given, Volume 1 is the first title in a series (stylized in all lower case) from mangaka (manga creator) Natsuki Kizu. On its surface, given is a story about four high school and college students forming an amateur band. Underpinning that ‘simple’ premise however, is a rich opening tale on grief, healing, and relationships. The … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: given
#IntlYALitMonth: Thirty Talks Weird Love
Thirty Talks Weird Love If you could go back in time and visit your thirteen-year-old self, what would you say to them? Do you think they would listen? That is precisely what happens to thirteen-year-old Anamaria Aragón Sosa in this artful novel-in-verse by Alessandra Narváez Varela; Thirty Talks Weird Love. Set in Cuidad Juárez, Mexico … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Thirty Talks Weird Love
#IntlYALitMonth: The Blue Book of Nebo
The Blue Book of Nebo, by Manon Steffan Ros Originally published in Welsh in 2021 by Deep Vellum Publishing, Manon Steffan Ros is also remarkably to credit for the translation of her book to English. This is hardly surprising as a deep love of the Welsh language permeates the succinct prose. With spare and intense … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: The Blue Book of Nebo
#IntlYALitMonth: The Marrow Thieves
The Marrow Thieves, by Cherie Dimaline From the first nostalgic and tangible whiff of nacho Doritos that Frenchie shares with his brother to the last hopeful lines that set up the sequel, The Marrow Thieves becomes a shining example of what dystopian literature can be. Set in a world not too far in our future … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: The Marrow Thieves
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Memo and the Unexpected Gift
A picture book for readers age 3-7, Memo and the Unexpected Gift is a sweet story with delightful, unexpected twists and gentle, wry humor. The tale begins much like a regular picture book, and the reader quickly expects a traditional trajectory. Memo lives with his grandmother in a small-town cottage. She can’t see very well, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Memo and the Unexpected Gift
#IntlYALitMonth: Raybearer
Raybearer, by Jordan Ifueko This is a must-read for anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking story. This book has truly impacted me and I can’t recommend it enough. From the very first page, I was drawn into the fascinating and beautiful world that Ifueko has created. The characters are complex and relatable, and the … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Raybearer
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: It’s Just Skin, Silly!
Meet Epi Dermis! Who is Epi Dermis, you might ask? Your skin, of course! Forthcoming July 2023 from South Africa based Catalyst Press, It's Just Skin, Silly! is a friendly and accessible introduction to the evolution of skin color. Anthropologist Nina Jablonski and historian Holly McGee draw upon their more than 40 years of combined … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: It’s Just Skin, Silly!
#IntlYALitMonth: Sabrina & Corina: Stories
Sabrina & Corina: Stories Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of violence and sexual assault that some readers may find triggering to read. Home is where Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s debut short story collection Sabrina & Corina takes place. Home is Denver, Colorado, home is familial, generational relationships between women, but home is also being ripped apart by … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Sabrina & Corina: Stories
#IntlYALitMonth: Catherine’s War
Catherine's War There’s certainly no shortage of WWII stories available for younger readers, especially stories focusing on the devastating impact and consequences of the Holocaust. And at first blush, Catherine’s War seems like just another entry to the cannon of middle grade Holocaust fiction. But the graphic novel, adapted by Claire Fauvel from Julia Billet’s … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Catherine’s War
#IntlYALitMonth: Purple Hibiscus
Purple Hibiscus Content Warning: domestic violence, religious trauma, mentions of abuse, depictions of abuse, pregnancy loss, state-sanctioned violence. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a coming-of-age novel that juxtaposes the tumult of adolescence with the tumult of a changing nation. Set in 1980s Nigeria and told from the perspective of teenage protagonist, Kambili, Purple … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Purple Hibiscus
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 