Here are five things worth sharing this week:
1. Reading: I recently finished Freewater, by Amina Luqman-Dawson, a historical middle grade novel about a boy, his sister, and the free community they find after running away from Southerland Plantation, where they work as slaves. It was inspiring, illuminating, and important. The book, which is Amina Luqman-Dawson’s debut, won the Newbery Award for 2023. Highly recommended!
2. Reading: My kids read Ban This Book, by Alan Gratz, first and told me I just had to read it. Boy, was I glad I did. Though published in 2017, the book has real-world applications today. It explores book banning in an easy-to-understand way for readers ages 8-12, and it featured one of my favorite elements: kids owning their power. I’d say it’s a book for everyone. (Gratz, by the way, is best known for his historical middle grade novels, Refugee , Allies , and Projekt 1065 .)
3. Reading: I’m currently in the middle of the middle grade graphic novel Friends series, by Shannon Hale. So far I’ve read Best Friends and Friends Forever , and I have to say: they’re fantastic! They provide a real-life look at friendship dynamics among girls in middle school, and I really enjoyed their honesty. Hale captured the swinging emotions and the constant questions of middle school. I haven’t yet read the first of the trilogy, Real Friends , but if it’s anything like the later two, I’ll love it!
4. Watching: Everybody wants to live longer, right? Well, Chris Hemsworth (you may know him as Thor in all the Marvel movies) has a documentary series on Disney+ about how he’s working to do that: Limitless with Chris Hemsworth . He talks with experts and professionals and provides important information about how we can keep our bodies in working order for longer, examining things like stress, shock, fasting, strength, memory, and acceptance. I’ve watched every episode myself and rewatched every episode except the last one with my kids—so they’re armed with the same information I have. It’s an illuminating series that will leave you feeling inspired and determined.
5. Reading: “No surprise. Idiots make it into every company. They tend to interview well.” If you’re looking for a delightful adult fiction read, look no farther than Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry. Oh my goodness. This book had me laughing so hard. It features Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in the 1960s— when women weren’t chemists or accepted as anything more than housewives. She becomes the unintentional star of America’s most popular cooking show. I could not get enough of Elizabeth Zott—and the good news is, she’ll be on the big screen soon, with a series produced by Apple TV. But make sure you read the book before you watch the series!
If you want to go deeper into some of these books, be sure to check out my YouTube show, On My Shelf.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtmdj4SXf2Csy5uu6WEyLDtYlvg9t1FqE
