Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada

Illustrated by Ko Hyung-Ju 3 stars A semi-autobiographical tale set in 1983 during South Korea’s Fifth Republic. When book-loving Kim Hyun Sook starts college, she has big dreams of classes, learning, and campus life. But when she’s invited to join an unconventional book club, her whole world changes. She soon finds herself within a world…

Read More

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson

Illustrated by David Shannon 4 stars From death, destruction, and war to unity and peace, this book tells the story of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker, whose work to unite the Six Nations of the Iroquois people with the Great Law of Peace set a blueprint for democracy in America. Hiawatha is angry and devastated after…

Read More

Strange Buildings by Uketsu (Strange Houses #2)

Translated by Jim Rion 5 stars Another unsettling exploration of truths revealed through a complex web of diary entries, interviews, magazine articles, and floorplans. After the popularity of Strange Houses within the novel, the author receives a variety of additional cases related to unique floorplans, strange renovations, and odd buildings. As he explores the stories,…

Read More

Thomas’ Snowsuit by Robert Munsch

Illustrated Michael Martchenko 4 stars A goofy little story about a boy and his ugly snowsuit. When Thomas’ mother buys him a new snowsuit, he refuses to wear it. It is just too ugly. His mother gets him into the snowsuit and sends him off to school. But at recess, Thomas again refuses to wear…

Read More

Days at the Torunka Café by Satoshi Yagisawa

Translated by Eric Ozawa 4 stars A sweet book of interconnected stories focusing on reunions, human connections, and acceptance of the past. Follow a young woman who claims to have a unique relationship with one of the café’s workers, a man coming to terms with the end of a relationship through an unexpected new one…

Read More

Himouto! Umaru-chan Vol. 1 by Sankakuhead

Translated by Amanda Haley 4 stars Adorable and hilarious. To the outside world, Umaru is the perfect high school student: talented, smart, and kind. But at home, she’s a completely different person. Around her brother, she’s lazy, slovenly, and addicted to manga and video games. Taihei does his best to keep up with her antics,…

Read More

Strange Houses by Uketsu (Strange Houses #1)

Translated by Jim Rion 5 stars Who knew looking at floor plans could be so unsettling? What starts as an author asked a fairly innocent question soon unravels into a conspiracy of strange architecture, dark secrets, and murder. This was definitely a weird one but so enjoyable to read. The story was delightfully creepy and…

Read More

Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers’ Rights [Audiobook]

Edited by Ashley Hope Pérez Illustrated by Debbie Fong Contributors: Ashley Hope Pérez, Maia Kobabe, Robin Stevenson, Nikki Grimes, Elana K. Aronld, Bill Konigsberg, Brendan Kiely, MariNaomi, Traci Sorell, Isabel Quintero, Trung Le Nguyen, Kyle Lukoff, Debbie Fong, Padma Venkatraman, Kelly Jensen, and Ellen Hopkins 3 stars A nice collection of pieces from a variety…

Read More