It's Banned Books Week!

Hi my fellow bookworms!

(c) ALA, 2026

I am with the banned! This week is the start of the annual Banned Books Week, which takes place this year from October 4th through October 10th. This year's theme is "Let Books Be. Protect the freedom to read" Let them be already! The American Library Association ("ALA") breaks down what this annual event is about perfectly in the following blurb:

"Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Held in the last week of September or first week of October, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas." 

Upcoming on this Saturday, October 10, 2026, is Let Freedom Read Day! The ALA, among other event sponsors, are asking everyone to take one action on this day to defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers, and booksellers who make books available for all. Things you can do (not limited to the one day) include:

• Registering to vote. Be sure to check your voter registration, if you are unsure you are up-to-date. 
• Take the Freedom to Read Voter Pledge.
• Call or write a letter to your local elected representatives and ask them to support the right to read.
• Join Unite Against Book Bans.
• Report censorship to the ALA.
• Check out (and read) a banned book from your local library!
• Buy a banned book!
• Attend a Banned Books Week 2026 author event from EveryLibrary Live!
• Read some of the book resumes for the titles that are challenged, and see the reasons why they are challenged from United Against Book Bans.
• Take part in the Reading is Resistance: Banned Books are Brave Books activities from Sourcebooks.
• Check out ALA's lineup of events.
• Participate in Libro.fm's Banned Books Week Read-In.
• And of course....READ A BANNED BOOK!

Each year, the ALA documents which titles have been challenged and censored. The top titles change over the years, although from year to year, you may not see much of a difference. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, for example, has been listed as a most challenged book for quite a while, with the first time appearing on the list was in 2004. 

The top 11 most challenged books of 2025 are as follows:

(c) 2026, ALA

The updated censorship numbers, as reported by the ALA, are as follows:

(c) 2026, ALA

How many of the titles listed above have you read? I have read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. I have started Sold by Patricia McCormick, as well as Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. I hope to read Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe soon, as that title is often challenged, as well. I hope to read all these titles at some point, especially with the frequent challenges against them.

I wish you well and hope you can be part of Banned Books Week, too! Let your library know that you appreciate all they do to make sure you have access to information, books, and other materials. They are the original data centers. 

Until next time, Happy Reading! :) 

A Visit to the Obama Presidential Center

Hello my fellow bookworms,

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

This past month, I was lucky enough to visit the new Obama Presidential Center on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Tickets are going fast, as it just opened this past June, but what a beautiful museum! It also sports a restaurant, a gift shop, and a Chicago Public Library branch on its campus. There is a parking lot, which you will need to pay via phone app or web browser, but there is also street parking. There is also an NBA-regulation sized basketball court, a Forum, a community garden, and lots of art. The outside in particular has a powerful installation at the top of it that quotes President Obama's speech "You Are America." Specifically, it states:

"You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We The People.’ ‘We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can.’ That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.”

–President Barack Obama, 2015

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

If you walk around to the back of the campus, you will run into Chicago's Jackson Park, where there are beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring. It is also the primary site for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. If you are not familiar with it, you may be familiar with the book Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. 

If you are lucky enough to visit the museum, be sure to stay on the right-hand side going in, as the left-hand side line is for tickets to the Sky Room. Each day, there are approximately 200 (or less) tickets available to the public to visit the 8th floor of the museum, which hosts the Sky Room. Here, you can see the skyline of Chicago, specifically Jackson Park, Lake Michigan, the University of Chicago campus, and even the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. On the ceiling are layers of text, highlighting President Obama's "You Are America" speech. It is a peaceful and beautiful spot. From here, I was able to capture the Chicago Public Library branch that holds The President's Reading Room, a City Maker Space, a courtyard, and an overall beautiful selection of areas to sit, read, and learn.

CPL Obama Presidential Library Branch
(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

According to one of the museum staff members, as you go up the museum floors, each floor is to be taken in as a chapter in a book. The slogan "Yes We Can" is shown and reflected in the exhibits, which celebrate the people and stories from those involved in the campaign to those who were honored by the President to everyday American heroes. There is a real Nobel Peace Prize, Grammy, a real copy of the Declaration of Independence, and other historical artifacts. I loved Michelle Obama's dresses! Very fashionable.

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

There is even a cute storywalk on the way to the replica Oval Office. You can even take a photo inside the replica as if you are in the Oval Office! There are areas in the museum where you can record your own story to add to the experience, play with interactive exhibits, and even places to sit and listen to clips from history.

The comradery, history, and just overall happiness in visiting was a pleasant experience. I enjoyed my time and hope others get to enjoy the museum and all it has to offer, as well. It was very inspirational and I will leave you with one of the quotes that spoke to me (the first was "Hard Work is Hard"):

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

Did you guys have a fun summer? Did you visit any book-related or historical places? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time - Happy Reading! 

Happy August!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

How have you been doing in terms of your reading goals this year? I have been attempting to keep up with my goals in Goodreads, but I know I can do better! Summer Reading prep at the library had taken over my work schedule and with the end of summer near, is at the end, but it was worth the smiles and fun patrons have shown throughout the summer! It was a little bittersweet this year, as I left the place I had called home for a few years, and miss my friends and the daily visitors. I have started a new journey, though, and am growing one day at a time. I am making new friends and am enjoying the visitors here, too! Summer is flying by, and I am making strides to keep moving forward. I hope you are, too!

For my own personal reading, I have been enjoying gardening and listening to audio books at the same time, and have lots on my TBR (to be read) pile. In case you were interested, here is my updated bingo card from earlier this year (I have some work to do, but at least I made a BINGO!) -->

Here is some fun bookish news for you:

• There's still some summer left! If you are looking for a fun summer read, Amazon has some original stories that are sure to make your summer day at the beach a fun one. Summer Lovin' is a series of six short stories from romance authors Tessa Bailey, Jessica Peterson, Falon Ballard, Rachel Lacey, Sarah Grunder Ruiz, and Rebecca Jenshak that is free if you subscribe to Prime. If you do not, each story is $2. 

• There's a new game you can buy as a book or play online for free called Murdoku. It is sudoku-meets-Clue and a fun way to pass the time online! Try your hand at it and let me know how far you go! (I'm still on the easy puzzles, but it is addicting!) 

• Fun fact: Americans are still opting for print books over digital or audio versions! Check out the statistics from Pew Research and read why even with the want and need for print materials, few of Americans are in book clubs. (Perhaps join a Silent Book Club, for those of us more introverted but want to be social? I am thinking of doing that!

• Have you ever wanted to see into how librarians order books? Booklist allows us to share the latest magazine online via the following link. Check it out for the latest August issue!

• Netflix has an option to watch your favorite books-to-screen.

• There has been a rise in book vacations, as in go retreat somewhere that you can read in peace and/or go visit somewhere you read about in a book. 
• Rest & Read gives women a weekend out in the Welsh countryside.
• Page Break is a New York City retreat, appealing to much of the younger crowd who wants to bond over reading.
• Forest & Fawn is a fantasy readers retreat (mostly for women and nonbinary readers) featured in different areas of the United States, and there is also a Found Family Club where you can meet like-minded individuals and have monthly book discussions, etc. I may or may not be signing up for this...
• Book Lovers' Binge Reading Retreat is for introverts who want to read in Southwest France.
• Ladies Who Lit is a luxury book-themed vacation in areas across Europe. It looks beautiful, if you can afford it!
• Silent Book Club also hosts retreats, so you can get a little solo time reading and some social connection while vacationing. The destinations are worldwide, so take a look and see what is close to you / where you want to go. 
• Travel Advisor also has a list of 6 Literary Trips Every Book Lover Should Take.

Photo by hello aesthe from Pexels

What have you been reading this summer? I have been trying to read the books that influenced Studio Ghibli movies. Spirited Away's book, The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba was really good - though not the same at all what the movie was about. They are both light-hearted stories that will warm your heart, though! I'm currently in the middle of Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, which is actually the first book in the series. At the moment, it is very similar to the movie, and I am enjoying the adventures very much. I am also rereading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, which is a story that is unlike the movie, but still good.

Hope your summer is fun and you get to finish all the items and books on your summer bucket list. 

Happy Reading! :)

The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel by Meg Cabot

Hi my fellow bookworms,

(c) Macmillan Publishers, 2026

Happy Meg Cabot Day! According to Bloomington, Indiana, on July 15, 2004, it has been proclaimed that July 31st will be known as "Meg Cabot Day," as a celebration of her return to Bloomington. Every year since then, Ms. Cabot has been celebrated. This is a great year to celebrate, as she has quite a few new items coming out! Her new graphic novel based on the first The Princess Diaries book, an adult witchy rom-com titled The Magic We Made, a middle school graphic novel titled Detective Baby, a reissue of the fun When Lightning Strikes book titled Vanished, and another fun adult romance titled Kissing Cowboys. What a busy year!

This past summer I was able to meet Meg Cabot, who is one of my favorite authors, at the American Library Association Annual Convention! The convention is an annual meeting of librarians, library staff, vendors, authors, publishers, and more to come together, learn from, teach, and celebrate books and libraries in general! It is a really fun and informative experience. Finding out that Meg Cabot was going to be there in person? An added bonus! I've written posts about her previously, including when I received a signed letter in the mail. This time, I was able to talk to her in person, take a photo, AND receive a copy of her new graphic novel based on the first book in its series, The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel. 

Illustrated by Bethany Crandall, this graphic novel is colorful and lively. While it is definitely dedicated to a younger, middle school and early-teen crowd, those who have loved the series over the years will feel a sense of nostalgia while reading. It is definitely be a blast to the past (think early 2000's) for millennials. I may or may not have been listening to The Princess Diaries movie soundtrack while reading. Even so, I know it will draw in a new generation of young readers who will enjoy Princess Mia's journey.

For those new to the series, this is the story of Mia Thermopolis, a tall, frizzy-haired freshman who is struggling through algebra and not the most-popular at her school. She does, however, have a best friend named Lily Moscovitz, and a group of friends in her gifted and talented class. Her cat, Fat Louie, likes to eat socks. Her mom and dad are divorced. Her mom is currently dating her algebra teacher, which makes Mia's life just a little weird (at least to her). Her dad comes back in the picture to let her know that he is not just a politician, but the crown prince of Genovia, and that Mia is next in line for the throne! Thus begins a story of princess lessons, teenage (and Grandmère-related) drama, and an overall fun read. Please note that the Disney movie series has a slightly different plot, so if you haven't read the original series, you may be surprised by the differences! 

I highly recommend The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel for middle school ages and up! Especially for those who wanted to be a princess growing up. :)

In line waiting to meet Meg Cabot!!
(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

~*~ ♛ ~*~

About the Author: Meg Cabot

(c) Meg Cabot, 2026

Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign, but learned at an early age that a good storyteller can always give herself a happy ending. Her 100+ books for both adults and tweens/teens have included multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers, selling over twenty-five million copies worldwide. Her Princess Diaries series has been published in more than 38 countries, and despite being made into multiple feature films by Disney, has been banned in multiple school libraries in the United States due to its message of female empowerment. Meg’s numerous other award-winning books include The Mediator series, The Witches of West Harbor series, and Avalon High, the later of which was made into a film for Disney Channel. Meg Cabot (her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming”) currently lives in Key West with her husband and various cats.

About the Illustrator: Bethany Crandall

(c) Bethany Crandall, 2026

Bethany Crandall is an Illustrator and designer based in Burbank California. Bethany has worked illustrating children’s books and illustrating for magazines. She has also worked doing designs for children’s television. Bethany studied at Brigham Young University Idaho and graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in illustration. She enjoys drawing and reading. You can follow her on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bethanycrandallart/?hl=en. You can contact her at bethanycrandallart@gmail.com. 

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

Hi my fellow bookworms,

(c) Kasie West & St. Martin's Publishing Group, 2026

Today I am happy to share with you my review of Kasie West's Stranger Things Have Happened. Thank you to St. Martin's Press Group for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy ("ARC")!

I have long awaited this contemporary romance novel, as I have been a fan of Ms. West's Young Adult ("YA") fiction. I am very much a fan of her YA novels, such as The Fill-In Boyfriend, Love Life & the List, and Lucky in Love, to name a few. While Stranger Things Have Happened is technically her second adult novel, following We Met Like This, it is a standalone novel that will make you melt, laugh, and just feel good! 

The story starts with Sutton, a woman back in her hometown taking care of her mom, who just had a serious accident. Acting as her mom's caretaker, Sutton is away from her work -- running a new restaurant and struggling to keep it afloat. Unfortunately, just as she arrives in her old hometown, her boyfriend breaks up with her over the phone, her restaurant partner says the business is experiencing problems, and her mom says the other caretakers are better at taking care of her than she is. What a predicament! Lost in a stupor, Sutton bumps into her best friend from high school, Tara, Tara's fiancé, Michael, and Michael's brother, Elijah. Upon reuniting with her once-best friend, Sutton finds out that Tara wants to attend couples therapy with Michael before tying the knot. Michael, however, is against therapy. Tara enlists the help of Sutton, making a bet to attend for Sutton to attend couples therapy with Elijah. If the therapist realizes they are not a couple, Michael will attend therapy with Tara. If the therapist does not realize it, Sutton must sing karaoke live in front of a crowd (her worst nightmare). 

And so begins a fun rom-com full of spicy hi-jinks, real-life worries like parent-child expectations, and a brief mention of how therapy can actually help you navigate life. While the book used therapy as a premise for Sutton and Elijah to date, it was not discussed at length to distract from the plot. I actually wish that there was more of a mention (perhaps an afterword?) of how therapy can and does help both individuals and couples navigate life in a healthy way. But personal opinions of mental health aside, if you are in the mood for a fun romance (especially if you are at the beach this summer), I highly recommend Kasie West's Stranger Things Have Happened! Given the spicy content, I recommend this title for new adults and older. 

I also recommend her YA titles, but those are written more for a younger crowd. So, if you are looking for more a clean, contemporary romance with happy vibes and cute romance tropes? Look no further! Kasie West is your author!

About the Author: Kasie West

(c) Kasie West, 2026

Kasie West is the author of many YA novels, including Sunkissed, The Fill-In Boyfriend, P.S. I Like You, Better Than Revenge, and Pivot Point. Her books have been named ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, Junior Library Guild Selections, and ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults. We Met Like This is her debut adult novel. When she's not writing, she's binge-watching television, devouring books, or is on the Central Coast, burying her toes in the sand. Kasie lives in Fresno, California, with her family. 

From the author's website: How It All Started

Back in 2011, when I could still eat gluten and dairy, I sent a query letter to Michelle Wolfson for the fourth (or fifth, I can’t remember exactly) book I wrote, Pivot Point (we will never again refer to the three or four books I wrote previously, except to say, they were practice books and will stay in the depths of an old laptop that is now in a drawer somewhere in my house). Michelle offered me representation and not long after that, HarperTeen bought my book! Through a combination of lots of writing and lots of work and lots of luck, I’ve been able to publish many books since then. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity. And forever grateful to the readers who continue to read and share my books. Thank you!

Writing Stories and Celebrating Poetry

Hi my fellow bookworms,

Happy Spring!

This month I spent much time writing. It has been a while since I pushed myself to do so (with school over and whatnot), and though while the writing was instructive, it was the most creative writing I have accomplished in a while. I am prepping to host a memoir workshop this upcoming month, based upon the Story Circle Network's Older Women's Legacies initiative. I made a complete revision of the workbook that was used previously. It was hard, since I have a couple returning members, but I wanted this experience to be special and new for them. After much research, thinking, writing, and rewriting, I am happy with this new workbook. I hope this next month will be full of heartfelt writing and memories.

March honors many holidays and celebrations, but one I wanted to bring a focus to is Women's History Month. One of the blogs I read promoted this calendar featuring different books for each day in March, celebrating different women in history, written by women. I have not yet read these titles, but the one I want to is the book titled Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen. Find out more information about the books on Janis Robinson Daly's blog here. 

(c) Janis Robinson Daly, 2026

You can always use this opportunity to check off the squares on your bingo card (featured in my January blog post), or to check off your Read Harder list from Book Riot. :) 

Goodreads also has finally unveiled their DNF option, or "Did Not Finish" option. I just categorized a book on my Goodreads shelf as DNF and tagged it, so I will hopefully read it again when I have a moment! I feel like I started and stopped quite a few books this past winter, but haven't updated my public profile. I am aiming to read for fun for at least 20 minutes a day and will hopefully bring you some lovely new reviews soon! 

Speaking of books to read, there is a list of free fantasy novels for your Kindle! Check out the blog, Stuff With Fantasy, for your ecopies today. I believe you will have until the end of the day on Monday to download your chosen novels.

Continuing with my earlier conversation about celebrations...

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger) 2026

April honors many different celebrations, including Deaf History Month, Earth Day, April Fool's Day, Arab American Heritage Month, National Poetry Month, National Scrabble Day, International Dance Day, and of course, religious observances, such as Easter and Passover. One of my coworkers is creating a display for our library observing National Poetry Month. She will be displaying artwork titled "blackout poetry." Blackout poetry is a form of poetry in which you take a page from a printed book (we are using discarded books that are now going to be upcycled), black out most of the page using a permanent marker, and create a poem based on the text present. Some who are more artistically inclined can draw pictures to help further the poem's meaning, others create more profound messages, but it is aimed to help overcome writer's block and unleash your creative spirit. I created my own! :) ^ See here ^

Last year I did my own display for April and National Poetry Month using "Pocket Poems," or poems you can fit into your pocket for on-the-go reading and inspiration. I also had a section were visitors could submit their own poems for display. While I am not a great poet, I love the elegance and rhythmic language and the imagery each poem evokes. 

Would you write a blackout poem? If you do, or just want to write a regular one, or even share a poem already in existence, please do so here! 

Until next month...Happy Reading! :)

Cali's Fun Bilingual Tales by Jorja Colley & Illustrated by Vicky Lommatzsch

Hello my fellow bookworms,

(c) Penguin Random House LLC, 2024

Today, I would like to share my review of the book Cali's Fun Bilingual Tales by Jorja Colley and illustrated by Vicky Lommatzsch! I received a free copy courtesy of Zeitgeist's Insider Club. This paperback bound copy boasts a durable cover with colorful illustrations that will be sure to appeal to both bilingual children and those learning English and/or Spanish! This book is perfect for those between the ages of 5 - 10 years old, as the reading is of a higher level than your learning basics. These bilingual tales are formatted as short stories in chapter form, fun reading for bedtime or learning time.

Each short story takes about as the title states, about 5 minutes to read through. Colley begins each chapter with a keyword dictionary, highlighting key terms both you and your child will learn and look out for within the following story. The stories are written in both English and Spanish, so you can follow along either side, or try to read in the language you are learning for an added challenge. Lommatzsch's illustrations are cute, child-friendly, and colorful. I would love to see this book animated with this art style at some point! The pictures help bring each story to life, with each story covering some sort of language basics, such as people and places. 

As one who is a beginner in Spanish, an audiobook version of this book would be perfect for me to learn even more! Luckily, Colley has graciously uploaded a video on YouTube of her reading her book for us. Win-win! 

If you are looking for more materials to encourage bilingual learning, check out Colley's website Jorja's Dual Language Classroom, where she features freebies, such as teacher survival kits, classroom activities, holiday activities, and more. She also has a Teachers Pay Teachers website, so you can view more tools here, as well. 

I highly recommend Cali's Fun Bilingual Tales. Both Colley and Lommatzsch have created a fun book for those learning English and Spanish, and for those who speak more than one language to just read in whichever language they choose. I had fun reading, and I hope you and your family does, too!

(c) Jorja Colley

About the Author: Jorja Colley

Jorja Colley, with a strong-willed heart for education and passion for being bilingual, has set her mind to do whatever is in her hands to help the bilingual community. She has created Jorja's Dual Language Classroom to share bilingual learning materials with educators, fueled by the dream that all children may one day have access to quality bilingual programs and resources. Jorja lives in the city of El Paso with her husband and daughter, enjoying the richness of a bilingual environment, nurtured by a bicultural life. You can find her on Instagram @jorjasduallanguageclassroom.

(c) Vicky Lommatzsch

About the Illustrator: Vicky Lommatzsch

At the age of 5, Vicky watched her older brother draw Jolly Jumper. She was so fascinated by seeing a character come to life on paper, she realized there was a magical world other than the one she lived in, where anything is possible. She has been drawing and playing in that parallel universe ever since. You can find her on Instagram @vickylomm. 

“One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.” - Emily Dickinson

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Last year was a busy year for me! I apologize for not being as frequent of a poster as I normally am. I am in between a review to post at the present, and have 2 additional books to review, as well. 

As for my book goals, I read, but not as much as I wanted to. My goal for this year is to read at least 50 books. I even created a fun Book Bingo to encourage myself to detox from both my phone and computer. Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes for you. Here is to stopping the doomscrolling this year! :)

Some bookish things to look forward to this year:

• If you are a writer and are looking to publish a teen romance novel, The Little Press is now introducing Baci Books, a Teen Romance Imprint! They are accepting submissions of previously self-published teen romance novels, so review the submission guidelines here. Good luck!

• This year we are celebrating the United States of America's 250th birthday! If you are interested in learning and reviewing White House History, you can explore their digital archives here. Also, check out your local library (or libraries) for events closer to July! 

• Speaking of good things, Andrew Carnegie championed the free public library movement during late 19th century. He donated $5,000 to libraries around the country to help them get on their feet to provide information and services to the public. According to the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Andrew Carnegie described libraries as "cradles of democracy that strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man" (Oct 2025). Since this is a special historical anniversary year, the Carnegie Corporation of New York is going to donate $10,000 to ALL Carnegie libraries across the United States! With this special gift, libraries both small and large will be able to better support their communities, foster civic participation, and best of all, bring people together. For more information, check out the Corporation's Press Release here. 

• The board game (and movie and book series) Clue is supposed to become a reality show on Netflix! I cannot wait to see how it plays out. Check out the article here from Deadline.

• David Baldacci funding a new initiative to address toxic political discourse. More details here through The Washington Post. 

• If you have kids or work with them, and want to spend more time outside, children can now become Junior Rangers online through the National Park Foundation. While the initiative is tied to specific national park sites, this allows children to engage through the science and sounds of the parks, whether it be through fossils, stars, trains, or more! Check out the National Park Foundation release here for more information. 

What do you look forward to this year? I cannot wait until true spring sets in. The false spring weather is great and I have enjoyed sitting on my porch and reading, but the mix of snow in between changes how I like to read (print book versus audiobook). I hope to do more this year, so if you have any questions or suggestions for me, please let me know! 

Until next time - happy reading! :) 

Happy First Week of Fall (and almost start of Banned Books Week)!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Fall is upon us! Last Monday marked the start of a new season, and while some of the weather still has some remnants of summer, the cool mornings and evenings definitely feel like autumn. The leaves are starting to change colors, our pets are happier walking in the cool breeze, and the weather is perfect to find a good spot in nature and read! Also, today is National Coffee Day, so I hope you had some reading and coffee sipping time to yourself today!

Photo by ALA

This upcoming October 5th - 11th marks Banned Books Week! This year's theme is "Censorship Is So 1984. Read For Your Rights." It is a theme taken from George Orwell's cautionary tale 1984, a warning about the dangers of censorship, while also reminding us that the right to read belongs to all of us, so defend your right to do so! While many of the top challenged books for 2024 are similar to those of previous years, the week is a reminder to not allow censorship to influence your views. It is important to have items in the public that you may not agree with, whether it be politics, religion, or just a world point-of-view, in order to broaden your own horizon, your viewpoint, and to allow for open discussion. If we were in a world where we all thought and talked the same, how boring would that be? Open discourse is what drives us to strive for more, brings upon change and innovation, and teaches us new things each day. 

Below are the top 10 most challenged books of 2024, along with an updated information page, detailing the statistics and censorship trends. 

Photo by ALA

Photo by ALA

I was reading a very informative post by librarian Judi Moreillon online, which listed ways the community could become involved themselves with this week. If you are interested in participating in Banned Books Week, aside from reading books that are/were challenged and supporting your local pubic library, you could also:

• Sign up for the weekly post from the American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom (www.oif.ala.org)
• Sign online petitions and write letters to representatives, schools, and public library boards
• Advocate online using the hashtags: 
• #BannedBooksWeek 
• #DefendResearch
• #FreeSpeech
• #FirstAmendment
• #IntellectualFreedom
• #UniteAgainstBookBans
• Attend a Banned Books Week Event (https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/public-school-strong-partnership-will-connect-banned-books-week-events-to-advocates-nationwide/)
• Volunteer with the American Library Association
• ALA Council Intellectual Freedom Committee: www.ala.org/alsc/aboutalsc/coms/pg1childadv/als-if
• ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom: https://www.oif.ala.org/
• ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/
• Authors Against Book Bans: https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/
• Defend Research: https://defendresearch.org
• EveryLibrary: https://www.everylibrary.org/
• For the People: https://www.librariesforthepeople.org
• Freedom to Read Foundation: https://www.ftrf.org/
• Intellectual Freedom Round Table: www.ala.org/ifrt
• PEN America: https://pen.org/
• Unite Against Book Bans: https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
• United for Libraries: www.ala.org/united
• We Need Diverse Books: https://www.diversebooks.org/

Some fun book news:

• Do you know someone who is blind, but enjoys to listen to movies and television? I just found out about this neat website run by volunteers called AudioVault. The website requires a login to download any materials and you are limited to 25 a day. Each item is uploaded by volunteers, some of whom are the ones providing the audio description! The website makes it easy for those who cannot see to hear their favorite shows or movies with the audio descriptions narrating along with the actors. AudioVault also tries to upload entire series, so it is easy to continue to binge listen. 

• Reading Rainbow is returning! The new host is none other than *insert drumroll here* MYCHAL THREETS! I personally think this is so cool, first to reboot a favorite show and also one of my school's alumni librarians will be hosting it! :D

• If you enjoy authors Ali Hazelwood, Christina Lauren, J.T. Geissinger, Ruby Dixon, Katee Robert, and/or Kimberly Lemming (all fantastic romance/science fiction/fantasy authors!), there is a new Amazon Original Stories section where each author wrote a creepy romantic fantasy novella! It is a series titled Scared Sexy, available free to Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited members! If you are not a member of either, you can still buy the entire collection for $5.94 online from Amazon. 

• As of this month, the Associated Press is no longer offering weekly book reviews. More details here. 

• If you remember reading The Baby-sitters Club, you'll be happy to hear there will be an official Baby-sitters Club Musical, with a score composed by the same composer of K-Pop Demon Hunters! I'm excited for it - if it is anything like the trending movie, we will be bopping to new music (that is hopefully faithful to the books)! Read more here from Deadline.

I am thinking of using Substack as a way to post in-between things and blog updates. What do you think? Do any of you have a Substack and like the experience?

I am currently reading Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. I am enjoying it, as a music lover and romance novel enthusiast. What are you reading this lovely fall season? Anything you look forward to? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

Happy 250th Birthday, Jane Austen!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Photo by Photo by Leah Newhouse: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-assorted-books-1666320/Leah Newhouse from Pexels

This year marks the 250th birthday of literary icon, Jane Austen! While her birthday is technically December 16th, August is known for being "Romance Awareness Month," so I feel it is appropriate to celebrate earlier than later! Upon my own celebration, I have been wearing my Austen-like book earrings, wearing my Pride and Prejudice t-shirt from Litographs (which includes sections of the novel as blocks of text creating the photos on the front and back of the shirt!), and reading Austen's juvenilia novel The Beautifull Cassandra (yes, that is a purposeful two L's) and the graphic novel biography of Jane Austen, titled The Novel Life of Jane Austen, by Janine Barchas. I also finally watched Clueless for the first time, which as you know, is based on Austen's Emma, and is perfect timing as this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the movie. As if!

In terms of Austen's juvenilia, or works of the author while they are still young/before they became popular, I enjoyed reading Claudia L. Johnson's Afterword on The Beautifull Cassandra. The story was thought to be based on Austen's sister, Cassandra, which I thought could be true, given how close they seem from stories I heard and read. In the Afterword, Johnson commented on Austen's high intelligence and ability to play with words and write for all ages, even at a young age, how this short story was most likely written to amuse her family, and also on how people either like Austen's work or hate it (though I feel the same could be said of many novels, especially a recent book discussion I attended!). The takeaway from her analysis of Austen's writings is that The Beautifull Cassandra took a story and embraced the uneventful. It was a short, day-in-the-life following of a girl who took what she wanted (a bonnet, ice cream, a ride) and enjoyed her day, no matter the havoc that ensued. The events listed were not grand adventures, but a small adventure, nonetheless. Only, we embrace it in short sentences, are not told details, and everything is over just as it started. I read it as I would a children's picture book, as the copy I had borrowed from the library was illustrated, and enjoyed the short and simple story. It amused me, especially the dedication, and I was delighted to read something from an author I enjoy that I did not know previously existed. 

I work in a library and recently curated a Jane Austen anniversary display, in which I created fun Austen-esque buttons, with her books, movies, books based on her books, photos, and of course, Regency-like ribbons! I love to have fun with my work, and enjoy watching the smiles of others who interact with what I set up. The display sparked an animated conversation between me and a fellow fan, and I realized that not many people knew about the limited release of the new French movie, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. I was lucky enough to catch a showing in my area, and I loved it! It was released to DVD in late July, and I believe it is finally hitting libraries around now. If you are an Austen fan, you will love this romance that takes a bit from the author herself, while also giving a great homage to the work she did in her life and to those she inspired. It made me want to visit the estate!

Speaking of her estate...

You can visit Jane Austen's House as they celebrate the entire year with birthday celebrations! Each season is marked for a book of hers, such as the upcoming Persuasion and poetry festival beginning September 12th and ending on the 21st. The year ends with Austen's birthday celebration during the month of December, and an extra special one on her actual birthday, December 16th! If you are like me and missed out on tickets or cannot make it over to the United Kingdom, you can walk through a virtual tour, listen to their podcast, or if you are feeling especially enthusiastic, you can join the Jane Austen Society of North America, who are offering a free year membership to current students!

Whether or not you have Austen-mania, I hope your summer has been fun, that you have read many books (or at least enjoyed time reading), and have many fall things to look forward to! I am excited for the spooky season approaching and the lovely weather that beckons me to sit under trees with my cat and read.

Until next time, Happy Reading! :) 

Summertime is here!

Hello My Fellow Bookworms,

I hope you are all having a glorious summer so far! Long time, no see! I apologize for my not keeping on top of my blog. I find myself starting posts, but never finishing them. I hope to start my habit again of posting at least once a month. Life has been a little busy, but whose has not?

I had started hosting a memoir writing group workshop at my local library for women. It is an endeavor I never thought I would do on my own, but once asked by my manager last year, I gave it some serious thought. It was a scary thing for me, as English was never my best subject, but it is also a human thing. Personal stories are so interesting, more so in the fact that women over a certain age are "forgotten" by society, and it should never be that way! Everyone is interesting and has purpose. As it is a workshop for women, I started it in March, in honor of Women's History Month. It has been a fun and yet emotional journey. I found myself writing memoir pieces along with them, and it has been challenging. I enjoy writing for myself, rather than only an academic purpose. Will I ever publish my pieces, though? Only time will tell. 

This year has been a crazy storm of news, both good and bad, that affects libraries, museums, and publishing in general. This year has been hard so far for libraries, with the cut of federal grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services ("IMLS"), the dissolution of the Special Libraries Association ("SLA"), and continuous book challenges. If you would like to say, "Hey, I love my library!," you can do so by letting your library know with a heartfelt card or letter, advocating on social media through hashtags such as #DrawnToFreedom or #FundLibraries, or even reaching out to your local representatives and letting them know you love your library! The ALA has a wonderful webpage filled with fact sheets, resources, and even your local representatives' contact information, which can be found here. 

If you are curious as to what the IMLS funded for Illinois, here is a lovely flier that the ALA created on a per-state basis:

(c) ALA, 2025

Want even more of a reason to love libraries? There is a new documentary that was released earlier this spring titled Free For All, and it is now up on YouTube for free via PBS! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this short history into the people who made libraries what they are today. You can also watch a conversation PBS had after you watch the film, if you would like more information into the film:

Miscellaneous book news:

• As of June 27th, the Supreme Court ruled to protect federal broadband programs. What does this mean for you? This decision preserves the current E-Rate program, funding for affordable, high-speed internet at libraries and schools across the country. With all the cutbacks that have been happening in libraries and grants, this win is quite a lot! You can find out more information from ALA here. 

• If you are an author, especially a self-publishing author, this will affect you! Publishers' Weekly no longer accepts books for review submission for free, as it had for over 100 years. Instead, it now costs $25 for each book you submit. More information can be found here.

• Be careful when purchasing new books on Amazon. There are AI clones of books that are floating around, which the original authors are not getting paid for. The covers are being swapped with a fake cover image, AI changes the original language of the book and rewrites the story using a different language, the name of the author is changed - but kept just close enough to confuse people buying the book, and the list of Bad Things AI does grows. Check out the original article from CBC here, if you are interested in learning more. 
  
  
• If you are a teacher or school librarian, you could be receiving audiobooks for free from Libro.fm! Libro.fm is giving away ALC's, or Advanced Listening Copies, to teachers or school libraries who work with students between the ages of 5-18. Interested? Check out the program details here (and also to sign up)!

• An interesting new app that I still need to test is out on the market, promoting that it can read any of your PDF articles out loud for you. It is called ElevenReader Plus and is free to download for both Android and Apple, and although you can pay for a subscription, you can use it for free for up to 2 hours of listening per week. Depending on usage, this is a pretty nice app for those who may need someone to read out loud to them!

• Feeling stressed? Too much "doomscrolling," or scrolling non-stop through social media and/or the news? The Calm app recently had an article stating how we should take a nature break - go outside, breathe the air, embrace the sunlight, go for a walk. All these things can lead to a better mood, less stress, and better cognitive function, and physical health. Bringing a book helps! I enjoy reading in the grass with my cat surveying the sights, or just lounging in the forest and watching deer pass by. It is summer, so enjoy the most of it while you can! (This is not sponsored, this is just something I think is very important for all of our mental health at this time - I am guilty of doomscrolling video shorts!)

I do not have a book review at the moment, but I am in the middle of several books right now. One of which is called Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier. It feels like a cross between Moana and How to Train Your Dragon. 

Also, I also am being sent a book in the mail that requires a review, so please look forward to it!

I hope you are having a fantastic summer filled with adventures both in your life and on the page. If you would like to, please let me know what you are reading in the comments!

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

(c) 2025, Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)