“Olanna gently placed a pillow beneath her head and sat thinking about how a single act could reverberate over time and space and leave stains that could never be washed off. She thought about how ephemeral life was, about not choosing misery.”  – Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche

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Gillian Smith-Clark, Editor-in-Chief​

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Book: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche

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I read Half of a Yellow Sun a few summers ago during a long weekend trip to Quebec.  I read it in the car, by the pool, during lunch–this was an unforgettable story that I could not put down. Adiche’s book is a work of historical fiction set in Nigeria in the 1960’s and the novel unfolds through the lens of three profoundly different characters: Ugwu, a young boy who becomes the ‘houseboy’ of university lecturer Odenigbo; The beautiful, wealthy and educated Olanna, who has a complicated relationship with her twin sister Kainene; and Richard–an Englishman who is living and working in Nigeria, researching art. The backdrop is the political climate leading up to and during the Biafran war.  A beautifully written novel that explores complex themes of humanity: family relationships, romantic partnerships, morality, grief and the unimaginable losses and devastation experienced during a civil war. Not an easy read, but impossible to set aside!

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Megan Kee, Communications & Marketing

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Book: Abolish Rent by Tracy Rosenthal

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"If the phrase 'cost of living' is as alarming to you as it is to me, then this book is for you. Abolish Rent is an amazing book for anyone who is interested in learning more about the manufactured housing crisis, its origins, and how tenants unions are fighting back to ensure that housing as a human right is protected. It lays all of the cards on the table: who is benefitting from this 'crisis', the strategies being used to maintain power, and why we need to act now to fix this growing problem."

 

Abbigale Kernya, Managing Editor

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Book: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones​​

 

“When I think of summer, I think of 2020. Seems counterproductive, I know. When talking about summer as this quiet murmur in the year for rest and relaxation, the pandemic seems like the furthest place one should venture. However, during the summer of 2020, I spent the warm weeks sprawled out on a swing rocking against an old tree, sipping too-sweet iced coffee, and re-discovering my love of reading. 

 

Among the somewhat confusing journey of catching up on a decade's worth of new releases, I also discovered Studio Ghibli films, which launched the summer from one of chaos and anxiety to one of small miracles and soft days lost in my own world. The films were not enough to ease the stress I felt, which was promptly eased when I discovered the continuing world of Howl’s Moving Castle. 

 

Written by Dianne Wynne Jones, the short novel served as the inspiration for the 2004 Studio Ghibli adaptation but—as film adaptations tend to do—the book is arguably better. It’s magical, it’s brilliant, and it’s a chance to dive back into the innocence of reading among the somewhat menacing “real world.” 

 

The young adult book following Sophie through curses and a budding friendship with a talking fireplace as she navigates a stubborn wizard determined to surpass his own curse, and discovers family is often hiding where you least expect it. Seems the perfect recipe for a perfect little escape, no?

 

The novel stayed with me that summer, acting as a lighthouse for whenever the world felt too much and I needed somewhere peaceful to go for a while. It seems only fitting (and perhaps a little scary, too) that I find myself five years later once again reaching for the little pocket of peace I found in this little book.”

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Mikaela Brewer, Contributing Writer

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Book: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyem 

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You’ve likely heard about the upcoming 2027 movie, set to star Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Lashana Lynch, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis, Ayra Starr, and Regina King. 

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I’m truly eager & excited to witness what’s sure to be a stunning film. 

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And I deeply encourage everyone to spend time with Tomi Adeyemi’s words, building a West African-inspired fantasy world, not so far from our own. To me, what stands out most is Adeyemi’s profound portrait of colourism, ever-present in the anti-Black racism marbling the bedrock of our world. This keystone of the story is not well-tended or reflected in the film cast, which is why I hope folks will read the book! Children of Blood and Bone is a story of devastating loss, breathtaking magic, and the hope that only love—as a verb—can weave.

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Helena Nikitopolous, Youth Editor​

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Book: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

 

“Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano is one of my all-time favorite reads. It tells the story of an immigrant family, centered around a daughter named Julia Padavano who falls for a quiet, talented basketball player named William Walters. Each chapter follows a different character and their perspective—all while their lives weave together in unexpected ways. The novel touches on themes of love, identity, cultural differences, and the age-old choice between family and romantic love. 

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It’s a beautifully written literary novel that transforms simple and ordinary themes and events into something more profound and meaningful. When I was reading, every page seemed layered with emotions, secrets, and words left unsaid. It made reading the book a whole journey in and of itself. 

I couldn’t put it down the first time I read it, and I’m already looking forward to re-read it this summer—this time with the sun on my face and a cool glass of water (two lime slices, of course) in hand. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories about family, love, cultural identity, and a drama-filled romance between a girl who yearns for control in her life and a boy who’s never really taken charge of his own life—until now.

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