Welcome to Litsy!

a story about the heavy and sometimes toxic expectations set on the backs of first-generation children, the pressures of the family dynamic, socially and culturally, and the weight of childhood secrets. and ultimately the liberation that taunts all young people and leads Ada to brush off the destiny others have tried to assign to her and claim ownership of her body and her future.

Almost forgot to post September #bookspinbingo results! Tagging favorite book read this month. No bingo but a decent variety of books completed. Modern Nature is my current read and it is going to take take awhile to get through.

Possibly the best novel in verse I've encountered, beautifully read by the author. The dance descriptions were brilliant, capturing the confluence of internal feelings, the dance studio, being conscious (or not) of the instructor and other dancers. Loved Ada's sensitivity to her father who relied so heavily on religion as a single parent, and her growing into the realization that she doesn't need religion in the same way.

#YA
#BIPOC Author

This YA novel in verse follows Ada as she navigates her first year of college.
#YApril book 6

I really enjoyed this sweet YA novel-in-verse. Great way to tell the MC‘s story, as she was discovering her passion for dance. Looking forward to recommending this one to my students!

This was my #DoubleSpin pick for March.

@TheAromaofBooks , this #BookSpinBINGO thing has inspired me to return every month to Litsy, no matter how busy life gets. Thank you! 💕

I‘m starting to really enjoy novels in verse. There‘s a lot going on in this book and I would have loved for it to continue a little beyond where it ends. My favorite parts were the MC finding a way to explore her love of dance. I think the author also captured the confusion and excitement of the first semester of college really well.

Another great YA title in verse! The flow of the words I felt really helped capture Ada's desire to become a dancer. You could feel when she felt trapped and frustrated or when she felt happy and hopeful. I also appreciate the ambiguity at the end. We don't know if her decision to quit a class and pursue dance will pay off, but we still get a strong sense of catharsis nonetheless.

Happy Holidays🎄🎁. I can‘t wait to dive into The Purpose of Power by Alicia Garza #blacklivesmatter and Every Body Looking by Candice ILOH

@Lovesbooks87 thank you so much for the beautifully packaged gifts. I can‘t wait to start the book. I especially like the book sleeve! I had been wanting one and the print is perfect because I love all things coffee related! #elfswap @Avanders Thanks for hosting!

I love that this book is about finding yourself and want you want not in another person but within yourself. So beautifully written in verse too!

After inhaling Spoiler Alert and Every Body Looking, that's me done with my November prompts for #monthlykeywordGXO and #monthlymotifGXO. Yay!

Next month : "sugar, spice, everything nice" (xmas or happy books), and "sword, magic, fly, of, silver, crown ". I'm thinking Twelve Days of Dash & Lily, and Spinning Silver, though there are so many other good choices too.

Spoiler Alert was tropey, geeky fun. Next up!

Oh gosh. The use of verse means this goes fast in audio. While it focuses on the first year of college, there are flashbacks to much of childhood. Really captured the feeling of trying to be yourself and leave some of the expecations behind.
Content note: References to prior sexual assault.

The author perfectly describes the confusion and awakening of those first months of being away from home and no longer watched, for the first time able to make choices that are just your own. Bad and good choices & choices that just happen to you rather than being deliberate, all as a part of learning and figuring out who you are & what it is you actually want.
Beautifully written, loved it so much
Thanks to Netgalley for a digital arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️