The Greatest Superpower--"If she can stand up for her truth, I can stand up for mine . . . I hope."

Title: The Greatest Superpower

Author: Alex Sanchez


LGBTQ+ Representation: The main character's father is a transwoman. Supporting characters are gay and gender-fluid.


Content Warnings: Bullying and homophobia. Inferred child abuse. A past suicide attempt is mentioned.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Jorge and his twin brother Cesar are shocked when their parents announce their divorce and are even more shocked when they find out the reason: their father has always felt like a woman and is now going to start living as a woman. Cesar vows to never speak to his father again, while Jorge struggles to accept his dad as Norma. Will Jorge's friends (and the cute new girl!) be able to accept Norma?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I was so excited to see a new book by Alex Sanchez that I bought this book immediately instead of shelving it (book seller perks). I am not disappointed by my purchase; the story is adorable. 

Quiver "I don't think my problem is with God. It's with the men who think they speak for Him and the women who obey those men without question."

Title: Quiver: a Novel

Author: Julia Watts


LGBTQ+ Representation: One of the main characters is queer and genderfluid. A supporting character is trans feminine.

Content Warning: Bigotry in the name of religion

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Libby is growing up in a fundamental Christian family. As the oldest of six homeschooled siblings, she does chores and helps her mother during the day and participates in Bible study held by her father in the evenings. Queer and genderfluid Zo and her family have just moved into the house next door. Can (or should?) Libby and Zo be friends in spite of their differences?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  One of my favorite blogs, Love, Joy, and Feminism, is written by "Libby Anne," a former Christian fundamentalist from a Quiverfull family. I'm no longer religious myself but really enjoy reading stories and blogs about people leaving fundamentalism. I am very wary of any religion or lifestyle that adheres to very strict rules--how do they know that what they're doing is right, especially when others are left and hurt?

Quiver is told between the alternating voices of Libby and Zo. Libby has always followed the rules and believed her family's lifestyle is the only correct one, and Zo notes:

Why I reread old favorites, OR: Warm, cuddly, teddy bear books

Reading and writing has always been a source of comfort for me, but I have been struggling with writer's block for a while. ADHD and anxiety are to blame for my writer's block often when I'm taking classes, but I have been home and watching the news which keeps getting worse and worse. Black lives matter, and my heart breaks for everyone affected by police brutality. 

Comfort reads for me.

Like many prolific readers (especially librarians-turned-book-sellers-who-get-employee-discounts), I have a towering TBR pile. And like other bloggers (at least I hope like other bloggers!), I have a stack of books that I've read and haven't written about yet (over 10), but I open my laptop and stare at some posts in draft mode. I have highly recommended and re-shared a book about protesters; I wrote about a few relatively light-hearted books earlier in the quarantine; I reminisced about childhood reads; I updated some of my blog pages. Yet I still haven't gotten as much written as I planned.

Instead, I have been rereading books or scenes from books that I have read hundreds of times before.

I came across this Washington Post article about a month ago, "For a lot of book lovers, rereading old favorites is the only reading they can manage at the moment." I also broke down and subscribed to the Post, but if you did not, here are some passages that I relate to:

If you’re wondering why rereads are what you most want, the answer is simple: Your brain, much like the rest of you, is tired. As many experts, including coach and author Alexis Rockley, have recently explained, our cognitive energy is a finite resource, steadily being used up by every piece of “new abnormal” we have to manage. . . 

That loss of cognitive energy for someone like me, who loves reading above all things save carbohydrates, means that my mind doesn’t have its usual pep when confronted with a new book, a new world and new characters. This was initially upsetting, as there are piles of new books I want to read. My solution for now is to revisit some of my favorite past companions instead. . . .

 Aarya Marsden, an avid romance reader who also writes reviews for my site, Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, says that lately, she doesn’t have the energy to reread an entire book. To get around that problem, she is rereading her favorite scenes. “Ten minutes of comfort reading in the morning is enough to give me a happy buzz for the entire day,” she said. “It starts the day off on the right note and then I can read a new book at night.” . . .

There’s a sense of security that comes with a reread: You already know what’s going to happen, no spoiler alerts needed. That aspect appeals to Marsden. “There’s comfort in being able to predict and control your surroundings,” she said. “It’s a relief to sink into something that goes exactly to plan.” 

 The whole article, written by Sarah Wendell, of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books is amazing. Also, see "10 Reasons People Like To Reread Books, Because Nothing Beats That Old Familiar Feeling" "The Power of Rereading Your Favorite Books Right Now" and "Why We Reread in Times of Stress and Anxiety."

I could wax poetic about some of my favorite comfort reads, but probably you don't want to hear about all my cheesy romance novels packed tightly in my bookcase (if you haven't read Red, White, and Royal Blue, however, stop whatever you're doing and READ IT NOW).

My son's old teddy bear with two of my favorite books

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me--"I'm just willing what I'm feeling to be true. I'm willing myself to believe this is real."

Title: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me

Author: Mariko Tamaki; Illustrations by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main and supporting characters are lesbians and background characters are queer


Content Waring: Abortion


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Freddy is madly in love with her girlfriend, Laura, but Laura (who is popular, funny, cute, thoughtless, and MEAN) keeps breaking up with her. Freddy's friends can't understand why she keeps going back to Laura Dean, and their on-again, off-again relationship nearly causes Freddy to lose her best friend.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Laura Dean is one of those books that I can see non-YA readers (or those who prefer their books to be moralistic in content) scoffing at. Teenage Freddy is besotted with Laura, who is just the WORST. I strongly identify with Rainbow Rowell's blurb on the back of the book:

"You didn't think this was the end of the story, did you?"--Books that need sequels

Top 10 Most-Wished-For Sequels

I just bought a long-awaited sequel today, I have another one on order, and I literally squealed with excitement when this one was announced! (And if this one ever becomes a reality, I will be so, SO overjoyed). Ooh, and I almost forgot about this upcoming one!

Clearly, I enjoy a good sequel, so let's ignore the 20 or so books in my to-be-read pile and the 10 in my I've-read-but-still-need-to-review pile and talk about the books that need sequels. Sometimes, I am just so in love with the characters, universe, and/or plot that I need MORE.

I need to know what happens next for these beloved people whose lives I've shared through the pages of their stories. I would camp outside of a bookstore to buy these sequels, like us older people had to do for concert tickets in the pre-Internet dark ages.

In fact, most of these books had me have immediately visiting Archive of Our Own to see if there are any fanfictions about these books, and if there are, I will link to the pages.

Uma said it best.



In alphabetical order, here are my top 10 most-wished-for sequels:

What was Stonewall? and The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets."On that hot summer night, to the cops' surprise, the people at Stonewall fought back."And they fought back hard."

Titles: What was Stonewall? and The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets

Authors: Nico Medina and Gayle E. Pitman


LGBTQ+ Representation: Both books describe the Stonewall riots and the Pride movement, so all the letters are represented.


What they're about (in 75 words or fewer): What was Stonewall? begins with a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms, gives a brief history of the gay rights movement prior to the Stonewall riots, describes the uprising at Stonewall, and explains major obstacles and successes of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The Stonewall Riots provides a more detailed version of the events, told through 50 primary documents, photographs, artifacts, and eyewitness testimonies. Gay rights activists are introduced in both books.


What I think: I wanted to read these books because I wanted to see how the riots were explained to children (ages 6-14, approximately) but also because I knew only a few facts about the Stonewall riots, namely:

• They occurred in June of 1969
• Marsha P. Johnson "threw the first brick" 
• No one died (!)
• Drag queens protested the cops in the form of a Radio City Rockettes-style kick line
• The protests lead to the first Pride March in NYC

So I got to meet Bill Konigsberg!

So I got to meet Bill Konigsberg at the Greensboro Bound 2019 Literary Festival a couple of days ago. I was so excited to hear him talk about The Music of What Happens and answer some audience questions. 

He was taller in person, but everyone seems taller in person for me:

Why thank you, I also think we're adorable.

If you are scratching your head and saying "Who's that?" then for shame. Read the following reviews and then come back to this post:

• The Music of What Happens
• The Porcupine of Truth, Part 1 and Part 2
• Out of the Pocket
• Honestly, Ben
• Openly Straight

Like Water--"I just want one thing to be good enough, because one good, right thing can be enough"

Title: Like Water

Author: Rebecca Podos


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): High school graduate Vanni does not want to be stuck in her small New Mexico town forever, but ever since her father was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, Vanni has been living life without a plan. She isolates herself from her girl friends and passes her time with boy after boy. Vanni then meets Leigh, who becomes more than just a friend, but they can't ignore the problems in their lives forever without everything crashing down.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Vanni's father is deteriorating rapidly, her mother is trying to keep the family's restaurant afloat, and Vanni is at a natural crossroads in her life anyway, so it is no surprise that poor Vanni is a mess and turns to sex to deal with her pain. I feel so bad for her parents, especially her father who had lost the ability to do what he loved.

Girl Mans Up--"I don't feel like I'm something I shouldn't be. Only other people make me feel like there's something wrong with me."

Title: Girl Mans Up

Author: M-E Girard


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Pen is not trying to be a boy; she is being herself: a boyish-looking girl who likes gaming (and girls). Pen's old-world-Portuguese parents want her to show respect by acting "like a girl." Pen's friend Colby wants her to prove her loyalty by doing whatever he says, even if it means getting him out of some trouble and getting herself into questionable situations. Luckily, Pen's brother Johnny is on her side.


What I think (with lots and LOTS of spoilers): I discussed terrible YA parents in the second half of the review of Better Nate Than Ever (and I think I'm going to pull the parent stuff out and make it its own post one of these days), and if there were an award for the worst parents in YA books, Pen's parents would take the top prize. They are terrible.

When the Moon Was Ours--"The blue whirled in on itself like the curves of a nautilus shell"

Title: When the Moon Was Ours

Author: Anna-Marie McLemore

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Best friends Miel and Sam are known as the strange ones in their town. Miel's wrist grows roses, and Sam paints moons to hang in the trees.  Miel lives with Aracely, the town curandera, and Sam pollinates the pumpkins in the Bonner's pumpkin field.  When the beautiful, yet evil Bonner sisters want to use Miel's roses to enhance their powers, they discover a secret about Sam that they threaten to reveal to the whole town.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer): McLemore is Mexican-American who describes her writings as magical realism. She blends elements of folk and fairy tale and culture in her stories.  Miel appears out of a water tower when she is five, Aracely cures the townspeople of "love sickness," and Sam is a bacha posh who wants to remain a boy.

Lizard Radio--"Life is about ambiguity" OR "The Lizard People were just a red herring!"

Title: Lizard Radio

Author: Pat Schmatz


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Kivali is sent to CropCamp, a place where the SayFree government sends teenagers go to become productive adult members of society.  Gender-neutral Kivali (nicknamed Lizard) feels different from the other campers, but she knows she must either try to fit in or accept her place as an outcast, which would send her to Blight, a government-sanctioned area for criminals and other non-conforming citizens.  Lizard also wonders: was she sent here from another planet?

What I think (in 250 words or fewer): At the beginning of Lizard Radio, I thought of Scott Westfeld's Uglies because slang was used immediately by the main characters and readers had to figure it out as they read, such as mealio (cafeteria), cleezies (chores), and jazzing (messing around).  Another similarity to the Uglies dystopia was when teenagers came of age, they would be controlled by the government: Uglies with plastic (and brain) surgery and CropCampers with the kickshaw.

Freakboy--"Everyone feels like a freak until they make up their mind they're not"

Title: Freakboy

Author: Kristin Elizabeth Clark

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Brendan is a typical high school boy, but lately he's noticed he is not just attracted to his girlfriend, Vanessa; sometimes, he wants to be a girl like her.  Is he a freak?  Vanessa is confused because Brendan is moody lately.  Why doesn't he trust her enough to tell her his secrets?  Angel is a trans female volunteer at the LGBTQ teen center who really wants to help Brendan.  Will she get through to him?

What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I really enjoyed this book!  I don't know why I hesitate to read books written in verse instead of prose--my subconscious must believe that verse equals "difficult-to-understand-epic-poem-that-I-must-analyze-as-English-teacher," but that has not been my experience with modern books written in verse.  It's quite the opposite, in fact: books written in verse are often easier to understand, contain more vivid characters, and are faster reads than traditional prose.

Books I couldn't quite finish--"I tried so hard and got so far"

Do you ever try to read books that you know should be good, they have won awards or are recommended by everyone, but you just can't finish them for whatever reason?  I am usually good about finishing books that I have checked out to review for this blog, even if the books don't capture my attention right away (and I don't cheat; I only review books that I have read from start to finish).

Today I am going to write about three books that I just couldn't read enough of to properly review.  Should I give any of them a second chance?  Let me know.

Symptoms of Being Human--"I'm only going to talk louder"

Title:  Symptoms of Being Human

Author:  Jeff Garvin

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Riley is gender-fluid and suffers from severe anxiety.  They decide to start an anonymous blog talking about gender-fluidity and is surprised when the blog gains thousands of followers.  Unfortunately, someone at Riley's school finds out about their blog and threatens to out them, which makes Riley's life complicated because their father is a congressman who is working to pass an important education bill.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Symptoms of Being Human is an excellent book. I do not know anyone in real life who is gender-fluid; I know many trans people, but they are all binary.  In fact, the reader never finds out what Riley's biological sex is.