February 2021

I like books that make me smile. The cover of this book sold me. When actor Leslie Jordan learned he had “gone viral,” he had no idea what that meant or how much his life was about to change. The popular “Instagram celebrity” shares a collection of quirky and sassy essays in this enteraining read.

Had to pick this one up, as it intrigued me. Harvard’s top astronomer lays out his controversial theory that our solar system was recently visited by advanced alien technology from a distant star.

With millions unemployed because of the pandemic, it seems a lot of us could use a bit of comic relief. Oshry is one of these “social media influencers” that my kids seem to talk about, and what I enjoyed most about this book was its honesty. Oshry is always husting, and she has learned a lot of hard lessons. Through it all, her humility stands out.

A novel in verse, American Ace presents a quest to sixteen-year-old Connor Bianchini. When Connor’s Italian American grandmother dies, she leaves a note for his father, revealing that the man who raised him was not his birth father. With his own father hospitalized after a stroke, Connor undertakes the mission to uncover his grandfather’s identity, which he eventually traces back to the Tuskegee Airmen, the group of African American aviators in World War II.

Timely book for Black History Month. With wonderful illustrations by Nate Powell, March is the first of a trilogy of books that provide a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.

Whoever said titles don’t matter? This one grabbed my attention, and I was treated to a delightful read. Ben must be the hungriest cat ever. One moment, he was enjoying a breakfast of salmon trimmings in his home in South Wales. The next, he was teleported across time and space onto the cold stone floor of an evil warlock. Meanwhile, in a distant academy, a dragon is bored out of her mind. Is there anyone in this land who can ride her into battle against the forces of the evil warlocks? I had no idea what to expect from page to page. Terrific!

After a magical disaster saw his family thrown all across the world, Rudeus is determined to bring them all back together. The next step just might involve storming a castle, and Rudeus isn’t about to back down from the challenge. But how will his half-sister Aisha feel about a reunion with a brother who never came for her – a brother she’s never met? Great illustrations by Yuka Fujikawa make this a must-buy for Manga fans.

When a young girl sees a strong woman on TV labeled as "too assertive" and "too ambitious," it sends her on a journey of discovery through past, present and future about the challenges faced by women and girls and the ways in which they can reframe, redefine and reclaim words meant to knock them down. Regardless of one’s politics (which I am sick of hearing about – lol!), I think most of us can agree that having the first woman Vice President of the United States is truly inspiring (and long overdue).

I’m guessing Gorman needs no help from me in publicizing her book, after her stirring poem delivered at the recent Presidential Inauguration. She was so eloquent, and in this book Gorman shows us that anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes – big or small – in the world, in their communities and in most importantly, in themselves. Simply beautiful.

Have my friend Cynthia McDermott to thank for this lovely book about empathy and kindness. When something sad happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen…which is just what Taylor needs. Good lesson for us all these days, no?