It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

If you want to see more of my reading, visit my Goodreads shelves here. 

Recent Blogposts:

Asian Books Challenge - Adult Fiction/Nonfiction List

Asian Books Challenge - Early Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Asian Books Challenge - Young Adult List

Books I've Read Recently: 

I slowed down on reading lately as we have a lot of change happening around us. I just drove to Chicago to spend the day there and then drop off our Korean student at the airport to go home. She's been living with us for the past three school years. It was hard to let her go this time as she will be heading to college in the fall and won't be with us. We had a great time in the city though. We are also preparing to say goodbye to our dog. He is sixteen years old and his body is just not able to keep going much longer. These are likely reasons why I picked up rom-coms again. 

I read two enjoyable adult rom-coms over the week. One in a Million is a cute My Fair Lady retelling. Beach Read is a fun one about two authors who are having trouble writing. They have a wager going with each of them trying to write in the other's typical genre instead of their own.

Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey is an early chapter book about a young girl and her fear of climbing the tree in her backyard along with her day-to-day family and friendship interactions. 

The Coming Week: I'm still reading Alta California and have also started listening to Made in Korea. I hope you have a great week.

Asian Books Challenge - Adult Fiction and Nonfiction List

#AsianHeritageMonth is coming to an end. This year @booksandboba hosted another  #AsianBooksChallenge. For 2021, they asked people to share books by authors of Asian descent or author's names for each letter of the alphabet. Here are my picks for adult fiction and nonfiction. I still need to read Crying in H Mart, and Quiet Fire, but have read the rest and would recommend any of them. 

*Most of the links will take you to the books on the Books and Boba Bookshop page.

A - Active Voice The Comic Collection: The Real Life Adventures of an Asian-American, Lesbian, Feminist, Activist and Her Friends by Heidi Ho illustrated by Derek Chua & Casandra Grullon

B - Bamboo Among the Oaks: Contemporary Writing by Hmong Americans edited by Mai Neng Moua

C - Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori

D - Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the 21st Century edited by Alice Wong

E - Even This Page is White by Vivek Shraya

F - First Comes Like by Alisha Rai

G - Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob

H - The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

I - If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim

J - Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

K - The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

L - The Latehomecomer: A Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang

M - Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong

N - No Matter the Wreckage by Sara Kay illustrated by Sarah Janowitz

O - On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome, with Love and Pasta by Jen Lin-Liu

P - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Q - Quiet Fire: A Historical Anthology of Asian American Poetry, 1892-1970 edited by Juliana Chang

R - Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev

S - Serena Flips the Script by Sonya Lalli

T - Thousand Star Hotel by Bao Phi

U - Useful Phrases for Immigrants: Stories by May-Lee Chai

V - Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim

W - The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston

X - Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Y - Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto translated by Megan Backus

Z - Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner

I also posted a picture book/emergent reader list and an early chapter book/middle grade list here on the blog and a YA list over at our Rich in Color Instagram if you'd like to see books for other ages. Or you can see all of them in one place here.

Asian Books Challenge - Early Chapter Books and Middle Grade

 

It's #AsianHeritageMonth, and @booksandboba is hosting another #AsianBooksChallenge. For 2021, they are asking people to share books by authors of Asian descent or author's names for each letter of the alphabet. Here are my picks for early chapter books and middle grade. I've read them all and would definitely recommend them.  

*Most of the links will take you to the books on the Books and Boba Bookshop page.

A - Abby Spencer Goes to Bollywood by Varsha Bajaj

B - The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung

C - Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj

D - Dumpling Days by Grace Lin

E - Everlasting Nora by Marie Miranda Cruz

F - Flamer by Mike Curato

G - Gathering Fireflies by Mai Chao

H - Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly illustrated by Isabel Roxas

I - Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lai

J - Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

K - Keep it Together Keiko Carter by Debbi Michiko Florence

L - The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw

M - Measuring Up by Lily Lamotte illustrated by Ann Xu

N - The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

O - Once Upon an Eid edited by S.K. Ali, Aisha Saeed, & Sara Alfageeh

P - Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

Q - Quests for Glory by Soman Chainani (I haven't read this one yet)

R - Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

S - The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani Dasgupta

T - Tall Story by Candy Gourlay

U - Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai

V - The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

W - When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin

X - Melody of the Qeej by Mai Kou Xiong illustrated by Vang Lee

Y - You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly

Z - Garden of My Imaan by Farhana Zia

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

If you want to see more of my reading, visit my Goodreads shelves here. 

Recent Blogposts:

Asian Books Challenge

Review of Misfit in Love at Rich in Color

Review of The Marvelous Mirza Girls at Rich in Color

Why I didn't post last weekend:

I was at a weekend rock climbing event. It was only my second time climbing outside and I loved it even more than the first time.

Books I've Read Recently: 

The Girls I've Been was very compelling. It's a twist on a bank heist and survival. I read it for a book club and am looking forward to discussing it later today. Heidi Heckelbeck is an early chapter book series someone recommended to me. It's humorous, but it didn't stand out to me more than some others. Misfit in Love is reviewed above. Hello Door is a Goldilocks type of story with a fox as the main character. Blue Rider shows how books can change lives and does this through the use of a fantasy with a blue horse so is very likely a nod to the Blaue Reiter art group that Franz Marc and others were a part of in the past. 

The Coming Week: I'm reading several books right now including Alta California, The Overstory, and The In-Between for different book clubs, Generation Misfits to review, and am listening to Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey. Have a great week!

Asian Books Challenge

It's #AsianHeritageMonth, and @booksandboba is hosting another #AsianBooksChallenge. For 2021, they are asking people to share books by authors of Asian descent for each letter of the alphabet. Here are my picks for picture books. I've read them all and would definitely recommend them.  

Picture Books 

*Most of the links will take you to the books on the Books and Boba Bookshop page.

A - Astrid and Apollo and the Starry Campout by V.T. Bidania illustrated by Dara Yashia Lee 

B - Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan illustrated by Sophie Blackall 

C - The Collection by Duachaka Her 

D - A Different Pond by Bao Phi illustrated by Thi Bui 

E - Elephant in the Dark by Mina Javaherbin illustrated by Eugene Yelchin 

F - Feast of Peas by Kashmira Sheth illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler 

G - Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say 

H - Here I Am by Patti Kim illustrated by Sonia Sanchez 

I - In a Village by the Sea by Mượn Thị Văn illustrated by April Chu 

J - Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk illustrated by Felicia Hoshino 

K - King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan illustrated by Christine Krömer 

L - Let Me Finish! by Minh Lê illustrated by Isabel Roxas 

M - A Morning with Grandpa by Silvia Liu illustrated by Christina Forshay 

N - The Name Jar by Yangsook Choii 

O - The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho illustrated by Jess X. Snow 

P - The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lam 

Q - Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson     illustrated by Rebecca Huang 

R - Redwoods by Jason Chin 

S - Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo illustrated by Lin Wang 

T - Tea with Milk by Allen Say 

U - Ua Si, Ua Si! A Hmong Children’s Book by Mykou Thao 

V - In My Neighborhood by Kalani Vahey 

W - We Are (Not) Friends by Anna Kang illustrated by Christopher Weyant 

X - Look! What Do You See?: An Art Puzzle Book of American and Chinese Songs by Xu Bing illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

Y - Yang Warriors by Kao Kalia Yang illustrated by Billy Thao

Z - Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang illustrated by Charlene Chua

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

If you go to my Storygraph account, you can see what I have read recently & click on the books to learn more.

Recent Blogposts:

Asian Books Challenge

What I've Been Reading:

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement provides many details from Vincent Chin's killing and what happened afterward. It examines some of the history of Asian American activism that resulted. Dr. Sarah Park Dahlen and Edith Campbell had an online discussion about the book last week. I didn't get the book in time to read and attend, but did appreciate the discussion questions posted on CrazyQuilt Edi.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a fantastic YA historical novel about a young girl in San Francisco who ventures into the club where lesbians are frequent patrons. She is discovering a lot about herself and what kind of life she envisions for herself. The relationships are well done and I really enjoyed seeing San Francisco through the main character's eyes. 

Plenty of Hugs is a sweet picture book that shows a loving family through daily activities. 

Go for Broke Regiment is a brief (almost too brief) nonfiction title that shares the history of a regiment during WWII that was made up of Japanese American men. It does mention the internment of Japanese people, but could have shared a lot more information. 

Somewhere in the Unknown World (adult nonfiction) is a collection of stories from refugees told through one author, Kao Kalia Yang. She is a brilliant writer and the stories are often hard to read for the tears, but they also show  strength and hope.

A Story About Afiya is a poetic picture book about a young girl and her fantastical dress.

Most Days is by the same person who wrote Most People and focuses on paying attention to the here and now. 

It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is a fun adult rom-com that gets pretty steamy as Noni sets out to discover what makes her happy. 

The ABCs of Black History is a great nonfiction picture book that shares exactly what the titles says.

The Most Amazing Bird is a sweet and humorous picture book about a child, grandparent, and a noisy crow. The child is puzzled about why the grandmother enjoys the bird, but after time, comes to understand.

Islamaphobia: Deal with it In the Name of Peace provides a lot of helpful information about Islam, some of hate directed at Muslims, and what options young people have in many different situations. 

Twenty-one Steps is a lovely book about the tomb of the unknown soldier and those who guard it. 

Cherry Blossom and Paper Planes is a picture book about two young friends and what happens when one of them moves away--how they find a way to stay connected.

In My Mosque is a beautiful picture book about mosques and what happens there. 

Disability Visibility is an excellent collection of essays from disabled folks speaking about the issues that are important to them. I found it to be extremely educational and will continue to follow the editor Alice Wong online because there is so much to know about the disability community and I am woefully ignorant in this area.

The Coming Week: I'll be reading the sequel to Saints and Misfits by one of my favorite authors - S.K. Ali and will be re-reading The Boy in the Black Suit for a book group. Otherwise, I'm not sure what will come my way. Have a great week!

Asian Books Challenge

The podcast Books and Boba is a lot of fun and this month they are hosting an Asian Books Challenge that I'm participating in though I am not getting it done everyday. Here is some of what I've done so far.

Picture Books

A - Astrid and Apollo and the Starry Campout by VT Bidania

B - Big Read Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan

C - The Collection by Duachaka Her

D - A Different Pond by Bao Phi

E - Elephant in the Dark by Mina Javaherbin

F - Feast of Peas by Kashmira Sheth

Middle Grade

A - Abby Spencer Goes to Bollywood by Varsha Bajaj

B - The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung

C - Count Me In by Vasha Bajaj

D - Dumpling Days by Grace Lin

E - Everlasting Nora by Marie Mirand Cruz

F - Flamer by Mike Curato

Young Adult

A - The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

B - Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, & Ko Hyung-Ju

C - Cat Girl's Day Off by Kimberly Pauley

D - The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

E - Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

F - Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

Adult

A - Active Voice by P. Kristen Enos with Heidi Ho and Casandra Grullon

B - Bamboo Among the Oaks edited by Mai Neng Moua

C - China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

D - Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong

E - Even This Page is White by Vivk Shreya

F - First Comes Like by Alisha Rai

I'll do an update or two before I finish it all off. Check on the hashtag #asianbookschallenge or via @booksandboba on Twitter or Instagram if you'd like to see what other folks are sharing. 

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

If you go to my Storygraph account, you can see what I have read recently & click on the books to learn more.

Recent Blogposts:

Update for #MustReadin2021

Review: The Power of Style

What I've Been Reading:

I haven't posted for a few weeks so I have quite a lengthy list of books at this point. You can see the entirety of my reading here on Storygraph. Here are the standouts of the past few weeks. 

Adult

She of the Mountains - poetry

Little Big Bully - poetry

If the Shoe Fits - rom-com

A Measure of Belonging: Writers of Color on the New American South - nonfiction essays

Somewhere in the Unknown World: A Collective Refugee Memoir - nonfiction memoir collection

Young Adult

Dancing at the Pity Party - graphic novel about grief

Legendborn - fantasy

XOXO - rom-com

Middle Grade

My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness

The One Thing You'd Save

The ABCs of Black History

Picture Books

The Boy and the Gorilla

My Favorite Color: I Can Only Pick One?

Donut Feed the Squirrels (hilarious early graphic novel)

My Best Friend

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World

Julia's House Moves On

Digging for Words: Jose Alberto Gutierrez and the Library He Built

Our Little Kitchen

Nothing in Common

Lubaya's Quiet Roar

The Coming Week: I am reading It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake and listening to Disability Visibility and will likely finish both this week. I plan to read a few ARCs too. Have a great week!