelf this month.
With a looming curriculum deadline, I spent entirely too much of June finishing up middle grade chapter books. But somehow I loved it?
I want to hate middle grade novels. And sometimes I do. It’s like writers think third to fifth graders are anti-plot. The whole time I am reading I can’t help but think, man… I wish someone would just raise the stakes a little bit. What’s one murder to an eight year old?
But then there are chapter books like the ones I read this month. Yes, sometimes a little anti-climactic and slow, but ultimately thoughtful and impressive works of fiction that accomplish what many adult fiction books do not: depth.
But of course, I’m my own beautiful hypocrite. Between deep, meaningful middle grade novels I read a smattering of romance (i.e.: plot, but no depth.). Page turners for sure. No murders, but smut galore. Just what a mom on summer break needs.
Finally, intellectual that I am, I dove into two nonfiction tomes. Both were required readings. (Thanks, job.) Were they the highlights of the month? Maybe.
In spite of myself I always fall for narrative-driven-educational-dopamine-hits. On my Goodreads, basically every nonfiction book I read gets five stars. It’s not at all objective. I’M HIGH FROM ALL THE LEARNING.
So, without further ado…. here are my reviews.
Middle Grade Fiction
Global by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin
It’s a graphic novel, and it’s thriving. Illustrated by Giovani Rigano, Global tells two parallel stories of adolescents in sub-par climate conditions. The novel is set in the not-so-distant future and explores the devastating consequences of Global Warming.
Love it for reluctant readers because…graphic novel. Love it for impatient readers because… graphic novel. Although, I will say that graphic novels take a different type of patience. What do you mean I have to ‘look at ALL the pictures’? Words are so much faster!
Eagle Drums by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
This retelling of the Messenger Feast was a little bit creepy and entirely fantastic. I couldn’t help but read it like a modern horror flick, expecting the Eagle gods to… I don’t know, devour the boy? I am happy to say that no such atrocity occurred. This book was packed with lessons on growth mindset, problem solving, and the importance of building community.
Would highly recommend this novel as a book club pick for families, co-ops, and book-nerd-friends, as I think it would best be read in a space that promotes discussion and critical thinking.
Romance
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Henry is a little hit or miss for me, but this romance turned me into a piñata. I loved the parallelism. Girl meets Guy. Other Guy meets a Different Girl. Both pairs fall in love until Guy realizes he’s always been in love with Different Girl and Girl is left to fall in love with Other Guy. Brilliant. I love a fair trade.
I don’t have to recommend Emily Henry to anyone, because, duh.
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood is my all-time fave romance author. She does all the things. Smart women. Tall men with hands that make your mouth water. And that man is always, always, a Darcy. But Ali’s been throwing some curveballs this year, first with Bride and now with Not in Love. For the first time ever in a Hazelwood novel, the female lead is… you won’t believe this…. tall.
In Not In Love, Rue, a super-tall hot nerd, meets Eli, another super-tall hot nerd. Problem: He’s trying to ruin her career (inadvertently). So to get back at him, she employs the age-old militia tactic of… blow jobs?
All respect to you, Ali.
If your objective is to save your career and land a soulmate, this book is for you. In that case, maybe read it as an instructional guide? The options are limitless.
Nonfiction
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader’s Edition by William Kamkwamba
I finally tumbled into this book, after many years of tucking it back on the shelf, because I thought it would be a cool resource for the curriculum I was writing. Man, was I right. *High-fives self*
William Kamkwamba depicts his inspirational life during famine with honesty and dignity. Yes, the stories of his community are devastating, but he braids them into beautiful moments of humor, peer rivalry, and hope. This book is enlightening (heheh) and the message of self-education is incredibly powerful. Highly recommend.
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook by Bruce D Perry and Maia Szakavitz
This book had me crying by the end of chapter two. This book contains story after story of intense trauma experienced by children and the ways in which people worked together to heal that trauma. I learned so much about play, coping, obsessive thinking, and the human experience through these stories.
HOWEVER… I cannot recommend this book without some pretty serious trigger warnings. If you are healing from childhood trauma, do not put yourself through this book. The stories are fascinating, but can be incredibly painful to read.
Thanks for reading my June Reviews! I hope this list left you curious, inspired, and snooping around your own bookshelf for passed-over treasures. Open one. You won’t regret it.
See you next month!
Sarina