May was a really great reading month! It was also my last month teaching before SUMMER BREAK!

I did a reading challenge where I swapped my previous week’s screen time for reading time-that video is linked at the bottom. It really helped me pick up a better habit of reading instead of scrolling. I also featured some really awesome kid lit authors on my channel Legit KidLit (also linked below).

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you’ve been reading!

Happy reading!

Here are my stats for the books I read in May!

• 18 books total
• 8 Adult
• 5 Young Adult
• 5 Middle Grade
• 8 Asian Authors
• 2 Manga
• 1 Graphic Novel
• Top Genre: Fantasy
• 3 Audiobooks

Top Reads

My (short) Reviews

Middle Grade

New from Here by Kelly Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first listened to this as an audiobook, but then reread with my daughter. I loved reading it aloud to her. She was 5 during the height of the pandemic and just being able to reflect on some of these fears and anxieties through a book together was really special. We also laughed so much and there were many nights with “one more chapter please”-even on a school night! Highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kids will love this fantasy school! It’s something not written often-alchemy-but has elements of other popular fantasy series that will keep kids reading-unlikely villains/friends, surprise plot twists, and fun magic. Loved this world!

View all my reviews The Moth Keeper by Kay O’Neill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the Tea Dragon Society books and Moth Keeper was just as magical! If you want a cozy fantasy, with deep themes-read Kay O’Neill’s works. She is a beautiful artist and her books have such heart.

View all my reviews Call Me Adnan by Reem Faruqi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My blurb: Reem Faruqi uses lyrical and beautiful poetry to bring to life a story of family, grief, and love. The relationships between the brothers felt so real. Reem had my emotions all over the place in this story, and I loved every minute of it. A great story for middle grade readers to explore some of the darker parts of life, but also that there is a light in the darkness.

View all my reviews When Clouds Touch Us by Thanhhà Lại
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Inside Out and Back Again is one of my favorite books in verse and this sequel is just as good! I loved continuing Hà’s journey and watching her grow and find herself more.

View all my reviews

Young Adult

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version and it was very well done. I loved this fantasy because it started in a school and then went into the war-so you really got to see the character’s develop. I look forward to reading the sequel.

View all my reviews Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fun spy manga!

View all my reviews Gallant by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I will read anything by Schwab! This is such a fun book about death and the “other side”-definitely reminded me of Darker Shades of Magic with the multiple Londons/multiple houses. It was a great read and think it would be fine for middle grade and up.

View all my reviews Orange, Vol. 2 by Ichigo Takano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A really engrossing story of friends and time travel and trying to save someone they all love.

View all my reviews You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness. This book was everything I had hoped it would be! Such a great horror story that has all the scary movie vibes. The first half was full of minor jump scares, but man that second half. Not for the faint of heart.

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Adult Reads

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book tore me apart! It was a good glimpse into the world of child actor’s and honestly, I wish there were more books like this talking about this world. Jennette went through so much and I am angry for her.

View all my reviews When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A somewhat slower paced book, but loved the concept and the world that was built. Angry women as dragons? Feminism? 1950s? Loved it all.

View all my reviews Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first Brandon Sanderson novel! I listened to the audiobook (tried the graphic audio and that was awful) and it was pretty good. I think I would have liked reading it more so I could remember more of the world and the characters. However, I loved the multiple plot points, multiple character points of view, and how it all came together.

View all my reviews Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fun romance!

View all my reviews Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this up not because I am a huge Bono or U2 fan, but because I was intrigued about the songs being told with the story. I listened to the audio and I highly recommend-there was so much music in the story, so to hear the songs with it was perfect.

View all my reviews The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great collection of poems on love.

View all my reviews The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had a little trouble getting into it in the beginning (after the first scene-because the first scene was fantastic) but I am glad I kept reading. The twists and mystery through this book were perfect!

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YouTube Videos

Mrs. Bookdragon Channel-Swapping Screen Time for Reading Time Challenge

Legit KidLit Recent Features