For Pluto, summer has always started with a trip to the planetarium. It’s the launch to her favorite season, which also includes visits to the boardwalk arcade, working in her mom’s pizzeria, and her best friend Meredith’s birthday party. But this summer, none of that feels possible. A month before the end of the schoolContinue reading “Review: How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby”
Tag Archives: LGBT
Spotlight: In the Role of Brie Hutchens… by Nicole Melleby
I was fortunate enough to read this amazing new middle grade before publication a few months ago, back when it was slated to publish in April. Due to the pandemic, the release date was pushed back to June 30th, and I was invited to be on the blog tour–which I jumped. Here is the synopsisContinue reading “Spotlight: In the Role of Brie Hutchens… by Nicole Melleby”
Amazing New Queer Middle Grade Reads
Quarantine hasn’t really be that great for my reading, honestly. But early in it, when I was more motivated, I read these fantastic, recent queer middle grade releases that warmed my heart. I’m so excited to share these with my middle school students when I start teaching next year! As far as I can tell,Continue reading “Amazing New Queer Middle Grade Reads”
Review: The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper
Genre: YA contemporary/alternate universe Publisher: Bloomsbury Publication date: February 4, 2020 As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, seventeen-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to HoustonContinue reading “Review: The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper”
Review: We Used to Be Friends by Amy Spalding
Genre: YA contemporary Publisher: Amulet Publication date: January 7, 2020 Two best friends grow up—and grow apart—in this innovative contemporary YA novel Told in dual timelines—half of the chapters moving forward in time and half moving backward—We Used to Be Friends explores the most traumatic breakup of all: that of childhood besties. At the startContinue reading “Review: We Used to Be Friends by Amy Spalding”
Culture Popped Open Podcast #3: Pose (Season 1)
Totally forgot to promote this over here again, but Tay and I have a new podcast episode up! This one’s about the first season of the TV show Pose (the second season was still airing when we recorded), and if you haven’t seen this fantastic, heartwarming, joyful, sometimes bizarre and funny show, head on overContinue reading “Culture Popped Open Podcast #3: Pose (Season 1)”
Review: Redwood and Ponytail by K.A. Holt
Genre: Middle grade contemporary, novel-in-verse Publisher: Chronicle Books Publication date: October 1, 2019 Told in verse in two voices, with a chorus of fellow students, this is a story of two girls, opposites in many ways, who are drawn to each other; Kate appears to be a stereotypical cheerleader with a sleek ponytail and aContinue reading “Review: Redwood and Ponytail by K.A. Holt”
Culture Popped Open Podcast #2: The Prom (The Musical)
I’m a little late with this, but Episode 2 of the podcast I co-host is out!! It’s all about The Prom, which is a Broadway musical (that just closed today…but there’s going to be a tour and a movie so it’s far from gone) set in Indiana about a girl who just wants to bringContinue reading “Culture Popped Open Podcast #2: The Prom (The Musical)”
Blog Tour: Tell Me How You Really Feel by Amina Mae Safi
Genre: YA contemporary/romcom Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publication Date: June 11, 2019 Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight A student. She’s the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win. Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who’s obsesssed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she’s casting her senior film project,Continue reading “Blog Tour: Tell Me How You Really Feel by Amina Mae Safi”
Pride Month (and Beyond) TBR + Mostly May Wrap-Up
It’s that time of year!! I’ve been working a lot and I just started an online class, so I’m kind of busy (hence why this post is so late), but I’ve also been loving reading this summer. In fact, I read quite a few LGBTQIAP+ books already in May that I loved and might asContinue reading “Pride Month (and Beyond) TBR + Mostly May Wrap-Up”
Olivia Anne Gennaro 