Tag / book recommendations

by booksoverlookedblog

Oct. 2025 Recs: Tasty Tales


Without in any way limiting the author’s exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.

Little blog update: there won’t be a book list in November, since I’m traveling for most of this month. 

Welcome to October! 

 I’d originally planned to make a list featuring some more scary stories, but after several tough weeks, I decided to focus on something lighter and tastier: food! Have you ever thought about how the things we eat affect our lives? Wondered about how it got on your plate? Did you know you’ve probably only eaten a single banana species your entire life? Or maybe you’re more interested in trying new foods, or expressing yourself through the culinary arts. Food is an important part of everyone’s lives, and that’s what this book list is all about. Get your favorite fall treats and dive into some delicious reads. 

Nonfiction

Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them by Dan Saladino

This is one of my favorite books that I’ve read in the last couple years. Saladino travels the globe to find and taste the rarest foods in the world: wild honey in Tanzania, the hardy Scottish grain bere, the rare black Korean chicken Yeonsan Oyge (literally all black, including its bones), and many others. Each chapter focuses on a different rare food while also offering deep dives on food and agricultural history. It looks at how scientific processes like selective breeding and gene editing have helped create our diets today, and shows the efforts to preserve diverse and traditional foods today. Throughout the book, Saladino expresses the need for more genetic diversity in our current food systems. For example, the Cavendish banana, which is probably the only type of banana you’ve ever eaten, is incredibly vulnerable to disease because it can only be produced by cloning. Eating to Extinction weaves history, science, culture, and economics together to create an utterly fascinating book. I was totally hooked by the first chapter, which shows how the loss of wild honey affects not only the Hadza people who rely on it as a major part of their diets, but the honeyguide as well, a bird that leads humans to bee colonies. I highly recommend this one to anyone who eats food.

Fiction

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim

Once in a generation, the Major Gods announce the Celestial Banquet. In this delicious and deadly competition, cooks from across the Continent come to serve the gods sumptuous dishes made with fantastical ingredients. The winning team will receive peaches of immortality, which can extend one’s life or be sold for riches beyond their wildest dreams. Headstrong Cai is a noodle chef, and certain she has what it takes to win the peaches. After proving her worth to the raggedy Minor God Kama, she heads to the capitol with him, her crush Seon, and taciturn protector Tala. Once there, Cai is in for the challenge of her life, gathering dangerous ingredients and cooking for the capricious gods Luck, Temperance, and Indulgence. The novel draws from Southeast Asian folklore and cuisine, and includes some drool-worthy descriptions of fantasy dishes. It hits on familiar YA tropes with varied success (the romance sub-plot feels very flat), but the adventure and competition is a lot of fun to read.

by booksoverlookedblog

Sep. 2025 Book Recs.: Hispanic Heritage Month

Without in any way limiting the author’s exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.

And we’re back! Thank you to everyone who read my work for Flash Fiction Month.

September marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month! Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the achievement, culture, and traditions of Latinx Americans of Mexican, Central American, South American, Caribbean, and Spanish ancestry.

Hispanic Heritage Month officially begins on September 15, and goes until October 15. The mid-month start date is because many Hispanic countries declared their independence from Spain in September. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all declared independence on September 15, 1821. Mexico declared its independence on September 16, 1810, and Chile did so on September 18, 1810. Over 150 years later, years later, Belize would declare independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981.

Nonfiction: Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latin Identity by Paola Ramos

What does it mean to be Latinx? For journalist Paola Ramos, “Latinx” covers who she is: Latina, Cuban, Mexican, and American. But who are the millions of Americans who identify as Latinx? Ramos traveled across the United States to find out. She met with farmworkers in California, old friends in Miami, and Indigenous Maya communities in the Southern United States. She shares an iftar meal with Latinx Muslims in Washington, D.C. and cheers on an undocumented drag queen competing in the Miss Gay America pageant in Missouri. Ramos even sits down with Enrique Tarrio to try to understand what drove this Afro-Latinx man to the White supremacist group, The Proud Boys. (Note: Tarrio’s role in the Jan. 6 attacks is not mentioned. This book was published in 2020, and this chapter was likely written prior to the event.) Ramos gives readers a snapshot of the rich diversity of Latinx people in the United States, from the every day to the extraordinary. 

Fiction: The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

Orquídea Montoya’s living descendants receive a mysterious message from the matriarch of the family: I am dying. Come and collect your inheritance. When the family gathers at the homestead in Four Rivers, but instead of dying, Orquídea transforms into a ceiba tree. Two of Orquídea’s grandchildren, Rey and Marimar, are left with flowers growing out of their bodies, as is Orquídea’s great-granddaughter, Rhiannon. The family is left with more questions than answers, with Marimar pondering Orquídea’s parting words: protect your magic. When a mysterious force begins tearing through the Montoyas, the family travels to Ecuador, Orquídea’s birthplace, searching for answers. Orquídea’s history unfolds in alternating chapters, with her story dovetailing beautifully with her descendents’ during the climax. This is an intergenerational story of magic, monsters, and family secrets coming to light. And if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll see it has something rare: an omniscient narrator that I actually liked. 

by booksoverlookedblog

Feb. 2025 Book Recommendations: Black History Month

Without in any way limiting the author’s exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.

Welcome back! Thank you to everyone who read, shared, or commented on my most recent post about libraries in the Trump administration. Please take care of yourselves and keep fighting for your loved one, and supporting community organizations like your library. 

Just a couple blog updates before we start on this month’s book list. First, there probably won’t be recommendation lists for April, July, August, or December, unless I’m really inspired and suddenly have a surge in free time. I do a lot of reading for these lists, not just the 2-4 recommended books, and it takes up a lot of time. I’ve read a lot of really great stuff and things that I might not have picked up otherwise, but it also makes it harder to find the time to read other things, including books for blog posts. All that said, I am doing much better than I was months ago, and I’m going to once again endeavor to write two posts a month. 

February is Black History Month in the U.S.! Though Black History Month was first officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976. However, Black History Month goes back much further than that. It was actually started in 1926 as “Negro History Week” by historian and author Carter G. Woodson.  Black History Month honors the contributions and celebrates the triumphs of Black Americans, while acknowledging the hardships and struggles caused by systemic racism. 

Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody

Anne Moody (born Essie Mae) was born to two poor sharecroppers in 1940 in Centerville, Mississippi. An observant and intelligent young woman, Moody would go on to graduate from Tougaloo College and become actively involved in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, participating in sit-ins and joining organizations the NAACP, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). She endured harassment and violence, but her anger and determination kept her fighting against racism and sexism. Published in 1968, Moody’s memoir is broken into four parts. Childhood begins with Moody at a young age and ends with her eighth grade graduation. This section her family’s struggles with poverty and Moody working as a maid for White families, some of which were White supremacists with ties to the Ku Klux Klan. In High School,  Moody learns about the murder of Emmet Till, an event that would shape her worldview forever. She is witness to a rash of violence against Black people in her community, including a family burnt to death in their own home. She also travels to New Orleans and works to become financially independent. In College, Moody finds her calling as an activist and community organizer, beginning with a protest against her junior college after one of her classmates finds maggots in the dining hall food. Finally, The Movement chronicles Moody’s involvement in the Civil Rights movement, including being beaten at a sit-in and working for CORE. Given the time period the memoir was written in, some of the language is dated, but Moody’s experiences also feel fresh and immediate. A great choice for anyone looking for a personal account of the Civil Rights movement. 

Bonus Book: Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton

Lonnie Johnson is an inventor and former NASA engineer, but for many kids (and more than a few adults), his greatest invention is the Super-Soaker. This picture book biography tells Lonnie’s story of building a robot, helping the Galileo space probe get to Jupiter, and finding the inspiration to make this summertime staple. An unsung hero of childhood, thank you, Lonnie, for so many great memories. 

Fiction

Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston

A poison desert stretches across the Arkhysian Empire. Djola, Master of Poisons, has been tasked by the emperor to find a way to halt its spread. He is working to create a “map to the future” and heal the land by mastering the secret and powerful conjure Xhalan Xhala. As the poison desert continues to spread, Djola is exiled from Emperor Azizi’s Council. The only way he can return to his family is to find Xhalan Xhala, and stop the desert once and for all. 

Young Awa is able to traverse the Smokelands, an ethereal place of dreams and magic that reflects the physical world. At the age of 12, her father sells her to the Green Masters, a nomadic group of storytellers and warriors who can use powerful conjure. Awa is in training to be a griot (storyteller), and her ability to cross the Smokelands and special connection to bees may make her the next griot of griots like her mentor, Yari. 

Hairston creates a vivid African-inspired fantasy world, rich with folklore and African traditions. This complex story is written with lyrical prose that makes the novel utterly captivating. Hairston has three other historical-fantasy books that would also be good fits for Black History Month (Redwood and Wildfire, Will Do Magic for Small Change, and Archangels of Funk), but Master of Poisons sucked me in from the first page.

by booksoverlookedblog

December Book Recs: Right Stuff, Wrong Sex


Without in any way limiting the author’s exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.

Credit where it’s due: the title for this post was “borrowed” from the book Right Stuff, Wrong Sex by Margaret A. Weitekamp. 

We’ve made it through another year, and what a year it’s been. I’ll have a short post for January. For the rest of 2025, my goal is to start posting twice a month again. Until then, here’s the last book recommendation list for 2024.

Also, hi, Yvette, the lady I met during OT this week. Thanks for your encouragement! 

The book sommelier is back! For December, here’s two books that pair together nicely for a stellar reading experience. 

Nonfiction

The Mercury 13: The Untold Story of Thirteen American Women and the Dream of Space Flight by Martha Ackmann

Before there was Sally Ride, there was Jerrie Cobb. All eyes were on the Project Mercury astronauts, Air Force test pilots who were all deemed to have “the right stuff” to go into space. Dr. William Randolph Lovelace II wanted to cast a broader net than just the men that the government thought were worthy of going to space. There were many accomplished women pilots in the country, but as women were barred from flying in the military, they were automatically disqualified as astronaut candidates. Dr. Lovelace theorized that women might make better astronauts than men, and pushed for “lady astronauts.” Jerrie Cobb, a woman with an impressive list of aviation achievements, eagerly trained, hoping to be one of the first women in space. When she proved that she could pass the same tests that the prospective male pilots did, more women joined this secret project. Thirteen women passed the arduous tests which proved women were space-worthy, but societal customs and political maneuverings meant that none of the Mercury 13 would ever leave Earth. The Mercury 13 tells the largely unknown story of the women who dared to reach for the stars. Detailed biographies of Jerrie Cobb, Dr. Lovelace, and celebrated pilot Jackie Cochran are woven in with the narrative. Interviews with the women who underwent the Lovelace tests offer personal insight into their experiences. Inspiring and disheartening all at once, Ackmann finally brings to light the story of these brave and tenacious women who were willing to give everything they had for a moonshot of their own.

Note: This book has two different subtitles: The Untold Story of Thirteen American Women and the Dream of Space Flight, and The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight. I used the “Untold” version since that’s the copy of the book I have. The actual text of the book is the same in either one.

Fiction

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowall

In 1952, Elma York and her husband, Nathaniel, are lucky to be alive after a devastating meteorite strike obliterates much of the eastern coast of the U.S. Elma, a physicist, mathematician, and pilot, is eager to do something, anything, to help survivors and rebuild the country, but her talents are overlooked in favor of men. That is, until she calculates what the long-term effects of the meteorite strike will be. A climate disaster will make Earth unsuitable for habitation, and colonizing space becomes humanity’s only chance for survival. Elma joins the fledgling international space agency, IAC, as a computer, performing calculations that will put a man into orbit. But with so many qualified women pilots and scientists working alongside her, Alma starts to wonder: why can’t women be astronauts? When Elma makes headlines during an all-women airshow, she finally has a chance to advocate for her cause. Sexism and her crippling anxiety would have her stay on the ground, but Elma’s determined – for herself, and for all the brilliant women whose skills have gone unnoticed. One thing I liked was the inclusion of women of color in Elma’s crusade. Elma does have her prejudices and blind spots, but she learns from her mistakes. The real-life Project Mercury astronauts and Mercury 13 were all White, and I was glad to see diversity being added to the space race. The Calculating Stars is great for fans of alt-history and realistic sci-fi. 

See you next year!

by booksoverlookedblog

Dec. Book Recs: The Runners-Up

First off: sorry for only one post in November. I was sick for a couple weeks, and then had family visiting for Thanksgiving. But don’t worry, I’ve still got plenty to say about banned books! But first…

I read a lot of books this year. Not including my Did Not Finishes and picture books, I’ve read 56 books this year. That’s a lot, even for me. The vast majority were books I read for these monthly recommendation lists. I really enjoyed working on them, but each list took a lot of time and effort. That’s why I didn’t have any lists for July or August – I was simply too busy. For 2024, I’m going to do mini-recommendation lists, with only one or two books a month. 

Even though I read a lot, not every book I read made it onto the book recommendation lists. I limited myself to only 5 fiction books and 5 nonfiction books for each list. There were some great books that I really enjoyed that just didn’t make the cut. Even so, I felt like they were still worthy of sharing. So here it is: the final recommendation list of 2023: Books that Didn’t Make the Cut, but Are Still Good.

Nonfiction

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré / Sembrando historias: Pura Belpré: bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos by Anika Aldamuy Denise. Illustrated by Paola Escobar

If there’s such a thing as a legendary librarian, it would be Pura Belpré. Originally from Puerto Rico, Belpré came to New York City for her sister’s wedding, and ended up staying for most of her life. She became the first Puerto Rican to be hired by the New York Public Library. There, she discovered her talent and passion for storytelling, though the library shelves lacked the stories she loved growing up in Puerto Rico. Throughout her life, Belpré wrote many children’s books based on Puerto Rican folklore, becoming one of the first Puerto Ricans to publish works in English in the U.S. Her work helped open up the library to the Latinx residents of New York City, and her stories continue to celebrate the culture she loved. Planting Stories is a picture book biography of Belpré’s life, with beautiful illustrations on each page. 

Why it didn’t make the cut: I really wanted to include something about Pura Belpré for Hispanic Heritage Month. Unfortunately, the only biography I found aimed towards adults (The Stories I Read to the Children by Laura Sánchez-González) isn’t easy to find unless you’re prepared to buy it. I found picture book biographies, but I didn’t want to showcase more than one picture book. I’d already decided on A Land of Books by Duncan Tonatiuh. His work is just so cool. I encourage everyone to learn about Pura Belpré, or at least read some Pura Belpré award winners! 

Signs of Survival: A Memoir of the Holocaust by Renee G. Hartman with Joshua M. Green

Two Jewish sisters – one hearing, one Deaf – recount their struggle to survive during World War II. During the Nazi occupation of what was Czechoslovakia, Renee was the only hearing person in her family. She had to be her family’s ears, listening for the sound of Nazi boots coming to take her family away. Renee and her younger sister, Herta, were eventually separated from their parents and shipped to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Using sign language to communicate, Renee and Herta had to rely on each other to survive. Presented as an oral history, both sisters recount their lives before and after the Holocaust in a tragic story of sisterhood and survival. 

Why it didn’t make the cut: I had this book as a potential pick for Disability Pride. After reading it, I realized that it didn’t fit the theme that well. It was more Renee’s story, rather than Herta’s. Regardless, their story is still powerful and important. 

And the Spirit Moved Them: The Lost Radical History of America’s First Feminists by Helen LaKelly Hunt

When did the feminist movement begin in the United States? With Susan B. Anthony and the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848? With Gloria Steinem in the 1960s? Hunt argues that the first feminist movement in the U.S. began with women like Lucretia Mott, Maria Weston Chapman, and Grace and Sarah Doughlass in the 1830s. These women railed against the patriarchal structures that treated them as unequal partners in the abolitionist movement. They bucked tradition and began their own interracial abolitionist movement, which included the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women in 1837. Most of these women were moved to action by their Christian faith and felt “armed by God” as they denounced pro-slavery religious figures. Including photos and documents, this book is accessible to many readers who are interested in women’s history. 

Why it didn’t make the cut: It’s religious. The women being moved by their Christian faith wasn’t just a side-note, it’s a major point Hunt makes throughout the book. Towards the end, she calls for more faith-based feminism among women (of any faith, not just Christianity). There is nothing wrong with being religious, especially if your faith guides you to help others. I didn’t like how religion-focused it was, but it’s a book that many others would enjoy and even feel inspired by. 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

In 1951, Henrietta Lacks’s cells were taken from her without her consent or knowledge. These cells continued to grow and divide long after Henrietta’s death. Her “immortal” cell line has contributed to scientific and medical discoveries for decades, from a polio vaccines to studying COVID-19, and even being sent to space. Yet Henrietta’s family never learned about the HeLa cell line until 1975. While her cells have helped so many people, her family lived in poverty and, ironically, could not afford health care. Rebecca Skloot was fascinated by Henrietta Lacks and her cells, and worked with Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah, to tell the story of Henrietta, HeLa cells, and the Lacks family today. This book is impossible to put down, and examines race, class, and ethics in medicine and science.

Why it didn’t make the cut: Even if you haven’t read this book, you’ve at least heard of it. And it is absolutely worth the hype. Though I did put some award-winners and best sellers on the lists, I wanted to highlight less well known books that are still praise-worthy and meaningful. But if you haven’t read this one yet, stop reading this and go read it. Go read it now. 

Fiction

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline 

The planet has been ravaged by climate change, which has resulted in most of the world’s population losing the ability to dream. The Indigenous people of North America can still dream, and are hunted for their bone marrow.  After French loses his parents and his brother is captured and taken to the “schools” – a parallel to the Canadian residential boarding school system – he joins a group of other Indigenous people – old and young alike – who have fled the cities to stay safe. Led by Miigwans, they travel north, living off the land and learning each other’s histories while trying to avoid becoming victims of a genocide. 

Why it didn’t make the cut: It’s a dark story. Really dark. Rape and murder are commonplace in this new world. The ending is ultimately hopeful, but it’s a long, bleak trek to reach that conclusion. The horrors the characters in this book face parallel real world atrocities committed against Indigenous Americans, most saliently with references to residential schools. It’s an important story, but a hard book to read. 

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

While the rest of Chicago is marveling at the 1893 World’s Fair, Altar Rosen is working hard to earn money to bring his mother and sisters to the United States from Romania. After his best friend, Yakov, is murdered at the Fair, Altar is possessed by Yakov’s dybbuk. Unless Altar can find Yakov’s killer and bring him to justice, Yakov’s dybbuk will permanently take over Altar’s body. But there’s no justice to be found for poor Jewish immigrants, even when their bodies start piling up. Altar has no choice but to work with his old “friend” Frankie. Frankie helped Altar survive when he first arrived in America, but he has dark secrets of his own. Together, they need to track down a dangerous serial killer targeting Jewish boys all the while Altar navigates his grief and comes to understand his feelings for Frankie. A queer historical thriller, steeped in Jewish mythology. Includes content warning, glossary, and author’s note.

Why it didn’t make the cut: I really liked this book, and originally planned on using it for Pride Month. But when it comes to Pride, there’s a lot to cover, and I wanted to get as much diversity as I could when it came to the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. But I loved The Darkness Outside Us even more. It destroyed me emotionally was one of my favorite books that I read all year, and I really wanted to showcase it. The City Beautiful was still a great read, and I’m excited to share it here. 

Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case by Patricia Hruby Powell

Based on the true story of Richard Loving and Mildred (Jeter) Loving, this is the story of two people whose love changed U.S. history for the better. Milly, who was Black, and Richard, who was White, lived in the small town of Central Point, Virginia, surrounded by family. While Black and White folks mixed freely in Central Point, the rest of the state still had strict segregation laws, including laws against interracial marriage and “miscengenation.” Milly and Richard were married in Washington D.C. in 1958. Upon returning home, they were both arrested for “cohabitating as man and wife” and faced a year of jail time unless they left Virginia. They moved to Washington D.C., but were virtually exiled from the home they loved, unable to see their families or cross state lines together. After one of their children was hit by a car (he survived, but was injured), Milly and Richard were determined to return home. Thus began the fight of their lives for their right to be married. A novel in verse, the Lovings’ story is told from both Richard and Milly’s perspective, with illustrations throughout that enhance the reading experience. The dual perspectives during their wedding is breath-taking (especially if you listen to it on audio while reading the book, like I did). Facts about Jim Crow and anti-miscegenation laws begin each chapter. 

Why it didn’t make the cut: I loved this book, and I could’ve used it for a few different themes. But every time I’d planned to use it, I discovered another book that I wanted to highlight, and Loving vs. Virginia got pushed to the backburner. This book is one of the big reasons I wanted to share “runners-up” for December! 

Dragonfly Eyes by Cao Wenxuan. Translated by Helen Wang. 

Dragonfly Eyes is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Ah Mei and her French grandmother, Océane. Océane married into the wealthy Shanghainese Du Meixi family in the 1920s and would eventually move to Shanghai and raise her family there. Océane adores her youngest grandchild (and only granddaughter) Ah Mei. Their close bond carries both of them through the turbulent times: Japan’s invasion of China in the 1930s, famine in the 1950s, and finally the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 70s. An omniscient narrator describes Ah Mei and Océane’s lives with tender details amidst the historical backdrop. Ah Mei and Océane’s loving relationship is the heart of this novel, softening the harsh blows that buffet the family.

Why it didn’t make the cut: I didn’t like it. Omniscient narrators and a thin plot made it hard for me to get into this novel. The book was lovely in its own way, it but wasn’t for me.

by booksoverlookedblog

Oct. Book Recs: Disability Pride

For October, we’re celebrating Disability Pride! I know that Disability Pride Month is in July, but at the time I didn’t have enough time to do a full recommendation list. Here’s the mini-recommendation list. Even better, here’s some extra books to add to it!

 This is an important subject to me, and one that many of us have personal experience with. I have “invisible” disabilities, and the concept of “Disability Pride” is new to me. I’ve rarely felt proud of having disabilities as they have always felt more of a hindrance than a gift. However, I admire those who can embrace their disabilities – even when it’s hard – and celebrate themselves as they are. To steal a phrase from Temple Grandin, we are different, not lesser.

There are a lot of ways you can talk about disabilities and people who have disabilities. The conversation and vocabulary around disabilities and neurodivergence has changed a lot in recent years (like the word “neurodivergence” entering the common parlance) and it will continue to change. For this list, I will be using the terms that the authors/characters use to describe themselves. 

Nonfiction

Not So Different: What You Really Want to Know About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw

When kids encounter someone with a disability, they may be frightened, and probably have questions they don’t know how to ask. In Not So Different, Shane Burcaw answers some common questions kids have about his life with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Burcaw demystifies what life with a severe physical disability is like, answering questions about his wheelchair and daily needs that he needs help with. He explains that even though his body is different from most people’s, there’s nothing wrong with him. He may look different, but he still has a full life, doing the same things that all of us enjoy: spending time with family and friends, playing sports and video games, and of course, eating pizza.

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is so well known in psychology and animal science circles that the inclusion of Thinking in Pictures almost feels unnecessary, but her work both in the livestock industry and advocating for autism rights have been groundbreaking. Thinking in Pictures is part autobiography, and part primer on autism.  Grandin tells the story of her life as an autistic woman, and how she learned to navigate a world that wasn’t built for someone like her. Grandin’s stunning ability for visual thinking and deep connection with animals changed the livestock industry in the U.S. forever and led to the creation of more humane slaughterhouses (yes, that is a thing). She also describes the challenges and benefits of being autistic, and how it has shaped her life. Grandin writes that she is “different, not lesser” and shows how autism can be a gift. Originally published in 1995, some of the information on diagnosing autism and medications is outdated. Yet Grandin’s life story – born at a time when autistic children were often institutionalized – is compelling and fascinating. If you have any interest in neurodivergence, this is a must-read. 

Vincent and Theo: the Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Two brothers walk to a windmill and make a pledge that will shape the rest of their lives.

Vincent van Gogh was one of the most remarkable and celebrated painters that ever lived. But the beauty in his paintings was often missing in his own life. The (literal) portrait of a tormented artist, Vincent most likely had bipolar disorder, among other physical and mental ailments. Throughout his troubled life, there was one person he valued above all overs: his younger brother, Theo. Theo supported his brother financially and emotionally throughout both their lives, sending him money and paint, and most importantly, believing in Vincent and his art. Their relationship was often strained, and rarely easy, but the deep bond and love between them carried both brothers through the darkest and brightest times of their lives. Meticulously drawn from the hundreds of letters that the brothers wrote to each other, Heiligman paints a stunning biography of both men. Beautifully written, Vincent and Theo’s life stories are filled with tenderness and tragedy. Much as we celebrate Vincent’s work today, it should be known: there would be no Vincent without Theo. The audiobook is excellent, and the print version has illustrations and a photo insert of some of Vincent’s work.

All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum
All Dogs Have ADHD
All Birds Have Anxiety

By Kathy Hoopmann

I couldn’t pick just one of these books – I had to include all three. Hoopmann describes common traits of autism, ADHD, and anxiety, using cute and funny animal pictures to illustrate each one. The books also list the positive traits as well: “His creativity is legendary!” “[P]eople marvel at their intelligent minds.” Each book ends on a hopeful note, that with love and support, you can achieve anything (and have anxiety-free days!) no matter what kind of brain you have. For parents, it can be hard to explain a child’s diagnosis to them, or find an opening to talk about it. Books like these are a great way to start the conversation, and the photos (apart from being adorable) can help both adults and children understand autism, ADHD, and anxiety better. They’re cute, informative, and I love how Hoopmann incorporates positive traits as well. My brain is wired differently from most people’s, and it has its drawbacks. It’s nice to be reminded that there are good things about that, too. 

Fiction

You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner

It’s time for Julia to go public with her art. After a slur against her best friend is spray-painted on the gym at Kingston School for the Deaf, Julia covers it with a mural of her own, covering a nasty message with art. Instead of being grateful, her friend rats on her, and Julia is expelled for vandalizing the school.. Friendless and angry, Julia is forced to attend a mainstream school in the suburbs. Julia turns her focus on her art and makes a splash with her first graffiti mural…until someone tags over it. Then it happens again. And her rival is good. Really good. Julia never thought she’d be in a graffiti war, but she’s determined to win this, and hold tight to the one thing in her life that still makes sense. Illustrations of Julia’s (and her rival’s) artwork are scattered throughout the book. A fun read with insights into Deaf culture and a side of teen drama. 

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! By Sarah Kapit

When twelve-year-old Vivy Cohen writes a letter to her favorite baseball player, VJ Capello, for her social skills group, she doesn’t think he’ll actually write back. She doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to play on a baseball team either, even though she’s got a mean knuckleball. But when Coach K spots her pitching in the park, he doesn’t care that she’s a girl or autistic. He just wants her on his team. After some reluctance on her mom’s part, Vivy joins the team and can finally play the best sport in the world. Even better, VJ Capello starts writing her back! The two strike up a correspondence, with VJ offering advice on not just on pitching, but also friendships, bullying, and being a good team player. VJ understands her love of the game and believes in her…so why can’t Vivy’s mom? But with VJ’s support and a catcher who’s always got her back, Vivy’s determined to earn her place on the pitcher’s mound.

Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin

Dylan wakes up in a stranger’s apartment with no memory of how she got there. She’s blacked out before – the main reason she quit drinking – but is shaken to her core when she realizes that she’s been missing for three days. Dylan knows that she’s “crazy” – all the other mental health diagnoses she has don’t explain her losing time as frequently as she does. After a life-threatening event, Dylan is finally diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as multiple personalities. The diagnosis is both a relief and a nightmare. Dylan must learn to live, communicate with, and eventually accept her alters as part of herself. To heal, she must also recall the trauma that forced her consciousness to fracture when she was just a child. The book can be dark, but it gives a sympathetic portrayal of DID, which is often misunderstood and stigmatized. Dylan’s story is ultimately hopeful as she learns that she can have a full, meaningful life with DID. Resources and a content warning are included. 

Unbroken: 13 Stories of Disabled Teens edited by Marieke Nijkamp

An autistic girl is cursed to grant wishes to anyone who is kind to her. A young writer comes to a new understanding of the theatre through Faust. A teenager with severe anxiety is the only one who can save her city from an impending attack. Unbroken is a multi-genre short story anthology, with stories ranging from high-stakes sci-fi to rom-com to historical fiction. The protagonists are well-crafted, never reduced to just their disabilities. The protagonists don’t set out to “cure” themselves, but their motivations are things every teen wants: love, security, acceptance. My favorite story is the first one, “The Long Road” by Heidi Heilig, where a traveler on the Silk Road (implied to have bipolar disorder) comes to see herself not as cursed, and accepts herself as she is. 

by booksoverlookedblog

Sep. Book Recs: Hispanic Heritage Month

September marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S.! Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and goes to October 15. It’s a little unusual for a monthly observation to begin in the middle of the month, but there’s a reason for it. On September 15, 1821, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua declared independence from Spain. Mexico declared its independence on September 16, 1810, and Chile did so on September 18, 1810. Almost 200 years later, Belize would declare independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981. 

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the achievement, culture, and traditions of Latinx Americans of Mexican, Central American, South American, Caribbean, and Spanish ancestry. 

As always, I can only offer a smidgen of what is out there for books by and about Latinx individuals. If you’re looking for more, Pura Belpré award winners and honorees are a great place to start! There are also many Latinx authors and illustrators doing stellar work. To name a few: Alma Flor Ada, Julia Alvarez, Jorge Argueta, Monica Brown, Isabel Campoy, Joe Cepeda, Angela Cervantes, Veronica Chambers, Sandra Cisneros, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Raul Colón, Carmen Agra Deedy, Lulu Delacre, David Díaz, Angela Dominguez, Margarita Engle, Xavier Garza, Christina Díaz González, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, Susan Guevara, Francisco Jiménez, René Colato Laínez, Rafael López, Meg Medina, Marisa Montes, Pat Mora, Yuyi Morales, Sara Palacios, John Parra, Celia C. Pérez, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Benjamín Alire Sáenz, Garo Soto, Francisco X. Stork, Carmen Tafolla, Raúl the Third, Duncan Tonatiuh, and Erica Velazquez. 

That’s quite a list! You’ll find some of those writers on this list as well. ¡Vamos a leer!

Nonfiction

Enchanted Air: A Memoir by Margarita Engle

Margarita is a child of two countries: the United States, and Cuba. Her mother’s country, Cuba, is a place of dancing trees, singing vendors, and beautiful forests and farms. Cuba is a place where Margarita can be brave – as brave as a boy. But most of the year she lives in Los Angeles, timid and lonely. Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, she doesn’t understand how two countries she loves so much can hate each other. As relations between Cuba and the United States worsen, Margarita wonders: will her relatives in Cuba hate her? Why is her mother choosing to be “stateless”? When will she visit her beloved Cuba again? In evocative verse, Engle shares her experiences growing up Cuban-American during the Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban Missile Crisis, her summers in Cuba before the United States embargo against the country, and her deep and abiding love for words and poetry. 

Once I was You: A Memoir / Una vez fui tuí: Memorias by Maria Hinojosa

When Mexican-born Maria Hinojosa came to the United States as a one-year-old in 1962, she was nearly separated from her family. Only her mother refusing to leave her child allowed Maria to move to the U.S. with her family. In this memoir, Hinojosa chronicles her life and they many identities she has: an immigrant, a woman, a survivor of sexual assault, a wife, mother, and award-winning journalist. She started as an intern at NPR, pitching stories by day and waiting tables by night. Throughout her career, she sought to highlight human stories that are often overlooked, and give a voice to the voiceless. Yet this book is about more than one woman’s life. Opening on an encounter with children who were separated from their families while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Hinojosa gives a history of changing immigration policies from the 1960s to 2020, when the book was published. She explains the politics behind the end of Immigration Naturalization Services (INS) and the formation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the societal and political changes that brought us to where we are now. Most sobering, Hinojosa describes the horrifying conditions of immigrant detention centers, and the ICE raids that help fill those centers. A powerful memoir of resilience, alongside painful reminders of the U.S.’s broken immigration system today. Published subsequently in Spanish. A young reader’s edition which focuses on Hinojosa’s childhood and adolescence is also available. 

Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora, edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

There are as many ways to be Latinx as there are Latinx people in the world. This essay collection gives voice to Latinx and Afro-Latinx writers’ experiences. Each essay has its own style and theme: “Eres Un Pocho” by Mark Oshira, written as second-person letters to a younger self, and “#JulianforSpiderman” by Julian Randall is a reflection of Afro-Latinx identity told alongside the story of Miles Morales. “More than Nervios” by Lilliam Riviera describes challenges Latinx individuals face in receiving treatment for mental health issues, and Jasminne Mendez recounts coming face to face with racism in theatre. Frequently underrepresented Latinx ethnicities are represented as well, like Honduran and Panamania writers. These beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking essays each tell a unique and personal story, often of seeking and discovering identity. Colorism is another prominent theme. Each essay is deeply human, and the struggle to understand yourself and your place in the world is something everyone can relate to, no matter their background. 

Inventing Latinos: A New Story of American Racism by Laura E. Gómez

“Race isn’t real, but racism is.” This is the thesis statement of Inventing Latinos. Published just before the United States’s controversial 2020 Census, Gómez presents a macro-level overview “the how and why of Latinx identity becoming a distinctive racial identity.” She starts with the legacies of Spanish colonization and American imperialism, the effects of which still echo today. She explores the complexity of racial identity with the mestizaje population, racially mixed people with Indigenous, Spanish, and African ancestry. She also discusses discrimination faced by Latinx Americans, particularly in schools, and that Latinx populations are often treated as a “buffer” group between White and Black populations in the United States. Gómez ends an overview of Trump-era policies steeped in anti-Latinx racism, and argues to list Latino/a/x as a race rather than an ethnicity on future censuses. While not everyone agrees with Gómez on this matter, this academic overview of Latinx identity contains important (if dry at times) information. 

A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters by Duncan Tonatiuh

Before the arrival of Europeans, Mesoamerica was an amoxtlalpan – a “land of books.” A young Mexihcah (Aztec) girl tells her little brother about the process of making books (amoxtin) to her younger brother, starting with their tlahcuilohqueh parents – painters of words. She describes the process, from creating paper pulp from tree bark and dyes from plants and insects to paint the books. The book informs readers about Mexihcah culture, including education, literacy, and religion. Nahuatl words are used throughout the text, with a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back. This picture book has beautiful illustrations, done in the Pre-Columbian style inspired by Indigenous Mesoamerican art. A detailed author’s note talks about the history of Mexihcah codices (of which only 15 remain) and the importance of preserving Indigenous art. 

Fiction

Cuba in my Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas

After the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion solidifies Fidel Castro’s power in Cuba, twelve-year-old Cumba lives in fear. Fear of executions, fear of whispering neighbors, and fear of the soldier who seems to track his every footstep. In danger of being recruited into Young Rebels, and eventually military service, Cumba’s family decides to send him to the United States. After reaching Miami, Cumba must contend with not knowing English, strange food, and most of all, missing his family. He gradually adjusts to life in the United States, sharing Prima Benita’s house with two other teenage refugees. He deeply misses home, and struggles to hold out hope that his family will join him in the U.S. in the future. 

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez

In this Bolivian-inspired fantasy, Ximena was left orphaned after the Llascan revolt leveled her home and forced Illustrians like herself out of La Ciudad. After the revolt, Ximena was plucked out of the rubble due to her resemblance to the last surviving Illustrian royal, the condesa Catalina. For ten years Ximena has acted as Catalina’s decoy, and only Catalina’s inner circle knows the truth. When the Llascan king Atoc demands the condesa’s hand in marriage, it is Ximena’s duty to go to the capital in her place. Yet she has no plans to see herself or Catalina married. Thirsty for revenge, she will spy and search for the Estrella, a mysterious artifact that Atoc used to summon an army of ghosts during the revolt. Using her gift to spin thread from moonlight, Ximena sends messages hidden in tapestries back to Catalina. Yet as she comes to know the Llascans around her – and the mysterious vigilante, El Lobo – she begins to question her mission. Atoc is too dangerous to remain on the throne, but is Catalina really the queen that they need?

Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories, edited by Yamile Saied Méndez and Amparo Ortiz

A black wolf with red eyes stalks a high school bully. Death welcomes a girl into her home. A girl raised as a vampire hunter prepares for the fight of her life. Our Shadows Have Claws is an anthology of fifteen different monster stories set across Latin America and the Latinx Diaspora. Despite what the title suggests, these are not all horror stories. Some are romance, some are heartwarming, and some will make you shiver when you hear something go “bump” in the night. Themes of racism and colorism are woven throughout; environmentalism, heritage, and finding home are other important themes. All but one of the stories star girls, but each lead character must face their fears to protect their loved ones, themselves, or just to discover who they are. “Beware the Empty Subway Car” by Maika and Maritza Moulite was my favorite, the story of a hidden lougarou who suddenly wants to be seen. If you like supernatural stories, there’s something for everyone in this collection. 

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Jazz Age is in full swing, and Casiopea Tun has dreams – dreams of driving an automobile, swimming in the Pacific, and dancing fast in nightclubs. She has no way of chasing those dreams, living as her grandfather’s servant following the death of her Mayan father. She thinks she must simply wait for the old man to die before she can leave her small town on the Yucatán Peninsula…until she opens a mysterious box and accidentally frees a Mayan god of death from imprisonment. Hun-Kamé once reigned over the underworld Xibalba, until his treacherous brother beheaded him and scattered his eye, ear, finger, and jade necklace across Mexico. Hun-Kamé’s and Casiopea’s fates are now tied together, and she must help him retrieve what has been stolen from him. Their time is short – the bond between them drains Casiopea’s life and threatens Hun-Kamé’s godhood. Together, they travel across Mexico and face challenges Casiopea has only read about in books. A gorgeous fairytale, rich with Mayan mythology. 

My Papi Has a Motorcycle / Mi papi tiene una moto by Isabel Quintero. Illustrated by Zeke Peña. 

Daisy loves riding around town with her Papi on his motorcycle. Like a streaking comet, they fly through the neighborhood. Daisy can see how her city is changing: Don Rudy’s Raspados has shut down; new homes are being built where citrus groves once stood. Yet Daisy knows that, no matter how much her city changes, it will always be a part of her, just like her father’s love. With a beautiful palette of sunset colors, this picture book tells the story of a neighborhood gentrifying, but the strong sense of community binding it together. Published concurrently in Spanish and English, Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the English version. 

And for girls with dads with motorcycles, this hits straight home.