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2020 Reading Statistics

January 7, 2021      milelongtbr      4 Comments

Hi, readers!

2020 is now thankfully behind us, and while it wasn’t the greatest year for most of us, I’m happy to say that at least for me it brought one of my best reading years to date.

I’ve broken down my statistics into ten categories- because I’m a nerd like that- to take a closer look at exactly what I’m reading. I really love taking stock and it makes it much easier to frame my 2021 reading goals around the results when the numbers do the talking.

Let’s dive in!


1. Total Books Read

The number books read in a year seems to be the metric everyone’s talking about- especially with so many bookstagrammers setting GoodReads goals.

In all honesty I don’t track my reading perfectly on GoodReads, but managed to count 116 books toward my initial goal of 75.

This is absolutely bananas. I’ve never read over 100 books in a year, but despite a slow start all that time at home reading really added up in 2020.

I know I missed a few, so the number is actually higher. Also, I don’t count cookbooks, nonfiction I skim, kids’ books, DNFs, or poetry collections toward my total count.

I’m glad I got to read so many great books, but for me a good reading year is far more in the quality of what I’m reading than the quantity.


2. Monthly Breakdown

This chart breaks down the number of books I read each month.

I started off reading a modest 6 books in January, then nearly doubled that number in February.

March started off strong, but as the pandemic hit my area my reading slowed for a few months.

By summertime the anxiety was mostly under control and the extra time at home reading lead to high numbers that continued to the end of the year.

My best reading months were October and December in terms of quantity- and I read lots of good books then too!


3. Looking at Genre

I enjoy reading from a number of genres and definitely wanted to make a point to branch out in 2020.

I read a few new to me formats- graphic novels and novels in verse- rekindled my love for the YA Genre and pushed myself to try some horror.

Thrillers were my most read genre of the year. About a quarter of the books I read were thrillers- partly for the escapism and partly because I got the idea to write one of my own. Go check out my favorite thrillers of the year for some recommendations!

If you combine Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Classics together for a “General Fiction” genre those would add up to equal the number of thrillers I read. Many of my favorite titles of the years were from these categories.

Overall I’m pleased with the genre diversity of my 2020 reads, though this does give me a starting point for my goals in the new year.


4. Author by Gender

Reading women is important!

I love that nearly 75% of my 2020 reads were written by people who identify as women. I would, however like to read more from nonbinary voices in 2021 as some of my 2020 standouts fell into this category.


5. Author Diversity

2020 brought many long-overdue calls for equality and diversity.

This is another thing I love about charts and numbers – It really puts things into perspective and you can’t argue facts. The publishing is predominantly white- everything from editors to publicists to authors. The statistics were eye-opening and definitely left me seeking out more diverse Own Voice stories, specifically in the second half of the year.

In 2019 13% of the books I read were by BIPOC authors, and it was a number that needed improvement.

This year I increased that stat to 33% and while there’s always room to go I’m glad to have read more than twice as many books from diverse authors.


6. Queer Representation

Just under 15% of the books I read had strong and positive queer representation, the vast majority of those books being written by Own Voice authors.

This is just another example of where representation matters, and I plan to improve this number in 2021.


7. Book Setting by Country

Of all my 2020 reading stats this is the one that means the most to me. 

The countries in orange are the ones my books took me to last year, all while being stuck at home. 

Books were the escape I needed during the lockdowns and anxiety of 2020 and I loved being able to lose myself in the pages and travel half a world away with the characters of the story. 

Whether it was exploring the streets of Jaipur, India with Lakshmi in the Henna Artist, taking a walk with Vivek Oji in Nigeria, staying in Emily St John Mandel’s Glass Hotel in Vancouver, Canada or riding the Orient Express across Europe with Hercule Poirot, 2020 was filled with many bookish adventures and I loved each of them.  

In total,I had 23 stamps in my literary passport in a year full of travel bans and canceled flights. 

I know 2020 will be filled with many booksih adventures across the world as well, and look forward to seeking out new countries to “visit” by own voice authors. 


8. Format Read

Clearly my best reading year ever in 2020 was brought to me by audiobooks.

Over 60% of my reads were on audio and I have no shame over that. I discovered some great narrators who I’m eager to hear more of and discovered Libro.fm– a great site that supports local bookstores!

Audiobooks let me multitask- I love listening while I’m making dinner, drawing, or working on a puzzle. They were also great for when this year made it hard to focus while stuck at home- and for commuting when I returned to work.

I do sometimes long for a physical book to hold, so I won’t be going purely digital any time soon!


9. How I Got the Books

As you can see, I was lucky enough to receive over 50 ARCs in 2020! I love being able to snag an early copy of a much-anticipate book and am very thankful for all of the opportunities.

The rest of my reads were split fairly evenly between books I purchased myself and books I borrowed. I have borrowed from the library, from Kindle Unlimited over the course of the year. Sadly, none of the books I borrowed were from friends because of social distancing. Thanks, 2020!

10. Backlist vs. New Releases

With reading so many ARCs it comes as no surprise that the majority of my 2020 reads were new releases.

Still, over 25% of my books were from the backlist. It’s a number that I plan on growing in 2020. I also reread 4 books in 2020- and the titles should come as a surprise to those who have been following for long. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Furiously Happy, The Little Prince, and Matilda. I pretty much reread each of those books annually.


Alright, friends! There you have it!

2020 is in the books and this is how my reading year breaks down!

Overall I’m very pleased- both with the quality of the reading year overall and the individual numbers.

Remember, reading isn’t a competition.

Reading is about joy, escape, growth, and learning- and these statistics and charts perfectly show how much of those things the wild ride of 2020 held for me.

Which of these categories was your reading especially strong in last year?

Are there any areas you’re looking to improve upon in 2021? Let me know in the comments, and as always happy reading!

9 Reading Challenges for 2021

January 1, 2021      milelongtbr      9 Comments

Hi, friends! It’s a brand new year, which for most readers is an exciting time!

New TBRs to make, new goals to set, and new reading challenges to join for 2021.

I’ve participated in a number of reading challenges over the years and love the way they push me to become a more mindful reader. They’ve also introduced me to some of my absolute favorite books. I might never have thought to pick up a copy of The Little Prince if not for Book Riot challenging me to read a book under 100 pages.

I’ve looked all over the internet to find some of the bestm2021 reading challenges around to help make this your best reading year EVER!

I’ve included old favorites and new discoveries, challenges from companies and individual bloggers big and small.

There’s something for everyone here- whatever you need to shake up your reading life you’re sure to find it in at least one of these 9 reading challenges!

Here’s the list!


1. Read Harder Challenge

This was the challenge that started it all for me! I first read along with Book Riot’s reading challenge back in 2016 and it definitely changed and pushed my reading life in the best of ways. 

The Read Harder challenge has 24  very specific prompts that focus on diverse perspectives and pushing yourself as a reader. Those who complete the challenge get a discount for bookish gear at Out of Print. Go check out the full Read Harder Challenge and head over to the GoodReads group for recommendations for each prompt!


2. Popsugar Reading Challenge

The name may seem light, but don’t be fooled. This challenge is for serious readers. With 40 main prompts and 10 bonus prompts, there are tons of ways to challenge your reading from genre to author. 

Of course, there’s no pressure to complete all of them, and this challenge offers tons of variety so you can make 2021 your best reading year ever. 

Go check out the full list of prompts on their website and get reading!


3. Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge 

I have a lot of love for Anne @modernmrsdarcy . She was my introduction to the world of book blogging and Bookstagram and has the best book recommendations.

Her 2021 reading packet challenges you to is a choose your own adventure!

It calls us to examine what we want we want to focus on to grow as readers and choose the prompts that call to us most. There are a ton of options for prompt ideas, as well as calls to action to have the best reading life in every aspect – not only the titles we choose this year.

I love this challenge and the call to slow down and reevaluate after the chaos of 2020. Go check out her blog for to sign up for the challenge and get the packet emailed to you.


4. Uncorked Reading Challenge 

Christine @theuncorkedlibrarian has put together a fantastic list of monthly prompts for “ travelers, wanderlusters, and tipsy readers.”

This sounds like so much fun – and speaking from experience, getting to immerse myself in beautiful cultures and countries while stuck at home was one of the highlights of my reading last year. 

She’s also hosting quarterly group reads that fit the theme, so this is a fantastic challenge to join if you love a good buddy read. Go check out her blog for more information on this awesome reading challenge!


5. Reading Women Challenge

The ladies behind The Reading Women Podcast put together this awesome challenge for those looking to read more books by female authors.

It’s a great goal for anyone and the 24 prompts they’ve come up with challenge readers to read by women from all walk of life and focus on a number of important topics.

Go check out their blog for more information and to connect to their reading community.


6. Diversify Your Reading Challenge

For readers who want to branch out and read different genres this challenge is hard to beat. 

Kelly @morganmoments has put together a list so readers can get out of their genre comfort zone by trying a new one each month, with quarterly bonus challenges as well. 

Head on over to her blog for more info and fun templates so you can read along this year!


7. Reading With Muffy Challenge

Shalini and her adorable pup Muffy @muffytales are hosting this fun challenge complete with monthly prompts, lots of bonus prompts, and prizes!

It’s hard to beat creative prompts and a canine cohost, so this is definitely one of the best whimsical reading challenges to try in 2021!

Go check out the Kohl Eyed Me blog for more info on this awesome challenge!


8. The Unread Shelf Challenge 

The Unread Shelf Challenge is based on a simple premise- read what you already have! This challenge is perfect for those who are also trying to embrace minimalism, read more backlist titles, or buy fewer books. 

Whitney @theunreadshelf has put together a fun list of monthly prompts to inspire you to pick more books that you’ve bought but still haven’t managed to read. 

Her website has more details, so go check it out!


9. 2021 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge

This fun challenge by Kimberly @chapter_adventure has a list of keywords for each month so readers can pick a title that comes to mind when they hear those words. You can pick one of the keywords, or try to incorporate up to all eight of them. 

There’s also a fun Monthly Moitf challenge if that seems more your speed. 

Go check out the Girlxoxo blog for more information!


There you’re have it, friends! Whether you’re looking to slow down, read harder, focus on reading female authors, own voice stories, or reading what you already own- you’re sure to find a challenge that suits your 2021 reading goals!

Each challenge has its own community and hashtags, so be sure to go to the specified blogs to get the most out of these challenges. You may just find your next favorite read or a new bookish bestie!

However you choose to challenge yourself as a reader in 2021 I hope it’s your best reading year to date filled with five-star books and ample time to read them!

Have you participate in any annual reading challenges?

Which of these reading challenges looks like the most fun for 2021?

13 ASMR Rooms Perfect for Writers

October 30, 2020      milelongtbr      3 Comments

ASMR rooms have been one of my favorite additions to my reading life in 2020 and with National Novel Writing Month just around the corner, I wanted to put together a list of rooms with writers in mind.

With so many write-in events cancelled worldwide and people not feeling comfortable writing outside of the home, ASMR rooms may be the answer for those of you looking to create some ambiance and have consistent background noise.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, ASMR is an acronym for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, which essentially means that the noises here are meant to soothe and trigger a brain response that leads to deep relaxation.

This is, of course, an overly simplified explanation, but you can read more about the science behind ASMR here. There are over 15 million ASMR videos on YouTube, with videos featuring everything from haircuts, book pages turning, and eating being done in a repetitive and soothing enough manner that people want to watch for this response.

Personally, I love ASMR rooms, which feature animated scenes and accompanying background noise to create whatever ambiance is desired. I’ve found this not only relaxing and enjoyable but that it helps improve my focus when reading and my productivity when writing. They’re also great for studying and getting work done on the computer- any time you want a little white noise in the background.

Also, as a bonus, all of the rooms featured here are free from ads in the middle of the video to keep you focused.

Additionally, if you’re looking for something a little more seasonally inspired, here are 10 ASMR rooms with autumn vibes that I’m loving this fall.

Whether your dream writing environment is a clean home office, a coffee shop, a library, or somewhere with a view, I have a list of great suggestions here. Happy writing, everyone!


1. Charles Dickens Writing Room

This is the perfect Victorian study- it’s not hard to imagine Dickens sitting at the desk working on drafts of Little Dorrit or one of his other classics. This room features rain on the window panes, logs on the fire, and rustling of paper as if someone is reading and writing in the room.

2. Writer’s Library from the 1930s

With all the books in this beautiful library it’s hard to not want to sit down and write one of your own. This ASMR has cozy vintage vibes and features a crackling fire nearby and birdsong outside. There’s also the sound of creativity in progress- writing, sketching, and turning pages.

3. Friday Cafe 

If your dream writing environment is a busy café with jazz playing and lots of noise from nearby conversations, this is the room for you. This ASMR video features a number of different cafe scenes with consistent audio. There’s even the sounds of coffee being made in the background- When the steam starts hissing you can almost smell it!

4. Desk In Front of a Rainy Window

For a more contemporary home office, this ASMR room is hard to beat. It earns bonus points for having one of my favorite A. A. Milne quotes on the wall and a cute animated tabby on the desk. The audio features the rain outside and some handwritten notes in this otherwise quiet work space.

5. Cozy Cabin Ambience

Getting to work on your next novel in a remote cabin in the woods sounds like a dream to most writers. It’s scenic and away from distractions – what more can you ask for? Set up camp at your work station with this cozy ASMR room and have a virtual getaway while you write. There are typewriter sounds and a thunderstorm outside the windows to provide ambient noise.

6. Cozy Autumn Cafe

If you’re looking for a quiet café with the vibe of an independent bookstore and colorful leaves falling outside, this is the perfect room for you. This ASMR room is so tranquil- there’s no music, just distant chatter and faint birdsong from outside. Pull up a chair next to the sleeping kitty and get writing!

7. Luxury Train & Rain

If you find yourself missing travel then hop aboard this ASMR room set in a first class train car. You can hear the rain outside and the sounds of the moving train as you write and imaging you’re off to a picturesque location. The inside of the cabin is stately, but the real beauty lies out the window. The train goes through forests, mountains, and a number of quaint little villages, each of them unique.

8. Easy Breezy Fall Study Ambience

This video features birds chirping, chimes, and beautiful falling leaves in the background. I especially love it for the inspirational note and picture of the cat on the desk. Our desks might not be this clean and organized, but with this video, it’s not hard to imagine! I love this video for when I’m working on my computer.

9. Relaxing Morning Ambiance

If the sun streaming through the windows doesn’t make you want to sit down and write a few chapters, I don’t know what will. This ASMR room is so inviting. My kitchen doesn’t get this beautiful light in the golden hours, but if it did I’d be here with a cup of tea every day. Listen to the soft sounds of fire and kitchen sounds. If you’re finding it hard to write you may look up to see rose blooms- or pancakes fly across the room!

10. Outdoor Coffee Shop

Do you prefer writing outside? This gorgeous ASMR room takes you to the streets of a picturesque European village. There’s birdsong and chatter from passersby, but overall this is a quiet room. The real magic is that night falls on this quiet town and then the sun rises again during the duration of the video.

11. Old Library

If you love the idea of being surrounded by books and listening to a storm outside, this is your ideal ASMR Room. The thunder and rain are distant, but soothing and the ambiance of this library is fantastic for those who want to write their next novel surrounded by inspiration. You can also hear the sounds of others working nearby.

12. Study Room

More office goals in this ASMR video that features a fire crackling in the distance and the sounds of someone writing on paper. The streams of light and antique book collection really set this room apart.

13. Writer’s Room

This fun writer’s room is a little on the spooky side- but it’s fun and realistic. There’s lots of typing on the keyboard, some handwritten notes being written down and wind howling outside.


Which ASMR room are you trying out first?

I hope you’ll give one of these ASMR rooms a chance next time you’re sitting down to wrote and see what it’s like to work in one of these inviting environments. Your word count will thank you for it.

40 Must-Reads that May Just Become Your Next Favorite Book

October 2, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

must read favorite books

A year ago I asked all of you for your must-read favorite book recommendations.

I posted a list of my top favorite books, which included The Little Prince, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Furiously Happy , A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Practical Magic, to name a few.

And then I asked for your help finding my next favorite book.

Here was the original post:

I’m really bad at picking favorites, but a while back I tried to narrow it down to my TOP 10 favorite books. Except, there are actually only 9 books here! I’d love to hear about favorites of yours that you think everyone should read/ or that I would love!

At first glance these books are all vastly different, varying in genre, format, spanning decades in publication date, subject matter, length, and many more things.
They are all very well written, make me feel deeply; I laugh and cry along with all of them, and they are ones I’ll want to reread regularly. Most importantly, they have something important to talk about, show me something about life, and have stories and characters that stick with me.
These are qualities I look for in a favorite, and my number ten  will be no exception. Also, I’m not really looking for genre reads here, unless there is something you feel is truly exceptional that transcends it’s genre.

Well, the bookstafam delivered, and gave me 40 recommendations for books they love and recommend– so I figured it was high time that I shared that list.

Maybe you’ll find your next favorite book here too?

These books all came highly rated and personally recommended to me.

There are a bunch of genres to choose from; everything from classics to nonfiction, historical fiction to fantasy.

Your list made my TBR grow.. a lot and introduced some new titles to me, as well as gave me a nudge to read ones that I’d had on my mind for a while.

Take a look at the 40 recs and see if there’s something you’re ready to finally move to the “read pile.”


Classics:


1. Pride & Prejudice

2. Dracula

3. The Brothers Karamazov 

4. Jane Eyre

5. The Grapes of Wrath

6. Little Women

7. The Old Man and the Sea

8. The Outsiders

9. To Kill a Mockingbird


Contemporary Fiction:


10. Queenie

11. Angle of Repose

12. Close Enough to Touch

13. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

14. Summer Sisters 


YA:


15. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  1. Everything, Everything 
  2. Life After Theft 
  1. The Giver
  1. Boys Don’t Cry 

Historical Fiction:


21. The Nightengale

22. All the Light We Can Not See 

23. The Book Thief 

24. Cold Mountain 

25. The Beekeeper of Aleppo 

26. Forty Rules of Love

27. The Girl You Left Behind 

28. Sarah’s Keys 

29. The Bronze Horseman 


Nonfiction


30. Life After Life 

31. Tuesdays With Morrie


Thriller 


32. Pretty Girls

33. The Eight 

34. Verity 

35. . The Whisper Man


Romance:


36. The Kiss Quotient


Fantasy / Sci-Fi


37. A Darker Shade of Magic

38. Serpent & Dove

39. Flowers for Algernon 

40. The Selection


Wow! 40 awesome books- maybe one of them could be your next favorite?

Are any of these titles already among your favorites?

What other books would you add to the list?

Upcoming Books For Kids From BIPOC Authors

June 4, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

Books for Kids By BIPOC

Here’s your official guide to incorporate kids books by BIPOC authors into your children’s summer reading.

With so many of us striving to commit to diversifying our reading in light of current events I thought it would be good to extend this to the entire family by discussing racial inequality with our kids and giving them books by BIPOC authors.

The school year is ending around the United States and while summertime is likely looking different for most of us this year, there’s still a need for getting great summer reads for the younger readers in our lives.

I’ve seen many great reading lists for kids across the internet, but wanted to extend this to upcoming releases of books for kids by BIPOC authors.

This list features 12 kids books from BIPOC authors from three different categories that are set to be published in the next few months and are currently available to read now on NetGalley.

There are works of fiction for early readers and middle grade as well as a number of nonfiction titles for everyone in between.

If you have already bought and read other recommended titles by BIPOC authors, are on a tight budget, or simply want to help amplify BIPOC writers by supporting their emerging titles, this can be a fantastic way to get more relevant titles to read.

I have listed the publisher and scheduled U.S. publication date with each title, but please bear in mind that these may vary based on your country and that COVID-19 has impacted a number of publication dates, so these are subject to change.

Unlike most of my recommendations, the books on this list are not all ones which I have read personally, but am suggesting for those trying to find new and diverse reads for kids.

They all sound like great choices, and if you aren’t approved through NetGalley I’d consider purchasing a physical copy from a Black-owned bookstore.

Here’s your list of 11 Upcoming Books for Kids by BIPOC Authors, with an emphasis on Black voices.

BIPOC Books in Children’s Nonfiction: 

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

This book is scheduled to be published on 05 January 2021 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books. 

NetGalley Description: 

“From Children’s Literature Legacy Award-winning author Nikki Grimes comes a feminist-forward new collection of poetry celebrating the little-known women poets of the Harlem Renaissance–paired with full-color, original art from today’s most talented female African-American illustrators.

For centuries, accomplished women–of all races–have fallen out of the historical records. The same is true for gifted, prolific, women poets of the Harlem Renaissance who are little known, especially as compared to their male counterparts.

In this poetry collection, bestselling author Nikki Grimes uses “The Golden Shovel” poetic method to create wholly original poems based on the works of these groundbreaking women-and to introduce readers to their work.

Each poem is paired with one-of-a-kind art from today’s most exciting female African-American illustrators, including: Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Cozbi Cabrera, Pat Cummings, Nina Crews, Laura Freeman, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, April Harrison, Ekua Holmes, Keisha Morrison, Daria Peoples-Riley, Andrea Pippins, Shadra Strickland, and Elizabeth Zunon.

Legacy also includes a foreword, an introduction to the history of the Harlem Renaissance, author’s note, and poet biographies, which make this a wonderful resource and a book to cherish.”


The Talk: Conversations About Race, Truth, and Love (edited) by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson

This book is set to publish on 29 September 2020 by Random House Children’s Crown Books. 

NetGalley Description:

Perfect for readers of Flying Lessons & Other Stories, in this collection award-winning creators of books for children and young adults share stories and images that are filled with love, acceptance, truth, peace, and an assurance that there can be hope for a better tomorrow. So, let’s talk. Published in partnership with Just Us Books.

In the powerful follow-up to We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, thirty diverse and award-winning authors and illustrators capture frank discussions about racism, identity, and self-esteem. Here is an invitation to all families to be advocates and allies for change.


Finish the Fight: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought For the Right to Vote by Veronica Chambers

This book is set to be published on 18 August 2020 by Versify Publishers. 

NetGalley Description:

“This exciting collaboration with the New York Times will reveal the untold stories of the diverse heroines who fought for the 19th amendment.   On the 100th anniversary of the historic win for women’s rights, it’s time to celebrate the names and stories of the women whose courage helped change the  fabric of America.”


Walk Toward the Rising Sun by Ger Duany with Garen Thomas

This book is set to be published on 22 September 2020 by Random House Children’s. 

NetGalley Description:

“The amazing autobiography of a young Sudanese boy who went from a child soldier to an international peace activist, a struggling refugee to a Hollywood actor.

Ger Duany’s days of playing with his brothers and sisters on the banks of the Nile were cut short when, at the age of six, his village was attacked by the North Sudanese military. Thus began a long journey into the unknown: never staying in one place too long for fear of the enemy, repeatedly experiencing the loss of loved ones, braving dangerous conditions to gain an education, taking up arms alongside his father and brothers, and eventually boarding a flight without his family to seek refuge in a foreign country.

Arriving in Des Moines, Iowa in the 90s to live with previously unknown relatives, Ger worked tirelessly to adjust to a new life that, while easier in some ways, came with its own challenges. He battled the effects of PTSD and endured a new kind of racism in America, yet he also found solace in basketball, in friendships and relationships, and eventually in acting and activism. While Ger found and built communities in each place he lived in the US–Des Moines, Bloomington Indiana, LA, NYC–he never lost sight of his home and his family still in Sudan. Ger’s story is one marked not only by great resilience in the face of constant change but also by an enduring sense of compassion and moral duty.”


111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh

This book is set to be published on 06 October 2020 by Kids Can Press. It’s available to read now on NetGalley. 

NetGalley Description: 

“In a small village in India, a boy grows up to make a huge difference in his community by planting trees to celebrate the birth of every girl. Based on a true story, this book celebrates environmental sustainability, community activism and ecofeminism. This is the story of Sundar Paliwal, who is from a small Indian village ruled by ancient customs. As he grows to be a man, Sundar suffers much heartbreak and decides it is time for change to come to his village. Sundar is determined to live in a place where girls are valued as much as boys and where the land is not devastated by irresponsible mining. Sundar’s plan? To celebrate the birth of every girl with the planting of 111 trees. Though many villagers resist at first, Sundar slowly gains their support. And today, there are over a quarter of a million trees in his village, providing food, water and opportunities for women to earn a living. His efforts have turned a once barren and deforested landscape into a fertile and prosperous one where girls can thrive. Based on true events in the life of Sundar Paliwal, and written in collaboration with him, Rina Singh’s uplifting story shows how one person can make a difference in a community. Beautiful illustrations by Marianne Ferrer sensitively bring the evolution of the village to life. With strong links to the science curriculum, this book offers lessons on environmental awareness, sustainability and stewardship, as well as the concept of ecofeminism. It also explores ideas of social development, community and culture, and the character education traits of responsibility and cooperation. A thoroughly researched author’s note with photographs and more information about the village of Piplantri is included.”


BIPOC Books for Kids in Early Readers’ Fiction

Ella Has a Plan by Davina Hamilton

This book is set to publish on 3 October 2020 by The Ella Riley Group and is available to read now on Net Galley. 

NetGalley Description:

“Ella is fed up, but what can she do?

Her quarrelling cousins are making her blue!

It’s Mummy’s big party – the family’s all here.

But two pesky cousins are spoiling the cheer!

Ella just wants them to party and play,

She can’t let their arguing ruin the day!

Can Ella fix things? She’s sure that she can,

She just needs to think up a brilliant plan…”


A Journey Toward Hope by Victor Hinojosa and Coert Voorhees

This book is scheduled to publish on 07 July 2020 by Six Foot Press and is available to read now on NetGalley. 

NetGalley Description: 

“Four unaccompanied migrant children come together along the arduous journey north through Mexico to the United States border in this ode to the power of hope and connection even in the face of uncertainty and fear.

Every year, roughly 50,000 unaccompanied minors arrive at the US/Mexico border to present themselves for asylum or related visas. The majority of these children are non-Mexicans fleeing the systemic violence of Central America’s “Northern Triangle”: Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. A Journey Toward Hope tells the story of Rodrigo, a 14-year-old escaping Honduran violence; Alessandra, a 10-year-old Guatemalan whose first language is Q’eqchi’; and the Salvadoran siblings Laura and Nando. Though their reasons for making the journey are different and the journey northward is perilous, the four children band together, finding strength in one another as they share the dreams of their past and the hopes for their future. Written in collaboration with Baylor University’s Global Hunger and Migration Project.”


When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith

This book will be published by Orca Book Publishers on 13 Oct 2020.

NetGalley Description:

When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation and communicates an important message through carefully chosen words for readers of all ages. Beautifully illustrated by artist Nicole Neidhardt, this book encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves.


BIPOC Books for Kids in Middle Grade Novels:

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist

Crown Books for Young Readers is scheduled to release this book on 18 August 2020.

NetGalley Description: 

A coming-of-age tale about a boy who discovers a love of poetry after finding his late father’s journal. Adapted from a story that first appeared in Flying Lessons & Other Stories and perfect for fans of The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson.

Isaiah is now the big man of the house. But it’s a lot harder than his dad made it look. His little sister, Charlie, asks too many questions, and Mama’s gone totally silent.

Good thing Isaiah can count on his best friend, Sneaky, who always has a scheme for getting around the rules. Plus, his classmate Angel has a few good ideas of her own–once she stops hassling Isaiah.

And when things get really tough, there’s Daddy’s journal, filled with stories about the amazing Isaiah Dunn, a superhero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Isaiah wishes his dad’s tales were real. He could use those powers right about now!

Kelly J. Baptist’s debut novel explores the indomitable spirit of a ten-year-old boy and the superhero strength it takes to grow up.

Zora and Me: The Summoner by Victoria Bond

This book is scheduled to be published on 13 October 2020 by Candlewick Press. This is the final book in the series, so check out the earlier installments as well!

NetGalley Description:

In the finale to the acclaimed trilogy, upheaval in Zora Neale Hurston’s family and hometown persuade her to leave childhood behind and find her destiny beyond Eatonville.

For Carrie and her best friend, Zora, Eatonville—America’s first incorporated Black township—has been an idyllic place to live out their childhoods. But when a lynch mob crosses the town’s border to pursue a fugitive and a grave robbery resuscitates the ugly sins of the past, the safe ground beneath them seems to shift. Not only has Zora’s own father—the showboating preacher John Hurston—decided to run against the town’s trusted mayor, but there are other unsettling things afoot, including a heartbreaking family loss, a friend’s sudden illness, and the suggestion of voodoo and zombie-ism in the air, which a curious and grieving Zora becomes all too willing to entertain.

In this fictionalized tale, award-winning author Victoria Bond explores the end of childhood and the bittersweet goodbye to Eatonville by preeminent author Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960). In so doing, she brings to a satisfying conclusion the story begun in the award-winning Zora and Me and its sequel, Zora and Me: The Cursed Ground, sparking inquisitive readers to explore Hurston’s own seminal work.


The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan

This book is scheduled to be released on 06 October 2020 by Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books. 

NetGalley Description:

A middle grade adaptation of the award-winning adult book about a human story behind conflict in the Middle East.

“In 1967, Bashir Khairi, a twenty-five-year-old Palestinian, journeyed to Israel with the goal of seeing the beloved stone house with the lemon tree that he and his family had fled nineteen years earlier. To his surprise, when he found the house he was greeted by Dalia Eshkenazi Landau, a nineteen-year-old Israeli college student, whose family fled Europe for Israel following the Holocaust. On the stoop of their shared home, Dalia and Bashir began a rare friendship, forged in the aftermath of war and tested over the next half century in ways that neither could imagine on that summer day in 1967. Sandy Tolan brings the Israeli-Palestinian conflict down to its most human level, demonstrating that even amid the bleakest political realities there exist stories of hope and transformation.

Sandy Tolan is the author of Me & Hank: A Boy and His Hero, Twenty-five Years Later. He has written for the New York Times Magazine and for more than 40 other magazines and newspapers. As cofounder of Homelands Productions, Tolan has produced dozens of radio documentaries for NPR and PRI. His work has won numerous awards, and he was a 1993 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and an I. F. Stone Fellow at the UC-Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, where he directs the school’s Project on International Reporting. He lives in Los Angeles. “


When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten

This book is scheduled to be published on 15 September 2020 from Random House Children Delacorte. 

NetGalley Description:

” ‘A wonderful story with great heart, mystery, and insight. Kereen Getten is a bright new voice.” —Clare Vanderpool, author of Newbery Medal winner Moon Over Manifest and Printz Honor book Navigating Early 

For fans of deeply poignant middle grade about friendship and loss like The Thing About Jellyfish, comes the story about a young girl who can’t remember anything from her previous summer after a hurricane.

Twelve-year-old Clara lives on an island that visitors call exotic. But there’s nothing exotic about it to Clara. She loves eating ripe mangos off the ground, running outside in the rain with her Papa during rainy season, and going to her secret hideout with Gaynah—even though lately she’s not acting like a best friend. 

The only thing out of the ordinary for Clara is that something happened to her memory that made her forget everything that happened last summer after a hurricane hit. Sometimes things come back to her in drips like a tap that hasn’t been turned off properly. Other times her Mama fills in the blanks…only she knows those aren’t her memories and it is hard feeling like she is not like everybody else. 

But this summer is going to be different for Clara. Everyone is buzzing with excitement over a new girl in the village who is not like other visitors. She is about to make big waves on the island—and give Clara a summer she won’t forget.

‘A heartfelt and accessible debut about friendship, memory, and forgiveness.” —Tae Keller, author of When You Trap a Tiger‘ “


The titles on this list are a great starting point for upcoming books for kids by BIPOC authors.

Please keep publication dates in mind as reading and posting timely and constructive reviews to retail sites is a great way to amplify BIPOC voices.

And, of course, also consider requesting your local library buy these books, purchasing a copy for family or friends (preferably from a Black-owned bookstore), and posting honest favorable reviews to retailer sites.

Get the kids reading these books by BIPOC authors and stay tuned for more upcoming own voice titles in YA, nonfiction, and a number of adult fiction genres.

Review: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

May 24, 2020      milelongtbr      1 Comment

Furiously Happy Review

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things is the second memoir by Jenny Lawson. She is a successful blogger at The Bloggess, a best-selling author, a mother, an artist, and a small business owner.

She tackles quite a lot, and by standard measures does it all very well, though if you asked her, she may not feel like a success.

That’s because she’s also someone who struggles with depression, anxiety, and a number of other mental disorders, which she candidly discusses in this book.

Keep reading my full review of Furiously Happy to hear more about what the movement is all about, and why this is one of the most insightful and entertaining books in print.

Synopsis:

Jenny Lawson lives in Texas with her husband Victor, their daughter, and their pets Dorothy Barker, Ferris Mewler, and Hunter S. Tomcat. She has an affinity for taxidermy, dressing in costume, and finding humor in every situation.

While Lawson’s first book Let’s Pretend This Never Happened focuses on her upbringing and early life, Furiously Happy is primarily centered around Lawson’s experience with mental illness and the various ways it has impacted her life.

The title comes from an idea that came to Lawson as a way to combat the dark days and reclaim some of the good things in life that depression and anxiety often take from people.

“I am furiously happy. It’s not a cure for mental illness … it’s a weapon, designed to counter it. It’s a way to take back some of the joy that’s robbed from you when you’re crazy.”

― Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

Despite this radical approach, Lawson still struggles through the hard days, but with it she is able to keep in the back of her mind that better times are ahead, which is so important.

In chapters titled things like “How Many Carbs Are in a Foot?” “Cat Lamination” and “Well at Least Your Nipples Are Covered” Lawson explores some of the different ways her mental illnesses has colored her life.

Lawson is completely unfiltered and is as open with her struggles as she is with the various adventures she’s found herself on. In this book she shares how on the hard days how difficult it can be to manage her mental illness and the things she does to manage them. This includes therapy, medication, and a number of self-care and self-preservation tactics she’s fine-tuned over the years .

She talks about her experiences and how difficult it can be to even get out of bed while in the depths of a depressive episode. She doesn’t make any claims to be an expert in the field of mental health and fully recognizes how unique mental illness is.

“My mental illness is not your mental illness. Even if we have the exact same diagnosis we will likely experience it in profoundly different ways. This book is my unique perspective on my personal path so far. It is not a textbook. If it were it would probably cost a lot more money and have significantly less profanity or stories about strangers sending you unexpected vaginas in the mail. As it is with all stories, fast cars, wild bears, mental illness, and even life, only one truth remains: your mileage may vary.”

― Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

Still, at her lowest Lawson was able to find support and encouragement from her blog readers, which

Analysis:

Furiously Happy is hands-down the funniest book I’ve ever read. I’ve never laughed so hard while reading a book in my life, and still do even though I’ve read and listened to the book a handful of times. Jenny’s sense of humor is amazing, though not for the easily offended reader.

As irreverent as she can be with her jokes, she uses an equal amount of care to discuss the heavier topics discussed in the book. I love her way of talking about difficult things in a light and approachable manner. While hilarious, the yet never pokes fun at anyone’s struggles and there are parts that make me tear up without it being dark and depressing.

She narrates the audiobook herself and does an amazing job, so check out the audio version if you want a great listen. You’d never guess it didn’t come naturally to her if she hadn’t literally written a chapter about it in the book.

For a sneak peek of her narration skills, I’ve included a video of her reading her book when it accidentally got published with pages of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones mixed in with it. She took the printing error in stride and shared the hilarious results for her readers to enjoy.

View this post on Instagram

Video #2

A post shared by Jenny Lawson (@thebloggess) on Jan 10, 2019 at 2:07pm PST

Overall, Furiously Happy is a fantastic book to help eradicate the stigmas associated with mental illness and give insight into what it can be like to live with these conditions. Jenny’s heartfelt and hilarious honesty honestly changed the way I see mental health, both in myself and in general with Jenny’s heartfelt honesty.

Takeaway: 

Furiously Happy is one of my all-time favorite titles and my absolute favorite nonfiction book. It’s definitely an all the stars rated read and listen for me.

It’s a great exploration of a number of health topics, and, I’d recommend this book to anyone with mental health… which is to say everyone. And definitely anyone who struggles with theirs.

11 Books to Read for Mental Health Awareness Month

Content Warning:

mental illness, suicide, adult language and humor, self-harm

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I’m Danielle and I have a mile long TBR!

You can usually find me surrounded by books and cats, listening to an audiobook and designing something cute.

I love making new bookish friends and am so glad you’re here!

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Really, this pic is for the flowers, but I also lo Really, this pic is for the flowers, but I also loved Good Company by @cynthiadsweeney which I read last year. Her characters and their messy and real relationships stay in my mind long after I finish reading.
I took no vacation photos from this trip, but here I took no vacation photos from this trip, but here's an obligatory plane photo from the trip home. 

What's the best part about coming home from vacation for you? Im looking forward to my bed and seeing the cats!
✨Book recommendations needed! ✨ I'm looking f ✨Book recommendations needed! ✨

I'm looking for something very specific, and am hoping you awesome Bookstagram folks can help.

If my library haul doesn't give it away, I'm looking for literary fiction. Two of these titles I've read and loved (Silver Sparrow and Good Company) -the rest were titles that called to me, but not exactly what I was looking for. 

I've already gone through the blacklists of these two authors, plus Lily King,  Emily St John Mandel. Books with stories like This is Where I Leave You, The Sweeney Sisters.

Specifically, I'm looking for something:

💛written and set in the set in 21st century (this is most important to me-most of what I've been able to find is period and I need contemporary) 

💛 Preferably set in US/Canada

💛 Priority to female authors 

💛Dealing with dysfunctional family; themes of blood, home, self-discovery

💛Angsty adult characters 

💛 Full of beautiful writing 

💛 Setting that becomes central to story, esp. a small town or family home

💛Nothing too genre; speculative/scifi, romance, whatever. Looking for pure lit fic or contemporary fiction with literary bend. 

It's a long shot and I know I'm being picky, but if you can recommend something close to the above, I'd be eternally grateful! 💛
Don't think I could have fit another book in this Don't think I could have fit another book in this tote if i tried! 😂

I've been enjoying flipping through what I checked out during my latest library haul, but I couldn't resist snapping a pic before taking them out of the bag. Especially not when everything was so coordinated and the lighting was perfection.

I'm trying to get back into this Bookstagram thing- I've missed y'all too much!
On Wednesday we... A. Wear pink B. Read Toni C. S On Wednesday we...

A. Wear pink
B. Read Toni
C. Smash the Patriarchy
D. All of the Above

D 💯
When in doubt... I took a couple intentional phot When in doubt...

I took a couple intentional photos of my library trip this afternoon, but decided I liked this accidental one I must have accidentally snapped while putting my phone in my pocket best.

I hadn't been to the library in far too long and left with a full tote of books I probably won't read. So I guess you could say it was a good day! 

How's your week so far? 💛
Neera is my little shadow today while I'm getting Neera is my little shadow today while I'm getting some reading done in my the pool.

What are you reading today? I'm enjoying The Paris Apartment!
In two weeks this will be my reading view... ...b In two weeks this will be my reading view... 
...but for today I'm at my desk, working away on my computer. 

If you have any fun trips planned let me know in the comments!
Coffee and currently planning out my week... While Coffee and currently planning out my week... While listening to What She Witnessed. 

Any other planner girls on Bookstagram? 

I love a fresh week/spread... and decorating it with beautiful bookish stickers! These are ones I designed and made for my store and had to test out myself!
🐝Monday mood: Buzz off, I'm Reading! 🐝 I'm 🐝Monday mood: Buzz off, I'm Reading! 🐝

I'm hoping to make some time to finish up Night Shift by Alex Finlay today, and morning chapters with extra strong coffee and scones is the perfect way to make it happen. 

This mug is for sale at @milelongtbrboutique if you can relate ... or if people around you need a reminder!
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