Monthly rundown vol. 16

Dragons, endings, smarmy dudes, and a little bit of romance

Hello, hello! I hope everyone’s April was full of good times and good books. Mine was definitely full of activity, including two book signings this month as part of the National Authors in Grocery Stores program. The program allows authors to sign up to do individual book selling and signing in Kroger grocery stores. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they both went pretty well! I’ve also decided that grocery stores have almost as good people-watching as airports. The full schedule may be why this month’s reads skew toward middle grade and shorter/quicker books, but it was still a good month reading-wise. Looking back and keep track of what I’ve read has been one of the things I love about this newsletter.

Books

Honest June by Tina Wells. June is starting sixth grade and is feeling the pressure–pressure to make good grades, to live up to her parents’ high expectations, to make a successful entrance into middle school, to be a good friend, and still pursue her own interests like writing for the school newspaper. June manages all of these pressures and relationships by hiding the truth and sometimes even lying–after all, if she tells her dad she doesn’t want to play field hockey or be a lawyer like him, he’ll hate her, right? When a fairy godmother puts a no-lying-at-all spell on June, she has to learn how to honest with both herself and the people she cares about. For the most part, I thought this was a cute, well-written book, and June was a sweet character that I think a lot of high-achieving kids would relate to. I did cringe a little bit when the fairy godmother told June “listen to your heart” and “find your truth,” but in the bigger context of the story, it did make sense. 

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff is another middle  grade novel, a lovely story about a girl dealing with the grief of her brother’s death the summer before. It’s about friendship, family, community, and finding courage and healing in the midst of grief. 

Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. This very short book was written in the mid-20th century, but it’s singular message of pursuing God is just as relevant today. It’s an encouragement not to get bogged down and distracted by everything on the periphery of our relationship with God. 

Maybe She Will by Gina Andrew. I adored this romantic and layered story about a single mom with two teenagers, one of whom has autism and intellectual disabilities. She is juggling the changing dynamic of her relationship with her sixteen year old daughter and the struggles her son is having in middle school, mostly consumed with her kids and work and managing day to day. In the midst of all of this, she begins dating a man that is sweet and thoughtful…and also comes with some complications. Like the fact that he’s ten years younger than her and works for the school district she’s currently at odds with. I loved these characters, and thought they were realistic and loveable. The conflicts and tension in the story felt true to life, and interesting enough to keep me turning the pages. I stayed up way to late devouring this novel, which, in my world, is the highest praise. (bonus: I’ll be featuring the author in a Meet the Author issue soon!) 

The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman. This final(ish) book in the Invisible Library series did everything I wanted it to do, leaving me satisfied with both the resolution and the knowledge that the rich world Cogman has created continues off the page.

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris. I listened to All Her Little Secrets on audio, and the narrator was excellent. It’s a mystery-thriller where past secrets surface in the wake of a present-day murder. The author includes some heavy themes like racism, misogyny, and child abuse, but weaves them into a story that is fast-paced, engaging, and doesn’t get bogged down in the heaviness.

The Last Dragon by Sylvana de Mari. In an indeterminate time period, it’s been raining for years, with only the barest and occasional hint of sun behind the everpresent clouds. A pitiful, soggy baby elf is saved by a human–against her better judgment. The two meet up with another wanderer, and together they seek a prophecy that promises an end to the endless rain when the last elf and last dragon meet. The Last Dragon reads like a fairy tale, and is a story of friendship, found family, sacrifice, and courage. It’s funny and beautiful, and I highly recommend it. (it also reminded me of some of Neil Gaiman’s writing).

Music:

J and I went to a Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors concert this month (So fun!), and one of my favorite ways to discover new music is through musicians I already like. The opener for the show was Canadian folk singer-songwriter Donovan Woods, and I am very much enjoying discovering his music. 

All right, friends, that’s it for now. Talk again soon!