Best of the Bunch (May 2025)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in May.

Of the six books I read this month, I had just one 5-star read (a really great one!), so that's my Best of the Bunch!

Unfit Parent is one of those rare books that I wish I could compel every person to read. In telling the story of her own and others' disabled parenting experiences, she is not only showcasing the way that our society and our structures are biased against those with disabilities, but she's also making it clear how modern parenting is impossible for everyone without support. Yes, disabled parents need support to be able to parent effectively... but so do we all! And the more your life circumstances and identities align with privilege, the more likely you are to have access to that support (in a way that's socially acceptable), but that doesn't mean that it's easy for anyone in this culture that prioritizes and rewards independence over having needs. Through a combination of personal stories, interviews, and research, Slice clearly and concisely lays out her key points. Be aware that there are some quite upsetting stories about the way disabled folks have been treated by the medical and child welfare systems. But those realities are important for anyone not yet aware to understand. Highly recommended!

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica and When Things Fall Apart
Five years ago I was reading: Team of Rivals and The Book of Longings
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Gilead, Baby-Led Weaning, The Tale of Despereaux, and What If?

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What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I'll be honest, the second half of April my brain needed a break and I mostly spent my usual reading time binge-listening to the Normal Gossip podcast. So three books is an all-time low since I started doing Quick Lit linkups years ago. But that's OK! Here are the three books I read this past month.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser: This was a cute, heartwarming middle grade novel, though to be honest the majority of the book is pretty bleak as the kids try valiantly to convince their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord to renew their lease and end up continually making things worse. I liked the characters a lot and thought the author did a great job pulling the plot together, but it was a bit challenging to get through.

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks: I'm genuinely confused by how often I've seen this recommended because I thought it was full of sweeping, unwarranted overgeneralizations, including that all men think and talk about love differently than all women, everyone in our culture has given up on finding love, and drug addiction is caused by rampant materialization and consumerism. Her cental thesis about how to find love is muddied but seems to be heavily dependent on spirituality, with the entire last chapter focused on angels. It was... not what I expected.

Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World by Jessica Slice: This is one of those rare books that I wish I could compel every person to read. In telling the story of her own and others' disabled parenting experiences, she is not only showcasing the way that our society and our structures are biased against those with disabilities, but she's also making it clear how modern parenting is impossible for everyone without support. Be aware that there are some quite upsetting stories about the way disabled folks have been treated by the medical and child welfare systems. But those realities are important for anyone not yet aware to understand. Highly recommended!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Self-Made Boys and Love by Design
Five years ago I was reading: Team of Rivals and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Gilead, Baby-Led Weaning, and Summer of My German Soldier

Best of the Bunch (April 2025)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in April.

Y'all, my brain needed a break this month, so I read a grand total of three books, and I had no 5-star or 4.5-star reads. So my one 4-star read was my Best of the Bunch!

I'm glad to have finally read Esperanza Rising! I can clearly see why this is frequently read in schools; between the historical setting, the plentiful themes and symbols, the coming-of-age elements, and the dilemmas with no clear right answer (e.g., should the characters strike or continue working?), it's rich with topics for discussion or essays. On top of that, though, it's a good story, with sympathetic characters and a plot full of challenges that must be overcome. Esperanza is relatable for anyone who's ever had to start over, been faced with the unfamiliar, or encountered ridicule for not fitting in. Having previously read The Grapes of Wrath, I appreciated this different perspective on the same time and place. This would be a great addition to any middle grade bookshelf.

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea, I Am Ace, and Cemetery Boys
Five years ago I was reading: Team of Rivals and The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Angle of Repose, How to Train Your Dragon, Baby-Led Weaning, and Finding Your Own North Star

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What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

It was a decent reading month, with a couple of really great reads and the rest that I was glad to have read. Here's the list of what I've read this past month.

Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth: The mind-reading aspect of this gave it an interesting twist on your standard thriller, but ultimately it came down to more of the same: morally gray white men focused on money, power, and technology punching each other, blowing things up, and treating women as objects. Not badly written or plotted and an interesting thought experiment regarding how these kinds of special powers would work practically, but ultimately not really my thing.

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 by Garrett M. Graff: This was my Best of the Bunch for the month of March. It's an incredible achievement, both in its original construction and in the care that was put into the full-cast audiobook. Graff really tried to provide a complete history of the day from every angle, and I think he succeeded.

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris: On the positive side, this is quite comprehensive and non-stigmatizing. It covers topics ranging from anatomy, puberty, and sexual intercourse to masturbation, contraception, STIs, abortion, sexual abuse, and the challenges of young parenthood. The primary downsides to this book are its cisnormativity and heteronormativity, at least in the 2007 copy I had. We're reading You Know, Sex now and I think it's going to be a better option for 2025.

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green: This is a genuinely excellent work of nonfiction contained in just over 200 pages (or 5 1/2 hours on audio). Green covers everything from the history of tuberculosis to the ways that our systems of injustice in medicine and beyond explain why TB still kills over a million people every year. The topic is important, the writing is engaging, and you'll definitely learn something new.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan: I can clearly see why this is frequently read in schools; between the historical setting, the plentiful themes and symbols, the coming-of-age elements, and the dilemmas with no clear right answer (e.g., should the characters strike or continue working?), it's rich with topics for discussion or essays. This would be a great addition to any middle grade bookshelf.

Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings: I had a difficult time following Strings' immediate train of thought through the majority of this book, but I still think it's valuable in how Strings complicates the notions that thinness has always been valued, that it has always been related to health, and that it is unrelated to ideas of race. I wish she'd synthesized it a bit more to articulate and support these main points.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy: This book had a lot of great elements that, ultimately, didn't hang together the way they deserved to. I'm not surprised this was made into a movie because it has the potential to be great if tightened up into a more cohesive plot and given actual on-screen chemistry between the characters. Murphy tried to do a LOT here, and the end result was that no single element grounded the book the way it needed.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: The Breakup Lists, The Polyamory Paradox, and Cemetery Boys
Five years ago I was reading: Team of Rivals and We Need to Talk About Kevin
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Angle of Repose, Baby-Led Weaning, and Finding Your Own North Star

Best of the Bunch (March 2025)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in March.

Of the seven books I read this month, I had three 5-star reads:

The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

The Penderwicks book was the last in the series and thus not one I'd recommend as a standalone, but deciding which was best between the other two was very difficult! I think Green's book should be read widely as a layman's introduction to tuberculosis, but I can't pass by the sheer magnitude of the accomplishment that is The Only Plane in the Sky.

This book is an incredible achievement, both in its original construction and in the care that was put into the full-cast audiobook. The book itself is similar to a documentary, jumping from person to person to tell the full story of each hour of September 11, 2001. Trying to recount the scope here would be futile, but Graff really tried to provide a complete history of the day from every angle, and I think he succeeded. It's hard to capture everything I took away from this book, but you really get a sense of what it was like to live through that day, whether you were a victim's loved one, a survivor, a first responder, a member of the government, someone in New York City or Arlington or Shanksville, the press, or just an average American watching the events unfold on TV. I don't know what else I can say that can add to the experience of listening to this book, except to join the chorus of those urging that this is worth a listen.

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Dead in the Garden and Death Comes as the End
Five years ago I was reading: Paradise Lost, The Left Hand of Darkness, V for Vendetta, and The Sea of Tranquility
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Angle of Repose, Baby-Led Weaning, These Is My Words, The Rosie Project, and Mary Poppins

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Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR

I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

It's time for planning another season of reading! I read most of the books on my Winter TBR list; I'm still listening to The Only Plane in the Sky, and I abandoned Women Who Run with the Wolves in the first chapter. Here are ten of the books I plan to read this spring!

1. All About Love by bell hooks
This book has been mentioned multiple times in my online communities the past month, so that always feels like a sign from the universe to pick something up. I have enjoyed hooks' other work that I've read, so I'm sure this will be great as well.

2. Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
Long-time readers will know how much I adored Burnout, which Nagoski wrote with her sister, but I've also heard Nagoski speak on multiple podcasts about her first book, and I always love what she has to say. I'm looking forward to finally reading it!

3. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My partner mentioned really liking the movie of this and wanting to watch it with me. The book was already on my list, so I decided to bump it up for this season.

4. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
I can always use a good dose of middle grade! This one is a modern classic that has been on my list for a long time, so I'm going to prioritize it this time around.

5. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green
I've read all of John Green's books and don't plan to make this new one an exception! I've enjoyed learning more about the history of tuberculosis from his videos as he's done a deep dive on this the past few years, and it'll be great to see all of it come together in his latest book.

6. Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings
After being disappointed by Belly of the Beast, I figured I should instead read the book that was already on my might-want-to-read list that the author kept citing.

7. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
This has been on my list for a long time, and a friend recently mentioned it (possibly she was rereading it?), and it seemed like a good time to finally tackle it!

8. Money for Couples by Ramit Sethi
I've been a fan of Sethi's work since I Will Teach You to Be Rich, but I didn't know he had a new book and related podcast until it was mentioned on the What Should I Read Next? podcast not too long ago. I'm interested to see what he's put together in this one.

9. Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
I finally read Parable of the Sower earlier this year and liked it enough to be interested in the sequel, but there was a 14-week hold on the audiobook so I'm still waiting!

10. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
Every since finishing the Penderwicks series, there's a hole in my heart for a good middle grade sibling series, so this jumped out to me from my might-want-to-read list. Let's hope I like it!

What do you plan to read this spring?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Elatsoe and We Are Not Free
Five years ago I was reading: Paradise Lost and Red, White & Royal Blue
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Baby-Led Weaning, These Is My Words, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and Because of Winn-Dixie

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I blazed through a bunch of short audiobooks this past month, mostly nonfiction, which made a nice little spread of topics to sample! I also finished up the middle grade series I've been enjoying on Kindle.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: I'm still not sure exactly how to describe this. "Feminist revenge fantasy," maybe? Except that the main character doesn't set out to get revenge on anyone, she just lives as if she's entitled to take up as much space on this earth as any man, and as a result, the world slowly reshapes itself to align with this vision. This isn't going to be a book for everyone, but I'm very glad to have read it.

The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall: If the first Penderwicks book had everything resolving a little too quickly and neatly, this one was a little too... real? This was still well done and I liked spending more time with these characters, who are now several years older than when we last saw them; it's just a bit darker and less madcap than the previous volumes.

Amateur: A Reckoning with Gender, Identity, and Masculinity by Thomas Page McBee: Through his story of becoming an amateur boxer to compete in a charity match — in the process becoming the first transgender man to box in Madison Square Garden — McBee explores the idea of "masculinity" and the extent to which he is or is not able to define it for himself. He's a journalist by trade, so it's not surprising that he can write well. This was a quick listen (under 4 hours) that would be valuable for anyone to read.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown: I was struck by how my own life has changed since I first read this book. This time around, I will say that what Brown says here doesn't just make sense to me, but it resonates deeply with what I've experienced and found to be true. I think this is a great book to revisit periodically for a reminder of what truly matters when building a life.

What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon: This is one of those books that should be required reading. Gordon makes a strong case that the negative health effects traditionally associated with obesity are more likely tied to the negative impacts of weight loss measures and the daily harassment and discrimination that fat people experience. We could create a much better world if more people understood everything captured in this book.

Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da'Shaun Harrison: I've found that there's a particular strain of activist writing that doesn't work for my brain, one that presents bold statements as self-evident and, inasmuch as they do present evidence, do so by quoting others at length. There are undoubtedly points throughout that speak powerfully to the intersections of race, gender, and body size, and I think Harrison could have gone further in exploring these intersections, but instead they fell back on sweeping, unclear statements.

The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall: I greatly enjoyed this conclusion to the Penderwicks series. It's not quite as madcap as the early books, but it's definitely not as dark as the prior book; mainly this is a last romp with some beloved characters while sending them off into a beautiful future, and I was satisfied with that.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers: This was a compelling novella that, at its essence, asks the reader a question about humans' role in the universe without itself answering it. This isn't something I'd necessarily rush to press into someone's hands (unlike most of Chambers' books), but if you're looking for a grown-up, more diverse version of those classic children's books where each chapter is its own adventure and ultimately it's about growing up, this is a great fit for that.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Elatsoe and We Are Not Free
Five years ago I was reading: Paradise Lost and Red, White & Royal Blue
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Baby-Led Weaning, These Is My Words, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and Because of Winn-Dixie