Finished reading: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins 📚

This is so good. I learned more about abolitionism from this romance novel in a more engaging way than any history class I’ve taken would be able to achieve. Highly recommend.

It has been an exhausting week, in a good way. I’m so thrilled to be working with excellent colleagues who are themselves thrilled to have me there.

Finished reading: Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer 📚

Loved it! This releases August 27. Expect a full review soon!

Finished reading: Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey 📚

I don’t want my 7-year-old to really understand Interview with the Vampire, obviously, but I did tell him that Taylor Swift is in a feud with an imaginary vampire.

Finished reading: The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler 📚

Read this to prepare for collaborating with teachers at work who want support finding books to work into our literacy curriculum. It’s especially interesting as someone who started her teaching career in the era of No Child Left Behind.

🔖🍔🥤 Read The Enduring Mystery of Cook Out.

A Cook Out Junior Tray with a cheeseburger (mayo only), double fries, and Coke was the first meal I had after giving birth, and it was the best meal I’ve ever eaten. (I can’t remember if I also got a shake.)

Finished reading: Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey 📚

It’s me, hi, I’m the one watching the Olympic opening ceremonies 5 days late. It’s me.

💀🪦 I wish I could have gone to Funeral Services Education Camp.

Finished reading: Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey 📚

Hey friends, I am starting a new half-time job as a school librarian in August, so I’ll be taking a break from curating Micro.blog while I get settled in there. I’ll still be using Micro.blog for my personal site like always.

I’ve been reading the staff handbook for my new school library job and my dress is supposed to meet or exceed the standards expected of students. Based on what I saw last year as a parent, I should be fine wearing glittery poofy dresses or cosplaying as Taylor Swift.

San Diego Comic-Con starts tomorrow. Here are a couple resources that help me feel like I’m part of it.

Finished reading: Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean 📚

If you want to see Sarah MacLean do a magic trick and turn the villain of two books into the hero of the third, read the Bareknuckle Bastards series.

🔖📚 Read Sherlock Holmes self-insert fanfic written by a 7th grader in 1903.

I love this so much.

Updated my bio:

Middle-aged magical girl. Mom. Once and future school librarian. Contract curator for Micro.blog. Citizen of Romancelandia. I manage multiple chronic illnesses. I love books and games. 🌈♿

🔖 Read Frida Kahlo’s life of chronic pain by Carol A. Courtney (OUPblog).

Looking for examples of chronically ill and disabled creatives to be models for myself. Frida Kahlo is such a great one.

I was reading Austin Kleon’s newsletter and feeling jealous of how he seems to do so much and see so much. I realized that I spend so much of my time in physical pain; if I didn’t, I’d do more other stuff. So now I want to figure out how to modify other stuff so I can do it with the body I have.

🔖 Read Welcome to Your Cronehood by Catherine Newman (Cup of Jo).

I am not psyched about menopause. I’ve already lived a lot of my life for me rather than other people, so I feel ahead of the curve there.

🔖🗺️ Read How Paris Hopes the Summer Olympics Will Transform the City—for Good by Lindsey Tramuta (Condé Nast Traveler).

This is a fascinating article. Paris’s commitment to hosting the most sustainable Olympics ever and transforming an underresourced area for the long-term is inspiring.

🎮 I got Metroid: Samus Returns. I’m really enjoying it. I know there will be parts that are super difficult, but I am happy to use walkthroughs or whatever. I’m also finding that I don’t mind having to repeatedly try a fight in this game as much as I sometimes do, so that’s nice.

🔖📚 100 of the Greatest Posters of Celebrities Urging You to Read by James Folta (Lit Hub)

This is the kind of content carefully calibrated to please me, specifically.

Hey y’all! The Connected Learning Lab published the work from my postdoc today! Two new reports for library staff and leaders compiling valuable insights and recommendations to foster teen engagement through Connected Learning. Learn more about the project and find reports and checklists here.

The image is a colorful infographic titled “How can public libraries foster teen engagement?” It features four key points with corresponding illustrations: Holistic Partnerships: The foundation for teen engagement involves holistic relationships with staff and community partners, symbolized by a handshake. Community Partnerships: Expanding capacity to serve youth in all areas of connected learning, represented by an open book. Storytelling About Youth Outcomes: Demonstrating impact through compelling storytelling, depicted by a light bulb. Innovative Staff: Effective champions are staff who are lifelong learners and innovators, symbolized by a rocket ship. The bottom of the images highlights two new reports titled "Transformative Outcomes through Community Engagement" available at clalliance.org/connected-learning-through-libraries

Finished reading: Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean 📚

Sarah MacLean is just the best.