For fans of country music in the 1980s and 1990s, the voice of Reba McEntire defined what you heard on the radio and her charisma electrified videos aired on CMT. Here, she reflects on her decades-long career making music, shares favorite recipes, as well as what brings her joy, the way her faith has guided her life, and the grief experienced over the loss of her beloved momma. Despite her many accolades and well-deserved awards, she remains grounded as a gal from Oklahoma, one with whom you could pull up a rocking chair and sit on the porch drinking sweet tea.
My thanks to NetGalley for access to the audio ARC.
In this memoir by SNL writer and comedian, Jost shares both humorous and candid stories of his humble beginnings, academic experiences, and behind the scenes stories of working at Saturday Night Live.
Clementine and her aunt have been as thick as thieves, even traveled the world with one another on multiple occasions, but after her aunt’s death, Clementine is entirely devastated. Upon receiving her aunt’s New York City apartment in her will and trying to put her life back together, she enters the apartment one evening and finds an unknown man cooking in her kitchen, who lives 7 years in her past. This time-traveling romance was filled with moments of healing, love, and delicious food.
In less than a week these co-authors will speak at our local children’s book festival! Their treatment of a novel in verse features a determined group of middle school students advocating to change their school’s mascot to be more inclusive and less racially demeaning.
My thanks to Edelweiss for access to the digital ARC.
In the 1980s Nina Stibbe served as a nanny to a family with two young boys in London. Her recollections of their childhood wit, her interactions with other nannies, and all she learned are a glimpse back in time.
Several years ago I had the privilege of hearing Joy Harjo speak on our college campus and meeting her in the signing line afterwards. Here she shares intimate details of her childhood, violent home life, attending Indian boarding school, and becoming a mother. Although it’s not one of her books of poetry, her lyrical voice shines through in this memoir.
10th in the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries series, Tate and Angie are preparing for their upcoming nuptials. But when their photographer is killed, as well as a couple of their other wedding vendors, are Tate and Angie the next target? It’s up to Mel and crew to solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt and before Tate and Angie’s big day.
Amari is smart, hard working, and idolizes her older brother Quentin, who has been missing for several years. She and her mother have not given up hope that he will someday be found and, when she leasts expects it, she receives a mysterious virtual message from him. In it, he reveals the truth about his job, working for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, and extending an invitation for her to spend her summer there. Here, she finally understands the truth about Quentin, who is quite the celebrity in the supernatural world, discovers she too has special powers, and is determined to use her time in the Bureau to find his whereabouts.
Sci-fi writer Weir, of The Martian and Project Hail Mary fame, is also a lover of fan fiction. In an homage to Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and The Wizard of Oz, he imagines Alice, Wendy, and Dorothy having special capabilities, becoming friends, and having their stories overlap.
In the 2000s, American speed skater Apolo Ohno reached great heights in several Winter Olympics games, becoming the “most decorated USA male Winter Olympian of all time.” In this, his latest book of motivational principles, he inspires readers to practice gratitude, give back to others, practice grit and persistence, gear up for hard times, and take action to go.
Redman is a new-to-me author and, thanks to this being the Middle Grade March bookclub pick for September, I have become a hands-down fan of her writing. This was a sweet and stirring middle grade story of miracles, grief, friendship, healing, and hope.
I simply adored this fictitious epistolary story of two friends connected across the miles through letters and a love of food. The way they encouraged and brought out the best in each other, as well as the mouth-watering recipes shared, were deliciously heartwarming.
Read via: academic library interlibrary loan
September has felt like a long month, but has been filled with so many good books, and memories made outside of the page, too. ~ As October dawns, and hopefully gets cooler soon, let the cozy reading season commence!
This summer I found a hardback copy of this book of essays for only $8.00 at Book Warehouse Plus in Branson, MO. As always, Sittenfeld’s writing is filled with characters’ deepening awareness of self and desire. I’m well on my way to reading all of her published works!
Featured in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide, and also Reese Witherspoon’s August book club pick, this was an absolutely perfect book for summer – especially when performed by Meryl Streep in the audio version. Set during the pandemic, Lara, Joe, and their three 20ish daughters are all in lockdown together at their family cherry farm in Michigan. Told in past and present timelines, these long, homebound days give time for the girls to hear the story about their mother’s past as an actress, in which the play Our Town by Thornton Wilder plays a significant part of the story. Highly recommend!
Read via: Libby audio & my thanks to NetGalley for access to the digital ARC.
Normally, a flight from Hawaii to San Francisco shouldn’t present difficulties for the pilots and the passengers. But minutes after taking off, Flight 1421 has to make an emergency landing in the Pacific Ocean, endangering the lives of everyone on board. It’s up to passengers Will and his daughter Shannon to make an impromptu safety plan, along with the remote help of his estranged wife Chris.
A partner to Royal Valentine, this novella also features characters who work in New York City’s Museum of Literature. When Sarah, one of the museum’s curators, is given the opportunity to travel to Greece for an expedition, little does she know her ex-boyfriend and life-threatening adventures await.
Reid is another author whose backlist I’m endeavoring to read with the goal of completing her entire catalog. In this older selection, we meet married couple Ryan and Lauren, who have been sweethearts since college. But after many years together, either dating or married, they realize that while they love each other, they no longer like each other anymore. In hopes of preventing a divorce, they make the heartbreaking choice to live a part for a year and then evaluate their future. I was grateful for how this portrays a truthful look at how marriage relationships take constant work and require good communication between both partners.
Ever since reading her Pulitzer prize winning book of short stories Interpreter of Maladies in the early 2000s, I have been a devotee of Lahiri’s writing. Here, Lahiri writes a series of short essays in Italian, translates them into English, and reflects on this multi-lingual process. She is another author whom I am reading backlist titles.
Hazel and her younger sister Flora are evacuated from their home in London to the English countryside as London endures the Blitz during World War II. As a way to mentally escape, Hazel creates Whisperwood, a make-believe world where only she and Flora can visit. But one day, on the rural banks of the Thames, Flora disappears without a trace. Decades pass and Hazel has taken a job in a rare book emporium in London, where, one day a fantasy story arrives from America. In it the author writes about Whisperwood and stories about which were only known to the two of them. This was a sweet addition to the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide about the power of story and the life-changing connections that come our way when we think all hope is lost.
Read via: public library & my thanks to NetGalley for access to the digital ARC.
It’s summer vacation and Maizy and her mother travel from their home in California to Last Chance, Minnesota, to visit Maizy’s grandparents. Here, they have run the Golden Palace restaurant for several generations. As Maizy’s grandfather’s health declines she is given a special gift of him sharing his family’s story with her – an ancestor who immigrated to the United States from China, his move to Minnesota, establishing the restaurant, and helping many people along the way. This warm and positive middle grade novel was the Middle Grade March selection for August.
One of Sittenfeld’s oldest novels, Prep tells the story of Lee, a teenage girl from Indiana who voluntarily decides to attend Ault, a private prep school in Massachusetts. The reader follows her through all four years of high school witnessing her social, academic, and romantic growth.
Last month I read the first book in this short series, Authentically, Izzy, but in this installment we get to know Izzy’s cousin Penelope. She, too, has an opportunity to travel to Skymar, where she has been granted a theatre internship. A whirling dervish filled with spunk and a love of all things musical theatre, Penelope’s enthusiasm and ideas are welcomed by the Darling House Theatre and its founding family, the Grays. Penelope and Matt Gray strike up a friendship, which has the potential of developing into something more. But before long she is offered a full-time theatre job back home in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and she discovers someone is leaking her ideas to a rival theatre company in Skymar. What’s a Julie Andrews-loving girl supposed to do?
Read via: Hoopla audio
This is the third week of our new academic year, so it’s already felt like Fall to me for about a month. However, as the temperatures (hopefully) cool off, I’m looking forward to reading ARCs of upcoming releases and other seasonal selections. How about you?
Here at the transition of Summer giving way to Fall, not only do I pause to reflect on what I’ve learned during this season, but am filled with untold gratitude in what an absolutely wonderful summer it’s been. This summer has been filled with lots of travel and time with family and friends:
Meeting up with my sweet Momma in Branson, MO. This was our first visit to a beloved place since covid and also since my dad passed away. While we carried his memory with us, we made special, new memories and loved seeing Queen Esther at Sight & Sound Theatres.
Visiting Momma in June for a long-standing family reunion with precious cousins from her side of the family.
Taking in an Arkansas Naturals minor league baseball game (plus fireworks afterward) with The Optometrist, his parents and sister, our brother-in-law, nephew, and niece.
Indulging in a personal day and traveling to Tulsa to spend quality time with my former colleague/mentor, and dear friend Susan. We skirted summer storms, rejoiced in cooler weather, enjoyed lunch at Utica Square, window shopped, and were thankful for uninterrupted time together.
The Optometrist and I traveling to Kansas City to see Nickel Creek in concert at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (see first picture below), followed by a quick visit to my kindred-spirited friend Megan and her family on our way home.
Hearing the sounds of The Crossmen DCI troupe on campus as we were their spring training site location, then attending their preview summer show.
Traveling with my Momma for a family reunion on my dad’s side of the family. Being in central Missouri with her, seeing old friends, dear family, shopping at Downtown Book and Toy in Jefferson City, followed by getting ice cream at Central Dairy on our way home brought my soul joy.
Intentionally taking the long way home through the Ozarks and caravanning with Momma for us to see my godparents, whom I love so much.
Traveling to New England with The Optometrist – completing my global entry interview, touring the Mark Twain house in Hartford, CN (see third picture below), followed by a few days in Boston, a few days in Provincetown on Cape Cod (see fourth and fifth pictures below), followed by a return to Boston and taking in a Red Sox game were all so memorable.
God’s confidence in women
Early in the summer, as we read in our Forward Day by Day devotional, I was deeply moved by remembering Elizabeth was the first person in the Bible in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt (John 1:41-42). What confidence God had to embody a part of himself in the life of a human, and a human woman at that.
Feasting in body and spirit
Amid everyone’s busy schedules, the opportunity to gather with our people at various times this summer has been such a gift. When this kind of gathering is hosted in the home of dear friends, and you witness a sunset like this upon leaving their farm, it’s confirmation of how time is blessed by our good God.
New discoveries about my reading life
Through reading helpful blogs and listening to enlightening podcasts, I’ve pinpointed preferences in my reading life. Specifically, I’ve learned I have a preference for plot based vs. character-driven stories and sci-fi vs. fantasy settings.
Combine something you like with something you don’t like
While I’m not sure this idea came from a Lazy Genius podcast, it feels like something she would promote. For The Optometrist and me, living in Oklahoma and having to mow the lawn in the summer is akin to torture. But I found if I can have an engaging audiobook queued through Hoopla or Libby, this helps take my mind off the sweaty drudgery.
MLB All-Star Game History
Shortly before we went to Boston, and knowing we had tickets to see the Red Sox play the Mets, I read an interesting article about the first All-Star Game. Not only was it held in Chicago, but it took place during the 1933 World’s Fair as an exhibition of sorts. Apparently, there was enough interest (and likely money made) that it became an annual tradition!
Are you taking time to reflect on what has been a blessing and/or what you’ve learned this Summer? If so, please feel free to share in the comments below!
This was a fascinating look at how language creates an indelible influence into cult groups and mentalities. From Jonestown to Waco, as well as newer followers of CrossFit and other exercise regimes, Montell’s interviews and writing are eye-opening and thought-provoking.
Anisa is London-based, Pakistani-born, translator for Bollywood movies. But she has higher aspirations to learn additional languages, so when she is told about The Centre, a secret location where this can happen, she commits to seeing if it works. It does, but with disturbing revelations about the assimilation process.
Please click here to read my full review. My thanks to Edelweiss for access to the digital ARC.
Finishing this series as a read aloud with The Optometrist was great fun! We both enjoyed how Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and fellow friends from Camp Half-Blood save Olympus from destruction. For those interested in learning more about Greek gods, this is the perfect gateway!
Izzy has been content to work in her local public library nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and have her beloved cousins be her primary support system for many years. Told in emails and texts, Izzy expands her horizons and joins an online dating system, where she meets a kind, book-loving Scotsman who makes her dream new dreams.
All Sana wants is for her father, a professional sushi chef, to teach her how to cook authentic Japanese food during her summer vacation. However, while he is busy filming interviews for a documentary about his new restaurant, Sana meets a cute boy, whose mother is an outstanding cook and agrees to give Sana cooking lessons. This middle grade story was a mouthwatering one, filled with reminders about the importance of good communication, family pride, and honesty.
In this debut murder mystery we meet Sister Holiday, a nun in New Orleans, clad in not only her habit, but also tattoos. Her unconventional path to the sisterhood makes her a prime suspect when she witnesses someone in the parish dying, followed by saving two students from a fire in the church. While she is an amateur sleuth, she isn’t the one responsible…but who is?
This was the July Middle Grade March read-along, a new-to-me book by a debut author. During the hard times of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, Gloria and her family move from Oklahoma to California to start over again, this time working in a peach orchard. Gloria catches wind that a secret baseball team has formed with kids from orchard, which sparks her greatest desire: to play on a team. The heartbreaking realities of how difficult and unfair sharecropping was for so many families is counterbalanced with the power and hope of baseball uniting boys and girls (especially girls like Gloria who can pitch the lights out).
After reading Romantic Comedy in May, and buying You Think It, I’ll Say It at a discount bookstore in Branson, I’ve been on a quest to become a Curtis Sittenfeld completionist. It was then I realized I had not yet taken advantage of this ARC, a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Sittenfeld’s treatment of the beloved Bennet sisters is deftly handled, with plenty of contemporary interpretations, preserving the humor of Austen’s classic.
Read via: Hoopla audio & my thanks to NetGalley for access to the digital ARC.
I had been saving this ARC for summer vacation to Boston & Cape Cod and I’m so glad I did! Harriet and her two best friends from college, Sabrina, and Cleo, have been coming to Sabrina’s family’s seaside cottage in Maine for close to a decade. Over the years their threesome has expanded to a sextet as they’ve each found a romantic partner, all of whom treat each other like family. Amid the grueling rigor of medical school, the cottage has been Harriet’s mental “happy place,” which is just where she needs to be. However, when her ex-fiancé Wyn also shows up, this throws a wrench in her plans. As always, Henry writes a satisfying romance with great depth, including themes of protective friendship, grief and loss, and the complications of lying to protect those we love.
My thanks to Edelweiss for access to the digital ARC.
Another vacation read, set on Cape Cod! After a humiliating experience in college, at the hands of her high school best friend Drue, Daphne has become a plus-sized influencer, who has begun garnering some attention for her body positive social media posts. Out of the blue, she is contacted by Drue, who begs for Daphne to be a bridesmaid in her upcoming, lavish wedding on Cape Cod. Daphne grudgingly agrees, but before the wedding can take place, tragedy strikes, upending the plans of so many.
9th in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, while Angie and Tate are planning their upcoming nuptials, Mel is hired by her college roommate Diane to deliver a dozen cupcakes to Diane’s fiancé to break-up with him. However, Mel is in the wrong place at the wrong time, finding Diane’s fiancé dead at his place of business before she can deliver the bad news on behalf of her friend. As always, Mel steps in to solve the murder while helping her two best friends get one step closer to “I do.”
In a recent re-watch of Julie and Julia, I was reminded of the sparkling wit of Nora Ephron’s writing. In this book of essays, like that of I Feel Bad About My Neck, the reader is treated to Ephron’s musings about aging, the world around her, and the things that brought her joy. How I wish we could have had her a little while longer.
If you grew up listening to country music like I did, you know that Reba is not only a powerful entertainer, but proud of her roots in Oklahoma. Listening to her share wisdom and common sense was the perfect blend of practicality and down-home country, no matter where you live. Look for my full review on October 10.
My thanks to NetGalley for access to the audio ARC.
August means back-to-school! While the temperatures in Oklahoma will be over 100 F for the next week, this will give me time to finish a few summer books left on my TBR, namely The Secret Book of Flora Lea and How to Take Over the World. As always, I’m excited about the start of a new school year, cooler weather, and books to read this Fall. What’s left on your summer TBR list?
Sadie is a talented portrait artist and has been accepted into a prestigious portrait competition, which she hopes will finally launch her fledgling career. It means even more to her that she is following in the footsteps of her now deceased mother, who was also invited to be a part of this same event many years before. However, when Sadie least expects it, a medical emergency befalls her that will change her ability to do the work she loves so dearly and also reveals a unknown connection to her mother.
As Sadie recovers, her neighbor Joe becomes a kind and supportive presence in her life, but Sadie doesn’t know if he can be trusted. Meanwhile, when her dog has his own medical emergency, she also makes a romantic connection with her veterinarian. However, he seems not as interested in her as she is in him. Many truths are revealed as Sadie’s health improves, including this complicated love triangle. With humor and heart, Center once again delivers a thoughtful story with a strong leading lady and likeable supporting characters.
My thanks to Edelweiss access to the digital ARC and to NetGalley for access to the audio ARC.
Anisa, a Pakistani-born Londoner, has an affinity for languages and has a steady job providing translations for Bollywood movies. But when she discovers a way she could learn a new language in a very short amount of time, her interest is piqued. She is brought into the fold to learn about The Centre, an ultra-secretive language acquisition destination, which seems too good to be true. However, she trusts the process, and it works, but she leaves with many questions about The Centre and how this process truly happens. This speculative novel raises a disturbing potential question about ethics, modern scientific methods, and the power of the human mind.
My thanks to Edelweiss for access to the digital ARC.
After the death of his father, political journalist Tim Russert, Luke’s grief was processed as he traveled the world. This memoir/travelogue was one with which I related after the passing of my dad.
In this candid memoir, actor Zachary Levi shares with readers his journey growing up with radical and toxic parents, his struggles with anxiety, and how his faith has guided and grounded him in good times and bad.
Read via: Hoopla audio & my thanks to NetGalley for access to the digital ARC.
Gifted to my mom for Christmas, I decided the audio version of Joanna Gaines’ book of personal stories would be the easiest way for me to experience this newer release. In this encouraging read, she speaks from personal experience about the importance of being at home in your own skin.
Judith Potts is a woman of a certain age, perfectly content with her cozy cottage along the Thames. However, when she discovers her neighbor has been killed, she takes it upon herself to investigate the murder. Along with some unlikely new female friends, their zany intellect and intuition save the day.
Living among people of the Cherokee Nation, my awareness of Native American culture continues to be an opportunity to listen and learn. Therefore, this graphic novel – the story of the Native American rock band Redbone – is a contender for next year’s Common Read for our university freshmen.
This epistolary, sci-fi novel is featured in the 2023 Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide and was a great read aloud for the Optometrist and me! Harold is a brilliant physician turned physicist, who is invited to participate in a top secret, exploratory expedition. Bizarre circumstances escalate, making this an unusual and dangerous opportunity. For fans of Blake Crouch, you will love this thriller!
Actress Kitty Karr has been an A-list Hollywood celebrity for decades, but after her death, many long-held secrets of her past are brought to light by those who thought they knew her best. This bestseller (and Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide pick) is a sweeping story of the injustices of race and the desire for a better life.
Narrated from the perspective of Bernadette’s daughter Bee, but supplemented with emails and other forms of written communication by other family members and friends, the reader is able to witness Bernadette’s brilliance and genuine love for her family, amidst mental health struggles. Taking the reader from Seattle to Antarctica, this backlist title is filled with humor and heart.
Sadie is a hard-working artist, but shortly before she is scheduled to have her painting be included in a prestigious art competition, an accident occurs that will rearrange her carefully made plans. I loved Sadie’s resilience in making the most out of a frustrating situation, and rooted for her love life throughout each page! Look for my full review on July 11.
My thanks to NetGalley for access to the audiobook ARC.
A blonde, American woman awakens in Paris with no memory of her name, why she is there, and who she can trust. Thankfully, Sawyer, a real-life spy, finds and recognizes her, but must keep her safe from those who wish her harm. Look for my full review on August 8.
My thanks to NetGalley for access to the digital ARC.
A partner story to Without a Hitch, we follow supporting character Claire as she has left the Dallas bridal planning world and regroups with a career at Piece of Cake, a wedding magazine in Nashville. The magazine is in peril and her idea of launching a video series is well received, but she is disappointed to be partnered with hotshot social media star Dominic. Sparks fly, so can she overlook him being an interloper and find a way to work together, if not more?
My thanks to NetGalley for access to the audiobook ARC.
Also featured in the 2023 Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide, this lovely book begins with a story of an author’s painstaking journey in writing a novel. From there we meet the a member of the publishing team that greenlights the book, the narrator of the audio book, plus several more individuals; all of whom are connected by the original book in some memorable way. Creative and heartwarming, I could have kept on reading and finding out more about each of these characters!
This has been on my TBR for quite some time and, when it was selected as the June Middle Grade March book club pick, I was happy to join the read-along! When Candice and her mother move from Atlanta into her deceased grandmother’s house in South Carolina, Candice discovers a letter addressed to her. In it, her grandmother explains an unsolved mystery in town, with a financial reward to the one who solves it. With the help of her new neighbor Brandon, the two of them begin to research the town’s racial divide in hopes of not only solving the puzzle, but righting wrongs and bringing untold stories to light.
After reading several romances and pieces of literary fiction, a middle grade graphic novel was the perfect palate cleanser. Imogene and her family are seasonal staff/performers in the Florida Renaissance Faire, but after being homeschooled throughout elementary school, she is starting public school for the first time…in middle school. Her journey of trying to fit in and find the right friend group is a struggle I remember well. Readers will root for her academic and social success, as well as her quest to become a squire at the Faire.
Londoner Cassandra lives a very particular life, thriving on routine, but on the day her boyfriend breaks up with her, she discovers she can reverse time. Her desire to reshape the past is fraught with imperfections, but it allows her to reconcile a broken relationship that isn’t a romantic one.
Read via: Hoopla audio
As July dawns, I have several ARCs on my TBR including Happy Place by Emily Henry and The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry, which I can hopefully read on vacation in Cape Cod in just a few weeks! What are you excited about reading in July? Please feel free to share in the comments below!
Millie, a native of New York City, has just finished her junior year of high school and has her sights set on Broadway, via a pre-college drama program in California. She, her single father, and aunt, are a tight-knit group, but Millie has long wondered who her mother is. When she finds out her mother is connected to Broadway, her search begins in earnest, which includes a summer internship with her theatre rival that just might sideline her California plans.
If you haven’t yet checked out Emma Lord, all of her YA books are hopeful and inclusive. She’s doing great work!
Sue is a teenager, 14 going on 15. As a first generation American, with immigrant parents, each summer they return to Honduras to visit family. Like most teenagers, Sue would rather stay at home in New York and be with her friends over the summer, especially when she finds out her family is planning her quinceanera. This humorous graphic novel focuses on the importance of family, their support and understanding of one’s individual likes and dislikes, and acceptance of growing into who you are.
I have been a fan of Curtis Sittenfeld since reading American Wife during grad school. Here, she creates a fictional world akin to Saturday Night Live where Sally, one of the writers for The Night Owls, meets heartthrob musician Noah, who duals as the guest host and musical act. She thinks she isn’t his type, but finds herself drawn to him as a friend, especially as time elapses and the pandemic changes everything. This is a standout selection that includes themes of self-doubt, relationship stereotypes, and overcoming assumptions about celebrities; easily one of my favorites of the year.
While attending college, Lottie was earning her bachelor’s degree with her sights set on law school. However, her true ambition was to marry her college sweetheart, thus she spent countless hours planning their wedding…which was not meant to be. Several years later she has found herself working for a wedding planning company and when she is tasked to plan her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, she must closely examine this lingering heartbreak and how it has impacted her life and other relationships.
My thanks to NetGalley for access to the digital ARC.
This novella takes a microscopic look at a young Irish girl, from a large family, who spends the summer with foster parents after her mother gives birth to another sibling. This time away from her birth family allows her to have focused attention she doesn’t know she needs in order to learn and thrive.
Winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Kingsolver takes Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield and sets her retelling in Appalachia. This sweeping story places Damon (known as Demon because of his red hair) in the midst of poverty, loss, neglect, abuse, but gives hope for recovery and resilience.
Nikole is paying nominal attention at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game, but when her boyfriend flags her attention to the jumbotron, it’s featuring a marriage proposal…to her. Not only is she caught completely by surprise, but when she declines his proposal and is left by herself in the stadium, siblings Carlos & Angela sitting nearby come to her rescue. Since Nik is on the rebound, and Carlos is a handsome doctor, their unlikely friendship-turned romance is fun, but causes Nik to do some soul searching.
Since watching The Pack on Amazon Prime, hosted by Lindsey Vonn, I became curious about her career as a skier. While I knew her name from the Olympics, this autobiography takes the reader into her development as a young athlete, her numerous injuries, and her resilience to be an Olympic gold medalist and world champion skier.
“What is the purpose of a map? To bring people together.” Featured in last year’s Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide, I loved this story about maps, libraries, family secrets, and phantom settlements. With a healthy dose of magical realism, the story was grounded in the real world, but allowed a fantastical story arc to be plausibly considered.
As a knitter I was very excited to see this memoir featured in this year’s Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide! During Covid lockdown, Peggy, a longtime knitter, decided to pursue a full wool experience: shearing a sheep, cleaning & carding it, spinning it, dyeing it, and knitting it into a sweater. Filled with other historical facts that align with each of these actions, this was a smart and fascinating read.
Fantasy is not my favorite genre, but, spurred on by the Middle Grade March book club for May (tonight on their YouTube channel!), I decided to pick this up to not miss out on the conversation. The threads of kindness, goodness, care for neighbors, found family, and goodness triumphing over evil were deftly woven into this middle grade story.
What a lovely, contemporary retelling of Little Women this was! I loved it! Set in Brooklyn, with a mixed-race, blended family, this graphic novel had all the heart of the Louisa May Alcott classic, but with an updated twist that middle grade and YA readers will be sure to enjoy. (And if you haven’t heard of Rey Terciero, it’s the pen name of author Rex Ogle!)
Fourth in the series, Kronos continues to regain strength and build an army with former camper Luke, which creates an imminent threat to Camp Half-Blood. It’s up to Percy, Grover, Annabeth, Tyson, and mortal Rachel, to enter into Daedalus’ labyrinth to find a way to stop him and save their beloved camp.
Read via: academic library youth collection
Now that school is out, summer is officially here (at least in my estimation)! More titles from the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide await, along with some books from my unread shelf. What are you excited to read in June?
For many kids, a rite of passage in the adolescent years is the discovery that their vision has become blurry, where they are not able to read the teacher’s writing on the board at school or can no longer see details in nature at a distance. In this autobiographical middle grade graphic novel, Rex Ogle writes with humor and heart about his personal struggles of what it was like to make the transition of wearing glasses in middle school. As is often the case, he experiences bullying for being a “four eyes,” but discovers that the benefits of wearing glasses for visual clarity outweigh the taunts of bullies and that true friends will accept him for who he is, not merely judging his appearance for the spectacles on his face.
read | knit | learn 