Uprooting Racism

 

Title: Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice

Author: Paul Kivel

Publisher: New Society

 
ISBN: 9780865716889

 

Thoughts: Good workbook-type read for understanding and challenging systemic racism.

 

Rating: 3/5

Their Eyes Were Watching God

 

Title: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Author: Zora Neale Hurston

Publisher: Harper Audio

 
ISBN: 9780060842796

 

Thoughts: It is easy to see why this is a classic, especially with Hurston's wonderful writing.

 

Rating: 4/5

Remember

 

Title: Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting

Author: Lisa Genova

Publisher: Harmony

 
ISBN: 9780593137956

 

Thoughts: Memory tips, tricks, and idiosyncrasies presented in a very readable manner.

 

Rating: 5/5

Did I Say That Out Loud?

 

Title: Did I Say That Out Loud?: Midlife Indignities and How to Survive Them

Author: Kristin van Ogrop

Publisher: Little Brown Spark

 
ISBN: 9780316497497

 

Thoughts: Fun personal essays about middle age and life in general.

 

Rating: 4/5

Cellmates

 

Title: Cellmates

Author: Tori Marlan

Publisher: Amazon

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts: Another intriguing look at injustices in Chicago that makes you want to dig deeper.

 

Rating: 4/5

The Year of Magical Thinking

 

Title: The Year of Magical Thinking

Author: Joan Didion

Publisher: HighBridge

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts: Didion is a wonderful writer and her journey through grief is very relatable, but not sure of the title, even though it is mentioned in the narrative.

 

Rating: 4/5

Understanding White Privilege

 

Title: Understanding White Privilege: Creating Pathways to Authentic Relationships Across Race

Author: Frances E. Kendall

Publisher: Routledge

 
ISBN: 9780415874274

 

Thoughts: All talk with no real advice for action.

 

Rating: 2/5

The Phantom Tollbooth

 

Title: The Phantom Tollbooth

Author: Norton Juster

Publisher: Random House Bullseye

 
ISBN: 9780394820378

 

Thoughts: Fun fantasy filled with puns and play-on-words, but I am not a fan of Jules Feiffer's drawing style.

 

Rating: 3/5

Rediscover Catholicism

 

Title: Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose

Author: Matthew Kelly

Publisher: Beacon

 
ISBN: 9781937509675

 

Thoughts: While I do not agree with all of Kelly's observations, this is a good look at Catholicism for Catholics.

 

Rating: 4/5

Hour of the Witch

 

Title: Hour of the Witch

Author: Chris Bohjalian

Publisher: Random House

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  Solid historical fiction about domestic abuse set during the witch hysteria.

 

Rating: 3/5

Stacking the Shelves: 6/13-6/19

 Bought on Amazon:

The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence

The Little Grey Men

 

Title: The Little Grey Men

Author: B.B.

Publisher: Kindle

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts: Not as whimsical as other older children's fantasies that I enjoy, and also quite dark in some spots.

 

Rating: 2/5

The Souvenir Museum

 

Title:  The Souvenir Museum

Author: Elizabeth McCracken

Publisher: Ecco

 
ISBN: 9780062971289

 

Thoughts: Wonderful collection of short stories, some of which share characters.

 

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 5/23-6/12

 

LibraryThing Early Review:

Priestess of the Lost Colony by Brandon S. Pilcher

 

Bought at The Fantasy Shop:

The Case of the Missing Adults! by Scott Bryan Wilson & Bob Solanovicz

Bought on Amazon:

 

The Trials of Koli by M. R. Carey

 

The Last to See Her by Courtney Evan Tate

Unicorn of Many Hats

 

Title:  Unicorn of Many Hats

Author: Dana Simpson

Publisher: Andrew McMeel

 
ISBN: 9781449489663

 

Thoughts: Another great compilation of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics, filled with humor for readers of all ages.

 

Rating: 4/5

Dragons and Marshmallows

 

Title:  Dragons and Marshmallows

Author: Asia Citro & Marion Lindsay

Publisher: Innovation

 
ISBN: 9781943147083

 

Thoughts: Cute fantasy that reminds me of Bruce Coville books but for a new (and younger) era.

 

Rating: 4/5

Chews Your Destiny

 

Title:  Chews Your Destiny

Author: Rhode Montijo

Publisher: Little Brown

 
ISBN: 9781423157403

 

Thoughts: A cool mix of novel and comic with an old-school feel created by the pink graphics.

 

Rating: 4/5

Dog Days

 

Title:  Dog Days

Author: Karen English

Publisher: Clarion

 
ISBN: 9780547970448

 

Thoughts: Solid mg novel that deals with family, friends, and bulllies, leaving some things unresolved, just like in real life.

 

Rating: 3/5

Behold the Dreamers

 

Title:  Behold the Dreamers

Author: Imbolo Mbue

Publisher: Books on Tape

 
ISBN: 9780147523112

 

Thoughts: Wonderful characters and a realistic story despite the name.

 

Rating: 4/5

The Infamous Ratsos

 

Title:  The Infamous Ratsos

Author: Kara LaReau & Matt Myers

Publisher: Candlewick

 
ISBN: 9789763676360

 

Thoughts: Funny chapter book with a good message.

 

Rating: 3/5

The Palace of Secrets

 

Title:  The Palace of Secrets

Author: Rhona Cleary, Agnese Innocente, Ilaria Urbinati, & Gaia Cardinali

Publisher: Dark Horse

 
ISBN: 9781506716534

 

Thoughts: The artwork might not be like the movie, but Mulan is still herself in this historical mystery.

 

Rating: 4/5

Meet Yasmin!

 

Title:  Meet Yasmin!

Author: Saadia Faruqi & Hatem Aly

Publisher: Picture Window

 
ISBN: 9781684360222

 

Thoughts: Cute and positive stories for early chapter readers.

 

Rating: 3/5

Racism Without Racists

 

Title:  Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America

Author: Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

 
ISBN: 9781442276239

 

Thoughts: I do not disagree with Bonilla-Silva's thesis, I do question some of his support materials, plus the highly academic nature of the book made for slow reading.

 

Rating: 2/5

The Witch Boy

 

Title:  The Witch Boy

Author: Molly Knox Ostertag

Publisher: Graphix

 
ISBN: 9781338089523

 

Thoughts: A tale of being yourself while trying to conform to your family's magic.

 

Rating: 5/5

Dory and the Real True Friend

 

Title:  Dory and the Real True Friend

Author: Abby Hanlon

Publisher: Dial

 
ISBN: 9780525428664

 

Thoughts: A super fun and funny read about school and friendship for young readers and their families.

 

Rating: 4/5

Beloved

 

Title:  Beloved

Author: Toni Morrison

Publisher: Random House

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts: Morrison's voice is so melodic and the story is so poetic and free-flowing that the audio book did not really work for me.

 

Rating: 2/5

The Chance to Fly

 

Title:  The Chance to Fly

Author: Ali Stroker & Stacy Davidowicz

Publisher: Henry N. Abrams

 
ISBN: 9781419743931

 

Thoughts: A must for mg theatre kids and anyone looking for a fun, uplifting story about sticking up for yourself.

 

Rating: 4/5

The Fourth Child

 

Title:  The Fourth Child

Author: Jessica Winter

Publisher: Harper

 
ISBN: 9780062971555

 

Thoughts: Very deep novel about mothers and daughters, but the title did not really work.

 

Rating: 3/5