These beautiful stories fill my heart with hope and longing. Annell Lopez weaves powerful portraits of women just trying to be. Be happy, be important, be heard.
I’ll Give You a Reason by Annell López, (List Price: $16.95, The Feminist Press at CUNY, 9781558613126, April 2024)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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David Small always packs a punch in the most sublet ways. His illustrations perfectly compliment these stories of longing and the fragility of life.
Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small, (List Price: $25, Liveright, 9781324092827, March 2024)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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I loved Cinderella is Dead! I love that Kalynn took a fairy tale we all know and turned it on its head, for the better. The whole time I am reading it I’m thinking this is a feminist fairy tale. I’m thinking this is the LGBTQ fairy tale I wish I could have read when growing up and I am so happy young people today will be able to read this story. We need more stories like this.
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron, (List Price: 10.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547606641, June 2021)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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This is now one of my favorite books. I was devastated for myself and every character I had met along the way while reading this wonderfully crafted story. This book will rip your heart out and put it back together perfectly. I highly recommend When Sea Becomes Sky for readers young and old.
When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn, (List Price: $16.99, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 9781547610853, February 2023)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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A beautiful book that made my heart ache in the best ways. Another masterpiece from Applegate that teaches us a little about ourselves while weaving a tree and the community where it lives.
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, (List Price: 8.99, Square Fish, 9781250233899, March 2023)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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A fresh look at how and why we spend our free time. I love how Sheila Liming weaves movie and music references along with personal stories in Hanging Out making this book entertaining and informative. She has me thinking harder about where I hang out and why and the power just hanging out can have.
Hanging Out by Sheila Liming, (List Price: 27.99, Melville House, 9781685890056, January 2023)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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A February 2023 Read This Next! Title
A gothic ghost story set in Vietnam. A modern family who have been torn apart by time and a house possessed by its former occupants. Haunting is the perfect word for this story. I was engrossed from the very beginning and now that I have finished it I can’t stop thinking about it.
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran (List Price: $18.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547610815, February 2023)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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Seoulmates is a fun young adult romance sprinkled with k-pop and k-drama references. Susan Lee gave me a glimpse into a Korean American home through this tender love story between two childhood friends who have grown up. A friends to enemies to lovers story, I couldn’t put it down..
Seoulmates by Susan Lee (List Price: $18.99, Inkyard Press, 9781335915788, September 2022)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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A sad and touching story in verse set during the first half of 2020. This book is both painful and necessary, I can’t stop thinking about what the kids have lived through and knowing they need books exactly like this to help them process. Thank you Ms. Grimes.
Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes (List Price: $17.99, Wordsong, 9781635925265, October 2022)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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A beautifully-detailed graphic novel full of love, friendship, and Black Girl Magic.
Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser, (List Price: 19.95, Chronicle Books, 9781797205458, July 2022)
Reviewed by LeeAnna Callon, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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Reading this collection made me feel like I was standing outside with my bare feet in the grass, scrunching my toes in the soil, feeling the breeze on my face, and pondering the oneness of everything.
The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón, (List Price: $22, Milkweed Editions, 9781639550494, May 2022)
Reviewed by LeeAnna Callon, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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This Boy We Made is heart-wrenching. I couldn’t put it down. As a mother I was absolutely enveloped in the author’s journey through this incredibly difficult time in her life. At every turn I was in awe of her grace in dealing with what life continued to throw at her.
This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris, (List Price: $26.00, Catapult, 9781948226844, January 2022)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
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