The Gravity of Us--"Astrokid Calls on Americans to Save NASA From Clickbait Demise"

Title: The Gravity of Us

Author: Phil Stamper


LGBTQ+ Representation: Two main characters are in an m/m relationship


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Cal's dad receives the chance of a lifetime: working on a NASA mission to Mars. Cal and his parents move from Brooklyn to Houston, where the pressure to be the perfect family is high, and Cal falls for Leon, whose mom is also an astronaut. But as Cal continues to live-stream on his popular social media channel, he exposes corruption, and his dreams of staying with Leon and becoming a legitimate journalist are in jeopardy.


What I think: So many things to love about this adorable story! Travel with me down several Internet rabbit holes by clicking on the links I added as I thought of what I like about this story:

🚀 The setting: The wives of the first astronauts and their families all lived in a "perfect family"-style Texas suburb and were the 1960s version of today's reality TV family. All I could think of was the neighborhood in "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street." The NASA program in The Gravity of Us requires the present-day families to also live in the perfect astronaut suburbs--even decorating the houses in a 60's retro style. 

Juliet Takes a Breath--"How could anything as huge as feminism be universal?"

Title: Juliet Takes a Breath

Author: Gabby Rivera


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character and many others are lesbian, and supporting characters are bi and queer.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Juliet is thrilled when she, a self-described "closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx," lands an internship with her favorite, feminist author Harlowe Brisbane. Coming out to her close-knit family right before leaving does not go well. In Portland, Oregan, Juliet enjoys researchin (and the cute girl-librarian), but the mostly white, lesbian feminist scene is not quite what Juliet expects. Will a trip to visit extended family help Juliet define feminism for herself?


What I think (In my ranting, I totally spoil 2/3 of the book. To avoid spoilers, click on read more, scroll down to the six rainbows, and read after that): Juliet's story takes place in 2003, in the summer after her first year of college; I thought "that's not that long ago!" but then realized it was almost twenty years ago. Wow.

I like that Juliet researched at the library to research all these women and topics on random bits of paper that Harlowe has written on and thrown into a box. I had never heard of Lolita Lebron, for example. I knew of Del Martin, but she's worth reading about again. Banana Republic is not just an overpriced, preppy clothing store. Kira the cute librarian who bakes and drives a motorcycle? Sign me up! (Okay, not really because I'm terrified of riding on motorcycles. But still, she sounds hot!)

Like a Love Story--"Life was once sepia toned, one color, bland. Now it is a rainbow world of excitement and anticipation."

Title: Like a Love Story

Author: Abdi Nazemian


LGBTQ+ Representation: Several characters are gay.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): In 1989 New York City, Art is young, out, and proud, and protests with ACT UP to get the government to takes the AIDS crisis seriously. Reza just moved to New York, and he is shy and terrified of being outed. Judy, whose Uncle Stephen is dying of AIDS, dreams of being a fashion designer. Judy begins dating Reza, and her and Art's friendship suffers when Reza and Art fall for each other.


What I think: When I read The Porcupine of Truth, it opened up my eyes about how clueless of a child I was during the late 80s/early 90s AIDS crisis (obviously, the crisis wasn't limited to those years, but those were the years I learned about AIDS). Like a Love Story is now tied with Porcupine for my favorite AIDS-related YA book, and it also takes place during those childhood years of mine.

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

Girls of Paper and Fire--"When the world denies you choices, you make your own"

Title: Girls of Paper and Fire

Author: Natasha Ngan


LGBTQ+ Representation: Two main characters in f/f relationship


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Lei (part of the Paper caste, the lowest class in Ikhara) lives a peaceful life in her country village until she is kidnapped and taken to the palace of the Demon King to become one of his concubines. The first time Lei is summoned to the cruel, violent king, she fights him instead of submitting to him. Lei falls in love with another Paper Girl, Wren, who is hiding a dangerous secret.


What I think: I knew the book was going to contain scenes of violence and sexual assault, but I still was taken aback by the beginning, which contains a plot event that has been a deal-breaker for me in the past. I did not give up the book, since this event is necessary to give Lei a reason to take the kidnapping soldiers seriously but come on. Some of us have NEVER gotten over these two books (do not click on my links unless you want to be spoiled).

Queen of Air and Darkness--"That’s what it means to be human. We lose, we suffer, but we have to keep breathing."

Title: Queen of Air and Darkness

Author: Cassandra Clare


LGBTQ+ Representation: At least 4 (and a couple more implied) bisexual (or sexually fluid or pan) characters; 1 gay male character; 1 lesbian character; trans feminine character; m/m romance; f/f romance; m/m/f romance.


This story is so complicated, has so many characters, and so many plot twists that I found it very difficult to summarize in 75 words, but here ya go:

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): The Clave is a mess, fighting more among each other rather than for the safety of the Shadow World. Emma and Julian are trying to break the Parabatai Curse. The Lightwoods are grieving the death of their father while trying to figure out what is making the warlocks so sick. Ty is obsessed with bringing Livia back (with help from an apprehensive Kit), and the Seelie Queen is hiding someone who could become very powerful.


What I think: I finished Queen of Air and Darkness two days after it came out, so I've been thinking (and processing) everything that happened for over two months now.

I very much enjoyed this book and am a big fan of the series--that being said, I am going to be extremely nit-picky because that is what I do when I really like a book. I'm also going to spoil most all of the big stuff that happens (but not all, probably).

Dear Rachel Maddow--"Liberty and justice for all. Well. Shmiberty and Shmustice anyway"

Title: Dear Rachel Maddow

Author: Adrienne Kisner


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character and two supporting characters identify as lesbians. F/F relationship


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Brynn's life is not going the greatest lately. Her older brother died of a drug overdose, mom and stepfather are abusive, girlfriend broke up with her, and grades are so bad, she is not eligible to write for the newspaper (the only part about high school that she enjoys). As a class assignment, she begins to keep a journal in which she asks for advice via emails to her idol: Rachel Maddow.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I love Rachel Maddow so this title caught my eye. I thought the story was going to be light-hearted, but instead it was delightfully, timely, and frustratingly political--and I enjoyed it immensely.

One of those posts in which I don't @ the authors--Inspired by Marie Kondo

Exhausted from working retail at Christmas + mental illnesses (mine and other family members') = writer's block. Also, my ridiculously large to-be-read-and-reviewed list is stressing me out instead of making me happy.

Several of my friends have been all, "You should get rid of the books in your list that are not giving you joy!" and I'm like, "Please don't make me watch Tidying Up. I hate cleaning!"

So even though I told my friends I'm never watching the show, I am basing this post on KonMari Method and removing/not finishing/or not indepthly-reviewing any books that do not give me joy. Do you think I should give any of them a second (or third, or fourth, or more) chance?

(Don't tell my friends I'm surrendering to Marie Kondo. They'll get cocky. 😉)

Lord of Shadows--"Lex malla, lex nulla" OR "I brought chocolate"

Title: Lord of Shadows, Book #2 of The Dark Artifices

Click here for Lady Midnight, Book #1 of The Dark Artifices
Book #3, Queen of Air and Darkness, coming out December 4! NEXT WEEK!

Author: Cassandra Clare


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): After the events of Lady Midnight, Emma begins fake-dating Julian's half-faerie brother Mark, in order to make Julian fall out-of-love with her so that they can escape the Parabatai curse. Meanwhile, the Unseelie King is tired of the cold peace and refuses to follow the Shadowhunters' demands, the Seelie Queen is trying to get the Black Volume for her own needs, and where is Annabel?  Is she alive?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I've already talked about what I love about the Dark Artifices series, and even though I meant to only talk about Lady Midnight in that review, I actually mentioned quite a bit of Lord of Shadows also.  Oops.  So if you haven't read that review, you should read it first, and then we will (well, I, but you can virtually) geek out about what we want to see and don't want to see happen in Queen of Air and Darkness.

One True Way--"What she needs to know is you love her, and that you're still proud she's your sister"

Title: One True Way

Author: Shannon Hitchcock


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Allie has two goals when she enters her new middle school: join the newspaper staff and make a new friend. She quickly becomes a star reporter and meets a girl named Sam. When Sam and Allie discover they like like each other, Coach Murphy and the kind Reverend Walker at Allie's new church are supportive, but Allie is afraid of upsetting her mother, who is dealing with Allie's brother's recent death and her failing marriage.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  One of the reasons this book stands out to me (besides the fact that it's one of the rare middle-grades books) is that it takes place in 1977.  I enjoyed the subtle 1970s references:  the girls dancing to "Show Me the Way," typewriters in newspaper class, references to Sanford and Son and Soul Train (but no Star Wars?  For shame!).

Wide Awake--"Both dated and eerily prophetic"

Title: Wide Awake

Author: David Levithan


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  In the near future, the first gay and Jewish United States president is elected. The green states have prevailed, with their Jesus Revolution, All Equal Movement, and Great Community.  However, the governor of Kansas is claiming voter fraud and demands a recount of his state.  High school boyfriends Jimmy and Duncan, along the rest of their political group and thousands of others, head to Kansas to protest the governor and support the president-elect.


What I think: While reading Wide Awake, I could only think how difficult it was going to be to write about the book without comparing it to today's political climate.  Goodness knows I do enough complaining about politics, and those of you who know me in real life are either nodding or rolling your eyes (probably both 😉).

Sooooo . . . . I am going to list some of the major events in the book, and you can see how they compare to today's political climate yourself.

The Bane Chronicles--"These records were obtained, with some difficulty, from a cell phone which appeared to have been broken and burned with intense magical fire"

Title:  The Bane Chronicles

Authors: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson


Since this is a collection of short stories, I will have to change the format of the review.  Also, you can download each short story individually as audible books or download them from overdrive through your library.

The premise of this collection of short stories is that Magnus writes them during his break-up with Alec between City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire and then gives them to Alec to read so that Alec will know some of the events of Magnus's past.

The Love Interest--"I guess I thought I was straight because everyone treated me like I was, and no one ever gave me a chance to think otherwise"

Title:  The Love Interest

Author:  Cale Dietrich


What it’s about: Caden and Dylan are Love Interests: teenage spies designed to be the perfect boys (Caden is a Nice; Dylan Bad) to win the hearts of teenage girls.  The secret, centuries-old government organization pairs Love Interests with important people so that they can spy and relay secrets and information back to the LIC.  The boy who doesn't win the heart of fair Juliet dies: but what happens if the Love Interests fall for each other instead?


What I think (in 500 words or fewer): One aspect of Love Interest I have found that I disagree with other reviewers about is the world-building.  The LIC is a secret government organization that has been around for centuries, pairing perfect-designed spouses with important people. The children the institute raise are "taken from families that couldn't care for them," which says a lot without saying much of anything at all. Were the children kidnapped?  Taken by force?  Who knows?

Willful Machines--"What a piece of work is man" OR "Submitted for Your Approval"

Title: Willful Machines

Author: Tim Floreen


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Lee's mother was killed by Charlotte, a super realistic human-like robot called a 2B who uploaded her consciousness to the Internet and is now terrorizing the American people. Lee's politician father then started the conservative Human Values party, was elected president of the USA, and vowed to destroy all 2Bs.  Meanwhile, Lee is a closeted teenager who has a crush on his new classmate, Nico, but is Nico too good to be true?


What I think (in a bunch of words because rules are meant to be broken): 

"How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty!":  Shakespearean plays are quoted several times in this book, and I was going to write this post using "What a piece of work is man" from Hamlet (which is set to music in Hair).  I really like Hamlet and Shakespeare in general, but my goodness I love The Twilight Zone  and there are just SO MANY episodes about realistic human robots and I could not help but think of several of them when reading Willful Machines.  So instead of impressing all y'all with my English teacher knowledge of Shakespeare and Hamlet, I am instead listening to the soundtrack of Hair and recalling all of the TZ robot episodes to compare to this book.

The Cursed Queen--"You come on like a flame, but you turn a cold shoulder"

Title: The Cursed Queen

Author: Sarah Fine

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Ansa has always been a fighter, part of the Krigere tribe.  When the tribe chieftan, Thyra, and hundreds of Krigere warriors decide to attack the Kupari across the great lake, they think they will be victorious, but something goes wrong--Ansa is cursed with uncontrollable powers of fire and ice. And when the Krigere come under threats from the disloyal brother of the former chieftan, Ansa doesn't know whom she can trust.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  The Cursed Queen is high fantasy, which is a genre that I enjoy sometimes, but the payoff for learning and getting absorbed in a new world needs to be worth it since it feels like I use much more energy reading high fantasy.

Carry On--"My wayward son, for there'll be peace when you are done"

Title: Carry On (sometimes called Carry On: the Rise and Fall of Simon Snow)

Author: Rainbow Rowell


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Simon Snow attends the Watford School of Magicks, and according to a prophecy, he's the "Chosen One" who will save the magickal community from the Insidious Humdrum, a magic-eating monster that looks like Simon. However, Simon can't even get his wand to work correctly, let alone control his magic (he mostly sets things on fire).  Meanwhile, Simon's nemesis, roommate, and possible (vampire) love interest, Baz, is missing from school for their final term.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Carry On is a spin-off of Fangirl, a book in which the main character, Cath, writes fanfiction about Simon Snow, the protagonist of a Harry Potter-style series of novels.

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.

Saving Alex--"We still have a lot of work to do"

Title:  Saving Alex:  When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That's When My Nightmare Began

Author:  Alex Cooper with Joanna Brooks

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): When fifteen-year-old Alex tells her parents that she is a lesbian, she thinks her parents are sending her away to live with her grandparents.  However, Alex's parents send her to the Siales, a husband and wife team who take in "rebellious" teenagers and "fix" them.  Until Alex manages to escape with the help of school staff and a lawyer, she is physically and mentally abused in order to "cure" her of her homosexuality.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  Saving Alex that reads like one of those delightfully trashy unauthorized Kitty Kelley biographies that I went through a phase of reading in high school (don't judge).  I do not mean, however, to negate the seriousness of Alex's story by comparing it to a sensationalist novel.  Saving Alex is an autobiography and therefore is authorized, and it is truly horrifying.

Ramona Blue--"Not a free ticket out of queer town"

Title:  Ramona Blue

Author: Julie Murphy


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Ramona lives in Eulogy, a small southern Mississippi town known for its beach and vacation rentals. She, her father, and her pregnant sister Hattie live in a small trailer and can barely make ends meet. When Ramona's childhood friend Freddie moves into town, Ramona and he have a romantic relationship, which confuses Ramona because she identifies as a lesbian. Plus, Ramona struggles with what she wants to do after graduation--will her family survive without her? 


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  I usually don't read any other reviews of a book until I've written my own, but I made an exception when I discovered so many mixed reviews of Ramona Blue. I think it's too far to say that the book is lesbophobic, biphobic, and acephobic, and even though I agree that it's insightful and moving, I didn't think it was perfect.

Honestly Ben--"With a friend to call my own, I'll never be alone"

Title: Honestly Ben

Author:  Bill Konigsberg


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Ben is moving on after last semester.  He's excelling at schoolwork, acting as the captain of the baseball team, and starting a relationship with Hannah, a cool quirky girl he met in the library.  He is even awarded a prestigious scholarship (if he can keep his grade up in calculus!).  But Ben is not sure that he has all the answers, and cannot stop thinking about and missing the close friendship he had with Rafe.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  The tagline is a line from Michael Jackson's "Ben," which has been  recorded   by   lots   of people.  The review contains spoilers, but I tried to be as vague as possible.

After the events in Openly Straight, Ben finds himself without any close friends. Sure, he hangs out with people from the baseball team, but they are not the close friendship he had with Rafe, whom he can't stop thinking about.