Here are some things worth sharing this month.
1. Reading (YA NF): “Love, you see, is the most important emotion.” I just finished Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives it Changed, by Dashka Slater, and it was PHENOMENAL. Sorry to yell. But it really was. I’m planning to read it with my kids, because I believe every teen needs to know the consequences of what they post on social media—and take care with the “selves” they curate for the world. This book raised so many important questions and topics of discussion that I think it should be required reading for today’s teenagers. Very highly recommended. (By the way, Slater is also the author of The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives, which was equally good reading and discussion.)
2. Reading (MG): My first read-aloud of the summer with my kids, Eagle Drums, by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, did not disappoint. It was a story about the origin of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, which is a Native Arctic tradition. Hopson included her own illustrations, and both those and the story held my sons captivated. The book was a 2024 Newbery Honor book. Highly recommended.
3. Watching: Years ago, I watched Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a documentary about Fred Rogers, the creator of Mister Rogers’s Neighborhood. My 9-year-old did a research project about him last spring, and this summer we decided to watch the documentary together as a family. I had forgotten how emotional and wonderful it is. Mister Rogers is one of the reasons I write the kinds of stories I do, because this quote of his has stuck in my mind since I read it: “The world is not always a kind place. That’s something all children learn for themselves, whether we want them to or not, but it’s something they really need our help to understand.” What a remarkable human being. We need more Fred Rogers in the world. Very highly recommended.
4. Reading (MG): I’m not sure what made me pick up Finding Orion, by John David Anderson, but I’m glad I did. It was a fun, quirky, emotional story about a boy basically coming to terms with who his family is—weirdness and all. I suppose it reminded me of my own quirky family—and the fact that we’re all weird in our own ways. We should celebrate that, instead of trying to hide it! Highly recommended.
5. Reading (YA): If you’re looking for a fantastic novel in verse this summer, pick up The Ghosts of Rose Hill, by R.M. Romero. It’s a story about a young woman and some ghosts and what it means to be yourself. And as if that’s not enough, it has the feel of a gothic fairy tale. (And if you get on a Romero kick, like I did, after reading this one, be sure to check out A Warning About Swans, a verse retelling of Swan Lake.) Highly recommended.
6. Reading (A): “Remember that just because something is, doesn’t mean it can’t change, and just because you haven’t seen something before, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.” Oh my goodness. I just finished Chain-Gang All-Stars, by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and my mind is still reeling. It was a National Book Award finalist, and it delivers! The Washington Post likened it to 1984 meets The Handmaid’s Tale. I loved the way Adjei-Brenyah interspersed little truth bombs about incarcerated people of color. Wow. That’s all I could say once this one was done. (Well, that and, “What?!”) Highly recommended.
7. Watching: My husband and I just started watching The Girls on the Bus, a show about four female journalists who are reporting on presidential candidates. It’s based on Amy Chozick’s memoir, Chasing Hillary. Rotten Tomatoes didn’t give it a great rating, but I LOVE IT! Maybe it’s because I was a journalist (a political journalist for a while, until I figured out I couldn’t hack it because I HATE people lying to me; it’s one of my things). It fascinates me to see the life of a journalist on the big screen. It brings back cringe-y memories and makes me feel uncomfortable. And raises so many questions about media literacy and how to tell the legitimate news outlets from the less legitimate. The show was canceled after this first season, but I’d still recommend checking it out. Very highly recommended.
Side note: Why does Max seem to cancel female political/media dramedies? This also happened with Minx, which I thought was a delightful show—but once again, it was canceled after only two seasons. And then they took it off Max? I didn’t even get to finish the series—so if anyone knows where to watch it, drop me a line! 🙂
