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Category Archives: Fiction

“Die puny human!”

No cooler words have been spoken by a character in fantasy, right? Cool like the millions of copies of the Inheritance Cycle series sold by Christopher Paolini and the many more now that Murtagh is out in the world. Cool to be the kid who started writing Eragon at fifteen because he was bored and wanted a challenge. Cool like the dozen high school students of mine who spent a dinner with him, getting signed copies of his books, and generally having a good time before his presentation through the New York State Writers Institute and The Book House. Cool like the student who had their cheek signed by him. Cool like the hundreds of people that showed up to share their express gratitude that he wrote the books because they saved them in some way whether it was the dragons or lines like “Die puny human.”

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on November 9, 2023 in Audiobooks, Authors, Book Birthday, Cover Love, Events, Fiction, Miscellaneous, Young Adult

Shelf talking

08 Nov

Student comes in holding Shiloh and asking if we have books that are similar. A short walk to the bookshelves and I had a basic understanding of why she liked the book and a fairly clear idea of the kind of reader she is.

A quick catalog search showed me that two books that automatically came to mind wouldn’t work because she wanted a physical book and we only had digital versions of the others.

We proceeded to walk the shelves where I’d pull a book up from the shelf, set it on top, talk about it for a minute, and then continue to walk again, repeating the process and reading her facial expressions. I usually get to a point where I stop and ask them if they want me to continue or if they’ve had enough. Depending on their answer, I’ll keep shelf talking or I’ll tell them that I’ll leave them alone to choose and to bring whatever they want to take up to the desk to check out.

Do I secretly celebrate when they bring something up to the desk? Of course. Do I do a virtual backflip if it’s one of the ones that I recommended? Heck yes. Did she? Totally.

And it’s THE reason I love being a school librarian. I do it for the shelf talking.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on November 8, 2023 in Fiction, Miscellaneous, Young Adult

Undiscovered readers

07 Nov

Tomorrow my colleague and I will be visiting classes in a separate building to begin a conversation about reading for self-identified non-readers. These are students who are in specialized classes in iterations of 15:1:1 and 8:1:1 setting whose teacher wants to encourage a connection to reading which has been largely absent from their academic pursuits.

Years back I attended a training that used the term undiscovered reader rather than reluctant reader or nonreader as it changes the mindset to an ownership for the adults in their lives who are just as important to the process of them discovering an appreciation for reading as the student themselves. It often only takes one book.

My first memory of a book that I wanted to read over and over and over again was Avi’s The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. That was early enough on in my life that I was always a casual reader and could find books to read when I wanted. While I don’t have a specific person that I can point to that helped me appreciate reading, Mrs. Preston, my pint-sized Dr. Seuss loving elementary school librarian did love her job and I do remember that about her right down to her stereotypical outfits and glasses with the chain to hang around her neck when she pulled them off.

I’m hoping to channel a little of that energy tomorrow when we visit their classroom. Books can be friends, companions, portals to learning, a break from reality, entertainment, and so much more. We’ll break up the time with some booktalks, a book tasting, some bookmark coloring, and a tutorial on Sora. The goal is to provide a non-threatening environment to encourage exploration and possibly check out a book digitally or in print that they could spend time reading. No quizzes, no homework, no journaling. Just reading. I applaud the teacher for taking this step in breaking down the barriers to access and providing a safe place to books to exist.

Who knows, maybe we’ll be able to move a few of them from undiscovered readers to readers.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on November 7, 2023 in Audiobooks, Comics, Events, Fiction, Graphic novels, Nonfiction, Poetry, Reflections, Short Story, Verse, Young Adult

Friends to lovers

06 Nov

Today I finished Elise Bryant’s 2021 Happily Ever Afters after being introduced to her work when I read the lovely Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling and immediately knew I needed to go back to read Bryant’s previous books.

This one celebrates the friends to lovers trope that is just as juicy as an enemies to lovers. In this one Tessa finds that Sam has all the elements of a good companion including being compassionate to her disabled older brother, being an amazing baker, and a caring guy willing to stand up for her and be wholly himself.

In addition, here are few others that are both enemies to lovers and friends to lovers tropes to check out if you’re interested. Which trope is your favorite?

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on November 6, 2023 in Audiobooks, Cover Love, Fiction, Manga, Young Adult

Gentle books

04 Nov

Over the last week, my lunch reading consisted of David Levithan’s September 2023 publication Ryan and Avery. Reading the book during lunch was even more delicious than whatever I had brought for lunch that day including a homemade tiramisu cupcake today when I finished it.

The book is a testament to gentle books everywhere. The books that aren’t niche reads for specific teen readers but for the average teen reader but approached with a tenderness that can still be appreciated by teens, allowing them to slow down and feel things. Currently my teens would rather be reading bloody slasher stories and heart-pounding mysteries, but they would make room for this one. Like they would for a similar book, Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant.

From the start, meeting Ryan and Avery, one gay teen boy and one teen trans boy, with their colorful coifs, was like meeting them in person. They have their obstacles to overcome but nothing is as sweet as their dates. Chapters are told based on the date but in a nonlinear fashion allowing readers to connect the dots about their relationship because life gets in the way. And by life, I mean bullies, unsympathetic parents, play practice, and their pasts.

Yet the comfort and joy they find in one another is stunningly realistic. The warmth they emit from how they think about one another to how they dress for a date give ME the butterflies of going on a first or second or third date.

Books move us. You’d be a cold-hearted unempathetic heathen to not feel something reading this book.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on November 4, 2023 in Authors, Fiction, Young Adult

The value of reading widely

27 Jul

Just because I work primarily with teens doesn’t mean I read only young adult titles. Actually, my work is stronger because I read widely.

My own kids are now going to be freshmen in high school, so we’re well out of reading picture books at bedtime, but I still read children’s books to learn from and stare at beautiful illustrations.

I don’t work in a middle school, but I know that some high school students are reading below grade level and there’s quite a bit of hopefulness in middle grade novels to be valuable to read when I need to be uplifted.

Yes, I work with teens, so I’m always going to read YA. Plus, the value of YA provides an opportunity to bring me reflect back to my teen days, allow me to remember what it’s like (the further I get away from it) in continuing to work with teens, and also to recognize the creativity of YA authors in their storytelling for this audience.

I’m an adult and I haven’t always read novels for adults, but in addition to being on a committee currently that is about reading a bevy of adult novels, it’s good to remember I am one. And then I get to talk about it with other adults.

Within the last week, here has been my reading widely rainbow (minus the adult book because I can’t share!)

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on July 27, 2023 in Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Graphic novels, Miscellaneous, Upcoming Releases, Young Adult

A book for every day of the week

30 Apr

Pulled from books read this month with one that hasn’t come out yet, how I think about the books in the context of Monday through Sunday.

Monday: Putting your best foot forward for the work week ahead on a Monday. Ann Lowe wanted to put her best foot forward the best dresses created by her hands every day. Only The Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe is a perfect Monday read to inspire you to tackle the week.

Tuesday: Well, did Monday run you or did you run Monday? It happens that the day doesn’t go well but instead of stewing in it for days on end, recognize it, put a rhyme to it, and move past it. Ode to a Bad Day helps you realize that it’s all temporary.

Wednesday: Hump day. Midweek. Squished, literally in the middle like Avery is squished in a family of seven kids without a room of her own. But you can be just as forceful but still sweet at she is to make it through.

Thursday: It’s the new Friday. It’s the comfort that tomorrow is Friday and you’ve made it through the week. The graphic novel adaptation of the original, the Fangirl volumes already released, one and two, are the adorably comfortable and vulnerable stories to keep you looking toward the weekend.

Friday: Friday Night Lights, synonymous with football. Greenwald hasn’t shied away from the dangers of football and in his newest, Dinged, he does it again. It’s entertainment and pride, but it’s also health and wellness. A good thought to keep in mind with the overindulgences of the weekend!

Saturday: The weekend is here and it’s all about fun and games like Jennifer Lynn Barnes skillfully does in the Hawthorne Legacy series ending with The Final Gambit. Winner does take all.

Sunday: When you need the umph to get fired up for the week, turn to characters like Perry in Warrior Girl Unearthed— she knows who she is and what she wants. Her sights are set on a way forward even if it means stepping into danger. But her internalized stickwithitness is a solid feeling to have that we can all make it!

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on April 30, 2023 in Audiobooks, Childrens, Cover Love, Fiction, Graphic novels, Middle grade, Upcoming Releases, Young Adult

A tale of the ‘finish in one day’ read: Check & mate

18 Apr

Last week was spring break. Naturally I planned a lot of reading time into each day along with other relaxing activities, plus housework and to-do list items. There are the quick reads, the fast-paced reads, the slower reads, the savory reads, the brain breaks, and the in-betweens. Based on my interest level or mood, I can tell pretty quickly what kind of book it’ll be.

I had been sent a galley copy of Ali Hazelwood’s YA due out this November called Check & Mate. This is where I confess that while I’ve seen Hazelwood’s books for adults everywhere, I haven’t read one yet, but a YA, now that was music to my high school librarian ears. And it’s punny chess title was also a bonus. Another confession- I’m not an avid chess player, I can rarely hold my own against my teenage sons, but I do play a little. I also watched The Queen’s Gambit. And I have joyously celebrated the return of raucous chess matches in our library (years ago that’s all our teens did was play chess, we had 5-6 that went out per period, then there was a die-off, but now it’s back again).

Back to the book. I picked it up off the pile and thought it would be an enjoyable stopover before the next book. What I got was an intense sprint/marathon battle for the next several hours. I literally wanted to sprint through it to know how it all ends (of course I knew how it HAD to end, but just in case). And I literally wanted to pace myself too because I didn’t want to it to end because if it ended it would be over and I couldn’t go back again.

I loved the prevalence of chess in the story– not too much, not too little. I fell in love with Mallory and her family, especially her littlest sister and the indifference when readers meet Mallory at the beginning of the story. Cue Nolan. Then came the witty banter, the sly hints about the past, the tournaments amplifying the pressure. It was exactly what I wanted. It was exactly what I needed. And when I found out I would have to stay up WAY past my bedtime to pick up my sons returning from a trip, I continued to sip my tea and read. I brought it in the car as I waited in the parking lot. I was thisclose to the end. The boys were back home and it was close to midnight. Do I wait until morning to finish it just so I can extend it a few more hours?

No. I must finish it.

And that I did. I fell into bed tired and book drunk. Is that a thing? It needs to be. The enemies to lovers trope won’t ever get tired in the capable hands of Hazelwood. Nor will romance ever be dead. The last thing that I want to give credit for is the topic of sex in the book, from the humorous scenes to the serious ones. It’s an age relevant topic and I want more of this in YA.

It’s not out until November, so you have plenty of time to sign up for publisher giveaways and preorder it, but put it on your list.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on April 18, 2023 in Authors, Cover Love, Fiction, Upcoming Releases, Young Adult

Women authors to love

18 Mar

Continuing with the theme of Women’s History Month, I want to give a shout out to influential women authors through the lens of my reading experience.

Probably forever, Ruta Sepetys will always be at the top of the list. Having had the pleasure of her company in person does add an additional layer of appreciation for her, but her books themselves mine hidden histories which are captured with elegance and an emotional capableness to reach through the pages of the book to reach the reader on another level. She’s simply the best.
Mary Roach is the queen of curiosity for me. All of her books from the science of the military to cadavers have endlessly fascinated me. Years ago I wrote that she would be an author I’d love to have lunch with just to pick her brain. She’s got a fascinating array of subject areas, but I’ll follow her wherever that curiosity leads.
There is no one more Instagram-poet famous that Rupi Kaur. I follow her as do many of my high school students to see what new and old poems she drops there. Then I scrambled when she publishes a collection to get my hands on a copy and then make sure I have a handful in our library too. I confess to also following her social media to see what dress she’s wearing and to celebrate that this poetess sells out arenas to read her poetry. She’s an experience.
Sarah Andersen of Sarah’s Scribbles fame makes me laugh– every.damn.time. Her humorous take on the extraordinary and the mundane in her comics (but I’d be remiss not to gush about Fangs too) gave me a boost in the mornings when I would read a few pages from her comics with my cup of tea. She’s more than just a writer, she’s a creator.
And when I think about books whose settings and writing envelope me, I think about the atmospheric writing of Cat Winters. She pulled me in with In The Shadow Of Blackbirds and kept me there with all of the other books (and short stories) that she’s written. She’s the ultimate spooky YA writer.