Category: Books

*book group selection | bolded means favorite

Middle Grade

*The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino

Young Adult

*Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
*Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between by L.M. Elliott
*Rosa by Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz

Grownup Fiction

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 2 by Beth Brower

Young Nonfiction

*A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out by Nicholas Day and Yas Imamura

*book group selection | bolded means favorite

Picture Books

*The Littlest Drop by Sascha Alper, Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
*Sundust by Zeke Peña
*The History of We by Nikkolas Smith
*A Place for Us by James Ransome
*This Year, a Witch! by Zoey Abbott
*Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat
*Dancing With Water by Gwendolyn Wallace and Tonya Engel
*The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio
*In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito and Jessica Lanan

Middle Grade

*A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya
*The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz

Grownup Fiction

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand

One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon

Turns out that Yoon doesn’t only write great YA fiction, she also writes incredibly readable thrillers.

Young Nonfiction

*The Black Mambas: The World’s First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit by Kelly Crull

Grownup Nonfiction

[Turns out that this book was so nice, I reviewed it twice. There’s an August review, too.]
SEW . . . The Garment-Making Book of Knowledge: Real-Life Lessons from a Serial Sewist by Barbara Emodi

I’ve read or paged through a lot of sewing books this year. They are mostly all the same. This one is different. It gives an overview of how to make garments and it also includes practical tips about various things you didn’t know you need to know.

I was hoping this book was one sewing book of many by Emodi, but she seems to have switched over to writing fiction. Too bad.

*Book group selection | bolded means favorite

Middle Grade

*The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
*Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, Anna Balbusso, and Elena Balbusso

Young Adult

*All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis

Grownup Fiction

Beartown by Fredrik Backman and Neil Smith (Translator)
Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower

Crosstalk by Connie Willis

While I could see exactly where the romance was going, this book kept having other twists that surprised me. A very fun read, once I got over how overbearing Briddy’s family was.

Grownup Nonfiction

Million Dollar Weekend: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Launch a 7-Figure Business in 48 Hours by Noah Kagan
Not Your Gran’s Sewing Book: Easy Alterations for the Perfect Fit at Any Size by Allie Luecke
Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified by Cal Patch
How Not to Wear Black: Find your Style, Create your Forever Wardrobe by Anna Murphy
I’ve Got Your Back: The Indispensable Guide to Stopping Harassment When You See It by Jorge Arteaga and Emily May

SEW…The Garment-Making Book of Knowledge: Real-Life Lessons from a Serial Sewist by Barbara Emodi

As you might have noticed, I’ve been reading a lot of sewing books. They are all a little bit the same. But not this one. Emodi does have real-life lessons that were helpful to me. This one is on the list of books to buy.

* Book group selection | bolded means favorite

Grownup Fiction

The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Daughters of the New Year by E.M. Tran

Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand

Because I like Elin Hilderbrand’s books, I feel it important to say that this one hasn’t aged well. A white lady writing a Black character was cringy in several places, 40-year-olds of any gender shouldn’t be sleeping with 18 year-olds of any gender, and the resolution acted like it wrapped things up very well, when really it set a family up for a big blowout once things come out.

Grownup Nonfiction

The Capsule Wardrobe: 1,000 Outfits from 30 Pieces by Wendy Mak
You Will Be Able to Sew Your Own Clothes by the End of This Book by Juliet Uzor
Couture Sewing: The Couture Skirt: More Sewing Secrets from a Chanel Collector by Claire B. Shaeffer
How to Accessorize: A Perfect Finish to Every Outfit by Micaela Erlanger
Gertie’s Charmed Sewing Studio: Pattern Making and Couture-Style Techniques for Perfect Vintage Looks by Gretchen Hirsch

Love Leather Accessories: 20 Easy Leather Accessories to Sew by Zoe Larkins

These were all a bit twee for my style.

How to Wear Everything: A No Nonsense Guide to Dressing by Kay Barron

Barron has firm ideas about how clothes should be worn, but also seems like it’s no skin off her back if you choose to go your own way.

Pop-up Embroidery: A Beginner’s Guide to Modern Raised Stitches by Ashley Denn

One of the most interesting embroidery books I’ve ever seen. Denn takes (mostly) standard embroidery stitches and really finds ways to make them pop.

Furoshiki: The Japanese Art of Wrapping with Fabric by Aurélie Le Marec

I probably should procure a book about this Japanese art written by someone from Japan rather than someone from France, but the library has what it has. Furoshiki was well presented, and I’m super interested. I’ll dive right in once I finish those other projects…

Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes and Hearts by Nina Montenegro and Sonya Montenegro

Calm illustrations and good instructions. This will be one I purchase.

(I wasn’t paying attention and some July books snuck onto this list.)

*book group selection | bolded means favorite

Picture Books

*Fireworks by Matthew Burgess and Catia Chien
*Mistaco: A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas by Eliza Kinkz
*Hurricane by Jason Chin
*Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
*Faith Takes the Train by Kesi Augustine and Mokshini
*Pilgrim Codex by Vivian Mansour and Emmanuel Valtierra

Middle Grade

*Halfway to Somewhere by José Pimienta
*Speak Up, Santiago! by Julio Anta and Gabi Mendez

Young Adult

*The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum
The Beautiful Maddening by Shea Ernshaw

Grownup Fiction

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

Young Nonfiction

*Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa: Join the Quest with Peru’s Famed Scientist and Potato Expert by Sara Andrea Fajardo

Grownup Nonfiction

The Art of Dressing Curves: The Best-Kept Secrets of a Fashion Stylist by Susan Moses

Another book with too much talk of problem areas. It also covers a much fancier class of clothing than I wear. Apparently the art involves a lot of shapewear which, given that my qualifying clothing question is “Do the men have to do this?” is not something I am interested in.

That said, a lot of interesting information and resources. And if you are interested in shapewear, this is the book for you.

The Wardrobe Wakeup: Your Guide to Looking Fabulous at Any Age by Lois Joy Johnson

Whoo-boy did I hate this. It was incredibly prescriptive (I will continue to wear long skirts, thank you) and incredibly self-congratulatory, which is a thing that drives me crazy about baby boomers. There was some lip service to looking good no matter your weight, but every woman featured in this was tiny in that way that means endless salads and no pasta.

The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe by Anuschka Rees

I’m not so sure about this being a simple system, but it does seem to be a solid one for slowly building your style. No mention of problem areas.

The Ultimate Book of Outfit Formulas: A Stylish Solution to What Should I Wear? by Alison Lumbatis

Lumbatis is much more of a fan of wearing gray than I am, and the clothing was a little more informal than I would choose for work, but there was some good inspiration in the shoe department.

How to Get Dressed: A Costume Designer’s Secrets for Making Your Clothes Look, Fit, and Feel Amazing by Alison Freer

This is a book to buy and keep on your reference shelf. There is no mention of problem areas, Freer comes out hard against shapewear (and for granny panties), and she’s full of tips and tricks. I’m not on board with all her laundry instructions, but it’s good to know they are there should I ever have a change of heart. And it contains the most extensive list of stain removal methods that I’ve ever read.

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green
Notes on a Silencing: A Memoir by Lacy Crawford
Ahead of the Curve: Learn to Fit and Sew Amazing Clothes for Your Curves by Jenny Rushmore
The Re:Fashion Wardrobe: Sew Your Own Stylish, Sustainable Clothes by Portia Lawrie
Radical Sewing: Pattern-Free, Sustainable Fashions for All Bodies by Kate B. Weiss
Postdiabetic: An Easy-to-Follow 9-Week Guide to Reversing Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes by Eric Edmeades and Rubén Ruiz

*Book group selection | bolded means favorite

Picture Books

*The Peanut Man by Carmen Agra Deedy and Raúl Colón
*Raven’s Ribbons by Tasha Spillett and Daniel Ramirez
*Good Golden Sun by Brendan Wenzel
*Papilio by Ben Clanton, Andy Chou Musser, and Corey R. Tabor
*Our Lake by Angie Kang

Young Adult

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli
*Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout
*All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
*Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

Grownup Fiction

The Only Black Girl in the Room by Alex Travis
Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
Sandwich by Catherine Newman

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

Not nearly as dramatic (or stocked with horrible people) as the Netflix series but enjoyable on its own and as part of a series.

Young Nonfiction

*Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming

Grownup Nonfiction

Closet Smarts: Flatter Your Figure with the Clothes You Already Have by Emily Neill

A bit too many references to “problem areas” for my taste, but I did like the format of skipping the shape/fruit body typing and instead discussing different areas like what works with square shoulders/round shoulders.

2006 Emily Neill was not a fan of what would eventually become the skinny jean. I wonder if she came around when it became ubiquitous.

*Book group selection | Bolded means favorite

Picture Books

*The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi and Monica Arnaldo
*To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
*When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson and London Ladd

Middle Grade

*When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman

Young Adult

Ryan and Avery by David Levithan

True Life in Uncanny Valley by Deb Caletti

Enjoyable, and it also felt like it contained two books worth of plot and themes.

Grownup Fiction

Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

Young Nonfiction

*Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson and Brian Rea

*Book group selection | bolded means favorite

Picture Books

*A Little Like Magic by Sarah Kurpiel
*Abuelo, the Sea, and Me by Ismée Amiel Williams and Tatiana Gardel
*Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris and Gordon C James
*Joyful Song: A Naming Story by Lesléa Newman and Susan Gal
*Monster Hands by Karen Kane, Dion MBD, and Jonaz McMillan
*Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener and Deann Wiley
*Okchundang Candy by Jung-soon Go and Aerin Park
*And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Daniel Minter

Middle Grade

*Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling
*Clairboyance by Kristiana Kahakauwila
*Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
*Mountain Upside Down by Sara Ryan
*One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome
*Chickenpox by Remy Lai
*The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel, Bethany Strout, and Sammy Savos

Young Adult

*Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia
*On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino
*Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
*Chronically Dolores by Maya Van Wagenen

Young Nonfiction

*My Presentation Today is about the Anaconda by Bibi Dumon Tak and Annemarie van Haeringen
*What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice by
Jay Leslie and Loveis Wise

Grownup Nonfiction

The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman
Black Widow: A Sad-Funny Journey Through Grief for People Who Normally Avoid Books with Words Like “Journey” in the Title by Leslie Gray Streeter

Grownup Fiction

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester

*book group selection | bolded means favorite

Picture Book

*The Dream Catcher by Marcelo Verdad
*Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers and Rebecca Lee Kunz
*Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite
*An Etrog from Across the Sea by Deborah Bodin Cohen, Kerry M. Olitzky, and Stacey Dressen McQueen

Early Reader

*Vacation: Three-and-a-Half Stories by Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague

Middle Grade

*Continental Drifter by Kathy MacLeod
*Popcorn by Rob Harrell
*Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy
*Lunar Boy by Jacinta Wibowo and Jessica Wibowo
*Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. Sass
*Black Star by Kwame Alexander
*Johnny, the Sea, and Me by Melba Escobar, Elizabeth Builes, and Sara Lissa Paulson

Young Adult

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson
*Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham
*Navigating With You by Jeremy Whitley, Casio Ribeiro, Nikki Fox, and Micah Myers
*Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield
*Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa
*Night Owls by A.R. Vishny
*Trajectory by Cambria Gordon

Young Nonfiction

Information Now: A Graphic Guide to Student Research by Matt Upson, Colin Michael Hall, and Kevin Cannon
*Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie Alonso and Rudy Gutierrez
*Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills by Billy Mills, Donna Janell Bowman, and S.D. Nelson
*Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle and Jason Chin
*John the Skeleton by Triinu Laan and Marja-Liisa Plats
*Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel and April Harrison
*Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants by Norman H. Finkelstein and Vesper Stamper
*Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King and Ekua Holmes
*Home by Isabelle Simler and Vineet Lal