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"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself."— John Green

1.11.2017

Reading Challenges and Me


This year I am only doing ONE reading challenge, and that is the: 

I am doing this one in particular because in 2017 I need to do better as a consumer of books.  

Because I can read even more broadly, 

Because I can take the time to highlight books from diverse genres, cultures, and authors.  

Because I can make sure that the books I read are lifting up communities and accurately reflecting the culture and people within said community. 

Because I can lend my voice to the loud cry to publishers of "These are the books we WANT AND NEED!"  

Because I want to make sure that I showcase books that can reflect all of my readers, not just the white, cisgender, straight ones.  

Because I need to recognize when my favorite books/authors are problematic and why.

Because I want to create a safe space for discovery.  

And because above all I want to learn and grow because I know I'm not near knowledgeable enough.

As an "ally" it's time for me to really start putting my money where my mouth is as much as possible.


With all that said, instead of holding myself to a list of specific books that I cement right now, I will update this post with books I hope to read AND books that I do read, along with the review when finished, so I can keep it as flexible as possible.

I want to be able to discover new books and not feel beholden to a book I might not enjoy.


1. Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices edited by Mitali Perkins - Multiple POC, #ownvoices, ethnic diversity, intersectionality
          Review - 5/5 Stars
2. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - African American POC, Asian POC, #ownvoices, ethnic diversity, deportation
          Review - 5/5 Stars 
3. Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older - Latinx POC, ethnic diversity, #ownvoices, mythology, LGBT
          Review - 5/5 Stars
4. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - Mental health (Bi-polar), suicide
          Review - 
5. Love & First Sight by Josh Sundquist - Disability (blindness), ethnic diversity
          Review - 4/5 Stars
6. Because of the Sun by Jenny Torres Sanchez - Grief, abuse, ethnic diversity
          Review - 



North of Happy by Adi Alsaid - Latinx POC , #ownvoices
A Crack in the Sea by H.M. Bouwman - Folktale, intersectionality
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui - Memoir, Asian POC, #ownvoices 
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi - South Asian mythology , #ownvoices
Mirage by Tracy Clark - African American POC, mental illness
Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz - Asian POC, #ownvoices, deportation
This Is the Part Where You Laugh by Peter Brown Hoffmeister - Socioeconomic status, drug abuse
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson - LGBT, #ownvoices, suicide
Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World edited by Kelly Jensen - Ethnic diversity, intersectionality, women's rights
The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury - Fairytale retelling, Middle Eastern POC
When We Collided by Emery Lord - Mental illness
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp - Ethnic diversity, intersectionality, 
The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds - African American POC, #ownvoices, 
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo - LGBT, #ownvoices, trans issues
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera - Latinx POC, GLBT, #ownvoices, suicide
Sula's Voyage by Catherine Torres - Asian POC, mythology, #ownvoices
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten - Mental illness
Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley - Mental illness, LGBT
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - African American POC, #ownvoices, disability
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst - LGBT, bisexual
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom - Disability (blindness)
Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy - LGBT, bisexual, ethnic diversity



So there's my hopeful list.  I'm really excited and encourage all of you to join in too!

The ladies have a great resource list, Diverse Reads 2017 Reading List, that you can check out for recommendations.  Also Naz, over at Read Diverse Books, is holding a reading/reviewing challenge that is also focusing on diverse books (obviously).  So you can hit two challenges with one book AND celebrate diversity in reading!!!

Hopefully, I am successful with this challenge.  So far I've read one really amazing book, and am on another.  So 2017 is starting out right on track!  Happy reading everyone!

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