Succeeding Together: March 2022 Reading List
Hello and Happy March, readers! This month is focused around women working with their friends, families, and community to realize their dreams and overcome a challenge together. I personally really enjoy stories of growth, challenging the status quo, and empowerment for all, and these books fit that bill perfectly. I hope you enjoy this selection of books and have a Happy Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day!
Banned Book Club
By: Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada, Illustrated by: Hyung-Ju Ko
Details: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Politics, Biographical Fiction, 2020
ISBN-13: 978-1945820427
Synopsis: In Banned Book Club, Hyun Sook shares a dramatic true story of political division, fear-mongering, anti-intellectualism, the death of democratic institutions, and the relentless rebellion of reading.
My Thoughts: I initially picked up Banned Book Club without knowing much about it. I thought the title sounded interesting and liked the bold drawing style of Hyung-Ju Ko that I could see on the cover. As I read, I saw the juxtaposition of an everyday girl in college who is a voracious reader (like so many of us), while having a college life that is not what you would expect. It’s a very eye-opening read to a situation that I was not very aware of, especially to the extent shown in the book. I highly recommend checking it out and learning something new.
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (volumes 1 - 10)*
Written and Illustrated by: CLAMP
Details: Manga, Children, Series, Fantasy, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-1632365378
Synopsis: Clear Card picks up right where Cardcaptor Sakura left off, with Sakura and Syaoran starting junior high school. With the Final Judgment passed, Sakura thinks school life will be quiet, but then all her cards suddenly turn blank! The mysterious new power she discovers will change how she thinks about her powers...
My Thoughts: I grew up reading the original Cardcaptor Sakura manga series and watching the show whenever I could, so I was very excited to see that there was a new series out! It’s a very wholesome series about a young girl learning about her magic powers with the help of her friends. (She also wears lots of cute outfits designed by her best friend!) At this point, the series is still being published with volume 11 set to come out in May 2022, so it’s great for those who want a series that is still running.
*For ease and to avoid any spoilers, I’ve only listed the information for the first book, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, vol. 1.
Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre
Written and Illustrated by: Glynnis Fawkes
Details: Graphic Novel, Children, Biography, 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1368045827
Synopsis: Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is a beloved classic, celebrated today by readers of all ages and revered as a masterwork of literary prowess. But what of the famous writer herself? Charlotte, like her sisters Emily and Anne, was passionate about her work. She sought to cast an empathetic lens on characters often ignored by popular literature of the time, questioning societal assumptions with a sharp intellect and changing forever the landscape of western literature.
My Thoughts: After reading DIE, I had an interest in learning more about Charlotte and her sisters as some of the locations in that series are based on a fictional world that the Bronte siblings created (which is lightly discussed in this book as well!). It was very inspiring (and at times heartbreaking) to see Charlotte so creative and vivacious, struggling through the realities of being a female writer at that time in history with help from her sisters who were going through many of the same things. An interesting read that I found myself wishing there was more of!
The Daughters of Ys
By: M. T. Anderson, Illustrated by: Jo Rioux
Details: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Horror, Historical Fiction, Folklore, 2021
ISBN-13: 978-1626728783
Synopsis: When Rozenn and Dahut's bond is irrevocably changed, the fate of Ys is sealed, exposing the monsters that lurk in plain view. This reimagined classic Breton folktale deals with love, loss, and rebirth, revealing the secrets that lie beneath the surface.
My Thoughts: As many of you previous readers likely know, it’s hard for me to pass on a folklore adaption or retelling. This one was particularly interesting to me as I had never heard the story of these two sisters before. I loved the illustrations by Jo Rioux and enjoyed learning something new about French folktales, however, like most original versions of folklore, this might not be a great option if you are looking for a Disney-style happily ever after.
