2023 Reading Update #1: January, February and a little bit of March
I had to edit this newsletter several times as I was writing because I kept finishing books. Such an annoying problem to have.
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2023 has been a fruitful reading year so far!
My reading stamina fell in 2022, during a turbulent year of grief, moving, and unending change. When the new year was approaching, I knew I wanted my guiding word for 2023 to be consistency. I want to build up good habits and lay a foundation of committing to the activities and actions that bring me peace and joy throughout the year.
As of today, I have read 40 books in 2023. My goal is 100 books for this year, but I’m trying not to worry too much about the number for now.
While I have made ample time for reading, my next goal is to make the same kind of regular space and rigor with regards to writing. My goal to do some task related to writing for 15-30 minutes a day, whether that’s brainstorming via speaking or writing, working on plot synopses and planning, research, or you know, actually writing.
I have also set up a new tracker to keep track of my progress on my current writing WIP, and have a tentative deadline of Memorial Day to get that draft done. It’s not a hard deadline and I might have some curveballs that delay my timeline, but I’ve been looking forward to writing this dual-POV YA contemporary about food, family, and love for New Jersey for quite some time.
Currently Reading & Middle Grade March
I am currently reading a hardcover of Lisa Yee’s Maizy Chen’s Last Chance (although I suspect that I will finish this one later today, fingers crossed!). I am loving this fast-paced read (and it’s a Newbery Honor Award Winner) about a young Chinese-American girl who discovers her family’s history and finds community in Last Chance, Minnesota after her grandfather has a health emergency. I can already tell it’s going to be one of my favorite reads this year. It has all the makings of being an instant classic for kids: well-earned award stickers on the cover; oodles of humor and heart; short chapters; and one of the most lovingly quirky cast of characters I’ve seen in a book this year.
I’m also listening to Jasminne Mendez’s Aniana del Mar Jumps In (out on 3/14/23). I am loving the swell of beautiful middle grade novels-in-verse (definitely a future newsletter topic!) that capture diverse voices and experiences in lyrical, powerful and impactful verse. This book is about a young swimmer struggling to navigate her relationship with her mother (who’s more religious and has a deeply ingrained fear of the water due to a traumatic event) and her chronic pain and subsequent diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. So far, it is unflinching and powerful. I can’t wait to continue to listen to this character’s beautiful story.
I’m reading both of these books as part of my participation this year in Middle Grade March a monthlong readathon that is a celebration of middle grade lit.
They have some fun reading challenges as part of the readathon like reading an award-winning middle grade book, reading a book with a neurodivergent main character, a book published within the last year, and more! They are also doing a group read of A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga, which was my favorite middle grade I read in 2022. Such a heartwarming story about a determined little robot and the power of determination.
Some books I’m excited to read as part of Middle Grade March:
Izzy at the End of the World by K.A. Reynolds
You Only Live Once, David Bravo by Mark Oshiro
In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
Recent Five Star Reads:
Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy (audiobook, narrated by the author) - I adored this middle grade novel about a young child voice actor navigating grief and confronting change as his voice changes and he moves to Ohio to care for an ailing grandparent.
What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski (read by a full cast) - One of my favorites in the middle grade space of badass nosy tween girls fighting unfair systems, I found this multimedia book investigating a popular girl turned outcast fascinating and suspenseful.
Dear Mothman by Robin Gow - I adored this beautiful epistolary middle grade about a young autistic trans boy grieving his best friend through letters to Mothman.
No Matter the Distance by Cindy Baldwin - This gorgeously sincere and endearing story about a tween with cystic fibrosis investigating who she is and an injured dolphin who lost its way into the creek near her home is intense, emotional, and beautifully written.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert - As a huge fan of Talia’s adult romances, I was delighted how well her voice works in young adult in this snarky enemies-to-lovers romance between two UK teens.
Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant (audiobook, narrated by Preston Butler III & Shayna Small) - Perhaps my favorite YA of 2023 so far, I am obsessed with Elise’s nerdy Black contemporary romances that stay sweet and fluffy while tackling bigger emotional issues.
We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride - WOW. This complex, lyrical novel-in-verse was one of the more challenging books I’ve read this year was a satisfying emotional mash-up and exploration of the power of fairy tales.
Brace for Impact by Gabe Montesanti (audiobook, narrated by the author) - I adored this queer memoir about someone who turns to roller derby to manage their mental health and find community, and the emotional fallout when she is injured.
Recitatif by Toni Morrison (audiobook, narrated by Zadie Smith and Bahni Turpin) - I embarrassingly have not read Toni Morrison since high school, and I was struck by the impact and power of storytelling in her sole short story.
Stats Highlights:
So far, 54.7% of the books I have read or am reading are by authors of color. My goal is to continue to read a majority of voices of color this year.
Even though StoryGraph says LGBTQIA+ is my biggest “genre” of books read this year, only 27.5% of the books I’ve read this year are by queer authors. I want to keep increasing that percentage!
17.5% of the books I’ve read this year have been by disabled authors. I’m excited to continue to actively seek out and read books with disability rep.
Right now, 40% of the books I’ve read have been in print and 60% have been as audiobooks. I love listening to books at work and doing stuff around the house!
Right now, 33% of the books I’ve read are nonfiction and 67% fiction. I have a bunch of nonfiction I can’t wait to read this year, so hopefully that percentage will continue to rise.
More than 75% of the books I have read or am reading have been emotional, reflective, lighthearted, funny or hopeful (with emotional being the largest piece of the pie).
What have you been reading and loving so far this year? Have any trends in your reading surprised you?
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