Review: Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile

Victory. Stand!: Raising by Fist for Justice by Anyabwile, Barnes, and Smith

Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice
Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes
Illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
Norton Young Readers
Published September 27, 2022

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About Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice

On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. Both men were forced to leave the Olympics, received death threats, and faced … Continue reading

Review: Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman

Maus II A Survivor's Tale And Here My Troubles Began

Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
Art Spiegelman
Pantheon Books
Published September 1992 (originally published in 1991)

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About Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began

Acclaimed as a quiet triumph and a brutally moving work of art, the first volume of Art Spieglman’s MAUS introduced readers to Vladek Spiegleman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler’s Europe, and his son, a cartoonist trying to come to terms with his father, his father’s terrifying story, and History itself. Its form, the cartoon (the Nazis are cats, the Jews mice), succeeds perfectly in shocking us … Continue reading

Review: The Librarian of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel by Antonio Iturbe, Salva Rubio, and Loreto Aroca

The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe

The Librarian of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel
Antonio Iturbe
Illustrated by Loreto Aroca
Translated by Lilit Zekulin Thwaites
Adapted by Salva Rubio
Godwin Books/MacMillan
Published January 3, 2023

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About The Librarian of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this graphic novel tells the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.

Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror … Continue reading

2022 Reading Wrap-Up: My Year in Books

2022 Reading Wrap-Up: My Year in Books

Here we are, at the end of another year. A lot has happened this year, and more than ever, I’ve found myself grateful for the opportunity to read and talk about so many great books. In my 2022 Reading Wrap-Up post, I’ll focus on some overall stats and list a few favorite books I read this year.

Wrap-up posts are something I struggle with in general, but I’m experimenting and hoping to develop a structure I like. I downloaded a book tracking spreadsheet from Kimberly at Addicted to Romance that I’m looking forward to trying out.

I discovered that I enjoy finding out reading stats of other bookish people and reviewers. Mara … Continue reading

Review: The Legend of Brightblade by Ethan M. Aldridge

The Legend of Brightblade by Ethan M. Aldridge

The Legend of Brightblade
Ethan M. Aldridge
Quill Tree Books
March 1, 2022

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About The Legend of Brightblade

A young prince must learn to be his own kind of hero in this stand-alone graphic novel from the acclaimed creator of the Estranged duology. Perfect for fans of the Amulet series and The Witch Boy.

Young Prince Alto dreams of being a hero like his mother, the Lady Brightblade. Her well-known legend was woven into stories by the magical bard who fought by her side.

The kingdom may be at peace now, but Alto believes that the world still needs heroes. He … Continue reading

Review: Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume Two
Alice Oseman
Hodder Children’s Books
Published July 11, 2019

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About Heartstopper: Volume Two

Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie’s gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn’t.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family … and himself.

Praise for the Heartstopper series:

Kirkus Reviews Best YA Romance of 2020

“Absolutely delightful. Sweet, romantic, kind. Beautifully paced. I loved this book.” — Rainbow Rowell, author of Carry On

“You’ll smile watching Charlie and Nick open up to one another, and sigh as they tiptoe into romance… falling in love … Continue reading