Completely Full Bookshelf

Hi everyone! Sorry for not posting last week—I was away on a lovely week-long vacation to the beach, which was really emotionally healing. I feel like in getting to enjoy myself and avoid all the usual pressures of life, I got to feel more confident as a human being and get in touch with some of my deeper thoughts—so now I'm feeling more like myself upon my return. Unlike my big trip last year (see here and here ), I did far less reading. Instead, I: Visited an art museum Rode on a boat Went to the mall Swam in the ocean Sat in a hot tub Hung out with my family Virtually talked with my friends Took around 250 photos (not including the art at the museum) So not much time for reading! But I did knock out one nonfiction book that I probably wouldn't have found time for, were it not for traveling. I'm really excited to tell you all about it, so let's do it! Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School Written by Tiffany Jewell and other contributors Young adult ·

Hey everyone! The week's been a little wild, but I did the thing I promised I'd do last week —I read a graphic novel!!! And because it was a Heartstopper  graphic novel, it was expectedly amazing. So let's talk about it! Young Adult: Heartstopper Volume 5 Written and illustrated by Alice Oseman Graphic novel · 2023 Book 5 of 6 ( Vol. 1  · 2  · 3  · 4  · 5  · 6  [not released yet]) Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations The only annoying thing about reading Heartstopper  is that, to keep this review spoiler-free  of the previous books in the series, I can't gush as much about all the things I loved!! Alas. I'll survive. Heartstopper  is still one of the best things I've ever read, and I encourage you to drop by my reviews of book 1  or books 2, 3, and 4 to see a whole lot of excited squealing about what makes this series incredible. I ended up waiting about six months to read this volume of the series, in part because I went through my first breakup in

Hi everyone! Following up on last week, I've got a review of an adult novel to share with you all, so let's get to it! Adult Books: Mad Honey Written by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan Adult · 2022 Add it on Goodreads · · · The publisher says: · · · Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising their beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined that she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in and taking over her father’s beekeeping business.   Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.    And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school

Hi everyone! I have a really, really brief update for you all, so let's get to it! Currently reading: Mad Honey Written by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan Adult · 2022 Add it on Goodreads · · · The publisher says: · · · Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising their beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined that she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in and taking over her father’s beekeeping business.   Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.    And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can’t help but fall for

(Y'all, I am so sorry if the post formatting is chaotic—Blogger is such a nightmare sometimes. Now for the post!) I haven't been reading much lately, and it's kind of a funny reason why. I'd say I'm in a phase right now where I'm trying to feel some important feelings. And it's a balancing act between unearthing those feelings and processing them, and not letting them get in the way of my day-to-day life. (I think I'm scoring a solid 75 out of 100 on that balancing act, which I'm proud of!) And the thing is, I haven't been reading books because I don't really want to feel anything! 👀 Now, that's definitely an exaggeration—my day-to-day experiences, and thoughts, and the music I listen to all bring up feelings, and I'm happy to feel those. But the idea of plunging myself into a whole emotional universe where I have to deal with someone else's feelings...just really doesn't sound appealing. I have enough feelings to keep busy

I'm going to put my pre-post conversation at the end of the post today—because I'm radical and unpredictable!!!  (Or something.) So let's dive in with a review, then see what else I have to say! Middle Grade: Aquicorn Cove Written and illustrated by K. O'Neill Graphic novel · 2018 Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · From the Eisner Award-winning author of The Tea Dragon Society and Princess Princess Ever After comes AQUICORN COVE , a heartfelt story about learning to be a guardian to yourself and those you love. When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a big storm, Lana remembers how much she’s missed the ocean—and the strong, reassuring presence of her aunt. As Lana explores the familiar beach, she discovers something incredible: a colony of Aquicorns, small magical seahorse-like creatures that live in the coral reef. Lana rescues an injured Aquicorn and cares for it with the he

Hi everyone! I'll be honest, I didn't read much at all this week—as of last week , I had already read like 80% of the book I'm reviewing today. This upcoming week, I'm going to actually get a graphic novel out and read more for fun, but until then, I'll just share my full review of last week's book with you all! But first... The Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! In case you missed it, I've announced the first two dates for the Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! This is a chance for us kidlit book bloggers and readers to get together on Zoom and talk about books, reading, blogging, and more. And the meetups will be on Sunday, June 23, 2024 from 5-6 PM Pacific , and Wednesday, July 24, 2024 from 4-5 PM Pacific . You can RSVP for the June meetup here , and RSVP for the July meetup here . Or you can read more about the meetups in case you're curious! I hope to see as many of you there as I can—I can't wait!!! Adult Books: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Writte

I'm very excited to announce that, thanks to y'all's input and interest in this event, the first two dates of the Kidlit Lovers' Meetup are scheduled!!! Meetup dates: Sunday, June 23, 2024 5-6 PM Pacific / 6-7 PM Mountain / 7-8 PM Central / 8-9 PM Eastern Virtual (via Zoom) RSVP for the June meetup! Wednesday, July 24, 2024 4-5 PM Pacific / 5-6 PM Mountain / 6-7 PM Central / 7-8 PM Eastern Virtual (via Zoom) RSVP for the July meetup! As a reminder, the Kidlit Lovers' Meetup is a chance to meet fellow kidlit book bloggers and readers, and discuss books, reading, blogging, and more! We'll have several discussion questions to keep the conversation going, and my goal is to make this a low-stress, enjoyable event for everyone! You're welcome to join us for one or both of these meetups! We will have different discussion questions at each, so you don't have to worry about them being repetitive. Depending on interest, I would love to make these events recurring,

Hey folks! I have a last-minute and short blog post for you all, so let's dive in! Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! If you missed it last week , I'm trying to plan a virtual meetup of us kidlit book bloggers and readers, so we have the chance to meet one another and talk books, reading, and whatever strikes our fancy! If you're interested in joining us (and I really hope you are!), please click the big link below to fill out the interest form, so I can get a sense of what days and times people are available, and what they're hoping to see at the event. Most likely, Tuesday will be the last day to fill out the form, because my goal is to sit down Wednesday and settle on a date and time for the event. I hope to see you there!! Click here to fill out the interest form for the Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! Currently reading: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Written by John Berendt Adult book · 1994 Add it on Goodreads · · · The publisher says: · · · Shots rang out in Savannah

So I've got a delightful review for you today, but first, I have a proposal... The Kidlit Lovers' Meetup! One of the reasons I've gotten back into blogging the last few months is that I've realized my social life needed a little love. And the two blogging groups I participate in, MMGM and #IMWAYR, have always made me feel so welcome and given me a space to talk about one of my favorite interests, as well as how it connects to my own life. But somewhat surprisingly, although I've been reading some of y'all's blogs for nearly eight years, I've never spoken face-to-face with any of you! And I feel like now might be the time to change that! So I'm proposing a Kidlit Lovers' Meetup, where we can hop on a video call for an hour or so and talk about books, reading, and more, and get to know each other a little better! I'm hoping to see as many of my fellow MMGM and #IMWAYR bloggers as possible—basically, if I comment on your blog, I'm hoping you

I'm back again with another graphic novel review for you all, and I'm so excited  to share this book—so let's do it! Middle Grade: Plain Jane and the Mermaid Written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol Graphic novel · 2024 Recommended by Kellee Moye and Kasey Giard Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · From Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared author Vera Brosgol comes an instant classic graphic novel that flips every fairy-tale you know on its head, and shows one girl's crusade for the only thing that matters―her own independence. Jane is incredibly plain. Everyone says so: her parents, the villagers, and her horrible cousin who kicks her out of her own house. Determined to get some semblance of independence, Jane prepares to propose to the princely Peter, who might just say yes to get away from his father. It’s a good plan! Or it would’ve been, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid. With her last shot at happiness lost in the deep b