The Weekly Books: Light Reads

Hi friends! On this lovely Friday, I want to share with you some of my favorite current reads in case your idea of a good weekend includes a trip to the library and reading before bed.

Young Adult (Contemporary)

Hands-down the most captivating and charming series I have read in years is the Songs About a Girl trilogy by British author Chris Russell.  I just can’t recommend this trilogy enough. Especially if you ever had a thing for One Direction, Backstreet Boys, NKOTB, or whatever boy band dominated your generation. This story has mystery,high school romance fluff, girl power, and a wonderful hilarious best-friendship between two girls. Oh and it’s British. It’s hard to get a hold of, but well worth the effort!

Young Adult (Fantasy)

I have always craved fantasy in the autumn and winter.  They just strike me as cozy reads.  This year I listened to Dance of Thieves, by Mary E. Pearson.  It’s the beginning of a second trilogy in The Remnant Chronicles universe. I really loved the character development of both our primary and secondary characters.  The romance is delightful, but it doesn’t overshadow the political conflicts that drive the story. And the world-building is the most thorough I’ve read in ages.  I’m excited to go back and read the original trilogy.

Adult (Non-Fiction)

I just finished listening to Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead. She reads the audiobook herself so that adds a real layer of personability and personality to the content.  Brown discusses specific tools for building healthy and safe workplaces, but not necessarily “safe” in the “snowflake”sense, but safe and healthy in the sense that it promotes real creativity and initiative. I found this book riveting. She uses both personal anecdotes from her workplace and quantifiable data from her studies on vulnerability and leadership to illustrate each point.This book should be required reading for any educator and anybody in educational leadership because schools above all should be the most emotionally safe place for teachers and students and staff.

Children’s Picture Books

I have two little children and I’d never really explored children’s lit until they came along.  It’s so much fun! We are currently loving Jumpy Jack and Googily, a sweet story about a snail who is afraid of monsters and his best friend who is…ironic?  We are also enjoying Squirrels on Skis, a silly tale about, well, squirrels on skis who overtake a town with their skiing and one girl’s brilliant plan to save the town and the squirrels.

It’s therapy.  It’s escape. It’s story. Keep reading, friends!