07.2021 Book Recommendation // THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON by Ryan Douglass

Mikayla recommends... The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

"Sixteen-year-old Jake Livingston sees dead people everywhere. But he can't decide what's worse: being a medium forced to watch the dead play out their last moments on a loop or being at the mercy of racist teachers as one of the few Black students at St. Clair Prep. Both are a living nightmare he wishes he could wake up from. But things at St. Clair start looking up with the arrival of another Black student—the handsome Allister—and for the first time, romance is on the horizon for Jake.

"Unfortunately, life as a medium is getting worse. Though most ghosts are harmless and Jake is always happy to help them move on to the next place, Sawyer Doon wants much more from Jake. In life, Sawyer was a troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school before taking his own life. Now he's a powerful, vengeful ghost and he has plans for Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about dead world goes out the window as Sawyer begins to haunt him. High school soon becomes a different kind of survival game—one Jake is not sure he can win." (publisher's description)

04.2021 Book Recommendation // SHEETS & DELICATES by Brenna Thummler

Many of you might know that I am a big fan of graphic novels. Today, though, I specifically want to recommend the book Sheets and its recently published follow-up, Delicates, both written and illustrated by Brenna Thummler! (Fun fact: Thummler grew up in the small town where I went to college—Meadville, PA—and drew her inspiration for the town in the story from there!)

Sheets and Delicates, though written for a juvenile audience, are a great read for all ages. The soft color palette and the beautifully detailed illustrations are full of nostalgia, and the storyline about a girl who finds the ghost of a young boy living in her family's laundromat is just so charming. It's not much of a ghost story as it is a wholesome tale about feeling invisible, learning what it means to fit in, and finding acceptance and friendship in the unlikeliest of places. These books are a true treat.

Book Review // BINGO LOVE by Tee Franklin & Jenn St-Onge

My Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰

Hazel and Mari form an unshakeable bond when they meet at church bingo in 1963. They become close friends but quickly fall in love with one another. Their families do not approve of their relationship and force the girls to part. Hazel and Mari meet once again -- 50 years later -- at bingo, but by this time they both have families of their own. Will they throw everything away to be together? Or have they missed their chance at true love?

I found this comic at a library conference and was so excited to get to read it. I immediately fell in love with Hazel and Mari and wanted so badly for them to find happiness in one another. It's not a perfect story, there were parts of the story that felt a little rushed or unrealistic to me, but at the same time, as a queer woman I realize that this is such an important book in terms of representation. It's so rare to have a romance between two women that doesn't end in utter tragedy -- let alone one featuring two women of color or two elderly women. The story isn't overly saccharine -- there is some struggle and hardship woven throughout Hazel & Mari's stories, but the ending is bittersweet, satisfying, and very fitting.

I also just wanted to applaud the artist, Jenn St-Onge, because the art style is adorable. I appreciated how the characters actually looked like real people -- they have all different body types, skin tones, and are even depicted with stretch marks and imperfections. All in all, I think this is a cute, important comic and I would recommend it to any LGBT youth (or, heck, even adults) looking to see themselves represented in media.

Review originally published to Goodreads.com.